Patent Description:
Submersible pump is an important device for deep well water lifting. When in use, the whole submersible pump submerges into the water to extract the groundwater to the surface. Submersible pumps are widely used in domestic water, mine rescue, industrial cooling, farmland irrigation, seawater lifting, ship load regulation, fountain landscape and other fields.

Chinese patent application <CIT> discloses a water-shortage protection device for a submersible pump. The water-shortage protection device includes a barrel. A top of the barrel is provided with a second water outlet pipe and a second water inlet pipe. A top of the second water outlet pipe is communicated with a second soft long pipe, and the second water inlet pipe is provided with a stop valve. A bottom of an inner chamber of the barrel is provided with a submersible pump body. A top output end of the submersible pump body is provided with a first water outlet pipe. A first soft long pipe is communicated between the first water outlet pipe and the second water outlet pipe. A cable is provided on a right side of the submersible pump body. A second water level sensor is provided on a left wall of the inner chamber of the barrel, and the second water level sensor is located on a top of the submersible pump body. A right wall of the inner chamber of the barrel is provided with a first water level sensor, and the first water level sensor is located above the second water level sensor. A first water inlet pipe is provided at a bottom of a peripheral outer wall of the barrel, and the first water inlet pipe is provided with a solenoid valve. The utility model has reasonable structural design, which is convenient for protecting the submersible pump to avoid the idling of the submersible pump, thereby improving the service life of the submersible pump.

However, the positions of the first water level sensor and the second water level sensor of the submersible pump are fixed, which will lead to many problems. First of all, in actual use, the water level to be controlled is different according to the use environment and the shape of the water pool. However, the submersible pump cannot change the height of the water level sensor according to the actual demand. Secondly, the water level sensor has no indicator light, so its state cannot be directly displayed. When the submersible pump is not used for a long time, it is easy for the user to forget which water level sensor is started. Finally, the submersible pump only has a delayed turn-off function, and cannot automatically control the water level. <CIT> discloses submersible pump with touch sensitive sensors. The submersible pump includes a pump body. The pump body forms a main compartment having an intake and an output for a liquid. The pump body is adapted for submersion in a body of liquid whose level is to be controlled. The submersible pump is provided with one or more sensors that enable the submersible pump to operate within a threshold operating level. The threshold operating level is between a lower liquid level and an upper liquid level set based on a user action associated with the one or more sensors. The one or more sensors of the pump are stationary touch sensitive sensors which are integrated in or attached to the pump body. The stationary touch sensitive sensors help in setting a desired liquid level (i.e. the threshold operating level) of the submersible pump based upon the user action (i.e. user touch). Being stationary sensors does not allow them to move along relative the pump housing substantially perpendicular to the liquid level, while on the other hand when being realized as switches at least part of them can be pressed substantially orthogonal in respect to the pumps main compartment.

An objective of the present application is to provide a submersible pump and an automatic liquid level control method to solve the problems mentioned in the background.

To achieve the above objective, the present application provides the following technical solutions.

A first aspect of the present application provides a submersible pump, including:.

According to an implementation of the present application, the controller includes a signal processing module and a control module; and the signal processing module is electrically connected to the control module and the liquid level sensor.

According to an implementation of the present application, an inner chamber of the pump body is provided therein with a motor that is electrically connected to the control module; and the control module is configured to control the motor to start or stop.

According to an implementation of the present application, the controller further includes a timing module electrically connected to the signal processing module.

According to an implementation of the present application, only one of the liquid level sensors is configured to be activated to be in an on-state at the same time;.

According to an implementation of the present application, liquid level sensors include a first liquid level sensor and a second liquid level sensor; and the first liquid level sensor is provided at a position higher than the second liquid level sensor.

According to an implementation of the present application, both the first liquid level sensor and the second liquid level sensor are configured to be activated to be in an on-state at the same time;.

According to an implementation of the present application,.

According to an implementation of the present application, the start program includes:.

According to an implementation of the present application, the stop program includes:.

In conclusion, the present application has at least the following beneficial technical effects.

The present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings and preferred embodiments. However, those skilled in the art should understand that these drawings are drawn only for the purpose of explaining the preferred embodiments, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation to the scope of the present application. In addition, unless otherwise specified, the drawings are only intended to conceptually represent the composition or configuration of the described objects and may include exaggerated displays, and the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Reference Numerals: <NUM>. pump body; <NUM>. control panel; <NUM>. sensing assembly; <NUM>. switch; <NUM>. liquid level sensor; <NUM>. first liquid level sensor; <NUM>. second liquid level sensor; <NUM>. indicator light; <NUM>. motor; <NUM>. motor shaft; <NUM>. coupling; <NUM>. impeller; <NUM>. water inlet; <NUM>. water outlet pipe; <NUM>. diffusion chamber; <NUM>. controller; and <NUM>.

