PUMP DEVICE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pump device for sucking and transferring articles, wherein the pump device comprises a pump housing, an air withdrawal opening, at least one inlet opening and an outlet opening formed in the pump housing, at least one drive device being connected to the pumping device, the pump housing further comprising a first short side formed as a semicircle or a partial circle and a second short side formed as a flat or plane surface, two long sides extending tapered from the first short side to the second short side and two planar sides, forming a closed pump housing, where at least one impeller further is arranged in the pump housing.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A pump device for sucking and transferring of objects, where the pump device comprises a pump housing, an air withdrawal opening, at least one inlet opening and an outlet opening formed in the pump housing, and at least one drive device, characterized in that the pump housing comprises a first short side formed as a semicircle or partial circle and a second short side formed as a flat or plane surface, two long sides extending tapering from the first short side to the second the short side and two plane sides, thus forming a closed pump housing, wherein at least one impeller is further arranged in the pump housing, the at least one inlet opening being arranged closer to the first short side and the at least outlet opening being arranged closer to the second short side of the pump housing.

14. A pump device according to claim 13, wherein the pump housing has a length and a width, the width being less than the length.

15. A pump device according to claim 13, wherein the pump device comprises two impellers arranged in the same plane and at a distance from each other, where a first impeller is formed with a flow channel to provide a rotation in one direction and a second impeller is formed with a flow channel to provide a rotation opposite the first impeller.

16. A pump device according to claim 13, wherein each inlet opening is formed with a first cross-sectional area and a second cross-sectional area, where a transition between the first cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area form an abutment shoulder.

17. A pump device according to claim 15, wherein the pump housing is formed with two through openings, each through opening is arranged coaxially with each of the at least one inlet opening.

18. A pump device according to claim 13, wherein the impeller comprises a main part, an inlet spigot arranged on one side of the main part, and a shaft pin arranged on an opposite side of the inlet spigot, where the impeller further comprises a flow channel extending through the inlet spigot and the main body, where the inlet spigot forms the inlet of the flow channel and the main body forms the outlet of the flow channel, where an axis extending through the outlet of the flow channel is arranged substantially perpendicular to an axis extending through the inlet of the flow channel.

19. A pump device according to claim 18, wherein the impeller is formed with an outer, smooth surface around its circumference, the outer smooth surface extending from one side of the outlet of the flow channel, around the entire circumference of the impeller and to an opposite side of the outlet of the flow channel.

20. A pump device according to claim 18, wherein the flow channel has a substantially equal cross-section over the entire length of the flow channel.

21. A pump device according to claim 18, wherein the flow channel, from the inlet to the outlet, has a helical or curved shape.

22. A pump device according to claim 18, wherein the flow channel has a length which extends less than a half circumference of the circumference of the impeller, more preferably less than one third of the circumference of the impeller, more preferably less than a quarter of the circumference of the impeller.

23. Use of a pump device according to claim 13 for transporting fish.

24. Use of a pump device according to claim 13 for transporting apples, potatoes or the like.

Description

[0058] Other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims, wherein:

[0059] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a first embodiment of a pump device according to the present invention,

[0060] FIG. 2 shows a top view of an alternative embodiment of a pump device according to the present invention,

[0061] FIGS. 3A-3B show a cross-section of the pump device of FIG. 2 along a section A-A, wherein FIG. 3A shows a pump housing without impellers, and FIG. 3B shows the pump housing and impellers arranged therein,

[0062] FIG. 4 shows a side view and a perspective view of an embodiment of an impeller used with the pump device of the present invention,

[0063] FIGS. 5A-5B show details of the impeller of FIGS. 2A-2B and 3, wherein FIG. 5A shows the impeller from above and FIG. 5B shows a cross-section of the impeller along a section B-B,

[0064] FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a pump device according to FIG. 2, seen from above,

[0065] FIG. 7 shows flow conditions in the pump device according to FIG. 2 when the pump device according to the present invention is in use,

[0066] FIGS. 8A-8B show an alternative embodiment of a pump device according to the present invention, seen from above and in a cross-section along the line A-A in FIG. 8A, and

[0067] FIGS. 9A-9B further illustrate an alternative embodiment of a pump device according to the present invention, seen from above and in a cross-section along the line A-A of FIG. 9A.

[0068] FIG. 1 shows a principal sketch, seen from above, of a pump device 1 according to the present invention, where the pump device 1 in this case is a fish pump which is used to pump up fish from, for example, a trawl and on board a fishing vessel, from a net cage and to a well boat, or also from a net cage to another net cage in a fish farm.

[0069] The pump device 1 according to the present invention may also be used in connection with the transport of fruit or vegetables, such as, for example, apples or potatoes.

[0070] The fish pump 1 is designed to have an oval shape, where a pump housing 2 then comprises two parallel long sides and two rounded ends.

[0071] In an alternative embodiment at least one of the long sides of the pump housing 2 may be designed to have a curved form, whereby the long sides in such an embodiment do not to be parallel over their entire length.

[0072] The fish pump 1 comprises a pump housing 2 and a removable cover (not shown) which are connected, via suitable connecting devices in the form of bolts, screws or the like, to the pump housing 2. The removable cover (not shown) may be of glass to provide an inspection opening in the fish pump. Such a design will also result in a simpler access to the inner volume of the pump housing, so that maintenance and/or repairs of one or more impellers etc. arranged in the pump housing 2 are facilitated.

[0073] In one embodiment, the fish pump 1 has a width B which is less than a length L of the fish pump 1 and is further formed with rounded short sides, thus providing an “oval” shape on the fish pump 1. The fish pump 1 is further formed with a flat top and bottom side (front and rear side) when viewed in a longitudinal cross-section of the fish pump 1, where the top and bottom sides are arranged at a distance H from each other.

[0074] The pump housing 2 is, on an underside, when viewed in a longitudinal cross-section of the fish pump 1, formed with an inlet opening 3, where the inlet opening 3 is further arranged to be located along a longitudinal center line S and a transverse center line of the fish pump 1.

[0075] The inlet opening 3 is further formed with a flange 3A or spigot, where the flange 3A or the spigot extends a distance out from the pump housing 2. The inlet opening 3 is further formed with a first inner cross-sectional area A.sup.1 and a second inner cross-sectional area A.sup.2, where a transition from the first interior the cross-sectional area A.sup.1 to the second inner cross-sectional area A.sup.2 will form an abutment shoulder 7 for an impeller 5 arranged in the fish pump 1.

[0076] As indicated by an arrow, the impeller 5 in this embodiment is formed with a flow channel 6 which provides a counterclockwise rotation. It should be understood, however, that the flow channel 6 may be formed with a flow channel which provides a clockwise rotation

[0077] FIG. 2 shows a principle sketch, seen from above, of an alternative fish pump 1 according to the present invention, where the fish pump 1 is used to pump up fish from, for example, a trawl and on board a fishing vessel, from a net cage and to a well boat, or also from a net cage to another net cage in a fish farm.

[0078] The fish pump 1 is designed to have an oval shape, where a pump housing 2 then comprises two parallel long sides and two rounded ends.

[0079] In an alternative embodiment, at least one of the long sides of the pump housing 2 may be designed to have a curved shape, whereby the long sides in such an embodiment do not have to be parallel over their entire length.

[0080] The fishing pump 1 comprises a pump housing 2 and a removable cover (not shown) which are connected, via suitable connecting devices in the form of bolts, screws or the like, to the pump housing 2. The removable cover (not shown) may be of glass to provide an inspection opening in the fish pump. Such a design will also result in an easier access to the inner volume of the pump housing, so that maintenance and/or repairs of impellers etc. are facilitated.

[0081] In one embodiment, the fish pump 1 has a width B which is less than a length L of the fish pump and is further formed with rounded short sides, thus providing an “oval” shape on the fish pump 1. The fish pump 1 is further formed with a flat top and bottom side (front and rear side) when viewed in a longitudinal cross-section of the fish pump 1, where the upper and lower sides are arranged at a distance H from each other.

[0082] The pump housing 2, when viewed in a longitudinal cross-section of the fish pump 1, is formed with two spaced apart inlet openings 3, the inlet openings 3 being further arranged along a longitudinal center line S of the fish pump 1.

