VARIABLE SPEED PUMPING CONTROL SYSTEM WITH ACTIVE TEMPERATURE AND VIBRATION MONITORING AND CONTROL MEANS

Abstract

Apparatus, including a pump system, features a controller having a signal processor or processing module configured to: receive signaling containing information about a relationship between frequencies of pump vibration resonances detected around critical pump speeds and a 3-dimensional pump vibration power spectrum in the frequency domain with respect to pump speed and pump temperature change differences; and determine corresponding signaling containing information to adjust the pump speed to avoid the pump vibration resonances around the critical pump speeds, based upon the signaling received.

The signal processor or processing module is also configured to provide the corresponding signaling as control signaling to adjust the pump speed.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising: a controller having a signal processor or processing module configured to: receive signaling containing information about a relationship between frequencies of pump vibration resonances detected around critical pump speeds and a 3-dimensional pump vibration power spectrum in the frequency domain with respect to pump speed and pump temperature change differences; and determine corresponding signaling containing information to adjust the pump speed to avoid the pump vibration resonances around the critical pump speeds, based upon the signaling received.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal processor or processing module is configured to provide the corresponding signaling as control signaling to adjust the pump speed.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a variable speed pumping control system.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a moving average historic peak detector configured to receive associated signaling containing information about the pump speed, the frequencies of the pump vibration resonances detected, and the pump temperature change differences, and detect and provide moving average historic peaks.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving average historic peak detector is a 3-dimensional moving average historic peak detector.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the 3-dimensional pump vibration power spectrum of P with respect to the pump speed of n, the frequency domain of f and the temperature change difference of T takes the form of the following equation:
P(n,f,T)=(n,f,T), (1) where the expression (n,f,T) is a 3-dimensional power spectra distribution with respect to pump speed of n, time and temperature change difference of T, respectively.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controller comprises a moving average historic peak detector configured to obtain moving average historic peaks over frequency of f in the frequency domain, using the equation:
{circumflex over (P)}(n.sub.i,T)={circumflex over ()}(n.sub.i,MAHP(f.sub.if,t,T)), (2) where n.sub.i=0, . . . , n.sub.max within a speed region, MAHP(f.sub.if,t,T) is a 3-dimensional moving average historic peak detector with its center frequency at f.sub.i which is associated with a given pump speed of n.sub.i, and with filter lengths of f along frequency, t along time, and the temperature change difference of T, where the 3-dimensional power spectra distribution is combined over fractional octave bands with respect to the pump speed of n.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to implement an active vibration control with respect to the pump speed of n based upon Eq. 2 as follows: fixing the pump speed of n at a value of n.sub.tria, as
n=n.sub.tria (3); determining when a power spectrum jump of {circumflex over (P)} is greater than a power spectra threshold value of {circumflex over (P)}.sub.Thr i set for detecting a resonance at a band of i, based upon the relationship:
{circumflex over (P)}{circumflex over (P)}.sub.Thr i; (4) defining a temperature criterion as
TT.sub.thr i, (5) where T.sub.thr i is a temperature change threshold value set up; and defining the power spectrum jump of {circumflex over (P)} by the equation:
{circumflex over (P)}(n.sub.i,T)=abs({circumflex over ()}(n.sub.i, T)), (6) where {circumflex over (P)} is the power spectrum jump in between {circumflex over ()} at speed of n.sub.i and T, is an overall average power spectra along the pump speed of n, at a time of t, and over the temperature change difference of T, respectively.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the controller is also configured to implement the active vibration control by resuming the pump speed of n whenever there is no resonance triggered if {circumflex over (P)}<{circumflex over (P)}.sub.Thr i, and setting the trig flag from true to false, respectively.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal processor or processing module is configured to provide the corresponding signaling as control signaling to control the operation of a pumping system, including staging/destaging a pump to or from the pumping system.

11. A method comprising: receiving, with a controller having a signal processor or processing module, signaling containing information about a relationship between frequencies of pump vibration resonances detected around critical pump speeds and a 3-dimensional pump vibration power spectrum in the frequency domain with respect to pump speed and pump temperature change differences; and determining, with the controller, corresponding signaling containing information to adjust the pump speed to avoid the pump vibration resonances around the critical pump speeds, based upon the signaling received.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the method comprises providing with the signal processor or processing module the corresponding signaling as control signaling to adjust the pump speed.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the method comprises implementing the apparatus in the form of a variable speed pumping control system.