In order for those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solution of the present application, the present application is described in detail clearly and completely below in combination with the drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely intended to explain the present application, rather than to limit the present application.

In the description of the present application, the terms such as "first" and "second" are merely intended to distinguish technical features, rather than to indicate or imply relative importance or implicitly indicate a number of the indicated technical features or implicitly indicate a sequence relationship of the indicated technical features.

It is understandable for those skilled in the art that in the description of the present application, terms such as "longitudinal", "transverse" "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right" "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", and "outside" indicate the orientation or position relationships based on the drawings. They are merely intended to facilitate and simplify the description of the present application, rather than to indicate or imply that the mentioned system or components must have a specific orientation or must be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, these terms should not be construed as a limitation to the present application.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, this embodiment provides a submersible pump, including: pump body <NUM>, control panel <NUM>, sensing assemblies <NUM>, and controller <NUM>.

An inner chamber of the pump body <NUM> is provided therein with an upper chamber and a lower chamber from top to bottom, and a partition is provided between the upper chamber and the lower chamber.

The control panel <NUM> is provided on a side of the pump body <NUM>. The control panel <NUM> is electrically connected to at least two sensing assemblies <NUM>, which are arranged at different heights of the control panel <NUM>.

The sensing assemblies <NUM> each include liquid level sensor <NUM>, indicator light <NUM>, and switch <NUM>. The switch <NUM> is a push switch <NUM>, which is provided on the control panel <NUM> and electrically connected to the liquid level sensor <NUM>. The switch <NUM> is configured to turn the liquid level sensor <NUM> on and off. The indicator light <NUM> is configured to display the on and off states of the liquid level sensor, and at least includes working states such as normally on and flashing.

The liquid level sensor <NUM> is a non-contact liquid level sensor <NUM>. The non-contact liquid level sensor <NUM> detects a change of a liquid level, and outputs a signal to the controller <NUM>.

A top end of the upper chamber of the pump body <NUM> is provided with a controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is electrically connected to the liquid level sensor <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> includes a signal processing module, a control module, and a timing module. The timing module is electrically connected to the signal processing module. The control module is electrically connected to the signal processing module. The signal processing module is electrically connected to the liquid level sensor <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may also be provided inside the control panel <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> is directly electrically connected to the liquid level sensor <NUM>.

The timing module is configured to perform a countdown, such that when the liquid level drops below second liquid level sensor <NUM>, the submersible pump continues to work for a period of time.

The signal processing module is configured to receive and output signals. The control module is configured to control motor <NUM> to rotate or stop, thereby controlling the start or stop of the submersible pump.

The upper chamber of the pump body <NUM> is further provided therein with the motor <NUM>. The motor <NUM> is provided below the controller <NUM>, and is electrically connected to the controller <NUM>.

When the switch <NUM> is pressed to turn on the liquid level sensor <NUM>, the indicator light <NUM> lights up. When the liquid level sensor <NUM> in the sensing assembly <NUM> senses the change of the liquid level, the liquid level sensor generates and transmits a change signal to the signal processing module of the controller <NUM>. The signal processing module receives and outputs the signal to the control module or timing module to realize the automatic induction and control of the submersible pump.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the present application provides another embodiment based on Embodiment <NUM>.

Motor shaft <NUM> extends from a bottom of the motor <NUM>, and the motor shaft <NUM> extends into the lower chamber through the partition in the inner chamber of the pump body <NUM>. Preferably, the motor shaft <NUM> is made of a metal material with high corrosion resistance and torsion resistance. A bottom end of the motor shaft <NUM> is sleeved with coupling <NUM>, which is connected to the motor shaft <NUM> through a positioning screw.

The lower chamber of the pump body <NUM> is provided with impeller <NUM>. The impeller <NUM> includes an axis center and multiple blades. The blades are arc-shaped and integrally formed with the axis center. The integrated forming design can enhance the strength of the impeller <NUM>, which is safe when the impeller <NUM> rotates at a high speed and prevents the blades from falling off or flying out.

The impeller <NUM> is provided at the bottom of the motor <NUM>. The impeller <NUM> is fixed at a bottom of the coupling <NUM> through a bolt, and the impeller <NUM> is connected to the motor <NUM> through the coupling <NUM>. When motor <NUM> rotates, the motor drives motor shaft <NUM> to rotate, thereby driving coupling <NUM> and the impeller <NUM> to rotate together.

The pump body <NUM> further includes water inlet <NUM> and water outlet pipe <NUM>. The water inlet <NUM> is provided on a bottom surface of the pump body <NUM>, and communicates an external environment with the lower chamber of the pump body <NUM>.

The water outlet pipe <NUM> is provided on the side of the pump body <NUM>. A top end of the water outlet pipe <NUM> is provided with a water outlet. An inner chamber of the water outlet pipe <NUM> is communicated with the lower chamber. After entering the lower chamber from the water inlet <NUM>, the liquid reaches the water outlet pipe <NUM>, and finally sprays out from the water outlet.

Further, the water outlet pipe <NUM> has a three-stage ladder structure with a diameter decreasing from bottom to top. The water outlet pipe <NUM> with different diameters adapt to external water pipes with different diameters, thereby expanding the adaptability of the submersible pump.

The pump body <NUM> is further provided therein with a diffusion chamber <NUM>. The diffusion chamber <NUM> is provided between the lower chamber and the water outlet pipe <NUM>, and is connected to the lower chamber and the water outlet pipe <NUM>. The diffusion chamber <NUM> is configured to slow down a speed of the liquid, thereby further increasing a pressure of the liquid and making it easier to be pumped out.

When the liquid enters the lower chamber, the impeller <NUM> rotates at high speed. The liquid rotates with the blades of the impeller <NUM>. Under the action of a centrifugal force, the liquid flies away from the impeller <NUM> and shoots outward to enter the diffusion chamber <NUM> of the pump body <NUM>. The speed of the liquid gradually slows down, and the pressure thereof gradually increases. Finally, the liquid flows out of the water outlet pipe <NUM>.

Meanwhile, as the liquid is thrown around, a vacuum low-pressure region without air or liquid is formed at the axis center of the impeller <NUM>. The liquid in the liquid pool flows into the pump through the water inlet <NUM> under the effect of atmospheric pressure on a pool surface, so as to realize circulation.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the present application provides another embodiment based on the above embodiment.

A bottom end of the pump body <NUM> is further provided with foot <NUM>. The foot <NUM> is fixed at the bottom end of the pump body <NUM> through a bolt. The foot <NUM> includes a support frame and a bottom plate that are fixed by a bolt. The bottom plate is configured to fit a bottom of the liquid pool when the submersible pump is placed, so as to make the submersible pump stable and not easy to fall. A side peripheral surface of the support frame is provided with a hollow at a symmetrical position, through which the liquid enters the foot <NUM> from the liquid pool, thereby entering the pump body <NUM> from the water inlet <NUM>. The foot <NUM> raises a height of the pump body <NUM> from the bottom of the liquid pool, so as to prevent the pump body <NUM> from sinking to the bottom to block the water inlet <NUM>, thereby preventing the motor <NUM> from idling.

The top end of the pump body <NUM> is fixedly connected to a handle, which makes the use and handling of the submersible pump convenient.

The top end of the pump body <NUM> is further provided with a power line. The power line passes through the pump body <NUM> and is electrically connected to the controller <NUM>. A connection between the power line and the pump body <NUM> is sealed to prevent liquid from entering the upper chamber of the pump body <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the present application provides another embodiment based on the above embodiment.

Touch switch <NUM> with indicator light <NUM> in the prior art is selected to form the switch <NUM> and the indicator light <NUM>. The switch <NUM> includes a conductive terminal, an elastic contact piece, a waterproof piece, and a movable button piece. The indicator light <NUM> includes a base and a light-emitting diode (LED) lamp. The elastic contact piece is located above the conductive terminal, and is spaced apart from the conductive terminal. The conductive terminal extends from below the base to connect the liquid level sensor <NUM>. The LED lamp is located above the elastic contact piece. A circuit board of the LED lamp is electrically connected to the conductive terminal, such that the LED lamp is electrically connected to the liquid level sensor <NUM>. The button piece is connected to the waterproof piece. The waterproof piece is located above the LED lamp and connected to the elastic contact piece through the LED lamp. The button piece is pressed to move the waterproof piece downward and press the elastic contact piece. The elastic contact piece contacts the conductive terminal to make a circuit on. The LED lamp lights up, and the liquid level sensor is powered on.

