Pump with quick connect pump head and pump monitoring and control systems

Abstract

A pump includes a pump head and a motor assembly including a motor. The motor engages the pump head and actuates the pump head. The pump includes a hand actuatable quick disconnect assembly coupling the pump head to the motor assembly without the need for tools. A pump monitoring system acquires data and information to detect problems and provide information for pump maintenance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pump, comprising:
 a pump head;   a motor assembly comprising a motor, wherein the motor engages the pump head and actuates the pump head;   a hand actuatable quick disconnect assembly coupling the pump head to the motor assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the motor comprises a drive shaft extending from the motor and engaging the pump head. 
     
     
         3 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump comprises a diaphragm pump and wherein the pump head comprises a diaphragm pump head. 
     
     
         4 . The pump according to  claim 1 , further comprising a hand actuatable quick connect motor mounting assembly for mounting the pump to a mounting surface. 
     
     
         5 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the quick disconnect assembly comprises a bayonet type connector assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the quick disconnect assembly comprises a flange mounted to the pump head and a complementary receiver mounted to the motor assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The pump according to  claim 6 , wherein the flange comprises a plurality of radial engagement elements and the receiver comprises a plurality of complementary L-shaped receiving slots configured to receive and retain the engagement elements. 
     
     
         8 . The pump according to  claim 7 , further comprising a locking element for retaining the engagement elements in the receiving slots. 
     
     
         9 . The pump according to  claim 6 , further comprising a locking pin for retaining the flange to the receiver. 
     
     
         10 . The pump according to  claim 8 , further comprising a hand actuatable quick connect motor mounting assembly for mounting the pump to a mounting surface. 
     
     
         11 . The pump according to  claim 9 , wherein the motor mounting assembly comprises a cradle for receiving the motor assembly and a sliding retainer. 
     
     
         12 . The pump according to  claim 10 , wherein the motor assembly comprises retaining screws extending radially outward, each of the retaining screws having a base and a screw head, and wherein the sliding retainer engages the screw heads to secure the motor assembly to the quick connect motor mounting assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The pump according to  claim 11 , wherein the motor mounting assembly and the quick disconnect assembly are positioned in an axially non-overlapping configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the motor assembly comprises a cylindrical housing and the quick disconnect assembly comprises a flange mounted to the pump head, and a complementary receiver mounted to the motor assembly; the flange comprising a plurality of radial engagement elements and the receiver comprising a plurality of complementary annularly extending L-shaped receiving slots configured to receive and retain the engagement elements upon relative rotation between the flange and the receiver. 
     
     
         15 . The pump according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pump monitoring system including a controller to modify pump settings or stop the pump. 
     
     
         16 . The pump according to  claim 15 , wherein the pump monitoring system comprises a display for providing an indication that the pump is running, the pump is failing, or the pump is in a diagnostic mode. 
     
     
         17 . The pump according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pump monitoring system, wherein the pump monitoring system comprises a moisture sensor in communication with the controller for sensing fluid in the motor assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The pump according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pump monitoring system mounted on the pump and including a user interface and display. 
     
     
         19 . The pump according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pump monitoring system including a controller, and a housing having an arcing mounting surface configured to mount on an exterior of the mounted on an exterior of the motor assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump monitoring system housing comprises a plurality of cooling fins extending radially outward. 
     
     
         21 . A method of manually maintaining a pump, the pump comprising a pump head, a motor assembly including a motor actuating the pump head, a first quick connect assembly coupling the pump head to the pump housing; a second quick disconnect assembly retaining the motor assembly to a mounting surface; the method comprising:
 responding to a triggering event;   removing the pump head from the motor assembly by manually decoupling the first quick disconnect assembly free of tools, removing the motor assembly by manually decoupling the second quick disconnect assembly free of tools,   inspecting the motor and/or the pump head;   following inspection, remounting the motor if the motor passes inspection, or if the motor fails inspection, replacing the motor with a different motor;   following inspection, reconnecting the pump head if the pump head passes inspection, or if the pump head fails inspection, replacing the pump head with a different pump head.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the triggering event comprises scheduled maintenance. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the pump comprises a pump monitoring system and the triggering event comprises an indication from the pump monitoring system. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising resetting the pump monitoring system.