CN115917158A

CN115917158A - Control interface for a pump

Info

Publication number: CN115917158A
Application number: CN202180047250.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 鲍里斯·克洛茨
Original assignee: Husqvarna AB
Current assignee: Husqvarna AB
Priority date: 2020-07-28
Filing date: 2021-05-06
Publication date: 2023-04-04
Also published as: EP4189247A1; EP3945214B1; EP3945214A1; WO2022022869A1

Abstract

A control interface (150) for a pump (100). The control interface (150) includes a power source (130). The control interface (150) includes a controller (120) for activating an operating feature of the pump (100). The controller (120) is actuated by a user action (160). The control interface (150) is characterized in that the pumping action of the pump (100) is activated by an activation signal provided by the determination unit.

Description

Control interface for a pump

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to pumps. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a control interface that allows for safe and convenient operation of a pump, particularly a submersible pump.

Background

A pump, such as a submersible pump, may include a control interface for operating the pump. The control interface includes one or more buttons, switches and indicators to allow the user to interact with the different modes and, more importantly, to activate the pump. However, there are safety, legal, and implementation constraints to operate (i.e., switch on) the pump in its submerged state.

Furthermore, there are concerns about operating or starting the pump out of the water, which may lead to dry running conditions. If the pump is submerged in liquid while in operation, dry running may result in undesirable damage and problems associated with degassing

US 4021700 (hereinafter the' 700 reference) provides one example of a submersible pump. The' 700 reference provides a three-phase submersible pump motor that includes a time delay before shutdown to avoid undesirable nuisance shutdowns caused by transient or transient conditions. When the pump motor is powered down in response to an underload condition, it automatically restarts after a predetermined time delay. All delay functions are precisely determined by dividing the power line frequency. Downhole pressure and temperature are also sensed and if they become excessive, the motor is automatically de-energized to prevent overheating. However, the' 700 reference does not disclose a simple, secure interface that allows for automatic activation of the pump motor based on factors such as user-specified conditions.

The US5,190,442 reference (hereinafter the' 442 reference) discloses an electronic pump control system that includes a reservoir fluidly coupled to a plurality of pumps. Multiple pumps may be operated by a pump controller. Further, a processor is provided to start/stop one or more of the plurality of pumps based on programming between the pump controller and the processor. However, the' 442 reference does not appear to describe automatic and time-based activation of any pump after a predetermined time of receiving power thereby. Furthermore, the' 442 reference and the US 4,444,545 and US 4,705,456 references do not appear to have any features that allow for the integration of time-based actuation of pumps with liquid sensors. This lack of critical features may result in safety and efficiency constraints for the operation of the pump. Furthermore, the pumps of these references lack preset time-based pump operation, may be susceptible to undesirable malfunction and maintenance events, which may even compromise the safety of the pump and its users.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved control interface for a pump that provides safe and user-friendly operation of the pump.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to solve or at least reduce the above disadvantages. This object is at least partly achieved by a control interface of the pump. The control interface includes a power supply. The control interface includes a controller to control the power supply and activate the operating features of the pump. The controller is actuated by a user action. The control interface is characterized in that the controller comprises a determination unit, wherein the pumping action of the pump is activated by the controller providing power to the motor of the pump after receiving an activation signal provided by the determination unit. Thus, the gauging unit provides the activation signal if a preset time period has elapsed after the controller receives power from the power source and/or the pump further comprises a liquid sensor and the liquid sensor detects liquid, and thus the present disclosure provides a simple, user-friendly and efficient control interface allowing to safely activate the pumping action based on the preset time period. This is achieved by avoiding unnecessary idling of the pump or the need to handle the pump when at least partially submerged.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the preset time period is in the range of about 10 seconds to about 90 seconds. The countdown of this preset time period gives the operator of the pump an opportunity to perform an activity on the pump if the pump has not performed a pumping action. The range of the preset time period may be any value based on the pump, user preference, or other implementation factors.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the control unit further comprises a memory storing a value representative of the time at which the pump receives power from the power source. If the memory stores a value associated with the remaining period of time during which the pump's motor is not powered, it is possible to suspend the process of automatically turning on pumping action for an indefinite period of time and resume the countdown at the suspend position later. This may be initiated by a manual action of pressing a start/stop button. Alternatively, the countdown may be suspended when the pump is removed from the power source, and may be resumed when reconnected, particularly if the memory is permanent. The provision of a preset time period after which the determining unit provides a start signal to power the motor of the pump from scratch after the pump is reconnected to the power supply is thus avoided (thus ignoring the already existing time period counted down in the past). Furthermore, this allows applying benefits, such as accurately storing and checking the preset time period by the memory unit.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the count of the preset time period is displayed by one or more of an LED and an LCD provided on one of the control interface and a separate location. This can be used as a visual indicator for the operator of the pump of the count of the preset time period.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the user interface is integrated into the housing of the pump (100). This avoids the need for separate components other than the pump housing, which makes the pump smoother and user friendly. According to one embodiment of the invention, the control interface includes a memory unit associated with the power supply and the controller. This allows the benefits of the application, the accurate storage and checking of the preset time period by the memory unit.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the operational characteristic is one or more of activation of the pump, a mode change and a timer mode. This may allow the control interface to activate different operating features or modes of the pump.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the pump is a submersible pump. Submersible pumps often create safety issues related to activation in submerged conditions, which are safely and conveniently addressed by the control interface of the present disclosure.

