US-12618406-B2 - Thermistor flow path

US12618406B2US 12618406 B2US12618406 B2US 12618406B2US-12618406-B2

Abstract

A fluid pump includes a pump element in communication with an inlet and an outlet. Rotation of the pump element generates a suction at the inlet and pressure at the outlet. The suction and pressure cooperate to move a fluid through a fluid path. An accessory fluid path is in communication with the inlet and outlet. The accessory fluid path includes a thermistor in communication with the accessory fluid path. The thermistor monitors a temperature of the fluid within the accessory fluid path.

Inventors

Ryan David Rosinski
Bradley John Vecellio

Assignees

GHSP, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20241018

Claims (20)

1 . A fluid pump comprising: a motor positioned within a housing; a pump element attached to the motor, wherein rotation of the pump element generates an inward suction and an outward pressure that cooperatively move a fluid through a fluid path that includes an inlet and an outlet; and an accessory fluid path in communication at least with the outlet of the fluid path, wherein the pump element directs an excess portion of the fluid through the accessory fluid path, the accessory fluid path having a low-restriction return path that provides a continuous flow of the excess portion of the fluid through the accessory fluid path and to an outlet orifice during operation of the pump element, wherein the housing includes contours and a central portion that define a portion of the accessory fluid path, wherein the contours align with one side of an outer wall of the housing; a thermistor is in communication with the accessory fluid path proximate the contours and the central portion; the fluid path and the contours are positioned at opposing ends of the housing; the continuous flow of the excess portion of the fluid is directed between the contours and the fluid path between a portion of the motor and the outer wall; and the low-restriction return path is configured to maintain a temperature of the continuous flow of the excess portion of the fluid within the contours to be similar to a temperature of the fluid in the fluid path.
2 . The fluid pump of claim 1 , wherein the outlet orifice directs the excess portion of the fluid from the accessory fluid path and into the fluid path at a position that is between the inlet and the outlet.
3 . The fluid pump of claim 1 , wherein the thermistor is positioned in communication with the contours to simultaneously monitor, in real time, the temperature of the continuous flow of the excess portion of the fluid in the accessory fluid path and the temperature of the fluid in the fluid path.
4 . The fluid pump of claim 1 , wherein the accessory fluid path includes an inlet orifice that directs the excess portion of the fluid from the inlet and through the accessory fluid path to a central channel of the pump element, wherein the central channel extends through a drive shaft of the motor.
5 . The fluid pump of claim 4 , wherein the inlet orifice is positioned between the pump element and the contours.
6 . The fluid pump of claim 5 , wherein the central channel of the drive shaft extends from the pump element to the contours, and wherein the inlet orifice diverts the excess portion of the fluid into the accessory fluid path before reaching the pump element.
7 . The fluid pump of claim 4 , wherein the outlet orifice is aligned with a portion of the inlet orifice.
8 . The fluid pump of claim 1 , wherein the outlet orifice and the pump element receive the excess portion of the fluid from the accessory fluid path and direct the excess portion of the fluid to the outlet through the fluid path.
9 . The fluid pump of claim 1 , wherein the operation of the pump element moves the fluid through a plurality of flow paths, wherein the plurality of flow paths comprise the fluid path and the accessory fluid path.
10 . The fluid pump of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of flow paths each move the fluid to the outlet.
11 . The fluid pump of claim 1 , wherein the thermistor is disposed within the contours.
12 . The fluid pump of claim 4 , wherein the inlet orifice and the outlet orifice are each positioned proximate the pump element.
13 . The fluid pump of claim 1 , wherein the low-restriction return path is at least partially defined within the contours.
14 . A fluid pump comprising: a pump element in communication with a fluid path having an inlet and an outlet, the pump element including a rotor and a stator within a housing; an inlet orifice in communication with the pump element, wherein the pump element and the inlet orifice direct a primary flow of a fluid to the outlet and an excess flow of the fluid into an accessory fluid path, the accessory fluid path having a portion of the fluid, wherein the accessory fluid path extends between the rotor and an outer wall of the housing; and a printed circuit board housing that includes contours that align with one side of the outer wall of the housing; wherein the accessory fluid path includes a low-restriction return path that moves the excess flow of the fluid as a continuous flow through the accessory fluid path and toward the fluid path; the low-restriction return path is configured to maintain a temperature of the excess flow of the fluid in the contours of the accessory fluid path to be similar to a temperature of the primary flow of the fluid; a thermistor is positioned in communication with the contours to simultaneously monitor, in real time, the temperature of the excess flow of the fluid in the accessory fluid path and the temperature of the primary flow of the fluid in the fluid path; and the contours of the printed circuit board housing include a central portion, wherein the contours extend between the central portion and the outer wall of the housing.
15 . The fluid pump of claim 14 , wherein the inlet orifice directs the portion of the fluid from the inlet to the accessory fluid path and to a central channel of the pump element, wherein the central channel extends between a drive shaft of the rotor and the contours of the printed circuit board housing.
16 . The fluid pump of claim 15 , wherein the inlet orifice diverts the portion of the fluid into the accessory fluid path after reaching the pump element.
17 . The fluid pump of claim 14 , wherein an outlet orifice and the pump element receive the excess flow of the fluid from the accessory fluid path and direct the excess flow of the fluid to the outlet through the fluid path.
18 . The fluid pump of claim 14 , wherein the pump element generates an inward suction at the inlet of the fluid path and at an outlet orifice of the accessory fluid path, and wherein the pump element generates an outward pressure at the outlet of the fluid path.
19 . A fluid pump comprising: a stator and a rotor in electromagnetic communication and disposed within a housing; a pump element attached to a first end of a drive shaft of the rotor; an inlet orifice in communication with the pump element that diverts a primary flow of a fluid to an outlet and an excess flow of the fluid through the inlet orifice and into an accessory fluid path; an outlet orifice in communication with the pump element, the outlet orifice directing the excess flow of the fluid from the accessory fluid path to a primary fluid path, wherein the primary fluid path extends between an inlet and the outlet; and a printed circuit board assembly of the housing that includes contours that are positioned at a second end of the drive shaft that opposes the first end, the contours extending between a central portion and one side of an outer wall of the housing; wherein the accessory fluid path directs the excess flow of the fluid from the inlet orifice to the contours; the accessory fluid path includes a low-restriction return path that moves the excess flow of the fluid as a continuous flow through the accessory fluid path and toward the outlet orifice; the low-restriction return path is configured to maintain a temperature of the excess flow of the fluid in the contours of the accessory fluid path to be similar to a temperature of the primary flow of the fluid; and a thermistor attached to the printed circuit board assembly and positioned in communication with the contours to simultaneously monitor, in real time, the temperature of the excess flow of the fluid in the accessory fluid path and the temperature of the primary flow of the fluid.
20 . The fluid pump of claim 19 , wherein the pump element generates an inward pressure at the inlet and at the outlet orifice of the accessory fluid path, and wherein the pump element generates an outward pressure at the outlet.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/459,864 filed Sep. 1, 2023, now U.S. Pat. No. 12,146,491, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/893,418 filed Aug. 23, 2022, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,788,528, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/141,265, filed Jan. 5, 2021, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,454,235, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/590,248 filed May 9, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,914,305, which claims priority to and the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/342,615, filed on May 27, 2016, all of which are entitled “THERMISTOR FLOW PATH,” the entire disclosures of each are hereby incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to fluid pumps, and more specifically, fluid pumps with a temperature sensing mechanism. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Fluid pumps can be included within various fluid reservoirs for moving a fluid from within the reservoir to within another portion of the mechanism. Such pumps are configured to be submerged within the reservoir. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, a fluid pump includes a pump element in communication with an inlet and an outlet. Rotation of the pump element generates a suction at the inlet and pressure at the outlet. The suction and pressure cooperate to move a fluid through a fluid path. An accessory fluid path is in communication with the inlet and outlet. The accessory fluid path includes a thermistor in communication with the accessory fluid path. The thermistor monitors a temperature of the fluid within the accessory fluid path. According to another aspect of the present invention, a fluid pump includes a pump element in communication with a fluid path. An accessory fluid path defines a portion of the fluid path. A shadow port is in communication with the pump element, wherein the pump element and the shadow port regulate a flow of a fluid between a primary flow of the fluid to an outlet. An excess flow of the fluid to the accessory fluid path, wherein operation of the pump element in conjunction with the shadow port, promotes the primary flow of the fluid toward the outlet and simultaneously promotes the excess flow of the fluid through the accessory fluid path. The excess flow of the fluid through the accessory fluid path directly engages a thermistor disposed within the accessory fluid path. The thermistor measures a fluid temperature of the excess flow of the fluid within the accessory fluid path. According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of operating a fluid pump includes activating a pump element to draw a fluid into a fluid path. The pump element operates to direct a fluid to a position that defines a shadow port having an orifice. The fluid is divided into a primary flow of the fluid toward an outlet of the fluid path and an excess flow of the fluid through the orifice and into an accessory fluid path. The excess flow of the fluid is directed to a thermistor. A fluid temperature of the excess flow of the fluid in the accessory fluid path is measured. The excess flow of the fluid is directed toward one of an inlet and the outlet of the fluid path. These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of a fluid pump incorporating an aspect of the thermistor fluid path; FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the fluid pump of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the fluid pump of FIG. 1 taken along line III-III; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the fluid pump of FIG. 3 illustrating a flow of a fluid through the thermistor flow path; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a printed circuit board (PCB) housing assembly for a fluid pump that incorporates an aspect of the thermistor; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the PCB housing assembly of FIG. 5, taken along line VI-VI; and FIG. 7 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating a method for operating a fluid pump. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimension