GB2415612A

GB2415612A - Submersible vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: GB2415612A
Application number: GB0513470A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Paxton
Original assignee: Interpet Ltd
Current assignee: Interpet Ltd
Priority date: 2004-07-01
Filing date: 2005-07-01
Publication date: 2006-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 2025-07-01
Also published as: GB0513470D0; GB2415612B; GB0414769D0

Abstract

A submersible vacuum cleaner for facilitating the removal of material 6 deposited at the bottom of a body of liquid 8, such as a pond or fish tank, comprises a suction pump assembly 1 associated with a suction nozzle 5 which is mounted to a handle 3 by which a user can manipulate the vacuum cleaner. In use the suction pump assembly 1 is totally submerged within the body of liquid 8. Means 4, such as a float or other buoyancy device, may be provided on the suction pump 1 so that its weight along with that of the suction nozzle 5 is counterbalanced so that handling is easier. The handle 3 preferably includes a hollow tube 9, 10 in which the pump 1 is mounted. The tube 9, 10 also provides a conduit for guiding material entering the suction nozzle 5 to a receiving location remote from the volume of water 8. The handle 3 is also preferably telescopic so that it can be extended depending on the depth of the body of liquid 8.

Description

-1- 2415612 SU13MIRSIBI,F. VACUUM CLEANER This invention relates to vacuum

cleaners suitable for us in the removal of detritus t'rom the bottom ol'a volume ot' waler such as the bottoms ot' outdoor ponds and water features.

In particular one of the problems arising in connection with outdoor ponds is that wind blown debris such as plant seeds, seed cases, falling leaves, are able readily to tall on to the water surface and eventually sink to the bottom.

In addition, wind blown soil can over a period of time accumulate within a pond.

Additional to such above mentioned materials there are the organic materials I being produced by fish and other livestock that may be present in the pond.

Over period of years the amount of detritus material accumulating; at a pond can assume considerable proportions leading to several centhnetres in depth.

A consequence of the very nature of'the material accumulating within the pond is that such material is difficult to remove by attempting to dredge the pond bottom with a container or by ladling or the like in view ol'the stirring effects caused by movements ot' buckets or other containers within the water when trying to lift detritus material from the bottom ot'the pond.

In order to deal with this problem it has been proposed to use a electrically operable vacuum cleaner type apparatus containing a combined motor housing and container for receiving removed detrius material. When in use the apparatus is positioned adjacent to the pond and a suction head/nozle connected to a :llin'a?lt tiib'l.ar rr.:r.h.:r ir.1 t7-:!hlrnat:rial.md liquid r,nduit ':::1 to ',:er.' the pond bottom, with the material sucked in by the head/nozzle travelling to the contain at the pond side. for later removal t'rom the apparatus.

Thus in operation water and debris is sucked out lrom the pond and delivered into the container with the liquid transferring the material from the pond to the container being discharged either back into the pond or to waste conveniently by way of a discharge pipe to an appropriate location for receiving such liquid discharge In practice it has-been found that the known apparatus involves inherent handling problems in relation to the handling of the system particularly in relation to physical control of the ongoing positioning within a pond of the suction head/nozzle of the apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus that facilitates the user handling.

Broadly according to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a submergible suction apparatus for facilitating the removal of submerged material in divided form in which the suction motor of the device is intended to be immersed with its material suction means within a volume of water and in which arrangements are provided for counterbalancing the weight of the motor and associated material suction means. . In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a submergible apparatus for facilitating the removal of material in divided torm incorporating a suction pump and its associated material suction means carried by a support for Immersion within a body of water tor the purposes removing material in divided form Preferably the apparatus is provided with land position means for separating the material and at least the bulk of the liquid entrained by the suction processes.

- At:.

Preferably the liquid and material are separated hy passing them into a container and removing at least the bulk of the liquid from the container the liquid for transporting the liquid plus material to a reception contained wherein said material is received, and means for discharging the liquid from the apparatus For a better understanding of the invention and to show how to carry the same into effect reference will now he made to the accompanying, drawings in which: I;igure I very schematically illustrates the apparatus of' suction apparatus incorporating the concepts of the invention, the Figure schematically indicating the use position of the apparatus with respect to t he bottom of a pond when positioned for removing material from the bottom of a pond.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an exploded view oi'a detail of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2, illustrated to a larger scale Ret'erring now to the drawings apparatus including the concepts of the invention includes an electrically driven fluid suction pump assembly/unit I mounted to the lower end 2 of a hollow telescopic handle assembly 3. The fluid suction pump assembly/unit is connected with/surrounded by a flotation unit 4 that is such as to be able effectively to neutralise the weight of the pump assembly/unit I so that the pump assembly/unit I is ei'fectively buoyant when immersed.

