Abstract: A pump controller has a signal processor that receives signaling about an instant water level AIL of a liquid in a container and generated by a water level transducer during an empty/fill application; and determines corresponding signaling to control a pump during the empty/fill application based upon the signaling received using a liquid level control algorithm that turns ON the pump when the instant water level AIL rises above a maximum empty water level during an empty application, or falls below a maximum fill water level during a fill application; turns OFF the pump when the instant water level AIL falls below a minimum empty water level for the empty application, or rises above a second maximum fill water level during the fill application; controls the pump when the instant water level AIL is in a liquid level region above the minimum empty water level and below a second maximum empty water level for the empty application, or falls below the second maximum fill water level and above a second minimum fil

Abstract: Apparatus, including a pump system, features a controller having a signal processor or processing module configured to: receive signaling containing information about a relationship between frequencies of pump vibration resonances detected around critical pump speeds and a 3-dimensional pump vibration power spectrum in the frequency domain with respect to pump speed and pump temperature change differences; and determine corresponding signaling containing information to adjust the pump speed to avoid the pump vibration resonances around the critical pump speeds, based upon the signaling received. The signal processor or processing module is also configured to provide the corresponding signaling as control signaling to adjust the pump speed.

Abstract: A multi-stage pump featuring different stages configured to pump a fluid from a pump suction and to a pump discharge; and a center bushing configured between the different stages, having a center bushing side configured with pockets to balance axial forces between the different stages of the multistage pump. The pockets are configured as curved rib pockets, extruded circle or circular pockets, or full length rib pockets.

Abstract: A pump features a two-part axial flow shaft having a static inner shaft portion and a rotating outer shaft portion; the static inner shaft portion having static diffuser vanes, and also having two shaft ends configured to affix to a frame of a pump so the static inner shaft portion does not rotate; and the rotating outer shaft portion having an outer portion configured to affix to a rotor of the pump to rotate the rotating outer shaft portion, also having rotating impeller vanes configured inside and coupled to the outer portion to move the fluid axially along the two-part axial flow shaft as the rotating outer shaft portion axially rotates in relation to the static inner shaft portion.

Abstract: A pumping system having a pump includes a pump controller having a signal processor or processing module configured at least to: receive signaling containing information about pump differential pressure, flow rate and corresponding power data at motor maximum speed published by pump manufacturers, as well as instant motor power and speed; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about instant pump differential pressure and flow rate using a combined affinity equation and numerical interpolation algorithm to control the pump in the pumping system, based upon the signaling received.

Abstract: A pump controller features a signal processor configured to respond to signaling containing information about three corresponding discrete arrays with respect to a discrete motor speed for each system position at a motor speed derived from 3D discrete distribution surfaces of motor power, pump differential pressure and flow rate by respective numerical interpolations; and determine corresponding signaling containing information to control a pump, or pumps in a system of pumps, or a system of pumps based upon a corresponding pump differential pressure and flow rate at the motor speed for a corresponding power reading value determined using a numerical interpolation of the three corresponding discrete arrays, the signaling received. The signal processor is configured to provide the corresponding signaling as control signaling to control the pump, or the pumps in the system of pumps, or the system of pumps.

Abstract: Apparatus, including a pump system controller, features a signal processor or processing module configured at least to: receive signaling containing information about pump differential pressure, flow rate and corresponding power data at motor maximum speed published by pump manufacturers, as well as instant motor power and speed, for a system of pumps arranged in a multiple pump configuration; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about instant pump differential pressure and flow rate for the system of pumps arranged in the multiple pump configuration using a combined affinity equation and numerical interpolation algorithm, based upon the signaling received.

Abstract: A low water cutoff switch controller features a dual inline package (DIP) in combination with low water cutoff switch processor. The dual inline package (DIP) has DIP switches, each DIP switch configured to set in a respective application type or mode corresponding to a particular water heater model for the low water cutoff switch controller to control, and also configured to provide DIP switch signaling containing information about a respective DIP switch set. The low water cutoff switch processor is configured to respond to the DIP switch signaling, and also configured to respond to corresponding signaling containing information about a sensed water level contained in the particular water heater model being controlled by the low water cutoff switch controller, and provide control signaling containing information to control the operation of the particular water heater model.

Abstract: An opposing impeller arrangement, for using in an opposed impeller pump, features a combination of a stage 1 impeller arrangement and a stage 2 impeller arrangement having opposing impellers and different impeller and wear ring arrangements. The stage 1 impeller arrangement may include a stage 1 impeller and a stage 1 wear ring, and be configured to receive an input fluid flow and a pump stage 1 fluid flow. The stage 2 impeller arrangement may include a stage 2 impeller and a stage 2 wear ring configured to receive the pump stage 1 fluid flow and provide a pump stage 2 fluid flow, and may also include a stage 2 wear ring undercut configured between the stage 2 impeller and the stage 2 wear ring to offset generated axial thrust in the opposing impeller pump, based upon the different impeller and wear ring arrangements.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a device or feature that incorporates a technique or means for flow measurement in a fluid flow system. By way of example, a contoured insert may be specifically calibrated to the pipe line size to ensure the desired accuracy of the flow measurement, irrespective of pipe length between the device and other fluid system components that would negatively influence other flow rate measurement devices. This in turn reduces the total number of components needed in a system.

Abstract: A contoured check valve disc features a pivot portion and a check valve portion. The check valve portion is attached to the pivot portion, and has two sides, a first side to respond to the fluid flow in a first direction and move the check valve portion away from a fluid opening to the one or more open positions depending on the fluid flow to allow the fluid to flow through the fluid opening, and a second and opposing side to respond to fluid flow in an opposite direction through the fluid opening and move the check valve portion towards the fluid opening to the closed position to seal the fluid opening and stop fluid flow.

Abstract: A switch assembly includes an automatic type 11 switch having 1 and 2 contacts and 3 and 4 contacts with the 2 and 3 contacts being shorted together, configured to respond to a water level of a boiler, short the 1 and 2 contacts when the water level is high, short the 3 and 4 contacts when the water level is low; and an electronic circuit board having a processor configured to sense signaling containing information about the 1, 2/3 and 4 contacts, and provide control signaling containing information about the water level of the boiler. The electronic circuit board also includes a relay configured to respond to the control signaling, and turn the relay on/off.

Abstract: The present invention allows for a combination valve in a hydronic HVAC system that functions as an isolation valve; a check valve; and as a device for measuring fluid parameters, such as flow rate, pressure, and/or temperature, and also allows for the isolation valve to be configured in the field to be mounted either in a straight 180° or an angled 90° orientation, as well as at an intermediate angle. The new combination of isolation valve, check valve, with embedded sensors for flow rate, pressure, and/or temperature measurement provides a more compact product envelope that achieves space savings, e.g., by eliminating the need for separate components in an HVAC system, such as separate isolation valves, check valves, flow meters, pressure gages, and/or thermometers.

Abstract: A technique for determining a boiler water condition includes a boiler controller (aka PSE unit) having a signal processor that implements a boiler control algorithm to receive signaling containing information about sets of N consecutive probe data samples related to a boiler water condition; determine stable average signaling containing information about a stable average by averaging a set of N consecutive probe data samples in the signaling received; determine present stable average signaling containing information about a present stable average by averaging a present set of N consecutive probe data samples in the signaling received; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about the boiler water condition, based upon whether the present stable average is within an allowable limit and a comparison of the present and previous stable average signaling determined.

Abstract: A submersible pump is provided featuring: a motor; run/start capacitors having run/start capacitor connectors; a housing having a motor housing portion and a run/start capacitor housing portion separated by a housing wall, the motor housing portion having a motor housing chamber to receive/contain the motor and oil for immersing the motor in an oil bath, the run/start housing portion having a run/start housing chamber, the housing wall having connection ports to allow sealed connections between electrical components in the motor housing portion and the run/start capacitor housing portion; a removable motor housing cover to couple/close the motor housing portion; a removable run/start capacitor housing cover to couple/close the run/start capacitor housing portion; and a capacitive cup having a side wall portion and a bottom wall portion, to be removeably arranged in the run/start capacitor housing chamber, the bottom wall portion to mount the run/start capacitors to be contained/surrounded by the side wall por

Abstract: Apparatus is provided featuring a signal processor or processing module configured to receive signaling containing information about a pump no flow idle (NFI) state when the pump is running at a pump idle speed; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about whether the pump should remain in a no flow shutdown (NFSD) state or the pump NFI state, based upon the signaling received. The signal processor or processing module is configured to provide the corresponding signaling containing information about whether the pump should remain in the NFSD state or the NFI state.

Abstract: A suction diffuser or arrangement is provided featuring a main suction diffuser body and a flow conditioning arrangement. The main suction diffuser body is configured with an inlet to receive an incoming fluid flow, an interior cavity to receive the incoming fluid from the inlet, and an outlet to receive the incoming fluid from the interior cavity and provide an outgoing fluid. The flow conditioning arrangement is configured in relation to the inlet and also comprises a flow conditioning portion having at least one inwardly contoured surface, configured to extend into the interior cavity, diffuse the incoming fluid passing from the inlet into the interior cavity, and provide a flow conditioning that produces a uniform flow of the outgoing fluid by directing the incoming fluid towards the outlet, based at least partly on a contoured design corresponding to the at least one inwardly contoured surface.

Abstract: Apparatus features a signal processor or processing module configured to respond to signaling containing information about a set point and a speed related to one or more pumps in a pump system, e.g., including a variable speed multiple pump booster system, operating at a substantially constant discharge pressure; and determine an adjustment to the set point to compensate for system friction loss and maintain the substantially constant discharge pressure of the variable speed multiple pump booster system for flow variation, based at least partly on the signaling received. The signal processor or processing module 10a provides corresponding signaling containing information to control the one or more pumps in the variable speed multiple pump booster system.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus featuring a signal processor or processing module that may be configured at least to: receive signaling containing information about calibrated motor speed and power data for a hydronic pumping system; and determine system pumping flow rate and pressure associated with an equivalent hydronic system characteristic variable, based at least partly on the signaling received. The signal processor or processing module may be configured to provide corresponding signaling containing information about the system pumping flow rate and pressure determined. The corresponding signaling may contain information used to control the hydronic pumping system.

Abstract: A wirelessly powered system includes a wirelessly powered combination isolation valve and check valve for a hydronic system, having a positive shut-off isolation valve configured in the hydronic system to prevent fluid flow, including to allow for maintenance of the hydronic system, a check valve configured in the hydronic system to prevent backflow and gravity circulation which can harm the hydronic system, and a combination of one or more sensors configured to sense a corresponding combination of one or more pressure, temperature or flow measurements of the fluid flow in the hydronic system and provide sensor signaling containing information about the corresponding combination of the one or more pressure, temperature or flow measurements sensed of the fluid flow in the hydronic system; and an onboard wireless power receiver configured to receive wireless power signaling, and provide power to energize the combination of the one or more sensors.