Soft start fire pump controller
First Claim
1. A method for controlling the voltage of a fire pump motor with a soft start fire pump controller for operation in a building having a water supply for a fire protection system, a power line and a water pressure sensor, comprising the steps of:
- establishing a reference water pressure for the building;
comparing the water pressure with the reference water pressure and providing a low pressure signal if the water pressure is below the reference pressure, and providing a high pressure signal if the water pressure is equal to or above the reference water pressure;
increasing the voltage from the power line to the fire pump motor to full voltage in response to a low pressure signal and operating at full voltage for a first predetermined period of time and until a high pressure signal is provided;
decreasing the voltage to the pump from full voltage to a preset intermediate level following the step of increasing the voltage;
holding the voltage at a preset intermediate level for a second predetermined period of time following the step of decreasing the voltage from full voltage;
decreasing the voltage from the preset intermediate level to zero following the step of holding the voltage;
monitoring the pressure continuously during said steps of decreasing the voltage from full voltage, holding the voltage and decreasing the voltage from the preset intermediate level and if a low pressure signal is provided, repeating the steps of increasing the voltage, decreasing the voltage from full voltage, holding the voltage, decreasing the voltage from the preset intermediate level and monitoring the pressure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling a fire pump motor for use in a building having a water supply for a fire protection system, a power line, and a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor detects a high or low system water pressure with respect to a reference water pressure. A voltage controller is coupled between the power line and the fire pump motor for controlling the voltage from the power line to the fire pump motor, responsive to indications from the pressure sensor. The voltage controller increases the voltage to the fire pump motor to full voltage and runs the fire pump motor at full voltage for a minimum run time and until high pressure is indicated. The voltage controller then decreases the voltage to the fire pump motor from full voltage to a predetermined voltage level. The voltage controller holds the voltage to the fire pump at the predetermined voltage level for a first preset period of time. The voltage controller thereafter decreases the voltage to the fire pump motor from the predetermined voltage level to zero. The voltage is increased any time low pressure is indicated. The voltage is subsequently decreased from full voltage, held at the predetermined level, and decreased to zero when high pressure is indicated.
57 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method for controlling the voltage of a fire pump motor with a soft start fire pump controller for operation in a building having a water supply for a fire protection system, a power line and a water pressure sensor, comprising the steps of:
-
establishing a reference water pressure for the building; comparing the water pressure with the reference water pressure and providing a low pressure signal if the water pressure is below the reference pressure, and providing a high pressure signal if the water pressure is equal to or above the reference water pressure; increasing the voltage from the power line to the fire pump motor to full voltage in response to a low pressure signal and operating at full voltage for a first predetermined period of time and until a high pressure signal is provided; decreasing the voltage to the pump from full voltage to a preset intermediate level following the step of increasing the voltage; holding the voltage at a preset intermediate level for a second predetermined period of time following the step of decreasing the voltage from full voltage; decreasing the voltage from the preset intermediate level to zero following the step of holding the voltage; monitoring the pressure continuously during said steps of decreasing the voltage from full voltage, holding the voltage and decreasing the voltage from the preset intermediate level and if a low pressure signal is provided, repeating the steps of increasing the voltage, decreasing the voltage from full voltage, holding the voltage, decreasing the voltage from the preset intermediate level and monitoring the pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An apparatus for controlling a fire pump motor for use in a building having a water supply for a fire protection system, a power line and a pressure sensor for detecting a high or low system water pressure with respect to a reference water pressure, comprising;
voltage control means coupled between the power line and the fire pump motor for controlling the voltage from the power line to the fire pump motor in response to indications from the pressure sensor, said voltage control means; i) increasing the voltage to the fire pump motor to full voltage and running the fire pump motor at full voltage for a minimum run time and until high pressure is indicated; ii) decreasing the voltage to the fire pump motor from full voltage to a predetermined voltage level; iii) holding the voltage to the fire pump motor at the predetermined voltage level for a first preset period of time; iv) decreasing the voltage to the fire pump motor from the predetermined voltage level to zero, so that the voltage is increased any time low pressure is detected by the sensor and the voltage is subsequently decreased from full voltage, held at the predetermined voltage level and decreased to zero when high pressure is detected by the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
Specification