US3357365A - Pneumatic water pump - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 12, 1967 M. J. E. GOLAY 3,357,365

PNEUMATIC WATER PUMP Filed Sept. 20, 1965 INVENTOR United States Patent Ofiiice 3,357,365 Patented Dec. 12, 1967 3,357,365 PNEUMATIC WATER PUMP Marcel J. E. Golay, 116 Ridge Road, Rumson, NJ. 07760 Filed Sept. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 488,404 1 Claim. (Cl. 103-236) This invention relates to water pumps and more specifically to a novel and improved pneumatic water pump operable in conjunction with a vacuum cleaner or other suction device functioning as the energy source.

Although the pump in accordance with the invention is useful in a wide variety of applications, it is particularly adaptable for domestic use namely the removal of water in basements and other similar areas caused by occasional heavy rains, melting snow and the like which do not necessitate the expense of permanent installations such as immersible pumps. With this invention a conventional vacuum cleaner may be employed as the suction source to lift the water and deposit it into a bucket or other container. By utilizing a number of containers, water can be removed substantially continuously, since a filled container can be removed from the flooded area while a second container is being filled.

Accordingly, one object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved water pump characterized by its ease of operation, low cost, and efliciency. 7 Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved pneumatic water pump utilizing a source of vacuum such as a conventional vacuum cleaner to transfer water from a shallow flooded area to a bucket for removal.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved vacuum operated water pump embodying improved control means to interrupt the vacuum when the water in the bucket or container has attained a certain level.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved water pump.

The above and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings forming part of this application.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a cross sectional view of a pneumatic water pump in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1, illustrating the control valve in an open position.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view of FIGURE 1 taken along the line 33 thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of one embodiment of a water pickup head viewed in the direction of the arrows 44.

The removal of water from basements and other similar areas is usually accomplished by providing a sump in the basement floor to collect the water which is then removed by an immersible pump mounted in the sump. This is a relatively expensive installation and when flooding is experienced only occasionally, the cost of such installation is usually not warranted. This invention provides an economical pump for water removal which involves the transfer of water to buckets for removal and may be powered by a conventional vacuum cleaner of the type designed for domestic use. The pump in accordance with the invention is relatively inexpensive, and its simplicity and lightness of weight makes it convenient to use and avoids the need for a permanent water pump installation.

Referring now to the drawings, the pump in accordance with the invention is generally denoted by the numeral v and comprises a bucket or container 11 and a cover 12, the latter being provided with water and vacuum connections.

More specifically the cover 12 which in the instant embodiment of the invention is slightly convex, has an outwardly extending peripheral flange 13, a downwardly extending skirt 14 and a soft rubber gasket 15 which is cemented to the peripheral flange 13 and the skirt 14. The gasket 15 cooperates with the rolled upper edge 16 of the bucket 11 to provide an air-tight seal. The cover 12 is further provided with a vacuum conduit .17 which is secured to the cover at 18 by welding or other suitable means to provide an air-tight connection. The outer end 19 of the conduit 17 is slightly flared to receive the tubular end 20 of a conventional vacuum cleaner hose 21, the other end of the hose being attached to a conventional vacuum cleaner 22.

A water inlet conduit 23 extends through the cover 12 at a point spaced from the vacuum conduit 17. In the instant embodiment of the invention the water inlet conduit 23 is L-s-haped with the vertical portion 24 extending through a flanged opening 25 in the cover. The conduit portion 23 is preferably sealed to the flanged opening 25 by welding or other suitable means to provide an air-tight seal. If desired, the lower end portion 26 of the water inlet conduit 23 may be of a slightly smaller diameter than the conduit to accommodate a flexible hose 27 extending downwardly into the bucket 11. The water pickup hose generally denoted by the numeral 28 may be a conventional rubber hose or may be in the form of a multi-channeled hose as illustrated. The multi-channeled hose has an advantage in that it provides two separate inlet channels. With this arrangement, should the surface from which the water is being removed be somewhat uneven and cause admission of air into one of the channels, the other channel will continue to function to withdraw water and deposit it into the bucket. More specifically the hose 28 has at least one Wall 29 extending throughout the length of the hose, which terminates in a flared water pickup member 30. The member 30 has a pair of diametral partitions 31 and 32, dividing the water pickup member 30 into four separate water pickup areas A, B, C, and D. The areas A and B communicate with the hose channel 28a, while the areas C and D communicate with the hose channel 28b. The illustrated form of the Water pickup hose 28 is most efiective in the removal of water under shallow flooding conditions, though it has also been found that a conventional vacuum cleaner hose with a conventional head of the type used for cleaning rugs also provides effective water pickup means and will remove substantially all of the water from the surface and will leave only a very thin film of moisture.

