Portable pumping system

Abstract

A portable fluid pump including a frame; a first fuel reservoir having a first upper boundary; a second fuel reservoir having a second upper boundary; an engine disposed laterally between the first and second fuel reservoirs; and a pump disposed laterally between the first and second reservoirs. The pump includes an intake pipe having a central axis; the central axis passing through a first point that is located less than two inches above the first upper boundary.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable fluid pump including:
 a frame;   a first fuel reservoir having a first upper boundary;   a second fuel reservoir having a second upper boundary;   an engine disposed laterally between the first and second fuel reservoirs; and   a pump disposed laterally between the first and second reservoirs; the pump including an intake pipe having a central axis; the central axis passing through a first point that is located less than two inches above the first upper boundary.   
     
     
         2 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first point is between the first and second reservoirs such that a line can be drawn through the first point that intersects the first and second reservoirs. 
     
     
         3 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first fuel reservoir is in fluid communication with the second fuel reservoir. 
     
     
         4 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second upper boundaries define a common height. 
     
     
         5 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second reservoirs are mounted directly on a floor of the frame. 
     
     
         6 . The pump of  claim 1 , further including an enclosure that surrounds the frame, fuel reservoirs, engine, and pump, the enclosure including an upper enclosure and lower enclosure. 
     
     
         7 . The pump of  claim 6 , the upper enclosure being readily removable from the lower enclosure and having a first use position in which the upper enclosure is coupled to the lower enclosure and a second use position in which the upper enclosure is uncoupled from the lower enclosure. 
     
     
         8 . The pump of  claim 7 , wherein the upper enclosure includes a grate positioned to be vertically aligned with a muffler. 
     
     
         9 . The pump of  claim 8 , wherein the muffler is located within a muffler tray on all sides except the upper side formed by the grate. 
     
     
         10 . The pump of  claim 9 , wherein the muffler tray includes a fluid outlet operable to provide egress to fluid that enters the muffler tray. 
     
     
         11 . The pump of  claim 1 , further including a tongue operable to secure the pump to a vehicle;
 the tongue having a first use position and a second collapsed position.   
     
     
         12 . The pump of  claim 11 , wherein the tongue rotates between the first use position and the second collapsed position, the tongue being selectively fixable in both the first use position and the second collapsed position. 
     
     
         13 . A portable fluid pump including:
 a frame;   a first fuel reservoir having a first upper boundary;   a second fuel reservoir having a second upper boundary;   an engine disposed laterally between the first and second fuel reservoirs;   a pump disposed laterally between the first and second reservoirs; the pump including an intake pipe that is located between the first and second fuel reservoirs such a lower edge of the intake pipe is vertically below a top edge of one of the first and second fuel reservoirs and is horizontally between the first and second reservoirs such that a line can be drawn that intersects both fuel reservoirs and the lower edge of the intake pipe; and   a housing enclosing the frame, first and second fuel reservoirs, engine, and pump.   
     
     
         14 . The pump of  claim 13 , wherein the first fuel reservoir is in fluid communication with the second fuel reservoir. 
     
     
         15 . The pump of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second reservoirs are mounted directly on a floor of the frame. 
     
     
         16 . The pump of  claim 13 , the housing including an upper enclosure readily removable from a lower enclosure and having a first use position in which the upper enclosure is coupled to the lower enclosure and a second use position in which the upper enclosure is uncoupled from the lower enclosure. 
     
     
         17 . The pump of  claim 16 , wherein the upper enclosure includes a grate positioned to be vertically aligned with a muffler. 
     
     
         18 . The pump of  claim 17 , wherein the muffler is located within a muffler tray on all sides except the upper side formed by the grate. 
     
     
         19 . The pump of  claim 13 , further including a tongue operable to secure the pump to a vehicle; the tongue having a first use position and a second collapsed position. 
     
     
         20 . The pump of  claim 19 , wherein the tongue rotates between the first use position and the second collapsed position, the tongue being selectively fixable in both the first use position and the second collapsed position.