The liquid inlet side of the suction pump assembly/unit I is provided with a suction head 5 whereby the material 6 in divided that has settled at the bottom 7 of' a volume of water such as an outdoor pond be drawn by the action of the pump assembly t'rom the bottom 7 of a pond or other body of water 8 within which the pump assembly/unit I is immersed as is schematically illustrated in Figure 3 -dl-: The handle assembly 3 is telescopic includes telescopically coupled sections 9 and 10 that are relatively adjustable and lockable in a required relative position by locking means I I and thereby enabling adjustment of the handle assembly length so as to be able to accommodate varying depths ol'the body of water 8..

'I'he upper end 12 ol'the handle assembly section 1() connects with a material and discharge pipe 13, whereby material and water entrained by the action of the pump assembly 1 and moved by the action of the pump upwards through the handle assembly into the discharge pipe 13 for dispersal/collection at a required location.

] In practice, the discharge pipe 13 can be arranged to t'eed the discharging liquid and material mixture into a suitable container (not shown) which collects the material but which enables the entraining liquid to be discharged therefrom.

Conveniently the electrical supply for the pump unit is by way of a cable 11 that in the embodiment illustrated is located externally of the handle assembly 3.

Alternatively the cable 10 can be arranged to run internally ol' the handle assembly 3 In such case arrangements (not shown) would be provided for enabling the supply cable to accommodate variation of the length of the handle assembly. For example, such length adjustment accommodation can be by way of the resiliently loaded cable drum (not shown) located at said remote end.

A housing 15 is provided at the end of the handle assembly section 10 remote from its connection with the section 9.

This housing 15 formed by two similar main half sections 1 5A and 1 5B that join together in side by side relationship to provide the housing. In the Figures 3 the t'onnation of the housing is shown to an enlarged scale with the two main sections 2 5 spaced apart. o

As will be noted that the housing sections 15A and 15B include a handle portion 16A and 16B respectively, which when the sections are joined together form a the housing the handle sections combine to provide the handle 16. The housing incorporates an electrical push button type switch 17 with an operating push button 18. When the housing sections 14,15 are joined together they totally encloses the switch To accommodate this arrangement the push button 18 of the I switch is covered by an outer push button cover 19 that is held in placed by the joining together of the two housing sections and which is appropriately resiliently loaded The handle assembly incorporates a support arm 20 which is axially gettable length ways of the member 10 whose purpose is to facilitate the handling of the apparatus when in use.

A fluid flow control cocl;/21 is provided at a convenient location on the upper section 10 In use the pump unit and its associated suction head/nozzle 5 is lowered into the body of water 8 and is positioned so that the suction head /nozzle 5 is immersed within the material 6 that has accumulated at the bottom 7 of the body ol water 8.

By reason of the inherent buoyancy of the pump assembly/unit 1 and its associated suction head/nozzle 5 the user is able readily to be able to move the suction head/nozzle 5 relative to the pond bottom 7 and in so doing enables the pump unit I to draw in a mixture of water and material from different positions of the pond bottom.

The resulting mixture of water and material passes lengthways of the handle assembly 3 into the discharge pipe 13. As mentioned he outlet end of the latter 2 5 can arranged to discharge into a container (not shown) that allows the entraining water to drain away leaving the material within the container. In practice this container would be emptied when full. - .

Claims

I. Apparatus for facilitating the removal of material deposited at the bottom of a volume of liquid, characterized by suction pump assembly/unit associated with a suction head/nozzle mounted to a user carrying/handling element in such manner that when in use the pump is totally submerged.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and characterized in that the suction pump is provided with means for counterbalancing the weight of the pump and the associated suction head/nozzle.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, and characterized in that the handling element includes a hollow tubular member serving to both mount the pump and also to provide a conduit for guiding material entering the suction head/nozzle to a receiving location remote from the volume of water.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, and characterized in that the hollow tubular member is telescopic whereby the handling length of the member can be set to a required operating length.
5. Apparatus Apparatus for facilitating the removal of material deposited at the bottom of a volume of liquid, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.