Fluid transfer system and method for transferring fluid

• US 7,442,014 B1
• Filed: 10/28/2004
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Case Crowther, Mark Wayne Mellinger, Melvyn Wayne Mellinger, Paul Craig Mellinger
• Original Assignee: Case Crowther, Mark Wayne Mellinger, Melvyn Wayne Mellinger, Paul Craig Mellinger
• Inventors: Mellinger, Paul Craig, Crowther, Case, Mellinger, Mark Wayne, Mellinger, Melvyn Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Kramer; Devon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weinstein; Leonard J
• Application Number:
  US10/975,776
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 417/15, 417/18, 417/32, 417/36, 417/38, 417/42, 417/43, 417/44.1, 417/63, 417/360, 417/423, 417/3, 417/423.7, 417/423.8, 417/423.14, 417/423.15, 417/423.1, 417/366, 137/381, 432/1, 466/2, 361/676, 361/677
• US Class Current: 417/423.1
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 1/06 Multi-stage pumps F04D1/02, F04D13/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/06 the pump being electrically driven
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/0686 Mechanical details of the pump control unit pump control F04D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/16 with storage reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0066 by changing the speed, e.g. of the driving engine

Abstract

A fluid transfer systems described herein. The fluid transfer system generally includes a centrifugal multistage pump, a holding tank for holding the fluid operably connected to the pump body via a first conduit, an inlet for receiving the fluid, wherein the fluid is pressurized to form the pressurized fluid, a manifold for passing the pressurized fluid to a second location and an outlet for receiving fluid operably connected to the manifold.

Claims

1. A fluid transfer system comprising:

a. a centrifugal multistage stage pump with a first stage and a second stage adapted to use between 10 and 60 volts of input power comprising;

i. a pump body comprising a longitudinal axis, a pump inlet for receiving a fluid from a first location, and a pump outlet for discharging a pressurized fluid to a second location;

ii. a hydraulic assembly disposed within the pump body and adapted to pressurize the fluid to form the pressurized fluid comprising;

aa. a first stage comprising a first diffuser and a first impeller; and

bb. a second stage comprising a second diffuser and a second impeller, wherein the pressurized fluid flows centrifugally from the first diffuser to the second diffuser;

iii. a motor operably connected to the first impeller and the second impeller;

iv. a first circuit board inverter disposed within the pump body;

v. a microcontroller disposed on the first circuit board inverter, wherein the microcontroller comprises an operating system with memory and is adapted to control the motor;

vi. a pressure transducer disposed within the pump body;

vii. a heat sink having a first side in contact with the first circuit board inverter and a second side in contact with the pressurized fluid, wherein the heat sink is adapted for removing heat from the first circuit board inverter and transferring it to the pressurized fluid;

viii. a control panel operably connected to the first circuit board inverter and the microcontroller;

ix. a mounting system adapted for rotation of the pump body around the longitudinal axis; and

x. software imbedded within the memory comprising;

aa. protection features adapted for emergency shutoff;

bb. monitoring features adapted for monitoring pressure, temperature and power levels;

cc. control features adapted for controlling the starting, the stopping and the speed of the motor;

b. a holding tank for holding the fluid operably connected to the pump body via a first conduit;

c. an inlet for receiving the fluid, wherein the fluid is pressurized to form the pressurized fluid;

d. a manifold for passing the pressurized fluid to the second location; and

e. an outlet for receiving the pressurized fluid operably connected to the manifold.

2. The fluid transfer system of claim 1, wherein the motor is a three phase motor.

3. The fluid transfer system of claim 1, wherein the motor is an AC 9 volt brushless motor.

4. The fluid transfer system of claim 1, wherein the first circuit board inverter comprises a 24 volt DC inverter, a 12 volt DC inverter or a 9 volt AC inverter.

5. The fluid transfer system of claim 1, wherein the pressure transducer is formed of a ceramic material.

6. The fluid transfer system of claim 1, wherein the pressure transducer comprises a speed controller.

7. The fluid transfer system of claim 1, wherein the software comprises power settings.

8. The fluid transfer system of claim 1, wherein the protection features comprise a dry run feature, an over voltage feature or combinations thereof.

9. The fluid transfer system of claim 1, wherein a hydraulic performance feature includes a variance feature adapted for varying the revolutions per minute for constant power.

10. A method for transferring fluid from a vessel comprising:

a. introducing fluid to a fluid inlet;

b. passing at least a portion of fluid from the fluid inlet to a centrifugal multistage stage pump with a first stage and a second stage adapted to use between 10 and 60 volts of input power comprising;

i. a pump body comprising a longitudinal axis, an inlet for receiving a fluid from a first location and the outlet for discharging a pressurized fluid to a second location;

ii. a hydraulic assembly disposed within the pump body and adapted to pressurize the fluid to form a pressurized fluid comprising;

aa. a first stage comprising a first diffuser and a first impeller; and

bb. a second stage comprising a second diffuser and a second impeller, wherein the pressurized fluid flows centrifugally from the first diffuser to the second diffuser;

iii. a motor operably connected to the first impeller and the second impeller;

iv. a first circuit board inverter disposed within the pump body;

v. a microcontroller disposed on the first circuit board inverter, wherein the microcontroller comprises an operating system with memory and is adapted to control the motor;

vi. a pressure transducer disposed within the pump body;

vii. a heat sink having a first side in contact with the first circuit board inverter and a second side in contact with the pressurized fluid, wherein the heat sink is adapted for removing heat from the first circuit board inverter and transferring it to the pressurized fluid;

viii. a control panel operably connected to the first circuit board inverter and the microcontroller;

ix. a mounting system adapted for rotation of the pump body around the longitudinal axis; and

x. software imbedded within the memory comprising;

aa. protection features adapted for emergency shutoff;

bb. monitoring features adapted for monitoring pressure, temperature and power levels;

cc. control features adapted for controlling the starting, the stopping and the speed of the motor;

c. combining the at least a portion of the fluid with a waste product to form a waste stream;

d. passing at least a portion of the waste stream though a conduit to a holding tank; and

e. discharging the at least a portion of the waste stream from the vessel through a vessel outlet.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the vessel comprises an RV, boat or platform.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the motor is a three phase motor.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the motor is an AC 9 volt brushless motor.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the first circuit board inverter comprises a 24 volt DC inverter, a 12 volt DC inverter or a 9 volt AC inverter.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the pressure transducer is formed of a ceramic material.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the pressure transducer comprises a speed controller.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the software comprises power settings.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the protection features comprise a dry run feature, an over voltage feature or combinations thereof.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein a hydraulic performance feature includes a variance feature adapted for varying the revolutions per minute for constant power.