US3844540A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for unclogging fluid pump intakes
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-08-02
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Granted: 1974-10-29
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Expires: 1992-08-02
Abstract
Abstract The present disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for handling flowable mixtures containing coagulants, solids and trash which clog or choke off pump intakes when pumping the mixtures and which is attained by activating whippers which are caused to flail about the intake of the pump to break up the coagulants and solids so that they may be pumped with the flowable material. The whippers are caused to flail by the passage therethrough of a portion of the fluid flow from the discharge side of the pump under varying pressure sufficient to cause a flailing action of the whippers to break up any coagulation of solids or accumulation of trash which will tend to choke off or clog the pump intake to render pumping of the flowable mixture and its solid contents.
Inventors
- 👤 L Dobbs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:46
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04D; F04D29/00; F04D29/70; F04D29/708; E; E02; E02F; E02F3/00; E02F3/04; E02F3/88; E02F3/90; E02F3/92; F04D29/60; F04D29/605
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
For use with a tailwater pump in an irrigation system having main and lateral distribution lines, a tailwater sump and return line, said pump having an intake and discharge, a tailwater pump intake agitator comprising a. an agitating water manifold adapted to be secured proximate the pump intake, b. means adapted to be connected to the discharge side of said pump to supply water from said pump to said manifold, c. and whipper means connected to said manifold to conduct water from said manifold through said whipper means to cause thewhipper means to flail about the intake of the tailwater pump to break up deposits of silt, trash and the like for movement through the pump for repassage through the return line from the sump to the main distribution lines for recycling through the system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
For use with a tailwater pump in an irrigation system having main and lateral distribution lines, a tailwater sump and return line, said pump having an intake and discharge, a tailwater pump intake agitator comprising a. an agitating water manifold adapted to be secured proximate the pump intake, b. means adapted to be connected to the discharge side of said pump to supply water from said pump to said manifold, c. and whipper means connected to said manifold to conduct water from said manifold through said whipper means to cause thewhipper means to flail about the intake of the tailwater pump to break up deposits of silt, trash and the like for movement through the pump for repassage through the return line from the sump to the main distribution lines for recycling through the system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A tailwater pump intake agitator as claimed in claim 1 further comprising valve means connected between said pump discharge and said manifold to vary the water pressure supplied to the whipper means from the manifold to regulate the amount of flail to which the whipper means is subjected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A tailwater pump intake agitator as claimed in claim 2 wherein said agitating water manifold is an annular hollow conduit having a plurality of discharge connectors spaced circumferentially about the pump intake.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A tailwater pump intake agitator as claimed in claim 3 wherein said whipper means are a plurality of lengths of flexible hollow surgical tubing connected to the discharge connectors on said manifold at one end and being free to whip and flail about their other end when subjected to the regulated pump discharge pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
153 words
For use with a pump the intake of which is immersed in a flowable mixture having ingredients which tend to coagulate, solidify or clog the pump intake, a pump intake agitator for breaking up coagulants, solids or trash proximate the pump intake comprising a. an agitating manifold adapted to be secured proximate the pump intake, b. means adapted to be connected to the discharge side of the pump to supply a portion of the flowable mixture being dischargEd from the pump to said manifold under variable pressure, and c. a flexible hollow whipper means connected to said manifold to conduct flowable mixture from said manifold through said whipper means to cause the whipper means to flail about the intake of the pump to break up coagulants, solids and trash from clogging the pump intake and permitting the solids and coagulants to be pumped through the pump to the source originating the flowable mixture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
153 words
For use with a pump the intake of which is immersed in a flowable mixture having ingredients which tend to coagulate, solidify or clog the pump intake, a pump intake agitator for breaking up coagulants, solids or trash proximate the pump intake comprising a. an agitating manifold adapted to be secured proximate the pump intake, b. means adapted to be connected to the discharge side of the pump to supply a portion of the flowable mixture being dischargEd from the pump to said manifold under variable pressure, and c. a flexible hollow whipper means connected to said manifold to conduct flowable mixture from said manifold through said whipper means to cause the whipper means to flail about the intake of the pump to break up coagulants, solids and trash from clogging the pump intake and permitting the solids and coagulants to be pumped through the pump to the source originating the flowable mixture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A pump intake agitator as claimed in claim 5 wherein said whipper means are flexible hollow tubular members from three to 5 feet in length.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
116 words
The method of recirculating a flowable mixture containing coagulants, solids and foreign matter which tends to clog and choke off the intake of a pump which returns the flowable mixture from a low end of the system to a high end comprising a. collecting the flowable mixture in a sump at the low end of the system, b. pumping the collected flowable material to the high end of the system, c. employing a portion of the flowable material being pumped from the low end to the high end to drive flails actuated by said portion of the flowable material to break up coagulants, solids and foreign matter which tend to clog or choke the pump intake.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
116 words
The method of recirculating a flowable mixture containing coagulants, solids and foreign matter which tends to clog and choke off the intake of a pump which returns the flowable mixture from a low end of the system to a high end comprising a. collecting the flowable mixture in a sump at the low end of the system, b. pumping the collected flowable material to the high end of the system, c. employing a portion of the flowable material being pumped from the low end to the high end to drive flails actuated by said portion of the flowable material to break up coagulants, solids and foreign matter which tend to clog or choke the pump intake.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-28 | 1978-04-29 | 1978-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-28 | 1982-04-29 | 1982-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-28 | 1986-04-29 | 1986-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |