Method and pump for pumping liquid containing solids

A continuous rotating pump for moving liquid containing solid or semi-solid material from an inlet source to an outlet source, comprising:

• a housing having a first end, second end, and interior chamber;
• a core having an outer surface and mounted within said chamber of said housing;
• a vane extending from said core for engagement with said housing wherein said vane is skewed relative to a central axis of the pump;
• a first blade and a second blade, each blade having a first end for engagement with said outer surface of said core;
• means for moving said blades;
• and
• means for rotating said core within said chamber.

A rotary pump for pumping a fluid containing solids without altering the nature of the solids, the pump comprising:

• a stationary housing having an inner surface and a central axis;
• a substantially hollow rotary core rotatably mounted in the housing and having an outer shell;
• an annular pump chamber defined between the housing and the core;
• at least one blade extendable through the housing into the pump chamber dividing the pump chamber into an inlet part and an outlet part;
• an inlet hollow portion in fluid communication with the inlet part and defined by the outer shell of the core;
• an outlet hollow portion in fluid communication with the outlet part and defined by the outer shell of the core;
• a vane separating the inlet hollow portion from the outlet hollow portion and extending from the core into the pump chamber and substantially sealing against the inner surface of the housing wherein said vane is skewed relative to a central axis of the pump;
• and
• a fluid flow path including the inlet hollow portion, inlet part, outlet hollow portion, and outlet part through which material is pumped.

A method of pumping a material from an inlet source to an outlet source, said pump including a housing having an interior chamber, a core mounted in said chamber, said core having a vane extending therefrom wherein said vane is skewed relative to a central axis of the pump, and at least one blade for extension into said housing against said core, the method comprising:

• rotating said core having said skewed vane within said housing;
• aligning a hollow inlet interior portion of said core with said inlet source;
• moving material from said inlet source into said hollow inlet interior portion of said core;
• aligning a hollow outlet interior portion of said core with an outlet source;
• selectively extending said blade into said chamber to block a section of said chamber;
• selectively retracting said blade from said chamber;
• and
• pressing said material from said chamber through said hollow outlet portion of said core into said outlet source.

A method of pumping a material from an inlet source to an outlet source, said pump including a housing having an interior chamber a core mounted in said chamber, said core having a vane extending therefrom, and at least one arcuate blade for extension into said housing against said core, the method comprising:

• rotating said core within said housing;
• aligning a hollow inlet interior portion of said core with said inlet source;
• moving material from said inlet source into said hollow inlet interior portion of said core;
• aligning a hollow outlet interior portion of said core with an outlet source;
• selectively extending said arcuate blade into said chamber to block a section of said chamber wherein an end of said arcuate blade effectively seals against said core;
• selectively retracting said arcuate blade from said chamber wherein said end of said blade forms a continuous surface with said interior chamber of said housing when in a retracted position;
• and
• pressing said material from said chamber through said hollow outlet portion of said core into said outlet source.