The vacuum control means to regulate the water level in the bucket or container 11 is generally denoted by the numeral 33. It comprises a valve 34 loosely mounted in a central opening 35 in the cover 12, the opening having an upwardly extending peripheral flange 36. The valve 34 has an enlarged head portion 37 and a downwardly extending tubular member 38 secured to the head portion. The head 37 has a peripheral recess 39 containing a rubber gasket 40 which cooperates with the upper edge of the flange 36 to provide an air-tight seal. A spring 41 extends into the tubular element 38 and is preferably secured therein. The lower end of the spring 41 is secured to a float lever 42 pivoted at 43 to a bracket 44 carried by the cover 12. The outer or free end of the lever 42 carries a rectangular float 45. This float 45 is raised by the water level in the bucket 11 and in turn compresses the spring 41. After the spring has been compressed a predetermined degree, sufficient force will be exerted on the valve head 37 to crack the seal. Once the seal is broken the spring will immediately expand to lift the valve to a 3 1 fully open position as shown in FIGURE 2. This interrupts the pumping action and permits the cover 12 to be removed from the container 11 and repositioned on an empty container.

In order to protect the float 45 from damage the cover 12 may be provided with a peripheral skirt 46 which fits inside the container 11. A protective closure 47, having a bottom opening, surrounds the float 45 and is carried by a horizontal bracket 48 secured to the cover 12. The float rod extends through a slot 49 in one wall of the protective closure 47 to limitthe downward movement of the float 45 so that it will not fall below the protective closure 47 and will be clearly above the lower edge of the peripheral skirt 46. In this way the cover can be placed on the floor or other surface without damaging the float or other moving parts.

From the foregoing it is evident that the vacuum pump in accordance with the invention provides a dependable,

relatively inexpensive and easily operable device for the removal of water from basements and other. similar areas and avoids the need for expensive permanent installations when only occasionally flooding .is experienced. By hav ing a plurality of containers 11 the cover assembly 12 can. be readily shifted from one container to the next so that the pump can be continued as the filled containers are removed and emptied.

While only certain embodiment of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is apparent that alterations, modifications and changes may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit thereof as defined by the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A vacuum operated liquid pump comprising a cover adapted to be removably carried by a container for receiving and holding the liquid being pumped, tubular means carried on the upper side of said cover and communicating with the underside thereof, said tubular means adapted to receive a vacuum conduit for evacuating said container, a water inlet conduit on said cover, an air inlet valve mounted on said cover, a float carried by and movable relative to said cover, and mechanical means directly coupling said float to said valve, said float and mechanical means storing energy as water is drawn into said container and rises to a level engaging said float, the weight of said float when the water level in the container is below said float holding said valve in the closed position, said vacuum being the sole sealing force for said cover and said vacuum sealing said cover to said container and drawing water into said container through said water inlet conduit, and said water level upon reaching the level of the float reacting therewith to eflect the storage of energy until the force exerted exceeds the force of said vacuum holding the valve in the closed position whereupon said valve will be forced open rapidlydissipating the stored energy and thereby terminating the pumping operation and enabling removal of said cover for disposal of the pumped water.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 402,178 4/1889 Miller l03-236 1,374,808 4/1921 Bethune 103-236 1,437,916 12/1922 Shelor 103--236 1,542,509 6/1925 Kueny 103-236 1,893,066 1/1933 Zellhoefer 103-'248 2,207,318 7/1940 Gollner 103-248 2,280,140 4/1942 Wilson 138111 2,733,667 2/1956 Hill 103248 HENRY F. RADUAZO, Primary Examiner. DONLEY J. STOCKING, Examiner.

W. J. KRAUSS, Assistant Examiner.

Images