Automatic control switch for an electric motor

• US 6,806,677 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2002
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gerard Kelly
• Original Assignee: Gerard Kelly
• Inventors: Forrester, Bernard, Kelly, Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): DUDA, RINA I
• Application Number:
  US10/269,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20040070357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 318/767, 318/772, 318/779, 318/782, 318/790, 417/44.1
• US Class Current: 318/767
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 25/18 with arrangements for switching the windings, e.g. with mechanical switches or relays

Abstract

A simple and economical mechanism providing automatic motor control. The mechanism includes a motor-rated relay directly connected to line voltage and the input terminal of a motor winding, and receiving a signal from a sensing device connected to line voltage and to a signal input on the relay. The relay and sensing device may be housed within a waterproof enclosure, or may be separately housed within a connection enclosure and a separate sensing device enclosure remote from the connection enclosure, the two enclosures being connected by a cable. The sensing device triggers the relay to control the supply of current to the motor winding.

Claims

1. A control mechanism for an electric motor, the motor including a motor winding and having a motor input terminal coupled to one end of the winding for supplying current to the winding and a motor output terminal coupled to the other end of the winding, the mechanism comprising:

a motor-rated relay, the relay having a signal input terminal for receiving an input signal, a neutral terminal, a voltage input terminal for connection to line voltage, and a voltage output terminal connected to the motor input terminal, the voltage input terminal being selectively connected to the voltage output terminal in response to the input signal; and

a sensing device having a sensor input terminal and a sensor output terminal, the sensor input terminal being directly connected to the voltage input terminal and the sensor output terminal being directly connected to the signal input terminal.

2. The control mechanism claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensing device is selected from the group comprising a photosensor, a fluid-level switch, an air-pressure switch, a temperature sensor and a manually-operated switch.

3. The control mechanism claimed in claim 1, wherein said relay and said sensing device are housed within a waterproof enclosure.

4. The control mechanism claimed in claim 1, wherein said motor-rated relay is housed within a connection enclosure and said sensing device is housed within a sensing enclosure remote from the connection enclosure, the mechanism further including:

a cable having one end located within the connection enclosure and the other end located within the sensing enclosure, said cable including a first conductor, a second conductor and a ground wire, said first conductor having one end directly connected to the voltage input terminal and the other end directly connected to the sensor input terminal, and said second conductor having one end directly connected to the signal input terminal and the other end directly connected to the sensor output terminal.

5. The control mechanism claimed in claim 4, wherein said cable is at least two meters in length.

6. The control mechanism claimed in claim 1, wherein said motor is a single speed motor.

7. The control mechanism claimed in claim 1, wherein said motor is a two-speed motor having a high-speed winding and a low-speed winding, and wherein said motor input terminal includes a high-speed input terminal and a low-speed input terminal, and wherein the relay includes a high-speed voltage output terminal and a low-speed voltage output terminal, said low-speed voltage output terminal being selectively disconnected from said voltage input terminal and said high-speed voltage output terminal being selectively connected to said voltage input terminal in response to the input signal.

8. A pump for a pool having an automatic control system, comprising:

a pump;

a fractional horsepower electric motor operatively coupled to the pump for providing energy to the pump, the motor including a motor winding and having a motor input terminal coupled to one end of the winding for supplying current to the winding and a motor output terminal coupled to the other end of the winding;

a motor-rated relay, the relay having a signal input terminal for receiving an input signal, a neutral terminal, a voltage input terminal for connection to line voltage, and a voltage output terminal connected to the motor input terminal, the voltage input terminal being selectively connected to the voltage output terminal in response to the input signal; and

a sensing device having a sensor input terminal and a sensor output terminal, the sensor input terminal being directly connected to the voltage input terminal and the sensor output terminal being directly connected to the signal input terminal.

9. The pool pump claimed in claim 8, wherein said sensing device is selected from the group comprising a photosensor, a fluid-level switch, an air-pressure switch, a temperature sensor and a manually-operated switch.

10. The pool pump claimed in claim 8, wherein said relay and said sensing device are housed within a waterproof enclosure.

11. The pool pump claimed in claim 8, wherein said motor-rated relay is housed within a connection enclosure and said sensing device is housed within a sensing enclosure remote from the connection enclosure, the mechanism further including:

a cable having one end located within the connection enclosure and the other end located within the sensing enclosure, said cable including a first conductor, a second conductor and a ground wire, said first conductor having one end directly connected to the voltage input terminal and the other end directly connected to the sensor input terminal, and said second conductor having one end directly connected to the signal input terminal and the other end directly connected to the sensor output terminal.

12. The pool pump claimed in claim 11, wherein said cable is at least two meters in length.

13. The pool pump claimed in claim 8, wherein said motor is a single speed motor.

14. The pool pump claimed in claim 8, wherein said motor is a two-speed motor having a high-speed winding and a low-speed winding, and wherein said motor input terminal includes a high-speed input terminal and a low-speed input terminal, and wherein the relay includes a high-speed voltage output terminal and a low-speed voltage output terminal, said low-speed voltage output terminal being selectively disconnected from said voltage input terminal and said high-speed voltage output terminal being selectively connected to said voltage input terminal in response to the input signal.