Other features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a pump according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a pump submerged in a liquid according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a control interface of a pump according to an embodiment of the invention; and

fig. 4 shows a schematic view of a pump according to another embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the invention incorporating one or more aspects of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. For example, one or more aspects of the present invention may be used in other embodiments and even in other types of structures and/or methods. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements.

Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. For example, "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "side," "longitudinal," "lateral," "transverse," "upward," "downward," "forward," "rearward," "laterally," "left," "right," "horizontal," "vertical," "upward," "inner," "outer," "inward," "outward," "top," "bottom," "higher," "above," "below," "central," "middle," "intermediate," "between," "end," "adjacent," "near," "distal," "remote," "radial," "circumferential," and the like, merely describe the configuration illustrated in the figures. Indeed, the components may be oriented in any direction and the terminology, therefore, should be understood as encompassing such variations unless specified otherwise.

Fig. 1 shows a pump 100 having a control interface 150. The present disclosure shows a submersible pump, however, the present disclosure may be implemented with any other pump, such as, but not limited to, a pulse pump, a battery pump, a speed pump, a gravity pump, as the present disclosure is not limited in any way by the type/size/mechanism of the pump.

Fig. 1, 2 show the pump 100 before and after immersion in the liquid 110. The liquid 110 may be water or any other liquid as used or known in the relevant art. The pump 100 includes a pump body 102. The pump body 102 forms a main compartment 104 having an inlet port 106 (shown in FIG. 2) and an outlet port 108 for a liquid 110 (shown in FIG. 2). Liquid 110 is pumped up from the inlet port 106 and out the outlet port 108. In one embodiment, the pump body 102 may also include a liquid sensor, or alternatively have a liquid sensor attached thereto. With this embodiment, the liquid sensor is able to detect liquid when the pump is at least partially submerged in the liquid sensor.

Advantageously, the control interface 150 of the pump 100 includes one or more lighting units 152 (typically LEDs 152, and the two terms are used interchangeably hereinafter). The control interface 150 of the present disclosure may generally be an electronic screen with a touch sensitive LED 152 that detects user actions 160. The one or more lighting units 152 may be sensing devices that detect a user action 160 and enable the pump 100 to operate after a preset time period T based on the user action 160. As will be understood by combined reference to fig. 1, 2, the lighting unit 152 allows to adjust the maximum and minimum water levels controlled by the pumping action of the pump 100. The one or more lighting units 152 may reside between the top portion 112 and the bottom portion 114 of the pump body 102. The present disclosure shows the lighting unit 152 starting around the top portion 112 of the pump body 102, however practical implementations may have the lighting unit 152 in any position, orientation, style, component, etc. of the pump body 102. The present disclosure relates to constraints associated with handling, operating, running the pump 100 (particularly the submersible pump 100) before and during a submerged condition in the liquid 110 as shown in fig. 2. As will be apparent, any interaction with the pump 100 in the submerged state may result in safety, operational, and other hazards to both the user and the pump 100.

In one embodiment, the pump body 102 is made of any material, such as a waterproof material. Some parts or components of the pump body 102 may be made of transparent materials for aesthetic and implementation benefits. Further, the pump body 102 or any component of the pump 100 may be made of any one or combination of metals and polymers or any other material as used or known in the relevant art.

Referring to fig. 1, the pump 100 sets the preset time period T by interacting with the control interface 150. This may be desirable due to safety, legal, and implementation constraints of operating the pump 100 in a submerged state. The control interface 150 of the present disclosure allows a user to safely set the pump 100 for a preset time period T before placing the pump 100 within the liquid 110 as shown in fig. 2. The control interface 150 only allows the preset time period T to begin after power from the power source 130 (shown in fig. 3) connected to the pump 100 is detected. This may ensure additional safety and checks to allow the pump 100 to operate based on the pre-fixed time period T and power from the power source 130.

In some embodiments, any number of inspection and safety precautions may be set with pump 100, depending on user preferences or application requirements. In a non-limiting example, the pump 100 may begin operation after a preset time period T based on detection of the liquid 110 or sufficient level of the liquid 110 to ensure safety and efficiency of operation. Thus, a controller comprising a determination unit to activate the pumping action of the pump 100 by providing power can function in different ways. That is, for example, the measurement unit provides the start signal after a preset time period T of the controller 120 receiving power from the power supply 130 has elapsed. In another example, the pump 100 further comprises a liquid sensor, and the determination unit provides an activation signal if this liquid sensor detects liquid. Or alternatively the two aforementioned conditions must be met, i.e. the activation signal is only provided if a preset time period T has elapsed and liquid is detected.

Furthermore, the control interface 150 may allow for a visual, audio, notification or any other alert to be provided to the user regarding the end of the preset time period T, which will also signal the start/operation of the pump 100.

The pump 100 may have a preset posture for setting the preset time period T. The preset gesture may include pressing any one of the one or more lighting units 152 of the control interface 150, as shown by the user action 160 in fig. 1, however, practical implementations of the present disclosure may have any other type/location/setting for the preset gesture (i.e., the user action 160).

The pump 100 may be equipped with an indicator 154, which is one or more lighting units (e.g. LEDs) or LCD displays that allow showing the preset time period T and its running count, which is set (e.g. by hand) after the user action 160. One or more indicators 154 dynamically show the current count of the preset time period T and make it more visible and apparent to the user. In practice, the pump 100 will only begin operation after the preset time period T has elapsed, as will be indicated by the illuminated or displayed status.

Fig. 3 shows a control interface 150 of the pump 100. The control interface 150 includes a power supply 130. The control interface 150 includes a controller 120 to activate operating features of the pump 100 by powering the motor of the pump 100. In some embodiments, the operational characteristic is one or more of activation, mode change, and timer mode of the pump 100. This may allow the control interface 150 to activate different operating features of the pump 100. Controller 120 is actuated by user action 160 (shown in fig. 1). The control interface 150 of the present disclosure allows for activating the pumping action of the pump 100 by supplying power to the pump's motor after a preset time period T after receiving power from the power source 130. In another possible embodiment, power is supplied to the motor after the liquid sensor on the pump 100 has detected liquid. In yet another embodiment, the controller 120 only powers the motor of the pump 100 after a preset time period T after receiving power from the power source 130 and if a liquid sensor on the pump 100 has detected liquid.

Thus, the present disclosure provides a simple, user-friendly, and efficient control interface 150 that allows for safe activation of the pump 100 based on a preset time period T. Further, the control interface 150 includes a memory unit 140 associated with the power supply 130 and the controller 120. This allows the memory unit 140 to store and check the preset time period T and/or the power from the power supply 130. It is advantageous if this memory stores the current value even after the power supply is removed. In this case, it is possible to count down the remainder of the preset time period T after the pump 100 is reconnected to the power supply, avoiding the situation where the complete preset time period T comes into play.

In some embodiments, one or more pumping actions or operational features of the pump 100 are activated based on detection of the power source 130 by the memory unit 140 of the pump 100. This allows the pump 100 to be activated only after a security check of the power supply 130 is detected, and after a user verifiably counts the preset time period T. The present disclosure shows the pump 100 as a submersible pump 100, however, the control interface 150 can be readily applied to any pump without limitation.

Fig. 4 shows the pump 100 with a control interface 150 according to an embodiment of the invention. The control interface 150 allows for different levels or modes of control of the pump 100. The control interface 150 may allow for various levels of control of the pump 100 to be performed, such as, but not necessarily, overall control of the pump 100, wherein the control interface 150 may be used to control any function of the pump 100 without limitation. Furthermore, there may be situations where the control interface 150 may be able to control the pump 110 for any reason with some restrictions, such as only power control of the pump 100. As shown, control interface 150 includes control buttons 156 and indicators 154 (e.g., LCD displays). The present disclosure provides a control interface 150 having a compact, user-friendly, and aesthetically pleasing arrangement without compromising the ease of use and convenience of the application of the control interface 150. The present disclosure further avoids the need for multiple levers, buttons, etc. to perform changes to the various modes, parameters that may be operated by the control interface 150 of the pump 100. This allows the ordinary user to easily operate and set the pump 100 to operate in a submerged state.

As shown in fig. 4, the count of the preset time period T is displayed by one or more indicators 154 or any display device provided on the control interface 150. This may be used as a visual indicator for the user of the count of the preset time period T. The indicator 154 of the present disclosure is preferably placed around the top 112 of the pump body 102 for easy access, visibility and attention by the user. In a non-limiting example, the preset time period T is in the range of about 10 seconds to about 90 seconds. The range of the preset time period T may be any value based on the pump 100, user preferences, or other implementation factors. The preset time period T may generally be determined based on the ability of a user to safely and conveniently move and set the pump 100 from a dry state (as shown in fig. 1) to submersion in the liquid 110 (as shown in fig. 2). Furthermore, the preset time period T may be easily configurable, and may be modified by user interaction with the control interface 150 of the pump 100.

In some embodiments, control buttons 156 operate pump 100 based on user actions 160. In addition, the indicator 154 may also indicate one or more operating characteristics (or parameters) of the pump 100, such as by different colors, patterns, and any other indicators. Such an implementation may allow the control interface 150 to be used safely and conveniently while providing ease of operation and aesthetic benefits to the application of the control interface 150. In this case, different operations such as "on", "off", mode change, etc. may be performed by different actions taken by different users on the control interface 150, based on the safety provided by the preset time period T of the pump 100.

In some embodiments, the control interface 150 may be adapted to interact with a user-portable device (e.g., smartphone, tablet, etc.) to communicate any messages/notifications/alerts regarding mode changes, operating characteristics, time periods to the user-portable device in real-time or in accordance with user-set feature preferences. The control interface 150 may also allow activation, switching of different modes, operational features by application of a user portable device. This arrangement is for exemplary purposes only, and the present disclosure may be readily used with any wireless device to communicate messages/notifications/alerts, as known or used in the art.

The control interface 150 of the present disclosure allows for the use of one or more of electronics (lighting unit 152), indicators 154, mechanical devices (control buttons 156), or wireless devices (user-portable devices, etc.) to interact and activate the pumping action of the pump 100. Further, the control interface 150 allows for a safe, user-friendly activation of the pump 100 by utilizing a buffer preset time period T that is activated after the power source 130 is provided to the pump 100. The control interface 150 also provides a visual indication and/or alert to the user via one or more indicators 154 regarding the count of the preset time period T.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Component list

100 pump

102 pump body

104 main compartment

106 inlet port

108 discharge port

110 liquid

112 top of the container

114 bottom

120 controller

130 power supply

140 memory cell

150 control unit

152 lighting unit/LED

154 indicator

156 control button

160 user actions

T preset time period

Claims

1. A control interface (150) of a pump (100), the control interface (150) comprising:

a power supply (130); and

a controller (120) configured to control the power source (130) and activate an operational feature of the pump (100), wherein the controller (120) is configured to be actuated by a user action (160),

the controller (120) comprises a determination unit,

wherein the pumping action of the pump (100) is activated by the controller (120) powering the motor of the pump (100) after receiving a start signal provided by the determination unit,

the method is characterized in that:

wherein the determination unit provides an activation signal in case a preset time period (T) has elapsed after the controller (120) receives power from the power source (130), or in case the pump (100) further comprises a liquid sensor and the liquid sensor detects liquid.

2. The control interface (150) of claim 1, wherein the preset time period (T) is in a range of about 10 seconds to about 90 seconds.

3. The control interface (150) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the controller (120) further comprises a memory storing a value representing a time at which the pump (100) receives power from the power source (130).

4. The control interface (150) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the count of the preset time period (T) is displayed by one or more of an LED and an LCD (154) provided on one of the control interface (150) and a separate location.

5. The control interface (150) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control interface (150) is integrated in a pump body (102) of the pump (100).

6. The control interface (150) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operational characteristic is one or more of an activation, a mode change and a timer mode of the pump (100).

7. A pump (100) associated with the control interface (150) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pump (100) is a submersible pump (100).