TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a submersible pump. More specifically, the present
disclosure relates to the submersible pump which provides integrated liquid-level
sensing and control.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A submersible pump (or sub pump, or electric submersible pump (ESP)) is a device
which has a hermetically sealed motor close-coupled to a pump body. The whole assembly
is submerged in a fluid to be pumped. Typically, submersible pumps are used to push
the fluid to desired locations.
[0003] An example of a submersible pump is provided with European Patent
EP 1 929 156 B1 (hereinafter referred to as '156 reference). The '156 reference provides a submersible
pump. The pump has a pump housing which is adapted for submersion in a body of liquid
whose level is to be controlled. The pump has a pump body forming a main compartment
and an auxiliary compartment as an integral part of the body. Upper and lower electric-field
sensors are mounted in the auxiliary compartment. The upper sensor produces a signal
that turns on the motor after a surface of a liquid body rises to a predetermined
elevation, where the turning on of the motor is delayed by a predetermined delay interval.
The lower sensor produces a signal that turns off the motor after the surface of the
liquid body drops to another predetermined elevation.
SUMMARY
[0004] It is an objective of the present invention to find a more intuitive embodiment for
a submersible pump which is adapted for submersion in a body of liquid whose level
is to be controlled. The objective is at least partially achieved by a submersible
pump that includes a pump body. The pump body forms a main compartment having an intake
and an output for a liquid. The pump body is adapted for submersion in a body of liquid
whose level is to be controlled. The submersible pump is provided with one or more
sensors that enable the submersible pump to operate within a threshold operating level.
The threshold operating level is between a lower liquid level and an upper liquid
level set based on a user action associated with the one or more sensors. In an advantageous
manner the one or more sensors of the pump are stationary touch sensitive sensors
which are integrated in or attached to the pump body
(102).. The stationary touch sensitive sensors help in setting a desired liquid level (i.e.
the threshold operating level) of the submersible pump based upon the user action
(i.e. user touch). Being stationary sensors does not allow them to move along relative
the pump housing substantially perpendicular to the liquid level, while on the other
hand when being realized as switches at least part of them can be pressed substantially
orthogonal in respect to the pumps main compartment. Thus, the present disclosure
provides a simple, efficient, and user-friendly submersible pump which allows user-action
based control of the threshold operating level of the submersible pump.
[0005] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the one or more sensors are
capacitive touch sensors. The capacitive touch sensors allow to adjust the control
system without the need for any movable components.
[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the one or more sensors are
switches. The use of a line of switches allow to adjust the control system without
the need for any components that can be moved along the pump housing substantially
perpendicular to the liquid level, while on the other hand at least part of them can
be pressed substantially orthogonal in respect to the pumps main compartment.
[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, in case there is more than one
single sensor at least some of them are arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular
to the water level. This kind of arrangement of the sensors results in a very intuitive
arrangement in respect to the liquid level to be controlled.
[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the user action includes a preset
gesture for setting the desired liquid level. The preset gesture allows to start or
end the functioning (i.e. the threshold operating level) of the submersible pump.
[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the user action includes swiping
the one or more sensors between a top and a bottom of the pump body to set the desired
liquid level. This allows to define working range for water level for the submersible
pump, and as a result prevent overflow of water.
[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the preset gesture includes
touching the one or more sensors for a fixed time in order to set the desired liquid
level. The preset gesture may be customized based upon user preferences or any other
factor associated with the submersible pump.
[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the preset gesture includes
one or more of a swipe, a press (in particular a press of longer duration), and a
double tap. The preset gesture may be selected from any known or used gesture that
finds relevance for the submersible pump.
[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the submersible pump includes
an indicator to show the desired liquid level which is set after the user action.
The indicator serves to make the user aware about the desired liquid level set for
the submersible pump.
[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the indicator is one or more
of a LED, and a buzzer. Such indicator(s) allow to have a safe, and user-friendly
working of the submersible pump.
[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the upper liquid level and the
lower liquid level are selected separately. Wherein preferably the separate selection
occurs sequentially. In advantageous manner this separate selection process further
improves the intuitively of the design.
