Systems and methods for detecting and resolving impending failures in a sump pump

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9752569-B1
Application number	US-201514601764-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 21, 2015
Priority date	May 19, 2014
Publication date	Sep 5, 2017
Grant date	Sep 5, 2017

Abstract

A method and system detects and resolves impending failures in a sump pump. The method and system may measure a current water level in a sump basin, which houses the sump pump. The current water level may be determined by a water level sensor placed slightly above a set water level mark in the sump basin. If the current water level is above the set water level mark, the method and system may activate a mechanical shaker that produces vibrations to physically shake the sump pump. If the current water level is below the set water level mark, the method and system may determine potential problems associated with the sump pump by analyzing a motor of the sump pump.

First claim

We claim:

1. A computer-implemented method for detecting and resolving impending failures in a sump pump, the method comprising:
determining, by one or more processors, if a current water level in a sump basin in which the sump pump is disposed has surpassed a set water level, wherein the current water level is determined by a water level sensor placed a short distance above the set water level;
in response to determining that the current water level in the sump basin has surpassed the set water level, specifying a plurality of operating cycles and accordingly activating a mechanical shaker attached to the sump pump to shake the sump pump in order to produce vibrations in the sump pump to shake loose one or more of a jam, a stall, a malfunction, or a debris build-up in the sump pump, wherein each operating cycle of the mechanical shaker has a specified duration, activating, by one or more processors, the mechanical shaker for one or more of the operating cycles, and at the end of the specified duration in each operating cycle determining if the current water level in the sump basin is acceptable;
in response to determining that the current water level in the sump basin has not surpassed the set water level or is acceptable, determining, by one or more processors, potential problems associated with the sump pump by analyzing a motor of the sump pump as activated by the one or more processors; and
in response to determining that the current water level in the sump basin is not acceptable at the end of the plurality of operating cycles as executed by the shaker of the sump pump, sending an alarm message to notify a user.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining potential problems associated with the sump pump includes analyzing the motor to detect signatures that indicate potential problems with the motor, and when the signatures that indicate potential problems with the motor are detected, activating the mechanical shaker attached to the sump pump for another one or more operating cycles.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining if the current water level in the sump basin is acceptable comprises determining, by one or more processors, if the current water level in the sump basin has dropped to below the set water level at the end of the one or more operating cycles.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising:
analyzing, by one or more processors, the motor to determine if the signatures that indicate potential problems with the motor are still present at the end of the another one or more operating cycles; and
in response to determining that the signatures that indicate potential problems with the motor are still present at the end of the another one or more operating cycles, providing, by one or more processors, an alert message to the user.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein analyzing the motor to detect signatures that indicate potential problems with the motor includes performing a frequency analysis on an electrical load waveform of the motor.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein analyzing the motor to detect signatures that indicate potential problems with the motor includes comparing an electrical load waveform of the motor to one or more reference waveforms.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein analyzing the motor to detect signatures that indicate potential problems with the motor includes evaluating values associated with an electrical load waveform of the motor.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical shaker is attached to the sump pump directly.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical shaker is attached to the sump pump by an arm that extends from the mechanical shaker.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including computer-readable instructions to be executed on one or more processors of a system for detecting and resolving impending failures in a sump pump, the instructions when executed causing the one or more processors to:
determine if a current water level in a sump basin in which the sump pump is disposed has surpassed a set water level, the current water level is determined by a water level sensor placed a short distance above the set water level;
in response to determining that the current water level in the sump basin has surpassed the set water level, specify a plurality of operating cycles and accordingly activating a mechanical shaker attached to the sump pump to shake the sump pump in order to produce vibrations in the sump pump to shake loose one or more of a jam, a stall, a malfunction, or a debris build-up in the sump pump, wherein each operating cycle of the mechanical shaker has a specified duration, activate the mechanical shaker for one or more of the operating cycles, and at the end of the specified duration in each operating cycle determine if the current water level in the sump basin is acceptable;
in response to determining that the current water level in the sump basin has not surpassed the set water level or is acceptable, determine potential problems associated with the sump pump by analyzing a motor of the sump pump as activated by the one or more processors; and
in response to determining that the current water level in the sump basin is not acceptable at the end of the plurality of operating cycles as executed by the shaker of the sump pump, sending an alarm message to notify a user.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions to determine potential problems associated with the sump pump include analyzing the motor to detect signatures that indicate potential problems with the motor, and when the signatures that indicate potential problems with the motor are detected, activating the mechanical shaker attached to the sump pump for another one or more operating cycles.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions to determine if the current water level in the sump basin is acceptable include instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:
determine if the current water level in the sump basin has dropped to below the set water level at the end of the one or more operating cycles.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , further including instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:
analyze the motor to determine if the signatures that indicate potential problems with the motor are still present at the end of the another one or more operating cycles; and
in response to determining that the signatures that indicate potential problems with the motor are still present at the end of the another one or more operating cycles, provide an alert message to the user.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , the instructions further including instructions providing for analyzing the motor to detect signatures that indicate potential problems with the motor including one or more of: (i) performing a frequency analysis on an electrical load waveform of the motor; (ii) comparing the electrical load waveform of the motor to one or more reference waveforms; or (iii) evaluating values associated with the electrical load waveform of the motor.

15. A system for detecting and resolving impending failures in a sump pump, the system comprising:
a sump pump;
a water level sensor coupled to the sump pump;
a mechanical shaker coupled to the sump pump; and
a pump analyzer, includin

Assignees

• State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co

Inventors

• Morris Scott C
• Call Shawn M
• Jordan Ii Jackie O

Classifications

• G05D7/0623

  characterised by the set value given to the control element · CPC title

• G05D9/12 Primary

  characterised by the use of electric means · CPC title

• F04D15/0218

  the condition being a liquid level or a lack of liquid supply · CPC title

• F04B49/065 Primary

  and making use of computers · CPC title