US 4,793,386 A · Apparatus and method using portable pump

Abstract

Apparatus and methods use a portable submersible pump to mix and fluidize waste material (sludge, liquid and floating crust) in a septic tank, to then pump it into a truck-mounted holding tank to recirculate it in the holding tank during transport, and to discharge it at a disposal site. The apparatus comprises a truck-mounted holding tank having tank inlet and outlet ports, a portable hydraulically driven submersible pump detachably mounted on the truck, and a truck-mounted motor-driven hydraulic pump for operating the portable pump. Hydraulic fluid supply lines, wound on a truck-mounted reel, are connected between the hydraulic pump and the portable pump motor. A waste hose is wound on a truck-mounted reel, several hose sections are detachably mounted on the truck, and a portable, multi-position, manually-operable selector valve is detachably mounted on the truck. In operation, the portable pump is disposed alongside or in the septic tank and pumps a stream of pressurized fluid from the septic tank. Various combinations enable the stream to be pumped directly into the truck-mounted holding tank, or to be mixed and recirculated in the septic tank prior to being pumped into the holding tank. After the components are stowed, they can be used to recirculate the mixture in the truck-mounted holding tank during transport and/or to empty the latter.

Claims63

Dependent claims

Apparatus for emptying a first tank (42) comprising:

a holding tank (22) having a tank inlet port (55) and movable to a jobsite whereat a first tank (42) is located, said first tank (42) containing liquid and solids in said liquid and having an access opening (44) therein;
a portable pump (32) operable to ingest liquid and solids in said liquid through a pump inlet port (80) and to expel the ingested liquid and solids in said liquid in a pressurized stream through a pump outlet port (82),
said portable pump (32) being adapted to be located remote from said holding tank (22) and near said first tank (42) and having said pump inlet port (80) in communication with said liquid in said first tank (42);
a hose (30) for connecting said pump outlet port (82) to said tank inlet port (55);
and power supply means for operating said portable pump (32) while it is disposed near said first tank (42) to effect pumping of the contents of said first tank (42) into said holding tank.

2 more elements

Apparatus for mixing liquid and solids contained in a first tank (42) and for subsequently emptying said first tank (42) comprising:

a holding tank (22) having a tank inlet port (55) and movable to a jobsite whereat said first tank (42) is located, said first tank (42) containing liquid and solids in said liquid and having an access opening (44) therein;
a portable pump (32) operable to ingest liquid and solids in said liquid through a pump inlet port (80) and to expel the ingested liquid and solids in said liquid in a pressurized stream through a pump outlet port (82),
said portable pump (32) being adapted to be located remote from said holding tank (22) and near said first tank (42) and having said pump inlet port (80) in communication with said liquid in said first tank (42);
power supply means for operating said portable pump (32) while it is disposed near said first tank (42);
and means for directing said pressurized stream from said pump outlet port (82) through said access opening (44) into said first tank (42) to effect mixing of the liquid and solids in said first tank (42) and for subsequently directing said pressurized stream from said pump outlet port (82) through said tank inlet port (55) into said holding tank (22).

2 more elements

Apparatus for mixing liquid in a first tank (42) and for pumping the mixed liquid into a second tank (22), said apparatus comprising:

a portable submersible pump (32) having a pump motor 776) thereon and adapted for submersion in liquid in said first tank (42),
said submersible pump comprising a pump inlet port (80) and a pump outlet port (82);
means (18, 20, 25, 26) for driving said pump motor (72) so that said submersible pump (32) ingests liquid through said pump inlet port (80) and expels liquid at high pressure through said pump outlet port (82);
said submersible pump (32), when submerged in liquid in said first tank (42), being operable to ingest liquid in said first tank (42) through said pump inlet port (80) and to expel the ingested liquid at high pressure through said pump outlet port (82);
and directing means (36, 34, 38, 30) for directing a stream of liquid ingested from said first tank (42) and expelled through said pump outlet port (82) at high pressure back into said first tank (42) to effect mixing and recirculation of liquid in said first tank (42) and for subsequently directing said stream of liquid into said second tank (22).

