Patent Grant
11745830
Vessels, such as boats or ships can have a bilge pump for removing water collecting on a bottom of the vessel. However, most bilge pumps are impeller pumps which are flooded suction pumps, and leave a residual amount of water in the compartment. This residual water can lead to mold, mildew, mustiness, odors, rot and can affect hull integrity.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,174 discloses a pneumatic bilge liquid removal system including an air compressor having inlet and outlet ports pneumatically coupled to a valve system. The air compressor pressurizes a collection chamber via the outlet port causing the bilge liquid in the collection chamber to discharge through the discharge tube. Then, the air compressor creates a negative pressure in the collection chamber via the inlet port causing any bilge liquid to be drawn into and accumulate in the collection chamber via collection tubes. This is a somewhat complicated system that requires an air compressor, a controlled valve system and a collection chamber.
The present inventors have realized that it would be desirable to provide a bilge pump system that is useful to empty the residual amount of water in a boat's bilge, or other water containing compartments.
The present inventors have recognized the desirability to provide such a bilge pump system that did not have the drawbacks of the prior systems, is cost effectively manufactured, and is more easily operated and maintained.
The exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a bilge pump system for removing residual fluid from a vessel surface, including at least one collection unit having a collection base with a collection inlet and a collection outlet, and a pump having a pump inlet flow-connected by at least one tube to the collection outlet. A discharge tube is flow-connected to the pump outlet, wherein the collection inlet comprises at least one opening on a bottom face of the collection base arranged to be on the vessel surface.
The bilge pump system advantageously includes a sponge arranged within the opening of the collection base and in liquid communication with the vessel surface. The sponge can be fitted into place by lips or lugs protruding from the collection base.
The collection base can include a check valve to prevent backflow into the collection base.
The pump can advantageously be a diaphragm pump.
A user-programmable timer switch can be used to turn on and off the pump.
A single pump can be flow connected to multiple collection units. A control valve can be arranged between each collection unit and the pump inlet. The control valve can be pneumatic, electric, or a solenoid valve.
The embodiments of the present invention provide a residual bilge pump system that is effective to remove residual liquid from a vessel beyond that which is removed by a primary bilge pump. For example, the embodiment of the present invention provides a residual bilge pump system that is effective to remove residual water from a boat or ship beyond that which is removed by a primary bilge pump.
The embodiments of the present invention can use a diaphragm pump activated by a user-programmable timer to evacuate the residual amount of bilge water, through a small diameter tube connected to a suction foot attached to a weighted collection base incorporating a sponge. The small diameter tube is connected to a suction unit. The suction unit uses a self-priming diaphragm pump to suction the liquid entering the collection base into the small diameter tube to be discharged. The suction unit can suction from a great distance away from the collection base.
Advantageously the timer is built into the suction unit. This allows the user to activate the pump for as many minutes as desired. For example a user can select as many as 16 activations a day, to as little as one activation per week. This allow the user to custom tailor activation to their vessel's need. The timer can be hidden behind a water-tight lid with an o-ring gasket. This suction unit can discharge residual water overboard via a thru hull, or discharge the residual water into a holding container.
Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.
The collection unit 20 includes a collection base 34 with a weight 36 built in (encapsulated in ultrasonically welded plastic) to help hold the base down onto the floor if it is not attached. The top of the collection base 34 can use a “¼″ PUSH FIT” fitting 40, which allows the suction tube 24, such as a ¼″ tube, to easily be installed onto the collection base 34 by just forcing it in with a user's hand, without need for a tool. The collection base can also incorporates a check-valve 42. The check valve 42 ensures liquid that has moved past the collection base, does not drip back down into the collection base. The base also incorporates two lugs 44, 46 with holes which allows for screw-down mounting of the base. The collection base also incorporates two bosses 48, 49 that each accept a screw, for different attaching methods and brackets for securing the collection base.
A strainer 52 is used to catch any debris that may have made it past the collection base, and prevents debris from being sucked into the suction unit 16, preventing damage. The suction tubes can use “¼″ PUSH FIT” fittings, which allows ¼″ line to easily be installed onto the strainer by just forcing it in by hand without the need for a tool.
The collection base 34 has an open bottom face 54 that is closed by a sponge 56. The sponge can be held in place in the base 34 by lugs or lips 51, 52 protruding inward from the base. The sponge enhances the collection of water or other fluid that otherwise would be very shallow on the vessel surface. The base has peripheral holes 57 exposing the sponge to allow water to reach the sponge.
The suction unit 16 shown in
The suction unit 16 can be configured to effectively suction liquid from the collection base 34 from over 25 feet away from the collection base 34. The diaphragm pump 62 can be activated by a timer 66 that can be built into the unit 16. This timer is user-programmable. This allows the user to activate the pump 62 for as many minutes as desired, such as 16 activations a day, to as little as one activation per week. This allows the user to custom tailor activation to their vessel's need. This timer 66 can be hidden behind a water-tight lid 72 with a o-ring gasket 76. A discharge outlet 80 of the unit 16 can be a ½″ barbed fitting connected to the discharge tube 28, which can be a ½ inch tube. The tube 28 can be discharged overboard via a thru hull, collected into a holding container, or otherwise removed from the vessel floor.
From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2977922 | Skovranek | Apr 1961 | A |
| 3007430 | Breneman | Nov 1961 | A |
| 3347273 | Russell | Oct 1967 | A |
| 3946694 | Belsky | Mar 1976 | A |
| 6837174 | Baurley | Jan 2005 | B1 |
| 8798825 | Hartman | Aug 2014 | B1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20200391825 A1 | Dec 2020 | US |
