Abstract: A method of assembling an electric motor comprises axially translating a rotor of a rotor assembly in a first direction through a longitudinal bore of a stator, a first centering ring of the rotor assembly preventing a first end of the rotor from contacting an internal surface of the longitudinal bore; rotatably supporting a first end of the rotor assembly longitudinally extending from the rotor with a first support member; resting a second centering ring of the rotor assembly on the internal surface of the longitudinal bore; rotatably supporting a second end of the rotor assembly longitudinally extending from the rotor with a second support member; and axially translating the rotor assembly in a second direction, opposite the first direction, to place the rotor assembly in a position in which both the first centering ring and the second centering ring are outside the longitudinal bore.

Abstract: A motor control system to drive an alternating-current (AC) motor. The motor control system includes a motor drive. The motor drive may include a duct having first, second and third openings. The motor control system may include a bypass circuit to power the AC motor if the motor drive experiences a fault or to save energy.

Abstract: A load protection system and a method of protecting a load. The load protection system includes a PLC transmitter and a PLC receiver, which are configured to communicate a plurality of bits of data, each bit transmitted near a zero-crossing of a voltage on the power lines supplying power to the load, in the form of a high frequency burst of pulses. The pulses are structured in two patterns. The first pattern serves to identify the start of the second pattern, and the second pattern includes the data. The first pattern is unique and not represented within the second pattern. The load may be a motor, and the data may include a parameter value representing a parameter of the motor. A motor controller may evaluate the parameter value to determine whether to institute a warning or alert action, to shut the motor down, or to continue operating.

Abstract: A water pumping system, a motor drive, and a method of starting pumping by the motor drive. The method includes powering the electric motor with a motor drive; driving a progressive cavity pump with the electric motor; monitoring a speed difference between an electrical speed and an observed speed of a rotor of the electric motor; and performing a protective action as a function of the speed difference.

Abstract: A method implemented by a motor drive to drive a pump of a liquid pumping system. The method includes receiving a wetness signal from a wetness sensor; determining based on a wetness signal if moisture has been detected by the wetness sensor; discontinuing pumping by the pump responsive to determining that moisture has been detected; after discontinuing pumping, determining if moisture has been detected during a predetermined delay; and restarting pumping if moisture has not been detected during the predetermined delay.

Abstract: A motor control unit comprising an inverter, a fan to blow air and thereby cool the inverter, and an enclosure configured to maintain the inverter in a dry condition. The enclosure includes a back wall, a bottom wall having a ventilation grid, with the fan positioned adjacent the ventilation grid to draw air therethrough, a top cover member, a central member extending between the top cover member and the bottom wall, a skirt below the bottom wall defining an at least partially enclosed volume surrounding the ventilation grid, and droplet diverter means to prevent that air drawn by the fan carries water droplets into the enclosure.

Abstract: A multistage submersible pump includes interstage sealing operable to inhibit upstream fluid recirculation, while also having a reduced or eliminated wear-in procedure. A wear-in bearing surface erodes during an initial, wear-in procedure of the pump, and a low-friction service bearing surface slowly engages as the wear-in procedure is completed. Both the wear-in and service bearing surfaces are integrated into a single, stamped stainless steel housing component, such that axial tolerance between the two surfaces is tightly controllable. The pump impeller provides corresponding wear-in and service bearing elements formed as part of a single monolithic component, thereby also offering tight axial tolerance control for the bearing elements which engage the bearing surfaces of the cup component.

Abstract: A method and system to convert a constant speed motor drive (40) into a variable speed motor drive (80) are disclosed.

Abstract: A pump and a method of operating the pump at a duty-cycle based on the input voltage of the power source energizing the pump. The pump includes at least a first opto-coupler electrically coupled to the power source. The method includes detecting at least a first opto-coupler state transition; determining a zero-crossing of the input voltage; determining an elapsed time between the zero-crossing and the first opto-coupler state transition; and operating the pump by energizing a power switch at a duty-cycle based on the elapsed time.

