Pump and controller system and method

Abstract

A liquid pump and controller with separate pump activation and deactivation mechanisms that are both closed detector devices is provided. The pump activation mechanism includes a float device that activates a pump motor when water within a housing of the pump reaches a high water level. The pump deactivation mechanism includes a sensor that detects the load on the pump motor and deactivates it when the sensed load indicates that the water within the pump housing has reached a low water level.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:  
     
         1 . A pump comprising: 
 a pump housing including a first portion having a port and a second portion having a plurality of openings formed therein, said plurality of openings being adapted to allow liquid to enter said housing;    a motor disposed within said housing, said motor adapted to cause the liquid present in said housing to be discharged through said port;    an activator electrically connected to said motor, said activator activating said motor when the liquid present in said housing reaches a first level, said activator using a first detection criteria to detect when the liquid reaches the first level; and    a deactivator electrically connected to said motor, said deactivator deactivating said motor when the liquid present in said housing reaches a second level, said deactivator using a second detection criteria to detect when the liquid reaches the second level, wherein said first detection criteria is different from said second detection criteria.    
     
     
         2 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein said deactivator comprises a sensor, said sensor deactivating said motor upon detecting a voltage of said motor indicative of said second level.  
     
     
         3 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein said activator comprises: 
 a switch disposed within said first portion and being electrically connected to said motor, said switch activating said motor when in a dosed position; and    a float assembly disposed within said housing, said assembly rising with a level of the liquid entering said housing, said assembly being adapted to close said switch when the liquid in the housing has reached said first level.    
     
     
         4 . The pump of  claim 3 , wherein said switch is a position sensor switch.  
     
     
         5 . The pump of  claim 4 , wherein said float assembly comprises: 
 a float; and    a magnet affixed to said float, said magnet adapted to close said position sensor switch when said float reaches said first level.    
     
     
         6 . The pump of  claim 5 , wherein said position sensor switch is a reed switch.  
     
     
         7 . The pump of  claim 6 , wherein said pump housing includes a float compartment disposed therein, said compartment being slightly larger than said float and having a first surface for guiding said float within said chamber, said compartment having a first side defined by a wall of said upper portion, said first side having an opening adapted to allow liquid to enter said compartment, said float assembly being disposed within said first surface of said compartment.  
     
     
         8 . The pump of  claim 7 , wherein said float has a square shape.  
     
     
         9 . The pump of  claim 7 , wherein said float has a toroidal shape.  
     
     
         10 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein said upper portion includes a plurality of closure tabs, each of said tabs having a closure lock, and wherein said lower portion includes a plurality of closure engagements, each of said engagements corresponding to a respective closure tab, said first portion being detachably connected to said second portion by inserting said locks into said engagements.  
     
     
         11 . The pump of  claim 10 , wherein said housing has an elongated profile.  
     
     
         12 . A pump comprising: 
 a pump housing, said housing including a first portion with a port formed therein and a second portion having a plurality of openings formed therein, said plurality of openings adapted to allow liquid to enter said housing;    a motor disposed within said housing, said motor causing liquid present in said housing to be discharged through said port when said motor is activated;    an activator electrically connected to said motor, said activator activating said motor when the liquid present in said housing reaches a first level, said activator comprising a closed detector device; and    a deactivator electrically connected to said motor, said deactivator deactivating said motor when the liquid present in said housing reaches a second level, said deactivator comprising a closed detector device.    
     
     
         13 . The pump of  claim 12 , wherein said deactivator comprises a sensor, said sensor deactivating said motor upon detecting a voltage of said motor indicative of said second level.  
     
     
         14 . The pump of  claim 12 , wherein said activator comprises: 
 a switch disposed within said first portion and being electrically connected to said motor, said switch activating said motor when in a closed position; and    a float assembly disposed within said housing, said assembly rising with a level of the liquid entering said housing, said assembly being adapted to close said switch when the liquid in the housing has reached said first level.    
     
     
         15 . The pump of  claim 14 , wherein said switch is a position sensor switch.  
     
