Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
FLOATING PUMP ~1 8 4 0 2 6
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a floating pump for use
in pumping water in a water source,~such as a sea, a pond
or a river, up to a location on land.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In fire-fighting operation, a fire-flow is
usually supplied from a fire-plug or a water source, such
as a sea, a pond, a river or the like.
When a fire-flow is supplied from a water
source, such as a sea, a pond, a river or the like, it is
most common way for providing a fire-flow by pumping
water in a water source up to a predetermined location
by means of a storage pump installed on land.
Operation of providing a fire-flow, in which
water in a water source, such as a sea, a pond, a river
or the like is pumped up to a predetermined location by
means of a storage pump installed on land, is greatly
influenced by a particular head or vertical distance
between a ground surface on which the storage pump is
installed and a water surface of a water source.
Usually, pump capacity is not so greatly influenced by
a suction distance in the horizontal direction. It is
noted, however, that pump capacity is greatly
influenced by a suction distance in the vertical
direction, i. e., a direction normal to the ground.
Generally, a suction head (suction distance in the
vertical direction) of a pump is limited to less than 7
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meters. Usually, a pump is not capable of drawing
water when a suction head exceeds 7 meters. Thus, it
is possible to provide a fire-flow by pumping water from
a water source up to a location on land by means of a
storage pump, when a suction head is below 7 meters.
It is, however, not possible for a storage pump to pump
water from a water source up to a location on land for
the purpose of providing a fire-flow, when a suction head
exceeds 7 meters. In the case of disasters in which
providing water from a water source, such as a sea, a
pond, a river or the like, is required, an adverse
condition is expected in which a suction head between
the ground surface and a water surface is further
increased.
Accordingly, it is most important to provide
water from a water source under severely adverse
condition, in which an increased suction head is
required, by pumping water from a water source, such
as a sea, a pond, a river or the like, up to a location on
land.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above subject, the present
invention is aimed at a provision of a floating pump
which is able to pump water from a water source under
severely adverse condition requiring an increased
suction head up to a location on land.
In order to achieve the above object, the
present invention provides a floating pump comprising
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an engine/pump unit including a pump driving engine
and a pump driven by the pump driving engine, and a
float device for floatably supporting the engine/pump
unit on a water surface.
In the above floating pump, the pump and the
pump driving engine of the engine/pump unit are
contained within a housing, the housing including a
water intake port provided at the bottom surface thereof
and a water discharge port provided at one side surface
thereof, the water intake port being connected with a
water intake pipe of the pump of the enginejpump unit,
the water discharge port being connected with a water
discharge pipe of the pump of the engine/pump unit.
In the above floating pump, the float device
includes a frame for supporting the engine/pump unit,
and floats attached respectively to opposite left-hand
and right-hand sides of the frame, the floats being
adapted to be inflated and deflated and floatable on a
water surface when inflated.
The invention also provides a floating pump
comprising an engine/pump unit including a pump
driving engine and a pump driven by the pump driving
engine, and a float device for floatably supporting the
engine/pump unit on a water surface. The pump
driving engine of the engine/pump unit is contained
within a housing, while the pump of the engine/pump
unit is attached to a lower frame integrally connected
to the outside surface of the housing at a lower position
thereof. A pair of inflatable and deflatable floats are
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secured to opposite left-hand and right-hand sides of
the lower frame.
In the above floating pump, an antenna is
provided at the engine/pump unit for, cooperation with
a remote controller. A control box is also provided for
controlling the pump driving engine of the engine/pump
unit in accordance with a signal from the antenna.
In the above floating pump indication means
are provided for providing information regarding the
pump driving engine of the engine/pump unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the nature and
objects of the present invention, reference should be had
to the following detailed description taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 is a front elevational view showing a
floating pump according to one embodiment of the
invention;
Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the floating pump
of the invention;
Fig. 3 is a side elevational view showing the
floating pump of the invention;
Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a main part
of an engine/pump unit of the floating pump of the
invention;
Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the inside of the
engine/pump unit of the floating pump of the invention;
Fig. 6'is a front view, in vertical section, of a
main part of a floating pump according to another
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embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 7 is a side elevational view, in vertical
section, of a main part of an engine/pump unit of the
floating pump of Fig. 6; and
Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the inside of the
engine/pump unit of the floating pump of Fig. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A first embodiment of the invention will be
explained in detail below with reference to Figs. 1
through 5. Fig. 1 is a front view of a floating pump A
according to the first embodiment of the invention, Fig.
2 is a plan view showing the floating pump shown in Fig.
1, Fig. 3 is a side elevational view showing the floating
pump shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view
of a main part of an engine/pump unit 1 of the floating
pump A shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a plan view showing
the inside of the engine/pump unit 1 shown in Fig. 4.
The floating pump A according to the first
embodiment of the invention, includes, as shown in Figs.
1 through 3, the engine/pump unit 1 and a float device
2 for supporting the engine/pump unit on the water
surface in floating manner.
The engine/pump unit 1 includes, as shown in
Figs. 4 and 5, a housing 3 and a jet pump 4 disposed at
the bottom of the housing 3. The jet pump includes
therein an impeller. A water intake pipe 4a of the jet
pump 4 is connected to a water intake port 3a provided
in the bottom surface of the housing 3. A water
discharge pipe 4b of the jet pump 4 is connected to a
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water discharge port 3b provided in the rear side surface
of the housing 3. A pump shaft 4c of the jet pump 4 is
connected with an output shaft (not shown) of a pump
driving engine 5 disposed above the jet pump 4. The
impeller 4d attached to the pump shaft 4c of the jet pump
4 is rotatably driven within a casing 4e by the pump
driving engine 5 through the pump shaft 4c. By this,
water is drawn from the water intake port 3a of the
housing into the casing 4e through the water intake pipe
4a of the jet pump 4. Then, the water is pressurized
within the casing 4e by means of the impeller 4d and
discharged from the casing 4e via the water discharge
pipe 4b through the water discharge port 3b.
The housing 3 is formed from a material having
a predetermined durability, such as FRP or the like, into
a box-like configuration having a closed bottom. The
housing 3 is provided with an engagement ridge 3c in
each of its outer side surfaces at the vertically central
position thereof. Each engagement ridge 3c is
intended to be engaged with the float device 2. A cover
3d is attached to the upper end of the housing 3 for
openably closing an upper opening of the housing 3.
The cover 3d is provided with an antenna 6 for remote
control of the unit, a warning lamp 7 for remaining
quantity of fuel, a confirmation lamp 8 for throttle
operation, and a warning lamp 9 for overheating. The
housing 3 contained therein a control box 10 for
providing control and indication regarding the
operation of the pump driving engine 5, and a battery
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11 as a power source for the control box 10. The control
box 10 is designed to control start/stop operation of the
pump driving engine 5 and adjustment of the throttle,
in accordance with the signals received from a remote
controller (not shown) via the antenna 6 for remote
control. The control box 10 is also designed to lighten
the warning light 7, when the remaining quantity of fuel
for the pump driving engine 5 is decreased to a
predetermined value. The control box is also designed
to lighten the confirmation lamp 8, when the throttle
is actuated upon throttle adjustment of the pump
driving engine 5. The control box is further designed
to lighten the warning lamp 9 for overheating, when the
pump driving engine 5 is about to overheating. The
housing 3 is also provided with a water strainer 12.
The strainer 12 covers the water inlet port 3a provided
at the bottom surface of the housing 3, so as to prevent
any foreign substance from entering the jet pump 4.
The float device 2 includes a frame 13 adapted
to be engaged with the engagement ridges 3d of the
housing 3 for supporting the engine/pump unit 1. A
fuel tank 14 of the pump driving engine 5 is also
supported by the frame 13. A pair of floats 15 and 15
are attached to the opposite left-hand and right-hand
sides of the frame 13, respectively. The floats 15 and
15 are of a bag-like configuration and adapted to be
inflated and deflated. When the floating pump is not
under use, the floats 15 and 15 are deflated or collapsed
into a compact fashion. When the floating pump is to
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be used, a quantity of buoyancy gas is injected into the
floats 15 and 15 through an injection port (not shown)
at a suitable position of each of the floats. so as to be
floatable.