Abstract: A system and a method for driving an electrical motor with a drive unit including a wireless transceiver. A user may wirelessly couple a user input device with the transceiver, and use a drive application to, optionally, update configuration information including drive control parameters, update application logic residing in the drive unit, and/or upload performance parameters.

Abstract: A pumping system and method for operating a pumping system including a motor coupled to a variable speed drive to drive a pump. A torque indicator corresponding to the torque presented to the drive is determined. The torque indicator may be used to detect a fault if it exceeds a baseline torque, or to detect a defective transducer, or to detect a system change by perturbing one parameter and comparing another to a predicted value.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a power conversion system to power a variable impedance load with a variable power source, the power conversion system comprising a power converter including input terminals adapted to receive variable power from the variable power source and output terminals providing a converted power to the variable impedance load based on the variable power received at the input terminals. The power converter increases the input voltage to an output voltage. The power converter is configured to reflect a source impedance of the variable power source to the variable impedance load.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a variable speed drive for driving a single phase motor. The variable speed drive generates enhanced motor voltages including harmonic components configured to reduce torque pulsations.

Abstract: A submersible pump, and method of making the submersible pump, is disclosed. The pump comprises a housing, a plurality of impeller stages serially disposed in the housing from a bottom impeller stage to a top impeller stage, an impeller stage bypass hole extending through one of the diffusers and a housing bypass hole extending through the housing radially outwardly from one of the impeller stages.

Abstract: A submersible pump, and method of making the submersible pump, is disclosed. The pump comprises a housing, a plurality of impeller stages serially disposed in the housing from a bottom impeller stage to a top impeller stage, an impeller stage bypass hole extending through one of the diffusers and a housing bypass hole extending through the housing radially outwardly from one of the impeller stages.

Abstract: A pump-motor assembly includes a housing and a lead protector sleeve to protect leads disposed along an exterior surface of the housing. The housing and the lead protector sleeve include first and second cooperating snap-fit connection elements, respectively, to secure the lead protector sleeve in position along the exterior surface of the housing via a snap-fit connection. The lead protector sleeve may include a first portion spaced from the exterior surface to form a conduit along the exterior surface to accommodate the leads, and a second portion extending from the first portion to engage the pump-motor housing. The second portion may include a projection or depression to secure the lead protector in position along the exterior surface of the pump-motor assembly via snap-fit interaction with the housing. In one embodiment, the second portion may include a resiliently deformable tab.

Abstract: A slinger seal for a submersible motor having a shaft is disclosed. The seal comprises a cup having an inner cup surface and a slinger disposed on the shaft and axially spaced from the cup. The slinger has a lower portion defining a cavity proximate to the cup and a seal having a first seal portion engaging the cup inner surface and a second seal portion engaging the shaft. The first seal portion includes a member for maintaining the first seal portion into engagement with the cup inner surface and the second seal includes a spring for biasing the second seal portion into engagement with the shaft.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump includes plural pump stages, each comprising an impeller assembly, a stationary disc assembly and a diffuser assembly, all disposed about an impeller shaft. A floating impeller hub seal is supported by a diffuser assembly to minimize fluid recirculation. A thrust washer is disposed around the impeller shaft and is engageable with an impeller hub and the hub seal. A wear ring is secured to a disc assembly and engageable with a wear surface on the impeller.

Abstract: A jet pump for pumping fluids is disclosed. The jet pump comprises an impeller, a fluid inlet port and a venturi tube having an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The venturi tube is disposed between the fluid inlet port and the impeller. The jet pump further comprises a fluid outlet port, a pump cavity disposed between the impeller and the fluid outlet port, a return cavity and an externally accessible retaining system disposed between the return cavity and the venturi tube. The retaining system is adapted to receive any of a plurality of nozzles of differing orifice dimensions to provide pump outputs according to a respective plurality of pump performance curves.