Pump motor control responsive to conductive flow switch and dual timers

A protector device connected in series with a pool pump motor. When the automated pool timer contacts close, supplying AC power to pool pump motor, the protector apparatus logic permits instantaneous motor turn on and logic reset of apparatus clock timer. After a nominal period of time, pump motor will be shut off, unless water is flowing through pump motor. In the event water is flowing through pump motor, a water flow sensing switch in the water line to pump will override clock logic, and hold pump motor on, until the automated pool timer reaches a preset trip turn off time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a protection apparatus for swimming pool 
recirculating pump motors. More specifically, the present invention 
relates to an electronic clock device and a water flow sensing switch, 
used to start up and shut down a pool pump motor, after a nominal period 
of time of negative water flow. 
2. Prior Art 
No apparatus is known for protecting pool pump motors in this manner. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The principal object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus to 
protect automated swimming pool recirculating pump motors for effective 
and safe operation. It is also the object of the invention to provide such 
a device which is of simple and inexpensive construction. Another object 
is to provide such a device in lightweight form that can be installed 
quickly and easily on site. A further object is to provide such a device 
which when in use will decrease the loss of expensive pump motors. The 
forgoing objects can be accomplished by providing an electronic clock 
apparatus, controlling the length of time between motor start up and shut 
off, and a water flow sensing switch for continuous enabling of pump 
motor. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the standard is 
formed by a closed loop of logic circuits which form a clock apparatus, to 
enable or disable the pump motor when there is no water flowing. A further 
embodiment is the connection between the clock device, and the 
optoisolator connected and controlled by the clock apparatus, and the 
electrically operated traic providing power to the pump motor for a 
limited amount of time, the water flow sensing switch circuit connected to 
the same point through a steering diode will enable the pump motor, (if 
there is water flowing during the brief clock time), provide continuous 
power to the pool pump motor. The electronics are powered by a step down 
isolation transformer 115 to 12 volts AC, controlled by an automated pool 
timer. The 12 volts AC is recified, filtered, and regulated at a constant 
5 volts DC which provides automatic reset of logic circuits on turn on, 
and also provides power to the water flow sensing switch, as well as the 
logic circuits.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
As shown on the electronic schematic there is a 220 volt AC power source, 
with a 220 volt AC 24 hour clock motor connected to said 220 volt AC 
source, said 220 volt AC 24 hour clock motors normally open contacts are 
connected to a 220 volt AC pump motor. Said 220 volt AC pump motor is 
supplyed 220 volt AC power, when said 220 volt AC 24 hour clock motor 
contacts close. Operation of said 220 volt AC pump motor is controlled by 
a traic 1-9 power switch, which in turn is controlled by a optisolator 
1-8. A 115 volt AC power source is formed by picking up one side of 220 
volt AC off the lower normally open contact of said 220 volt AC 24 hour 
clock motor contact as shown in schematic, and ground. Said 115 volt AC 
power source is voltage spike suppressed, with 2-5 a transient/surge 
absorber. Said 115 volt AC is connected to a 115 to 12 volt step/down 
isolation transformer 1-1. Said 12 volt AC is then rectified 1-2, 
filtered, and regulated 1-3, at plus 5 volts DC. Said plus 5 volts is used 
to supply the short duration timer control circuits, and the resistance 
sensing flow switch. Control of the pump operations is achieved by means 
of the following assemblage of major circuit stages, to form a timer of 
short duration with a dual forced reset. Circuits 1-4 a astable 
oscillator, 1-5 a R/S flip flop, 1-6 a binary counter, 2-2 a reset 
capacitor, 2-6 a reset capacitor, 2-1 a decoupling/set capacitor. 1-5 R/S 
flip flop is the control center of the timer operation, because it is the 
reset/and set of the timer. Said 220 volt AC 24 hour clock motor times 
"on" once a day, and "off" once a day, every time that it turns "on", 
power is switched through the normally open contacts of said 24 hour clock 
supplying both 220 volt AC to pump motor, and 115 volt AC to a 115 to 12 
volt step/down isolation transformer 1-1. Said 12 volts AC is condition 
through rectification 1-2, filtered, and regulated 1-3 at said plus 5 
volts DC. When said plus 5 volts DC supplys circuits 1-4, 1-5, 1-6, 2-2, 
and 2-6, the circuit components 2-2 and 2-6 which are capacitors, are used 
to force a dual timer and counter reset. By inserting 2-2 between pin 1 
the reset of 1-5 and ground, and by inserting 2-6 between said plus 5 
volts DC and pin 11 master reset of 1-6. Said component 2-2 being tied to 
pin 1 reset of 1-5 and ground becomes a momentary low impedance when said 
plus 5 volts DC is supplyed to said assemblage of major circuits, forcing 
1-5 R/S flip flop to reset pin 3 high and pin 4 low. Said component 2-6 
being tied to said plus 5 volts DC and pin 11 master reset of 1-6, becomes 
a momentary high impedance, at the same time as pin 4 of 1-5 is going low 
forces 1-6 to reset. R/S flip flop 1-5 now at reset pin 3 high, supplies 
controlling "on" voltage. The controlling power links being components 2-3 
and 2-4 steering and blocking diodes, 1-7 transistor emitter driver, 1-8 
optisolator, 1-9 traic, 2-1 decoupling set capacitor, and 2-0 resistance 
sensing flow switch, form the following functions. With pin 3 high of 1-5, 
supplying a drive voltage through steering and blocking diode 2-3, the 
voltage is applied to the base of transistor emitter driver, with steering 
and blocking diode 2-4, blocking the reverse voltage. 1-7 is a low 
impedance means to supply high drive to optisolator 1-8, which both 
supplies drive to traic 1-9, and decouples the timers low power from the 
high power needs of the power switch traic 1-9. Steering and blocking 
diode 2-4, receives its voltage drive from said plus 5 volts DC supply 
through a fixed resistor, and a variable water resistance of approximately 
10K ohms, when there is water flow. Upon completion of the short duration 
time of timer, counter 1-6 produces a one pulse trigger through 2-1 a 
decoupling set capacitor to pin 6 "set" of 1-5 R/S flip flop, disabling 
1-6, 1-4, if 2-0 water resistance sensing flow switch, has not sensed 
delivery of resistance, then delivery of the power source will be disabled 
and will remain "off" until following day. If said water resistance 
sensing flow switch 2-0, does sense water flow, a drive voltage from said 
2-0 will be supplied through steering and blocking diode 2-4 to transistor 
base 1-7, with steering and blocking diode 2-3 blocking reverse voltage. 
With water flow secure, 220 volt AC pump motor will continue to operate 
until said 24 hour clock reaches its preset time "off" at end of the day.