AU2012238317B2 - A pump - Google Patents

Abstract

One aspect of the invention provides a device 10 including one or more heat rejecting portions 30, 62, a drive mechanism 40 for driving a fluid A, and structure 22. The structure defines at least one inlet 66 for supplying the fluid to the drive mechanism, 5 one or more flow paths from the drive mechanism to the heat rejecting portions, and one or more further inlets 70 in communication with the flow paths, such that further fluid is drawn into the flow paths via the further inlets by the driven fluid and the driven fluid and the further fluid are conveyed to the heat rejecting portions. Arlo, 4-6C 3tt 4&a Nwtr V-

Description

P1053AUAU 1 A PUMP FIELD OF THE INVENTION The inventors have developed a new swimming pool pump and related systems and 5 methods, various aspects of which suit other applications including applications unrelated to pumps. BACKGROUND An exemplary existing swimming pool pump includes an electric motor driving hydro mechanical components. The hydro-mechanical components are referred to as "the wet 10 end". The motor includes a tubular extruded aluminum casing which sits horizontally and includes outwardly directed cooling fins. The casing houses components, including a stator and rotor, and is capped at its ends by aluminium castings referred to as "endshields". The forward endshield defines a flange to which the wet end is mountable. A shaft carrying the rotor is mounted concentrically within the casing and projects fore 15 and aft beyond the endshields. The rearwardly projecting portion of the shaft carries a fan. The fan is housed within a cowl. The cowl, which is cup shaped and includes a mesh base, is mounted so as to embrace the fan, the rear endshield and a rear portion of the casing, and so that its mesh base is oriented vertically. The cowl is an integral moulding 20 and includes inwardly directed circumferential ribs which form a snap-fit with complementary outwardly directed grooves machined into the casing. The mesh base forms an inlet through which the fan draws air. The circumferential wall of the cowl directs the air from the fan over the cooling fins, i.e. defines one or more flow paths from the fan to the cooling fins. The cowl also guards the fan to prevent injury. 25 The wet end includes a pump housing and an impellor. The impellor is carried and driven by the forwardly projecting shaft portion. The housing surrounds the impellor and P1053AUAU 2 defines an axially oriented inlet and an upwardly oriented outlet through which the impellor drives water. The axially oriented inlet opens into an upwardly open vessel closed by a removable lid. Adjacent the top of the upwardly open vessel, a further inlet opens in an axial direction 5 from the vessel. The further inlet and the outlet each include connectors for connecting to conduit. In operation, water flows in sequence through the further inlet, the upwardly open vessel, the inlet and the outlet. Conduit attached to the further inlet is arranged to draw water from a pool, and conduit attached to the outlet conveys the water to a filter. 10 Further conduit conveys the water from the filter to the pool thus completing a fluid circuit. Of course other devices such as heaters, chlorinators and dosing devices may be mounted along the fluid circuit. To prime the pump the lid is removed to fill the upwardly open vessel with water, the lid replaced and the pump started. 15 In this exemplary pump the motor is a "two-speed" induction motor meaning that its stator windings are connectable to mains supply in two distinct configurations to produce two distinct motor outputs. In Australia the mains supply is 240V 50Hz. This exemplary pump produces two distinct pump curves (graphs of pressure vs. flow). Each curve is referred to as a "speed" although the rotational speed varies along each curve. 20 The motor includes an electronics module mounted on a horizontal flat atop the casing. The module includes a "capacitor box" housing a capacitor and the end of a supply lead. The capacitor box connects to the components in the casing via conductors, in the form of wires, which pass from the stator, through registered apertures in the casing and the box, to the capacitor and the supply lead. 25 When installing the above exemplary pump an installer would typically select the one of the two speeds which best suits the particular pool. Some pumps include switches which allow a user to change between the speeds, by way of example a user might increase the speed to operate a vacuum cleaning device.

P1053AUAU 3 Other types of motors have been applied to pumps. Infinitely variable speed motors, such as those incorporating TRIAC controllers or variable frequency drives (VFDs), allow for a much wider range of adjustment and fine tuning but have some drawbacks. In particular VFDs produce vast amounts of heat. 5 It is not admitted that any of the information in this patent specification is common general knowledge, or that the person skilled in the art could be reasonably expected to ascertain or understand it, regard it as relevant or combine it in any way at the priority date. SUMMARY 10 One aspect of the invention provides an electromechanical device including a casing housing components and having an axis; an electronics module in proximity to the casing; a fan for driving fluid; and a cowl guarding the fan; 15 the cowl being at least predominantly supported by the electronics module. In a preferred embodiment the cowl is an integral moulding. Conveniently there may be a snap fit between the cowl and module. Preferably the casing is extruded. Also disclosed is a device including one or more heat rejecting portions; 20 a drive mechanism for driving a fluid; and structure defining: at least one inlet for supplying the fluid to the drive mechanism; one or more flow paths from the drive mechanism to the heat rejecting portions; and P1053AUAU 4 one or more further inlets in communication with the flow paths; such that further fluid is drawn into the flow paths via the further inlets by the driven fluid and the driven fluid and the further fluid are conveyed to the heat rejecting portions. 5 Preferably the one or more heat rejecting portions include one or more fins. The drive mechanism may be a fan. The device could be a motor or a pump. Preferably the heat rejecting portions include portions positioned to reject heat from power electronics. The device may include an extruded casing defining at least some of the heat rejecting portions. 10 In preferred embodiments, an outermost extent of the structure deviates from a vertical plane to prevent occlusion of the at least one inlet by a vertical planar wall. Also disclosed is an electromechanical device including structure defining one or more inlets for receiving cooling fluid, wherein an outermost extent of the structure defining the inlets deviates from a vertical plane to prevent occlusion by a vertical planar wall. A 15 portion of the outermost extent may be planar and at an inclination to vertical, e.g. at an inclination of about 100. Also disclosed is an electromechanical device including a casing housing components; an electronics module in proximity to the casing; 20 one or more conductors electrically connecting the module to the components; heat rejecting projections defining flow paths between the casing and module; and a mechanism for driving fluid along the flow paths. Preferably the flow paths are non-linear to direct the fluid about the conductors. By way of example, the heat rejecting projections may include curved fins. Preferably the 25 module includes the heat rejecting projections.

P1053AUAU 5 Also disclosed is a heat sink including laterally spaced heat rejecting fins defining channels for conveying fluid wherein one or more of the fins are configured, e.g. curved, to turn the fluid laterally. Also disclosed is a sealing arrangement including 5 a socket, for receiving a cable, opening from a first element; a second element movable relative to the first element; a mechanism for holding the elements in a proximal position; and a compressible gasket; wherein one or both of the elements define a downward cable path from the socket; and 10 the elements are shaped to, when in the proximal position, compress the gasket along a continuous line about the sides and the top of the socket and the cable path to form a seal. Preferably one or more stops define the proximal position. Advantageously the sealing arrangement may be applied to an electronics module of an 15 electromechanical device. Also disclosed is an electromechanical device including an electronics module, the module including an upwardly open structure housing electronics and closed by a lid; wherein the lid sealingly engages portions of the structure at a sealing interface in the form of a 20 closed loop; and defines a wall extending downwardly below and about the sealing interface. A lower extent of the wall may engage further structure. Preferably a gasket about the sealing interface is provided, which gasket may be carried in an upwardly open channel about the upwardly open structure. 25 Also disclosed is an electromechanical device including P1053AUAU 6 a drive mechanism for driving fluid; and a cowl guarding the drive mechanism; wherein the cowl is an integral moulding including one or more indicium for conveying information to a user of the device. 5 Also disclosed is a swimming pool pump including a user interface; and a cover moveable from a closed position, for shielding the user interface, to an open position for accessing the user interface; wherein at least a portion of the cover is transparent so that the user interface is 10 viewable when the cover is in the closed position. The cover may have a convex exterior which is preferably smoothly curved and is preferably at least predominately formed by an integral moulding. In a preferred embodiment, the user interface includes an actuateable depressible element; and 15 a moulded element overlying the depressible element and defining a button and a resilient arm carrying the button such that the button may be pressed against the bias of the arm to actuate the depressible element. Also disclosed is a pump including a user interface, the user interface including an actuateable depressible element; and 20 a moulded element overlying the depressible element and defining a button and a resilient arm carrying the button such that the button may be pressed against the bias of the arm to actuate the depressible element. Preferably the button and the arm are defined by an opening in a sheet like portion of the moulded element.

P1053AUAU 7 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pump in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a top view of the pump; 5 Figure 3 is a rear view of the pump; Figure 4 is a side view of the pump; Figure 5 is an exploded view of a motor of the pump; Figure 6 is a perspective view of an electronics module of the pump; Figure 7 is an exploded view of the electronics module; 10 Figure 8 is a close up view of buttons of the electronics module; Figure 9 is a rear view of the motor; Figure 10 is a cross-section view of the motor along line B-B of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a cross-section view of the motor along line C-C of Figure 9; Figure 12 is perspective view of a cowl of the motor; 15 Figure 13 is another perspective view of the cowl; Figure 14 is a rear view of the cowl; Figure 15 is a side view of the cowl in situ; Figure 16 is a transverse vertical cross-section view of a portion of the motor; Figure 17 is a perspective view of selected components of the motor; 20 Figure 18 is an exploded view of an insert piece and a gasket of the motor; Figure 19 is an axial vertical cross-section view of a cable socket of the electronics module; Figure 20 is a close up view of a portion of figure 19; P1053AUAU 8 Figure 21 is a perspective view of a user interface cover of the motor; Figure 22 is a perspective view of a heat sink of the electronics module; Figure 23 is a close up view of detail A of Figure 22; Figure 24 is a close up view of detail B of Figure 22; and 5 Figure 25 is a rear view of the electronics module. DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT Figures 1 to 4 illustrate an electromechanical device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention in the form of a pump 10. Various aspects of the invention may be applied to other electromechanical devices such as generators. 10 The pump 10 includes a motor 12 and a wet end 14. A mounting foot 16 supports the pump 10 atop a horizontal mounting surface. The motor 12 includes an electronics module 18, a bare motor 20, a cowl 22, an insert 24 and a gasket 26 (Figure 5). The bare motor 20 includes a tubular extruded aluminum casing 28 which sits horizontally and includes outwardly directed cooling fins 30 and an upwardly directed 15 horizontal flat 32. The casing houses components, including a stator and rotor, and is capped at its ends by endshields 34,36. The forward endshield 36 defines a flange to which the wet end 14 is mountable. A shaft 38 carrying the rotor is mounted concentrically within the casing and projects fore and aft beyond the endshields 34,36. The rearwardly projecting portion of the shaft 20 38 carries a fan 40. The fan 40 includes eight planar paddles extending radial and oriented parallel to the axis of the motor. The outer ends of the paddles carry a conical shroud which diverges in the forward direction. Towards a rear end of the bare motor 20, a six way quick connect plug 42 projects upwardly from the horizontal flat 32 of the casing 28. The plug 42 carries conductors and 25 is cooperable with a socket 44 of the module 18 (Figure 6) to connect the module 18 to the components housed in the casing.

