Jet pump for transfer of material

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6322327
  • Patent Number
    6,322,327
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, January 13, 2000
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 27, 2001
    24 years ago
Abstract
An improved liquid jet pump for moving solid or other materials is provided. The liquid jet pump includes a nozzle assembly, a suction chamber, and a target tube. The nozzle assembly pulls in atmospheric air, causing an air bearing effect around the liquid jet exiting the nozzle assembly. The liquid jet passes through the suction chamber with minimal deflection, reducing cavitation and improving mixing as educted materials enters the suction chamber and combines with the liquid jet. The combined material is directed into the target tube, which is designed to detach from the other components and is composed of abrasion-resistant material. The target tube absorbs the majority of wear, and provides ease of changing parts.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of The Invention




This invention relates, generally, to hydraulic nonmechanical pumping devices for transferring material, and specifically, to an air-assisted liquid jet pump for moving solid materials.




2. Description of Related Art




The dredging industry commonly utilizes large centrifugal pumps for suction and movement of slurry material, i.e., water containing varying particle sizes such as sand or gravel. Because of the abrasive effect caused by particles, these pumps suffer wear and tear and significant downtime to repair parts of the equipment.




Removal of solid materials from a water environment by means of hydraulic operations is well known in the art. Dredging and deep sea mining operations employ water forced through piping configurations to cause an upward flow that pulls the water and solid material from the desired location.




A common problem in using jet eductor systems occurs because high pressure water jets, while effective at removing high volumes of slurry material, cause severe cavitation in the throat and mixing regions of the eductor conduit, and result in lowered efficiency and extremely short equipment life, as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,165,571.




Use of air to induce upward flow of water has also been used. Use has typically involved compressed air or gas, requiring expensive compression equipment. In addition, the combination of gas, water and solids has contributed to process instability in the mixing chamber of the device, as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,372.




Jet eduction systems have used atmospheric air for the purpose of creating air bubbles for separation processes in U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,013. These systems were not designed to increase pump efficiency, prevent pump cavitation or increase pump flow as disclosed by the present invention. Prior art teaches against introduction of air for these purposes.




Cavitation is the term used to describe vapor bubble generation and collapse in pumps when the pressure in the pump suction drops to or below the NPSH for the pump. The same effects can be observed when air enters the liquid stream inlet of a pump. The presence of a gas in both circumstances causes reduced capacity, reduced or unstable head pressure, and unstable power consumption. Vibration, noise, accelerated corrosion, fatigue failure and other mechanical damage are the consequences of cavitation. The use of the term cavitation in this specification is intended to cover the resulting effects rather than define the physical circumstances causing these resulting effects.




OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION




It is an object of the present invention to provide a pumping means that increases the quantity of material moved without an increase in energy consumption.




It is another object of the present invention to provide a pumping means for moving solid materials with minimal wear on component parts.




It is another object of the present invention to overcome the problems associated with traditional venturi effect pumps.




It is another object of the present invention to provide a pump that has specific parts which are designed to wear and which can be easily changed.




It is another object of the invention to provide a pump that produces a vacuum for suctioning material with little or no cavitation.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




An improved liquid jet pump for moving solid materials is provided. The liquid jet pump includes a nozzle assembly that pulls in atmospheric air. The liquid jet created by passage through the nozzle assembly has minimal deflection as it exits because of an atmospheric air bearing surrounding the liquid jet. Consequently, the liquid jet pump has improved efficiency and capacity.




The liquid jet pump also includes a suction chamber with a suction pipe. The suction generated in the chamber pulls in solid material through the suction pipe as the liquid jet from the nozzle assembly passes through the suction chamber. The liquid jet pump also includes a target tube that receives the liquid jet combined with materials from the suction pipe through the suction chamber. The target tube includes a housing support detachable from the suction chamber and is composed of a wear plate of abrasion-resistant material.




An advantage of the invention is that pump efficiency is improved by increasing the quantity of solid material moved without an increase in horsepower.




A further advantage of the invention is that the target tube wear plate is removable without requiring disassembly and repair of the entire pipe configuration.




A further advantage of the invention is that cavitation in the suction chamber is significantly reduced thereby reducing wear and increasing suction.




A feature of the invention is that conventional centrifugal pumps can be used downstream of the liquid jet pump to increase overall lift capacity.