14. A method according to claim 11, wherein the method comprises implementing in the controller a moving average historic peak detector configured to receive associated signaling containing information about the pump speed, the frequencies of the pump vibration resonances detected, and the pump temperature change differences, and detect and provide moving average historic peaks.

15. A method according to claim 11, wherein the method comprises implementing the moving average historic peak detector in the form of a 3-dimensional moving average historic peak detector.

16. A method according to claim 11, wherein the method comprises implementing the 3-dimensional pump vibration power spectrum of P with respect to the pump speed of n, the frequency domain of f and the temperature change difference of T using the following equation:
P(n,f,T)=(nf,T), (1) where the expression (n,f,T) is a 3-dimensional power spectra distribution with respect to pump speed of n, time and temperature change difference of T, respectively.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the method comprises configuring the controller with a moving average historic peak detector to obtain moving average historic peaks over frequency of f in the frequency domain, using the equation:
{circumflex over (P)}(n.sub.i,T)={circumflex over ()}(n.sub.i, MAHP(f.sub.if,t,T)), (2) where n.sub.i=0, . . . , n.sub.max within a speed region, MAHP(f.sub.if,t,T) is a 3-dimensional moving average historic peak detector with its center frequency at f.sub.i which is associated with a given pump speed of n.sub.i, and with filter lengths of f along frequency, t along time, and the temperature change difference of T, where the 3-dimensional power spectra distribution is combined over fractional octave bands with respect to the pump speed of n.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the method comprises configuring the controller to implement an active vibration control with respect to the pump speed of n based upon Eq. 2 as follows: fixing the pump speed of n at a value of n.sub.tria, as
n=n.sub.tria (3); determining when a power spectrum jump of {circumflex over (P)} is greater than a power spectra threshold value of {circumflex over (P)}.sub.Thr i set for detecting a resonance at a band of i, based upon the relationship:
{circumflex over (P)}{circumflex over (P)}.sub.Thr i; (4) defining a temperature criterion as
TT.sub.thr i, (5) where T.sub.thr i is a temperature change threshold value set up; and defining the power spectrum jump of P by the equation:
{circumflex over (P)}(n.sub.i,T)=abs({circumflex over ()}(n.sub.i, T)), (6) where {circumflex over (P)} is the power spectrum jump in between {circumflex over ()} at speed of n.sub.i and T, is an overall average power spectra along the pump speed of n, at a time of t, and over the temperature change difference of T, respectively.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the method comprises configuring the controller to implement the active vibration control by resuming the pump speed of n whenever there is no resonance triggered if {circumflex over (P)}<{circumflex over (P)}.sub.Thr i, and setting the trig flag from true to false, respectively.

20. A method according to claim 11, wherein the method comprises providing with the signal processor or processing module the corresponding signaling as control signaling to control the operation of a pumping system, including staging/destaging a pump to or from the pumping system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0029] The drawing, which is not necessarily drawn to scale, includes the following Figures:

[0030] FIG. 1 is a pump active vibration control and health monitoring system, e.g., adapted or configured with a pump active vibration control adapted on a pump, in which resonances around critical speeds are detected and avoided automatically by adjusting pump speed, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a graph of a 3-dimensional pump vibration power spectrum in the frequency domain that includes 9 different pump vibration power spectrums of resonances sensed or detected in relation to 9 different time slots for a pump, each pump vibration power spectrum showing amplitude (mm/sec) versus frequency (Hz) of the resonances sensed or detected in a respective time slot for the pump, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a flow chart and modules of an active pump control signal processing, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of apparatus, e.g., including a pumping system, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0034] Similar parts or components in Figures are labeled with similar reference numerals and labels for consistency. Every lead line and associated reference label for every element is not included in every Figure of the drawing to reduce clutter in the drawing as a whole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

1. Introduction

[0035] Pumps are essential to Heating or cooling facility operation. Pre-engineered Pump Health Monitoring solutions, such as a vibration monitoring system, deliver diagnostics information to predict issues and take corrective action to reduce downtime and maintenance costs.

