Automated pumping system and methods

Abstract

A system for controlling a pump can include a fluid level sensor, a fuel level sensor, one or more oil pressure sensors, a pump fluid sensor, and a pump controller. The pump controller can provide speed instructions to a pump having an engine control unit, an engine, and a volute. The pump controller can include a user interface that includes a display and may also include a transceiver that is operatively engaged to a remote user device through a computer network. A method of controlling a pump can include characterizing the operation of the pump, performing a safety check of the pump, determining a level of a fluid in a tank, and providing the speed instructions to the pump.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pump controller for controlling a pump, said pump comprising an engine and an engine controller, said pump controller comprising:
 a) a processor;   b) a memory device for storing processor instructions;   c) a user interface;   d) a pump interface for communication with said engine controller; and   e) a fluid level sensor interface for communication with a fluid level sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The pump controller of  claim 1 , wherein said user interface comprises a touchscreen. 
     
     
         3 . The pump controller of  claim 1 , wherein said user interface consists of one of the group consisting of at least one button, at least one switch, at least one light, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The pump controller of  claim 1 , wherein said user interface comprises:
 a) a transceiver operatively engaged to a computer network; and   b) a remote user device operatively engaged to said computer network.   
     
     
         5 . The pump controller of  claim 4 , wherein said transceiver comprises an antenna. 
     
     
         6 . The pump controller of  claim 1 , wherein said engine controller is an electronic engine controller. 
     
     
         7 . The pump controller of  claim 6 , wherein said pump controller is adapted to, through said pump interface, provide instructions to said engine controller. 
     
     
         8 . The pump controller of  claim 6 , wherein said pump controller is adapted to receive, from said engine controller through said pump interface, engine data. 
     
     
         9 . The pump controller of  claim 1 , wherein said engine controller comprises a motor and an armature for engaging with a throttle of said engine. 
     
     
         10 . The pump controller of  claim 1 , wherein said pump controller is adapted to receive, from said fluid level sensor through said fluid sensor interface, an indication of the level of a fluid in a fluid tank. 
     
     
         11 . The pump controller of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump fluid sensor interface for communication with a pump fluid sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The pump controller of  claim 11 , wherein said pump controller is adapted to receive, from said pump fluid sensor through said pump fluid sensor interface, an indication of the pressure of a fluid in said pump. 
     
     
         13 . The pump controller of  claim 12 , said pump further comprising a volute, wherein said fluid pressure sensor is engaged to a fluid inlet of a volute of said pump. 
     
     
         14 . The pump controller of  claim 12 , said pump further comprising a volute, wherein said fluid pressure sensor is engaged to a fluid outlet of a volute of said pump. 
     
     
         15 . The pump controller of  claim 11 , wherein said pump controller is adapted to receive, from said pump fluid sensor through said pump fluid sensor interface, an indication of the rate of flow of said fluid in said pump. 
     
     
         16 . The pump controller of  claim 15 , said pump further comprising a volute, wherein said fluid pressure sensor is engaged to said volute of said pump. 
     
     
         17 . The pump controller of  claim 1 , further comprising a fuel sensor interface for communication with a fuel level sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The pump controller of  claim 17 , wherein said pump controller is adapted to receive, from said fuel level sensor through said fuel sensor interface, an indication of the level of fuel in a fuel tank. 
     
     
         19 . The pump controller of  claim 1 , further comprising an oil pressure sensor interface for communication with an oil pressure sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The pump controller of  claim 19 , wherein said pump controller is adapted to receive, from said oil pressure sensor through said oil pressure sensor interface, an indication of the pressure of oil in an oil line. 
     
     
         21 . The pump controller of  claim 20 , wherein said oil line is engaged with an oil inlet of said engine of said pump. 
     
     
         22 . The pump controller of  claim 20 , wherein said oil line is engaged with an oil outlet of said engine of said pump. 
     
     
         23 . A system for pumping a fluid with a pump, said pump comprising a volute, an engine and an electronic engine controller, said system comprising:
 a) at least one fluid level sensor for detecting a level of said fluid in a fluid tank;   b) a fuel level sensor for detecting a level of fuel in a fuel tank;   c) an inlet oil pressure sensor for detecting an inlet pressure of oil in an inlet oil line associated with said engine;   d) an outlet oil pressure sensor for detecting an outlet pressure of said oil in an outlet oil line associated with said engine;   e) a pump fluid sensor for detecting the condition of said fluid in an inlet of said volute of said pump; and   f) a pump controller operatively engaged with said engine controller, said at least one fluid level sensor, said fuel level sensor, said inlet oil pressure sensor, said outlet oil pressure sensor, and said pump fluid sensor, said pump controller comprising a processor, a memory device storing processor instructions, and a user interface.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said processor instructions, when executed by said processor, provide instructions to said engine controller in response to said level of fluid in said fluid tank, said level of said fuel, said inlet pressure of said oil, said outlet pressure of said oil, said inlet pressure of said fluid, and said outlet pressure of said fluid. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said pump fluid sensor comprises a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure of said fluid in said volute, and said condition of said fluid in said volute is said pressure. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said pump fluid sensor comprises a flow sensor for detecting a flow rate of said fluid in said volute, and said condition of said fluid in said volute is said flow rate. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein a first of said at least one fluid level sensor comprises a float. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein first of said at least one fluid level sensor comprises a transducer. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein a second of said at least one fluid level sensor comprises a float. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said user interface of said pump controller comprises a touchscreen. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said user interface of said pump controller comprises:
 a) a wireless transceiver operatively engaged with a computer network; and   b) a remote user device operatively engaged with a said computer network.   
     
