# US 12,215,697 B2 · Well management system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,215,697 B2 - Document ID: US12215697B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/990,280 - Filed: 2022-11-18 - Published: 2023-03-23 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-26 - Assignees: Amtrol Licensing Inc. - Applicants: Amtrol Licensing Inc. - Inventors: Christopher A. Van Haaren; Michael Cogliati; Brady Erickson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12215697B2 ## CPC - F04D 15/0218: {the condition being a liquid level or a lack of liquid supply} - F04D 15/0281: {responsive to a condition not otherwise provided for} - F04D 13/16: with storage reservoirs - F04D 15/0245: {responsive to a condition of the pump} - G05D 7/0688: {by combined action on throttling means and flow sources (G05D7/0694 takes precedence)} - G07C 3/08: Registering or indicating the production of the machine either with or without registering working or idle time - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE ## Abstract A well management system provides Internet-enabled monitoring, configuration, and control of a well system that may include a pump and a pressure tank. A controller is operatively coupled to the pump. The controller controls the pump based on pressure readings from a pressure sensor to maintain a configured pressure range within the system. The controller can communicate with a management system via a communications network. The management system is further in communication with one or more client devices, which may be associated with a homeowner, a service provider, a manufacturer, or the like. Via the management system, the client devices can receive information from the controller and send commands to the controller. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A controller for a well system, comprising: a processor; a component interface for operatively coupling the processor to the well system, the well system including at least a well pump and a well tank; and a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to: perform pressure-based control, wherein for pressure-based control the processor is configured to: collect pressure readings associated with a water pressure in the well system; and control the well pump according to the pressure readings wherein the well pump is activated when at a cut-in pressure and the well pump is deactivated at a cut-out pressure; and perform predictive control, wherein for predictive control, the processor is configured to: collect operational data on the well system via the component interface, the operational data includes at least water usage data; create a profile of the well system based on the operational data, wherein the profile includes at least a schedule of water usage determined based on the operational data; and selectively and autonomously activate and deactivate the well pump, via the component interface, based on the schedule of water usage indicated by the profile, wherein the well pump is activated based on a predicted demand forward according to the schedule of water usage, and wherein control of the well pump based on the profile interrupts the pressure-based control of the well pump. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The controller of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: determine a rate of change of the pressure based on the pressure readings; and control operation of the well pump in accordance with the rate of change of the pressure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The controller of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to activate the well pump when the rate of change of the pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The controller of claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to deactivate the well pump when the cut-out pressure is detected. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The controller of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to operate the well pump according to the cut-in pressure and the cut-out pressure when the rate of change of the pressure is below a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The controller of claim 2, wherein the well system further includes an electronic valve operable via a signal, and wherein the processor is further configured to: open the valve is response to the rate of change of the pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold; and decrease an opening of the valve as the rate of change of the pressure decreases. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The controller of claim 1, wherein the operational data further includes data on electrical properties the well pump in operation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The controller of claim 7, wherein the housing is configured for installation on the well tank. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The controller of claim 1, further comprising a housing that contains the processor, the communication interface, and the component interface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The controller of claim 1, further comprising a communication interface for enabling communication with at least one of a management system or a client device via a communication network. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The controller of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a notification via the communication interface of a weather event and, in response to notification, activate a storm mode where a pressure range of the well system is adjusted to maintain a maximum volume in the well tank. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The controller of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor to measure a water temperature in the well system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The controller of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to acquire temperature readings along with pressure readings to enable improved volume determinations. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The controller of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to: monitor the water temperature in the well system; detect when the water temperature is approaching freezing; and at least one of issue a notification to a homeowner or activate a freezing protection mode and control the well system to reduce a risk of freezing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The controller of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to activate a drought protection mode that shifts a configured pressure range to a higher end of the range and reduce a frequency of pump cycles to enable a well to regenerate. ### Claim 16 A non-transitory, computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for a well management system, the computer-executable instructions, when executed by a processor, configure the processor to: perform pressure-based control, wherein for pressure-based control the processor is configured to: collect pressure readings associated with a water pressure in a well system having a well pump and a well tank; and control the well pump according to the pressure readings wherein the well pump is activated when at a cut-in pressure and the well pump is deactivated at a cut-out pressure; and perform predictive control, wherein for predictive control, the processor is configured to: acquire operational data of the well system, wherein the operational data includes at least water usage data; profile the well system based on the operational data, wherein the profile includes at least a schedule of water usage determined based on the operational data; and selectively activate and deactivate the well pump based on the schedule of water usage indicated by the profile, wherein the well pump is activated based on a predicted demand forward according to the schedule of water usage, and wherein control of the well pump based on the profile interrupts the pressure-based control of the well pump. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions further configure the processor to learn a schedule of water usage based on the operational data and activate a well pump according to the schedule. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions further configure the processor to control the well system based on water usage, wherein the well system is controlled for constant pressure during a first usage scenario and is controlled according to a pressure range during a second usage scenario. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the operational data includes electrical data of a well pump and the instructions further configure the processor to profile an operational condition of the well pump over time. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions further configure the processor to: collect electrical data for a pump cycle; create a histogram for the pump cycle; compare the histogram to other histogram created for previous cycles to determine a consistency of pump activity; detect degradation of the pump from trends discernable from comparing the histogram; and issue a notification predicting pump failure.