[0036] There are literally dozens of root causes for damage to a pump and related failure, such as cavitation damage, the failure of seals, bearings or other internals, misaligned or imbalanced installation.

[0037] Instead of monitoring pump vibration status, the present invention provides an active pumping vibration control technique for a variable speed pumping system, in which resonances around critical speeds are detected and avoided automatically during pumping operation. The failure detection and alarm criterions are proposed as well with the real time graphic display, in which each vibration resonance model is presented.

[0038] For an over speed pump operation that is now practiced in some specific applications, both the temperature and overall vibration may be raised. The active pump vibration control proposed above may also be applied in these speed regions by checking upon the vibration resonances as well as the overall power spectra rising levels respectively to protect pumps from failure.

[0039] To achieve that, the pump vibration power spectra with respect to pump speed may be obtained by a 3-dimensional moving average historic peak detector with respect to pump speed, frequency and temperature change, respectively. A resonance under a critical speed may then be detected and avoided in real time by adjusting proportional/integral/derivative (pid) speed of drive/pump accordingly.

[0040] The solution can include a wireless field network communicating continuous real-time Active vibration control, diagnostics, and application data from wireless measurement instruments to the host system's HMI display and data applications.

2. Pump Active Vibration Control

2.1. Pump Vibration Power Spectra Distribution

[0041] A pump active vibration control and health monitoring system S is shown schematically in FIG. 1, by way of example, which includes a pump active vibration control C adapted on, or configured in relation to, a pump P, a wireless modem W configured to provide wireless signaling W.sub.S, a health monitoring system HMS having a laptop, one or more databases and one or more remote servers.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows the pump vibration power spectrum, e.g., including nine (9) different spectrums over nine (9) different time periods labeled t.sub.1, . . . , t.sub.3, . . . , t.sub.5, . . . , t.sub.8, t.sub.9.

[0043] The power spectra distribution of P with respect to the pump speed of n, the frequency domain of f as well as the temperature change difference of T, may be represented in the form of

P(n,f,T)=(n,f,T), (1)

where (n,f,T) is an expression of 3-dimensional power spectra distribution with respect to pump speed, time and temperature change, respectively.

[0044] With (n,f,T), the detailed resonances of the pump vibration with respect to pump speed, frequency and temperature change can be analyzed and each dynamic mode may be identified accordingly.

2.2. Discrete Power Spectra Distribution

[0045] To achieve the Active vibration control, the pump vibration resonances power spectra of {circumflex over (P)} or {circumflex over ()}, with respect to pump speed of n, as well as temperature change of T, may be obtained by a peak detector over frequency of f in the frequency domain, which may be represented as

{circumflex over (P)}(n.sub.i,T)={circumflex over ()}(n.sub.i,MAHP(f.sub.if,t,T)), (2)

where n.sub.i=0, . . . n.sub.max within a speed region, MAHP(f.sub.if,t,T) is a 3-dimensional moving average historic peak detector with its center frequency at f.sub.i which is associated with pump speed of n.sub.i, and with the filter lengths of f along frequency, t along time, and the temperature change of T, where the power spectra is combined over fractional octave bands with respect to the pump speed of n.

2.3. Pump Active Vibration Control

[0046] Therefore, the Active vibration control with respect to pump speed of n based upon Eq. 2 may be derived as following.

[0047] The pump speed of n may be fixed at a value of n.sub.trig, as

n=n.sub.trig (3)

when the power spectra has a jump of {circumflex over (P)} which is greater than a power spectra threshold value of {circumflex over (P)}.sub.Thr i set for detecting a resonance at the band of i, i.e.,

{circumflex over (P)}{circumflex over (P)}.sub.Thr i, (4)

together with a temperature criterion defined as

TT.sub.Thr i, (5)

where T.sub.thr i is a temperature change threshold value set up, and {circumflex over (P)} may be defined in form of

{circumflex over (P)}(n.sub.i,T)=abs({circumflex over ()}(n.sub.i,T)), (6)

where {circumflex over (P)} is the power spectrum jump in between {circumflex over ()} at speed of n.sub.i, and T, is the overall average power spectra along speed of n, at the time of t, and over the temperature change of T, respectively.