     
         32 . A system for pumping a fluid comprising:
 a) a first fluid tank for containing said fluid, said first fluid tank comprising a tank port;   b) a first fluid level sensor for detecting the level of said fluid in said first fluid tank;   c) a fuel tank;   d) a fuel level sensor for detecting the level of fuel in said fuel tank;   e) an inlet oil line;   f) an inlet oil pressure sensor for detecting a pressure of oil in said inlet oil line;   g) an outlet oil line;   h) an outlet oil pressure sensor for detecting a pressure of said oil in said outlet oil line;   i) a first fluid pressure sensor for detecting a first pressure of said fluid;   j) a pump fluid flow rate sensor for detecting a flow rate of said fluid;   k) a pump comprising a volute, an engine, and an engine controller, said volute comprising a first port engaged with said tank port of said first fluid tank and said first fluid pressure sensor, said volute engaged with said pump fluid flow rate sensor, and said engine engaged with said fuel line, said inlet oil line, and said outlet oil line; and   l) a pump controller engaged with said engine controller, said first fluid level sensor, said fuel level sensor, said inlet oil pressure sensor, said outlet oil pressure sensor, said first fluid pressure sensor, and said pump fluid flow rate sensor, said pump controller comprising a user interface, wherein said pump controller provides instructions to said engine controller in response to said level of said fluid in said first fluid tank, said level of said fuel in said fuel tank, said pressure of said oil in said inlet oil line, said pressure of said oil in said outlet oil line, said first pressure of said fluid in said pump, said flow rate of said fluid, and said user interface.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 a) a second fluid tank for containing said fluid, said second fluid tank comprising a tank port;   b) a second fluid level sensor for detecting the level of said fluid in said second fluid tank; and   c) a second fluid pressure sensor of detecting a second pressure of said fluid,   wherein said volute further comprises a second port engaged with said tank port of said second fluid tank and said second fluid pressure sensor,   wherein said pump controller is further engaged with said second fluid level sensor and said second fluid pressure sensor, and wherein said pump controller further provides instructions to said engine controller in response to said level of said fluid in said second fluid tank and said second pressure of said fluid in said pump.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein said first fluid level sensor comprises one of the group consisting of at least one float, a transducer, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein said second fluid level sensor comprises one of the group consisting of at least one float, a transducer, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         36 . A method of controlling a pump, said pump comprising an engine and an electronic engine controller, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) characterizing the operation of said pump by (i) providing instructions to said electronic engine controller to cause said engine to rotate at a first characterization speed and (ii) while said engine is rotating at said first characterization speed, detecting a first pump condition of said pump;   b) performing a safety check of said pump;   c) determining a level of a fluid in a tank; and   d) providing instructions to said electronic engine controller, said instructions causing said engine to rotate at a target speed, wherein said instructions are provided to said electronic engine controller by a pump controller, said pump controller comprising a processor, a memory device storing processor instructions, and a user interface.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said step of detecting said first pump condition comprises the step of (a) detecting an inlet fluid pressure of said fluid at a fluid inlet of a volute of said pump. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said step of detecting said first pump condition comprises the step of (a) detecting an outlet fluid pressure of said fluid at a fluid outlet of a volute of said pump. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said step of detecting said first pump condition further comprises the step of (b) detecting an inlet fluid pressure of said fluid at a fluid inlet of said volute of said pump. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said step of detecting said first pump condition further comprises the step of (a) detecting a flow rate of said fluid in said volute of said pump. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said step of characterizing the operation of said pump further comprises the steps of (iii) providing instructions to said electronic engine controller to cause said engine to rotate at a second characterization speed and (ii) while said engine is rotating at said second characterization speed, detecting a second pump condition of said pump. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising the step of:
 e) determining said target speed from said level of said fluid in said tank, said first characterization speed, said first pump condition, said second characterization speed, and said second pump condition.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said step of performing a safety check comprises the steps of:
 (i) detecting a pressure of oil in an inlet oil line engaged with said engine;   (ii) detecting a pressure of oil in an outlet oil line engaged with said engine; and   (iii) detecting the level of fuel in a fuel tank.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said step of performing a safety check comprises the step of (i) receiving an engine condition of said engine from said electronic engine controller. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said engine condition comprises one of the group consisting of a engine block temperature, a torque of said engine, a temperature of said oil in said engine, a pressure of said oil in said engine, a pressure of a coolant in said engine, a temperature of said coolant in said engine, a temperature of a fuel, a indication of the amount of said fuel that has been used, an indication of the rate at which said fuel is used, a temperature of an inlet air at an air inlet of said engine, a pressure of said inlet air, a temperature of an outlet air at an air outlet of said engine, a pressure of said outlet air, a temperature of air at an exhaust of said engine, the running hours of said engine, the total hours of said engine, a fault code, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising the step of:
 e) charging a battery,   wherein said step of charging said battery comprises the steps of:
 (i) determining whether said battery needs to be charged; 
 (ii) opening a volute of said pump; and 
 (iii) providing instructions to said electronic engine controller, said instructions causing said engine to rotate at a charging speed for a charging time.