EP3945214B1

EP3945214B1 - Control interface of a pump

Info

Publication number: EP3945214B1
Application number: EP20188095.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Boris KLOTZ
Original assignee: Husqvarna AB
Current assignee: Husqvarna AB
Priority date: 2020-07-28
Filing date: 2020-07-28
Publication date: 2024-05-15
Anticipated expiration: 2040-07-28
Also published as: EP4189247A1; WO2022022869A1; CN115917158A; EP3945214A1

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

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

BACKGROUND

Pumps such as submersible pumps might include a control interface to operate the pumps. The control interface includes one or more buttons, switches, and indicators to allow interaction of a user with different modes and more importantly to start the pumps. However, there are safety, legal, and implementation constraints to operate (i.e. switch ON) the pump in a submerged condition of the pump.
Further, there are concerns regarding operating or starting the pump outside water which may lead to a dry run condition. The dry run may lead to undesirable damage and problems related to deaeration if the pump is submerged into a liquid while running.
The documents US 5 190 442 A , US 4 444 545 A , US 4 705 456 A and US 2020/063742 Al belong to the technical background of the present invention.
An example of a submersible pump is provided by US4021700 (hereinafter referred to as '700 reference). The '700 reference provides a three-phase submersible pump motor which includes time delays before shutdown to avoid undesired nuisance shutdowns otherwise caused by transient or momentary conditions. When the pump motor is de-energized in response to an underload condition, it is automatically restarted after a predetermined time delay. All of the delay functions are precisely determined by division of 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, safe interface which allows automatic starting of the pump motor based on factors such as a user-specified condition.
Thus, there is a need for an improved control interface for a pump which provides safe and user-friendly operation of the pump.

SUMMARY

In view of the above, it is an objective of the present invention to solve or at least reduce the drawbacks discussed above. The objective is at least partially achieved by a device according to claim 1. Thus, the present disclosure provides a simple, user-friendly, and efficient control interface which allows safe activation of the pumping action based on the pre-set time period. This by avoiding unnecessary dry-run of the pump or the need to manipulate the pump when being at least partially submerged.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pre-set time period is in a range of about 10 second to about 90 seconds. The countdown of this pre-set time period give an operator of the pump the chance to do perform activities on the pump without it already performing pumping action. The range of the pre-set time period may be any value based on the pump, user preferences or other implementation factors.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit further includes a memory storing a value that is representative of the time the pump received power from the power supply. If the memory stores a value that is associated with the remainder of the time period the motor of the pump is not supplied with power it is possible to pause the process of automatically switching on the pumping action for an indefinite time and resume the count down at the paused position later. This could be initiated by a manual action by pressing a start/stop button. Alternatively, in particular if the memory is a permanent one, the countdown could be paused when the pump is removed from the electric power supply and can be resumed when reconnected. Thus avoiding that after reconnection of the pump to the electric power supply the pre-set time period after which the evaluation unit provided its start signal to supply power to the motor of the pump start from the beginning (thus ignoring the already period of the past countdown). Further this allows application benefits such as accurate storing and checking of the pre-set time period by the memory unit.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the count of the pre-set time period is displayed by one or more of a LED, and an LCD provided on one of the control interface and a separate location. This may serve as a visual indicator for the operator of the pump regarding the count of the pre-set time period.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the user interface is incorporated into the housing of the pump (100). This avoids the need of separate component in addition to the pump housing this making the pump more smooth and user friendly. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control interface includes a memory unit associated with the power supply and the controller. This allows application benefits such as accurate storing and checking of the pre-set time period by the memory unit.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the operating feature 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 an embodiment of the present invention, the pump is a submersible pump. The submersible pump generally leads to safety concerns related to activation in a submerged condition, which is addressed safely and conveniently by the control interface of the present disclosure.
Other features and aspects of this invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a pump, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the pump submerged in a liquid, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 show a block diagram of a control interface of the pump, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a pump, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention 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 present 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 can be utilized in other embodiments and even other types of structures and/or methods. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.
Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the invention. For example, "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "side", "longitudinal", "lateral", "transverse", "upwards", "downwards", "forward", "backward", "sideward", "left," "right," "horizontal," "vertical," "upward", "inner", "outer", "inward", "outward", "top", "bottom", "higher", "above", "below", "central", "middle", "intermediate", "between", "end", "adjacent", "proximate", "near", "distal", "remote", "radial", "circumferential", or the like, merely describe the configuration shown 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 illustrates a pump 100 having a control interface 150. The present disclosure illustrates a submersible pump.
FIGS. 1 , 2 illustrate the pump 100 before and after submerging in a 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 intake 106 (shown in FIG. 2 ) and a discharge 108 for the liquid 110 (shown in FIG. 2 ). The liquid 110 is pumped up from the intake 106 and pumped out from the discharge 108. The pump body 102 also includes a liquid sensor or has alternatively the liquid sensor attached to it. With this, the liquid sensor is able to detect liquid when the pump is at least partly submerged therein.
Advantageously the pumps 100 control interface 150 includes one or more lighting units 152 (generally LEDs 152 and both these terms used interchangeably hereinafter). The control interface 150 of the present disclosure may generally be an electronic screen with touch-sensitive LEDs 152 which detect a user action 160. The one or more lighting units 152 may be sensory means which detect the user action 160 and enable the pump 100 to operate after a pre-set time period T, based on the user action 160. As will be appreciated with combined reference to FIGS. 1 , 2 the lighting units 152 allow to adjust the maxim and minimum water level that is controlled by the pumping action of the pump 100. The one or more lighting units 152 may be present between a top 112 and a bottom 114 of the pump body 102. The present disclosure illustrates the lighting units 152 starting around the top 112 of the pump body 102, however actual implementations may have the lighting units 152 in any position, orientation, style, part, and the like of the pump body 102. The present disclosure pertains to constraints related to handling, operating, running the pump 100 (particularly the submersible pump 100) before and during the submerged state in the liquid 110 as illustrated in FIG. 2 . As will be evident, any interaction with the pump 100 in the submerged state may lead to safety, operational and other hazards, both for users and the pump 100.
In an embodiment, the pump body 102 is made of any material such as a water proof material. From aesthetics and implementation benefits, some part, or components of the pump body 102 can be made of a transparent material. Further, the pump body 102, or any component of the pump 100 can be made of any or a combination of a metal, and a polymer or any other material as used or known in the relevant art.
Referring to FIG. 1 , the pump 100 is setup for the pre-fixed time period T by interaction with the control interface 150. This may be required due to safety, legal, and implementation constraints with operating the pump 100 in the submerged state. The control interface 150 of the present disclosure allows users to safely setup the pump 100 with the pre-fixed time period T before placing the pump 100 within the liquid 110, as shown in FIG. 2 . The control interface 150 allows start of the pre-fixed time period T only after detecting power from a power supply 130 (shown in FIG. 3 ) connected to the pump 100. This may ensure additional safety and check to allow running of the pump 100 based on the pre-fixed time period T and the power from the power supply 130.
In some embodiments, any number of checks and safety precautions may be setup with the pump 100, as per user preference or application requirements. In a non-limiting example, the pump 100 may start running after the pre-set time period T based on detecting of the liquid 110 or say a sufficient level of the liquid 110 to ensure safety and efficiency of operation. Thus the controller that comprises an evaluation unit to activate the pumping action of the pump 100 by providing the power can act in different ways. A first way is that the evaluation unit provides a start signal after a pre-set time period T of the controller 120 receiving power from the power supply 130 has lapsed. A second way is that the pump 100 further comprises a liquid sensor and the evaluation unit provides a start signal if this liquid sensor detects liquid. Optionally, both of the before mentioned conditions have to be fulfilled that is the start signal is just provided if a pre-set time period T has lapsed and the liquid is detected.
Further, the control interface 150 may allow visual, audio, notification, or any other alert to users regarding finish of the pre-set time period T which will also signal the starting/running of the pump 100.
The pump 100 may have a preset gesture for setting the pre-set time period T. The preset gesture may include pressing on any of the one or more lighting units 152 of the control interface 150 as illustrated with the user action 160 in FIG. 1 , however actual implementation of the preset disclosure may have any other type/position/setting for the preset gesture i.e. the user action 160.
The pump 100 might be equipped with indicators 154 being one or more lighting units (for example LEDs) or LCD displays allowind to show the pre-set time period T, and a running count thereof, which is set after the user action 160 (say by the hand). The one or more indicators 154 show dynamically the current count of the pre-set time period T and makes it more visible, and noticeable for the user. During implementation, the pump 100 starts running only after finish of the pre-fixed time period T as will be indicated by illumination or display status.
FIG. 3 illustrates the control interface 150 of the pump 100. The control interface 150 includes the power supply 130. The control interface 150 includes a controller 120 to activate an operating feature of the pump 100 by supplying power to the motor of the pump 100. In some embodiment, the operating feature is one or more of activation of the pump 100, a mode change, and a timer mode. This may allow the control interface 150 to activate different operating features of the pump 100. The controller 120 is actuated by the user action 160 (shown in FIG. 1 ). The control interface 150 of the present disclosure allows that a pumping action of the pump 100 is activated post the pre-set time period T after receiving power from the power supply 130 by supplying the motor of the pump with power. Power is also supplied to the motor after a liquid sensor on the pump 100 has detected liquid. Optionally, the controller 120 just supplies power to the motor of the pump 100 both post the pre-set time period T after receiving power from the power supply 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 which allows safe activation of the pump 100 based on the pre-set 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 storing and checking of the pre-set time period T, and/or the power from the power supply 130 by the memory unit 140. It is advantageous if this memory stores the current value even after removal of the electric power supply. In this case it is possible that after re-connection of the pump 100 to the electric power supply the the remainder of the pre-set time period T is counted downwards, avoiding the case where the complete pre-set time period T comes into play.
In some embodiment, one or more of the pumping action or the operating feature of the pump 100 is activated based on detection of the power supply 130 by the memory unit 140 of the pump 100. This allows activation of the pump 100 only after the safety-check of detecting the power supply 130, and after user-verifiable count of the pre-set time period T.
FIG. 4 illustrates the pump 100 with the control interface 150, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The control interface 150 allows different levels or modes of control of the pump 100. The control interface 150 can allow to perform various levels of control of the pump 100 such as, for example but need not necessarily, total control of the pump 100 where the control interface 150 can be used to control any function of the pump 100 without any restriction. Further, there may be situations where the control interface 150 may be able to control the pump 110 with some restrictions, for whatsoever reason, such as only power control of the pump 100. As illustrated, the control interface 150 includes a control button 156 and an indicator 154 (for example a LCD display). The present disclosure provides the control interface 150 with a compact, user-friendly, and aesthetic arrangement without compromising with ease-of-use and convenience with application of the control interface 150. The present disclosure further avoids need of multiple levers, buttons etc. to perform changes to the various modes, parameters operable by the control interface 150 of the pump 100. This allows ease of operation and setup of the pump 100 for running in the submerged state by a common user.
As illustrated in FIG. 4 , a count of the pre-set time period T is displayed by one or more indicators 154, or any display means provided on the control interface 150. This may serve as a visual indicator to users regarding the count of the pre-set time period T. The indicator 154 of the present disclosure is preferably placed around the top 112 of the pump body 102 for ease of access, visibility, and notice of users. In a non-limiting example, the pre-set time period T is in a range of about 10 second to about 90 seconds. The range of the pre-set time period T may be any value based on the pump 100, user preferences or other implementation factors. The preset time period T may be generally decided based on user ability to safely and conveniently move and setup the pump 100 from dry state (as shown in FIG. 1 ) to being submerged in the liquid 110 (as shown in FIG. 2 ). Further, the preset time period T may be readily configurable, modifiable by user interaction with the control interface 150 of the pump 100.
In some embodiments, the control button 156 operates the pump 100 based on the user action 160. Further, the indicators 154 may also indicate one or more operating features (or parameters) of the pump 100, such as by means of different colors, patterns, and any other indicator. Such embodiments may make the control interface 150 safe and convenient to use while providing ease-of-operation and aesthetic benefits for application of the control interface 150. In such cases, different operations such as switch "ON", "OFF", mode changes and the like may be undertaken by different user actions with the control interface 150, based on the safety provided by the pre-fixed time period T for the pump 100.
In some embodiments, the control interface 150 may be adapted to interact with a user portable device (such as smartphone, tab and the like) to convey any message/notification/alert regarding mode change, operating features, time periods to the user portable device in real-time, or as per feature preference set by the user. The control interface 150 may also allow activation, switching of different modes, operational features with application of the user portable device. Such arrangement is merely for exemplary purposes, and the present disclosure can be readily used with any wireless device to the convey a message/notification/alert, as known or used in the art.
The control interface 150 of the present disclosure allows use of one or more of electronic (the lighting units 152), indicators 154, mechanical (the control button 156), or wireless (the user portable device and the like) to interact and activate the pumping action of the pump 100. Further, the control interface 150 allows a safe, user-friendly activation of the pump 100 by taking advantage of the buffer pre-set time period T which is activated after providing power supply 130 to the pump 100. The control interface 150 also provides visual indication and/or alerts to users regarding the count of the pre-set time period T by means of one or more indicators 154.
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 the purpose of limitation of the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims.

LIST OF ELEMENTS

100: Pump
102: Pump Body
104: Main Compartment
106: Intake
108: Discharge
110: Liquid
112: Top
114: Bottom
120: Controller
130: Power Supply
140: Memory Unit
150: Control Unit
152: Lighting units/LEDs
154: Indicator
156: Control button
160: User Action
T: Pre-fixed Time Period

Claims

A device including a control interface (150) of a pump (100) and a pump body (102), the control interface (150) comprising:
a liquid sensor;

a power supply (130); and

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

the controller comprises an evaluation unit,

wherein a pumping action of the pump (100) is activated by the controller (120) providing the power to a motor of the pump (100) after receiving a start signal provided by the evaluation unit,

wherein the evaluation unit provides a start signal in different ways either if a time period (T) that the controller (120) received power from the power supply (130) has lapsed or if the liquid sensor detects liquid, characterized in that

the time period is pre-set and the liquid sensor is included in the pump body (102) or attached to it.
The device of claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit provides a start signal if both a pre-set time period (T) that the controller (120) received power from the power supply (130) has lapsed and the liquid sensor detects liquid.
The device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pre-set time period (T) is in a range of about 10 second to about 90 seconds.
The device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller (120) further includes a memory that stores a value that is representative of the time the controller (120) of the pump (100) received power from the power supply (130).
The device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a count of the pre-set time period (T) is displayed by one or more of a LED, and an LCD (154) provided on the control interface (150).
The device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control interface (150) is incorporated into the pump body (102) of the pump (100).
The device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating feature is one or more of activation of the pump (100), a mode change, and a timer mode.
A pump (100) with the device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pump (100) is a submersible pump (100).