Bilge pump systems

Abstract

A pump system comprises a bilge pump powered by an electric motor and a controller controlling the electric motor. The controller is configured to determine if the pump system is malfunctioning. In response to determining that the pump system is malfunctioning, the controller is configured to control the electric motor according to a predetermined routine configured to rectify the malfunction. A pump system comprises a first bilge pump including a first electric motor configured to power the first bilge pump and a first controller controlling the first electric motor and a second bilge pump including a second electric motor configured to power the second bilge pump and a second controller controlling the second electric motor. The first and second controllers are in signal communication with one another.

1 . A pump system for use on a marine vessel, the pump system comprising:
 a pump powered by an electric motor; and   a controller controlling the electric motor;   wherein the controller is configured to determine if the pump system is malfunctioning; and   wherein in response to determining that the pump system is malfunctioning, the controller is configured to control the electric motor according to a predetermined routine configured to rectify the malfunction.   
     
     
         2 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined routine comprises at least one of the following: (a) stopping the pump and subsequently restarting the pump; and (b) operating the pump at a different flow rate than a flow rate at which the pump was operating when the controller determined the pump system was malfunctioning. 
     
     
         3 . The pump system of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined routine further comprises:
 determining if the malfunction has been rectified after performing at least one of (a) and (b);   repeating at least one of (a) and (b) in response to determining that the pump system is still malfunctioning; and   only after repeating at least one of (a) and (b) a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined period, stopping the pump in response to determining that the pump system is still malfunctioning.   
     
     
         4 . The pump system of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined routine further comprises:
 determining if the malfunction has been rectified after performing at least one of (a) and (b); and   in response to determining that the malfunction has been rectified, resuming operation of the pump according to parameters at which the pump was operating before the controller determined that the pump system was malfunctioning.   
     
     
         5 . The pump system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the following in electrical communication with the controller:
 a current sensor configured to sense a current flowing through the electric motor; and   a water-level sensor configured to be actuated by a presence and/or absence of water;   wherein the controller uses information from the at least one of the current sensor and the water level sensor to determine if the pump system is malfunctioning.   
     
     
         6 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the malfunction is one of an air-locked state of a hose in fluid communication with the pump, a stalled state of the electric motor, a blockage in the pump and/or the hose, and a blown fuse. 
     
     
         7 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine when a component of the pump system is nearing its end of life and to communicate an alert to a display device in response to same. 
     
     
         8 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to communicate details of the malfunction and whether the predetermined routine was able to rectify the malfunction to a display device. 
     
     
         9 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is located on or within a housing of the pump. 
     
     
         10 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is a bilge pump. 
     
     
         22 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is a first pump, the electric motor is a first electric motor, and the controller is a first controller, and further comprising a second pump powered by a second electric motor, the second electric motor being controlled by a second controller; and
 wherein the first and second controllers are in signal communication with one another.   
     
     
         23 . The pump system of  claim 22 , wherein the second controller is configured to control the second electric motor in response to a command from the first controller. 
     
     
         24 . The pump system of  claim 23 , wherein the first controller is configured to determine if part of the pump system associated with the first pump is malfunctioning, and in response to determining that part of the pump system associated with the first pump is malfunctioning, the first controller is configured to command the second controller to start the second pump. 
     
     
         25 . The pump system of  claim 23 , wherein the first and second pumps are bilge pumps.