[0048] A trig flag is raised as true accordingly.

[0049] The pump speed resume to pid control on speed of n, whenever there is no resonance triggered, i.e., {circumflex over (P)}<{circumflex over (P)}.sub.Thr i, and the trig flag is set false, respectively.

[0050] In general, the pump speed is frozen at n.sub.trig momentarily whenever a resonance-trigger signal triggered, and resumes back to the pid function speed control soon after the trigger signal is vanished.

[0051] By way of example, FIG. 3 shows a flow chart and modules generally indicated as 1 for implementing the active pump control signal processing, according to some embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the active pump control signal processing may be implemented, e.g., using an Acc (e.g., an accumulator) 2, a IIR High Pass (HP) 10 Hz cutoff module 3, Low Pass (LP) 500 Hz cutoff module 4, a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) module 5, a moving average historic peak (MAHP) detector module 6 and a decision making module 7, consistent with that set forth herein. In operation, the decision making module 7 is configured to provide decision signaling to adjust the pump speed to n=n.sub.trig if {circumflex over (P)}{circumflex over (P)}.sub.Thr i and TT.sub.thr i is true (i.e. Yes); and to provide corresponding decision signaling to adjust the pump speed to n=n if {circumflex over (P)}{circumflex over (P)}.sub.Thr i and TT.sub.thr i is false (i.e. No).

[0052] Note that the temperature change threshold condition of Eq. 5 is only for over speed operation to protect the motor and pump failure.

2.4. Failure Prevention

[0053] An individual modes failure detection and alarm may be expressed in form of

{circumflex over (P)}(n.sub.i,T){circumflex over (P)}.sub.Thr i, (7)

TT.sub.thr i, (8)

where

{circumflex over (P)}(n.sub.iT)=abs({circumflex over ()}(n.sub.i,T).sub.0), (9)

where {circumflex over ()}(n.sub.i, T) is the power spectra combined over fractional octave bands with respect to the pump speed of n, and .sub.0 is the overall power averaged over the pump speed at the beginning of the pump installation.

[0054] The failure detection and alarm may be expressed in form of the overall power spectra as

P.sub.overallP.sub.Thr all, (10)

and

TT.sub.thr all, (11)

Where

[0055]
{circumflex over (P)}.sub.overall=abs(.sub.0) (12)

[0056] where is the overall power spectrum averaged over the pump speed, and .sub.0 is the overall power averaged over the pump speed at the beginning of the pump installation, {circumflex over (P)}.sub.Thr all the overall threshold for vibration.

[0057] Equations 7-12 may be used for active pump vibration control as well, especially for the over speed operation, when the overall power spectrum averaged over the pump speed may exceed their thresholds set up, while checking upon any resonances to avoid as well the same as for the resonances handled in the normal operation speed region in Equations 3-6.

[0058] Varying pump speed may be realized by staging or destaging a pump to pump system to avoid the over vibration introduced by over speeding operation.

[0059] In addition, to pin point a failure mode with a specific part, as the best practice for calling a service, the system dynamic analysis for the pump together with hydronic system should be carried out as well, ahead of time. Therefore, the exact relationship of the parts and the bands alarmed are known specifically to the control system.

FIG. 4

[0060] According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, apparatus 10 featuring a controller 11 having a signal processor or processing module 10a configured to: [0061] receive signaling containing information about [0062] receive signaling containing information about a relationship between frequencies of pump vibration resonances detected around critical pump speeds and a 3-dimensional pump vibration power spectrum in the frequency domain with respect to pump speed and pump temperature change differences; and [0063] determine corresponding signaling containing information to adjust the pump speed to avoid the pump vibration resonances around the critical pump speeds, based upon the signaling received, based upon the signaling received.

[0064] The signal processor or processing module 10a may be configured to provide the corresponding signaling as control signaling to adjust the pump speed.

