A liquid medium delivery device has: first and second rigid pipes configured to receive flowing liquid medium from a pump. The first rigid pipe has a first curved portion. The second rigid pipe has a second curved portion. The curved portions are at least partially nested. An actuator is connected to the first rigid pipe or the second rigid pipe or both the first and second rigid pipes. The actuator is operable to move either the first rigid pipe or the second rigid pipe so that either the first curved portion or the second curved portion moves along a common arc of both the first curved portion and the second curved portion. The liquid medium delivery device has an outlet through which liquid medium, for example liquid manure, can be pumped.

An amphibious pumping vehicle has a floatable vehicle body, a ground engaging propulsion structure, a fluid pump, a plurality of fluid nozzles comprising a first fluid nozzle connected by a fluid conduit to the fluid pump and at least one second fluid nozzle connected to the fluid conduit, a valve structure in the fluid conduit, the plurality of fluid nozzles and the valve structure co-operating to provide directional control and motive power for the vehicle when floating, and a power source configured to provide power to both the ground engaging propulsion structure and the fluid pump.

A pump is provided for immersion in a fluid reservoir, such as a pit or lagoon containing liquid manure, from a position at an edge of the reservoir. The pump may be adapted for connection to a farm vehicle, such as a tractor, positioned at the edge of the reservoir. The pump has a frame, a fluid conduit coupled to the frame, a housing located at a bottom end of the liquid manure pump configured to be immersed in a liquid manure reservoir, a combiner for creating a liquid manure connection between at least two liquid manure outlets of the housing and the fluid conduit. an impeller located within the housing, a drive shaft connected to the impeller, and an agitator nozzle, in fluid communication with at least one of the liquid manure outlets, for directing a portion of the liquid manure outwardly from the pump.

A fluid pump having at least two pump heads in series permits pumping fluid at both high pressure and high volumetric rate. Each pump head has at least two fluid conduits in fluid communication with a housing, the housing containing an impeller for drawing fluid through an inlet in the housing and moving the fluid through the fluid conduits. The at least two fluid conduits of one pump head combine fluid flow at the inlet of a neighboring pump head to provide a single flow of fluid through the inlet into the neighboring pump head. A drive structure passing through the inlets between two pump heads is configured to commonly drive the impellers in the housing of each pump head.

An amphibious pumping vehicle comprising: a floatable vehicle body; ground engaging propulsion structure configured to raise and lower relative to the vehicle body; a fluid pump; a first fluid nozzle configured to direct fluid through the air, the fluid nozzle connected by a fluid conduit to the fluid pump; and, a power source configured to provide power to both the ground engaging propulsion structure and the fluid pump. The vehicle is particularly well suited to pumping and recirculating fluid within manure lagoons and is able to be driven up out of the lagoon when the lagoon level has been lowered.

A system and method that automatically transfer liquid manure from an intermediate holding receptacle to a lagoon involves a common pump for both agitating the liquid manure in and pumping the liquid manure from the receptacle. A pump motor, first valve, second valve and directable agitation nozzle of the pump are controlled by an electronic controller. The electronic controller switches on the pump motor, ensures that the first valve is closed and ensures that the second valve is open when the receptacle is full, directs the nozzle to at least two different locations in the receptacle to permit liquid manure to be redirected to the at least two different locations to agitate the liquid manure for a predetermined period of time, and opens the first valve after the predetermined period of time to permit pumping of the liquid manure from the receptacle to the lagoon. The system and method reduce equipment cost, equipment maintenance and the amount of operator time required to perform liquid manure transfer, while providing better agitation and more complete emptying of the receptacle in a shorter period of time.

A floating manure agitator that floats on the surface of a manure lagoon and that may be remotely controlled to agitate manure supernatant into a slurry with sludge settling on the bottom of the lagoon. The agitator is provided with a plurality of fluid outputs, the direction of which may be controlled to motivate and steer the agitator. The outputs are angled to develop vortices of supernatant into the sludge to further mix the materials into a slurry.

A method for aerating a manure pit by providing fluid at a pressure of greater than 10 psi within a plurality of tubes placed in designated zones of the manure pit. Tubes are mounted below a raised floor of the manure pit at an average depth of between 12 and 120 below a top surface of the manure. Fluid is emitted into the manure at a flow rate that is maintained between 0.1 GPH and 1.0 GPH through a series of emitters positioned along the length of each tube. Each emitter prevents backflow of manure into the tube and reduces the volume of fluid released into the pit relative to fluid pressure within the tube. The aeration process produces small bubbles having an approximate diameter of between 1 micrometer and 1 millimeter to promote the efficient decomposition of organic matter while reducing odors from the manure pit.

An example manure lagoon agitation device can include a spinning drum rotatably mounted to a floating frame. The spinning drum includes a plurality of blades oriented to direct material toward a center of the drum and project material outward. A moveable cover with an adjustable chute controls flow direction of projected material. The device includes lift cylinders to position the drum between storage and operating positions. The spinning drum can operate at variable speeds and depths for breaking up solids or projecting liquid. The device may include protection features like skids and pivoting flails to prevent damage from obstacles.

A method of moving liquid manure in a liquid manure lagoon involves: driving an amphibious vehicle into the liquid manure lagoon by remotely controlling speed and direction of the amphibious vehicle on the ground, the amphibious vehicle having a ground-engaging propulsion structure for driving the amphibious vehicle on the ground and a floatable vehicle body to float the amphibious vehicle in the liquid manure lagoon; and, moving the liquid manure in the liquid manure lagoon by remotely controlling speed and direction of the amphibious vehicle in the liquid manure lagoon.