DESC:FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)

Title of invention:
A DRY RUN PREVENTION SYSTEM FOR A WATER PUMP AND METHOD THEREOF

Applicant:
BEML Limited
A company Incorporated in India under the Companies Act, 1956
Having Address As:
BEML Soudha, 23/1, 4th Main,
Sampangirama Nagar, Bengaluru - 560 027,
Karnataka, India

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY
[001] The present invention claims priority from Indian patent application numbered IN 202241048202 filed on 24th August, 2022.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[002] The present invention relates to a dry run prevention system for a water pump and method thereof, and more specifically to a dry run prevention system for a water pump of a water sprinkler.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[003] In mining fields, airborne dust poses a serious hazard. The dust is accumulated in the air due to movement of heavy-duty equipment and can be a cause for major accidents, since it affects the visibility of operator. It also creates health related issues to the mine workers. In order to control the dust accumulation, water sprinklers are used to suppress the airborne dust by sprinkling the water.
[004] Presently, water sprinkler uses a water pump to supply water from reservoir to spray nozzles. There is a risk of dry running the pump when the reservoir becomes empty leading to pump failure. The failure of pump affects the production in mines and other equipment cannot be operated due to heavy dust concentration in the air. Although, there is provision of water level indicators on the sprinklers, human intervention is required to switch OFF the pump.
[005] Hence there is need of a safety system to prevent dry running of the pump to prevent pump failure.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[006] Main object of the present disclosure is to provide a protection system for a water pump.
[007] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a water pump protection system for a preventing dry running of the pump.
[008] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a water pump protection system for switching OFF the pump automatically to prevent dry running.
[009] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a water pump protection system for preventing pump failure due to dry running.
[0010] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a method for preventing pump failure due to dry running.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Before the present system is described, it is to be understood that this application is not limited to the particular machine or an apparatus, and methodologies described, as there can be multiple possible embodiments that are not expressly illustrated in the present disclosure. It is also to be understood that the terminologies used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular version or embodiment only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present application. This summary is provided to introduce aspects related to a dry run prevention system for a water pump and method thereof and the aspects are further elaborated below in the detailed application description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the proposed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the proposed subject matter.
[0012] The present subject matter discloses a water pump protection system comprising a pump switch, a relay, a pump unit, a control unit, a display and a sensor unit. The pump unit comprises of a solenoid controlled by the pump switch to switch ON or switch OFF the pump. The sensor unit comprises of a plurality of level sensors mounted in a water reservoir to monitor the level of water in the reservoir. The sensor unit communicates the water level status sensed by each level sensor to the control unit. The control unit displays the water level status on the display. The relay is connected between the pump switch and the solenoid of the pump unit and is operated by the controller. The control unit actuates the relay to stop the pump when the water reservoir empty state for more than 5 sec is detected by the level sensors. The 5 second delay is provided to avoid wrong signal to the controller due to undulation when the equipment is travelling in up or down gradient.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION
[0013] The present invention discloses a dry run prevention system for a water pump comprising a sensor unit and a control unit is configured to monitor water level in a reservoir. The pump switch is configured to switch ON/OFF a pump unit is configured to communicatively couple the sensor unit with the pump unit to turn OFF the pump unit upon detecting the empty state of the reservoir. The control unit is configured to display the water level status on a display unit comprises of a plurality of level sensors mounted in the reservoir to monitor the level of water. The control unit is configured to detect empty state of the reservoir based on reservoir empty signal from all the level sensors of the sensor unit is configured to be switched-ON and switched-OFF on operation of a solenoid by the pump switch based on normally closed state a relay connected between the pump switch and the solenoid is configured to operate the solenoid by actuating the relay upon detection of the empty state of the reservoir. The control unit is configured to actuate the relay from normally closed to normally open state to operate the solenoid for switching OFF the pump unit is configured to actuate the relay after a predetermined time delay. The control unit is configured to provide a low water level indication on the display unit.
[0014] The present invention further discloses a method of preventing dry run of a water pump, comprises steps of detecting Switch-ON state of a pump switch from a sensor unit upon receiving reservoir empty signal from the sensor unit by the control unit for operating a solenoid to switch-OFF a pump unit, and displaying low water level indication on the display unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, there is shown in the present document example constructions of the disclosure, however, the disclosure is not limited to the specific methods and device disclosed in the document and the drawing. The detailed description is described with reference to the following accompanying figures.
[0016] Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of a dry run prevention system for a pump, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0017] Figure 2 illustrates a flowchart of a dry run prevention system for a pump, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter; and
