Patent Application
20240126397
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from German Patent Application No. 102021000932.0, filed Feb. 22, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is herein expressly incorporated by reference.
The invention relates to a pump, in particular a centrifugal pump, having a control panel for manual actuation and/or configuration of the pump.
Pumps in different areas of application are either operated centrally via a controller or locally at the pump via a control panel attached there. The latter is typically equipped with mechanical switches or button elements. Depending on the application, for example in heating circulation pumps, a mechanical setting wheel is used via which the operator can perform a direct operation or configuration input via rotational movement. The current rotational position of the setting wheel permits a conclusion about the pump setting performed.
The object of the present invention is to rework the previous operating concept and to offer an innovative solution for the operator.
This object is achieved by a pump having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.
It is proposed according to the invention that the control panel be equipped with at least one touch-sensitive surface for performing user input. The operator can, for example, actuate the pump and/or perform possible configuration inputs via this surface. The touch-sensitive surface is equipped as a touchpad, so that the user can ideally make inputs using only their fingers, without further aids. However, it is also conceivable that aids, for example a so-called touch pen, can be used. In addition, a touch-sensitive surface does not require mechanical movement kinematics, as is the case with conventional buttons, switches, etc.
Since pumps are generally used in fluid applications, certain protective measures have to be taken. Splash water protection, in particular the protection type IP44, plays an important role in most pump applications. For this purpose, the touch-sensitive surface of the pump according to the invention is additionally covered using a film that seals off the surface from the surroundings. The film material, in particular plastic, is capable of effectively protecting the underlying surface from the ingress of water, in particular splash water. In addition, the film should impair the touch sensitivity of the surface only insignificantly, or not at all, in order to seamlessly enable touch inputs of the operator.
It can be desirable to give the user visual feedback about performed user inputs via the touch-sensitive surface, similarly as takes place due to the switch position of a mechanical switch or setting wheel. A display element separate from the surface is conceivable, but not desirable. Therefore, the touch-sensitive surface is advantageously supplemented with one or more light sources, the emitted light of which is ideally controllable depending on performed user inputs. The one or more light sources do not have to be located directly in the touch-sensitive surface, but rather can instead also be arranged in the immediate vicinity of the touch-sensitive surface or circumferentially around the touch-sensitive surface. It is thus possible to give the user visual feedback simultaneously upon a performed touch input. In addition to the light sources, a controller is accordingly provided which evaluates performed touch inputs and activates the one or more light sources in reaction thereto in order to match the light emission to the touch input.
The touch sensitivity can be implemented by various technical concepts. In the present case, an embodiment based on electrical capacitance is suitable. The touch-sensitive surface can be applied to a substrate as carrier material. In the case of a capacitive touch surface, electrodes are provided for this purpose which construct a defined structure, for example a grid structure, on the accessible substrate surface. An arrangement of the light sources, in particular LEDs, on the accessible substrate surface is not advisable since the touch surface should be as smooth or flat as possible. Against this background, it is proposed that the light sources, in particular light-emitting diodes, be arranged on the lower side of the substrate. A sufficient light transmission is to be achieved via transparent partial areas of the substrate and/or dedicated openings in the substrate in the area of the light-emitting diodes in order to thus enable a path for the emitted light of the light sources to the outside into the field of view of the operator.
The use of a mechanical setting wheel in pumps for operation has already been discussed in the introductory part. According to one preferred embodiment, such a setting wheel is to be simulated by means of the touch-sensitive surface. For this purpose, the technical means for providing the touch sensitivity are made circular, in particular ring-shaped, in order to simulate the shape of the operating surface of a setting wheel. For example, a so-called touch ring is used, the electrodes of which are arranged in a ring shape in order to be able to detect capacitive changes due to circular touch inputs. Such a touch ring is then arranged on the surface to be touched of the substrate.
The arrangement of the light sources on the substrate rear side expediently also recreates the shape of the switch to be simulated, in particular the setting wheel. Accordingly, the arrangement of the light sources is ring-shaped. The diameter of the light ring can be equal to or greater than the diameter of the touch ring. The distance of the light sources from one another can be equal or variable, for example with distance increasing or decreasing in the ring direction (clockwise or counterclockwise).
Using the above-described advantageous design, it is possible for the operator to perform circular movements as in the operation of a conventional setting wheel on the touch-sensitive surface and the current rotational position of the simulated rotating wheel is visually displayed by the light emission of the LEDs matched thereto.
