U.S. patent application number 10/764307 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-21 for water pumping and controlling device.
Invention is credited to Chen, Shun Chien, Yiu, Chih Hao.
Application Number | 20050158176 10/764307 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34750421 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050158176 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yiu, Chih Hao ; et
al. |
July 21, 2005 |
Water pumping and controlling device
Abstract
A water pumping device includes a reservoir for receiving water,
a motor coupled to the reservoir to pump the water out of the
reservoir, a resistor coupled to the motor, a comparator circuit
coupled to the resistor, the resistor may be used to generate a
voltage signal and to send the voltage signal to the comparator
circuit, and to determine whether the motor is loaded or unloaded.
A power supply circuit is coupled to the motor and coupled in
series with the resistor. A control device is coupled to the
comparator circuit, to switch off the power supply circuit and to
turn off the motor when the motor is unloaded or do not pump water,
and to maintain the driving of the motor when the motor is still
loaded.
Inventors: |
Yiu, Chih Hao; (Taichung,
TW) ; Chen, Shun Chien; (Taichung, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Charles E Baxley ESQ
90 John Street - 3rd Floor
New York
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
34750421 |
Appl. No.: |
10/764307 |
Filed: |
January 19, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/44.1 ;
417/44.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 15/0236
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/044.1 ;
417/044.2 |
International
Class: |
F04B 049/06 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A water pumping system comprising: a reservoir for receiving
water, a motor coupled to said reservoir to pump the water out of
said reservoir, a resistor coupled to said motor, a comparator
circuit coupled to said resistor, said rsistor being provided to
generate a voltage signal and to send the voltage signal to said
comparator circuit, to determine whether said motor is loaded or
unloaded, a power supply circuit coupled to said motor, to supply
electric energy to energize said motor, said power supply circuit
and said motor and said resistor being coupled together in series,
and a control device coupled to said comparator circuit, to switch
off said power supply circuit in order to turn off said motor when
said motor is unloaded.
2. The water pumping system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
resistor is coupled in front of said motor.
3. The water pumping system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
resistor is coupled behind said motor.
4. The water pumping system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
comparator circuit includes a first amplifier coupled to said
resistor to receive the voltage signal from said resistor, and a
second amplifier coupled between said first amplifier and said
control device.
5. The water pumping system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
power supply circuit is provided to couple said motor to a DC
power.
6. The water pumping system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said
power supply circuit includes two transistors and a second resistor
coupled between said transistors.
7. The water pumping system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
power supply circuit is provided to couple said motor to an AC
power.
8. The water pumping system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said
power supply circuit includes a TRIAC coupled to the AC power.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a water pumping system, and
more particularly to a water pumping and controlling device for a
water pumping system having an automatic detecting and controlling
mechanism.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Various kinds of typical motors have been developed and
provided for water pumping purposes. However, the typical motors
may be used for pumping water only, but may not be switched on and
switched off automatically.
[0005] For example, for typical water storing tanks, typical toilet
flush tanks, etc., a float device is required to be provided and
received in the tanks, to control the water flowing into and out of
the tanks, and/or to control the water level in the tanks.
[0006] However, for thermos bottles, it will be difficult to
dispose a float device within the thermos bottles to control the
flowing of the water into and out of the thermos bottles.
[0007] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional water pumping
devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a water pumping system having a water pumping and controlling
device for detecting and/or controlling the flowing of the water
into and out of water containers or reservoirs or the like
automatically.
[0009] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a water pumping system comprising a reservoir for
receiving water, a motor coupled to the reservoir to pump the water
out of the reservoir, a resistor coupled to the motor, a comparator
circuit coupled to the resistor, the resistor being provided to
generate a voltage signal and to send the voltage signal to the
comparator circuit, to determine whether the motor is loaded or
unloaded, and a control device coupled to the comparator circuit,
to switch off the motor when the motor is unloaded or do not pump
water, and to maintain the driving of the motor when the motor is
still loaded. The motor may be switched off when the motor pumps no
water, or when the reservoir is empty.
[0010] The resistor may either be coupled in front of the motor or
coupled behind the motor to generate the voltage signal.
[0011] The comparator circuit includes a first amplifier coupled to
the resistor to receive the voltage signal from the resistor, and a
second amplifier coupled between the first amplifier and the
control device.
[0012] A power supply circuit may further be provided and coupled
to the motor, to supply electric energy to energize the motor, to
couple the motor either to a DC power or an AC power.
[0013] For example, the power supply circuit includes two
transistors and a second resistor coupled between the transistors,
for coupling to the DC power, or includes a TRIAC (Triode AC Switch
or triggering bi-directional thyristor) for coupling to the AC
power.
[0014] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed
description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a water pumping system having
a water pumping and controlling device in accordance with the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the water pumping and
controlling device;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an electric circuit of
the water pumping and controlling device, having a direct current
power input;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a plan view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the
electric circuit of the water pumping and controlling device,
having an alternate current power input; and
[0019] FIG. 5 is a block diagram similar to FIG. 2, illustrating
the other arrangement of the electric circuit of the water pumping
and controlling device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1, a water
pumping system in accordance with the present invention comprises a
water tank or reservoir 10, and a water pumping and controlling
device 30 coupled to the reservoir 10 to pump and to control the
water outward flowing from the reservoir 10 to a container 20, for
example.