A further feature of the invention is that it employs no moving parts that can provide potential ignition sources, permitting it to be safely used to pump flammable or volatile material.




These and other objects, advantages, and features of this invention will be apparent from the following description.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a plan view of a dredging assembly with an embodiment of the invention attached.





FIG. 2

is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.





FIG. 3

is a sectional view of an embodiment of the nozzle assembly, suction chamber and target tube of the invention.





FIG. 4A

is a sectional view of preferred embodiment of the nozzle assembly showing minimal deflection of the liquid jet.





FIG. 4B

is a sectional view of an embodiment of the nozzle assembly showing deflection of the liquid jet.





FIG. 5

is a perspective view of material moving through the nozzle assembly and suction chamber.





FIG. 6

is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the nozzle assembly, suction chamber and target tube of the invention.




FIG.


7


and

FIG. 8

are sectional views of a preferred embodiment of the nozzle assembly of the invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




The embodiment of

FIG. 1

illustrates barge


100


for dredging solid materials from a water source, such as a lake or river. Barge


100


is equipped with cantilever system


101


to raise and lower suction pipe


102


into the water source. Suction pipe


102


is connected to jet pump


107


.




Discharge pipe


103


feeds water or other fluid pumped by pump


104


to jet pump


107


. Pump


104


is typically a centrifugal pump, but can be any kind of pumping means, such as a positive displacement pump or even another jet pump. Pump


104


can be contained in pump housing


105


. Discharge pipe


103


also feeds jet nozzle


106


which is connected to discharge pipe


103


before jet pump


107


and suction pipe


102


.




Although suction pipe


102


is shown in

FIG. 1

as defining an angled suction inlet


109


to jet pump


107


before becoming parallel to discharge pipe


103


, suction pipe


102


can be 45° or any angle greater than 0° and less than 180° to discharge pipe


103


for the entire length of suction pipe


102


. Centrifugal pump


108


can optionally be placed downstream of jet pump


107


. Centrifugal pump


108


is typically a centrifugal pump but can be any pumping means.




The depiction of the invention for use in the dredging industry as reflected in

FIG. 1

is only one example application for illustrative purposes. The jet pump


107


can vary in size, from handheld unit to mounted on a bulldozer, mudbuggy or other vehicle, for use in various applications. The distance between pump


104


and jet pump


107


, i.e., the length of the discharge pipe, can also vary greatly.





FIG. 2

illustrates a preferred embodiment of jet pump


107


. Jet pump


107


includes nozzle assembly


307


(shown on

FIG. 3

) comprising fluid nozzle


201


, air injection nozzle


202


and nozzle housing


203


. Nozzle housing


203


is a flanged member which is attached to and maintains the proper position of fluid nozzle


201


adjacent to air injection nozzle


202


. Air intake


211


is one or more passages through nozzle housing


203


. In the embodiment depicted, a single air intake


211


is shown although those skilled in the art could use more. Air hose


204


allows jet pump


107


to use air even when below the water level.




Water or other fluid supplied by a pumping means passes through discharge pipe


103


, fluid nozzle


201


, and air injection nozzle


202


into suction chamber


205


. In suction chamber


205


, the fluid combines with material entering from suction pipe


102


, and the combined stream enters target tube


206


. The combined stream then passes through target tube


206


into outlet pipe


207


.




In a preferred embodiment a first end


106




a


of jet nozzle


106


extends from discharge pipe


103


, allowing a portion of the forced fluid supplied by pumping means to pass through jet nozzle


106


. In a similar manner to the configuration for jet pump


107


, jet nozzle


106


contains a venturi


208


at a second end


106




b


opposite the first end


106




a


connected to discharge pipe


103


. Venturi


208


is equipped with air hose


210


to allow entry of atmospheric air through an air hole


209


defined by the second end


106




b


when jet pump


107


is submerged.




Jet nozzle


106


extends approximately the same length as suction pipe


102


and, as depicted in

FIG. 1

, terminates approximately one (1) foot from the open end of suction pipe


102


. Fluid forced through jet nozzle


106


exits venturi


208


with air into the material that will be suctioned. An air bearing effect minimizes deflection and allows deeper penetration to loosen the material being transferred. The jet stream also creates a churning effect that directs the churned material into the open end of suction pipe


102


.




