Submersible pump with external slicer

A pump apparatus comprising:

• a motor,
• a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft
• is in operative connection with the motor, and
• extends along an axis
• a housing, wherein the housing includes a pump chamber,
• wherein the pump chamber
• includes an axially extending inlet opening configured to enable liquid to axially flow into the pump chamber, and
• an outlet opening configured to enable liquid to flow out of the pump chamber,
• an impeller, wherein the impeller
• is positioned in the pump chamber,
• is in operative connection with the drive shaft, and
• is rotatable about the axis,
• a slicer plate, wherein the slicer plate
• extends in axially disposed outward overlying relation of the inlet opening,
• includes at least one slicer plate fluid opening therethrough, wherein the at least one slicer plate fluid opening
• is radially disposed away from the axis, and
• configured to enable liquid to pass therethrough in a direction parallel to the axis,
• includes a generally planar slicer face, wherein the slicer face
• extends perpendicular to the axis,
• includes the at least one slicer plate fluid opening therein, and
• extends in a facing direction away from the inlet opening,
• is movably mounted in operative connection with the housing, wherein the slicer face is selectively axially positionable in each of a plurality of axial positions relative to the housing and held in fixed engagement with the housing in each of the plurality of axial positions,
• a slicer, wherein the slicer
• extends in outwardly overlying relation of the slicer plate,
• is in operatively engaged connection with the drive shaft,
• includes at least one blade edge, wherein the at least one blade edge
• extends radially outward from the axis,
• is positioned in immediately adjacent relation to the slicer face, and
• is disposed a clearance distance from the slicer face in a direction parallel to the axis, wherein selectively axially positioning of the slicer face relative to the housing is operative to selectively vary the clearance distance,
• of the impeller and the slicer, whereby the impeller is operative to cause liquid flow from outside the housing, through the at least one slicer plate fluid opening, through the inlet opening and the pump chamber, and outward through the outlet opening while the at least one blade edge of the slicer is operative to slice solid material that extends in the at least one fluid opening.

A pump apparatus comprising:

• a housing,
• a motor, wherein the motor is in operative connection with the housing,
• wherein the motor is in operative connection with a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft extends along an axis,
• a pump chamber, wherein the pump chamber is positioned within the housing,
• wherein the pump chamber includes an axially extending inlet opening configured to enable liquid to flow into the pump chamber, and an outlet opening configured to enable liquid to flow out of the pump chamber,
• an impeller, wherein the impeller is rotatably positioned in the pump chamber,
• wherein the impeller is in operative connection with the drive shaft and is rotatable about the axis,
• a slicer plate, wherein the slicer plate extends in axially disposed outward overlying relation of the inlet opening,
• wherein the slicer plate includes
• a planar slicer face, wherein the slicer face is in a facing direction away from the inlet opening,
• an axially aligned slicer drive opening, wherein the drive opening extends through the slicer plate,
• at least one slicer plate fluid opening, wherein the at least one slicer plate fluid opening extends through the slicer plate at a location disposed radially away from the slicer drive opening,
• an annular mounting plate,
• wherein the mounting plate is in fixed operative connection with the housing,
• wherein the mounting plate includes
• a slicer plate recess, wherein the slicer plate is releasably positioned in the slicer plate recess,
• at least one fastener, wherein the at least one fastener is releasably engageable with the mounting plate,
• wherein the at least one fastener is in operative connection with an overlying portion, wherein in a holding position of the at least one fastener the overlying portion is in overlying relation of an outer peripheral portion of the slicer face,
• wherein the slicer plate is held in releasably fixed connection with the mounting by the overlying portion,
• a plurality of rotatable adjusting screws, wherein each respective adjusting screw
• is in operative connection with the slicer plate and the housing,
• wherein rotational movement of each adjusting screw is operative to selectively axially position the slicer plate relative to the housing,
• a slicer, wherein the slicer
• extends in outwardly overlying relation of the slicer face,
• is in operatively engaged fixed rotational connection with the drive shaft, whereby the slicer is in operative connection with the drive shaft through the slicer drive opening,
• includes at least one blade edge, wherein the at least one blade edge extends radially outward from the axis and is positioned in immediately adjacent relation to the slicer face,
• wherein rotation of the adjusting screws is operative to selectively adjust a clearance distance between the slicer face and the at least one blade edge in a clearance direction perpendicular to the slicer face,
• wherein rotation of the drive shaft responsive to the motor is operative to cause rotation of the impeller and the slicer, whereby the impeller is operative to cause liquid flow from outside the housing, through the at least one slicer plate fluid opening, through the inlet opening and the pump chamber, and outward through the outlet opening while the at least one blade edge of the slicer is operative to slice solid material that extends in the at least one fluid opening.

A pump apparatus comprising:

• a housing,
• a motor, wherein the motor is in operative connection with the housing,
• wherein the motor is in operative connection with a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft extends along an axis,
• a pump chamber, wherein the pump chamber is positioned within the housing,
• wherein the pump chamber includes an axially extending inlet opening configured to enable liquid to flow into the pump chamber, and an outlet opening configured to enable liquid to flow out of the pump chamber,
• an impeller, wherein the impeller is rotatably positioned in the pump chamber,
• wherein the impeller is in operative connection with the drive shaft and is rotatable about the axis,
• a slicer plate, wherein the slicer plate extends in axially disposed outward overlying relation of the inlet opening,
• wherein the slicer plate includes
• a planar slicer face, wherein the slicer face is in a facing direction away from the inlet opening,
• an axially aligned slicer drive opening, wherein the drive opening extends through the slicer plate,
• at least one slicer plate fluid opening, wherein the at least one slicer plate fluid opening extends through the slicer plate at a location disposed radially away from the slicer drive opening,
• wherein the housing includes a generally continuous radially extending annular land surface,
• wherein liquid that has passed through the at least one slicer plate fluid opening passes radially inwardly of the land surface and axially toward the inlet opening,
• an annular mounting plate, wherein the mounting plate
• is in fixed operative connection with the slicer plate,
• extends in axially centered relation,
• extends in axially outwardly overlying relation with the land surface of the housing, and
• includes a plurality of threaded openings, wherein each threaded opening is in fixed operative connection with the slicer plate,
• a plurality of rotatable adjusting screws, wherein each respective adjusting screw is
• in threaded engaged relation with a respective threaded opening, and
• in abutting relation with the land surface,
• a slicer, wherein the slicer
• extends in outwardly overlying relation of the slicer face,
• is in operatively engaged fixed rotational connection with the drive shaft, whereby the slicer is in operative connection with the drive shaft through the slicer drive opening,
• includes at least one blade edge, wherein the at least one blade edge extends radially outward from the axis and is positioned in immediately adjacent relation to the slicer face,
• wherein rotation of the adjusting screws is operative to cause the slicer plate to be selectively axially positioned relative to the land surface and to selectively adjust a clearance distance between the slicer face and the at least one blade edge in a clearance direction perpendicular to the slicer face,
• wherein rotation of the drive shaft responsive to the motor is operative to cause rotation of the impeller and the slicer, whereby the impeller is operative to cause liquid flow from outside the housing, through the at least one slicer plate fluid opening, through the inlet opening and the pump chamber, and outward through the outlet opening while the at least one blade edge of the slicer is operative to slice solid material that extends in the at least one fluid opening.

A pump apparatus comprising:

• a housing,
• a motor, wherein the motor is in operative connection with the housing,
• wherein the motor is in operative connection with a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft extends along an axis,
• a pump chamber, wherein the pump chamber is positioned within the housing,
• wherein the pump chamber includes an axially extending inlet opening configured to enable liquid to flow into the pump chamber, and an outlet opening configured to enable liquid to flow out of the pump chamber,
• an impeller, wherein the impeller is rotatably positioned in the pump chamber,
• wherein the impeller is in operative connection with the drive shaft and is rotatable about the axis,
• a slicer plate, wherein the slicer plate extends in axially disposed outward overlying relation of the inlet opening,
• wherein the slicer plate includes
• a planar slicer face, wherein the slicer face is in a facing direction away from the inlet opening,
• an axially aligned slicer drive opening, wherein the drive opening extends through the slicer plate,
• at least one slicer plate fluid opening, wherein the at least one slicer plate fluid opening extends through the slicer plate at a location disposed radially away from the slicer drive opening,
• a plurality of rotatable adjusting screws, wherein each respective adjusting screw
• is in operative connection with the slicer plate and the housing,
• wherein rotational movement of each adjusting screw is operative to axially position the slicer plate relative to the housing,
• a slicer, wherein the slicer
• extends in outwardly overlying relation of the slicer face,
• is in operatively engaged fixed rotational connection with the drive shaft, whereby the slicer is in operative connection with the drive shaft through the slicer drive opening,
• includes at least one blade edge, wherein the at least one blade edge extends radially outward from the axis and is positioned in immediately adjacent relation to the slicer face,
• wherein rotation of the adjusting screws is operative to selectively adjust a clearance distance between the slicer face and the at least one blade edge in a clearance direction perpendicular to the slicer face,
• wherein rotation of the drive shaft responsive to the motor is operative to cause rotation of the impeller and the slicer, whereby the impeller is operative to cause liquid flow from outside the housing, through the at least one slicer plate fluid opening, through the inlet opening and the pump chamber, and outward through the outlet opening while the at least one blade edge of the slicer is operative to slice solid material that extends in the at least one fluid opening,
• wherein in radially transverse cross-section each at least one blade edge includes
• a cut point,
• a first blade face that extends from the cut point generally parallel to the slicer face, and
• a second blade face that extends from the cut point and at an acute angle to the slicer face,
• wherein the at least one slicer plate fluid opening includes
• a first fluid opening, wherein the first fluid opening in radially transverse cross-section includes
• a first opening bounding wall portion and a second opening bounding wall portion,
• wherein each of the first and second opening bounding wall portions extend within the slicer plate and at least the second opening bounding wall portion extends to the slicer face,
• wherein during rotation of the slicer the cut point axially outwardly passes the first opening bounding wall portion before the cut point outwardly passes the second opening bounding wall portion,
• wherein the second opening bounding wall portion extends at the slicer face, at an acute angle relative to a portion of the slicer face that the cut point axially outwardly passes immediately after the second opening bounding wall portion.

