FLOATING PUMP

Abstract

A floating pump for pumping a liquid includes a pump housing; and a pump element arranged in or on the housing and provided with a fan, and operatively connected to a drive. The pump housing is configured to keep the floating pump substantially wholly floating.

Claims

1. A floating pump for pumping a liquid, comprising: a pump housing; and a pump element arranged in or on the housing and provided with a fan, and operatively connected to a drive, wherein the pump housing is configured to keep the floating pump substantially wholly floating.

2. The floating pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pump housing is provided with one or more forms generating upward force during use.

3. The floating pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pump housing comprises an upper housing part and a lower housing part.

4. The floating pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper housing part is provided with a first pump housing part and a second floater part.

5. The floating pump as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second floater part is removably connectable to the other part or parts of the pump housing.

6. The floating pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a part of the pump housing is provided with a sandwich structure configured to provide rigidity to the pump housing.

7. The floating pump as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sandwich structure comprises a foam material and further a fibre material.

8. The floating pump as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fibre material comprises at least one of glass fibres and carbon fibres.

9. The floating pump as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a removable suction flange.

10. The floating pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pump housing is configured to mount thereon or fasten thereto displacing elements comprising one or more of a slide plate, wheels or carrying loops.

11. The floating pump as claimed in claim 10, wherein the displacing elements are secured on the pump housing close to a fastening between individual housing parts.

12. The floating pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pump housing is provided with a bumper arranged substantially all the way around the pump housing.

13. The floating pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan is provided substantially from a plastic material.

14. A pump system comprising a floating pump for pumping a liquid, the the pump comprising: a pump housing; and a pump element arranged in or on the housing and provided with a fan, and operatively connected to a drive, wherein the pump housing is configured to keep the floating pump substantially wholly floating.

15. A method for pumping a liquid, comprising: providing a floating pump in a pump system for pumping a liquid, the pump comprising: a pump housing; and a pump element arranged in or on the housing and provided with a fan, and operatively connected to a drive, wherein the pump housing is configured to keep the floating pump substantially wholly floating: connecting the pump system; and pumping the liquid.

16. The floating pump as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pump housing comprises an upper housing part and a lower housing part.

17. The floating pump as claimed in claim 16, wherein the upper housing part is provided with a first pump housing part and a second floater part, wherein the second floater part is removably connectable to the other part or parts of the pump housing.

18. The floating pump as claimed in claim 17, wherein at least a part of the pump housing is provided with a sandwich structure configured to provide rigidity to the pump housing, and wherein the sandwich structure comprises a foam material and further a fibre material.

19. The floating pump as claimed in claim 17, wherein the pump housing is configured to mount thereon or fasten thereto displacing elements comprising one or more of a slide plate, wheels or carrying loops.

20. The floating pump as claimed in claim 19, wherein the pump housing is provided with a bumper arranged substantially all the way around the pump housing.

Description

[0038] Further advantages, features and details of the invention are elucidated on the basis of preferred embodiments thereof, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0039] FIGS. 1A-E are views of a floating pump according to the invention;

[0040] FIG. 2 are views of an alternative floating pump according to the invention; and

[0041] FIGS. 3A-D are schematic views of applications of the floating pump of FIG. 1.

[0042] Floating pump 2 (FIGS. 1A-E) is provided with housing 4 comprising upper housing part 6 and lower housing part 8. In the shown embodiment upper housing part 6 is connected to lower housing part 8 using fastening elements 10, embodied in the shown embodiment as bolts. Pump element 12 is bearing-mounted on one side on first bearing 14 and second bearing 16. Connection 18 is further provided for the purpose of connecting floating pump 2 to other parts of a pump system. Provided in the shown embodiment is fan element 20 which is arranged on shaft 22 and with which a liquid can be transported via connection 18. Liquid is for this purpose sucked up from underside 24 via opening 26 arranged therein using the fan 20 arranged on shaft 22. In the shown embodiment the sucked-up liquid is transported via a type of spiral casing configuration 28 to connection 18 and then transferred to another location.

[0043] The housing of the shown floating pump 2 is manufactured from a plastic material comprising carbon, glass and/or aramid fibres. A stable and robust pump housing 4 is obtained using a sandwich structure wherein use is made of a foam material, in which the fibres are preferably arranged.