Alternatively to the above embodiment of the touch-sensitive surface, a PCB flex film can also be used. Such a film comprises the required components having the desired arrangement for the shape of the touch-sensitive surface. The film ideally also comprises the required light sources in the desired arrangement.
The applied film for sealing off the touch-sensitive surface comprises transparent sections at least in some sections, in order to ensure the required light transmission in an embodiment of the invention having visual feedback. The transparent areas of the applied sealing film are ideally located here on the transparent areas of or openings in the substrate.
The applied film for sealing off is preferably made self-adhesive in order to keep the assembly process as simple and cost-effective as possible.
According to one advantageous embodiment of the pump, it is equipped with an electronics housing, which includes the required electronics for controlling the pump in its interior. A depression for accommodating the touch-sensitive surface and the film covering it can be provided on the outer surface of the electronics housing. The depression is dimensioned such that the touch-sensitive surface with the film can be embedded in the housing surface flush with the housing surface. The surface depression is expediently equipped with at least one slot for feeding through any signal and supply lines, in order to connect the touch-sensitive surface and/or the light sources to a control circuit board within the electronics housing. A flat band cable can be used for the required connecting lines. The plug connection of the substrate is located on the lower side of the substrate, ideally in the area of the at least one slot, so that the plug connection can ideally also be introduced at least partially into the slot.
The at least one touch-sensitive surface can be the sole operating element of the pump. The operating concept can however alternatively be supplemented by additional mechanical operating elements. It is conceivable, for example, that at least one mechanical operating element is a membrane button. The membrane button is preferably formed by the film for sealing off the touch-sensitive surface. The film provides a corresponding deformation, in particular a thermal deformation, or embossing for this purpose, by which a type of elastic “resilient zone” can be created to implement a minimal button stroke. The film can be of multilayered structure, at least in the area of the membrane button. The circuit to be actuated of the membrane button can be a component part of the multilayered structure of the film or can be arranged on the substrate or another carrier material. It can preferably be provided that the membrane button is formed in the middle area of the film and is surrounded by the formed touch-sensitive surface.
The pump can be designed as a centrifugal pump, preferably as an in-line centrifugal pump. Moreover, the pump can be a wet or dry rotor pump. The pump is particularly preferably embodied as a heating circulation pump.
Further advantages and properties of the invention are to be explained in more detail hereinafter on the basis of an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures, in which:
The housing cover 1 includes on its upper side, which at the same time represents an axial end of the pump in the installed position, a surface depression 2 for accommodating a substrate 5 for implementing the touch-sensitive user interface. A ring-shaped electrode arrangement 6 for measuring capacitive changes by user input via finger is arranged on the externally accessible upper side of the substrate 5. Circular touch inputs, as occur during the actuation of a mechanical setting wheel, are thus detected by the controller 10 with the aid of the electrode arrangement 6.
A plurality of light-emitting diodes 7 is arranged at uniform distance in relation to one another in a ring shape on the lower side of the substrate 5. The LED ring 7 encloses the ring-shaped electrode arrangement 6, wherein the diameter of the LED ring 7 is greater than the circumference of the electrode arrangement 6. The LEDs can emit colored light, for example blue light. Openings in the substrate 5 or transparent sections of the substrate 5 ensure sufficient light transmission of the substrate so that the light ring is externally perceivable by the user.
A plug connection on the lower side of the substrate 5 is used for contacting a flat band cable 4 in order to ensure the measurement signals of the electrode arrangement 6 and the activation of the LEDs 7 by means of the control circuit board 10. The slot 3 in the bottom of the depression 2 is used to feed through the cable 4.
It is apparent in the illustration of
The material properties of the film 8 enable touch inputs via the electrode arrangement 6 of the substrate 5. A transparent ring section 8A of the film ensures the light transmission of the light emitted by the light-emitting diodes 7.
The main circuit board 10 moreover a component 11 on that is visible from the outside due to the housing passage and is used as an additional display element 11.
The user can operate the pump by circular operating inputs by way of the capacitive surface 6, wherein the handling accordingly recreates a mechanical setting wheel. At the same time, the user receives visual feedback via the light-emitting diodes 7 arranged in a ring shape, which in particular reflects the user input and thus visualizes the current setting position of the simulated setting wheel.
Notwithstanding the embodiment of
The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2021 000 932.0 | Feb 2021 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/054236 | 2/21/2022 | WO |
