Sump pump remote monitoring systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9441632-B2
Application number	US-201514800339-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 15, 2015
Priority date	Oct 25, 2012
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

Systems and methods for sump pump remote monitoring can include control circuitry integrated into a portable housing, with a backup sump pump connected to the control circuitry. The control circuitry can be powered by a line power and when the line power is not available, the control circuitry can be powered by a battery power. The control circuitry can be connected to a control panel, and the control circuitry can include a pressure transducer, the pressure transducer to measure a pressure in a fluid level sensor, and based on the measured pressure, the control circuitry to adjust the speed of the backup sump pump. A wireless controller can be connected to the control circuitry, the wireless controller for wirelessly receiving monitoring instructions and wirelessly transmitting backup sump pump status data, with the control circuitry providing an indication of the backup sump pump status data to the control panel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fluid level sensor remote monitoring system comprising:
an inverted cup with a sealed top and an open bottom, the inverted cup defining an inner air space and having an inner pressure;
an inner pressure tube extending from the inner air space and through the sealed top, the inner pressure tube connected to a first pressure line connector;
an ambient pressure tube including an open end, the open end being positioned near the sealed top, the ambient pressure tube (i) in fluid communication with an air hole formed in the inverted cup, (ii) extending from the inverted cup, and (iii) connected to a second pressure line connector;
a control box to monitor the inner pressure from the inner pressure tube and the ambient pressure from the ambient pressure tube, the first and second pressure line connectors connectable to the control box; and
the control box including a wireless controller, a pressure transducer, and a switch, the wireless controller for wirelessly receiving monitoring instructions and wirelessly transmitting status data, the pressure transducer to measure the inner pressure and the ambient pressure, and based upon the measured inner pressure and the measured ambient pressure, to activate the switch.

2. The system of claim 1 , and further comprising a plug to connect the control box to a wall power.

3. The system of claim 1 , and further comprising a power outlet, the power outlet to provide an operating power to a sump pump.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the switch triggers an event, the event comprising at least one of initiating an auto dialer, turning on an audible device, and turning on a light.

5. The system of claim 1 , and further comprising an indicator device, the indicator device to display status information to a user.

6. The system of claim 1 , and further comprising a contact sensor positioned near the sealed top, the contact sensor including a pair of conductive contacts; and
a pair of conductors extending from the contact sensor, one conductor extending from each one of the pair of conductive contacts.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the pair of conductors are connectable to the control box.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ambient pressure tube extends from the outside of the inverted cup to a plug.

9. The system of claim 1 , which includes a plug, wherein the first pressure line connector and the second pressure line connector are integrated in the plug.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein (i) the control box includes a socket having one or more pressure receiver, (ii) the plug is connectable to the socket, and (iii) the one or more pressure receiver is configured to interface with at least the first pressure line connector and the second pressure line connector of the plug.

Assignees

• Pentair Flow Tech Llc

Inventors

• Bishop Michael B
• Ambrose Jeffrey C
• Boese Thomas G

Classifications

• F04B49/08

  Regulating by delivery pressure · CPC title

• F04B49/06 Primary

  Control using electricity (regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04) · CPC title

• F04D15/0072

  Installation or systems with two or more pumps, wherein the flow path through the stages can be changed, e.g. series-parallel · CPC title

• F04B2203/0209

  Rotational speed · CPC title

• F04B17/03

  driven by electric motors · CPC title