Sewerage pumping means for lift station

• US 4,529,359 A
• Filed: 05/02/1983
• Issued: 07/16/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Albert H. Sloan
• Original Assignee: Albert H. Sloan
• Inventors: Sloan, Albert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Freeh, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Neils, Paul F.
• Application Number:
  US06/490,843
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 417/10, 417/16, 417/34, 417/40, 417/47, 417/364, 417/390, 417/405, 417/426
• US Class Current: 417/34
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 5/22 Adaptations of pumping plants for lifting sewage wheeled apparatus for emptying sewers or cesspools E03F7/10; pumps, pumping plants, per se F04
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/025 by means of floats

Abstract

Sewerage pumping apparatus is provided for delivering sewerage collected by gravity in a wet well to a force main which supplies sewerage by force to a remotely located sewerage treatment plant. The sewerage pumping apparatus comprises a hydraulically driven submersible pump located in the wet well for supplying sewerage to the force main. Two trailer-mounted hydraulic pump units (main and standby) adjacent the wet well are alternatively operable to supply pressurized hydraulic fluid to drive the submersible pump. Check valves prevent the operative pump unit from supplying hydraulic fluid to the inoperative pump unit. The main pump unit is driven by an electric motor energized from a nearby electric utility power line. The standby pump unit is driven by an internal combustion engine. Float switches sense the sewerage level in the wet well and regulate operation of the in-service pump unit (and submersible pump) accordingly. Apparatus, including an emergency float switch, is provided for sensing an electrical utility power failure which renders the electrically driven main pump unit inoperative and for starting the engine for the standby pump unit to thereby maintain the submersible pump in operation.

Claims

1. Sewerage pumping apparatus for delivering sewerage from a wet well to another portion of a sewerage system comprising:

a submersible hydraulic pump for disposition in said wet well;

an electrically driven main pump unit for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to operate said submersible pump, said main pump unit being dependent on an electrical power supply from a utility to remain in service;

an engine driven standby pump unit alternately available for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to operate said submersible pump when said main pump unit is out of service because of power failure of said electrical power supply;

means responsive to said power failure to place said standby pump unit in service and in readiness to effect operation of said submersible pump;

and a hydraulic circuit connected between said submersible pump and both of said pump units, and check valves means in said hydraulic circuit for preventing the in-service pump unit from delivering hydraulic fluid to the out-of-service pump unit.

2. Sewerage pumping apparatus according to claim 1 including means for sensing the sewerage level in said wet well and for regulating the operation of whichever pump unit is in service so as to operate said submersible pump so as to maintain the level of sewerage in said wet well within a predetermined range.

3. Sewerage pumping apparatus for delivering sewerage from a wet well to a force main in a sewerage system comprising:

a submersible pump including a hydraulic drive motor for disposition in said wet well for supplying sewerage to said force main;

a main pump unit including an electric motor and pump for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to operate said submersible pump;

a standby pump unit including an internal combustion engine and pump for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to operate said submersible pump in the event said main pump unit is rendered inoperative because of a failure of an electrical power supply which energizes said motor of said main pump unit;

means responsive to said electrical power supply failure to start said engine of said standby pump unit to maintain said submersible pump in operation; and

a hydraulic circuit connected between said hydraulic drive motor of said submersible pump and the pumps of both of said pump units, and further including check valve means in said hydraulic circuit for preventing the in-service pump unit from delivering hydraulic fluid to the out-of-service pump unit.

4. Sewerage pumping apparatus according to claim 3 including means for sensing the sewerage level in said wet well and for regulating the on/off operation of whichever pump is in service so as to adjust the output of said submersible pump and maintain the sewerage at a safe level.