P1053AUAU 9 The module 18 includes a heat sink 48, a gasket 50, a drive board 52, an interface board 54, a fascia 56 and a cover 58 (Figure 7). The cowl 22, insert 24 and fascia 56 are formed of a UV stabilized flame retardant grade of ABS. The drive board 52 carries power electronics for driving the bare motor 20. The boards 5 52, 54 together constitute a variable frequency drive (VFD). The heat sink 48 takes the form of an upwardly open box including a horizontal floor and four vertical side walls. The heat sink 48 is closed by a lid in the form of fascia 56 and houses the boards 52, 54. The motor 12 is assembled by moving the module 18 downwardly so that the socket 44 10 aligns and engages the plug 42. Three bolts 46A are passed through holes 46B of the module 18 and engage with the threaded bores 46C of the endshields 34,36. The bores 46C are blind bores which do not penetrate into the interior of the bare motor 20 thus eliminating potential leak points. The heat sink 48, which defines the underside of the module 18, includes structure 60 15 defining a downwardly open channel in a closed loop about the socket 44 (Figure 6). The channel carries a gasket which engages the horizontal flat 32 of the casing 28 to seal the connection between the bare motor 20 and the module 18. As illustrated the gasket includes a pair of tabs which project rearwardly to the exposed end of the heat sink 48. The tabs allow for ready inspection to determine that a gasket is 20 present after module 18 is placed. For this purpose the gasket is brightly colored. In this embodiment the gasket is bright green. An adhesive backing holds the gasket in place within the structure 60 during assembly. The cowl 22 and the insert 24 are mounted to the module 18. The cowl 22 surrounds the fan 40 and rearward portions of the bare motor 20. 25 In this embodiment the bare motor 20 is a synchronous motor including a permanent magnet rotor in which the rotor's inherent magnetism follows the stator's rotating magnetic field without being energized as in an induction motor or a conventional DC motor. Being a synchronous motor, its rotational speed varies in proportion to the P1053AUAU 10 frequency from the VFD. The module 18 is capable of varying the speed of the motor within an operating range of 1000 rpm to 3450 rpm. The heat sink 48 is formed of high pressure die cast aluminium so as to be an efficient conductor of heat and is powder coated for durability. In this embodiment the powder 5 coating is orange. Downwardly projecting cooling fins 62 are spaced across the width of an underside of the floor of the heat sink. The fins 62 reject heat from the module 18 to cool the module 18. The fins 62 engage upper portions of the casing and, together with the casing, define flow paths between the bare motor 20 and the module 18 along which air A,B from the 10 fan 40 and cowl 22 may flow forwardly (Figures 6, 10 & 11). As the air A, B moves along these flow paths it intimately contacts the fins to cool the module 18. From Figure 11 it will be appreciated that the structure 60 (about the plug 42 and socket 44) presents an impediment to air flow and that if conventional linear fins were employed, the fins downstream of the structure 60 would be ineffective. In this 15 embodiment some of the fins are curved to turn the air A laterally (i.e. in the direction in which the fins 62 are spaced) to flow into the region forward of structure 60. This has been found to significantly improve the cooling of the module. It is contemplated that other forms may be employed. By way of example the fins could include relatively inclined linear portions. 20 The cowl 22 is an integral moulding having a rear face 64 (Figures 14 & 15) having the appearance of mesh. A circular region 66 within the face 64 is formed of mesh whereas the remainder of face 64, region 68, includes a solid internal wall. The region 66 is an inlet for supplying air A to the fan 40. The face 64 is inclined at angle a of 100 from the vertical. This deviation from the vertical 25 plane reduces the impact of the pump 10 being installed too close to a vertical wall by ensuring that the region 66 (i.e. the inlet to the fan) is not occluded by the wall. Installation too close to a vertical wall is a common installation fault.

