Abstract: A pump features: A motor having a front end bell (FEB) with a coupling portion having twist lock style (TLS) connections with locking portions, and an outer surface with a detent; and a pump head (PH) including a PH portion having a PH coupling portion with corresponding TLS connections and corresponding locking portions with locking stops. The PH portion has an outer surface having a threaded orifice. The TLS connections couple together when the FEB and PH coupling portions are pushed together. The locking portions engage when the FEB and PH coupling portions twist together about the longitudinal axis of the pump. The locking stops abut against the locking portions to stop the FEB and PH coupling portions from twisting further, so the detent and the threaded orifice align to receive the LP, locking the motor and PH together.

Abstract: A pump has a signal processor, including one forming part of a printed circuit board assembly, that receives signaling containing information about a voltage supplied to a motor to run a particular pump model, and also containing information about whether a current draw of the pump is lower than a predetermined low current level or is higher than a predetermined high current level; and determines whether to shut off the pump after a predetermined time, based on the signaling received. The signal processor provides control signalling to shut off the pump after the predetermined time if the current draw of the pump is lower than the predetermined low current level or is higher than the predetermined high current level, where the predetermined low current level and the predetermined high current level depend on the voltage being supplied to the motor to run the particular pump model.

Abstract: A pump includes a molded housing configured with a rear endbell portion to receive an armature and bearing, an intermediate motor portion to receive a motor shell and magnets arranged around the armature, and a front endbell portion to receive a diaphragm assembly having a diaphragm support plate supporting a diaphragm, the rear endbell portion, the intermediate motor portion and the front endbell portion being configured as an integrated molded housing unit, the diaphragm having two circumferential diaphragm sealing surfaces. The pump also includes an upper housing configured to assemble and couple to the molded housing so as to form a circumferential fluid-tight sealing arrangement that is configured between the front endbell portion and the upper housing on only one end of the pump.

Abstract: The pump has a pump body having a pump body portion with a vent hole to allow air entrapped in the pump body to bleed out to atmosphere and allow liquid to fill the pump body in order to get the pump running, and also includes a tab receiving portion having a rim defining an opening; and a pump/strainer assembly that includes a base with slots/openings formed therein to receive and strain liquid to be pumped, and includes a strainer retaining tab with a raised rim to be received in the opening of the tab receiving portion and circumferentially engaged by the rim of the opening to hold together the pump/strainer assembly and the pump body. The at least one tab receiving portion and the strainer retaining tab are dimensioned to conceal the vent hole and substantially prevent the liquid from bleeding through the vent hole and squirting outside of the pump body when the pump is running.

Abstract: Apparatus features a microcontroller configured to: receive signaling containing information about a measured change of a magnetic field created by a magnetic circuit driving a motor; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about the speed of rotation of the motor, based upon the signaling received. The microcontroller provides control signaling containing information to control the operation of the motor, including where the motor control is used to control the flow of fluids from a pump. A Hall Effect Sensor is used to sense the magnetic flux and provide the signaling in the form of a feedback signal for implementing motor control. The motor housing has a slot, the Hall Effect sensor is mounted external the motor housing over the slot, and a ferromagnetic bridge is arranged over the Hall Effect sensor to close the magnetic circuit and cause more flux to go through the Hall Effect sensor.

Abstract: A pumping system featuring a pump chamber configured with a central portion having a tangential outlet, and configured with a tubular coupling end portion having inwardly flexible rim portions on one side; and a mounting base, having a circular portion with an inner circumferential rim configured to receive and engage the inwardly flexible rim portions of the tubular coupling portion of the pump chamber so as to be rotationally coupled to the pumping chamber so that the pumping chamber may be rotated 360° in relation to the mounting base.

Abstract: A pump system features a power adapter and a pump having a signal processor. The power adapter includes voltage settings that respond to a voltage setting by a user and provide a selected voltage. The signal processor receives signaling containing information about the selected voltage supplied to a motor to run the pump, and also containing information about whether a current draw of the pump is lower than a predetermined low current level or is higher than a predetermined high current level; and determines whether to shut off the pump after a predetermined time, based on the signaling received.

Abstract: A level sensing circuit board featuring at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, where the at least one memory and computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to: respond to a signal containing information related to the electrical conductivity of a material causing a stimulus to a sensing plate that corresponds to a positive plate of a capacitor directly connected to an input of a comparator that forms part of a variable frequency oscillator; and determine a proportional response containing information about the material causing the stimulus to the sensing plate based at least partly on the signal received. The level sensing circuit may be used as a means to turn a pump on or off based on a sensed fluid level.

Abstract: A smart phone for using to optimize the energy production of a solar panel in real time by a user features a signal processor to receive GPS signaling containing information about the global position of the smart phone, and input signaling containing control information to initiate a GUI algorithm in the signal processor to determine visual and/or audio cues for a user on a proper alignment of a solar panel for optimal solar energy collection efficiency; and provide display imaging signaling from a screen of the smart phone, or audio signaling from a speaker in the smart phone containing information about the visual and/or audio cues for the user on the proper alignment of the solar panel for optimal solar efficiency, so as to enable the user to simultaneously adjust the planar orientation of the solar panel having the smart phone placed thereon, based on the visual and audio cues.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a safety shutoff valve generally comprise a valve lever coupled to a pipe, a shifting mechanism coupled to the valve lever, which causes the valve lever to be biased to move to and stay in the closed position, a release bar to hold the valve lever in the open position, a release mechanism, and an actuator. The actuator is a nickel-titanium alloy wire. The release bar holds the valve lever in the open position, the release bar being held in place by the release mechanism coupled to it. The release mechanism is coupled to nickel-titanium alloy wire, which extends along the pipe away from the valve apparatus. When heated, by a fire, for example, the nickel-titanium alloy wire contracts, pulls the release mechanism away from the release bar, and allows the valve lever to automatically move to and remain in the closed position, cutting off the flow of oil, or other fire fuel, to the fire.

