Mounting system for mounting a monitoring unit on a pump

Abstract

A mounting system (33) mounts a monitoring unit (29) on a pump unit (1) for monitoring at least one operational parameter of the pump unit (1). The mounting system (33) includes a housing (31), an elongate member (37) and a bracket (39). The housing (31) is configured to accommodate the monitoring unit (33). The monitoring unit (29) is configured to receive at least one operational parameter from a pump sensor (21, 23). The elongate member (37) includes a first mounting portion (49) and a second mounting portion (51). The bracket (39) is mounted on the first mounting portion (49) of the elongate member (37) for the bracket (39) to be coupled to the pump unit (1). The housing (31) is mounted on the second mounting portion (51) of the elongate member (37) holding the housing (31) in a defined position distanced from the pump unit (1).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mounting system for mounting a monitoring unit on a pump unit for monitoring at least one operational parameter of the pump unit, the mounting system comprising:
 a housing for accommodating the monitoring unit, wherein the monitoring unit is configured to receive at least one operational parameter from a pump sensor;   an elongate member comprising a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion; and   a bracket mounted on the first mounting portion of the elongate member for coupling the bracket to the pump unit, wherein the housing is mounted on the second mounting portion of the elongate member holding the housing in a defined position distanced from the pump unit.   
     
     
         2 . The mounting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is manually rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the elongate member from a first rotational position to a second rotational position. 
     
     
         3 . The mounting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the bracket is mounted on the first mounting portion of the elongate member such that a longitudinal axis of the elongate member is parallel to a rotor axis of the pump unit. 
     
     
         4 . The mounting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is waterproof to protect the monitoring unit and the housing comprises at least one input port for receiving at least one operational parameter from a pump sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The mounting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member has a higher stiffness than the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The mounting system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the bracket has a first mounting section and a second mounting section;   the first mounting section is coupled to the first mounting portion of the elongate member;   the second mounting section defines a pump unit coupling; and   the first mounting section and the second mounting section are essentially parallel or essentially orthogonal to each other.   
     
     
         7 . The mounting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first mounting portion of the elongate member is located at a first axial end of the elongate member and the second mounting portion of the elongate member extends from the first mounting portion to a second axial end of the elongate member. 
     
     
         8 . The mounting system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the outer shape of the housing defines a center plane; and   a longitudinal axis of the elongate member is parallel to the center plane and offset with respect to the center plane.   
     
     
         9 . The mounting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member is spring mounted on the bracket. 
     
     
         10 . The mounting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises plastic. 
     
     
         11 . The mounting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member comprises metal of the bracket comprises metal or both the elongate member and the bracket comprises metal. 
     
     
         12 . The mounting system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing comprises a first opening and a second opening; and   the second mounting portion of the elongate member is inserted through the first opening and the second opening.   
     
     
         13 . The mounting system according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the first opening and the second opening are essentially arranged coaxially;   the second mounting portion of the elongate member is inserted through the first opening and the second opening;   the elongate member further comprises an abutment face at an end of the second mounting portion of the elongate member;   the housing is fixed in an axial direction relative to the second mounting portion of the elongate member by the abutment face at an end of the second mounting portion of the elongate member; and   the abutment face abuts axially against the second opening of the housing.   
     
     
         14 . The mounting system according to  claim 12 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the elongate member is essentially vertical. 
     
     
         15 . The mounting system according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first opening is located near a first side of the housing and the second opening is located near a second side of the housing; and   the first side and the second are opposing sides of the housing.   
     
     
         16 . The mounting system according to  claim 12 , wherein the housing comprises at least one housing lug laterally projecting from the housing and defining the first opening and the second opening. 
     
     
         17 . The mounting system according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first opening or the second opening or both the first opening and the second opening comprise at least one radially inward projection; and   the at least one radial inward projection is at least partially more resilient than the second mounting portion of the elongate member.   
     
     
         18 . The mounting system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing defines an inner volume for accommodating the monitoring unit; and   the elongate member is located outside of the inner volume.   
     
     
         19 . The mounting system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an antenna confined inside the housing, wherein the antenna is connectable to the monitoring unit. 
     
     
         20 . A pump assembly comprising:
 a pump unit;   at least one pump sensor;   a monitoring unit configured to receive at least one operational parameter from the at least one pump sensor; and   a mounting system comprising:
 a housing accommodating the monitoring unit; 
 an elongate member comprising a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion; and 
 a bracket mounted on the first mounting portion of the elongate member and coupling the bracket to the pump unit, wherein the housing is mounted on the second mounting portion of the elongate member holding the housing in a defined position distanced from the pump unit, wherein the bracket of the mounting system is coupled to the pump unit and the monitoring unit is located in the housing of the mounting system. 
   
     
     
         21 . The pump assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein the pump unit is a multistage centrifugal pump with a vertical or horizontal rotor axis. 
     
     
         22 . The pump assembly according to  claim 20 , further comprising an antenna connected to the monitoring unit, wherein the antenna is confined within the housing of the mounting system.