The Controller 11

[0065] By way of example, the functionality of the controller 11 may be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. In a typical software implementation, the controller would include one or more microprocessor-based architectures having, e. g., at least one signal processor or microprocessor like element 10a. A person skilled in the art would be able to program such a microcontroller (or microprocessor)-based implementation to perform the functionality described herein without undue experimentation. The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular implementation using technology either now known or later developed in the future. The scope of the invention is intended to include implementing the functionality of the processors 10a as stand-alone processor or processor module, as separate processor or processor modules, as well as some combination thereof.

[0066] The apparatus 10 and/or controller 11 may also include other signal processor circuits or components 10b, e.g. including memory modules like random access memory (RAM) and/or read only memory (ROM), input/output devices and control, and data and address buses connecting the same, and/or at least one input processor and at least one output processor.

[0067] The apparatus 10 may also include other circuitry and components 10c, including sensors for detecting pump speed, pump vibration, pump temperature, e.g., such as accelerometers, thermistors, etc.

[0068] By way of example, the 3-dimensional pump vibration power spectrum may be suitably sensed. The sensed signaling may be suitably processed using the modules 3, 4, 5 and 6 in FIG. 3, and suitably stored in one or more memory modules that may form part of the circuits or components 10b. The 3-dimensional pump vibration power spectrum may also be suitably updated and adapted over time consistent with that set forth herein.

[0069] By way of further example, the functionality of the controller 11 may be implemented in whole or in part in the pump active vibration control C (FIG. 1), the health monitoring system HMS (FIG. 1), or some combination thereof, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Various Embodiments

[0070] The present invention may be implemented in one or more different embodiments, e.g., consistent with that set forth below:

[0071] According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, a variable speed pumping control system with active temperature and vibration monitoring and control means having primarily a variable speed pumping control system with active temperature and vibration monitoring and control device, which is capable for active pump vibration control and failure detection for a pumping hydronic system with a VFD drive. The active pump vibration control may be primarily realized by on-operation vibration and temperature elevation detection by voiding the resonance speeds directly and/or simply by alternating pump speed for a certain rising levels based upon their overall vibration power spectra not only for normal operation, but also for over speed pump operation as well.

[0072] According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, the active temperature and vibration monitoring and control means having a 3-dimensional moving average historic peak detector, an automatic resonance detector, a pump/drive speed altering module, and a failure mode evaluation module with associated their real time spectra display and alarming of

{circumflex over (P)}(n.sub.i,T).

[0073] According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, the 3-dimensional moving average historic peak detector for the active pumping vibration control and monitoring means having the form of MAHP(f.sub.if,T) with its center frequency at f.sub.i and the filter lengths of f along frequency and T along the time. The power spectra may be combined over fractional octave bands with respect to the pump speed of n.

[0074] According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, the automatic resonance detector for the active pumping vibration control and monitoring means having the form of {circumflex over (P)}(n.sub.i){circumflex over (P)}.sub.Thr i and TT.sub.thri, with {circumflex over (P)}(n.sub.i,T)=abs({circumflex over ()}(n.sub.i,T).sub.0). Here, {circumflex over ()}(n.sub.i) is the power spectra combined and averaged over the pump speed of n, .sub.0 is the overall power averaged over the pump speed at the beginning of the pump installation, and the power spectra threshold values of {circumflex over (P)}.sub.Thr i and T.sub.thri sets for detecting a resonance at the band of i.

[0075] Alternatively, according to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, the automatic resonance detector for the active pumping vibration control and monitoring means having the form of {circumflex over (P)}.sub.overall{circumflex over (P)}.sub.Thr all and TT.sub.thr all, with {circumflex over (P)}.sub.overall=abs(.sub.0). Here, is the overall power spectrum averaged over the pump speed, .sub.0 is the overall power averaged over the pump speed at the beginning of the pump installation, and the power spectra threshold values of {circumflex over (P)}.sub.Thr all and T.sub.thr all sets for detecting a resonance at the band of i.

[0076] Alternatively, according to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, the active temperature and vibration monitoring and control means having the active pump vibration control specially for the over speed operation, when the overall power spectrum and temperature may exceed thresholds set up the same as represented in Eqs. 7-12, for avoiding the resonances as well as their overall spectra limits.

[0077] According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, the active temperature and vibration monitoring and control means having the graphic real time spectra display and alarming, in which the vibration spectra, the overall power spectra averaged over the pump speed, temperature, as well as their corresponding thresholds are displayed graphically in real time.