[0018] Figure 3 illustrates a flowchart of a water pump protection system for a pump, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter
[0019] The figures depict various embodiments of the present disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Some embodiments of this disclosure, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. The words "comprising", “having”, and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Although any devices and methods similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present disclosure, the exemplary, devices and methods are now described. The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms.
[0021] Various modifications to the embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments illustrated, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.
[0022] The present subject matter discloses a dry run protection system for a water pump (100). Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the water pump protection system (100). The system (100) comprises of a pump switch (102), a relay (104), a pump unit (106), a control unit (110), a display (108) and a sensor unit (112). The pump unit (106) comprises of a solenoid (114) controlled by the pump switch (102) to switch ON or switch OFF the pump (106). The sensor unit (112) comprises of a plurality of level sensors mounted in a water reservoir to monitor the level of water in the reservoir. The sensor unit (112) communicates the water level status sensed by each level sensor to the control unit (110). The control unit (110) displays the water level status on the display (108). The relay (104) is connected between the pump switch (102) and the solenoid (114) of the pump unit (106) and is operated by the control unit (110).
[0023] In operation, the relay (104) is in normally closed (NC) state. So, the pump switch (102) can be turned on to operate the pump (106) by actuating the solenoid (114). The control unit (110) receives signals related to water level from all the level sensors and displays the water level status on the display (108). The controller (110) further determines the empty state of the reservoir based on signals from the level sensors. In order to avoid faulty detection, controller (110) checks that the signal from all the level sensors corresponds to the empty level. Upon detection of reservoir empty state for more than 5 sec, the controller (110) actuates the relay (104) to normally open (NO) state. Thus, the solenoid (114) is actuated to switch OFF the pump unit (106) and avoids the dry sun of the pump (106).
[0024] In another embodiment, the controller (110) actuates the relay (104) after a predetermined time (e.g., 5 seconds) in order to avoid any false shut-OFF of the pump (106) due to undulations in the water level signals.
[0025] Figures 2 and 3 illustrate a flowchart for the dry run prevention system for a pump. When the pump switch (102) is switched on, the control unit (110) receives the water level signals from the sensor unit (112) and displays the same on the display unit (108). The control unit (110) detects empty state of the water reservoir when all the level sensors of the sensor unit (112) outputs reservoir empty signals. Upon detection of reservoir empty state for more than 5 sec, the control unit (110) actuates the relay (104) from NC to NO leading to operating the solenoid (114) to switch OFF the pump unit (106). The control unit (110) displays low water level indication on the display unit (108). The low water level indication may include any audio/visual alarm.
[0026] Accordingly, present invention discloses a dry run prevention system (100) for a water pump comprising a sensor unit (112), a pump switch (102) and a control unit (110). The sensor unit (112) is configured to monitor water level in a reservoir. The pump switch (102) is configured to switch ON/OFF a pump unit (106). The control unit (110) is configured to communicatively couple the sensor unit (112) with the pump unit (106) to turn OFF the pump unit (106) upon detecting the empty state of the reservoir. The control unit (110) is configured to display the water level status on a display unit (108). The sensor unit (112) comprises of a plurality of level sensors mounted in the reservoir to monitor the level of water. The control unit (110) is configured to detect empty state of the reservoir based on reservoir empty signal from all the level sensors of the sensor unit (112). The pump unit (106) is configured to be switched-ON and switched-OFF on operation of a solenoid (114) by the pump switch (102) based on normally closed (NC) state a relay (104) connected between the pump switch (102) and the solenoid (114). The control unit (110) is configured to operate the solenoid (114) by actuating the relay (104) upon detection of the empty state of the reservoir. The control unit (110) is configured to actuate the relay (104) from normally closed (NC) to normally open (NO) state to operate the solenoid (114) for switching OFF the pump unit (106). The control unit (110) is configured to actuate the relay (104) after a predetermined time delay. The control unit (110) is configured to provide a low water level indication on the display unit (108).
[0027] The present invention further discloses a method of preventing dry run of a water pump, comprises steps of detecting Switch-ON state of a pump switch (102), receiving water level signals by a control unit (110) from a sensor unit (112), displaying the water level status on a display unit (108), detecting empty state of the reservoir by the control unit (110) upon receiving reservoir empty signal from the sensor unit (112), actuating a relay (104) by the control unit (110) for operating a solenoid (114) to switch-OFF a pump unit (106), and displaying low water level indication on the display unit (108).
[0028] Exemplary embodiments discussed above may provide certain advantages. Though not required to practice aspects of the disclosure, these advantages may include the following.
[0029] Some embodiments of the subject matter provide a protection system for a water pump.
[0030] Some embodiments of the subject matter provide a water pump protection system for a preventing dry running of the pump.
[0031] Some embodiments of the subject matter provide a water pump protection system for switching OFF the pump automatically to prevent dry running.
[0032] Some embodiments of the subject matter provide a water pump protection system for preventing pump failure due to dry running.
[0033] Following is a list of elements and reference numerals used to explain various embodiments of the present subject matter.