2 more elements

Apparatus for mixing liquid in a first tank (42), for pumping the mixed liquid from said first tank (42) into a second tank (22), for mixing the liquid in said second tank (22), and for discharging the mixed liquid in said second tank (22) into a disposal site, said apparatus comprising:

a second tank (22) having a tank inlet port (55) and a tank outlet port (60);
a portable submersible pump (32) having a pump motor (76) thereon and adapted for submersion in liquid in said first tank (42), said submersible pump (32) having a pump inlet port (80) and a pump outlet port (82);
means (18, 20, 25, 26) for driving said pump motor (76) so that said submersible pump (32) ingests liquid through said pump inlet port (80) and expels liquid at high pressure through said pump outlet port (82);
a selector valve (34) operable to a plurality of positions (B, C);
a first conduit((30) connected between said tank inlet port (55) of said second tank (22) and said selector valve (34);
a second conduit (36) connected between said pump outlet port (82) of said submersible pump (32) and said selector valve (34);
a third conduit (38) having one end connected to said selector valve (34) and having a free end (40) through which a stream of liquid can be expelled;
and a fourth conduit (65) having one end connectable to said tank outlet port (60) of said second tank (22) and having its other end connectable to said pump inlet port (80) of said submersible pump (32);
said selector valve (34) having one position (B) wherein said second conduit (36) is connected to said one end of said third conduit (38);
said selector valve (34) having another position (C) wherein said second conduit (36) is connected to said first conduit (30);
said apparatus being operable alternately:
to enable said submersible pump (32), when submerged in liquid in said first tank (42) and when said selector valve (34) is in its said one position (B), to effect recirculation and mixing of liquid in said first tank (42);
to enable said submersible pump (32), when submerged in liquid in said first tank (42) and when said selector valve (34) is in its said another position (C), to effect pumping of mixed liquid from said first tank (42) into said second tank (22);
to enable said submersible pump (32), when removed from said first tank (42), when said fourth conduit (65) is connected between said tank outlet port (60) and said pump inlet port (80), and when said selector valve (34) is in its said another position (C), to effect recirculation and mixing of liquid in said second tank (22);
and to enable said submersible pump (32), when removed from said first tank (42), when said fourth conduit (65) is connected between said tank outlet port (60) and said pump inlet port (80), and when said selector valve (34) is in its said one position (B), to effect pumping o said mixed liquid from said second tank (22) into said disposal site.

12 more elements

Apparatus for mixing, removing, transporting and disposing of fluid waste material from a septic tank (42) or the like comprising:

a vehicle (10);
a holding tank (22) on said vehicle (10) and having a tank inlet port (55) and a tank outlet port (60);
a portable submersible pump (32) having a pump motor (76) thereon and adapted to be detachably mounted on said vehicle (10) and disposed in fluid waste material in said septic tank (42),
said submersible pump (32) having a pump inlet port (80) and a pump outlet port (82);
power supply means (18, 20, 25, 26) on said vehicle for operating said pump motor (76) of said submersible pump (32);
a portable selector valve (34) adapted to be detachably mounted on said vehicle (10);
a first hose (30) carried on said vehicle (10) and connected between said tank inlet port (55) and said selector valve (34);
a second hose (36) adapted to be carried on said vehicle (10) and connected between said selector valve (34) and said pump outlet port (82) of said submersible pump (32);
and a third hose (38) adapted to be carried on said vehicle (10) and having one end connected to said selector valve (34) and having a free end (40);
said selector valve (34) having one position (B) wherein, when said submersible pump (32) is disposed and operating in fluid waste material in said septic tank (42), said fluid is directed through said submersible pump (32), through said second hose (36), through said selector valve (34), and through said third hose (38) back into said septic tank (42) to effect mixing of fluid waste material in said septic tank (42);
said selector valve (34) having another position (C) wherein, when said submersible pump (32) is disposed and operating in fluid waste material in said septic tank (42), said fluid is directed through said submersible pump (32), through said second hose (36), through said selector valve (34), and through said first hose (30) into said holding tank (22).

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method using portable pump

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method using portable pump

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims63