Drain safety and pump control device
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a fluid containment and circulation system having a fluid receptacle with a fluid outlet through which fluid exits the receptacle, a fluid inlet for returning fluid to the receptacle, a pump that moves the fluid from the fluid outlet through a filter to the fluid inlet, a suction conduit providing fluid communication between the fluid outlet and the pump and a return conduit providing fluid communication between the pump and the fluid inlet, a vacuum sensor for sensing a level of vacuum present in the suction conduit and producing a corresponding output, a vent valve having at least two positions, a first position which fluidly connects the suction conduit to matter outside the suction conduit and a second position which isolates the suction conduit from matter outside the suction conduit and a programmed computer, comprising the steps of:
- (A) storing at least one vacuum criteria and an operator-determined pump schedule in said computer;
(B) receiving the output of said vacuum sensor in said computer;
(C) comparing the vacuum sensor output to the at least one vacuum criteria;
(D) selectively generating control outputs to said vent valve as determined by the computer to determine the position of said vent valve and to control the operation of the pump, based upon said vacuum sensor output;
(E) periodically checking the time and comparing it to the pump schedule to determine an operator-determined operational state of the pump for that time and controlling the operational state of the pump accordingly, the pump having a plurality of running speeds for passing the fluid through the filter at a plurality of different rates, the operational state of the pump including the speed at which the pump runs, said at least one vacuum criteria having a plurality of values, a first corresponding to a first running speed of the pump and a second corresponding to a second running speed of the pump.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A drain protection device and pump controller for pools, spas, fountains and other fluid containment and circulation systems has a vacuum sensor for sensing a level of vacuum present in the suction conduit leading to the pump(s). The vacuum level is monitored by a computer that controls a vent valve that can vent to atmosphere to reduce the vacuum exerted at a drain. In applications with a flooded pump, e.g., above-ground pools, the vent valve may control the discharge of an accumulator that injects fluid pressurized by the return line into the suction conduit to reduce the vacuum therein. The computer also controls the pump(s) present in the circulation system, viz., turns them off to relieve vacuum when a drain is occluded and also runs them at the selected speed based upon a schedule. The vacuum criteria for vacuum reduction may include progressively sensitive values, some of which may be empirically based. Vacuum criteria may be maintained based upon the operational state of the circulation system, e.g., priming, stabilized running or cleaning. Low vacuum limits protect the pump(s) from dry running. A clogged vacuum conduit leading to the vacuum sensor is sensed based upon the presence of vacuum levels that are atypically constant and error processing invoked.
271 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a fluid containment and circulation system having a fluid receptacle with a fluid outlet through which fluid exits the receptacle, a fluid inlet for returning fluid to the receptacle, a pump that moves the fluid from the fluid outlet through a filter to the fluid inlet, a suction conduit providing fluid communication between the fluid outlet and the pump and a return conduit providing fluid communication between the pump and the fluid inlet, a vacuum sensor for sensing a level of vacuum present in the suction conduit and producing a corresponding output, a vent valve having at least two positions, a first position which fluidly connects the suction conduit to matter outside the suction conduit and a second position which isolates the suction conduit from matter outside the suction conduit and a programmed computer, comprising the steps of:
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(A) storing at least one vacuum criteria and an operator-determined pump schedule in said computer; (B) receiving the output of said vacuum sensor in said computer; (C) comparing the vacuum sensor output to the at least one vacuum criteria; (D) selectively generating control outputs to said vent valve as determined by the computer to determine the position of said vent valve and to control the operation of the pump, based upon said vacuum sensor output; (E) periodically checking the time and comparing it to the pump schedule to determine an operator-determined operational state of the pump for that time and controlling the operational state of the pump accordingly, the pump having a plurality of running speeds for passing the fluid through the filter at a plurality of different rates, the operational state of the pump including the speed at which the pump runs, said at least one vacuum criteria having a plurality of values, a first corresponding to a first running speed of the pump and a second corresponding to a second running speed of the pump. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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16. A method for controlling a fluid containment and circulation system having a fluid receptacle with a fluid outlet through which fluid exits the receptacle, a fluid inlet for returning fluid to the receptacle, a pump that moves the fluid from the fluid outlet to the fluid inlet, a suction conduit providing fluid communication between the fluid outlet and the pump and a return conduit providing fluid communication between the pump and the fluid inlet, a vacuum sensor for sensing a level of vacuum present in the suction conduit and producing a corresponding output, a vent valve having at least two positions, a first position which fluidly connects the suction conduit to matter outside the suction conduit and a second position which isolates the suction conduit from matter outside the suction conduit and a programmed computer, comprising the steps of:
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(A) storing at least one vacuum criteria in said computer; (B) receiving the output of said vacuum sensor in said computer; (C) comparing the vacuum sensor output to the at least one vacuum criteria; and (D) selectively generating control outputs to said vent valve as determined by the computer to determine the position of said vent valve and to control the operation of the pump, based upon said step (C) of comparing the vacuum sensor output to the at least one vacuum criteria;
(E) periodically varying the vent valve position by generating test control outputs to said vent valve independently of said steps (C) of comparing and (D) of selectively generating; and
(F) monitoring the vacuum level in response to said step (E) of periodically varying to test the operability of the vacuum sensor and the vent valve by verifying that said step (E) of periodically varying results in a change in vacuum sensor output. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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25. A method for controlling a fluid containment and circulation system having a fluid receptacle with a fluid outlet through which fluid exits the receptacle, a fluid inlet for returning fluid to the receptacle, a pump that moves the fluid from the fluid outlet to the fluid inlet, a suction conduit providing fluid communication between the fluid outlet and the pump and a return conduit providing fluid communication between the pump and the fluid inlet, a vacuum sensor for sensing a level of vacuum present in the suction conduit and producing a corresponding output, a vent valve having at least two positions, a first position which fluidly connects the suction conduit to matter outside the suction conduit and a second position which isolates the suction conduit from matter outside the suction conduit and a programmed computer, comprising the steps of:
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(A) storing at least one vacuum criteria in said computer; (B) receiving the output of said vacuum sensor in said computer; (C) comparing the vacuum sensor output to the at least one vacuum criteria; (D) selectively generating control outputs to said vent valve as determined by the computer to determine the position of said vent valve and to control the operation of the pump, based upon said vacuum sensor output, wherein the at least one vacuum criteria includes the constancy of the vacuum level; and (E) positioning the vent valve to the first position when the result of comparing a plurality of vacuum readings taken at different times indicates that the vacuum is constant in an operating mode typified by a varying vacuum level indicating an inoperable vacuum sensor. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 29, 30)
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Specification