[0083] Each inlet aperture 3 is further formed with a flange 3A or spigot, the flange 3A or spigot extending a distance out from the pump housing 2. Each inlet opening 3 is further formed with a first inner cross-sectional area A.sup.1 and a second inner cross-sectional area A.sup.2, where a transition from it the first inner cross-sectional area A.sup.1 to the second inner cross-sectional area A.sup.2 will form an abutment shoulder 7 for an impeller 5 arranged in the fish pump 1

[0084] The direction of rotation of each impeller 5 is indicated by an arrow, whereby a first impeller 5 is designed to rotate clockwise, while a second impeller 5 is designed to rotate counterclockwise.

[0085] FIGS. 3A-3B are a longitudinal cross-section through line A-A of FIG. 2, where FIG. 3A shows the pump housing 2 without impellers 5, while FIG. 3B shows two impellers 5 arranged in the pump housing 2.

[0086] The inlet openings 3 and the outlet opening 4 are, at one end facing into the pump housing 2, formed with an inner rounded edge.

[0087] On one side opposite the underside, when viewed in a longitudinal cross section of the fish pump 1, the pump housing 2 is formed with two through openings 8.

[0088] FIG. 4 shows a side view of an impeller 5 used in the fish pump 1 according to the present invention, seen in a perspective view, showing that the impeller 5 comprises a main part 5A, an inlet spigot 5B and a shaft pin 5C, the inlet spigot 5B and the shaft pin 5C being arranged on opposite sides of the main part 5A. Furthermore, the main part 5A of each impeller 5 is formed with a flow channel 6 extending through the inlet spigot 5B and the main part 5A, the inlet spigot 5B forming the inlet 9 of the flow channel 6. The outlet 10 of the flow channel 6 will be arranged substantially perpendicular to the inlet 9 of the flow channel 6.

[0089] The inlet spigot 5B is formed with a shape complementary to the inlet opening 3 of the pump housing 2 and an outer diameter of the inlet spigot 5B is somewhat smaller than the first inner cross-sectional area A.sup.1 of the inlet opening 3.

[0090] Correspondingly, the shaft pin 5C will be formed with a shape that is complementary to the through openings 8 of the pump housing 2 and an outer diameter which is somewhat smaller than an inner cross-section of the through opening.

[0091] FIGS. 5A-5B show further details of the impeller 5.

[0092] The flow channel 6 is designed to have substantially the same cross-sectional area throughout the length of the flow channel 6, from the inlet 9 of the flow channel 6 to the outlet 10 of the flow channel 6, where the flow channel 6 further is helically or spirally shaped. Such a design of the flow channel 6 of the impeller 5 will cause the fish to be much less exposed to impact and/or damage when the fish is guided through the impeller 5, since the flow channel 6 is not designed with “edges” to which the fish can be struck against. Fish will also, to a lesser extent, come into contact with other fish over the length of the flow channel 6, since the substantially the same cross-sectional area will to a lesser extent result in a contraction of fish.

[0093] Since the impellers 5 are only formed with one flow channel 6, this may cause the impellers 5 to be subjected to “throwing” during rotation, whereby at least one weight element 21 is arranged in the main part 5A of the impeller 5, so as to provide a balancing of impeller 5 during rotation. The at least one weight element 21 is arranged at a distance from the flow channel 6.

[0094] Such a weight element 21 may also be constituted by an internal cavity formed in the main part 5A of the impeller 5, where the cavity is connected to a bore (indicated by dotted lines) or channel to provide a connection between the cavity and the surroundings of the impeller, so that the cavity can be filled up when the impeller is submerged. Water from the pump housing will then flow through the bore or channel and into one or more internal cavities, so as to fill up these.

[0095] FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a fishing pump 1 according to FIG. 2, wherein the fish pump 1 according to this embodiment comprises a pump housing 2 and a removable cover (not shown) which are connected to the pump housing 2 via suitable connecting devices in the form of bolts, screws or the like. The removable cover (not shown) may be of glass to provide an inspection opening in the fish pump. Such a design will also result in an easier access to the inner volume of the pump housing 2, so that maintenance and/or repairs of impellers 5 etc. are facilitated.

[0096] Also in this embodiment, the fish pump 1 is designed to have an oval shape, where the pump housing 2 comprises two parallel long sides and two rounded short ends.

[0097] In an alternative embodiment, at least one of the long sides of the pump housing 2 may be designed to have a curved shape, whereby the long sides in such an embodiment must not be parallel over their entire length.

