Pump for immersion within a fluid reservoir

Abstract

A pump is provided for immersion in a fluid reservoir, such as a pit or lagoon containing liquid manure, from a position at an edge of the reservoir. The pump may be adapted for connection to a farm vehicle, such as a tractor, positioned at the edge of the reservoir. The pump comprises an extensible body, fluid conduit and drive means in order that a length of the pump may be varied in order to accommodate a variety of reservoir fluid heights. In addition, the pump may be pivotable relative to at least a portion of a frame in order that the entrance angle may be adjusted. The pump may comprise a housing with an inlet and an outlet, the outlet in fluid communication with the fluid conduit. An impeller within the housing may direct fluid from the inlet to the outlet in the housing.

1 . A liquid manure pump comprising:
 a frame;   a pump body connected to the frame;   a fluid conduit mounted on the pump body;   a housing located at a bottom end of the pump body, the housing comprising a liquid manure inlet and at least two liquid manure outlets, the housing configured to be immersed in a liquid manure reservoir, the at least two liquid manure outlets directing liquid manure tangentially and upwardly of the housing;   a combiner for creating a liquid manure connection between the at least two liquid manure outlets and the fluid conduit;   a drive shaft mounted on the pump body;   an impeller connected to the drive shaft and located within the housing, the drive shaft providing motive power to the impeller to direct the liquid manure from the liquid manure inlet to the at least two liquid manure outlets; and,   an agitator nozzle, in fluid communication with at least one of the liquid manure outlets, for directing a portion of the liquid manure outwardly from the pump.   
     
     
         2 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two liquid manure outlets direct the liquid manure upwardly from the housing at an angle of from 20 to 70 degrees relative to a plane of rotation of the impeller. 
     
     
         3 . The pump of  claim 2 , wherein the angle is from 30 to 60 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The pump of  claim 2 , wherein the angle is from 40 to 50 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two liquid manure outlets comprise three outlets. 
     
     
         6 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein impeller comprises vanes and each vane has a curved side profile such that rotation of the impeller causes the liquid manure to follow a curvature of the vane and directs the liquid manure tangentially to a direction of the rotation and upwardly along the vane. 
     
     
         7 . The pump of  claim 6 , wherein each of the vanes comprises a flat portion perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the impeller and a curved portion that is curved forwardly in a direction of travel, whereby the area of the curved portion increases progressively with distance from a center of the impeller. 
     
     
         8 . The pump of  claim 7 , wherein a lower edge of each vane comprises a blocking plate that is perpendicular to the flat portion. 
     
     
         9 . The pump of  claim 8 , wherein, the plate has a curved edge and increases in area towards the center of the impeller 
     
     
         10 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid manure inlet comprises a single inlet in a bottom of the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The pump of  claim 10 , wherein the liquid manure inlet has a diameter at least one third of a diameter of the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The pump of  claim 11 , wherein the diameter of the liquid manure inlet is at least half of the diameter of the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The pump of  claim 10 , comprising a bottom rest positioned against a bottom of the liquid manure reservoir to provide a spacing between the liquid manure inlet and a bottom of the liquid manure reservoir.