# US 7,746,063 B2 · Speed indication for pump condition monitoring > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,746,063 B2 - Document ID: US7746063B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/378,622 - Filed: 2006-03-16 - Published: 2007-09-20 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2006-03-16 - Assignees: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. - Inventors: Eugene P. Sabini; Jerome A. Lorenc; Kenneth L. Hauenstein - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7746063B2 ## CPC - G01P 3/48: by measuring frequency of generated current or voltage {(in general G01R23/00)} - G01P 3/44: for measuring angular speed (G01P3/56 takes precedence) - G01P: MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT (measuring or recording blood flow A61B5/02, A61B8/06; monitoring speed or deceleration of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; vehicle lighting systems adapted to indicate speed B60Q1/54; determining position or course in navigation, measuring ground distance in geodesy or surveying G01C; combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement G01C23/00; measuring velocity of sound G01H; measuring velocity of light G01J7/00; measuring direction or velocity of solid objects by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; measuring speed of nuclear radiation G01T; measuring acceleration of gravity G01V; {measuring or recording the speed of trains B61L23/00; speed indicators incorporated in motor vehicles B60K35/00; measuring frequency or phase G01R; traffic control G08G}) ## Abstract A method and apparatus are provided for obtaining the rotational speed of a pump system or other suitable rotating equipment having a self-contained pump electrical equipment power supply. The method features, before being rectified, directing one phase of AC power through a zero crossing circuit that identifies an instant of time the AC voltage crosses from one polarity to the other polarity and triggers a square wave pulse for each instant time. In operation, the AC voltage is detected when it crosses from a negative polarity to a positive polarity, or vice versa. The method also includes steps for measuring the period of the square wave pulse and calculating the speed of the pump or other rotating equipment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving in one or more modules an input signal containing information about one phase of an AC power supply that provides power to a pump or other suitable rotating equipment, the one phase of the AC power supply being directed, before being rectified, through a zero crossing circuit, and the input signal containing information about an instant of time the AC voltage crosses from one polarity to the other polarity and triggers a square wave pulse for each instant time; and providing from the one or more modules an output signal containing information to control the pump or other suitable rotating equipment based at least partly on a determination of the rotational speed of the pump that depends on the information contained in the input signal received, such that the need for a Hall Effect or other suitable sensor and its associated wiring otherwise used to obtain the rotational speed of the pump is eliminated. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein at each instant of time the AC voltage crosses from a negative polarity to a positive polarity, or vice versa. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A method according to claim 2, wherein the method further comprises measuring the period of the square wave pulse and calculating the speed of the pump or other rotating equipment based at least partly on the period measured. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises measuring the period of the square wave pulse and calculating the speed of the pump or other rotating equipment based at least partly on the period measured. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises implementing the method via a computer program running in a processor or controller module. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is a self-contained pump electrical equipment power supply. ### Claim 7 A pump system or other suitable rotating equipment having a power supply for providing AC power to a pump or other suitable rotating equipment, comprising: a control module configured to: receive an input signal containing information about one phase of an AC power supply that provides power to a pump or other suitable rotating equipment, the one phase of the AC power supply being directed, before being rectified, through a zero crossing circuit, and the input signal containing information about an instant of time the AC voltage crosses from one polarity to the other polarity and triggers a square wave pulse for each instant time; and provide an output signal containing information to control the pump or other suitable rotating equipment based at least partly on a determination of the rotational speed of the pump that depends on the information contained in the input signal received, such that the need for a Hall Effect or other suitable sensor and its associated wiring otherwise used to obtain the rotational speed of the pump is eliminated. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A pump system or other suitable rotating equipment according to claim 7, wherein at each instant of time the AC voltage crosses from a negative polarity to a positive polarity, or vice versa. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A pump system or other suitable rotating equipment according to claim 7, wherein the control module is configured to measure the period of the square wave pulse and calculate the speed of the pump or other rotating equipment based at least partly on the period measured. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A pump system or other suitable rotating equipment according to claim 7, wherein the control module is configured as a controller having the zero crossing module or circuit forming a part thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) A pump system or other suitable rotating equipment according to claim 7, wherein the power supply is a self-contained pump electrical equipment power supply. ### Claim 12 A control module comprising: one or more modules configured to receive an input signal containing information about one phase of an AC power supply that provides power to a pump or other suitable rotating equipment, where the one phase of the AC power supply is directed, before being rectified, through a zero crossing circuit, and where the input signal contains information about an instant of time the AC voltage crosses from one polarity to the other polarity and triggers a square wave pulse for each instant time; and configured to provide an output signal containing information to control the pump or other suitable rotating equipment based at least partly on a determination of the rotational speed of the pump that depends on the information contained in the input signal received, such that the need for a Hall Effect or other suitable sensor and its associated wiring otherwise used to obtain the rotational speed of the pump is eliminated. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A control module according to claim 12, wherein the one or more modules is also configured to measure the period of the square wave pulse and calculate the speed of the pump or other rotating equipment based at least partly on the period measured. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A control module according to claim 12, wherein at each instant of time the AC voltage crosses from a negative polarity to a positive polarity, or vice versa. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A control module according to claim 12, wherein the one or more control modules is configured to form part of a pump system or other suitable rotating equipment. ### Claim 16 A pump system or other suitable rotating equipment having a power supply, comprising: a zero crossing module or circuit configured to respond to one phase of AC power from the power supply, before being rectified, to identify an instant of time the AC voltage crosses from one polarity to the other polarity and to provide a signal containing information about a square wave pulse for each instant time; and one or more control modules configured to receive the signal and to provide an output signal containing information to control the pump or other suitable rotating equipment based at least partly on a determination of the rotational speed of the pump or other suitable rotating equipment that depends on the information contained in the signal received, such that the need for a Hall Effect or other suitable sensor and its associated wiring otherwise used to obtain the rotational speed of the pump is eliminated. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A pump system or other suitable rotating equipment according to claim 16, wherein at each instant of time the AC voltage crosses from a negative polarity to a positive polarity, or vice versa. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) A pump system or other suitable rotating equipment according to claim 16, wherein the one or more modules is also configured to measure the period of the square wave pulse and calculate the speed of the pump or other rotating equipment based at least partly on the period measured. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) A pump system or other suitable rotating equipment according to claim 16, wherein the control module is configured to form part of a pump system or other suitable rotating equipment.