The switch <NUM> is electrically connected to the controller <NUM>. The indicator light <NUM> is electrically connected to the controller <NUM>. The switch <NUM> is electrically connected to the liquid level sensor <NUM>. The control principle of the sensing assembly is as follows:
When any switch <NUM> is pressed, the liquid level sensor <NUM> electrically connected to the switch <NUM> forms a path and is turned on. When the liquid level sensor <NUM> is turned on, a characteristic signal is output to the controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> receives, processes and recognizes the characteristic signal. The controller <NUM> can recognize different characteristic signals sent by different liquid level sensors <NUM>. After recognition, the controller outputs a feedback signal to the indicator light <NUM> corresponding to the on-state liquid level sensor <NUM>. The indicator light <NUM> lights up.

When any switch <NUM> is exited, the liquid level sensor <NUM> corresponding to the switch <NUM> sends a characteristic signal to the controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> recognizes the characteristic signal and outputs a feedback signal to the corresponding indicator light <NUM>. The indicator light <NUM> lights off.

Referring to <FIG>, this embodiment provides an automatic liquid level control method, which is applied to the submersible pump provided by the above embodiment. The submersible pump includes two liquid level sensors <NUM> in an on state. The liquid level sensors <NUM> include first liquid level sensor <NUM> and second liquid level sensor <NUM>. The first liquid level sensor <NUM> is provided at a position higher than the second liquid level sensor <NUM>. The first liquid level sensor <NUM> and the second liquid level sensor <NUM> are arranged from top to bottom on the control panel <NUM> of the pump body <NUM>. When the submersible pump is used, the bottom surface of the foot fits the bottom of the liquid pool.

The method includes:
The submersible pump is connected to a power supply and placed in the liquid pool.

When the liquid level in the liquid pool rises above the first liquid level sensor <NUM>, the first liquid level sensor <NUM> detects a change from absence to presence of a liquid, and outputs a first signal to the signal processing module of the controller <NUM>. The signal processing module receives and recognizes the first signal, and outputs a third signal to the control module. The control module controls the motor <NUM> to rotate, so as to control the submersible pump to start.

The first signal shows the change from absence to presence of a liquid detected by the first liquid level sensor <NUM> when the liquid level rises above the first liquid level sensor <NUM>. The third signal is an electrical signal for controlling the control module to start the motor <NUM>.

When the liquid level drops below the second liquid level sensor <NUM>, the second liquid level sensor <NUM> detects the change from presence to absence of a liquid, and outputs a second signal to the signal processing module of the controller <NUM>. The signal processing module receives and recognizes the second signal, and outputs a fourth signal to the timing module. The timing module receives the fourth signal and starts a countdown. The submersible pump remains on.

The countdown has a fixed duration that is at least one second.

The second signal shows the change from presence to absence of a liquid detected by the second liquid level sensor <NUM> when the liquid level drops below the second liquid level sensor <NUM>. The fourth signal is an electrical signal for controlling the timing module to start the countdown.

The timing module finishes the countdown and outputs a fifth signal to the signal processing module. The signal processing module receives the fifth signal and outputs a sixth signal to the control module. The control module receives the sixth signal and controls the submersible pump to turn off.

After the submersible pump is turned off, when the liquid level rises above the first liquid level sensor <NUM>, steps S1 to S3 are repeated.

The fifth signal is an electrical signal, which is a feedback signal showing that the timing module finishes the countdown, and enables the signal processing module to output the sixth signal to the control module.

The sixth signal is an electrical signal for controlling the control module to turn off the motor <NUM>, thereby turning off the submersible pump.

The heights of the first liquid level sensor <NUM> and the second liquid level sensor <NUM> are adjustable. By turning on and off the sensing assemblies <NUM> at different heights, different liquid levels are controlled to adapt to different application scenarios.

The submersible pump includes a single liquid level sensor <NUM> in an on state.

When the liquid level in the liquid pool rises above the liquid level sensor <NUM>, the liquid level sensor <NUM> detects a change from absence to presence of a liquid, and outputs a first signal to the signal processing module of the controller <NUM>. The signal processing module receives and recognizes the first signal, and outputs a third signal to the control module. The control module controls the motor <NUM> to rotate, so as to control the submersible pump to start.

The first signal shows the change from absence to presence of a liquid detected by the liquid level sensor <NUM> when the liquid level rises above the liquid level sensor <NUM>. The third signal is an electrical signal for controlling the control module to start the motor <NUM>.

When the liquid level drops below the liquid level sensor <NUM>, the liquid level sensor <NUM> detects the change from presence to absence of a liquid, and outputs a second signal to the signal processing module of the controller <NUM>. The signal processing module receives and recognizes the second signal, and outputs a fourth signal to the timing module. The timing module receives the fourth signal and starts a countdown. The submersible pump remains on.

The countdown has a fixed duration that is at least two seconds.

The second signal shows the change from presence to absence of a liquid detected by the liquid level sensor <NUM> when the liquid level drops below the liquid level sensor <NUM>. The fourth signal is an electrical signal for controlling the timing module to start the countdown.

After the submersible pump is turned off, when the liquid level rises above the liquid level sensor <NUM>, steps S1 to S3 are repeated.

The heights of the liquid level sensor <NUM> are adjustable. By turning on and off the sensing assemblies <NUM> at different heights, different liquid levels are controlled to adapt to different application scenarios.

The controller <NUM> includes a signal processing module and a control module. The submersible pump does not have a delayed turn-off function. After the controller receives the second signal, the controller immediately controls the motor to stop.

The signal processing module of the controller <NUM> receives and recognizes a first signal, and outputs a feedback signal to the control module. The control module controls the motor <NUM> to rotate, so as to control the submersible pump to start.

The signal processing module of the controller <NUM> receives and recognizes the second signal, and outputs a feedback signal to the control module. The control module controls the motor <NUM> to stop, so as to control the submersible pump to be turned off.

After the submersible pump is turned off, when the liquid level rises above the liquid level sensor <NUM>, steps S1 and S2 are repeated.

The submersible pump can simultaneously turn on at most two liquid level sensors <NUM> through the switch <NUM> on the sensing assembly <NUM>.

When the submersible pump is powered on for the first time, the two liquid level sensors <NUM> are turned on by default and the indicator lights <NUM> on the liquid level sensors <NUM> are always on. The switch <NUM> on any liquid level sensor <NUM> is pressed to turn on and off the liquid level sensor <NUM>, so as to realize the automatic control of different user-defined liquid levels. At this time, for the first level sensor <NUM> and the second level sensor <NUM>, the position of the first level sensor <NUM> is higher than that of the second level sensor <NUM>.

When only one liquid level sensor <NUM> on the submersible pump is turned on, the switch <NUM> on the sensing assembly <NUM> is pressed separately, and the indicator light <NUM> flashes. When only a single liquid level sensor <NUM> is turned on, pressing the switch <NUM> on other sensing assembly <NUM> can restore the submersible pump to a state of turning on two liquid level sensors <NUM> under any working condition.

By turning on the liquid level sensors <NUM> at different heights or having different numbers, the automatic control of different liquid levels is realized, such that the submersible pump can adapt to many application scenarios.

When the use environment is different, the liquid level to be automatically controlled is different. The submersible pump using the automatic liquid level control method can control the liquid level in different ranges to adapt to different use needs.

The submersible pump further includes manual on and off and delayed turn-off functions.

The submersible pump can be forced to be turned on and off manually when no liquid level sensor <NUM> is turned on.

Claim 1:
A submersible pump, comprising:
a pump body (<NUM>) provided thereon with a control panel (<NUM>); and
at least two sensing assemblies (<NUM>), wherein the sensing assemblies (<NUM>) each comprises a liquid level sensor (<NUM>), an indicator light (<NUM>), and a switch (<NUM>);
the switch (<NUM>) is provided on the control panel (<NUM>) and is configured to turn on or off the liquid level sensor (<NUM>);
the indicator light (<NUM>) is configured to display an on/off state of the liquid level sensor (<NUM>); and
all the liquid level sensors (<NUM>) are arranged at different heights on a side of the pump body (<NUM>);
characterized in that the submersible pump comprises a controller (<NUM>) that is electrically connected to the at least two sensing assemblies (<NUM>), wherein each of the liquid level sensors (<NUM>) is configured to output a first signal and/or a second signal to the controller (<NUM>); the switch (<NUM>) is a push switch; the push switch (<NUM>) is electrically connected to the controller (<NUM>) and to the liquid level sensor (<NUM>), the indicator light (<NUM>) is electrically connected to the controller (<NUM>), and the controller (<NUM>) is configured to recognize different characteristic signals sent by different liquid level sensors (<NUM>);
wherein the submersible pump is connected to a power supply and placed in a liquid pool;
in response to the first signal, the controller (<NUM>) is configured to execute a start program to start the submersible pump, wherein a signal processing module of the controller (<NUM>) is configured to receive and recognize the first signal, and output a first feedback signal to a control module of the controller (<NUM>); in response to the first feedback signal, the control module is configured to control a motor (<NUM>) to rotate, so as to control the submersible pump to start;
in response to the second signal, the controller (<NUM>) is configured to execute a stop program to stop the submersible pump, wherein the signal processing module of the controller (<NUM>) is configured to receive and recognize the second signal, and output a second feedback signal to the control module; in response to the second feedback signal, the control module is configured to control the motor (<NUM>) to stop, so as to control the submersible pump to be turned off.