Relay pumping controller

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling a relay pumping setup comprising an upstream pumping unit for pumping a liquid into a relay reservoir and a downstream pumping unit for pumping from said relay reservoir to a given location, the method comprising receiving a relay reservoir liquid level indication indicative of a liquid level in the relay reservoir and providing a control signal to at least one of the upstream pumping unit and the downstream pumping unit depending on the received relay reservoir liquid level indication.

1 . A controller for controlling a relay pumping setup comprising an upstream pumping unit for pumping a liquid into a relay reservoir and a downstream pumping unit for pumping from said relay reservoir to a given location, said controller comprising: 
 a relay reservoir liquid level indication interface for receiving a liquid level indication signal indicative of a liquid level in said relay reservoir;    an upstream pumping unit interface communicating with said upstream pumping unit;    a downstream pumping unit interface communicating with said downstream pumping unit; and    a processing unit for receiving said liquid level indication signal and for providing a control signal to at least one of the upstream pumping unit interface and the downstream pumping unit interface according to said liquid level indication signal.    
   
   
       2 . The controller as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said control signal is provided when said liquid level is greater than a “high-level” threshold to avoid a further increase of the liquid level.  
   
   
       3 . The controller as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said control signal comprises a control signal provided to the upstream pumping unit.  
   
   
       4 . The controller as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said control signal provided to the upstream pumping unit is a “stop pumping” control signal.  
   
   
       5 . The controller as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said control signal further comprises a control signal provided to the downstream pumping unit.  
   
   
       6 . The controller as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said control signal provided to the downstream pumping unit is one of a “pump more” control signal and a “start pumping” control signal.  
   
   
       7 . The controller as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said control signal is provided when said liquid level is lower than a “low-level” threshold to avoid a further decrease of the liquid level.  
   
   
       8 . The controller as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said control signal comprises a control signal provided to the downstream pumping unit.  
   
   
       9 . The controller as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said control signal provided to the downstream pumping unit is a “stop pumping” control signal.  
   
   
       10 . The controller as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said control signal further comprises a control signal provided to the upstream pumping unit.  
   
   
       11 . The controller as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said control signal provided to the upstream pumping unit is one of “start pumping” control signal and “pump more” control signal.  
   
   
       12 . The controller as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upstream pumping unit interface, the downstream pumping interface and the relay reservoir liquid level indication interface comprises a wireless communication interface.  
   
   
       13 . The controller as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said wireless communication interface operates using one of a short-range radio link, a cellular data link, and a satellite link.  
   
   
       14 . The controller as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said downstream pumping unit is controlled by a downstream pumping unit controller, further wherein said downstream pumping unit interface comprises an inter-controller module for controlling said downstream pumping unit via said downstream pumping unit controller.  
   
   
       15 . The controller as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said inter-controller module provides a two-way communication link.  
   
   
       16 . The controller as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said two-way communication link is a temporary communication link.  
   
   
       17 . The controller as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said upstream pumping unit is controlled by an upstream pumping unit controller, further wherein said upstream pumping unit interface comprises an inter-controller module for controlling said upstream pumping unit via said upstream pumping unit controller.  
   
   
       18 . The controller as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said inter-controller module provides a two-way communication link.  
   
   
       19 . The controller as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said two-way communication link is a temporary communication link.  
   
   
       20 . A method for controlling a relay pumping setup comprising an upstream pumping unit for pumping a liquid into a relay reservoir and a downstream pumping unit for pumping from said relay reservoir to a given location, said method comprising: 
 receiving a relay reservoir liquid level indication signal indicative of a liquid level in said relay reservoir; and    providing a control signal to at least one of the upstream pumping unit and the downstream pumping unit depending on said received relay reservoir liquid level indication signal.    
   
   
       21 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said control signal is provided when said liquid level is greater than a “high-level” threshold to avoid a further increase of the liquid level in said relay reservoir.  
   
   
       22 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said providing of said control signal comprises providing a control signal to the upstream pumping unit.  
   
   
       23 . The method as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said control signal provided to the upstream pumping unit comprises a “stop pumping” control signal.  
   
   
       24 . The method as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said providing of said control signal further comprises providing a control signal to the downstream pumping unit.  
   
   
       25 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein said control signal provided to the downstream pumping unit comprises one of a “pump more” control signal and a “stop pumping” control signal.  
   
   
       26 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said control signal is provided when said liquid level is lower than a “low-level” threshold to avoid a further decrease of the liquid level in said relay reservoir.  
   
   
       27 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein said providing of said control signal comprises providing a control signal to the downstream pumping unit.  
   
   
       28 . The method as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said control signal provided to the downstream pumping unit comprises a “stop pumping” control signal.  
   
   
       29 . The method as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said providing of said control signal further comprises providing a control signal to the upstream pumping unit.  
   
   
       30 . The method as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said control signal provided to the upstream pumping unit comprises one of a “pump more” control signal and a “start pumping” control signal.  
   
   
       31 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said providing of said control signal comprises sending said control signal to a controller which controls at least one of the upstream pumping unit and the downstream pumping unit.  
   
   
       32 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , further comprising receiving data from at least one of said upstream pumping unit and said downstream pumping unit, further wherein said providing of said control signal to at least one of the upstream pumping unit and the downstream pumping unit is performed depending on said received relay reservoir liquid level indication and said receiving data.  
   
   
       33 . The method as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein said receiving of said data from at least one of said upstream pumping unit and said downstream pumping unit is performed via a corresponding controller which controls at least one of said upstream pumping unit and said downstream pumping unit.  
   
   
       34 . A relay pump controller comprising: 
 a relay reservoir liquid level sensor interface which receives a liquid level indication signal indicative of a liquid level in an associated relay reservoir;    an upstream pumping unit interface which transmits to an upstream pumping unit an upstream control signal;    a downstream pumping unit interface which receives a downstream control signal;    a pumping unit interface for controlling an associated relay pumping unit; and    a processing unit which, responsive to the received liquid level indication signal and the downstream control signal, controls the associated pumping unit and transmits the upstream control signal.    
   
   
       35 . The relay pump controller as claimed in  claim 34  wherein said downstream control signal is indicative of a downstream relay reservoir liquid level.