[0098] In one embodiment, the fish pump 1 has a width B which is less than a length L of the fish pump and is further formed with rounded short sides, thus providing an “oval” shape on the fish pump 1. The fish pump 1 is further formed with a flat top and bottom side when viewed in a longitudinal cross-section of the fish pump 1, where the upper and lower sides are arranged at a distance H from each other.

[0099] The pump housing 2, when viewed in a longitudinal cross-section of the fish pump 1, is formed with two spaced apart inlet openings 3, where the inlet openings 3 are further arranged along a longitudinal center line S of the fish pump 1. On an opposite side of the underside, when seen in a longitudinal cross-section of the fish pump 1, the pump housing 2 is formed with two through openings 8, as shown in FIG. 3A.

[0100] Each inlet aperture 3 is further formed with a flange 3A or spigot, where the flange 3A or the spigot extends a distance out from the pump housing 2. Each inlet opening 3 is further formed with a first inner cross-sectional area A.sup.1 and a second inner cross-sectional area A.sup.2, where a transition from it the first inner cross-sectional area A.sup.1 to the second inner cross-sectional area A.sup.2 will form an abutment shoulder 7 for an impeller 5 and a nozzle 20 arranged in the fish pump 1.

[0101] Each of the impeller 5 and the nozzle 20 will be formed with an inlet spigot 5B and a shaft pin 5C. The inlet spigot 5B will be of a shape complementary to the inlet opening 3 of the pump housing 2 and an outer diameter of the inlet spigot 5B is somewhat smaller than the first inner cross-sectional area A.sup.1 of the inlet opening 3.

[0102] Correspondingly, the shaft pin 5C will be formed with a shape that is complementary to the through openings 8 of the pump housing 2 and an outer diameter which is somewhat smaller than an inner cross-section of the through opening 8.

[0103] The impeller 5 and the nozzle 20 are arranged in the same plane and at a distance from each other, the impeller 5 being further formed with a flow channel 6 which provides a rotation of the impeller 5 in one direction, while the nozzle 20 is formed with several flow channels (not shown), for example, four or six, to provide a rotation of the nozzle 20 in an opposite direction to the rotation of the impeller 5.

[0104] One skilled in the art will appreciate that nozzle 20 may be formed with fewer or more flow channels than indicated above.

[0105] Arrows indicate that the impeller 5 will rotate counterclockwise, while the nozzle 20 will rotate clockwise

[0106] FIG. 7 shows flow conditions in a fish pump 1 according to FIG. 2 during use, where the largest arrows indicate the liquid flows around each impeller 5 and through the fish pump 1. As indicated, the liquid flow formed around one impeller 5 is oppositely directed to the liquid flow formed around the second impeller 5, as the impellers 5 are rotating in opposite directions. The smaller arrows indicate the direction of the liquid flow from each impeller 5.

[0107] Areas indicated by circle and triangle indicate areas where there is little movement in the water in the pump housing 2, as the fluid streams from the two impellers 5 meet here and they will counteract each other in these areas.

[0108] FIGS. 8A-8B show an alternative fish pump 1 according to the present invention, seen from above and in a cross-section along line AA of FIG. 8A, wherein the fish pump 1 comprises a pump housing 2 and a removable cover (not shown) as through suitable connecting means in the form of a bolt, screw or the like is connected to the pump housing 2. The cover (not shown) may be of glass or a transparent material so as to provide an inspection opening in the fish pump 1. A removable cover will also provide a simpler access to the interior of the pump housing 2 so that maintenance, replacement and/or repairs of one or more impellers etc. are facilitated.

[0109] A first short side of the pump casing 2 of the fish pump 1 is formed as a semicircle or partial circle, while an opposite and second short side is formed as a flat or plane surface, where the largest width of the first short side is greater than a maximum width of the second short side, whereby the long sides of the pump housing 2 will be tapered from the first short side to the second short side. Furthermore, the largest width of the first short side will be less than a length L of the fish pump 1. As shown in FIG. 8B, the pump housing 2 will further be formed with plane or flat sides when viewed in a longitudinal cross section of the fish pump 1, where the plane or flat sides are arranged at a distance H from each other. The flat or plane sides will, when the fish pump 1 is arranged horizontally, form an upper and lower side of the pump housing 2, or a front and rear side of the pump housing 2 if the fish pump 1 is arranged vertically.

