Mud cutter

Claim 1

AN INTAKE SYSTEM FOR A MUD PUMP, SAID SYSTEM COMPRISING: A FLEXIBLE TUBE COMMUNICATING WITH THE SUCTION SIDE OF SAID MUD PUMP AND EXTENDING INTO A MUD PIT, A PRIME MOVER INCLUDING A DRIVE SHAFT POSITIONED NEAR SAID FLEXIBLE TUBE, A FLEXIBLE SHAFT COUPLED TO SAID DRIVE SHAFT OF SAID PRIME MOVER AND EXTENDING IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP FROM SAID FLEXIBLE TUBE INTO SAID MUD PIT, A NON-ROTATABLE SHEATH ABOUT SAID FLEXIBLE SHAFT, A PLURALITY OF BRACKETS SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID FLEXIBLE TUBE AND ENGAGING SAID SHEATH OF SAID FLEXIBLE SHAFT, AN OFFSET INTAKE PIPE CONNECTED AT ONE OF ITS ENDS TO AND COMMUNICATING WITH ONE END OF SAID FLEXIBLE TUBE AND HAVING THE OPPOSITE END PORTION THEREOF EXTENDING WITH ITS AXIS PARALLEL WITH BUT SPACED FROM THE AXIS OF ITS CONNECTED END AND HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION THEREOF WITH ITS AXIS INTERCEPTING SAID AXES OF SAID END PORTIONS, AN OPENING IN A WALL OF SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID OFFSET INTAKE PIPE AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE AXIS OF SAID EXTENDING END PORTION OF SAID OFFSET INTAKE PIPE THEREWITH, A SLEEVE JOURNALED ABOUT SAID EXTENDING END PORTION OF SAID OFFSET INTAKE PIPE AND HAVING THE EXTENDING END OF SAID SLEEVE EXTENDING BEYOND THE CORRESPONDING END OF SAID OFFSET INTAKE PIPE, A HUB POSITIONED WITHIN SAID SLEEVE CONCENTRIC WITH THE EXTENDING END PORTION THEREOF, BLADES EXTENDING RADIALLY FROM SAID HUB TO SAID EXTENDING END OF SAID SLEEVE AND SECURED AT THEIR OPPOSITE ENDS TO SAID HUB AND SAID SLEEVE, A SHAFT SECURED TO SAID HUB AND EXTENDING THEREFROM THROUGH SAID OPENING IN SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID OFFSET INTAKE PIPE TO ENGAGE WITH SAID FLEXIBLE SHAFT, A COLLAR ATTACHED TO SAID SHAFT WITHIN THE EXTENDING END PORTION OF SAID OFFSET INTAKE PIPE NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF THE RESPECTIVE AXES OF SAID EXTENDING END PORTION AND SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID OFFSET INTAKE PIPE, PITCHED BLADES ATTACHED TO AND PROJECTING RADIALLY FROM SAID COLLAR, AND MEANS MANIPULATING SAID OFFSET INTAKE PIPE WITHIN SAID MUD PIT.