User-interface for pump system

• US 9,354,636 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc. (Regal Rexnord Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc. (Regal Rexnord Corp.)
• Inventors: McKinzie, Marc C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shechtman, Sean
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garland, Steven
• Application Number:
  US13/832,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20140277775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/20 by changing the driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0617 specially adapted for fluid materials

Abstract

A pump system including a motor, a user-interface, and a controller. The user-interface having a single bar graph comprised of light-emitting diodes to provide visual feedback to an operator. The bar graph is used for programming purposes and for providing a motor speed and run duration status to the operator.

Claims

1. A method of receiving operator instruction for controlling a pump system, the pump system including a pump housing, a motor connected to the pump housing, and a user-interface including an indicator strip including a plurality of discrete lights, the user-interface further including a speed indicator, a duration indicator, a positive input, a negative input, and a stage input, the method comprising:

receiving a first input from the stage input;

activating the speed indicator;

receiving a stage speed input from at least one of the positive input and the negative input, the stage speed input representing a selected stage speed;

activating the indicator strip indicating the selected stage speed;

receiving a second input from the stage input;

activating the duration indicator;

receiving a stage duration input from at least one of the positive input and the negative input, the stage duration input representing a selected stage duration;

activating the indicator strip indicating the selected stage duration; and

operating the motor at the selected stage speed for the selected stage duration.

2. The method of claim 1, further including

receiving a third input from the stage input;

activating the speed indicator;

receiving a second stage speed input from at least one of the positive input and the negative input, the second stage speed input representing a second selected stage speed;

activating the indicator strip indicating the second selected stage speed;

receiving a fourth input from the stage input;

activating the duration indicator;

receiving a second stage duration input from at least one of the positive input and the negative input, the second stage duration input representing a second selected stage duration;

activating the indicator strip indicating the second selected stage duration; and

after completion of the selected stage duration, operating the motor based on the second selected stage speed and second selected stage duration.

3. The method of claim 1, further including

receiving a third input from a second stage input;

activating the speed indicator;

receiving a second stage speed input from at least one of the positive input and the negative input, the second stage speed input representing a second selected stage speed;

activating the indicator strip indicating the second selected stage speed;

receiving a fourth input from the second stage input;

activating the duration indicator;

receiving a second stage duration input from at least one of the positive input and the negative input, the second stage duration input representing a second selected stage duration;

activating the indicator strip indicating the second selected stage duration; and

after completion of the selected stage duration, operating the motor based on the second selected stage speed and second selected stage duration.

4. The method of claim 1, further including operating the motor upon activation of a start input.

5. The method of claim 1, further including stopping operation of the motor upon activation of a stop input.

6. A pump system comprising:

a pump housing;

a motor connected to the pump housing;

a user-interface including

an indicator strip with a plurality of discrete lights that indicate a selected pump speed and a selected pump duration,

a speed indicator,

a duration indicator,

a positive input,

a negative input, and

a stage input; and

a controller including a processor and a computer readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to

receive a first input from the stage input,

activate the speed indicator,

receive a stage speed input from at least one of the positive input and the negative input, the stage speed input representing a selected stage speed,

activate the indicator strip indicating the selected stage speed,

receive a second input from the stage input,

activate the duration indicator,

receive a stage duration input from at least one of the positive input and the negative input, the stage duration input representing a selected stage duration,

activate the indicator strip indicating the selected stage duration, and

operate the motor at the selected stage speed for the selected stage duration.

7. The controller of claim 6, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the controller to

receive a third input from the stage input;

activate the speed indicator;

receive a second stage speed input from at least one of the positive input and the negative input, the second stage speed input representing a selected second stage speed;

activate the indicator strip indicating the selected second stage speed;

receive a fourth input from the stage input;

activating the duration indicator;

receive a second stage duration input from at least one of the positive input and the negative input, the second stage duration input representing a selected second stage duration;

activate the indicator strip indicating the selected second stage duration; and

after completion of the selected stage duration, operate the motor at the selected second stage speed for selected second stage duration.

8. The controller of claim 6, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the controller to

receive a third input from a second stage input;

activate the speed indicator;

receive a second stage speed input from at least one of the positive input and the negative input, the second stage speed input representing a second selected stage speed;

activate the indicator strip indicating the second selected stage speed;

receive a fourth input from the second stage input;

activating the duration indicator;

receive a second stage duration input from at least one of the positive input and the negative input, the second stage duration input representing a second selected stage duration;

activate the indicator strip indicating the second selected stage duration; and

after completion of the selected stage duration, operate the motor at the second selected stage speed for second selected stage duration.

9. The user-interface of claim 6, further including a start input, wherein the controller operates the motor upon activation of the start input.

10. The user-interface of claim 6, further including a stop input, wherein the controller stops operation of the motor upon activation of the stop input.

11. The user-interface of claim 6, wherein the indicator strip is arranged in a linear or circular manner.

12. The user-interface of claim 6, further including an overlay membrane, wherein the overlay membrane labels the indicator strip, the positive input, the negative input, and the plurality of stage inputs.

13. The user-interface of claim 12, wherein the overlay membrane composed of one of a plastic material and a rubber material.

14. A pump system comprising:

a pump housing;

a motor connected to the pump housing;

a user-interface including

an indicator strip including a plurality of discrete lights that indicate a selected pump speed and a selected pump duration,

a speed indicator,

a duration indicator,

a positive input,

a negative input,

a first stage input,

a second stage input, and

a third stage input; and

a controller including a processor and a computer readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to

receive a first input from the first stage input,

activate the speed indicator,

receive a first stage speed input from at least one of the positive input and the negative input, the first stage speed input representing a first selected stage speed,

activate the indicator strip indicating the first selected stage speed,

receive a second input from the first stage input,

activate the duration indicator,

receive a first stage duration input from at least one of the positive input and the negative input, the first stage duration input representing a first selected stage duration,

activate the indicator strip indicating the first selected stage duration,

receive a third input from the second stage input, activate the speed indicator,

receive a second stage speed input from at least one of the positive input and the negative input, the second stage speed input representing a second selected stage speed,

activate the indicator strip indicating the second selected stage speed,

receive a fourth input from the second stage input,

activating the duration indicator,

receive a second stage duration input from at least one of the positive input and the negative input, the second stage duration input representing a second selected stage duration,

activate the indicator strip indicating the second selected stage duration,

receive a fifth input from the third stage input,

activate the duration indicator,

receive a third stage duration input from at least one of the positive input and the negative input, the third stage duration input representing a third selected stage duration,

activate the indicator strip indicating the third selected stage duration,

receive a sixth input from the third stage input,

activate the speed indicator,

receive a third stage speed input from at least one of the positive input and the negative input, the third stage speed input representing a third selected stage speed,

activate the indicator strip indicating the third selected stage speed,

operate the motor at the first selected stage speed for first selected stage duration,

after completion of the first selected stage duration, operate the motor at the second selected stage speed for second selected stage duration, and

after completion of the second selected stage duration operate motor at the third selected stage speed for the third selected stage duration.

15. The user-interface of claim 14, wherein the indicator strip is arranged in a linear or circular manner.

16. The user-interface of claim 14, further including an overlay membrane, wherein the overlay membrane labels the indicator strip, the positive input, the negative input, and the plurality of stage inputs.

17. The user-interface of claim 16, wherein the overlay membrane composed of one of a plastic material and a rubber material.

18. The user-interface of claim 14, further including a start input, wherein the controller operates the motor upon activation of the start input.

19. The user-interface of claim 14, further including a stop input, wherein the controller stops operation of the motor upon activation of the stop input.