Floating pump assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A pump assembly comprising:
- a housing having a bottom and at least one opening through the housing near the bottom;
an electrical energy source in said housing;
a pump in said housing and having an intake near the bottom of the housing;
sensor means in said housing and coupled to said energy source and to said pump to energize and cause said pump to operate in response to detection of water in said housing at a level above said pump intake;
flotation means in said housing and arranged to float the pump assembly when the water rises to a level in said housing above the pump intake;
whereby said pump assembly is floatable in a pool and can pump from the pool while floating in it.
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Abstract
A pump assembly has a housing with water admitting openings through the housing near the bottom. A pump in the housing has an intake near the bottom. A water level sensor connects the pump to a battery in the housing when the level rises above the pump intake, to operate the pump. Closed cell foam flotation floats the assembly to permit pumping from a pool of any depth greater than one third the height of the housing. Flotation also is arranged to achieve self-righting of the assembly in the event of inadvertent tipping or upset.
64 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A pump assembly comprising:
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a housing having a bottom and at least one opening through the housing near the bottom; an electrical energy source in said housing; a pump in said housing and having an intake near the bottom of the housing; sensor means in said housing and coupled to said energy source and to said pump to energize and cause said pump to operate in response to detection of water in said housing at a level above said pump intake; flotation means in said housing and arranged to float the pump assembly when the water rises to a level in said housing above the pump intake; whereby said pump assembly is floatable in a pool and can pump from the pool while floating in it. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 10)
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4. A pump assembly comprising:
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a housing having a bottom and at least one opening through the housing near the bottom; an electrical energy source in said housing; a pump in said housing and having an intake near the bottom of the housing; water level response means in said housing and coupled to said energy source and to said pump to energize and cause said pump to operate in response to detection of water above a first predetermined level in said housing, relative to the bottom of said housing, said pump intake being located below said level; flotation means in said housing and arranged to displace a volume of water weighing an amount equal to the weight of the pump assembly when the water rises to a second predetermined level in said housing relative to the bottom of said housing, said second level being above said first level; whereby said pump assembly is floatable in a pool and can pump from the pool while floating in it. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification