Floatable pump unit

Abstract

A pump assembly is buoyant and includes an electrical drive motor (16), a centrifugal pump driven by the motor, and an assembly housing (2) accommodating the drive motor (16) and the centrifugal pump. Moreover, the pump assembly includes at least one inlet opening (8) which is arranged below the fluid surface (6) in the floating condition, and at least one outlet opening (10, 12). The assembly housing (2) is arranged such that on reaching a contact surface, the assembly housing changes its alignment with respect to the floating position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Section 371 of International Application No. PCT / EP2009 / 001261, filed Feb. 21, 2009, which was published in the English language on Sep. 11, 2009, under International Publication No. WO 2009 / 109305 A3 and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a buoyant pump assembly, with the features specified in the preamble of the independent claim(s).[0003]Buoyant pumps, which, floating on the fluid surface of containers and waters, suck fluid or water from these containers and waters, are counted as belonging to the state of the art. The application of such pumps has been found to be problematic, if the containers or waters are formed in a closed manner, and the fluids to be sucked are intermingled with solid matter particles. The reason for this is due to the fact that these pumps sink into a region of the container or water which is close t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide a buoyant pump assembly which is suitable for the application in fluids intermingled with solid matter particles, wherein the danger of a clogging of the pump assembly is at least significantly reduced.

[0007]Hereby, the present invention is based on the idea of designing and arranging the assembly housing of the pump assembly such that when it reaches a contact surface, for example a base of a container or a bed of a water, on account of a fluid level sinking due to pump work, it does not find any firm support there. For example, it may not be situated there in a stable equilibrium, and therefore changes its alignment with a further sinking fluid level, wherein the switch means also change their position with the alignment change of the assembly housing, and preferably switch off the pump assembly, or switch it into a condition, in which such solid matter particles are kept back or, as the case may be, may also be delivered with the fluid. The alignment changes of the assembly housing, and the switch means which are located therein, are typically effected by way of the assembly housing inclining with respect to its floating position. The at least one inlet opening of the pump assembly is usefully arranged on the assembly housing such that when the assembly housing reaches the contact surface, this inlet opening is arranged in the fluid above sediment of solid matter particles which is to be expected in a container or water. In this manner, with the pump assembly according to the present invention, one may advantageously prevent the centrifugal pump from suctioning solid matter particles in an excessive manner, which, as the case may be, may clog the pump assembly. A further advantage of the pump assembly according to the present invention is to be seen in the fact that this design prevents the centrifugal pump from running dry. Inasmuch as this is concerned, the pump assembly according to the present invention has a very high operating reliability.

[0013]In a further preferred design, the assembly housing in a region arranged above the fluid surface in the floating condition, comprises at least one outlet opening aligned perpendicular to the fluid surface. This outlet opening may be formed on a connection which is provided for fastening a flexible tube conduit, with which the fluid may be led away out of the container or water. Furthermore, the pump assembly according to the present invention, with an outlet opening arranged in such a manner, may for example also form a spring well. For this, the pump assembly may be applied floating in a pool or a pond, and with a switched-on centrifugal pump, may produce a jet of water which exits from the outlet opening and extends perpendicular to the water surface.

Problems solved by technology

The application of such pumps has been found to be problematic, if the containers or waters are formed in a closed manner, and the fluids to be sucked are intermingled with solid matter particles.

By way of this, the danger of the solid matter penetrating into the pumps via the inlet openings and clogging them is significantly increased, which, as the case may be, entails repairs, and at the very least, extensive cleaning work.

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