Mobile Sump Pump Power Unit With Automatic Floodwater Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing back-up power supplies for sump pumps are either immobile or lack an integrated sump pump within the enclosure, failing to automatically start the sump pump during power outages and effectively remove floodwater from flooded areas.
Innovation Solution
A mobile power supply device with an enclosure containing a sump pump, battery power source, level sensor, and inverter, which can be manually positioned in flooded areas to automatically energize the sump pump and remove water, featuring a level controller for automatic start/stop functionality and a wireless alarm system for notification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If prior art back-up power supplies are installed adjacent to the sump pump for automatic starting, then the sump pump can be automatically energized when main power is interrupted, but the power supply units are not mobile and cannot be manually disposed at flooded areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the battery power source, control electronics, and sump pump into a single integrated mobile enclosure. This merging allows the system to maintain automatic starting capability while gaining mobility, as the entire back-up power supply can be manually disposed at flooded areas rather than being fixed adjacent to a permanent sump pump location.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mobile back-up power supplies are designed to be manually disposed at flooded areas, then mobility is achieved, but they do not automatically energize existing sump pump motors when main power is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile power supply incorporates a control system with water level sensors that enable automatic operation. When the mobile unit is disposed at a flooded area, the sensors detect high water levels and automatically energize the sump pump motor without requiring manual intervention, thus providing both mobility and automatic starting capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the enclosure contains both electrical components and a sump pump, then the unit can be manually disposed in flood waters and operated by closing a switch, but electrical components may be exposed to water damage
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is divided into separate compartments: an upper compartment housing the electrical components (battery, inverter, control electronics) and a lower compartment containing the sump pump. This segmentation protects the electrical components from water exposure while allowing the pump to operate in the flooded environment, maintaining both manual operability and electrical reliability.
4Productivity
If the power supply is designed to remove water from flooded areas to a predetermined remote area, then water removal capability is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the water removal function directly into the mobile power supply enclosure by incorporating a sump pump in the lower compartment. This merging of power supply and water removal functions into a single unit achieves effective water removal from flooded areas to remote locations while managing device complexity through integrated design rather than separate systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables automatic and manual operation of a sump pump to efficiently remove floodwater from flooded areas, ensuring continuous water removal and alerting users to high water levels, thereby preventing water accumulation and damage.
Implementation Method 1
a battery power source in the enclosure to operate a sump pump after a power outage
Implementation Method 2
an inverter to convert the 12 V.D.C. to 120 V.A.C. for energizing the sump pump
Implementation Method 3
a sump pump in the lower portion of the enclosure such that a water intake port of the sump pump is below the surface of the water covering the flooded area
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile power supply device and method for energizing a sump pump in a sump pit during a power outage, and a mobile power supply device and method for energizing a sump pump secured to a bottom portion of the device. The device includes an enclosure similar to a dolly that is manufactured from plastic or similar non-electrically conductive material to minimize weight to enable the manual lifting and pulling of the mobile power supply device, and to promote safety by reducing the chance of an electrical short circuit when supplying electrical power to a sump pump. The enclosure includes a carrying handle and a relatively large dolly handle that cooperate with castors attached to a bottom portion or bottom surface of the enclosure. The castors promote manual movement of the device upon a substantially horizontal surface or up and/or down stairs leading to a sump pump in a sump pump well or pit in a basement.