Pump assemblies having a quick-release latching mechanism and methods for securing pump assemblies in a tank

A grinder pump assembly supportable in a tank having an opening, said grinder pump assembly comprising:

• a grinder pump;
• a cover attachable to said grinder pump, said cover having a peripherally-extending portion extending outwardly from said grinder pump and said peripherally-extending portion sized to rest on a first surface of a portion of the tank defining the opening;
• a seal attached to a bottom surface of said peripherally-extending portion of said cover for engaging the first surface of the portion of the tank defining the opening;
• a top housing having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end attachable to said grinder pump and said upper end attachable to said cover;
• and
• a quick-release latching mechanism comprising:
• a rotatable member having an axis extending through said cover;
• a hub attached to said rotatable member;
• and
• a plurality of members having inner ends operably connected to said hub and movable generally radially between a retracted position wherein curved outer ends of said plurality of members are disposed inwardly of said peripherally-extending portion of said cover allowing the pump assembly to be lowered into the opening in the tank, and an extended position wherein said outer ends of said plurality of members are positionable against a second opposite side of the portion of the tank defining the opening to compress the portion of the tank forming the opening between said cover and said plurality of members.

A method for releasably supporting a pump in a tank having an opening, the method comprising:

• providing a pump;
• providing a cover attachable to the pump;
• introducing the pump through an opening in the tank;
• releasably supporting the cover on a upper side of a portion of the tank forming the opening with the pump extending below the portion of the tank forming the opening;
• and
• radially extending outer ends of a plurality of members against a lower surface of the tank defining the opening to compress the portion of the tank forming the opening between the cover and the outer ends of the plurality of members.