[0021] A filter 11 may be disposed within the reservoir 10 to
filter the water, and another filter or a water outlet device 12
may further be provided and coupled to the water pumping and
controlling device 30 for further filtering the water before the
water flows into the container 20.
[0022] Referring next to FIGS. 2 and 3, illustrated is one example
of the water pumping and controlling device 30 which includes a
motor 31 coupled to the reservoir 10 for pumping water out of the
reservoir 10 to the container 20, and a power supply circuit 33
coupled to the motor 31 for supplying electric power to energize
the motor 31. The power supply circuit 33 may couple the motor 31
to either a usual direct current (DC) power (FIG. 3) or a usual
alternate current (AC) power (FIG. 4).
[0023] For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the power supply circuit 33
may include two transistors 35, 36 and a second resistor 37 coupled
between the transistors 35, 36, for coupling to the DC power, and
for supplying electric power energy to energize the motor 31. As
shown in FIG. 4, the power supply circuit 33 may include a triode
AC switch or a triggering bi-directional thyristor (TRIAC) 38 for
coupling to the AC power, and for supplying electric power energy
to energize the motor 31.
[0024] The water pumping and controlling device 30 further includes
a resistor 34 coupled to the motor 31. For example, as shown in
FIG. 5, the resistor 34 may be arranged before the motor 31 or may
be coupled between the motor 31 and the power supply circuit 33.
The resistor 34 may generate a voltage Vm according to or in
response to the loading electric current of the motor 31. It is
preferable that the power supply circuit 33 and the motor 31 and
the resistor 34 are coupled together in series.
[0025] Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 2-4, the resistor 34 may
also be arranged or disposed after the motor 31 or may be coupled
to the rear portion of the motor 31, to generate a voltage Vm
according to or in response to the loading electric current of the
motor 31.
[0026] The water pumping and controlling device 30 further includes
a comparator circuit 40 coupled to the resistor 34, to receive the
signal from the resistor 34, and to detect whether the motor 31 is
working or not, and a processor or control device 50, such as a
central processing unit (CPU) 50 coupled to the comparator circuit
40 to receive the signal from the comparator circuit 40, and to
judge or to determine whether the motor 31 is working or not, and
then to determine whether to switch off the motor 31 or not.
[0027] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the comparator circuit 40
includes a first amplifier 41 coupled to the resistor 34, and
having an outlet 42 coupled to a second amplifier 43 via such as a
diode 44. The second amplifier 43 includes an outlet 45 coupled to
the control device 50, for sending the comparing signals to the
control device 50.
[0028] In operation, the resistor 34 may generate a voltage signal
Vm according to or in response to the loading electric current of
the motor 31. For example, when the motor 31 is working or is
pumping the water, a greater electric current may flow through the
motor 31 and the resistor 34 such that a greater voltage signal Vm
may be occurred in or generated by the resistor 34. On the
contrary, when the motor 31 is stopped or is not working, a less
electric current may flow through the motor 31 and the resistor 34
such that a less voltage signal Vm may be occurred in or generated
by the resistor 34.
[0029] The voltage signal Vm may then be sent to the comparator
circuit 40, and may be amplified by the first amplifier 41 into an
amplified signal which is then sent to the other amplifier 43, in
order to be compared with a predetermined signal or value, and to
determine or generate a compared output, such as a "0" output or a
"1" output.
[0030] For example, when the output is "0" or when the voltage
signal Vm is low, it means that the motor 31 is unloaded or that
the motor 31 do not pump or propel any water. At this moment, the
control device 50 may turn off the motor 31 by such as switching
off the power supply circuit 33, for example, to stop the motor 31
and to prevent the motor 31 from idling. On the contrary, when the
output is "1" or when the voltage signal Vm is high, it means that
the motor 31 is still loaded or is still working or pumping the
water. At this moment, the control device 50 will not turn off the
motor 31 or will not switch off the power supply circuit 33, to
allow the motor 31 to maintain the water pumping mode.
[0031] For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when the water outlet
device 12 is switched on or actuated by users, the water may flow
out of the reservoir 10, and the motor 31 may then be loaded and
may be switched on or may be actuated to pump the water from the
reservoir 10 to the container 20. A switch 51 may further be
provided and coupled to the control device 50 (FIGS. 3, 4), to
trigger or actuate or operate the motor 31 to pump the water out of
the reservoir 10.
[0032] When the water outlet device 12 is switched off or released
by the users, or when the reservoir 10 is empty, no water may flow
out of the reservoir 10 or no water may flow through the motor 31,
such that the motor 31 may be unloaded and do not pump the water.
At this moment, the control device 50 may turn off the motor 31 or
may switch off the power supply circuit 33 again, to stop the motor
31 and to prevent the motor 31 from idling.
[0033] Accordingly, the water pumping and controlling device in
accordance with the present invention may be used for detecting
and/or controlling the flowing of the water into and out of water
containers or reservoirs or the like automatically.
[0034] Although this invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous
changes in the detailed construction and the combination and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
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