1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pump or pumping system, including a bilge pump for mounting in a vessel.
2. Brief Description of Related Art
Pumps are known and used to move bilge water or work in confined areas with hoses attached for directing the water to a desired exit point or area. A mechanical or electronic switching method is typically used to turn the pump on/off.
Known pumping devices are limited in the angles or flexibility in the discharge outlet of the pump reducing the overall attractiveness and fit for the purpose that they are intended to achieve. Another limitation is in the switching options that are available.
In summary, the present invention provides a low profile pump having the ability to be mounted in various configurations, utilizing several methods of power switching, and having discharge angle flexibility with multiple versions and discharge outputs. The ability to be mounted in various configurations is characterized by a new and unique cooperation between a pump chamber and a mounting base that allows a full 360° rotation of the pump chamber in relation to the mounting base.
By way of example, and according to some embodiments, the present invention may take the form of a pumping system featuring a pump chamber in combination with a mounting base. The pump chamber may be configured with a central portion having an outlet, including a tangential outlet, and also configured with a tubular coupling end portion having inwardly flexible portions, each with a respective outwardly extending raised rim; and the mounting base may include a circular portion having an inner circumferential wall with an inner circumferential recess configured therein to receive and engage the outwardly extending raised rims of the inwardly flexible portions of the tubular coupling portion of the pump chamber, so that the pumping chamber is rotationally coupled to the mounting base for 360° rotation.
Embodiments of the present invention may also include one or more of the following features:
The pumping system may include a pickup nozzle or scoop having a tubular coupling and axial outlet end; and the pump chamber may be configured with a tubular coupling and axial inlet end portion on another side to couple to the tubular coupling and axial outlet end of the pickup nozzle or scoop. The coupling between the pickup nozzle or scoop and the pump chamber may include, or take the form of, rotational or fixed coupling, depending on the particular application of the pumping system.
The mounting base may include one or more lower mounting legs with apertures formed therein and may be configured to be mounted to a surface or workpiece, including via a fastener.
The pumping system may include a motor, pump and electronics assembly having an impeller; and the mounting base and the motor, pump and electronics assembly may be coupled together using a detent and slot arrangement so that the impeller extends into the pumping chamber.
The motor, pump and electronics assembly may include a housing configured with at least one outwardly extending detent; and the mounting base may include a circumferential wall configured with at least one inwardly extending slot for receiving the at least one outwardly extending detent of the housing for coupling together the mounting base and motor, pump and electronics assembly.
The circumferential wall may take the form of an inner circumferential wall having at least one recessed slot formed therein for receiving the at least one outwardly extending detent of the housing for coupling together the mounting base and motor, pump and electronics assembly.
The circumferential wall may be configured with at least one slotted opening formed therein for receiving the at least one outwardly extending detent of the housing for coupling together the mounting base and motor, pump and electronics assembly.
The pumping system is, or forms part of, a bilge pump.
The pumping system may also include a switching assembly having a printed circuit board assembly with a water level sensor configured to respond to a water level and turn a motor in the motor, pump and electronics assembly on and off, the switching assembly arranged in a housing part of the motor, pump and electronics assembly; the at least one outwardly extending detent may include two diametrically opposed outwardly extending detents formed or configured thereon; and the at least one inwardly extending slot may include two diametrically opposed inwardly extending slots for receiving the two diametrically opposed outwardly extending detents of the housing for coupling together the mounting base and motor, pump and electronics assembly in at least two rotational orientations that differ by about 180°, including
In effect, the pump according to the present invention has the unique ability to pump a liquid utilizing a pickup scoop or nozzle and with a more flexible arrangement of a discharge port than has been achieved in other pumps of this nature known in the art. The flexible rotational nature of the discharge port that has full rotation and with the additional port adapters of various angles available can rotate into many positions on multiple axes. This has not been achieved by other pumps of this nature known in the art.
