Cordless Fluid Pump

Abstract

A fluid pump having a housing with a fluid input and a fluid output, a removable power tool battery pack disposed within the housing, a motor disposed within the housing and electrically connected to the power tool battery pack, and an impeller driven by the motor for drawing fluid through an input opening and into an output opening. The fluid pump may be partially buoyant when placed in a fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 : A fluid pump comprising:
 a housing with a fluid input and a fluid output,   a removable power tool battery pack disposed within the housing,   a motor disposed within the housing and electrically connected to the power tool battery pack, and   an impeller driven by the motor for drawing fluid through an input opening and into an output opening,   wherein the fluid pump is partially buoyant when placed in a fluid.   
     
     
         2 : The fluid pump of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a cavity. 
     
     
         3 : The fluid pump of  claim 2 , wherein the power tool battery pack is disposable within the cavity. 
     
     
         4 : The fluid pump of  claim 2 , wherein the housing further comprises a lid. 
     
     
         5 : The fluid pump of  claim 4 , wherein the lid defines a limit of the cavity. 
     
     
         6 : The fluid pump of  claim 1 , wherein the housing may support a removable screen disposed by the fluid input. 
     
     
         7 : The fluid pump of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor controller connected to the motor for controlling the motor. 
     
     
         8 : The fluid pump of  claim 7 , further comprising a current sensor connected to the motor for measuring motor current. 
     
     
         9 : The fluid pump of  claim 8 , wherein the current sensor provides motor current data to the motor controller. 
     
     
         10 : The fluid pump of  claim 9 , wherein the motor controller turns off the motor if the motor current is below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         11 : The fluid pump of  claim 9 , wherein the motor controller turns on the motor if the motor current is above a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         12 : The fluid pump of  claim 9 , wherein the motor controller calculates motor torque from the motor current data. 
     
     
         13 : The fluid pump of  claim 12 , wherein the motor controller turns off the motor if at least one of the motor torque or a derivative of the motor torque current is higher than a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         14 : The fluid pump of  claim 7 , further comprising a reverse flow switch connected to the motor controller. 
     
     
         15 : The fluid pump of  claim 14 , wherein the motor controller reverses motor direction if the reverse flow switch is activated. 
     
     
         16 : The fluid pump of  claim 7 , further comprising a speed selector connected to the motor controller. 
     
     
         17 : The fluid pump of  claim 16 , wherein the motor controller controls motor speed according to the input from the speed selector. 
     
     
         18 : The fluid pump of  claim 7 , further comprising a wireless receiver connected to the motor controller. 
     
     
         19 : The fluid pump of  claim 18 , wherein the motor controller controls the motor according to data received from the wireless receiver. 
     
     
         20 : The fluid pump of  claim 18 , wherein the wireless receiver may receive data from at least one of a remote control, a computer, a tablet and a smartphone.