Controller for a motor and a method of controlling the motor

• US 8,133,034 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2006
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc. (Regal Rexnord Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Regal Beloit Epc Inc. (Regal Rexnord Corp.)
• Inventors: Mehlhorn, William L., Branecky, Brian T., Bartos, Ronald P., O'Brien, Steve D., Richardson, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Kramer, Devon C
• Assistant Examiner(s): STIMPERT, PHILIP EARL
• Application Number:
  US11/348,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20060127227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,226 Days
• Field of Search: 417/53, 417/44.11, 318/434
• US Class Current: 417/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0033 by draining-off pumps, nozzles, waterlines by gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0176 By stopping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/005 Electrical circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0066 by changing the speed, e.g. of the driving engine
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0236 Lack of liquid level being detected by analysing the parameters of the electric drive, e.g. current or power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/004 by varying driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A method of controlling a motor operating a pumping apparatus of a fluid-pumping application. The pumping apparatus includes a pump having an inlet to receive a fluid and an outlet to exhaust the fluid, and the motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump. The method includes the acts of controlling the motor to operate the pump and monitoring the operation of the pump. The monitoring act includes monitoring a power of the motor, and determining whether the monitored power indicates an undesired flow of fluid through the pump. The method further includes the act of controlling the motor to cease operation of the pump when the determination indicates an undesired flow of fluid through the pump and zero or more other conditions exist.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a pumping apparatus for a jetted-fluid system comprising a vessel for holding a fluid, a drain, and a return, the pumping apparatus comprising

a pump having an inlet fluidly connectable to the drain to receive the fluid, and an outlet fluidly connectable to the return to exhaust the fluid, and

a motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump, the method comprising:

determining a power calibration value for the motor, the power calibration value being calculated using at least one of a value for a motor current and a value for a motor voltage;

initiating a first mode of operation for the pumping apparatus;

controlling the motor to controllably operate the pump to pump the fluid during the first mode of operation;

monitoring an electrical characteristic of the motor power when operating the pump during the first mode of operation;

receiving a user-initiated monitoring interrupt signal;

initiating a second mode of operation in response to receiving the user-initiated monitoring interrupt signal;

ceasing the monitoring of the electrical characteristic of the motor power during the second mode of operation;

controlling the motor to controllably operate the pump to pump the fluid during the second mode of operation;

reinitiating the first mode of operation;

determining, during the first mode of operation, a power value having a relation to the electrical characteristic of the motor power; and

initiating, during the first mode of operation and not the second mode of operation, a fault mode when the power value is a predetermined percentage of the power calibration value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring a power of the motor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises determining whether the monitored electrical characteristic of the motor power indicates a condition of the pump, and wherein the controlling the motor during the first mode of operation is based on the condition of the pump.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the condition is a desired flow of fluid through the pump, and wherein the controlling the motor includes allowing continued operation of the pump when determining the monitored electrical characteristic of the motor power indicates the desired flow of fluid through the pump.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the condition is an undesired flow of fluid through the pump, and wherein the controlling the motor includes preventing continued operation of the pump when determining the monitored electrical characteristic of the motor power indicates the undesired flow of fluid through the pump.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the reinitiating the first mode of operation occurs a time period after receiving the user-initiated monitoring interrupt signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises receiving a user-initiated monitoring signal, and wherein the reinitiating the first mode of operation occurs in response to receiving the user-initiated monitoring signal.

8. A method of controlling a pumping apparatus for a jetted-fluid system comprising a vessel for holding a fluid, a drain, and a return, the pumping apparatus comprising

a pump having an inlet fluidly connectable to the drain to receive the fluid, and an outlet fluidly connectable to the return to exhaust the fluid, and

a motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump, the method comprising:

determining a calibration value for an electrical characteristic of the motor power, the calibration value being calculated using at least one of a value for a motor current and a value for a motor voltage;

initiating a first mode of operation for the pumping apparatus;

controlling the motor to controllably operate the pump to pump the fluid during the first mode of operation;

monitoring the electrical characteristic of the motor power when operating the pump during the first mode of operation;

determining whether the monitored electrical characteristic of the motor power indicates a condition of the pump and further controlling the motor based on the condition of the pump;

initiating during the first mode of operation, a fault mode when the monitored electrical characteristic of the motor power is a predetermined percentage of the calibration value;

receiving a user-initiated control interrupt signal;

initiating a second mode of operation based on the user-initiated control interrupt signal;

controlling the motor to controllably operate the pump to pump the fluid during the second mode of operation;

monitoring the electrical characteristic of the motor power when operating the pump during the second mode of operation;

further controlling the motor without regard for a value of the monitored electrical characteristic of the motor power during the second mode of operation such that control of the motor will not be altered if the condition of the pump is indicated; and

reinitiating the first mode of operation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the monitoring during the first and second modes comprises monitoring a value of the motor power.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the condition is a desired flow of fluid through the pump, and wherein the controlling the motor during the first mode of operation includes allowing continued operation of the pump when determining the monitored electrical characteristic of the motor power indicates the desired flow of fluid through the pump.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the condition is an undesired flow of fluid through the pump, and wherein the controlling the motor during the first mode of operation includes preventing continued operation of the pump when determining the monitored electrical characteristic of the motor power indicates the undesired flow of fluid through the pump.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the reinitiating the first mode of operation occurs a time period after receiving the user-initiated control interrupt signal.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises receiving a user-initiated control signal, and wherein the reinitiating the first mode of operation occurs in response to receiving the user-initiated control signal.