The drawing includes the following Figures, which are not necessarily drawn to scale:
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the pumping system 10 may include a new and unique combination of a pump chamber 30 and a mounting base 40. The pump chamber 30 may be configured with a central portion 32 having the outlet 34, and also configured with a tubular coupling end portion 36 having inwardly flexible portions 38, each with a respective outwardly extending raised rim 38a; and the mounting base 40 may include a circular portion 42 having one or more inner circumferential rims or walls 42a′, 42a″ with an inner circumferential recess 42c′″ formed therein and configured to receive and engage the outwardly extension raised rims 38a of the inwardly flexible rim portions 38 of the tubular coupling portion 36 of the pump chamber 30, e.g., when the tubular coupling end portion 36 of the pump chamber 30 is pushed into the circular portion 42 of the mounting base 40, so that the pumping chamber 30 is rotationally coupled to the mounting base 40 for 360° rotation.
The pumping system shown in
The embodiments shown in
In
The pumping chamber 30 forms a second part of the overall pumping system 10 and includes the central portion 32 having the outlet 34 as shown, a tubular coupling and axial inlet end portion 33 on its left side as shown to rotationally couple to the outlet portion 26 of the pickup nozzle or scoop 20, and also the tubular coupling end portion 36 having the inwardly flexible portions 38 with the raised rims 38a on its right side as shown. In
The mounting base 40 forms a third part of the overall pumping system 10 that is best shown in
The present invention is shown having four recessed coupling portions 42b for cooperating with four corresponding outwardly extending, detents, tabs or protrusions 54a; however, embodiments are envisioned, and the scope of the invention is intended to include, using fewer than four recessed coupling portions 42b for cooperating with fewer than four corresponding outwardly extending tab or protrusions 54a, as well as using more than four recessed coupling portions 42b for cooperating with more than four corresponding outwardly extending detents, tabs or protrusions 54a, within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Moreover, the present invention is shown having three recessed portions 42b′, 42b″ and 42b′″, however, embodiments are envisioned, and the scope of the invention is intended to include, using fewer than three recessed portions 42b′, 42b″ and 42b′″ for cooperating with the corresponding outwardly extending detents, tabs or protrusions 54a, as well as using more than three recessed portions 42b′, 42b″ and 42b′″ for cooperating with the corresponding outwardly extending, detents, tabs or protrusions 54a, within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The inner circumferential rim or wall 42a″ may be configured with one or more wall portions 42c′, 42c″ formed or configured therein, as shown, each for receiving the outwardly extension raised rims 38a of the inwardly flexible rim portions 38 of the tubular coupling portion 36 of the pump chamber 30. For example, the wall portion 42c′ may be configured as an inwardly sloping surface so as to flex or push the inwardly flexible rim portions 38 as they are pushed axially into the central portion 42 of the mounting base 40. The wall portion 42c″ may be configured as a non-sloping surface so as to allow the inwardly flexible rim portions 38 to move towards the inner circumferential recess 42c′″. In operation, when the outwardly extending raised rims 38a are pushed far enough into the central portion 42 and reach the inner circumferential recess 42c′″, then the inwardly flexible rim portions 38 flex back outwardly into the inner circumferential recess 42c′″, and the outwardly extending raised rims 38a engage the inner circumferential recess 42c′″, so that the pump chamber 30 is rotationally coupled to and free to be rotated 360° in relation to the mounting base 40. Embodiments are envisioned, and the scope of the invention is intended to including, using one wall portions 42c′ or 42c″. For example, only the wall portion 42c′ may be used and configured as the inwardly sloping surface so as to flex or push the inwardly flexible rim portions 38 as they are pushed axially into the central portion 42 of the mounting base 40, and when the outwardly extension raised rims 38a are pushed far enough into the central portion 42 and reach the inner circumferential recess 42c′″, then the inwardly flexible rim portions 38 flex back outwardly, and the outwardly extending raised rims 38a engage the inner circumferential recess 42c′″. Alternatively, only the wall portion 42c″ may be used, configured and dimensioned as a non-sloping surface so as to flex or push the inwardly flexible rim portions 38 as they are pushed axially into the central portion 42 of the mounting base 40, and when the outwardly extending raised rims 38a are pushed far enough into the central portion 42 and reach the inner circumferential recess 42c′″, then the inwardly flexible rim portions 38 flex back outwardly into the inner circumferential recess 42c′″, and the outwardly extending raised rims 38a engage the inner circumferential recess 42c′″. (In effect, in this embodiment, the diameter of the wall portion 42c″ of the central portion 42 would be slightly less than the corresponding diameter of the tubular coupling portion 36 having the inwardly flexible rim portions 38.)
