US 11,788,535 B1
Systems and methods for manipulating control of sump pumps to extend lifespans of sump pumps
Nathan L. Tofte, Downs, IL (US); Jonathan Christopher Hull, Bloomington, IL (US); John Donovan, Bloomington, IL (US); and Richard Jan Tjaden, Bloomington, IL (US)
Assigned to STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY, Bloomington, IL (US)
Filed by STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY, Bloomington, IL (US)
Filed on Apr. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/245,694.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/148,885, filed on Feb. 12, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/148,923, filed on Feb. 12, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/148,909, filed on Feb. 12, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/148,926, filed on Feb. 12, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/148,783, filed on Feb. 12, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/148,894, filed on Feb. 12, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/148,880, filed on Feb. 12, 2021.
Int. Cl. F04D 15/02 (2006.01); F04D 13/08 (2006.01)
CPC F04D 15/0218 (2013.01) [F04D 13/086 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computer-implemented method for maintaining a sump pump by reducing exposure of an impeller of the sump pump to standing water in a sump basin, the method comprising:
activating a sump pump a first time;
deactivating the sump pump when a first current water level in a sump basin in which the sump pump is disposed reaches a first low-water mark;
determining, by one or more processors, a time since a last activation of the sump pump, wherein the last activation occurred when the sump pump activated the first time; and
when the time satisfies a threshold,
activating, by one or more processors, the sump pump a second time and reducing a water level in the sump basin to a level below a bottom of an impeller,
determining, by one or more processors, a second current water level in the sump basin, including sensing the water level with a sensor positioned at the sump basin, and
in response to determining that the second current water level in the sump basin is below a second low-water mark corresponding to the bottom of the impeller, deactivating, by one or more processors, the sump pump, wherein the second low-water mark is below the first low-water mark.