Back to results
US 2002/0176782 A1Published application
Pump and controller system and method
OwnerScott K. Batchelder, Richard J. Hauss +1inventors
InventorsScott K. Batchelder, Richard J. Hauss, James T. Burrill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A liquid pump and controller with separate pump activation and deactivation mechanisms that are both closed detector devices is provided. The pump activation mechanism includes a float device that activates a pump motor when water within a housing of the pump reaches a high water level. The pump deactivation mechanism includes a sensor that detects the load on the pump motor and deactivates it when the sensed load indicates that the water within the pump housing has reached a low water level.
Claims50
A pump comprising:
- a pump housing including a first portion having a port and a second portion having a plurality of openings formed therein, said plurality of openings being adapted to allow liquid to enter said housing;
- a motor disposed within said housing, said motor adapted to cause the liquid present in said housing to be discharged through said port;
- an activator electrically connected to said motor, said activator activating said motor when the liquid present in said housing reaches a first level, said activator using a first detection criteria to detect when the liquid reaches the first level;
- and
- a deactivator electrically connected to said motor, said deactivator deactivating said motor when the liquid present in said housing reaches a second level, said deactivator using a second detection criteria to detect when the liquid reaches the second level, wherein said first detection criteria is different from said second detection criteria.
2 more elements
A pump comprising:
- a pump housing, said housing including a first portion with a port formed therein and a second portion having a plurality of openings formed therein, said plurality of openings adapted to allow liquid to enter said housing;
- a motor disposed within said housing, said motor causing liquid present in said housing to be discharged through said port when said motor is activated;
- an activator electrically connected to said motor, said activator activating said motor when the liquid present in said housing reaches a first level, said activator comprising a closed detector device;
- and
- a deactivator electrically connected to said motor, said deactivator deactivating said motor when the liquid present in said housing reaches a second level, said deactivator comprising a closed detector device.
2 more elements
A bilge pump apparatus comprising:
- pump housing means, said housing means including a first portion with a port formed therein and a second portion having a plurality of openings formed therein, said plurality of openings adapted to allow liquid to enter said housing means;
- a motor disposed within said housing means, said motor having an impeller extending into said lower portion, said impeller adapted to cause the liquid to be discharged through said port when said motor is activated;
- means for activating said motor when the liquid present in said housing means reaches a first level, said activating means using a first detection criteria to detect when the liquid reaches the first level;
- and
- means for deactivating said motor when the liquid present in said housing means reaches a second level, said deactivating means using a second detection criteria to detect when the liquid reaches the second level, wherein said first detection criteria is different from said second detection criteria.
2 more elements
A bilge pump comprising:
- an upper portion, said upper portion having an open first side, said upper portion having a second side with a discharge port formed therein;
- a straining portion, said straining portion having an open first side, said open first side of said straining portion being detachably connected to said open side of said upper portion to define a bilge pump housing, said straining portion having a plurality of openings formed therein, said openings allowing water to enter said bilge pump housing;
- a motor housing disposed within said upper portion, said housing having an open first side;
- a nozzle case disposed within said straining portion, said nozzle case having an open first side, said open first side of said nozzle case being coupled to said open first side of said motor housing, said nozzle case having a second side with an opening to allow water to enter said nozzle case;
- a motor disposed within said motor housing, said motor having an impeller, said impeller extending into said nozzle case and causing water to be discharged through said discharge port when said motor is activated;
- a reed switch disposed within said upper portion and being electrically connected to said motor, said reed switch activating said motor when in a closed position;
- a float compartment disposed within said bilge pump housing, said compartment having a first surface including a plurality of guidance supports, said compartment having a first side defined by a third side of said upper portion, said first side having an opening to allow water to enter said compartment;
- a float assembly disposed within said guidance supports of said compartment, said assembly including a float and a magnet affixed to said float, said float rising with a level of the water entering said compartment, said magnet coming into close proximity of said reed switch, and thereby closing said reed switch, when the water in the compartment has reached a high water level;
- and
- a sensor electrically connected to said motor, said sensor deactivating said motor upon detecting a voltage of said motor indicative of a low water level.
7 more elements
A floating apparatus for detecting a level of water, said apparatus comprising:
- a float assembly;
- and
- a float compartment, said compartment having an inner surface and being slightly larger than said float assembly, said float assembly being disposed within said inner surface, said compartment having a first wall with an opening to allow liquid to enter said compartment, said float assembly rising with a level of the liquid and being guided by said inner surface.
A circuit for controlling a pump adapted to pump liquid when it reaches a first level, said circuit comprising:
- an activation switch connected to a motor of the pump, said switch activating the motor when in a closed position;
- an activation circuit generating an activation signal when the liquid reaches the first level;
- a voltage sensor coupled to the motor;
- a pump deactivation circuit coupled to said voltage sensor, said deactivation circuit detecting a voltage across said voltage sensor, said deactivation circuit generating a deactivation signal upon detecting a voltage indicative of a second level;
- and
- a trigger circuit coupled to said activation switch, said activation circuit and said deactivation circuit, said trigger circuit closing said activation switch responsive to said activation signal and opening said activation switch responsive to said deactivation signal.
3 more elements
A method of controlling a pump adapted to pump liquid when it reaches a first level, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first closed detector device, said first closed detector device determining when the liquid has reached the first level;
- activating the pump when the first closed detector device indicates that the liquid has reached the first level;
- providing a second closed detector device, said second closed detector device determining when the liquid has reached a second level by sensing an electrical condition of the activated pump;
- and
- deactivating the pump when the second closed detector device has detected an electrical condition indicating that the liquid has dropped to a second level.
2 more elements
A method of controlling a pump adapted to pump liquid when it reaches a first level, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first closed detector device, said first closed detector device determining when the liquid has reached the first level;
- activating the pump when the first closed detector device indicates that the liquid has reached the first level;
- providing a second closed detector device, said second closed detector device determining when the liquid has reached a second level;
- and
- deactivating the pump when the second closed detector device has detected that the liquid has dropped to a second level.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.