CONTROLLER FOR A MOTOR AND A METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE MOTOR

• US 20100232981A1
• Filed: 03/31/2010
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
• Inventors: Mehlhorn, William Louis, Branecky, Brian Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,360,736 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/12
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/00 Control, e.g. regulation, of pumps, pumping installations or systems
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0055 Rotors with adjustable blades
• 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

Abstract

A method of controlling a motor operating a pumping apparatus of a system includes determining a trip value for a parameter, floating the trip value, and monitoring the operation of the pump. Monitoring the operation of the pump includes determining a value for the parameter, comparing the value to the trip value, and determining whether the comparison indicates a condition of the pump. The method of controlling the motor also includes controlling the motor to operate the pump based on the condition of the pump.

Claims

1. A pumping apparatus for a jetted-fluid system comprising a vessel for holding a fluid, a drain, and a return, the pumping apparatus being connectable to a power source and comprising:

a pump comprising an inlet connectable to the drain, and an outlet connectable to the return, the pump adapted to receive the fluid from the drain and jet fluid through the return;

a motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump; and

a controller supported by the motor, the controller being configured to at least control the motor, the controller including a timer function configured to receive instructions indicating time periods related to at least one mode of operation of the controller.

2. The pumping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller includes an operator interface and is configured to operate the motor in a mode received through the operator interface, and wherein, in the mode, the timer function includes preprogrammed time periods for the controller to automatically control the operation of the motor.

3. The pumping apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to automatically control the motor to operate the pump between at least an ON state and an OFF state based upon the mode and the preprogrammed time periods.

4. The pumping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller includes an operator interface and is configured to operate the motor in a mode, and wherein, in the mode, the timer function is configured to receive one or more inputs through the operator interface and to control the motor to operate the pump for one period of time for each input instruction received from the operator interface.

5. The pumping apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to control the motor to inhibit operation of the pump until a user provides an input through the operator interface of the controller.

6. The pumping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller includes an operator interface including a switch configured to operate the controller between one or more modes of operation, wherein the timer function is related to the one or more modes of operation.

7. A method of controlling a motor operating a pumping apparatus of a jetted fluid system comprising a first vessel for holding a first fluid, a first drain supported by the first vessel, a first return supported by the first vessel, a second vessel for holding a second fluid, a second drain supported by the second vessel, and a second return supported by the second vessel, the pumping apparatus comprising

a pump having an inlet connectable to the first drain and the second drain, and an outlet connectable to the first return and the second return, the pump adapted to receive the first fluid and the second fluid from the first drain and the second drain, respectively, and jet fluid through the first return and the second return, and

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

operating the system in one of at least two states, the first state includes receiving the first fluid from the first drain, and the second state includes receiving the second fluid from the second drain;

determining a first trip value;

determining a second trip value;

determining a value related to a parameter for the motor;

comparing the value to the first trip value when in the first state;

comparing the value to the second trip value when in the second state;

determining whether at least one of the comparisons indicate a condition of the pump; and

controlling the motor to operate the pump based on the condition of the pump.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising sensing a signal indicating the pumping apparatus to operate in at least one of the first state and the second state.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising selectively controlling the motor to operate the pump based on the signal.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the parameter includes a motor input power.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the parameter includes a motor torque.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising

calibrating the motor to obtain a first calibration value when operating in the second state;

calibrating the motor to obtain a second calibration value when operating in the second state;

wherein the first value is based on the first calibration value and the second value is based on the second calibration value.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least two states includes a third state, wherein the system receives the first fluid from the first drain and the second fluid from the second drain concurrently, and wherein the method further comprises calibrating the motor to obtain a third calibration value when operating in the third state, determining a third trip value based on the third calibration value, and comparing the value to the third trip value when in the third state.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

floating the first trip value throughout continuous operation of the pump when the system is operating in the first state; and

floating the second trip value throughout continuous operation of the pump when the system is operating in the second state.

15. A pumping apparatus for a jetted-fluid system comprising a first vessel for holding a first fluid, a first drain supported by the first vessel, a first return supported by the first vessel, a second vessel for holding a second fluid, a second drain supported by the second vessel, and a second return supported by the second vessel, the pumping apparatus being connectable to a power source and comprising:

a pump having an inlet connectable to the first drain and the second drain, and an outlet connectable to the first return and the second return, the pump adapted to receive the first fluid and the second fluid from the first drain and the second drain, respectively, and jet fluid through the first return and the second return;

a motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump;

a sensor configured to generate a signal having a relation to a parameter of the motor;

a switch coupled to the motor and configured to control a characteristic of the motor; and

a microcontroller coupled to the sensor and the switch, the microcontroller configured to

operate the motor in one of at least two states, the first state including receiving the first fluid from the first drain, and the second state including receiving the second fluid from the second drain,

generate a value based on the signal,

compare the value to a first trip value when operating in the first state, and

compare the value to a second trip value when operating in the second state.

16. The pumping apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a sensor generating a signal instructing the microcontroller to operate the motor in one of the at least two states.

17. The pumping apparatus of claim 15, wherein the microcontroller is further configured to calibrate the motor to obtain a first calibration value when operating in the first state, and calibrate the motor to obtain a second calibration value when operating in the second state.

18. The pumping apparatus of claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the first trip value based on the first calibration value, and determine the second trip value based on the second calibration value.

19. The pumping apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a valve in fluid communication with the first vessel and the second vessel, the valve configured to direct the first fluid and the second fluid.

20. The pumping apparatus of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to:

float the first trip value throughout continuous operation of the pump when the microcontroller is operating the pump in the first state; and

float the second trip value throughout continuous operation of the pump when the microcontroller is operating the pump in the second state.

21. The pumping apparatus of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed by the microcontroller, further cause the microcontroller to

determine whether at least one of the comparisons indicate a condition of the pump, and

control the motor to operate the pump based on the condition of the pump.