Patent US3315950A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4913625A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automatic pump protection system
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1987-12-18
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Granted: 1990-04-03
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Expires: 2007-12-18
Abstract
Abstract An automatic pump protection system is comprised of a plurality of sensors for measuring process parameters indicative of a loss of pump suction or of pump motor failure. Analysis of the parameters is performed by a microprocessor in order to determine whether conditions leading to a loss of pump suction or pump motor failure are present. The microprocessor then automatically initiates pump protective action in response to the foregoing analysis by tripping the pump or by providing an alternate suction source.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas J. Gerlowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 17:52
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04D; F04D29/00; F04D29/66; F04D29/669; F04D15/00; F04D15/02; F04D15/0209; F04D15/0218; F04D15/0227; F04D15/0236; F04D15/0281
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A system for automatically protecting a pump, comprising: means for measuring process parameters indicative of a loss of pump suction; first means responsive to said means for measuring for determining whether conditions leading to vortex formation are present; second means responsive to said first means for determining and said means for measuring for determining whether conditions leading to air entrainment are present; and means for automatically initiating pump protective action in response to said second determination.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
76 words
A system for automatically protecting a pump, comprising: means for measuring process parameters indicative of a loss of pump suction; first means responsive to said means for measuring for determining whether conditions leading to vortex formation are present; second means responsive to said first means for determining and said means for measuring for determining whether conditions leading to air entrainment are present; and means for automatically initiating pump protective action in response to said second determination.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for measuring said process parameters include means for measuring temperature, pressure, fluid flow rate and fluid level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for automatically initiating pump protective action include means for automatically tripping the pump.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for automatically initiating pump protective action include means for providing an alternate suction source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising means for measuring pump motor vibration level and means for determining whether said vibration level is indicative of a pump failure condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising means for measuring pump motor electrical current level and means for determining whether said current level is indicative of a pump failure condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising means for measuring pump motor sound frequency/intensity and means for determining whether said frequency/intensity is indicative of a pump failure condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for measuring said process parameters include means for measuring fluid level and pressure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said first means responsive to said means for measuring include means for determining whether the fluid level has dropped to a critical level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for measuring said process parameters include means for determining isolation valve position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 10 further comprising means for determining whether the isolation valve is closed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
A residual heat removal system having automatic pump protection, comprising: a pump; a suction line connecting said pump to a suction source; means for measuring suction line parameters indicative of a loss of pump suction; first means responsive to said means for measuring for determining whether conditions leading to vortex formation are present; second means responsive to said first means for determining and said means for measuring for determining whether conditions leading to air entrainment are present; and means for automatically initiating pump protective action in response to said second determination.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
A residual heat removal system having automatic pump protection, comprising: a pump; a suction line connecting said pump to a suction source; means for measuring suction line parameters indicative of a loss of pump suction; first means responsive to said means for measuring for determining whether conditions leading to vortex formation are present; second means responsive to said first means for determining and said means for measuring for determining whether conditions leading to air entrainment are present; and means for automatically initiating pump protective action in response to said second determination.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for automatically protecting a pump, comprising the steps of: measuring process parameters indicative of a loss of pump suction; determining whether conditions leading to vortex formation are present in response to said parameters; determining whether conditions leading to air entrainment are present in response to said parameters and said first determination; and automatically initiating pump protective action in response to said second determination.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for automatically protecting a pump, comprising the steps of: measuring process parameters indicative of a loss of pump suction; determining whether conditions leading to vortex formation are present in response to said parameters; determining whether conditions leading to air entrainment are present in response to said parameters and said first determination; and automatically initiating pump protective action in response to said second determination.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the step of measuring said process parameters includes the step of measuring temperature, pressure, fluid flow rate and fluid level.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the step of automatically initiating pump protective action includes the step of automatically tripping the pump.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the step of automatically initiating pump protective action includes the step of providing an alternate suction source.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-02 | 1993-10-02 | 1994-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-02 | 1997-10-02 | 1998-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-02 | 2001-10-02 | 2002-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |