Automatic fluid pressure maintaining system from a well

• US 5,518,371 A
• Filed: 06/20/1994
• Issued: 05/21/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wells, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wells, Inc.
• Inventors: Jack, William S., Wellstein, Steffen R., Burgess, Henry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertsch, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): THAI, XUAN MARIAN
• Application Number:
  US08/262,657
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 417/38, 417/44.2, 417/44.9, 200/84 B, 307/118, 361/178
• US Class Current: 417/44.9
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/022 by means of pressure

Abstract

A fluid pressure system comprising an electric motor-driven pump for maintaining a predetermined pressure range in a system, including a remote solid-state encapsulated triac motor control circuit having a micro pressure sensor switch in the outlet duct from the pump. For example, this control device includes a special nipple for installation in a water well casing for maintaining a given range of water pressure in a system supplied by the well.

Claims

1. In a fluid pressure system having a fluid source, an AC electric motor-driven pump connected to said source, an AC electric power source connected to said motor, an outlet duct from said pump, and a pressure-sensing and switching means connected between said outlet duct and said AC power source for automatically maintaining a predetermined range of pressures in said outlet duct, the improvement comprising:

a) said sensing and switching means comprising a solid-state semiconductor control circuit mounted in a nipple section of said outlet duct, and

b) a hermetically-sealing plastic encapsulating said control circuit.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said fluid source is a water well.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said pressure sensing means comprises a stainless steel diaphragm operating a snap switch.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said pressure sensing and switching means are located remote from said fluid pressure system.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein said pressure sensing and switching means is adjacent said fluid source.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein said solid-state semiconductor control circuit comprises a low power and a high power triac circuit.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein said solid-state semiconductor control circuit comprises a diaphragm and snap switch in said pressure sensing means in a low power triac circuit.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein said solid-state semiconductor control circuit comprises a high power triac in said AC electric power source circuit.

9. A system according to claim 1 wherein said nipple section includes a heat sink for said switching means.

10. A system according to claim 1 wherein said nipple section is formed to fit inside a well casing.

11. In a fluid pressure system having a fluid source, an electric motor-driven pump, an AC electric power circuit connected to said motor, and an outlet duct from said pump in which outlet duct a predetermined range of pressures are to be automatically maintained, the improvement comprising:

1) a solid-state pressure-sensing device in said outlet duct, said device comprising;

a) a pressure-sensor for the fluid in said duct,

b) a semiconductor low-voltage control circuit having a switch responsive to said pressure sensor,

c) a semiconductor high-voltage control circuit in said AC electric power control circuit,

d) a light-sensitive connection between said semiconductor control circuits, and

e) a heat sink connected to said semiconductor high-voltage AC power control circuit, and

2) means encapsulating said solid-state sensing device in a hermetically-sealed plastic.

12. A system according to claim 11 wherein said high and low voltage control circuits comprise separate triac circuits.

13. A system according to claim 11 wherein said solid-state pressure sensing device is incorporated in a nipple section in said outlet duct.

14. A system according to claim 13 wherein said nipple section is formed to fit inside of a well casing.

15. In a fluid system comprising an electric motor-driven pump having an outlet duct and an electric AC power circuit for said motor, the improvement comprising a solid-state pressure-sensing device for controlling the motor to maintain a predetermined pressure range in said duct, said device comprising:

a) a non-corrosive pressure-sensing snap-action microswitch in said duct,

b) a low-voltage triac control circuit for said microswitch,

c) a high-voltage AC triac control circuit for said electric AC power control circuit,

d) a light-sensitive diode connector between said triac control circuits,

e) a heat sink connected to said high-voltage AC power control circuit, and

f) a plastic sealing material potting said triac control circuits.

16. In a system having a liquid source, a duct from said source, an electric motor-driven pump between said source and said duct, a power circuit to energize said electric motor, a pressure sensor in said duct away from said pump and said source for automatically starting said motor-driven pump to build up a predetermined pressure in said duct when said pressure falls below a predetermined amount, the improvement comprising:

a) a nipple section in said duct containing said sensor and having a through duct of substantially the same cross-sectional area, said nipple section having an integral heat sink portion and an aperture into said through duct,

b) a corrosion-resistant diaphragm mounted in said aperture and mounting a microswitch,

c) two triac solid-state circuits mounted on said heat sink portion and connected to said microswitch and to said power circuit whereby said microswitch controls said triac circuits for controlling said electric motor, and

d) a hermetically-sealed plastic encapsulating said triac circuit, said microswitch, said heat sink, and that portion of said power circuit that is connected to said triac circuits.