Abstract: A pump system includes a pump unit an assembly frame that receives first and second pumps. A first and second pedal respectively couples to a first and second pump actuating portion. A rocker arrangement has a rocker that pivotally couples the first and second pedals, so a pushing movement of the first pedal in one direction causes a pulling movement of the second pedal in an opposite direction, and vice versa. The first and second pedals respond to a pushing force, respectively move the first and second pump actuating portions for pumping a fluid from the first and second pumps, and correspondingly move the first and second pump actuating portions for drawing the fluid to be pumped into the first and second pumps.

Abstract: The pump has a pump body having a pump body portion with a vent hole to allow air entrapped in the pump body to bleed out to atmosphere and allow liquid to fill the pump body in order to get the pump running, and also includes a tab receiving portion having a rim defining an opening; and a pump/strainer assembly that includes a base with slots/openings formed therein to receive and strain liquid to be pumped, and includes a strainer retaining tab with a raised rim to be received in the opening of the tab receiving portion and circumferentially engaged by the rim of the opening to hold together the pump/strainer assembly and the pump body. The at least one tab receiving portion and the strainer retaining tab are dimensioned to conceal the vent hole and substantially prevent the liquid from bleeding through the vent hole and squirting outside of the pump body when the pump is running.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing liquid from a reservoir of liquid contained in a vehicle/vessel or other equipment, featuring a pump for pumping liquid having a pump housing outlet nozzle; and a back flow preventer assembly having an inlet end to couple to the outlet nozzle, having an outlet end to couple to an outlet hose for connecting to an outlet exiting a wall of a vehicle, vessel or other equipment, and having a duckbill-type check valve to provide liquid being pumped in one direction from the reservoir of the vehicle, vessel or other equipment to the outlet exiting the wall of the vehicle, vessel or other equipment via the outlet hose, and also configured to prevent residue liquid left in the outlet hose from flowing back into the pump and returning to the reservoir once the pump has completed pumping if the outlet exiting the wall of the vehicle, vessel or other equipment is above the outlet nozzle, so as to prevent on an on/off oscillation of the pump depending on the volume of residue liquid left in the out

Abstract: A pump, having a pump housing with an impeller arranged therein, features an anti-airlock valve assembly configured with a valve housing having a passageway configured with a vent hole to allow air to bleed out of the pump housing into the atmosphere so liquid can fill the pump housing, rise and engage the impeller in order to get the pump running; and a valve ball arranged in the passageway, the valve ball configured to rest against one part of the passageway so air can pass out of the vent hole, and also configured to be light or buoyant enough to respond to the liquid filling the pump housing, float upwardly and rest against another part of the passageway so as not to allow water to escape readily from the vent hole after the liquid rises to a sufficient level and substantially engages the impeller.

Abstract: Apparatus, including a carbonation chamber, is provided that includes a mixing and metering member and a gas adjustment member. The mixing and metering member is configured to respond to a fluid, including water, and an adjustable amount of gas, including CO2, and may be configured to provide a mixture of the fluid and the gas. The gas adjustment member is configured to receive the gas, including from a gas inlet, and to provide the adjustable amount of gas to the mixing and metering member, based at least partly on an adjustable axial relationship between the mixing and metering member and the gas adjustment member in order to control a desired carbonation level of the mixture.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided featuring a switch-mode power supply (SMPS) having a power circuit component in combination with a SMPS controller. The power circuit component may be configured to provide power to a pump that provides fluid from a container to some other device, including an appliance. The SMPS controller may be configured to receive signaling containing information about at least one control parameter selected from a group including a pressure at an outlet of the pump, a fluid level in the container and the temperature of a motor of the pump, and also may be configured to shut off the power provided to the pump based at least partly on the signaling received so that the power circuit component substantially does not draw power and heat up when the pump is shut off.

Abstract: A utility pump is provided featuring a housing and battery configuration, where the housing is configured with a series configuration of integral pumps, and also configured with a battery receiving portion having electrical terminals for receiving power for providing to the series configuration of the integral pumps, and where the battery has a protruding portion with corresponding electrical terminals configured to contact the electrical terminals to provide power to the series configuration of the integral pumps when the protruding portion of the battery is inserted into the battery receiving portion of the housing and rotated in one direction to an “ON” position, and also configured not to contact the electrical terminals when the battery is not rotated to the “ON” position.

Abstract: A pumping system featuring a pump chamber configured with a central portion having a tangential outlet, and configured with a tubular coupling end portion having inwardly flexible rim portions on one side; and a mounting base, having a circular portion with an inner circumferential rim configured to receive and engage the inwardly flexible rim portions of the tubular coupling portion of the pump chamber so as to be rotationally coupled to the pumping chamber so that the pumping chamber may be rotated 360° in relation to the mounting base.