US 6,065,946 A · Integrated controller pump

Abstract

A d.c. controller pump includes electronic control mechanisms that permit regulated control within a fluid flow system. A pump head is coupled to a housing allowing the fluid to infiltrate the region surrounding a permanent magnet rotor. Stator windings and control electronics fixed to a plurality of printed circuit boards are isolated from the fluid by means of a solid body that encapsulates the stator windings and seals the rear of the cavity. Hall effect sensor-generators and other assemblies are fixed within the solid body to enhance integrity and reduce parts count. Associated electronics includes a readily-removable circuit board for housing auxiliary electronic functions. The board is mounted in parallel at the rear of the pump housing with boards of sensor and controller electronics. The auxiliary function electronics pump configurations enable both fixed and variable speed operation in accordance with fluid flow system design and parameters.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A centrifugal integrated d.c. controller pump comprising, in combination:

a) a pump head having spaced-apart inlet and outlet ports and an impeller for controlling a flow of fluid therebetween;
b) an integral solid body of continuous molded, nonmagnetic material having a generally-cylindrical shape and a hollow interior, said body encapsulating a stator;
c) a rotor fixed to said means for controlling fluid flow, said rotor including a plurality of radially-arrayed permanent magnets;
d) the hollow interior of said solid body of molded, nonmagnetic material defining a coaxial interior cylindrical chamber permanently closed at one end and open at the opposed end for receiving said rotor;
e) a hollow cylindrical housing;
and
f) the exterior surface of said body contacting the interior surface of said housing throughout the length of said body.

4 more elements

An integrated d.c. controller pump comprising, in combination:

a) a pump head having spaced-apart inlet and outlet ports and an impeller for controlling a flow of fluid therebetween;
b) a substantially cylindrical rotor fixed to said impeller, said rotor including a plurality of radially-arrayed permanent magnets;
c) a stator including a plurality of windings, said stator being coaxial with the cylindrical surface of said rotor;
d) a programmable microcontroller for receiving output signals from said rotor and said stator windings;
e) means for sensing at least one environmental variable and providing a responsive signal to said microcontroller;
f) means for inputting a predetermined operational protocol to program said microcontroller;
and
g) said microcontroller being programmed to generate a pump flow rate and corresponding signal in response to said output and environmental variable signals for adjusting the speed of rotation of said rotor in accordance with said flow rate.

5 more elements

In a radiant heating system of the type that includes a boiler for heating fluid within a first closed conduit defining a primary heating circuit, a second closed conduit defining a secondary heating circuit including at least one radiant heating panel, a third conduit defining a fluid flow path between said primary and secondary heating circuits and means for sensing at least one environmental variable, the improvement comprising, in combination:

a) a variable speed d.c. pump located within said third conduit for regulating the rate of flow of fluid from said primary heating circuit into said secondary heating circuit;
b) said d.c. pump including a rotor and at least one stator winding arranged to induce rotation thereof;
c) means for regulating the flow of fluid through said pump fixed to said rotor;
d) means for sensing the speed of said rotor;
and
e) said pump further including (i) a microcontroller for receiving signals responsive to said speed of rotation and said at least one environmental variable, (ii) at least one potentiometer for inputting an evaluation criterion and (iii) said microcontroller being arranged to calculate a flow rate in response to said signals and said evaluation criterion and to generate a control signal in response to said calculated flow rate for application to said windings to adjust the speed of rotation of said rotor to thereby obtain said flow rate.

3 more elements

In a closed multistation fluid flow system of the type that includes a plurality of lines joined to common return and feed lines and in which a predetermined total flow rate is apportioned between said plurality of lines with a maximum rate associated with each of said lines, the improvement comprising, in combination:

a) a variable speed d.c. pump located within each of said plurality of lines for regulating the rate of flow of fluid therein;
b) each of said d.c. pumps including a rotor and at least one stator winding arranged to induce rotation thereof;
c) means for regulating the flow of fluid through said pump fixed to said rotor;
d) means for sensing the speed of said rotor and the value of current flow within said at least one stator winding;
and
e) each of said pumps including (i) a microcontroller for receiving said sensed values of speed of rotation and stator current, (ii) means for inputting the value of said maximum flow rate to said microcontroller and (iii) said microcontroller being arranged to calculate a flow rate in response to said inputs and to generate a d.c. control signal in response for application to said stator windings so that the speed of said rotor is continuously adjustable to thereby vary the flow rate output of said pump in response to flow conditions throughout said fluid flow system.

3 more elements

a) a variable speed d.c. pump located within said third conduit for regulating the flow of fluid from said primary heating circuit into said secondary heating circuit;
b) said d.c. pump including a rotor and at least one stator winding arranged to induce rotation thereof;
c) means for regulating the flow of fluid through said pump fixed to said rotor;
d) a plurality of Hall effect generators for sensing the speed of said rotor;
and
e) said pump further including (i) at least one thermistor for sensing the value of said at least one predetermined environmental variable, (ii) a plurality of potentiometers for inputting an evaluation criterion including a first potentiometer for selectively inputting the selection of either a fixed or an exterior temperature-dependent profile for fluid within said secondary heating circuit, a second potentiometer for inputting a predetermined minimum temperature of fluid flow within said primary heating circuit and a third potentiometer for inputting a selected exterior temperature-dependent heating profile for fluid within said secondary heating circuit (iii) a microcontroller for receiving said values and said evaluation criterion and generating a d.c. control signal in response thereto for application to said windings so that the speed of rotation of said rotor is continuously adjustable to thereby vary the flow rate output of said pump in response to said at least one sensed value and evaluation criterion;
(iv) a pump housing;
(v) a plurality of circuit boards located within said pump housing;
and (vi) said plurality of potentiometers and said microcontroller being fixed to a circuit board.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Integrated controller pump

Life of this patent

Integrated controller pump

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28