Pump and sealing unit therefor

Claim 1

A PUMP COMPRISING A PUMP HOUSING HAVING A SUCTION WATER INLET AND A WATER OUTLET, A ROTARY IMPELLER IN THE SAID PUMP HOUSING AND INCLUDING A LATERAL WALL SURFACE FACING TOWARD THE SAID WATER INLET OPENING, A FLEXIBLE AND RESILIENT ANNULAR SEALING UNIT INCLUDING AN ANNULAR HOLLOW BODY HAVING A LATERAL SEALING SURFACE FACING TOWARD AND ENGAGING THE SAID LATERAL WALL SURFACE OF THE SAID ROTARY IMPELLER, AND MEANS CARRIED BY THE SAID HOUSING FOR SUPPORTING THE SAID FLEXIBLE ANNULAR SEALING UNIT AND RETAINING THE SAID ANNULAR HOLLOW BODY THEREOF UNDER COMPRESSION AND FOR URGING THE SAID LATERAL SEALING SURFACE THEREOF INTO SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SAID LATERAL SURFACE OF THE SAID ROTARY IMPELLER, THE SAID MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE SAID FLEXIBLE AND RESILIENT SEALING UNIT INCLUDING A SUCTION MOUTH LINER ARRANGED ABOUT THE SAID INLET OPENING OF THE SAID PUMP, THE SAID SUCTION MOUTH LINER HAVING AN ANNULAR GROOVE FORMED THEREIN, AND THE SAID FLEXIBLE AND RESILIENT SEALING UNIT INCLUDING AN ANNULAR ANCHORING FLANGE MOUNTED UNDER COMPRESSION IN THE SAID ANNULAR GROOVE IN THE SAID SUCTION MOUTH LINER.