Device for switching a submersible motor-driven pump on and off

• US 5,466,127 A
• Filed: 09/20/1993
• Issued: 11/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WILO GmbH
• Original Assignee: WILO GmbH
• Inventors: Arnswald, Kurt W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertsch, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): THAI, XUAN MARIAN
• Application Number:
  US08/124,275
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 417/38, 417/423.15, 417/423.3, 73/753, 73/754, 73/763, 73/781
• US Class Current: 417/38
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/086 the pump and drive motor are both submerged
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0218 the condition being a liquid level or a lack of liquid supply

Abstract

A device is provided for switching a submersible motor-driven pump on and off by a pressure sensor which measures the level of the liquid in the chamber enclosing the submersible motor-driven pump by the liquid pressure in the chamber, the pressure sensor being attached in or on the outside of the motor or pump casing and having a pressure-sensitive ohmic resistance.

Claims

1. A submersible pump, comprising:

a pump housing member having an intake and an outlet and means in said housing member for displacing a liquid in which the pump is submerged from said intake to said outlet;

an electric motor having a motor casing member connected to said housing member, said motor being operatively connected to said means in said housing member for driving same;

a pressure sensor on one of said members and comprising a pressure-sensitive ohmic resistance; and

circuitry connected between said motor and said sensor for controlling energization of said pump, said pressure-sensitive ohmic resistance having two uniformly spaced apart conductors bridged by a polymeric foil decreasing in ohmic resistance upon application of pressure normal to said foil.

2. The submersible pump defined in claim 1 wherein said ohmic resistance has two conductors extending into the interior of said casing member, said motor having a cable extending from said casing member and including said conductors, running to said circuitry.

3. The submersible pump defined in claim 2 wherein said circuitry has a first control for determining a liquid level at which said pump is switched on and off, and a second control for establishing a variable distance between switching on and off.

4. The submersible pump defined in claim 3 wherein said pressure sensor has a plastic foil on which said conductors are applied, said conductors having a comb shape.

5. The submersible pump defined in claim 3, further comprising an adhesive layer bonding said pressure sensor to an exterior of said casing member.

6. The submersible pump defined in claim 3, further comprising an adhesive layer bonding said pressure sensor to an exterior of said housing member.

7. The submersible pump defined in claim 3, further comprising an adhesive layer bonding said pressure sensor to an interior of said housing member.