In addition,
Consistent with that shown in
The motor, pump and electronics assembly 50 also include an assembly 39 for coupling the motor 58 to the housing 54.
By way of example, the outwardly extending detents, tabs or protrusions 54a may include four outwardly extending detents, tabs or protrusions 54a arranged at 0°, 90°, 180° and 270° for cooperating with the four recessed coupling portions 42b also arranged at 0°, 90°, 180° and 270°, so as to be able to orient the motor, pump and electronics assembly 50 in relation to the mounting base 40 in four rotational orientations. This flexibility allows the user to change the water level sensor setting, consistent with that set forth in relation to
The pump 10 may also be configured with the switch assembly 60 for turning the motor on/off, as well as one or more other mechanisms 70, e.g., including a level sensor configured to turn the switch on/off depending on some sensed condition. The switch assembly 60 includes a PCBA 62 for controlling the operation of the pump, having a water level sensor circuit 62 configured to sense the high/low water level and turn the pump on/off, consistent with that described in further detail below in relation to
According to some embodiments, the present invention may take the form of a pumping system generally indicated as 100 as shown in
By way of example, the pick-up nozzle or scoop 120 may include a nozzle or scoop portion 122 and a removable sliding strainer 124 that can be easily removed from the nozzle or scoop portion 122 for cleaning. In addition to the removable strainer screen 124, the pick-up nozzle or scoop 120 and its associated supporting structure as shown may be configured to be rotated through 360 degrees, consistent with that set forth in relation to the pickup nozzle/scoop 20. The pick-up or nozzle or scoop 120 may also be configured to contain an anti-airlock device or aperture formed therein that prevents trapped air from affecting the pumping operation. For example, to overcome an air lock condition, the pumping system 100 may be configured to release entrapped air, the air may be allowed to “bleed” out to the atmosphere allowing the water to rise and engage the impeller. By way of example, see a related patent application Ser. No. 14/193,210 (911-17.30-1//M-RLE-X0006), filed on 28 Feb. 2014; see another related patent application Ser. No. 14/193,269 (911-17.31-1//M-RLE-X0007), also filed on 28 Feb. 2014; and see still another patent application Ser. No. 13/917,970, (911-17.28-2//M-RLE-X0005), filed 14 Jun. 2013. All three of the aforementioned patent applications discloses a technique for solving the aforementioned air lock problem, are assigned to the assignee of the present application, and are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
The pumping chamber 130 may include a tangential discharge portion, similar to element 34 shown in
The pumping system 100 may include additional adapters like element 112 that allows the output configuration to be angled through multiple axes. The possibility of using multiple adapters also allows various final output connections to be made that may include any number of rigid, flexible or semi-flexible devices.
The discharge or pumping chamber 130 may include an O-ring or other flexible component 137 sealed allowing the unrestricted movement of that joint or a more restricted type movement with the selection of various sealing mechanisms.
The mounting portion or base 140 may be configured using a bracket type device that may be oriented in many positions depending upon the vertical or horizontal plane that the pumping system 100 may be attached. Usual mounting hardware of various types may be used to attach the pump including but not limited to rivets, various industrial cements, screws, bolts and other fixing devices. As shown, the mounting bracket 140 may be configured to incorporate a corresponding detent and slot arrangement or mechanism to orient the pump motor body, e.g., either without a switch (see
The switch arrangement 160 may be configured into several possible fixed positions that allow the switching mechanism, if included on the pump motor body, to be oriented as to take advantage of fixed or variable sensor placement, like element 170, allowing for multiple level sensing capabilities that can be manipulated by the user through methods that may include orientation of the motor pump assembly or possible manipulation of the sensor. This flexibility in implementation allows for a variety of level sensing options.
