Wastewater fluid level sensing and control system

• US 7,746,237 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2008
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: S.J. Electro Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Chandler Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Wolfe, Aaron R., Chandler, William D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr.; John A
• Application Number:
  US12/340,703
• Time in Patent Office: 556 Days
• Field of Search: 340/618, 340/612, 340/620, 340/525, 340/562, 341/20, 341/21, 341/33, 700/17
• US Class Current: 340/618
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/14 by measurement of pressure

Abstract

A wastewater fluid level sensing and control system is provided. The system comprises a control panel, a reservoir, at least one pump and a fluid level sensing device. The control panel comprises a housing and user interface input and output devices for use with configuring the operation of the control panel. The control panel may be configured to turn on one or more of the pumps to lower the level of fluid in the reservoir. When the level is above a selectable level, the control panel is operative to cause at least one alarm signal to be output.

Claims

1. A control panel apparatus for a wastewater system comprising:

a housing;

at least one processor mounted within the housing, wherein the at least one processor is adapted to receive at least one condition signal representative of a condition associated with a reservoir comprising a fluid;

at least one alarm output device in operative connection with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive to the at least one condition signal to cause the at least one alarm output device to output an alarm signal; and

at least one relay mounted within the housing, wherein the at least one relay is operative to open and close at least one AC circuit which is operative to power run windings and start windings of at least one motor of at least one pump, wherein the at least one pump is operative to change a depth level of the fluid level in the reservoir, wherein the at least one processor is operative to monitor levels of current associated with the run windings, wherein responsive to a monitored level of current associated with the run windings corresponding to a predetermined level, the at least one processor is operative to cause the at least one AC circuit to remove power from the start windings while the AC circuit continues to power the run windings.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the at least one relay to at least one of open and close the at least one AC circuit responsive to the at least one condition signal and responsive to at least one of current and voltage of the at least one AC circuit being within a predetermined amount of time of a cross-over point.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing complies with at least the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) 4X standard for fluid penetrations.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one input device in operative connection with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one input device is operative to specify at least one alarm level, wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the at least one alarm to output the alarm signal responsive to the at least one alarm level and the at least one condition signal.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the housing includes an opening and a door that is operative to close the opening, wherein the housing further includes a sub-door in hinged connection with an inside portion of the housing, wherein at least a portion of the at least one processor is mounted to the sub-door.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

the reservoir;

the at least one pump including the at least one motor; and

at least one fluid level sensing device positioned within the reservoir and in operative connection with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one condition signal is produced responsive to the at least one fluid level sensor device and is representative of the depth level of the fluid in the reservoir.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the at least one fluid level sensing device comprises a pressure bell positioned in the reservoir.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the at least one fluid level sensing device comprises at least one float device positioned in the reservoir.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine an amount of time that has elapsed after AC power is applied to the start windings, wherein the at least one processor is further operative to remove power from the start windings when the determined amount of time that has elapsed exceeds a predetermined amount of time.

10. A method comprising:

a) monitoring at least one condition signal with at least one processor of a control panel apparatus, which at least one condition signal corresponds to a depth level of a fluid in a reservoir, wherein the apparatus includes at least one relay operative to open and close at least one AC circuit operative to power run windings and start windings of at least one motor of at least one pump;

b) determining with the at least one processor that the at least one condition signal corresponds to at least one predetermined condition associated with the fluid in the reservoir;

c) responsive to (b) controlling operation of the at least one pump to change the depth level of the fluid level in the reservoir, including;

i) causing with the at least one processor, the at least one relay to close the at least one AC circuit;

ii) determining with the at least one processor that a level of current associated with the run windings corresponds to a predetermined level; and

iii) responsive to (ii) causing with the at least one processor, the at least one AC circuit to remove power from the start windings while the AC circuit continues to power the run windings.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein (c) includes

iv) determining with the at least one processor that at least one of current and voltage associated with the at least one AC circuit is within a predetermined amount of time of a cross-over point;

v) causing with the at least one processor the at least one relay to open the at least one AC circuit responsive to (iv) and remove power to the run windings.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein (c) further includes:

vi) prior to i), determining with the at least one processor that at least one of current and voltage associated with the at least one AC circuit is within the predetermined amount of time of a cross-over point;

wherein (i) is carried out responsive to (vi).

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein in (ii) the predetermined level of current corresponds to the at least one motor of the at least one pump operating at least at 75% of full speed.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

d) responsive to (b) causing with the at least one processor, at least one alarm output device in operative connection with the apparatus to output an alarm signal.