Electronically controlled hot water recirculation pump with data logging

• US 9,207,682 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2013
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taco, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taco, Inc.
• Inventors: McNamara, Michael E., Kellicker, Robert, Gonzales, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Fennema, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITTINGTON, ANTHONY T
• Application Number:
  US14/080,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20140074302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 700/282, 715/772, 137/2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 17/0078 Recirculation systems
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1051 for domestic hot water
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0617 specially adapted for fluid materials

Abstract

A water pump controlled by a microcontroller and operated to pump hot water for specific recirculation periods during a multi-day cycle. The recirculation periods are determined from hot water usage data logged by the microcontroller during a logging period occurring in the previous multi-day cycle. A preferred cycle is during a seven-day, or one-week, period.

Claims

1. A smart pump for a building hot water system comprising in combination:

a water pump mechanism;

a microcontroller comprising a data input for receiving data electronically from a sensor for sensing the flow of hot water through a hot water piping system, a time clock, a database for receiving, logging and recording data signals from a flow sensor indicating the times when a flow of hot water occurred during a pre-defined data logging time period, an operational connection to the water pump mechanism, and a software algorithm in the microcontroller for instructing the microcontroller to operate the water pump mechanism at predetermined times based upon the logged and recorded data signals;

the water pump mechanism automatically, operationally controlled by the microcontroller in accordance with the logged and recorded hot water flow times in the data pattern generated from occurrences of hot water flows logged by the microcontroller during the immediately prior pre-defined data logging period without further input from an operator, the water pump mechanism operating to recirculate hot water through the hot water system, the logging, recording and data pattern generation occurring during each pre-defined data logging period in order to update the logged usage pattern data on an ongoing basis; and

the micro-controller receiving logging and recording data signals during each successive pre-defined data logging time period and utilizing the recorded data signals from the flow sensor for automatically controlling the recirculation flow times for the next successive time period.

2. The smart pump of claim 1 further comprising an automatic operation switch coupled to the microcontroller for controlling the operation of the water pump mechanism.

3. The smart pump of claim 1 where a signal interface circuit couples the microcontroller to the water pump mechanism allowing the microcontroller to control the operation of the water pump mechanism.

4. The smart pump of claim 1 where the microcontroller has input ports for receiving signals from one or more sensors for detecting hot water flow by sensing a temperature change in the hot water system.

5. The smart pump of claim 1 where the microcontroller has input ports for receiving signals from one or more sensors for detecting hot water flow by directly sensing movement of the water through the hot water system.

6. The smart pump of claim 1 where the microcontroller is integrated with and housed within a single casing also housing the water pump mechanism.

7. The smart pump of claim 1 where the water pump mechanism comprises an electrically powered motor comprising a stator having a toroidal shape and a rotor concentrically located within the stator;

a central shaft connected to the rotor and having an outer end portion extending out from the rotor, and a centrifugal impeller driven by and supported on the central shaft;

the pump mechanism further comprises a cavity within the pump mechanism having an inlet to or outlet from the pump, the inlet, outlet and cavity being designed to be connected inline with the hot water system.

8. The smart pump of claim 7 wherein;

a sensor for determining if flow is occurring, in the hot water system, being located within the cavity, adjacent the inlet or outlet.

9. The smart pump of claim 8 where a sensor for detecting hot water flow is located in the inlet to the water pump mechanism.

10. The smart pump of claim 8 where a sensor for detecting hot water flow is located in the outlet from the water pump mechanism.