[0044] In the shown embodiment floating pump 2 is able to displace about 20,000 litres per minute. The overall weight of pump 2 is about 50-75% of the weight of a conventional pump, wherein the weight of pump 2 according to the invention is formed for the most part by the weight of pump element 12 and fan 20, wherein housing 4 has a very limited weight. It has been found that for preferred pumps 2 the pump element including fan makes up a total of between 50% to 80% of the overall weight relative to housing 4 with inter alia bearings 14, 16 and connection 18.

[0045] In the shown embodiment additional forms 30 are optionally arranged for the purpose of controlling the buoyant force. Form 30 is arranged on the upper side 32 of upper housing part 6. It is also possible to arrange an additional form element 34 on side 36 of pump 2. This is preferably arranged on upper part 6 of housing 4 in order to thereby provide a greater stability of pump 2 in a liquid. It is hereby possible to realize a self-righting configuration of pump 2. It is hereby achieved that pump 2 can also right itself if pump 2 is pulled askew by or via connection 18, or comes to lie askew or is even turned upside down by other loads. It will be apparent that a large number of forms 30, 34, which can be applied separately or in combination with each other, are possible in similar manner.

[0046] Slide plate 38, which is shown schematically in FIG. 1A, is further optionally provided. In this schematically shown embodiment slide plate 38 is mounted on housing 4 via fastening elements 10. Also provided are a number of protective profiles 39 which have inter alia the filtering function of preventing for instance waste from being able to find its way into pump 2. One or more wheels 40 can additionally or alternatively be arranged, which are in the shown schematic embodiment preferably likewise secured via wheel shaft 42 to fastening elements 10 and housing 4 of pump 2. If desired, one or more hoisting loops 44 can be provided with which it is possible to displace pump 2 in effective manner. In the shown schematic embodiment hoisting loops or handles 44 are likewise arranged on fastening elements 10. These are shown schematically in the figure. It will be apparent that other embodiments for the schematically shown displacing elements of slide plate 38, wheel 40, hoisting loops/handle 44 are possible for the skilled person, as is application of other fastening elements and fastening points.

[0047] In an alternative embodiment pump 52 (FIG. 2) is provided with housing 54 with upper housing part 56 and lower housing part 58. Upper housing part 56 is provided from first pump housing part 60 and second floater part 62. Pump/fan 64 is arranged in housing 54. Housing 54 is further provided with suction flange 66. In the shown embodiment first pump housing part 60 is provided with connections 68.

[0048] In the shown embodiment lower housing part 58 and floater part 62 are manufactured from a plastic material having a sandwich structure, preferably provided with carbon, glass and/or aramid fibres. Pump housing 54 can be placed on cart/carrier 70 provided with wheels 72. It is hereby possible for one person to move pump 52 in simple manner.

[0049] It is noted that it will be apparent to the skilled person that components and features of pumps 2, 52 can be interchanged. It is thus for instance possible to provide upper housing part 6 of pump 2 from two (or more) parts.

[0050] Pump systems 102 (FIGS. 3A-D) can for instance be applied in the case of flooding occurring in an area (FIG. 3A). One or more pumps 104 can here be driven from drive 106. Water is discharged from a flooded area 108, over dike 110 and to discharge area or regular water reserve 112. Drive 106 is here connected via drive line 114 to individual pumps 104. The drive for instance takes a hydraulic form. It will be apparent that other embodiments are also possible. Pumps 104 here float in water in area 108. Sucked-up water is discharged via discharge conduits 116 from pumps 104 to destination area 112, which functions as discharge area or regular water reserve.

[0051] If desired, it is also possible to place drive 106 on a ground surface 118 where an underground channel 120 is pumped empty (FIG. 3B).

[0052] Pump system 102 can also be applied in similar manner for the purpose of pumping empty a flooded train or metro tunnel 120 (FIG. 3C).

[0053] A cellar 122 of for instance a hospital 124 can further be pumped empty in similar manner using a pump system 102 (FIG. 3D). In the shown embodiment water is discharged via pump system 102 from cellar space 122, over dike 110 and to destination area 112.

[0054] In a situation in which transfer pumping is required, pump system 102 is carried or moved to the desired location. A drive 106 can here be operatively connected to one or more pumps 2. After installation, the water or other liquid can be transferred by pumping.

[0055] It will be apparent that the shown embodiments are examples of possible applications of pump 2 and pump system 102. Other embodiments and applications are likewise possible.

[0056] The present invention is by no means limited to the above described preferred embodiments thereof. The rights sought are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged.