Waste pump removal apparatus

Abstract

A waste pump removal apparatus for removing pumps from reception areas for maintenance. The waste pump removal apparatus includes a frame having front and back ends, a top and a bottom; a loader attachment coupled to the back end of the frame and adapted to mount to a loader; a pump attachment pivotably connected to the front end of the frame and adapted to be coupled to a waste pump; and an actuator mounted to the frame and in communication with the pump attachment for pivoting the pump attachment relative to the frame to remove the waste pump from a reception area.

Claims

1. A waste pump removal apparatus comprising: a frame having front and back ends, a top and a bottom, each of the top and bottom of the frame being planar, the top and bottom being parallel wherein the frame is rectangular box-shaped, wherein the frame includes elongated support members spaced apart and disposed parallel to one another and also includes cross members interconnecting the elongated support members, the cross members being perpendicular to the elongated support members, wherein the cross members include an end cross member disposed proximate to the back end of the frame and also includes a front end cross member disposed at the front end of the frame and further includes an intermediate cross member disposed intermediate of the frame; a loader attachment coupled to the back end of the frame and adapted to mount to a loader, the loader attachment having a planar member and a flange disposed along a perimeter of the planar member; a pump attachment pivotably connected to the front end of the frame and adapted to be coupled to a waste pump, wherein the pump attachment includes a back wall which is pivotably connected to the front end of the frame, and also includes side walls and a front wall which is spaced from the back wall of the pump attachment and is adapted to be removably secured to the waste pump, the pump attachment having a planar top defined by respective top edges of the back wall, side walls, and front wall of the pump attachment, the planar top of the pump attachment being coplanar with the top of the frame when the pump attachment is unpivoted relative to the frame; and an actuator mounted to the frame and in communication with the pump attachment for pivoting the pump attachment relative to the frame and adapted to remove the waste pump from a reception area, wherein the actuator is a hydraulic cylinder, wherein the hydraulic cylinder includes a cylinder barrel having a base end coupled to the intermediate cross member of the frame, and also includes a piston rod in communication with the cylinder barrel, the piston rod having a distal end relative to the cylinder barrel, the distal end of the piston rod being pivotally coupled to the pump attachment, and further includes hoses connected to the cylinder barrel and adapted to carry hydraulic fluid from a power source to energize the hydraulic cylinder to pivot the pump attachment relative to the frame.

2. The waste pump removal apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the back end of the frame rests in a plane and the planar member is angled relative to the back end of the frame.

3. The waste pump removal apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein the planar member is slanted outwardly from the top to the bottom of and away from the frame; wherein the loader attachment also includes holes disposed through the flange for mounting the loader attachment to the loader.

4. The waste pump removal apparatus as described in claim 1 further includes first brackets mounted upon the top of the frame at the front end of the frame, and also includes second brackets mounted upon the top edges of the side walls of the pump attachment, and further includes a rod disposed through and interconnecting the first and second brackets.

5. The waste pump removal apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein the second brackets are pivotable about the rod; wherein the pump attachment is pivotable upwardly relative to the frame to remove the waste pump from the reception area.

6. The waste pump removal apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the pump attachment also includes guide members fastened to the side walls and adapted to be fastened to the waste pump.

7. The waste pump removal apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the pump attachment further includes braces interconnecting the front and back walls.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new waste pump removal apparatus according to the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention attached to a waste pump.

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention mounted to a skid loader.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3 thereof, a new waste pump removal apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

(6) As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the waste pump removal apparatus 10 generally comprises a frame 11 having front and back ends 12,13, a top 14 and a bottom 15; a loader attachment 20 conventionally coupled to the back end 13 of the frame 11 and adapted to mount to a loader 40; a pump attachment 23 pivotably connected to the front end 12 of the frame 11 and adapted to be coupled to a waste pump 41; and an actuator 37 conventionally mounted to the frame 11 and in communication with the pump attachment 23 for pivoting the pump attachment 23 relative to the frame 11 to remove the waste pump 41 from a reception area.

(7) The frame 11 includes elongated support members 16 spaced apart and disposed parallel to one another and also includes cross members 17-19 conventionally interconnecting the elongated support members 16. The cross members 17-19 include a back cross member 17 disposed proximate to the back end of the frame 11 and also includes a front cross member 18 disposed at the front end 12 the frame 11 and further includes an intermediate cross member 19 disposed intermediate of the frame 11.

(8) The loader attachment 20 includes a planar member 21 having a perimeter 42 with a flange 22 integrally disposed along the perimeter 42 of the planar member 21 to facilitate mounting the frame 11 to the loader 40. The back end 13 of the frame 11 rests in a plane and the planar member 21 is angled relative to the back end 13 of the frame 11. The planar member 21 is slanted outwardly from the top 14 to the bottom 15 of and away from the frame 11. The loader attachment 20 also includes holes 47 disposed through the flange 22 for mounting the loader attachment 20 to the loader 40.

(9) The pump attachment 23 includes a back wall 24 which is pivotably connected to the front end 12 of the frame 11, and also includes side walls 26,27 and a front wall 25 which is spaced from the back wall 24 of the pump attachment 23 and is adapted to be removably secured to the waste pump 41. The side walls 26,27 of the pump attachment 23 have top edges 28,29.

(10) The waste pump removal apparatus 10 includes first brackets 30,31 conventionally mounted upon the top 14 of the frame 11 at the front end 12 of the frame 11, and also includes second brackets 32,33 conventionally mounted upon the top edges 28,29 of the side walls 26,27 of the pump attachment 23, and further includes a rod 34 conventionally disposed through and conventionally interconnecting the first and second brackets 30-33. The second brackets 32,33 are pivotable about the rod 34. The pump attachment 23 is pivotable upwardly relative to the frame 11 and adapted to remove the waste pump 41 from the reception area. The pump attachment 23 also includes guide members 35,36 conventionally fastened to the side walls 26,27 and adapted to be conventionally fastened to the waste pump 41. The guide members 35,36 are L-brackets. The pump attachment 23 further includes braces 45 conventionally interconnecting the front and back walls 24,25.

(11) The actuator 37 is a hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic cylinder 37 includes a cylinder barrel 38 conventionally coupled to the frame 11, and also includes a piston rod 39 in conventional communication with the cylinder barrel 38 and conventionally coupled to the pump attachment 23, and further includes hoses 46 conventionally connected to the cylinder barrel 38 and adapted to carry hydraulic fluid from a power source to energize the hydraulic cylinder 37 to pivot the pump attachment 23 relative to the frame 11.

(12) In use, the pump attachment 23 is conventionally secured to the waste pump 41. The loader attachment 20 is conventionally mounted to the loader 40. The actuator 37 is energized with hydraulic fluid to pivot the pump attachment 23 upwardly and relative to the frame 11 to remove the waste pump 41 from a reception area.

(13) As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

(14) With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

(15) Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the waste pump removal apparatus. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.