     
         16 . The pump of  claim 15 , wherein said float assembly comprises: 
 a float; and    a magnet affixed to said float, said magnet closing said position sensor switch when said float reaches the first level.    
     
     
         17 . The pump of  claim 16 , wherein said position sensor switch is a reed switch.  
     
     
         18 . The pump of  claim 17 , wherein said pump housing includes a float compartment disposed therein, said compartment being slightly larger than said float and having a first surface for guiding said float within said chamber, said compartment having a first side defined by a wall of said upper portion, said first side having an opening adapted to allow liquid to enter said compartment, said float assembly being disposed within said first surface of said compartment.  
     
     
         19 . The pump of  claim 18 , wherein said float has a square shape.  
     
     
         20 . The pump of  claim 18 , wherein said float has a toroidal shape.  
     
     
         21 . The pump of  claim 12 , wherein said upper portion includes a plurality of closure tabs, each of said tabs having a closure lock, and said lower portion includes a plurality of closure engagements, each of said engagements corresponding to a respective closure tab, wherein said first portion is detachably connected to said second portion by inserting said locks into said engagements.  
     
     
         22 . The pump of  claim 21  wherein said housing has an elongated profile.  
     
     
         23 . A bilge pump apparatus comprising: 
 pump housing means, said housing means including a first portion with a port formed therein and a second portion having a plurality of openings formed therein, said plurality of openings adapted to allow liquid to enter said housing means;    a motor disposed within said housing means, said motor having an impeller extending into said lower portion, said impeller adapted to cause the liquid to be discharged through said port when said motor is activated;    means for activating said motor when the liquid present in said housing means reaches a first level, said activating means using a first detection criteria to detect when the liquid reaches the first level; and    means for deactivating said motor when the liquid present in said housing means reaches a second level, said deactivating means using a second detection criteria to detect when the liquid reaches the second level, wherein said first detection criteria is different from said second detection criteria.    
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said deactivating means comprises voltage detection means for detecting a voltage of said motor indicative of said second level.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said activating means comprises: 
 switching means for switching on and off said motor, said switching means being disposed within said first portion and being electrically connected to said motor; and    switch control means for closing said switch when the liquid in the housing has reached said first level, said switch control means being disposed within said housing.    
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said switch means is a position sensor switch.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said switch control means comprises: 
 a float; and    a magnet affixed to said float, said magnet closing said position sensor switch when said float reaches the first level.    
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein said position sensor switch is a reed switch.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said pump housing means includes a compartment for encasing said switch control means, said compartment being slightly larger than said switch control means and having an inner surface for guiding said switch control means within said compartment, said compartment having a first side defined by a wall of said upper portion, said first side having an opening to allow the liquid to enter said compartment, said switch control means being disposed within said inner surface of said compartment.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein said float has a square shape.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein said float has a toroidal shape.  
     
     
         32 . A bilge pump comprising: 
 an upper portion, said upper portion having an open first side, said upper portion having a second side with a discharge port formed therein;    a straining portion, said straining portion having an open first side, said open first side of said straining portion being detachably connected to said open side of said upper portion to define a bilge pump housing, said straining portion having a plurality of openings formed therein, said openings allowing water to enter said bilge pump housing;    a motor housing disposed within said upper portion, said housing having an open first side;    a nozzle case disposed within said straining portion, said nozzle case having an open first side, said open first side of said nozzle case being coupled to said open first side of said motor housing, said nozzle case having a second side with an opening to allow water to enter said nozzle case;    a motor disposed within said motor housing, said motor having an impeller, said impeller extending into said nozzle case and causing water to be discharged through said discharge port when said motor is activated;    a reed switch disposed within said upper portion and being electrically connected to said motor, said reed switch activating said motor when in a closed position;    a float compartment disposed within said bilge pump housing, said compartment having a first surface including a plurality of guidance supports, said compartment having a first side defined by a third side of said upper portion, said first side having an opening to allow water to enter said compartment;    a float assembly disposed within said guidance supports of said compartment, said assembly including a float and a magnet affixed to said float, said float rising with a level of the water entering said compartment, said magnet coming into close proximity of said reed switch, and thereby closing said reed switch, when the water in the compartment has reached a high water level; and    a sensor electrically connected to said motor, said sensor deactivating said motor upon detecting a voltage of said motor indicative of a low water level.    
     
     
         33 . A floating apparatus for detecting a level of water, said apparatus comprising: 
 a float assembly; and    a float compartment, said compartment having an inner surface and being slightly larger than said float assembly, said float assembly being disposed within said inner surface, said compartment having a first wall with an opening to allow liquid to enter said compartment, said float assembly rising with a level of the liquid and being guided by said inner surface.    
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein said float assembly includes a float and a magnet affixed to said float.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said floating apparatus further comprises a switch affixed to an upper portion of said compartment, wherein said magnet is positioned on said float such that said switch closes when said float rises to a first level.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein said float has a square shape.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein said inner surface comprises a plurality of vertically aligned guidance supports.  
     
     
         38 . A circuit for controlling a pump adapted to pump liquid when it reaches a first level, said circuit comprising: 
 an activation switch connected to a motor of the pump, said switch activating the motor when in a closed position;    an activation circuit generating an activation signal when the liquid reaches the first level;    a voltage sensor coupled to the motor;    a pump deactivation circuit coupled to said voltage sensor, said deactivation circuit detecting a voltage across said voltage sensor, said deactivation circuit generating a deactivation signal upon detecting a voltage indicative of a second level; and    a trigger circuit coupled to said activation switch, said activation circuit and said deactivation circuit, said trigger circuit closing said activation switch responsive to said activation signal and opening said activation switch responsive to said deactivation signal.    
     
     
         39 . The circuit of  claim 38 , wherein said voltage sensor is a resistor.  
     
     
         40 . The circuit of  claim 38 , wherein said activation switch is a MOSFET transistor.  
     
     
         41 . The circuit of  claim 38 , wherein said deactivation circuit includes a reference circuit, said reference circuit generating a reference voltage that is equal to a voltage indicative of the second level, wherein said deactivation circuit compares the voltage detected across said voltage sensor to said reference voltage and generates said deactivation signal when the voltage detected across said voltage sensor is less than said reference voltage.  
     
     
         42 . The circuit of  claim 38 , wherein said deactivation circuit includes a reference circuit, said reference circuit generating a reference voltage that is slightly less than a voltage indicative of the second level, wherein said deactivation circuit compares the voltage detected across said voltage sensor to said reference voltage and generates said deactivation signal when the voltage detected across said voltage sensor is less than said reference voltage.  
     
     
         43 . The circuit of  claim 38 , wherein said activation circuit includes a position sensor switch, said position sensor switch detecting the high water level.  
     
     
         44 . The circuit of  claim 43 , wherein said position sensor switch is a reed switch.  
     
     
         45 . The circuit of  claim 38 , further comprising a power conditioning circuit to prevent over voltage conditions.  
     
     
         46 . A method of controlling a pump adapted to pump liquid when it reaches a first level, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first closed detector device, said first closed detector device determining when the liquid has reached the first level;    activating the pump when the first closed detector device indicates that the liquid has reached the first level;    providing a second closed detector device, said second closed detector device determining when the liquid has reached a second level by sensing an electrical condition of the activated pump; and    deactivating the pump when the second closed detector device has detected an electrical condition indicating that the liquid has dropped to a second level.    
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the second closed detector device detects the electrical condition of the motor by monitoring a resistance of the activated pump.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the first closed detector device is a float assembly having a float residing in the liquid, and wherein the step of activating the pump comprises the step of dosing a switch connected to a motor of the pump when the float assembly rises to the first level.  
     
     
         49 . A method of controlling a pump adapted to pump liquid when it reaches a first level, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first closed detector device, said first closed detector device determining when the liquid has reached the first level;    activating the pump when the first closed detector device indicates that the liquid has reached the first level;    providing a second closed detector device, said second closed detector device determining when the liquid has reached a second level; and    deactivating the pump when the second closed detector device has detected that the liquid has dropped to a second level.    
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the first and second closed detector devices use different detection criteria to determine the level of the liquid.