P1053AUAU 11 As illustrated a trade mark (e.g. Viron) or other indicium may be integrally formed within the cowl 22. In this embodiment it is moulded into the face 64 thus providing permanent branding and overcoming the problem other markings have of becoming illegible over time. It also avoids the additional costs associated with other markings such as stickers. 5 Air A flows inwardly through the region 66 and is driven outwardly by the fan 40. The cowl 22 includes a sealing ring 72 (Figures 10 and 12) in the form of an annular rib projecting forwardly from face 64. The ring 72 sits in close proximity to the periphery of the fan 40 to prevent air recirculating. This improves the pumping performance of the fan. 10 The cowl 22 also serves to direct the air A flowing outwardly from the fan 40 to travel forwardly through the fins 30, 62 of the casing 28 and heat sink 48. The cowl 22 further includes deflectors 74 (Figures 11 and 12). The deflectors project forwardly from the face 64 and have upwardly diverging arcuate cross sections. The deflectors are shaped to deflect air A, travelling upwards from the fan, away from the vertical central plane of 15 the motor to avoid the structure 60. Thus the air A is directed to flow more efficiently towards the fins 62 adjacent the structure 60. In addition to the region 66, the cowl 22 defines a pair of side mounted additional air inlets 70 horizontally adjacent the fins 62 (Figures 10 to 14). Tubular structures 76 defining inlets 70 can be seen in Figures 11 and 12. 20 The additional inlets receive air B drawn in by air A downstream of the fan. Air B meets air A at a shallow angle and intermingles with and is drawn along by the air A. Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory this is thought be associated with the venturi effect. The provision of additional air, air B, provides additional cooling to the motor 12. 25 The forward extent of cowl 22 terminates in oblique side edges 78 (Figures 4, 12 & 13). The side edges 78 extend upwardly in the forward direction so that upper portions of the cowl 22 embrace a majority of the length of casing 28. Thus along a majority of the casing's length, its upper portions are bathed in a flow of air A, B confined within the P1053AUAU 12 cowl 22. Lower portions of the cowl 22 are axially shorter, leaving the majority of the casing's length exposed to cooperate with the mounting foot 16. The cowl 22 is supported by the module 18. Moreover the cowl 22 and module 18 (or more specifically the fascia 56 of module 18) include complementing engagement 5 formations forming snap fit connections whereby the cowl is easily attachable without the need for tools. Also there is no need to machine grooves in the casing or endshield. Thus a costly operation is eliminated. The cowl 22 is axially advanced to connect to the module 18. The complementary formations include locking barbs 80, 82 of the cowl 22 (Figures 12 & 13), and J-hooks 10 84 and recess 86 of the module fascia 56 (Figure 7). A respective barb 80 is positioned at the forward most extent of each side of the cowl 22. Each barb 80 has an inclined outer surface positioned to bear against its complementary J-Hook so as to drive the barb 80 inwardly as the cowl is axially advanced. The inclined face is followed by a rearward face such that as the cowl 22 is advanced, and the inclined face passes the J 15 Hook, the barb 80 snaps outwardly to engage a forward face of the J-Hook. The barbs 82 project forwardly from an upper periphery of the cowl 22 and are closely spaced either side of the centerline of the cowl 22. Like the barbs 80, each barb 82 includes an end formation defining a rearward face arranged to snap into engagement with a complementary formation. The barbs 82 each cooperate with a respective side of 20 the recess 86. The recess 86 includes inclined lead-in faces for resiliently deforming the barbs 82 as the cowl is axially advanced. The insert 24 is also axially advanced toward the module 18 during assembly. It is retained in place by a pair of screws 88A (Figure 5) passing through bores 88B (Figure 18) and engaging internally threaded bosses 88C (Figure 17) of the module 18. When 25 the insert 24 is in place the barbs 82 are inaccessible so that the cowl 22 cannot be removed.

P1053AUAU 13 The insert 24 has a concave cylindrically curved lower face which mates with a complementary face of the cowl 22. A pair of axial slots run along the concave face and receive projections 92 of the cowl 22. To remove the cowl the screws 88A must first be removed with screwdriver; i.e. a tool is 5 required as is dictated by various standards. Then insert 24 may be slid backwards. The walls of each slot 92 diverge in a rearward direction whereby as the insert 24 is retracted the slots grip the projections 92 and stably hold the insert in a retracted position. When the insert 24 is retracted an axial gap 94 between the cowl 22 and the module 18 is exposed permitting access to the barbs 82. The barbs 82 may be squeezed together 10 to disengage the barbs 82 and the formations of recess 86. Retraction of the insert 24 also permits access to a data socket 96, in the form of an RJ12 socket, at the rear of the module 18. The socket 92 allows the interface board 54 to communicate with an outside controller via a data cable 98. By way of example, an external controller might coordinate pump operations with a lighting system to produce 15 coordinated illumination and flow patterns in a fountain. The socket 96 has a square cross section and opens from a rearward facing vertical wall of the fascia 56. The socket 96 is provided with a sealing arrangement for protecting the socket from incidental splashing whether or not the cable 98 is in place. The sealing arrangement includes concentric inner and outer ribs 100, 102. 20 The inner rib 100 is 3.0mm high (i.e. has a 3.0mm horizontal extent from the vertical face of the fascia) and follows the square periphery of the socket 96 excepting a central region of the square's horizontal base. Parallel portions of the rib 100 extend downwardly from the either side of this central region. A path for the cable 98 is defined between the parallel rib portions. The path spans a vertical distance. In this embodiment 25 the path is vertical. The inner rib 100 defines a continuous loop open only at the lower extent of the cable path. The outer rib 102 is 3.3mm high and is a consistent about 3.0mm outward from the inner rib 100.

