Floating pump for irrigation and other applications

Abstract

A submersible pump for irrigation and other purposes is enclosed within a floating housing including a buoyant top portion, such that the housing remains substantially vertical during use. A spacer bracket is used to keep the pump away from the inner walls of the housing, and, in the preferred embodiment, the bottom portion of the housing is pointed for additional stability. Handles are provided on the outside of the housing for transport purposes. In the preferred embodiment, a pair of floating inlet assemblies are provided, which attach by hoses through opposing sides of the pump housing. The openings through the walls of the housing are preferably at different heights for the two inlet assemblies, so that one of the inlets will function as a backup if the other fails.

1 . A floating pump system for use in a body of water having a surface, comprising:
 a hollow housing having an upper portion terminating in an upper wall, a lower portion, and a sidewall defining a central vertical axis;   buoyant material disposed within the upper portion of the housing, causing the housing to float in a vertical orientation with at least a part of the upper portion above the surface of the water;   a submersible pump supported within the lower portion of the housing using a spacer bracket to keep the pump spaced apart from the sidewall;   a water-outlet pipe extending from the pump through the upper wall of the housing for connection to a water-utilization device; and   a pair of floating water-inlet assemblies, each in fluid communication with the interior of the housing through hoses coupled to apertures in the sidewall.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures in the sidewall are at different vertical levels. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a polygonal cross section. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has an octagonal cross section. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the submersible pump is supported substantially along the central vertical axis. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the housing is intentionally weighted. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the housing is pointed. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the water-outlet pipe is connected to an irrigation system.