By way of example, the motor, pump and electronics assembly 150 may include an electrical motor, like element 58, or motor powered by another source of power. The motor pump body may come in various configurations two of which would include the switch arrangement 160 and without the switch arrangement 160 included. The switch arrangement 160 may include the additional mechanisms 170 that may affect the operation of the switch and causing certain functions of the switch to become disabled and replaced by other functions an example of that being a level sense operation of the switch and the possible ability to switch modes by the aforementioned methods to cause a different type of operation such as an automatic turn on timer function that incorporates other power sensing to determine when the pump would continue to operate and when to go back into the cycle of automatic operation repeating the cycle by use of an internal timer or some external trigger. The switch arrangement 160 may include the ability to receive an external trigger that would operate the pump regardless of its primary sense whether that is a timer in the automatic mode or a level sense type feature. Additional tabs 160a or exposed areas may include the description of the function that the pump is operating under which may include high or low or automatic or some other description, picture, symbol or phrase that explains in a visual or tactile manner the intended operation at that time. As certain mechanisms are moved, rotated or manipulated in other orientations, the messaging as described above may change or be exposed to explain the current intended operation.
In addition to that set forth above, the pump according to the present invention may include the following:
Another ability of this pumping system 100 is the multiple switching options available. In one embodiment, the pump can come as a manual pump utilizing a number of manual or electric or electronic switch arrangements to turn on and off.
In another embodiment, the pump can come with an included switching arrangement that is electric or electronic in nature that has the ability to turn the pump on and off detecting multiple levels of liquid. The multiple level sense ability can be chosen by the operator and is achieved by orientation of the housing that incorporates the switching mechanism. If the need for a different level sense is needed at a later time manipulation of the housing can change the level pick up sense.
The switching mechanism may also include a built-in feature that allows the pump to have an additional mode of operation which is a time dependent turn on and utilizing power detection technology, a determination of the whether the pump should stay on or turn off is achieved. This can continue the timing cycle which involves a set time elapse before a momentary turn on of the pump and the power usage technology determines whether there is sufficient drag on certain components which may include an impeller or other moving device that allows for pumping of liquids. This cycle can continue indefinitely or until the device that is causing the interference or saturation of the switch is moved so that the switch sensor no longer detects that and automatically switches into the level sense mode. In lieu of a so-called saturation switch, embodiments are also envisioned in which suitable switching functionality may be implemented using a combination of a reed switch and magnet, according to some embodiments of the present invention.
Because of the multiple level sense levels that can be achieved, the pumping system according to the present invention is more versatile fitting into various applications that were previously addressed by utilizing different pumps that fit a much more narrow application. Because of the ability to switch between the level sense and the automatic mode, the pumping system according to the present invention may achieve a far broader application schedule and capabilities.
In comparison,
In operation, the low profile pump 10 affords the user the ability to change the water level sensor setting by removing the motor/pump/electronics assembly 50 from the mounting base 40 consistent with that shown in
In
Moreover, it is also understood that the higher water level sensing setting will determine the high/low settings for turning on/off the low profile switch, and that the lower water level sensing setting will also determine the high/low settings for turning on/off the low profile switch, which will be different than the high/low settings determined for the higher water level sensing setting. Based on the examples of height provided above, the difference will be about 1″ based on the higher water level sensing setting of about 2.5″ and the lower water level sensing setting of about 1.5″.
The present invention has many possible applications, e.g., that may include the following:
Condensate pumping,
Air conditioner water movement,
Dehumidifier water movement,
Humidifier water movement,
Industrial water movement,
Low area water removal,
Tight quarters water removal,
Bilge pumping,
Closed compartment water removal,
Small boat casual water removal, and
Certain sump type pump operations.
It should be understood that, unless stated otherwise herein, any of the features, characteristics, alternatives or modifications described regarding a particular embodiment herein may also be applied, used, or incorporated with any other embodiment described herein. Also, the drawings herein are not drawn to scale.
Although the present invention is described by way of example in relation to a centrifugal pump, the scope of the invention is intended to include using the same in relation to other types or kinds of pumps either now known or later developed in the future.
Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, the foregoing and various other additions and omissions may be made therein and thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
This application claims benefit to provisional patent application No. 61/803,265, filed 19 Mar. 2013, as well as provisional patent application No. 61/824,151, filed 16 May 2013, which are both hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61803265 | Mar 2013 | US | |
61824151 | May 2013 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 14219508 | Mar 2014 | US |
Child | 15593597 | US |