P1053AUAU 14 A forward face of the insert 24 (Figure 18) carries a 2.3mm high rib 104 shaped to sit in between, ie mate with, the ribs 100, 102 when the module 18 and the insert 24 are brought together. A region 106 of the insert 24 defined by the rib 104 is occupied by the gasket 26. The gasket 104 is formed of closed foam rubber and is 3.2mm thick. In its 5 free state the gasket matches the external profile of the rib 104. The rib 104 is about 0.75mm thick, thus the gasket is compressed by about 0.75mm per side when inserted. The 0.75mm compression ensures the entire area bounded by the 0.75mm rib is fully filled by the gasket even when compressed by the concentric internal rib. The gasket has an adhesive back that keeps it in position. 10 When the insert 24 is in its operational position and the screws 88A tightened, the outer rib 102 abuts an inner face of the insert. The outer rib 102 thus constitutes a stop defining the operational position. The inner rib 100 acts on an outer margin of the gasket 26, compressing this margin to a thickness corresponding to the difference in height of the inner and outer ribs 100, 102; i.e. 0.3mm in this embodiment. This compressed 15 margin forms an effective seal along a continuous line about the top and sides of the socket 96 and the cable path. It entirely surrounds the socket excepting for the lower extent of the cable path. For water to reach the socket it would have to track upwardly along the cable path. In this embodiment the gasket 26 is a planar piece and shaped to span the socket and 20 cable path. In an alternative embodiment, the gasket could be a length of material shaped to follow the continuous line. Another gasket, gasket 50 takes the form of a closed rectangular loop. It sealingly connects the heat sink 48 and the fascia 56 (Figures 7 and 16). The gasket 50 is accommodated in an upwardly facing groove running along the top of the wall of the 25 heat sink 48. The fascia 56 includes a downwardly projecting rib which compresses the gasket 50 and thus forms a sealing interface. The fascia 56 further includes a wall 108 downwardly extending below this interface outside the heat sink 48. The cowl 22 is positioned so that its upper edges abut a lower extent of the wall 108 with the aid of alignment tabs 110 (Figures 12, 13 & 16). The tabs 110 are integrally formed P1053AUAU 15 with the cowl and project upwardly from the upper edge of the cowl to act as guides during assembly. The abutment and the wall 108 provides a degree of splash protection. To reach the boards 52, 54, water would have to breach the abutment, track upwardly along the wall 108 and then breach the gasket 50. 5 The cover 58 is an integral polycarbonate moulding. The regions 112, 114 (Figure 7) have different surface treatments. The outer region 112 has a textured inner surface, and thus has a translucent appearance. The inner region 114 has fully polished surfaces (or more precisely is produced by an injection mould having fully polished surfaces) and thus is transparent. 10 The cover 58 is openable from a closed position (Figures 1 to 4), in which the underlying user interface 116 (Figures 7 & 25) is shielded from splashing and dust and debris, to an open position (Figure 25) for accessing a group of buttons 118 of the interface 116 (Figures 7 & 8). The cover 58 is approximately rectangular in plan (Figure 2) and has a convexly curved 15 rear edge. The long edges of the cover diverge in the forward direction. The cover 58 presents a smoothly curved convex exterior. The convex form is more impact resistant and less prone to warping than a planar cover of similar thickness. The smooth exterior avoids stress concentrations, adding to the impact resistance, and is easily cleaned. 20 A pair of arms 120 are spaced along one of the long edges of the cover and project downwardly therefrom (when the cover is in the closed position). In this embodiment the arms are at the ends of the long edge. Each arm 120 carries a short cylindrical spigot extending in the axial direction (i.e. parallel to the shaft 38 of the motor 12). The heat sink 48 also has a rectangular form. Short upstands 122 project from two of its 25 corners and define half cylindrical upwardly open seats cooperable with the spigots. During assembly of the module 18 the spigots are received within the seats and captured therein by complementary features (not shown) of the fascia 56. The fit between the arms 120 and the fascia 56 is selected to provide a degree of friction to P1053AUAU 16 resist free movement of the cover whilst permitting movement by hand. Moreover the open position (Figure 25) is selected to be over centre whereby the open position is stably retained. The other long edge of the cover carries a snap clip 121 to engage with a 5 complementary formation in the fascia 56 to hold the cover in the closed position. The user interface 116 allows a user to enter data to vary the operation of the pump. It includes a sheet like top surface of the fascia 56 and the underlying board 54 (Figure 7). The board 54 is a printed circuit board and includes a display 124 and depressible elements 126. In this embodiment the display 124 is a backlit LCD display. The 10 transparency of the cover allows the display 124 and data presented thereby (e.g. operational parameters of the pump) to be viewed without opening the cover; e.g. a present mode of operation might be viewed at a glance without touching the pump. The sheet like top surface of the fascia 56 includes a rectangular cutout, for receiving the display 124, and the group of buttons 118. Each button 128 of the group of buttons 15 118 is carried by a respective arm 130. Each button 128 and its arm 130 are defined by a respective opening, in the form of slot 132, about their periphery. The buttons 128 are in register with the underlying depressible elements 126. The buttons, when pressed downwardly against the bias of the arms, act on and so actuate the elements 126 to enter data into the logic arrangements of the boards 52, 54. When a 20 button 128 is released, it returns to its horizontal, neutral, position under the bias of its arm 130. In this embodiment the buttons allow a user to select options from a menu system. The buttons 128 present a larger surface area than the depressible elements and create a feeling of solidity when depressed. This feeling is commercially important because it is 25 an immediate part of an end customer's interaction with the product. Another feel enhancing measure is a respective raised tactile dot concentrically arranged at the centre of each button.

Claims (18)

1. An electromechanical device including a casing housing components and having an axis; an electronics module in proximity to the casing; 5 a fan for driving fluid; and a cowl guarding the fan; the cowl being at least predominantly supported by the electronics module.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the cowl is an integral moulding.

3. The device of claim 1 or 2 including a snap fit between the cowl and module. 10

4. The device of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the casing is extruded.

5. The device of any one of claims 1 to 4 including one or more heat rejecting portions and wherein the cowl defines at least one inlet for supplying the fluid to the fan; and one or more flow paths from the fan to the heat rejecting portions. 15

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the cowl defines one or more further inlets in communication with the flow paths such that further fluid is drawn into the flow paths via the further inlets by the driven fluid and the driven fluid and the further fluid are conveyed to the heat rejecting portions.

7. The device of claim 5 or 6 wherein the one or more heat rejecting portions 20 include one or more fins.

8. The device of any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the heat rejecting portions include portions positioned to reject heat from power electronics.

9. The device of any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein the casing is extruded and defines at least some of the heat rejecting portions. P1053AUAU 18

10. The device of any one of claims 5 to 9 wherein the heat rejecting projections define flow paths between the casing and module along which the fluid is driven.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein one or more of the flow paths defined by the heat rejecting portions are non-linear to direct the fluid about conductors connecting the 5 components to the module.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the heat rejecting projections include curved fins.

13. The device of any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein an outermost extent of the cowl deviates from a vertical plane to prevent occlusion of the at least one inlet by a vertical 10 planar wall.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein at least a portion of the outermost extent is planar and at an inclination to vertical.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the inclination is about 100.

16. The device of any one of claims 1 to 15 being a motor. 15

17. The device of any one of claims 1 to 15 being a pump.

18. The device of claim 17 connected to a swimming pool via a conduit.