Bilge pump monitor with flow detection

Abstract

Defined here is an apparatus that automatically determines the operating condition of a sump or bilge pump system. An electronic circuit combines a signal from a flow sensor at the output of the pump and a signal from the pump actuator. It indicates normal pump parameters as well as alert conditions. Normal pump parameters are; a visual indication weather the pump is on or off and a visual indication of weather water is flowing out of the sump pump system. Alert indications are; a visual and/or audible alarm indication that the pump is on but no water exiting from the system. This is an error condition that should be remedied by the operator. Optionally the apparatus can alert the operator in case the pump is working for too long of a time period indicating an excessive leak.

1 . An apparatus for determining an operational status of a sump pump, comprising: 
 a) An electronic circuit having timing and logic to determine said operational status of said sump pump    (b) A flow detection means indicating that water is flowing out of the system utilizing said sump pump    (c) A pump state detecting means wherein the state of said sump pump either being ON when said sump pump has been activated for any reason or OFF whenever said sump pump is not activated    (d) A means for communicating said output flow to said electronic circuit    (e) A means for communicating said pump state to said electronic circuit    (f) A means of alerting an operator of a pump failure    (g) A means of alerting said operator of said pump state    (h) A means of alerting said operator of said output flow    
     
     
         2 . Said apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said pump failure is indicated whenever said pump state is ON and said output flow has not been detected for a predetermined amount of time from the instant said pump state changed from OFF to ON  
     
     
         3 . Said apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said pump state is alerted whenever said pump state is ON  
     
     
         4 . Said apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said flow detection is alerted whenever said flow detection is indicated  
     
     
         5 . Said apparatus of  claim 1  wherein an optional capacity alert may be generated whenever said output flow detection has been indicated for a predetermined amount of time whereas the alert indicates excessive leakage