Although jet nozzle


106


is shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

as a single attachment, in an alternate embodiment, multiples of jet nozzle


106


can be attached to discharge pipe


103


. In another embodiment, one or more jet nozzles


106


can be attached to suction pipe


102


, handheld, or mounted on other equipment, depending on the application.




Referring to

FIGS. 3

,


4


A and


4


B, in the interior of nozzle housing


203


, fluid nozzle


201


includes constricted throat


301


. Fluid nozzle


201


is attached by a connecting means to air injection nozzle


202


. Air gap


302


exists between constricted throat


301


and air injection nozzle


202


. In one embodiment, air gap


302


between constricted throat


301


and air injection nozzle


202


at its narrowest point measures {fraction (3/16)} of an inch. The overall area and dimension at the narrowest point of air gap


302


will vary with the application and the material being transferred to optimize the suction effect.




Constricted throat


301


is attached to air injection nozzle


202


by means of nozzle housing


203


. Nozzle housing


203


is a flanged pipe with air intake


211


drilled into the pipe circumference. Although nozzle housing


203


is depicted with one air intake


211


, those skilled in the art would know that multiple air intakes can be provided. In a preferred embodiment, nozzle housing


203


has eight ¾ inch holes equal distance around the circumference of nozzle housing


203


.




Air injection nozzle


202


has drilled air hole


304


. Although air injection nozzle


202


is depicted with one air hole


304


, those skilled in the art would know that multiple air holes can be provided. In a preferred embodiment depicted in

FIG. 6

, air injection nozzle


202


has eight ½ inch holes equal distance around the circumference of air injection nozzle


202


.




When air injection nozzle


202


and fluid nozzle


201


are assembled, air hole


304


can align with air intake


211


. Alignment however is not necessary, as fluid nozzle


201


and air injection nozzle


202


should be constructed with a minimal clearance to allow air to surround the fluid jet as it passes through constricted throat


301


into nozzle opening


202


. In a preferred embodiment, the clearance is 0.01 inches.




Air hole


304


and air intake


211


allow the entry of atmospheric air to fill air gap


302


. The forced delivery of liquid through constricted throat


301


creates a vacuum in air gap


302


that pulls in atmosphere air. Varying the amount of air entering air hole


304


creates an increased suction effect in air gap


302


.




In one embodiment, vacuum in air gap


302


measured 29 inches Hg when air intake


211


was 10% open, compared to 10 inches Hg when air intake


211


was 100% open. Restriction of air though air intake


211


can be accomplished by any mechanical valve means.




It is believed that entry of atmospheric air into air gap


302


creates an air bearing effect. The air surrounds the flow of fluid leaving constricted throat


301


and the combined fluid jet with surrounding air passes through air injection nozzle


202


.




Referring to

FIGS. 2

,


3


, and


5


, the fluid jet with the air, introduced through air gap


302


, exits air injection nozzle


202


, passes through suction chamber


205


, and enters target tube


206


. The combined air fluid jet passes through suction chamber


205


with minimal deflection before entering target tube


206


.




As illustrated approximately in

FIGS. 4A and 4B

, a visual correlation can be observed between the deflection of a liquid jet entering target tube


206


, and the presence of atmospheric air in air gap


302


.

FIG. 4A

shows the liquid pattern with atmospheric air creating air bearing


401


.

FIG. 4B

depicts the liquid pattern exiting air injection nozzle


202


without atmospheric air present. For the embodiment depicted, the best results for pumping only water were achieved when the pump discharge pressure was 150-175 p.s.i. and the vaccum in air gap


30


L was 18-22 inches of Hg.




Air bearing


401


around the liquid jet minimizes deflection, and thus, cavitation in suction chamber


205


. Less cavitation reduces wear and the need to replace component parts, and increases flow through suction chamber


205


into target tube


206


with the liquid jet stream.




Referring to

FIG. 3

, suction chamber


205


is shown with end


102




b


of suction pipe


102


entering at a 45° angle. The design of suction chamber


205


allows one to adjust the placement of air injection nozzle


202


so that air injection nozzle


202


is out of the flow of solid material entering suction chamber


205


, so as to prevent wear, or further into suction chamber


205


so as to create a greater vacuum.




Suction pipe


102


entering at an angle avoids the problem common to many eductor nozzles suffering excessive wear and corrosion by being placed in the flow of solid material. Although this configuration is a preferred embodiment to maximize the entry of slurry material with minimal abrasive effect, those skilled in the art would know that alternate angles greater than 0° and less than 180° can be utilized.




In a preferred embodiment, suction chamber


205


measures 24¾ inches at A. The distance between nozzle opening


303


and one end of target tube


206


is 13¾ inches at B.




As the liquid jet passes through target tube


206


, a suction effect is created in suction chamber


205


. The suction effect pulls in any material located at open end


102




a


of suction pipe


102


. The suction effect increases the overall quantity of material driven by pump


104


. The following table illustrates the ratio of pumped liquid entering fluid nozzle


201


to total material exiting target tube


206


:




















Pump




Vacuum




Liquid




Liquid








Discharge




Measured




Exit




Inlet





Discharge






Pressure




In Air




Power




Fluid Nozzle




Suction




Pressure Exit






(psi)




Gap (Hg)




(GPM)




(GPM)




Ratio




Tube (psi)




























100




25




3160




672




4.70




6






125




25




3500




780




4.49




7






150




25




4150




824




5.04




8






175




25




4460




890




5.01




9






200




25




4080




950




4.29




9.5






225




25




4500




1000




4.50




9.5






250




25




4500




1063




4.23




10






100




20




3140




672




4.67




6






125




20




3700




780




4.74




6






150




20




4050




824




4.92




7






175




20




4170




890




4.69




8






200




20




4150




950




4.37




9






225




20




3600




1000




3.60




10






250




20




3300




1063




3.10




10






100




15




3450




672




5.13




6






125




15




3911




780




5.01




6






150




15




4041




824




4.90




7






175




15




3600




890




4.04




8






200




15




3200




950




3.37




9






225




15




2300




1000




2.30




10






250




15




2700




1063




2.54




10














The specific gravity of the material pumped, i.e. water, versus sand or gravel, will affect the optimum inches vacuum in air gap


302


and the discharge pressure of pump


104


. During testing of jet pump


107


, vacuum in air gap


302


measured 29 inches Hg when suctioning water, 24 inches when suctioning slurry material containing sand, and 18 inches Hg when suctioning material containing gravel.




The suction effect created by target tube


206


allows the movement of larger quantities of material without any concurrent increase in horsepower to operate pump


104


providing the liquid flow. For example, testing has demonstrated movement of material containing 60-65% by weight of sand, as compared to the 18-20% of solids using conventional methods such as centrifugal pumps at the same flowrate or discharge pressure.




Target tube


206


is constructed as a detachable wear plate. The target tube can be detached from outlet pipe


207


and suction chamber


205


. The majority of wear from abrasive material occurs in target tube


206


, not suction chamber


205


, because of reduced cavitation from the air bearing effect on the liquid jet and the design of suction chamber


205


.




In

FIGS. 3 and 6

, target tube


206


is fixably attached to a support in the form of target tube housing


306


. Once target tube


206


is worn, target tube


206


can be removed by detaching target tube housing


306


from suction chamber


205


on one end


306




a


and from outlet pipe


207


on the other end


306




b


without having to open suction chamber


205


.




In an alternative embodiment, target tube


206


may be fixably attached at one end to a connecting means such as a split locking flange. The split locking flange could then hold target tube


206


in place at one end by connecting between outlet pipe


207


or suction chamber


205


and target tube housing


306


. The opposite end of target tube


206


could then rest on target tube housing


306


using notches or other means to prevent axial or radial movement.




A centrifugal pump


108


, as shown in

FIG. 1

, can be placed downstream of target tube


206


despite the introduction of atmospheric air before nozzle opening


203


. No cavitation occurs in centrifugal pump


108


from the atmospheric air. This is counter to conventional wisdom regarding operation of centrifugal pumps by those skilled in the art. The atmospheric air likely dissolves in the liquid jet in or past target tube


206


, further supporting the optimum effect observed when atmospheric air is restricted in its entry through air intake


211


.




Target tube


206


can vary in both length and diameter. Diameter will most often be determined by the particle size of the material conveyed. Length and diameter of target tube


206


will effect the distance and head pressure that jet pump


107


can generate.