[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention the one or more sensors are integrated
in the pump body. Thus the pump the cost for manufacturing the submersible pump decreases
as there are less individual components to assemble.
[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention the touch of the one or more
touch sensitive sensors allows to adjust the operational mode of the pump . Preferably
this is done by using one or more fingers of a user and touching a different combination
of the touch sensitive sensors for a longer time or exhibiting multiple touches, preferably
a double touch. For example, if a user touches and holds both touch sensitive sensors
on the top of the pump body for five seconds the submersible pump will start to run
continuously or alternatively stop immediately. In an advantageous manner this allows
to avoid the need for separate buttons or knobs on the pump for adjusting its operational
parameters. This reduces manufacturing costs and makes the pump more fault prove.
[0017] Other features and aspects of this invention will be apparent from the following
description and the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings,
wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a submersible pump with sensors, in accordance
with an aspect of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the submersible pump operating with a threshold
operating level, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the submersible pump with the sensors, in accordance
with another aspect of the present disclosure;
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the submersible pump operating with a different
threshold operating level, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;
and
FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the submersible pump with an authentication feature,
in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0019] The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the invention incorporating
one or more aspects of the present invention are shown. This invention may, however,
be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the
embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this
disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention
to those skilled in the art. For example, one or more aspects of the present invention
may be utilized in other embodiments and even other types of structures and/or methods.
In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.
[0020] Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as
a limitation on the invention. For example, "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "side",
"longitudinal", "lateral", "transverse", "upwards", "downwards", "forward", "backward",
"sideward", "left," "right," "horizontal," "vertical," "upward", "inner", "outer",
"inward", "outward", "top", "bottom", "higher", "above", "below", "central", "middle",
"intermediate", "between", "end", "adjacent", "proximate", "near", "distal", "remote",
"radial", "circumferential", or the like, merely describe the configuration shown
in the Figures. Indeed, the components may be oriented in any direction and the terminology,
therefore, should be understood as encompassing such variations unless specified otherwise.
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a submersible pump
100. The submersible pump
100 includes a pump body
102. The pump body
102 forms a main compartment
104. The pump includes a power cable
105 that serves to supply a desired electric power/current for the functioning of the
submersible pump
100. The main compartment
104 has an intake
106 (on the bottom side of the pump body
102 thus not visible with the figures showing the exemplary embodiment) and an output
108 for a liquid
110 (shown in
FIG. 2). The liquid
110 is pumped up from the intake
106 and pumped out from the output
108. The intake
106 may be provided around the bottom of the pump
100 while the output
108 may be behind the main compartment
104 as per application or implementation requirements. The submersible pump
100 includes one or more sensors
112. The one or more stationary and touch sensitive sensors
112 which enable the submersible pump
100 to operate within a threshold operating level
114. The one or more sensors
112 may be present between a top
122 and a bottom
124 of the pump body
102 and are arranged in a direction substantially normal to the water level.. In this
exemplary embodiment the submersible pump
100 has a preset gesture
140 for setting a desired liquid level (i.e. the threshold operating level
114). The preset gesture
140 is shown with a doubled-headed arrow which signifies up and/or down movement of the
preset gesture
140 as per movement of a hand
120, however actual implementation of the preset disclosure may have any other type/position/setting
for the preset gesture
140.
[0022] In some embodiments, the one or more stationary and touch sensitive sensors
112 may be integrated with the pump body
102. The integration of the one or more sensors
112 may allow protection from impurities such as dirt, sand or any such damage known
in art. This will also allow the one or more sensors
112 to remain protected from getting jammed or any otherwise adjustments. The one or
more sensors
112 may be affixed at any location other than around the outer face or surface of the
pump body
102 to avoid any mechanical damage or other wear associated with typical working of the
submersible pumps
100.
[0023] In some embodiments, the one or more sensors
112 may be one or more of a resistive sensor, a surface capacitive sensor, a projected
capacitive sensor, a surface acoustic wave sensor, an infrared sensor and the like.
