Digital valve and pump control system

Claim 3

The subject matter of claim 1 wherein the device is a valve, and wherein the field controller includes relay means responsive to a digital code from the control unit, the relay means having first and second poles, connected in circuit with a valve motor, for operating the motor in three modes, namely, open, close and stop.

Claim 4

The subject matter set forth in claim 2 wherein at least one field controller has mode programming means connected thereto for selectively preventing a connected device from changing operational status states without first passing through a "stop" state.

Claim 5

The subject matter of claim 1 wherein the device is a pump, and further wherein the field controller includes relay means responsive to a digital code from the control unit, the relay means having first and second poles, connected in circuit with a pump motor, for operating the motor in two modes, namely start and stop.

Claim 6

The subject matter of claim 1 wherein the device is a valve and wherein the field controller includes relay means responsive to the control unit, the relay means having: a first relay wiper normally closed with a respective first relay contact and normally open with a respective second relay contact; a second relay wiper normally closed with a respective third relay contact and normally open with a respective fourth relay contact; means connecting first and third relay contacts to a first potential; means connecting the first and second relay wipers together; means connecting the wipers to a second potential through a first circuit path including: a first manually operable switch for interrupting the path therethrough, when activated; a second manually operable switch for completing a circuit therethrough; a first coil connected at a first end to the second switch and at a second end to a second potential; a second circuit path connected at a first end thereof to a junction between the first and second switches, the path including: a third manually operable switch for completing a circuit therethrough; a second coil connected at a first end to the third switch and at a second end to the second potential; whereby in a first relay state current flows through a preselected path when its respective manually operable switch is closed; first and second contact sets respectively connected in parallel with the second and third manually operable switches, said contact sets being closed in response to energization of a respective first or second coil; a third relay contact connected to a junction point between the second manually operable switch and the first coil; a fourth relay contact connected to a junction point between the third manually operable switch and the second coil; whereby in a second relay state current flows between the third relay contact to the first coil, causing the first contact set to close and maintain energization of the first coil; and further whereby in a third relay state current flows between the fourth relay contact to the second coil causing the second contact set to close and maintain energization to the second coil; and still further whereby a fourth relay state exists where said first and second relay wipers assume positions at their respective second and fourth contacts whereby the first and second coils are deenergized.

Claim 7

The subject matter set forth in claim 1 wherein the device is a pump and wherein the field controller includes relay means responsive to the control unit, the relay means having: a first relay wiper normally closed with a respective first relay contact; a second relay wiper normally closed with a respective second relay contact; means connecting first and second relay contacts to a first potential; means connecting the wipers to a second potential through a circuit path including: a first manually operable switch for interrupting the path therethrough, when actuated; a second manually operable switch for completing a circuit therethrough; a coil connected at a first end to the second switch and at a second end to a second potential; whereby in a first relay state current flows through a path when the second manually operable switch is closed; a set of contacts connected in parallel with the second manually operable switch, said contacts being closed in response to energization of the coil; a third relay contact connected to a junction point between the second manually operable switch and the coil; whereby in a second relay state current flows between the third relay contact to the coil causing the contact set to close and maintain energization of the coil.

Claim 8

The subject matter of claim 2 together with manually operable switching means connected between the relay means and the valve motor for locally overriding the stop mode of the motor to an open mode.

Claim 9

The subject matter set forth in claim 2 together with manually operable switching means connected between the relay means and the valve motor for locally overriding the stop mode of the motor to a close mode.

Claim 10

The subject matter set forth in claim 2 together with manually operable switching means connected between the relay means and the valve motor for locally overriding the open or close mode of the motor to a stop mode.

Claim 11

The subject matter set forth in claim 4 together with manually operable switching means connected between the relay means and the pump motor for locally overriding the stop mode of the motor to a start mode.

Claim 12

The subject matter set forth in claim 4 together with manually operable switching means connected between the relay means and the pump motor for locally overriding the start mode of the motor to a stop mode.

Claim 13

A control circuit having relay means for achieving remote and local control of remotely located coils, the circuit comprising: a first relay wiper normally closed with a respective first relay contact; a second relay wiper normally closed with a respective second relay contact; means connecting first and second relay contacts to a first potential; means connecting the first and second relay wipers together; means connecting the wipers to a second potential through a first circuit path including: a first manually operable switch for interrupting the path therethrough, when activated; a second manually operable switch for completing a circuit therethrough; a first coil connected at a first end to the second switch and at a second end to a second potential; a second circuit path connected at a first end thereof to a junction between the first and second switches, the path including: a third manually operable switch for completing a circuit therethrough; a second coil connected at a first end to the third switch and at a second end to the second potential; whereby in a first relay state current flows through a preselected path when its respective manually operable switch is closed; first and second contact sets respectively connected in parallel with the second and third manually operable switches, said contact sets being closed in response to energization of a respective first or second coil; a third relay contact connected to a junction point between the second manually operable switch and the first coil; a fourth relay contact connected to a junction point between the third manually operable switch and the second coil; whereby in a second relay state current flows between the third relay contact to the first coil, causing the first contact set to close and maintain energization of the first coil; and further whereby in a third relay state current flows between the fourth relay contact to the second coil causing the second contact set to close and maintain energization to the second coil; and still further a fourth relay state exists whereby both the wipers are disconnected from the first and second relay contacts thereby interrupting current flow to the energized first coil or second coil providing a "stop" control feature.

Claim 14

A control circuit having relay means for achieving remote and local control of remotely located coils, the circuit comprising: a first relay wiper normally closed with a respective first relay contact; a second relay wiper normally closed with a respective second relay contact; means connecting first and second relay contacts to a first potential; means connecting the first and second relay wipers together; means connecting the wipers to a second potential through a first circuit path including: a first manually operable switch for interrupting the path therethrough, when activated; a second manually operable switch for completing a circuit therethrough; a first coil connected at a first end to the second switch and at a second end to a second potential; a second circuit path connected at a first end thereof to a junction between the first and second switches, the path including: a third manually operable switch for completing a circuit therethrough; a second coil connected at a first end to the third switch and at a second end to the second potential; whereby in a first relay state current flows through a preselected path when its respective manually operable switch is closed; first and second contact sets respectively connected in parallel with the second and third manually operable switches, said contact sets being closed in response to energization of a respective first or second coil; a third relay contact connected to a junction point between the second manually operable switch and the first coil; a fourth relay contact connected to a junction point between the third manually operable switch and the second coil; whereby in a second relay state current flows between the third relay contact to the first coil, causing the first contact set to close and maintain energization of the first coil; and further whereby in a third relay state current flows between the fourth relay contact to the second coil causing the second contact set to close and maintain energization to the second coil; and still further a fourth relay state exists whereby both the wipers are disconnected from the first and second relay contacts thereby interrupting current flow to the energized first coil or second coil providing a "stop" control feature.