Livewell system and methods of use
Disclosed are livewell systems and methods of operating livewell systems. A livewell system may include a livewell tank having a chamber formed therein, a fill sensor configured to detect a fill level of the chamber, an intake pump configured to selectively convey water into the chamber, and a control unit including a processor and a memory storing instructions. The processor may be configured to execute the instructions to receive a fill signal, determine whether the chamber is filled to a predetermined fill level; and in response to the fill signal and a determination that the chamber is not filled to the predetermined fill level, cause the intake pump to convey water into the chamber.
1 . A livewell system, comprising:
a livewell tank including a tank body having a first chamber, a first opening, and a first lid configured to move between a closed configuration in which the first lid seals the first opening and an open configuration in which the first opening is unsealed to allow access to the first chamber;
a user interface;
an intake pump configured to selectively convey water from outside of the livewell tank into the first chamber;
a drain conduit in fluid communication with the first chamber and extending higher than a top of the first chamber, wherein the drain conduit is configured to permit excess water or gas to escape from the first chamber;
a fill sensor positioned within the drain conduit and higher than the top of the first chamber; and
a control unit including a processor and a memory storing instructions, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
receive, from the user interface, a fill signal; and
cause, in response to the fill signal, the intake pump to convey water into the first chamber until a water-level signal is received from the fill sensor indicating that the first chamber is full such that the first lid is in direct contact with the water in the first chamber, the drain conduit is filled to at least a position of the fill sensor, and a column of water is formed in the drain conduit;
wherein the livewell system further comprises a timer operatively coupled to one or more of the controller and the intake pump;
wherein the intake pump is configured to continue conveying water into the first chamber after the first chamber is full for a first time period.
2 . The livewell system of claim 1 , wherein the tank body of the livewell tank includes:
a wall having an inwardly facing surface and an outwardly facing surface; and
an insulating foam positioned against the outwardly facing surface of the wall.
3 . The livewell system of claim 1 , wherein the livewell tank further includes a second chamber, a second opening, and a second lid configured to move between a closed configuration in which the second lid seals the second opening and an open configuration in which the second opening is unsealed to allow access to the second chamber.
4 . The livewell system of claim 3 , wherein the first chamber is in fluid communication with the second chamber.
5 . The livewell system of claim 3 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to cause, in response to the fill signal, the intake pump to convey water into the second chamber until the second chamber is full such that the second lid is in direct contact with the water in the second chamber.
6 . The livewell system of claim 1 , wherein the livewell tank further includes baffling positioned toward an upper end of the first chamber, wherein the baffling is submerged when the first chamber is full.
7 . The livewell system of claim 1 , wherein after the intake pump conveys water into the first chamber until the first chamber is full, the first chamber is substantially free of air.
8 . The livewell system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to cause, in response to the water-level signal and after the first time period, the intake pump to cease conveying water into the first chamber.
9 . The livewell system of claim 1 , wherein the first time period is 1 second to 30 seconds.
10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an additive reservoir configured to contain an additive; and
an additive device configured to selectively convey the additive into the first chamber;
wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:
while the intake pump is conveying water into the first chamber, cause the additive device to convey additive into the first chamber to form a mixture of water and additive.
11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a recirculation conduit in fluid communication with the first chamber; and
a recirculation pump configured to selectively circulate fluid from the first chamber into the recirculation conduit and back into the first chamber.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:
receive a recirculation signal; and
in response to the recirculation signal, cause the recirculation pump to circulate the fluid through the recirculation conduit.
13 . A method of operating a livewell system including a livewell tank including a tank body having a first chamber, a first opening, and a first lid configured to move between a closed configuration in which the first lid seals the first opening and an open configuration in which the first opening is unsealed to allow access to the first chamber, wherein the livewell system further includes a drain conduit in fluid communication with the first chamber and extending higher than a top of the first chamber, wherein the drain conduit is configured to permit excess water or gas to escape from the first chamber, wherein the livewell system further includes a fill sensor positioned within the drain conduit and higher than the top of the first chamber, and a timer, the method comprising:
receiving, by a control unit from a user interface, a fill signal;
causing, by the control unit in response to the fill signal, an intake pump to convey water into the first chamber until a water-level signal is received from the fill sensor indicating that the first chamber is full such that the first lid is in direct contact with the water in the first chamber, the drain conduit is filled to at least a position of the fill sensor, and a column of water is formed in the drain conduit; and
causing, by the control unit, the intake pump to convey water into the first chamber after the first chamber is full for a first time period measured by the timer.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the livewell tank further includes a second chamber, a second opening, and a second lid configured to move between a closed configuration in which the second lid seals the second opening and an open configuration in which the second opening is unsealed to allow access to the second chamber.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
causing, by the control unit in response to the fill signal, the intake pump to convey water into the second chamber until the second chamber is full such that the second lid is in direct contact with the water in the second chamber.
16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
causing, by the controller in response to the water-level signal, the intake pump to cease conveying water into the first chamber.
17 . A livewell system, comprising:
a livewell tank including a tank body having a first chamber, a first opening in the tank body, and a first lid configured to move between a closed configuration in which the first lid seals the first opening and an open configuration in which the first opening is unsealed, wherein the tank body and first lid define a first chamber in the closed configuration;
a user interface;
a high-speed pick-up positioned on an exterior of a vessel and configured to be submerged in a body of water;
an intake conduit extending from the high-speed pick-up to the first chamber;
an intake pump positioned along the intake conduit and configured to transition between an off state and an on state in which the intake pump conveys water ingested through the high-speed pick-up into the first chamber, wherein the intake conduit is configured such that water enters the first chamber only when the intake pump is in the on state, and wherein the high-speed pick-up and the intake conduit are configured to maintain the intake pump in a primed state when the livewell system is moving relative to the body of water;
a drain conduit in fluid communication with the first chamber and extending higher than a top of the first chamber, wherein the drain conduit is configured to permit excess water or gas to escape from the first chamber;
a fill sensor positioned within the drain conduit and higher than the top of the first chamber;
a control unit including a processor and a memory storing instructions, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
receive, from the user interface, a fill signal; and
cause, in response to the fill signal, the intake pump to transition from the off state to the on state until a water-level signal is received from the fill sensor indicating that the drain conduit is filled to at least a position of the fill sensor and a column of water is formed in the drain conduit;
wherein the livewell system further comprises a timer operatively coupled to one or more of the controller and the intake pump;
wherein the intake pump is configured to continue conveying water into the first chamber after the first chamber is full for a first time period, thereby causing the column of water to form in the drain conduit.
18 . The livewell system of claim 17 , wherein the tank body of the livewell tank includes:
a wall having an inwardly facing surface and an outwardly facing surface; and
an insulating foam positioned against the outwardly facing surface of the wall.
19 . The livewell system of claim 17 , wherein the livewell tank further includes a second chamber, a second opening, and a second lid configured to move between a closed configuration in which the second lid seals the second opening and an open configuration in which the second opening is unsealed to allow access to the second chamber.
20 . The livewell system of claim 19 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to cause, in response to the fill signal, the intake pump to transition from the off state to the on state to allow water into the second chamber until the second chamber is full such that the second lid is in direct contact with the water in the second chamber.
21 . The livewell system of claim 17 , wherein the livewell tank further includes baffling positioned toward an upper end of the first chamber, wherein the baffling is submerged when the first chamber is full.
22 . The livewell system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to cause, in response to the water-level signal, the intake pump to transition from the on state to the off state.
23 . The livewell system of claim 17 , wherein the first time period is 1 second to 30 seconds.