Pump connector system

• US 7,307,538 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2005
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Metropolitan Industries, Inc. (Emecole Metro, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Metropolitan Industries, Inc. (Emecole Metro, LLC)
• Inventors: Kochan, John R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US11/100,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20060226997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 340/604, 340/605, 340/612, 340/616, 340/618, 340/620, 340/623, 340/679, 361/752, 361/756, 361/775, 417/14, 417/40, 417/63
• US Class Current: 340/618
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0077 Safety measures F04D15/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0218 the condition being a liquid level or a lack of liquid supply

Abstract

A single pump control unit can be coupled to first and second float switches and a pump for purposes of removing fluid from a region such as a sump. A supplemental set of contacts can be provided to couple an alarm indicating signal to a remote alarm. An alarm state can also be transmitted wirelessly.

Claims

1. A pump control device comprising:

a pump output connector;

an alarm output connector;

a fluid level switch connector;

an alarm switch connector;

control circuitry responsive to a signal from at least the alarm connector to couple electrical energy to the pump output connector and to the alarm output connector;

a housing which carries the connectors and the circuitry;

first and second switching circuits, each switching circuit coupled between the control circuitry and one of the output connectors; and

a conductive element having first and second free ends and engageable with a portion of the fluid level switch conductor to couple an electrical signal through a level indicating switch to the switch connector, wherein

one switching circuit responds only to a signal from the alarm switch connector while the other responds to signals from either of the fluid level indicating switch connector or the alarm switch connector.

2. A device as in claim 1 where the one switching circuit causes an electrical change of state at the alarm output connector at about the same time that an alarm indicator, carried by the housing is activated to indicate an alarm condition.

3. A pump control device comprising:

a pump output connector;

an alarm output connector;

a fluid level switch connector;

an alarm switch connector;

control circuitry responsive to a signal from at least the alarm connector to couple electrical energy to the pump output connector and to the alarm output connector;

a housing which carries the connectors and the circuitry; and

first and second switching circuits, each switching circuit coupled between the control circuitry and one of the output connectors, wherein

one switching circuit responds only to a signal from the alarm switch connector while the other responds to signals from either of the fluid level indicating switch connector or the alarm switch connector.

4. A device as in claim 3 where the one switching circuit causes an electrical change of state at the alarm output connector at about the same time that an alarm indicator, carried by the housing is activated to indicate an alarm condition.