Reference Numeral Element Description
100 A dry run protection system
102 Pump switch
104 Relay
106 Pump unit
108 Display unit
110 Control unit
112 Sensor unit
114 Solenoid

,CLAIMS:1. A dry run prevention system (100) for a water pump comprising:
a sensor unit (112) configured to monitor water level in a reservoir;
a pump switch (102) configured to switch ON/OFF a pump unit (106); and
a control unit (110) configured to communicatively couple the sensor unit (112) with the pump unit (106) to turn OFF the pump unit (106) upon detecting the empty state of the reservoir.
2. The dry run prevention system (100) for a water pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (110) is configured to display the water level status on a display unit (108).
3. The dry run prevention system (100) for a water pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor unit (112) comprises of a plurality of level sensors mounted in the reservoir to monitor the level of water.
4. The dry run prevention system (100) for a water pump as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control unit (110) is configured to detect empty state of the reservoir based on reservoir empty signal from all the level sensors of the sensor unit (112).
5. The dry run prevention system (100) for a water pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pump unit (106) is configured to be switched-ON and switched-OFF on operation of a solenoid (114) by the pump switch (102) based on normally closed (NC) state a relay (104) connected between the pump switch (102) and the solenoid (114).
6. The dry run prevention system (100) for a water pump as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control unit (110) is configured to operate the solenoid (114) by actuating the relay (104) upon detection of the empty state of the reservoir.
7. The dry run prevention system (100) for a water pump as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control unit (110) is configured to actuate the relay (104) from normally closed (NC) to normally open (NO) state to operate the solenoid (114) for switching OFF the pump unit (106).
8. The dry run prevention system (100) for a water pump as claimed in claim 7, wherein the control unit (110) is configured to actuate the relay (104) after a predetermined time delay.
9. The dry run prevention system (100) for a water pump as claimed in claim 7 wherein the control unit (110) is configured to provide a low water level indication on the display unit (108).
10. A method of preventing dry run of a water pump, comprises steps of:
detecting Switch-ON state of a pump switch (102);
receiving water level signals by a control unit (110) from a sensor unit (112);
displaying the water level status on a display unit (108);
detecting empty state of the reservoir by the control unit (110) upon receiving reservoir empty signal from the sensor unit (112);
actuating a relay (104) by the control unit (110) for operating a solenoid (114) to switch-OFF a pump unit (106); and
displaying low water level indication on the display unit (108).