Patent Application
20080044294
Like numbers and/or letters in the various figures are used to refer to like parts or components within the group of figures.
It will now be appreciated that, while specific embodiments are described hereinafter, several other applications of the presently described invention may be contemplated by those of skill in the art in view of this disclosure. For example, while the accompanying drawings illustrate the in-line jet pump of this invention as used for suctioning operations, the jet pump may be used for virtually any application in which solid particulate matter, or a slurry comprised of such matter, must be moved from one location to another. In each of the above examples, small batch operations as well as large commercial batch, semi-continuous and continuous operations are possible using pumping methods and systems of this invention.
Referring now to the accompanying figures,
The jet pump is configured to provide nozzle assembly 18 to be disposed within housing 10 and thus intermediate between suction inlet 16 and suction outlet 14. This means that all suctioned material M flows around nozzle assembly 18 in passing through housing 10 and into discharge conduit 26.
Gas 46 is supplied to nozzle assembly 18 via gas supply conduit 42. In an embodiment of the invention, the gas is air. In yet another embodiment of the invention the gas is an inert gas. The gas employed in the jet pump and methods of this invention will preferably be under no more than atmospheric pressure, to reduce risk of hazardous operations and extra cost. The gas preferably will be an inert gas, e.g., nitrogen or argon, when the solid, fluid, liquid or other material being suctioned could be volatile in the presence of certain atmospheric gases, e.g., oxygen. When such volatility is not an issue, the gas employed will be most conveniently atmospheric air.
Pressurized fluid 20 is comprised of motive fluid, shown as a liquid, i.e., water, which is provided from motive fluid tank 34, although many other configurations for supplying the fluid are with the scope of this disclosure. For example, the source of fluid might be a recirculation tank, or water from some naturally occurring body of water like a pond, stream or lake. Pump P is typically a centrifugal pump for pressurizing the fluid as a liquid supplied to nozzle assembly 18, but pump P can be any kind of pumping means, such as a positive displacement pump or even another jet pump.
A discharge conduit 26, configured for fluid communication with suction chamber 12 through suction outlet 14, is disposed to receive fluid flow 22 and suctioned material 28,28. Discharge conduit 26 extends from suction outlet 14 and defines a first inner diameter D1 which is less than a second inner diameter D2. The narrow portion of discharge conduit 26 provides a venturi-like effect so that a vacuum is formed at least at suction inlet 16. Material M, shown as triangular shapes 28,28 is suctioned into housing 10 though suction inlet 16. Housing 10 is so configured that a flow of suctioned material 28,28 has a predominant direction of material flow 36 which is substantially parallel to a predominant direction of flow of the fluid flow 22 from nozzle assembly 18. Direction of fluid flow, shown as arrow 38, is substantially parallel to direction of material flow 36. Fluid flow 22 is, of course, three dimensional and when directions of flow (both fluid flow and matter flow) are indicated to be parallel or substantially parallel it is to be understood that the directions of flow are parallel in multiple planes. In particular the directions of flow are parallel at least in multiple planes which planes are offset to each other.
Attachment of housing 10, discharge conduit 26, pressurized fluid supply conduit 40 and gas supply conduit 42 is effected by use of attachment straps 30,30 though it is to be understood that attachment can be accomplished in some other manner, such as by having the components of the jet pump assembly configured integrally with an excavator arm. Though arm 32 will typically be used, any suitable articulating device can be employed.
Pressurized fluid supply conduit 40 and gas supply conduit 42 are configured to be somewhat flexible, for example, by being constructed of a material which is strong enough to maintain its integrity under adverse suction conditions while maintaining sufficient flexibility to adjust to positioning and re-positioning of the excavator arm.
The attachment of the jet pump to the excavator arm works surprisingly well to position the suction inlet in very close proximity to the material to be suctioned in order to capture a degree of versatility and ease of movement heretofore unknown in the industry. Because there is no long suction intake line, having the jet pump assembly attached to the excavator arm also provides savings in construction costs and adaptability to maneuver in confined spaces. The sizing of the conduits of the invention will vary depending on the particulate size of the material to be suctioned and the rate at which the material needs to be removed.
It is contemplated that a small excavator, with jet pump assembly attached could be readily supported on a suitable flotation device, such as a small barge, to further extend the reach, and therefore the usefulness, of the invention. A particularly desirable use for the invention is for removing silt and clay build up in boat slips and marinas, where larger, bulkier equipment would be unsuitable.
Control means for controlling at least the position of the suction inlet relative to a material to be suctioned may comprise any number of devices or apparatuses capable of controlling the position of the suction inlet. Suitable, non-limiting, control means includes mechanical arms of excavators (with or without a bucket at the end of the arm), mechanical arms of back hoes, mechanical arms of drag lines, mechanical arms of mini-excavators, and the like.
The inline jet pump was demonstrated to have superior material-moving capabilities of a rate of movement of a slurry of sand, silt and water of at least about 50 tons (4.5×104 kg) per hour when the second inner diameter of the discharge conduit was about 4 inches (10.2 cm), the first inner diameter of the discharge conduit was about 3 inches (7.6 cm), the diameter of the nozzle assembly at the point of ejection of the pressurized fluid was about 0.625 inches (1.59 cm), pressurized fluid pressure was about 150 psi (1034 kPa), and the flow rate of the pressurized fluid was about 143 gallons (541 L) per minute.
Even better performance of the inline jet pump of a rate of movement of a slurry of sand, silt and water of at least about 100 tons (9.1×104) kg) per hour was attained when the second inner diameter of the discharge conduit was about 6 inches (15.24 cm), the first inner diameter of the discharge conduit was about 4 inches (10.2 cm), the diameter of the nozzle assembly at the point of ejection of the pressurized fluid was about 0.875 inch (2.22 cm), the pressurized fluid pressure was about 150 psi (1034 kPa), and the flow rate of the pressurized fluid was about 280 gallons (1060 L) per minute.
The present invention can be used in any application requiring significant suction effect on solid material in a liquid or gaseous environment. The dimensions of the various component parts of jet pumps and systems of this invention may vary depending upon the circumstances in which the jet pump or system will be employed, so long as the dimensions permit the components to function as described herein. Except where specifically noted otherwise herein, the component parts may be fabricated from a wide variety of materials, the selection of which will depend upon the circumstances in which the device will be employed. Preferably, metals, metal alloys or resilient plastics, for example, will be employed to insure that points of mechanical contact or abrasive wear in the systems and jet pumps will be resilient enough to withstand the forces placed upon them during jet pump operation.
Except as may be expressly otherwise indicated, the article “a” or “an” if and as used herein is not intended to limit, and should not be construed as limiting, a claim to a single element to which the article refers. Rather, the article “a” or “an” if and as used herein is intended to cover one or more such elements, unless the text expressly indicates otherwise.
It should be appreciated that, while specific embodiments are described herein, several other applications of the presently described invention may be contemplated by those of skill in the art in view of this disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described in detail herein. Rather, what is intended to be covered is as set forth in the ensuing claims and the equivalents thereof permitted as a matter of law. As used in this specification, means-plus-function clauses, if any, are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the cited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.