It is also possible to realize the one or more stationary and touch sensitive sensors
112 as an arrangement of individual switches. The one or more sensors
112 may be touch sensitive sensors which are integrated with the pump body
102. The touch sensitive sensors help in setting a desired liquid level (i.e. the threshold
operating level
114) of the submersible pump
100 based upon the user action (i.e. user touch) by use of the hand
120. Moreover, the one or more sensors
112 may be capacitive touch sensors, or any other sensor as used or known in the art.
The submersible pump
100 may be adjustable, operable and intuitively configurable by a finger touch by the
hand
120 such as the preset gesture
140.
[0024] In some embodiments, the capacitive sensors
112 need not to come in direct contact with the liquid
110 to be measured. The capacitive sensors
112 avoid resistance of water between electrodes of the submersible pump
100. The capacitive sensors
112 measure the change of capacitance when the dielectric (air) is replaced by the liquid
110. The submersible pump
100 may have low susceptibility to electro-chemical corrosion risks.
[0025] In some embodiments, the preset gesture
140 may include one or more of a tap, a double tap, a drag and drop, a flick, a touchdown
and drag, a touchdown and hold, a slide to scroll, and the like. The preset gesture
140 may be selected from any known or used gesture that finds relevance for the submersible
pump
100. The preset gesture
140 may include touching the one or more sensors
112 for a fixed time in order to set the desired liquid level. The preset gesture
140 may include one or more of a swipe, a long press, and a double tap. The preset gesture
140 allows to start or end the functioning (i.e. the threshold operating level
114) of the submersible pump
100. The one or more sensors
112 present between the top
122 and the bottom
124 of the pump body
102 may be swiped or configured as desired to define working range for a water level
126 (shown in
FIG. 2) for the submersible pump
100, and as a result prevent overflow of water.
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates the submersible pump
100 working within the threshold operating level
114. The threshold operating level
114 is between a lower liquid level
132 and an upper liquid level
126 set based on a user action (say by the hand
120) associated with the one or more sensors
112. The pump body
102 is adapted for submersion in a body of the liquid
110 whose level is to be controlled. The submersible pump
100 stops functioning as the water level falls below the lower liquid level
132.
[0027] As illustrated in
FIG. 2, for the selection of the switch on level controlled the upper activated sensor
118 may be done by swiping that starts around the top end of the sensor
112 down to the desired switch on level and then release the finger touch from the sensor
surface
128 to confirm it. Here, the water level
126 is below the upper activated sensor
118. The pump
100 remains in the current status, means when being currently switched on the pump
100 will continue to pump water and will switch off as soon as the water level
126 falls below the lower activated sensor 116.
[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates the submersible pump
100 which includes an indicator
114 to show the desired liquid level (i.e. the threshold operating level
114) which is set after the user action (say by the hand
120). The indicator
114 is one or more of a LED, and a buzzer. The possible indicator
114 (e.g. LED behind a half transparent surface) shows dynamically the currently adjusted
level and makes the adjusted level more visible, noticeable for the user. The LED
indicator may make it possible to check the switching points, which may be programmed
before by a check function. So, it may not be necessary to repeat different steps
of the programming procedure. Such indicator(s)
114 allow to have a safe, and user-friendly working of the submersible pump
100.
[0029] FIG. 4 illustrates the submersible pump
100 with a lower liquid level
132 below the lower activated sensor
116 of the threshold operating level
114. The submersible pump
100 may not work when the water level
132 point is below the lower activated sensor
116. For a start level point adjustment, swiping by the preset gesture
140 may be started at the bottom
124 (for the lower activated sensor
116) of the one or more sensors
112 towards the upper activated sensor
118 and release the sensor surface
128 to confirm the threshold operating level
114.
[0030] In some embodiments, the submersible pump
100 may be set according to need of the user. The threshold operating level
114 may be varied multiple times. During application of the submersible pump
100 there may be change in volume (and thereby the level) of the liquid
110, the level of the liquid
110 may reduce or come below the water level
132 point leading to switching off of the submersible pump
100. In some embodiments, the submersible pump
100 may be configured to prompt a user (such as smart notifications to smartphone and
the like) or take any other action whenever the level of the liquid
110 goes above the activated sensor
118 or significant below the lower activated sensor
116. Additionally, or alternatively, the submersible pump
100 prompt the user and inform him about successful pumping action whenever the level
of the liquid
110 comes to an acceptable level i.e. between the upper activated sensor
118 and the lower activated sensor
116.
[0031] FIG. 5 illustrates the submersible pump
100 with an authentication feature
130. Herein, the authentication feature
130 refers to a program field, or any used or known authentication means of the relevant
art. The preset gesture
140 may be started, changed, or controlled by the authentication feature
130. The authentication feature
130 may be touched (before the adjustment) to start or end the adjustment process or
by multiple touch (such as double touch) on the sensor surface
128. In some embodiments, the authentication feature
130 allows multiple user profiles or settings to be stored by the submersible pump
100.
[0032] In some embodiments, the submersible pump
100 casing may include different kinds of metals, like chrome, stainless steel, polymers
and the like. Preferably the casing is that it is hermetically sealed. This prevents
high repair costs and prevents motor from issues related to the liquid
110 leakage, among others.
[0033] In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments
and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are
used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation
of the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.
LIST OF ELEMENTS
[0034]
- 100
- Submersible Pump
- 102
- Pump Body
- 104
- Main Compartment
- 105
- Power Cable
- 106
- Intake
- 108
- Output
- 110
- Liquid
- 112
- Sensors
- 114
- Threshold operating level / Indicator
- 116
- Lower Activated Sensor
- 118
- Upper Activated Sensor
- 120
- Hand
- 122
- Top
- 124
- Bottom
- 126
- Upper Liquid Level
- 128
- Sensor Surface
- 130
- Authentication Feature
- 132
- Lower Liquid Level
- 140
- Preset Gesture
1. A submersible pump
(100) comprising:
a pump body (102) forming a main compartment (104) having an intake (106) and an output (108) for a liquid (110), where the pump body (102) is adapted for submersion in a body of liquid (110) whose level is to be controlled;
the submersible pump (100) configured with one or more sensors (112) such that the submersible pump (100) is enabled to operate within a threshold operating level, wherein the threshold operating
level is between a lower liquid level (132) and an upper liquid level (126) set based on a user action associated with the one or more sensors (112),
characterized in that:
the one or more sensors (112) are stationary touch sensitive sensors which are integrated in or attached to the
pump body (102).
2. The submersible pump (100) of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors (112) are capacitive touch sensors.
3. The submersible pump (100) of claims 1 or 2, wherein the one or more sensors are switches.
4. The submersible pump (100) of claim 3, wherein in case there is more than one sensor (112) at least some of them are arranged in a direction substantially normal to the water
level.
5. The submersible pump (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the user action includes a preset gesture
(140) for setting the desired liquid level.
6. The submersible pump (100) of claim 5, wherein the user action includes swiping the one or more sensors (112) between a top (122) and a bottom (124) of the pump body (102) to set the desired liquid level.
7. The submersible pump (100) of claim 5, wherein the preset gesture (140) includes touching the one or more sensors (112) for a fixed time in order to set the desired liquid level.
8. The submersible pump (100) of claim 5, wherein the preset gesture (140) includes one or more of a swipe, a press, and a double tap.
9. The submersible pump (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the submersible pump (100) includes an indicator (114) to show the desired liquid level which is set after the user action.
10. The submersible pump (100) of claim 9, wherein the indicator (114) is one or more of a LED, and a buzzer.
11. The submersible pump (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the upper liquid level (132) and the lower liquid level (132) are selected separately.
12. The submersible pump (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the separate selection occurs sequentially.
13. The submersible pump (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more sensors are integrated in
the pump body.
14. The submersible pump (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the touch of the one or more sensors (112) allows to adjust the operational mode of the pump (100).
15. The submersible pump (100) of claim 14, wherein the adjustment of the operational mode of the pump (100) is with the help of one or more fingers of a user by touching a different combination
of the sensors (112) for a longer time or by multiple touches, preferably a double touch.