Sump pump remote monitoring systems and methods

• US 9,638,193 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2012
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pentair Flow Technologies LLC (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Pentair Flow Technologies LLC (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Bishop, Michael B., Ambrose, Jeffrey C., Boese, Thomas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hamo, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US13/660,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20140119947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,650 Days
• Field of Search: 417 36, 417 38, 417 40, 417 442, 417411, 307 66
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/03 driven by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/06 Mobile combinations
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2203/0209 Rotational speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/021 the pump being immersed in the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/08 Regulating by delivery pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/00 Control, e.g. regulation, of pumps, pumping installations or systems
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0072 Installation or systems with two or more pumps, wherein the flow path through the stages can be changed, e.g. series-parallel
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/18 Indicating, recording or alarm devices actuated electrically
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

Systems and methods for sump pump remote monitoring can include control circuitry integrated into a portable housing, with a backup sump pump connected to the control circuitry. The control circuitry can be powered by a line power and when the line power is not available, the control circuitry can be powered by a battery power. The control circuitry can be connected to a control panel, and the control circuitry can include a pressure transducer, the pressure transducer to measure a pressure in a fluid level sensor, and based on the measured pressure, the control circuitry to adjust the speed of the backup sump pump. A wireless controller can be connected to the control circuitry, the wireless controller for wirelessly receiving monitoring instructions and wirelessly transmitting backup sump pump status data, with the control circuitry providing an indication of the backup sump pump status data to the control panel.

Claims

1. A backup sump pump remote monitoring system comprising:

control circuitry integrated into a portable housing, the backup sump pump connected to the control circuitry, the control circuitry to be powered by a line power and when the line power is not available, the control circuitry to be powered by a battery power, the control circuitry including a pressure transducer, the pressure transducer to measure a pressure in a fluid level sensor indicating a change a fluid level that indicates whether the fluid level is rising or falling, and based on the measured pressure and the change in the fluid level, the control circuitry adjusts a speed of the backup sump pump;

a pulse width modulator, the pulse width modulator connected to the control circuitry and the backup sump pump, the pulse width modulator to provide a pulse width modulated signal to the backup sump pump, wherein the control circuitry monitors a relative current draw of the backup sump pump by measuring a pulse width of the pulse width modulated signal provided to the backup sump pump to indicate a fault; and

a wireless controller connected to the control circuitry, the wireless controller for wirelessly receiving monitoring instructions and wirelessly transmitting backup sump pump status data and an indication of the backup sump pump status data based on the relative current draw, the control circuitry providing an indication of the backup sump pump status data to a remote user device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote user device is a smartphone.

3. A backup sump pump remote monitoring system comprising:

control circuitry integrated into a portable housing, the backup sump pump connected to the control circuitry, the control circuitry to be powered by a line power and when the line power is not available, the control circuitry to be powered by a battery power;

a pulse width modulator, the pulse width modulator connected to the control circuitry and the backup sump pump, the pulse width modulator to provide a pulse width modulated signal to the backup sump pump, wherein the control circuitry monitors a relative current draw of the backup sump pump by measuring a pulse width of the pulse width modulated signal provided to the backup sump pump; and

a wireless controller connected to the control circuitry, the wireless controller for wirelessly receiving monitoring instructions and wirelessly transmitting backup sump pump status data, the control circuitry providing an indication of the backup sump pump status data to the control panel.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the portable housing comprises a first half and a second half, one of the first half and the second half including a heat sink.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the wireless controller wirelessly transmits backup sump pump status data only if the wireless controller is first queried by a remote device.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the control circuitry measures a pulse width of the pulse width modulated signal provided to the backup sump pump, and the wireless controller provides the indication of the backup sump pump status data based on the measured pulse width.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the control circuit determines if the backup sump pump is running at a best efficiency point.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the control circuit adjusts the speed of the backup sump pump to allow the backup sump pump to run at the best efficiency point.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the control circuit performs the steps of

determining if the fluid level is falling;

and

(a) if the water level is falling, determining if the speed of the backup sump pump is at the best efficiency point and if the speed of the backup sump pump is not at the best efficiency point, decreasing the speed of the backup sump pump;

or

(b) if the water level is not falling, determining if the speed of the backup sump pump is at a maximum speed and, if the speed is not at the maximum speed, increasing the speed of the backup pump.