[0078] According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, the active temperature and vibration monitoring and control means having system dynamic analysis data acquired for the pump together with the hydronic system and integrated to the control system, which shows the exact relationship between the parts and the bands alarmed, to pin point a failure mode with a specific part for calling a service.

[0079] According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, the active temperature and vibration monitoring and control means having all close loop or open loop hydronic pumping systems, such as primary pumping systems, secondary pumping systems, water circulating systems, and pressure booster systems. The systems mentioned here may consist of a single zone or multiple zones as well.

[0080] According to some embodiments, the present invention may include the vibration sensors, e.g., such as any accelerators, mems sensors, and so forth.

[0081] According to some embodiments, the present invention may include control signals transmitting and wiring technologies, e.g., such as all conventional sensing and transmitting means that are used currently in the art, as well as those later developed in the future. Preferably, wireless sensor signal transmission technologies would be optimal and favorable.

[0082] According to some embodiments, the present invention may include pumps for the hydronic pumping systems, e.g., such as a single pump, a circulator, a group of parallel ganged pumps or circulators, a group of serial ganged pumps or circulators, or their combinations.

REFERENCES

[0083] This application forms part of a family of technologies, as follows:

[0084] Reference [1]: [911-019-001-2 (F-B&G-1001US)], by Andrew Cheng, James Gu, entitled Method and Apparatus for Pump Control Using Varying Equivalent System Characteristic Curve, a/k/a an Adaptive Control Curve, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,700,221, on 15 Apr. 2014.

[0085] Reference [2]: [911-019-004-2 (F-B&G-X0001 US01)], by Andrew Cheng, James Gu, Graham Scott, entitled Dynamic Linear Control Methods And Apparatus For Variable Speed Pump Control, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,048,701, on 14 Aug. 2018.

[0086] Reference [3]: [ 911-019-012-2 (F-B&G-X0010US01], by Andrew Cheng, James Gu, Graham Scott, entitled Sensorless Adaptive Pump Control with Self-Calibration Apparatus for Hydronic Pumping Systems issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,897,084, on 20 Feb. 2018.

[0087] Reference [4]: [ 911-019.015-3 (F-B&G-X0012WO)], by Andrew Cheng, James Gu, Graham Scott, entitled System and Flow Adaptive Pumping Control ApparatusA Minimum Pumping Energy Operation Control System vs. Sensorless Application, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,846,416, on 19 Dec. 2017.

[0088] Reference [5]: [911-019-019-1 (F-B&G-X0016US], by Andrew Cheng, James Gu, entitled No Flow Detection Means for Sensorless Pumping Control Applications, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,317,894, on 11 Jun. 2019.

[0089] Reference [6]: [911-019-022-2 (F-B&G-X0022US01], by Andrew Cheng, James Gu, Kyle Schoenheit, entitled Advanced Real Time Graphic Sensorless Energy Saving Pump Control System, filed on 22 Jul. 2016, and assigned Ser. No. 15/217,070, which claims benefit to provisional application Ser. No. 62/196,355, filed 24 Jul. 2015.

[0090] Reference [7]: [911-019-034-1 (F-B&G-X0022US], by Andrew Cheng, Matt Ruffo and Ruff Jordan, entitled Adaptive Water Level Controls For Water Empty Or Fill Applications, filed on 21 Mar. 2018, and assigned Ser. No. 15/927,296, which claims benefit to provisional application Ser. No. 62/196,355, filed 21 Mar. 2017.

[0091] All of the aforementioned patents and patent applications are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The Scope of the Invention

[0092] The embodiments shown and described in detail herein are provided by way of example only; and the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular configurations, dimensionalities, and/or design details of these parts or elements included herein. In other words, one skilled in the art would appreciate that design changes to these embodiments may be made and such that the resulting embodiments would be different than the embodiments disclosed herein, but would still be within the overall spirit of the present invention.

[0093] It should be understood that, unless stated otherwise herein, any of the features, characteristics, alternatives or modifications described regarding a particular embodiment herein may also be applied, used, or incorporated with any other embodiment described herein.

[0094] Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, the foregoing and various other additions and omissions may be made therein and thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.