Pumping system with two way communication

• US 7,854,597 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2006
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Danfoss Power Electronics A/S (Danfoss A/S), Pentair Water Pool And Spa Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Danfoss Low Power Drives, Pentair Water Pool And Spa Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Murphy, Kevin, Berthelsen, Lars Hoffmann, Yahnker, Christopher R., Brown, Edward, Dunn, Dennis, Hruby, Daniel J., Morando, Alberto, Robol, Ronald B., Runarsson, Einar Kjartan, MacCallum, David, Clack, Kenneth N., Stiles, Robert W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kramer; Devon C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weinstein; Leonard J
• Application Number:
  US11/608,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20070154322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 417/44.1, 417/44.11, 417/45, 210/167.01, 210/167.1, 210/167.14, 450/8, 450/9
• US Class Current: 417/44.11
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1245 Recirculating pumps for swimming pool water
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1281 Devices for distributing chemical products in the water of swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/129 Systems for heating the water content of swimming pools solar collectors using pools F24S10/17, F24S10/10; by solar radiation F24S20/02
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/148 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/103 Responsive to speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/20 by changing the driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/06 the pump being electrically driven
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0066 by changing the speed, e.g. of the driving engine
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0077 Safety measures F04D15/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/004 by varying driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49817 with other than ancillary treating or assembling

Abstract

A pumping system for moving water of a swimming pool includes a water pump, a variable speed motor, and an arrangement for controlling the variable speed motor. The pumping system further includes an auxiliary device operably connected to the arrangement for controlling, and an arrangement for providing two-way communication between the arrangement for controlling and the auxiliary device. The arrangement for controlling is capable of receiving a parameter from the auxiliary device through the arrangement for providing two-way communication. In one example, the arrangement for controlling is capable of independently controlling the variable speed motor without receipt of a parameter from the auxiliary device. In addition or alternatively, the arrangement for controlling is operable to selectively alter operation of the motor based upon the parameter. In addition or alternatively, the arrangement for controlling is configured to optimize a power consumption of the variable speed motor over time based upon the parameters received. A method for controlling the pumping system is also provided.

Claims

1. A pumping system for at least one aquatic application, the pumping system receiving information from a user, the pumping system comprising:

a pump;

a motor coupled to the pump;

a control system operating as a master controller, the control system including an automation system, the control system including a remote keypad and display connected to the automation system; and

a pump controller located remotely from the control system, the pump controller coupled to at least one of the pump and the motor, the pump controller operating as a slave controller when connected to the control system,

the pump controller in digital communication with the motor and the control system,

the pump controller transmitting information to and receiving information from the control system over at least one communication link,

the pump controller operating the motor to substantially optimize energy consumption based on the information entered into the remote keypad by the user and received from the control system,

the pump controller operating independently to control the motor to optimize energy consumption when disconnected from the control system.

2. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the pumping system performs a number of turnovers of the at least one aquatic application in a predetermined amount of time.

3. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the at least one communication link includes a cable that is at least one of insulated, shielded, water tight, and includes two wires.

4. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the at least one communication link includes a wireless link.

5. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the at least one communication link includes at least one computer network.

6. The pumping system of claim 5, wherein the at least one computer network includes at least one of a local area network, a wide area network, and the Internet.

7. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the pump controller receives a desired operation of the pumping system from the control system.

8. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the pump controller transmits an operational status of the pumping system to the control system.

9. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the pump controller transmits data to the control system and receives data from the control system based on a serial communication specification.

10. The pumping system of claim 9, wherein the serial communication specification includes at least one of RS-232 and RS-485.

11. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the pump controller transmits problem data for at least one component of the pumping system to the control system.

12. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the pump controller receives service data for at least one component of the pumping system from the control system.

13. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the at least one communication link provides at least one of half-duplex and full-duplex communication.

14. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the information received from the control system includes at least one of flow rate, pressure, motor speed, power consumption, filter loading, chemical levels, water temperature, alarms, operational states, time, energy cost, turnovers per day, and relay or switch positions.

15. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the pump controller is capable of operating the motor without receipt of information from the control system.

16. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the pump controller selectively alters operation of the motor based on the information received from the control system.

17. The pumping system of claim 16, wherein the pump controller ignores a request for increased flow rate from the control system during at least one of a backwash cycle and a lock out state.

18. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the pump controller automatically switches between independent control and slave control depending on whether a data cable is connected to the pump controller.

19. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the pump controller operates the motor at a minimum flow rate required to maintain adequate filtration until a higher flow rate is required by a different water operation.

20. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the pump controller optimizes operation of the motor based on actual performance data received from the control system.

21. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the pump controller delays operation of an automatic pool cleaner until after a filter has been cleaned.

22. The pumping system of claim 1, and further comprising at least one remote auxiliary device in communication with at least one of the control system and the pump controller.

23. The pumping system of claim 22, wherein the at least one remote auxiliary device includes at least one of a water heating device, a chemical dispersion device, and a water dispersion device.

24. The pumping system of claim 22, wherein the at least one remote auxiliary device includes at least one of a filter, a second pump, and a vacuum device.

25. The pumping system of claim 22, wherein the at least one remote auxiliary device includes a user interface to reprogram operating parameters.

26. The pumping system of claim 25, wherein the user interface includes at least one of a remote keypad, and a personal computer.

27. The pumping system of claim 25, wherein the user interface includes a visual display.

28. The pumping system of claim 27, wherein the visual display displays at least one of an operational status of the pumping system and an acknowledgement of commands send to the controller.

29. The pumping system of claim 22, wherein the at least one remote auxiliary device includes at least one of a valve and a switch.

30. The pumping system of claim 22, wherein the at least one remote auxiliary device includes a lighting device for providing illumination to the at least one aquatic application.

31. The pumping system of claim 22, wherein the at least one remote auxiliary device includes at least one of a relay, a sensor, and a timing device.

32. The pumping system of claim 22, wherein the at least one remote auxiliary device includes a communication panel.

33. The pumping system of claim 22, wherein the at least one remote auxiliary device includes a heater, wherein the information received from the control system is that the heater is operating or needs to operate, and wherein the pump controller alters the performance of the pumping system to provide an increased flow rate necessary for proper operation of the heater.

34. The pumping system of claim 22, wherein the pump controller determines which operation of at least two remote auxiliary devices to perform first and for how long to perform each operation.