Patent Application
20220316498
The present invention relates to submersible pumps and, more particularly, to a new and improved submersible pump apparatus that utilizes independently driven, high-pressure and high-volume pumps that work simultaneously within the same submersible pump apparatus to create a unique display of very tall streams in combination with a wide variety of beautiful high flow display spray patterns.
Submersible pumps have been around in the public domain for many years. A typical submersible pump is a device that has a hermetically sealed motor coupled with a pump and a discharge assembly. The entire submersible pump is submerged in a fluid such as water, oil, or other fluid depending upon the application and use, and then used to pump this fluid to the surface. While submersible pumps are used in t any applications such as circulation or aeration devices commonly used for creating directional flow in a pond or lake to turn still, stagnant water into a stream environment, they are also used to create a fountain or other visual water displays and designs.
The problem faced by every fountain designer is that a high-volume pump cannot create much height and a high-pressure or high-head pump cannot create much volume. As a result, every attempt to create both height and volume from one submersible pump apparatus has failed or requires that very thin, inefficient streams be used throughout (as thin streams plug easily, blow apart in a breeze causing the display design to contort or disappear, and likewise never maintain a coherent stream for much distance).
Applicant, however, has invented a new, extremely unique, product that solves this problem through the combination or integration of two independently driven, high-pressure and high-volume pumps that work simultaneously within the same submersible pump apparatus. In this manner, the submersible pump apparatus creates a unique combination display that utilizes one pump, the high-pressure pump, optimized to efficiently create and display very tall streams while, simultaneously or at the same time, utilizes the other pump, the high-volume pump, optimized to efficiently create and display a wide variety of other beautiful high-volume or flow display aerator spray patterns.
Additionally, another huge benefit of Applicant's new invention is that this product can be used in almost any body of water as it is designed to operate in very shallow water (e.g., as little as 2 feet or 24 inches of water).
Accordingly, Applicant's new and improved inventive submersible pump apparatus solves these and other problems. Thus, there is a need and there has never been disclosed Applicant's unique submersible pump apparatus.
The present invention is a submersible pump providing an impeller pump assembly, an aerator pump assembly, a central hub assembly, and a nozzle assembly. The combination or integration of two independently driven, high-pressure impeller pump assembly and high-volume pump aerator pump assembly simultaneously coacting within the same submersible pump apparatus and using the central hub assembly and nozzle assembly to create and display the combination of very tall streams while simultaneously displaying a wide variety of other beautiful high-volume or flow display aerator spray patterns.
The Description of the Preferred Embodiment will be better understood with reference to the following figures:
Turning first to
The impeller pump assembly 22 (also, referred to herein as “high-pressure pump”), in its assembled form and as illustrated in
Additionally, a float 42 is also attached to the exterior of the impeller motor 30 using a saddle tee 59. The float 42 is used to float the submersible pump apparatus 20 at the surface of the water such that the submersible pump apparatus 20 may be used, for example, as a floating fountain. In this manner, with this float 42 and the float 66, discussed below, the submersible pump apparatus 20 can be used in almost any body of water as it is designed to operate in very shallow water (e.g., as little as 2 feet or 24 inches of water).
The output of the high-pressure pump 22 is discharged into the pipe 40 that slips closely into the combo outlet flange 34. The other end of the pipe 40 is threaded into a 90 degree elbow 44 that is positioned inside the central hub assembly 25 so that the 90 degree end of the elbow 44 is centered within the branch of that central hub assembly 25 so that the high-pressure vertical pipe nipple or central high-pressure pipe 41 can be threaded into the central hub assembly 25 and will be approximately centered. The pipe length of the high-pressure pipe 41 is such that it protrudes through the nozzle base 51 (
Since the high-pressure water flows through from the high-pressure pump 22, into the pipe 40 which then engages the elbow 44 creating turbulence in the water flow, the lower section of the central high-pressure pipe 41 is fitted with a flow straightening device 46 to remove this turbulence from the water flow so that the discharge from the center nozzle 50 can generate a smooth and coherent stream.
The pressure in the high-pressure pipe 41 will tend to push the central hub assembly 25 away from the high-pressure pump 22 and de-center it. This will tend to push the elbow 44 and pipe 41 down so a series of supports 52 are secured to the elbow 44 and pipe 41 to assure that the central hub assembly 25 output stays centered during operation of the high-pressure pump 22.
The aerator pump assembly 24 (also, referred to herein as “high-volume pump”), in its assembled form and as illustrated in
As described above, the central hub assembly 25 comprises the leg 38, leg 62, the pipe 40, elbow 44, and pipe 41, flow straightener 46, and leg 47.
The nozzle assembly 26 comprises a central nozzle 50, a large pipe 49, an adapter 48, an interchangeable nozzle head 53, and a nozzle base 51 (
A large pipe 49 is removeably attached to the adapter 48 and the adapter 48 to the branch of the large central hub assembly 25. The other end of the large pipe 49 has the interchangeable nozzle head 53 removeably attached. The interchangeable nozzle head 53 removeably receives the nozzle base 51 which is centrally bored to allow the smaller central pipe 41 to slip through and into the nozzle head 53. The outer portion of the nozzle base 51 is drilled and tapped to receive a multitude of nozzles 58 (see
In the preferred embodiment, the multitude of nozzles 58, as illustrated in
Alternatively, one or more fan patterns can easily be created. Instead of a nozzle base 51 being attached to the interchangeable nozzle head 53, a conical flare outlet or cone deflector 54, as illustrated in
In use, and when engaged, water flows into and through the impeller pump assembly or high-pressure pump 22, then passes into the central hub assembly 25 as it enters and passes through the pipe 40, after which, the water flow then passes into and engages the elbow 44 which redirects the water flow into the pipe 41. As this occurs, the elbow 44 creates turbulence in the water flow. With the lower section of the central high-pressure pipe 41 fitted with a flow straightening device 46, this turbulence is removed from the water flow and the water continues up and through the pipe 41 and into the nozzle assembly 26 where the water is discharged from the center nozzle 50 into a smooth and coherent stream. This results in a very tall streams 70, as illustrated in
At the same time, water flows into and through the aerator pump assembly or high-volume pump 24, then passes into the central hub assembly 25 as it enters and passes into and fills the opening 64 within the central hub assembly 25 (e.g., which comprises all of the open space within the central hub assembly 25 surrounding the pipe 40, elbow 44, and high-pressure pipe 41). The water is forced upward and through the by-pass channel 74, after which, the water flow then passes into the flare outlet 56 and engages the cone deflector 54 which redirects the water flow, per the angle 68 of the cone deflector 54, where the water is discharged. Alternatively, the water flow may be through the multitude of nozzles 58, as illustrated in
Collectively, the very tall streams 70 and the variety of high flow display spray patterns 72, in combination, create the visual water display, fountain, spray pattern, and/or design (“display”) resulting from Applicant's submersible pump apparatus.
Thus, Applicant's invention can efficiently create a very high stream (Sky Geyser) while at the same time likewise create a multiple stream display aerator pattern(s) and/or a large fan pattern(s).
This unique design passes the high-pressure center stream through the center of the display aerator nozzle fed by the impeller pump assembly 22 to create a very high center stream, and the outer portion of the nozzle which is fed by the aerator pump assembly 24 creates one of many possible beautiful display aerator patterns.
And, the central stream is created by a real high precision stainless steel nozzle 50 so that a very coherent and high stream is created.
In a non-limiting example, the submersible pump apparatus 20 may provide a 5 HP high-pressure pump 22 (fountain pump) and a 5 HP high-volume (display aerator pump); or alternatively in any of the other following combinations: 3+3 HP, 5+3 HP, and 3+5 HP, respectively.
Thus, with a 5 HP fountain pump a Sky Geyser pattern can be created that is 50′ high which is as high as most 20 HP Titans, but requires much less power, while the 5 HP high volume aerator pump is pumping large quantities of water in high flow, thick stream, display aerator pattern(s).
Moreover, a more technical discussion of the workings and advantages of Applicant's new and inventive device.
It is impossible to create a spray pattern that is both very high and which can also create multiple lower and high flow streams with just one submersible pump because a pump that can generate enough pressure or head to make a high pattern, such as 50 feet, has too much head and not enough flow to create multiple lower high steams that can create a pleasing and trouble free pattern, and a high volume pump capable of creating heavy flow streams can only achieve modestly high streams of about 20 feet.
Thus, the problem in creating a high stream and heavy flow for a lower pattern is four-fold:
A. How to arrange two different pumps so they efficiently and economically can feed one nozzle;
B. How to minimize the water depth requirement of the system; C. How to create a nozzle that allows the center portion to create a high stream while allowing the outer portion to create a low but heavy stream evenly surrounding the center stream; and
D. How to route the different pressure and volume streams to be directed to their respective portion of the nozzle.
With regard to problem A, arranging the pumps longitudinally with the outputs facing each other allows all of the pumped water to be directed to one area. In this manner, it is directed into the opposite ends of the submersible pump apparatus.
With regard to problem B, arranging the pumps horizontally and arranging for attaching flotation very close to the pump housing and intake screen allows the assembly to operate in very shallow water (e.g., as little as 2 feet or 24 inches of water).
With regard to problem C, the nozzle base is large enough that the threaded on each end pipe supplying the high-pressure water to the center of the nozzle can slip closely through a central hole prepared in the nozzle and allow a nozzle adapter or a nozzle to be threaded onto the adapter or the pipe.
With regard to Problem D, operation of both pumps will always produce a very tall center stream, except when the high-pressure pump is controlled by a VFD. The high flow pump will produce heavy flow and lower display aerator patterns. Alternatively, as desired, either pump can be operated alone to produce just part of the patterns. This would be particularly advantageous in windy conditions to eliminate distortion and wind drifted spray by shutting down the high-pressure pump that creates the very high pattern (e.g., such as a Sky Geyser) and continuing to operate the display aerator portion of the pattern.
The famous, brilliant, and economical Aqua Control, Inc.'30 and 80 watt light emitting diode (LED) lights 78, as illustrated in
Thus, there has been provided Applicant's new and improved submersible pump apparatus. While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it in intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
This patent application is a non-provisional application claiming priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/168,570, entitled “New and Improved Submersible Pump Apparatus”, filed on Mar. 31, 2021, and is fully incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63168570 | Mar 2021 | US |
