US 2015/0143891 A1 · SUMP PUMP TEST AND MONITORING SYSTEM

Abstract

A proactive test and monitoring system for a sump pump installation of the type having an electrically-powered sump pump which pumps water from a sump pit to a dispersal site when the water level in the pit rises to a predetermined level. The system includes a control module which is periodically actuated by an event timer to initiate a test cycle wherein a valve is actuated open to admit water into the pit. If the pump is operative, the pump operates and the water level in the pit falls, the test cycle is terminated and a successful test is indicated. If the pump is inoperative, the water level continues to rise and the test cycle is terminated, the valve is closed and an unsuccessful test is indicated. Thus the sump pump installation is periodically tested to improve the reliability of the pump and to signal pump inoperability in advance of any potential flood event requiring operation of the pump installation.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An automated system for monitoring and testing a sump pump installation of the type having a liquid container, a motor driven pump positioned within the container which when powered discharges liquid from the container, and a switch circuit which supplies current to power the pump motor upon the liquid level in the container having risen to a first predetermined level, the monitoring system comprising:

a liquid conduit including an electrically-actuated valve which admits liquid to the liquid container in response to a valve control signal;
a test control module which when actuated supplies a valve control signal to initiate a test cycle during which liquid is admitted to the container to cause the liquid level in the container to rise to at least the first predetermined level, after which the pump discharges liquid from the container until a predetermined event terminates the test cycle;
and
wherein the test control module further includes an indicator circuit which indicates in response to completion of the test cycle whether the test was successful or unsuccessful.

1 more element

An automated system for testing and monitoring a sump pump installation of the type having a liquid container, a motor driven pump positioned within the container which when powered discharges liquid from the container, and a switch circuit which supplies current to power the pump motor upon the liquid level in the container having risen to a first predetermined level, the monitoring system comprising:

a liquid conduit including an electrically-actuated valve which admits liquid to the container in response to a valve control signal;
a test control module which when actuated supplies a valve control signal to initiate a test cycle during which liquid is admitted to the container to cause the liquid level therein to rise to at least the first predetermined level, after which the pump, if functioning, discharges liquid from the container until a predetermined event terminates the test cycle;
wherein the test control module further includes an indicator circuit which, in the event of the pump being functional, indicates upon completion of the test cycle the occurrence of a successful test;
and
wherein, in the event of the pump being nonfunctional, the indicator circuit indicates in response to the liquid level in the container having continued to rise the occurrence of an unsuccessful pump test.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sump pump test and monitoring system

Life of this patent

Sump pump test and monitoring system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23