[0110] The pump housing 2 is, on one of its flat or plane side, when viewed in a longitudinal cross-section of the pump housing 2, formed with an inlet opening 3, where the inlet opening 3 is further arranged to be laying on a longitudinal center line S. An opposite side of the pump housing 2 is formed with an outlet opening 4, where the outlet opening 4 is arranged to be located at a distance A from the longitudinal center line S and at a distance from the inlet opening 3.

[0111] However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the outlet orifice 4 in this embodiment may also be located on the longitudinal center line S, as shown in FIG. 9A.

[0112] The design of the pump housing 2, with the second short side formed as a flat or plane surface and the tapered shape from the first short side to the second short side, will provide, beyond the inlet opening 3 (in an area at the second short side), an area or chamber which will slow down the speed of the water before the outlet opening 4, so that fish is passed through the fish pump 1 in a gentle manner.

[0113] An impeller 5 is arranged in the pump housing 2, where the impeller 5 is formed with a flow channel 6 which provides a counterclockwise rotation. The design of the impeller 5 is shown and described in accordance with FIGS. 4 and 5A-5B.

[0114] Although the fish pump 1 according to this embodiment is shown with one impeller 5, it is to be understood that the fish pump 1 may comprise several impellers 5 or an impeller 5 and a nozzle 20, such as shown and described in accordance with FIGS. 2, 3A-3B, 6 and 7.

[0115] A further alternative configuration of a fish pump 1 according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 9A-9B, seen from above and in a cross-section along line A-A of FIG. 9A. The fish pump 1 comprises a pump housing 2 and a removable cover (not shown) which, through suitable connecting means in the form of bolt, screw or the like, are connected to the pump housing 2. The cover (not shown) may be of glass or a transparent material so as to provide an inspection opening in the fish pump 1. A removable cover will also result in a simpler access to the interior of the pump housing 2, so that maintenance, replacement and/or repairs of one or more impellers etc. are facilitated.

[0116] A first short side of the pump casing 2 of the fish pump 1 is formed as a semicircle or a partial circle, while an opposite and second short side is formed as a flat or plane surface, where the largest width of the first short side is greater than a maximum width of the second short side, whereby the long sides of the pump housing 2 will be tapered from the first short side to the second short side. Furthermore, the largest width of the first short side will be less than a length L of the fish pump 1. As shown in FIG. 9B, the pump housing 2 will further be formed with two plane or flat sides when viewed in a longitudinal cross section of the fish pump 1, where the flat or plane sides are arranged at a distance H from each other. The flat or plane sides, when the fish pump 1 is arranged horizontally, will form an upper and lower side of the pump housing 2, or a front and rear side of the pump housing 2 if the fish pump 1 is arranged vertically.

[0117] The pump housing 2 is on one of its one flat or plane sides, when viewed in a longitudinal cross-section of the pump housing 2, formed with an inlet opening 3, where the inlet opening 3 further is arranged to be located on a longitudinal center line S. The other short side of the pump housing 2, which is formed with the plane or flat surface, is formed with an outlet opening 4, where the outlet opening 4 is also arranged to be located on the longitudinal center line S.

[0118] However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the outlet opening 4 in this embodiment may also be located at a distance A from the longitudinal center line S, as shown in FIG. 8A.

[0119] The design of the pump housing 2, with the second short side formed as a flat or plane surface and the tapered shape from the first short side to the second short side, will beyond the inlet opening 3 (in an area at the second short side), provide an area which will slow the speed of the water before the outlet opening 4, so that fish is passed through the fish pump 1 in a gentle manner 1.

[0120] An impeller 5 is arranged in the pump housing 2, where the impeller 5 is formed with a flow channel 6 which provides a counterclockwise rotation. The design of the impeller 5 is shown and described in accordance with FIGS. 4 and 5A-5B.

[0121] Although the fish pump 1 according to this embodiment is shown with one impeller 5, it is to be understood that the fish pump 1 may comprise several impellers 5 or an impeller 5 and a nozzle 20, such as shown and described in accordance with FIGS. 2, 3A-3B, 6 and 7.

[0122] The invention has now been explained with several non-limiting exemplary embodiments. One skilled in the art will appreciate that a variety of variations and modifications can be made to the fish pump for loading and unloading fish as described within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.