In-line jet pumps and methods of use

Abstract

A jet pump comprising (A) a housing which defines at least a suction chamber, a suction inlet and a suction outlet; (B) a nozzle assembly disposed within the housing which nozzle assembly is sized and configured to receive at least a pressurized fluid and eject the pressurized fluid as a fluid flow into a portion of the suction chamber; and (C) a discharge conduit extending from the suction outlet away from the suction chamber, the discharge conduit being configured for fluid communication with the suction chamber and being disposed to receive the fluid flow from the nozzle assembly, wherein the discharge conduit defines at least a first inner diameter along a portion of its length and a second inner diameter along another portion of its length, the first inner diameter being less than the second inner diameter. The housing is configured so that the suction inlet provides a flow of suctioned material into the suction chamber which has a predominant direction of flow of suctioned material which is substantially parallel to a predominant direction of flow of the fluid flow from the nozzle assembly when the jet pump is in use.

1 . A jet pump comprising:
 (A) a housing which defines at least a suction chamber, a suction inlet and a suction outlet;   (B) a nozzle assembly disposed within the housing which nozzle assembly is sized and configured to receive at least a pressurized fluid and eject the pressurized fluid as a fluid flow into a portion of the suction chamber; and   (C) a discharge conduit extending from the suction outlet away from the suction chamber, the discharge conduit being configured for fluid communication with the suction chamber and being disposed to receive the fluid flow from the nozzle assembly, wherein the discharge conduit defines at least a first inner diameter along a portion of its length and a second inner diameter along another portion of its length, the first inner diameter being less than the second inner diameter;   
     wherein the housing is configured so that the suction inlet provides a flow of suctioned material into the suction chamber which has a predominant direction of flow of suctioned material which is substantially parallel to a predominant direction of flow of the fluid flow from the nozzle assembly when the jet pump is in use. 
   
   
       2 . The jet pump according to  claim 1  wherein the nozzle assembly is sized and configured to receive the pressurized fluid and a gas and eject the pressurized fluid as a fluid flow into the suction chamber while feeding the gas into proximity with the periphery of the fluid flow. 
   
   
       3 . The jet pump according to  claim 2  wherein the gas is air or an inert gas. 
   
   
       4 . The jet pump according to  claim 2  wherein the nozzle assembly and housing are sized and configured so that, during use of the jet pump to suction solids-containing material, the fluid flow and suctioned solids-containing material form a mixture and wherein the rate of movement of suctioned material is at least about 50 tons (4.5×10 4  kg) per hour when the second inner diameter of the discharge conduit is about 4 inches (10.2 cm), the first inner diameter of the discharge conduit is about 3 inches (7.6 cm), the diameter of the nozzle assembly at the point of ejection of the pressurized fluid is about 0.625 inch (1.59 cm), the pressurized fluid pressure is about 150 psi (1034 kPa), and the flow rate of the pressurized fluid is about 140 gallons (530 L) per minute. 
   
   
       5 . The jet pump according to  claim 1  wherein the housing, the discharge conduit and a pressurized fluid supply conduit for supplying the pressurized fluid to the nozzle assembly are attached to or integral with an arm of an excavator so that the suction inlet is positioned in proximity to an end of the arm. 
   
   
       6 . The jet pump according to  claim 2  wherein the housing, the discharge conduit, a pressurized fluid supply conduit for supplying the pressurized fluid to the nozzle assembly and a gas supply conduit for supplying the gas to the nozzle assembly are attached to or integral with an arm of an excavator so that the suction inlet is positioned in proximity to an end of the arm. 
   
   
       7 . The jet pump according to  claim 1  wherein the housing comprises a pipe which pipe has an imaginary center line which is co-linear with an imaginary center line of the discharge conduit. 
   
   
       8 . The jet pump according to  claim 1  wherein the nozzle assembly is disposed within the housing. 
   
   
       9 . A method of moving material comprising:
 (1) injecting a motive fluid as a fluid flow from a nozzle assembly into a housing which defines at least a suction chamber, a suction outlet, and a suction inlet, the suction inlet being configured for fluid communication with a material to be suctioned, so as to form a vacuum at the suction inlet;   (2) placing the suction inlet of the housing in proximity to the material to be suctioned so that a flow of suctioned material through the suction inlet of the housing has a predominant direction of flow into the suction chamber which is substantially parallel to a predominant direction of flow of the fluid flow from the nozzle assembly; and   (3) directing the suctioned material and fluid flow into a discharge conduit extending from the suction outlet away from the suction chamber, the discharge conduit being configured for fluid communication with the suction chamber and being disposed to receive the fluid flow from the nozzle assembly, wherein the discharge conduit defines at least a first inner diameter along a portion of its length and a second inner diameter along another portion of its length, the first inner diameter being less than the second inner diameter.   
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9  further comprising feeding a gas to the nozzle assembly in proximity to the periphery of the fluid flow so that the fluid flow is surrounded by the gas. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the gas is air or an inert gas. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the nozzle assembly and housing are sized and configured so that, during use of the assembly to suction solids-containing material, the fluid flow and suctioned solids-containing material form a mixture the rate and wherein the rate of movement of suctioned material is at least about 100 tons (9.1×10 4 ) kg) per hour when the second inner diameter of the discharge conduit is about 6 inches (15.24 cm), the first inner diameter of the discharge conduit is about 4 inches (10.2 cm), the diameter of the nozzle assembly at the point of ejection of the pressurized fluid is about 0.875 inch (2.22 cm), the pressurized fluid pressure is about 150 psi (1034 kPa), and the flow rate of the pressurized fluid is about 280 gallons (1060 L) per minute. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the housing, the discharge conduit and a motive fluid supply conduit for supplying the motive fluid to the nozzle assembly are attached to or integral with an arm of an excavator so that the suction inlet is positioned in proximity to an end of the arm. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the housing, the discharge conduit, a motive fluid supply conduit for supplying the motive fluid to the nozzle assembly and a gas supply conduit for supplying the gas to the nozzle assembly are attached to or integral with an arm of an excavator so that the suction inlet is positioned in proximity to an end of the arm. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the housing comprises a pipe which has an imaginary center line which is co-linear with an imaginary center line of the discharge conduit. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the nozzle assembly is disposed within the housing. 
   
   
       17 . A suction system comprising:
 (I) a jet pump comprising:
 (A) a housing which defines at least a suction chamber, a suction inlet and a suction outlet; 
 (B) a nozzle assembly disposed within the housing which nozzle assembly is sized and configured to receive at least a pressurized fluid and eject the pressurized fluid as a fluid flow into a portion of the suction chamber; and 
 (C) a discharge conduit extending from the suction outlet away from the suction chamber, the discharge conduit being configured for fluid communication with the suction chamber and being disposed to receive the fluid flow from the nozzle assembly, wherein the discharge conduit defines at least a first inner diameter along a portion of its length and a second inner diameter along another portion of its length, the first inner diameter being less than the second inner diameter; wherein the housing is configured so that the suction inlet provides a flow of suctioned material into the suction chamber which has a predominant direction of flow of suctioned material which is substantially parallel to a predominant direction of flow of the fluid flow from the nozzle assembly when the jet pump is in use; 
   (II) control means for controlling at least the position of the suction inlet relative to a material to be suctioned.   
   
   
       18 . The system according to  claim 17  wherein the nozzle assembly is sized and configured to receive the pressurized fluid and a gas and eject the pressurized fluid as a fluid flow into the suction chamber while feeding the gas into proximity with the periphery of the fluid flow and wherein the control means is configured to control alignment of (a) the discharge conduit, (b) a pressurized fluid supply conduit for supplying pressurized fluid to the nozzle assembly and (c) a gas supply conduit for supplying the gas to the nozzle assembly; whereby (a), (b) and (c) are maintained in a substantially close-fitting relationship while the system is in use. 
   
   
       19 . The system according to  claim 17  wherein the control means is comprised of a mechanical arm affixed to or integral with the discharge conduit and/or the jet pump. 
   
   
       20 . The system according to  claim 17  wherein the housing comprises a pipe which pipe has an imaginary center line which is co-linear with an imaginary center line of the discharge conduit. 
   
   
       21 . The system according to  claim 17  wherein the nozzle assembly is disposed within the housing.