A pump apparatus comprising:

• a motor,
• a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft
• is in operative connection with the motor, and
• extends along an axis
• a housing, wherein the housing includes a pump chamber,
• wherein the pump chamber
• includes an axially extending inlet opening configured to enable liquid to axially flow into the pump chamber, and
• an outlet opening configured to enable liquid to flow out of the pump chamber,
• an impeller, wherein the impeller
• is positioned in the pump chamber,
• is in operative connection with the drive shaft, and
• is rotatable about the axis,
• a slicer plate, wherein the slicer plate
• extends in axially disposed outward overlying relation of the inlet opening,
• includes at least one slicer plate fluid opening therethrough, wherein the at least one slicer plate fluid opening
• is radially disposed away from the axis, and
• configured to enable liquid to pass therethrough in a direction parallel to the axis,
• includes a generally planar slicer face, wherein the slicer face
• extends perpendicular to the axis,
• includes the at least one slicer plate fluid opening therein, and
• extends in a facing direction away from the inlet opening,
• is movably mounted in operative connection with the housing, wherein the slicer face is selectively axially positionable relative to the housing,
• a slicer, wherein the slicer
• extends in outwardly overlying relation of the slicer plate,
• is in operatively engaged connection with the drive shaft,
• includes at least one blade edge, wherein the at least one blade edge
• extends radially outward from the axis,
• is positioned in immediately adjacent relation to the slicer face, and
• is disposed a clearance distance from the slicer face in a direction parallel to the axis, wherein axially positioning of the slicer plate relative to the housing is operative to selectively vary the clearance distance,
• wherein rotation of the drive shaft responsive to the motor is operative to cause rotation of the impeller and the slicer, whereby the impeller is operative to cause liquid flow from outside the housing, through the at least one slicer plate fluid opening, through the inlet opening and the pump chamber, and outward through the outlet opening while the at least one blade edge of the slicer is operative to slice solid material that extends in the at least one fluid opening,
• wherein in radially transverse cross-section each at least one blade edge includes
• a cut point,
• a first blade face that extends from the cut point generally parallel to the slicer face, and
• a second blade face that extends from the cut point at an acute angle to the slicer face,
• wherein each slicer plate fluid opening includes in radially transverse cross-section
• a first opening bounding wall portion and the second opening bounding wall portion,
• wherein each of the first and second opening bounding wall portions extend within the slicer plate and at least the second opening bounding wall portion extends to the slicer face,
• wherein during rotation of the slicer the cut point axially outwardly passes the first opening bounding wall portion before the cut point outwardly passes the second opening bounding wall portion,
• wherein the second opening bounding wall portion at the slicer face, extends at an acute angle relative to a portion of the slicer face which the cut point axially outwardly passes immediately after the cut point axially outwardly passes second opening bounding wall portion.

