Pumping system selectably operable as a fire pump or a hydraulic pump

Claim 1

A pumping system adapted to be selectably connected to operate as a fire pump or a hydraulic pump and particularly adapted for use on board ships or similar applications for fire fighting and dewatering operations comprising: an engine having a power takeoff shaft, a standby pump having an output shaft, means connecting said standby pump to the power takeoff shaft of said engine so that said standby pump is driven by said engine such as when the pumping system is connected to operate as a fire pump, a hydraulic pump having an inlet and a discharge, means for selectably connecting said hydraulic pump to said output shaft of said standby pump so that said hydraulic pump is driven by said standby pump such as when the pumping system is connected to operate as a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic motor having an output shaft and an inlet and an outlet, hose means for providing fluid flow connections between said hydraulic pump inlet and discharge and said inlet and outlet of said hydraulic motor so that said hydraulic motor is driven by said hydraulic pump at a location remote from said standby pump, a submersible pump, means connecting said submersible pump to said output shaft of said hydraulic motor so that said submersible pump is driven by said hydraulic motor such as when the pumping system is connected for a dewatering operation, said standby pump being a centrifugal pump having an impeller and seal means for the impeller, and means for lubricating and cooling said seal means so that said centrifugal pump is adapted to be run dry.