In a preferred embodiment shown in

FIG. 6

, target tube


206


measures 36 inches in length, with 6⅝ inches outer diameter and 6 inches inner diameter. Target tube housing


306


is composed of 2 6×12 reducing flanges, each connected to one end of 12¾ pipe 10 inches long. Interior target tube wear plate


305


(as shown in

FIG. 3

) is composed of non-abrasive disposable material such as metals with high chrome content.




As shown in

FIG. 6

, target tube


206


is a straight pipe with blunt edges. In an alternate embodiment shown in

FIG. 2

, target tube


206


could have angled edges of a larger diameter than the diameter of the target tube body at one or both ends of target tube


206


.




In a preferred embodiment, the nozzle elements of

FIG. 7

are constructed according to specific proportions. Although the nozzle elements are shown as three separate elements, those skilled in the art would know that the nozzle assembly could be constructed of one or more elements of varying dimensions. Fluid nozzle


201


is 5 inches in length and 8 inches in outer diameter. Constricted throat


301


of fluid nozzle


201


at inner edge


701


narrows radially inward from 8 inches to 2 inches diameter at its narrowest point at a 45° angle. Constricted throat


301


measures 3 inches in diameter on outer edge


702


.




Air injection nozzle


202


is 12 and ⅞ inches in length. At one end, air injection nozzle


202


is 10 inches in diameter on outside surface


703


, and 8.01 inches in diameter on inside surface


704


. Outside surface


703


remains 10 inches in diameter axially for a length of 5 inches, then drops radially to a diameter of 7 inches, and angles inward radially to a diameter of 4 inches for the remaining length. In a preferred embodiment, air injection nozzle


202


has an angle of 102° between the smallest diameter at angled end in the vertical plane and angled edge.




Inside surface


704


of air injection nozzle


202


remains 8.01 inches axially for a length of 4 and {fraction (3/16)} inches, then drops radially to a diameter of 2 and ½ inches for the remainder of the length.




Air hole


303


is ½ inch in diameter equally spaced along the circumference of outside surface


703


located 2 inches from the end of air injection nozzle


202


that has a 10 inch diameter.




In a preferred embodiment, nozzle housing


203


measures 13½ inches at flanged end


705


connected to fluid nozzle


201


. At flanged end


706


connected to suction chamber


205


, the outer diameter measures 19 inches. Flanged end


705


has an inner diameter measures 7.0625 inches, sufficient to allow passage of air injection nozzle


202


at its angled end. Flanged end


705


has an inner diameter for the remaining length of 10.01 inches to accommodate air injection nozzle


202


at its largest point. Nozzle housing


203


has one or more, preferably eight, 1″ NPT connections in air intake


211


.




While it is understood that the jet pump described herein is characterized by the entry of atmospheric air and a detachable wear plate, it is apparent that the foregoing description of specific embodiments can be readily adapted for various applications without departing from the general concept. Such adaptions and modifications are intended to be comprehended within the range of equivalents of disclosed embodiments. Terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation.




The invention can be used in any application requiring significant suction effect of solid material in a liquid or gaseous environment. Those skilled in the art would know that the invention can also be used for suction in gaseous or liquid environments without solids present, and maintain a significant suction effect. The invention can also be used in closed loop dewatering applications to remove excess water or moisture from material.




There are, of course, other alternate embodiments which are obvious from the foregoing descriptions of the invention, which are intended to be included within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. An eductor jet pump comprising:a nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle housing defining at least one air hole, a fluid nozzle which defines a constricted throat, and an air injection nozzle which defines a nozzle opening, said fluid nozzle and said air injection nozzle forming an air gap which is in fluid communication with said at least one air hole and which surrounds said constricted throat, said constricted throat terminating at said nozzle opening, said at least one air hole being located on or before said nozzle opening; said nozzle assembly feeding into a suction chamber; a discharge pipe which feeds into said constricting throat of said nozzle assembly; a pumping means to force fluid through said discharge pipe and said constricted throat; an outlet pipe which defines a receiving outlet downstream from said suction chamber; a suction pipe which defines a suction inlet and which has a first end connected to said suction chamber at an angle greater than 0° and less than 180°, and a second end open to the surrounding environment; wherein said suction chamber is in fluid communication with said receiving outlet, said suction inlet and said nozzle opening of said nozzle assembly.
  • 2. The eductor jet pump of claim 1 further comprising a hose connected to said at least one air hole for feeding atmospheric air into said air gap.
  • 3. The eductor jet pump of claim 2 wherein said receiving outlet is further defined by a concentric wear plate attached to a support with a first end and a second end, said first end of said support detachably connected to said suction chamber; and said second end of said support detachably connected to said outlet pipe.
  • 4. The eductor jet pump of claim 3 wherein said wear plate is detachably connected to said support.
  • 5. The eductor jet pump of claim 3 wherein said wear plate is made of a metal which is highly resistant to abrasion.
  • 6. The eductor jet pump of claim 3 wherein said receiving outlet has a diameter in a ratio of 5:1 to said opening of said nozzle assembly; a diameter in a ratio of 2:1 to said suction chamber; a diameter in a ratio of 0.5:1 to said suction inlet; and a diameter equal to the diameter of said outlet pipe.
  • 7. The eductor jet pump of claim 3 further comprising a jet nozzle, said jet nozzle comprising:a first end connected to said discharge pipe; a second end enclosing a venturi and defining at least one air hole opposite said first end for feeding air into said jet nozzle.
  • 8. The eductor jet pump of claim 6 further comprising a jet nozzle air hose for feeding atmospheric air into said at least one air hole.
  • 9. The eductor jet pump of claim 3 wherein said suction inlet is angled at approximately 45° in relation to said suction chamber.
  • 10. The eductor jet pump of claim 3 wherein said receiving outlet feeds the suction of pumping means for receiving and pumping material received through said receiving outlet.
  • 11. The eductor jet pump of claim 2 further comprising a jet nozzle, said jet nozzle comprising:a first end connected to said discharge pipe; and a second end enclosing a venturi and at least one air hole opposite said first end for feeding air into said jet nozzle.
  • 12. The eductor jet pump of claim 11 further comprising a jet nozzle air hose for feeding atmospheric air to said at least one air hole.
  • 13. The eductor jet pump of claim 11 wherein said suction inlet is angled at 45° in relation to said suction chamber.
  • 14. The eductor jet pump of claim 11 wherein said receiving outlet feeds the suction of pumping means for receiving and pumping material received through said receiving outlet.
  • 15. An eductor jet pump comprising:a nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle housing defining a plurality of air holes, a fluid nozzle which defines a constricted throat, and an air injection nozzle which defines a nozzle opening, said fluid nozzle and said air injection nozzle forming an air gap which is in fluid communication with said air holes and which surrounds said constricted throat, said constricted throat terminating at said nozzle opening, said air holes being located on or before said nozzle opening; a pipe providing an inlet to said constricting throat of said nozzle assembly; a pumping means to force fluid through said constricted throat; a concentric wear plate which defines a receiving outlet and is attached to a support with a first end and a second end, said first end of said support detachably connected to said suction chamber; and said second end of said support detachably connected to an outlet pipe; a suction pipe which defines a suction inlet and which has a first end connected to said suction chamber at an angle greater than 0 and less than 180° degrees, and a second end open to the surrounding environment; and a suction chamber which encloses said receiving outlet, said suction inlet and said nozzle opening on said nozzle assembly.
  • 16. The eductor jet pump of claim 15 wherein said receiving outlet has a diameter in a ratio of 5:1 to said opening of said nozzle assembly; a diameter in a ratio of 2:1 to said suction chamber; a diameter in a ratio of 0.5:1 to said suction inlet; and a diameter equal to the diameter of said outlet pipe.
  • 17. The eductor jet pump of claim 15 wherein said wear plate is detachably connected to said support.
  • 18. The eductor jet pump of claim 15 wherein said wear plate is made of a metal which is highly resistant to abrasion.
  • 19. The eductor jet pump of claim 15 further comprising a jet nozzle, said jet nozzle comprising:a first end connected to said discharge pipe; and a second end enclosing a venturi and defining at least one air hole opposite said first end for feeding air into said jet nozzle.
  • 20. The eductor jet pump of claim 19 further comprising a jet nozzle air hose for feeding atmospheric air to said at least one air hole.
  • 21. The eductor jet pump of claim 15 wherein said suction inlet is angled at 45° in relation to said suction chamber.
  • 22. The eductor jet pump of claim 15 wherein said receiving outlet feeds the suction of pumping means for receiving and pumping material received through said receiving outlet.
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