A pump apparatus comprising:

• a housing,
• a motor, wherein the motor is in operative connection with the housing,
• wherein the motor is in operative connection with a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft extends along an axis,
• a pump chamber, wherein the pump chamber is positioned within the housing,
• wherein the pump chamber includes an axially extending inlet opening configured to enable liquid to flow into the pump chamber, and an outlet opening configured to enable liquid to flow out of the pump chamber,
• an impeller, wherein the impeller is rotatably positioned in the pump chamber,
• wherein the impeller is in operative connection with the drive shaft and is rotatable about the axis,
• a slicer plate, wherein the slicer plate extends in axially disposed outward overlying relation of the inlet opening,
• wherein the slicer plate includes
• a planar slicer face, wherein the slicer face is in a facing direction away from the inlet opening,
• an axially aligned slicer drive opening, wherein the drive opening extends through the slicer plate,
• at least one slicer plate fluid opening, wherein the at least one slicer plate fluid opening extends through the slicer plate at a location disposed radially away from the slicer drive opening,
• a plurality of rotatable adjusting screws, wherein each respective adjusting screw is in operative connection with the slicer plate and the housing,
• wherein rotational movement of each adjusting screw is operative to cause the slicer plate
• to be selectively axially movable relative to the housing to a plurality of different axial positions, and
• to be held fixed relative to the housing in an axial position to which the slicer plate is selectively axially moved,
• wherein movement of each adjusting screw in a first rotational direction is operative to cause the slicer plate to move in a first axial direction relative to the housing and movement of each adjusting screw in a second rotational direction opposed of the first rotational direction is operative to cause the slicer plate to move in a second axial direction relative to the housing opposed of the first axial direction,
• a slicer, wherein the slicer
• extends in outwardly overlying relation of the slicer face,
• is in operatively engaged fixed rotational connection with the drive shaft, whereby the slicer is in operative connection with the drive shaft through the slicer drive opening,
• includes at least one blade edge, wherein the at least one blade edge extends radially outward from the axis and is positioned in immediately adjacent relation to the slicer face,
• wherein rotation of the adjusting screws is operative to selectively set a clearance distance between the slicer face and the at least one blade edge in a clearance direction perpendicular to the slicer face, wherein the adjusting screws after rotation are operative to hold fixed the set clearance distance,
• wherein rotation of the drive shaft responsive to the motor is operative to cause rotation of the impeller and the slicer, whereby the impeller is operative to cause liquid flow from outside the housing, through the at least one slicer plate fluid opening, through the inlet opening and the pump chamber, and outward through the outlet opening while the at least one blade edge of the slicer is operative to slice solid material that extends in the at least one fluid opening.

A pump apparatus comprising:

• a motor,
• a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft
• is in operative connection with the motor, and
• extends along an axis
• a housing, wherein the housing includes a pump chamber,
• wherein the pump chamber
• includes an axially extending inlet opening configured to enable liquid to axially flow into the pump chamber, and
• an outlet opening configured to enable liquid to flow out of the pump chamber,
• an impeller, wherein the impeller
• is positioned in the pump chamber,
• is in operative connection with the drive shaft, and
• is rotatable about the axis,
• a slicer plate, wherein the slicer plate
• extends in axially disposed outward overlying relation of the inlet opening,
• includes at least one slicer plate fluid opening therethrough, wherein the at least one slicer plate fluid opening
• is radially disposed away from the axis, and
• configured to enable liquid to pass therethrough in a direction parallel to the axis,
• includes a generally planar slicer face, wherein the slicer face
• extends perpendicular to the axis,
• includes the at least one slicer plate fluid opening therein, and
• extends in a facing direction away from the inlet opening,
• is movably mounted in operative connection with the housing, wherein the slicer plate is selectively axially positionable relative to the housing in each of a plurality of disposed axial positions and is selectively held fixed in each of the plurality of axial positions,
• a slicer, wherein the slicer
• extends in outwardly overlying relation of the slicer plate,
• is in operatively engaged connection with the drive shaft,
• includes at least one blade edge, wherein the at least one blade edge
• extends radially outward from the axis,
• is positioned in immediately adjacent relation to the slicer face, and
• is disposed a clearance distance from the slicer face in a direction parallel to the axis, wherein selectively axially positioning of the slicer plate relative to the housing is operative to selectively set the clearance distance,
• wherein rotation of the drive shaft responsive to the motor is operative to cause rotation of the impeller and the slicer, whereby the impeller is operative to cause liquid flow from outside the housing, through the at least one slicer plate fluid opening, through the inlet opening and the pump chamber, and outward through the outlet opening while the at least one blade edge of the slicer is operative to slice solid material that extends in the at least one fluid opening.