Operation of the floating pump A according to
the first embodiment of the invention will be explained
below.
The engine/pump unit 1 and the float device 2
are brought to a place near the water source concerned.
Then, the engine/pump unit 1 and the float device 2 are
assembled together, on the ground, so that the
engine/pump unit 1 is supported by the float device 2.
A quantity of buoyancy gas is injected into the floats
15 and 15, so as to cause them to be inflated. By this,
assembling of the floating pump A has been completed.
Then, a water supply hose (not shown) is connected to
the water discharge port 3b of the housing 3. Then, the
floating pump A is thrown into the water source, such
as a sea, a pond or a river and so on. The floating pump
A, having been thrown into the water source, becomes
to be floated on the water surface W, since the
engine/pump unit 1 is floatably supported by the flats
15 and 15 of the float device 2 through the frame 14 of
the float device 2.
A start signal is sent from the remote
controller on the ground to the floating pump A floating
on the water surface W of the water source. The start
signal is received by the control box 10 through the
antenna 6 for the remote controller. On receiving the
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start signal, the control box 10 initiates running of the
pump driving engine 5. By this, the jet pump 4 is driven
so as to cause water in the water source to be drawn
through the water intake port 3 in to the casing 4e of
the jet pump 4. The water drawn into the casing 4e is
pressurized in the jet pump 4 and discharged from the
water discharge port 3b through the water supply hose,
for direct fire-flow or for intermediate storage into a
fire engine or a water tank for fire-fighting.
The floating pump A is designed to draw therein
a quantity of water in the water source, such as a sea,
a pond, a river or the like, and to discharge the water
therefrom by means of the jet pump 4 of the engine/pump
unit 1 which is floatably supported by the float device
2 on the water surface of the water source. Thus, a
forcing effect of the jet pump 4 may be advantageously
utilized, so that a large quantity of water may be
transferred from the water source to a place on the
ground, under a severely adverse condition of water
supply wherein there is an increased amount of head
(level difference) in the order of 7 meters or more
between the water surface W of a water source and the
ground level.
The floating pump A is also designed so that the
engine/pump unit 1 is floatably supported by the float
device 2 having the pair of floats 15 and 15 attached
respectively to the opposite left-hand and right-hand
sides of the frame 13 of the float device 2. Thus,
increased stability of the engine/pump unit 1 may be
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obtained, so that there is no risk of turn-over for the
floating pump A. Thus, stable water supply may be
expected.
The floating pump A is also designed so that the
engine/pump unit 1 and the float device 2 may be
separated from one another. Further, the floats 15 and
15 of the float device 2 may be inflated and deflated.
Thus, the floating pump A according to the invention is
conveniently transportable. The floating pump
according to the invention is also accommodated in a
compact fashion, so that it requires no substantially
large space.
It is also noted that the floating pump A
according to the invention is designed so that the pump
driving engine 5 for the engine/pump unit 1 may be
remotely controlled. Thus, the pump driving engine 5
for the engine/pump unit 1 may be actuated from a
position on land or remote from the floating pump.
Operational condition of the pump driving engine 5 for
the engine/pump unit 1 may be remotely confirmed or
monitored by means of the warning lamp 7 for remaining
quantity of fuel, the confirmation lamp 8 for throttle
operation, and the warning lamp 9 for overheating, thus
enabling quick response to emergency, if any.
Figs. 6 through 8 illustrate a floating pump A'
according to a second embodiment of the invention.
The members or parts of the floating pump A'
substantially the same as those in the embodiment
shown in Figs. 1 through 5 are designated by the same
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reference numerals and the matters common to both
embodiments will not be repetitively explained.
In the floating pump A', a housing 3' is sized
so as to only contain therein the pump driving engine
5, but not the jet pump 4. A lower frame 16 is secured
to the outer surface of the housing 3 at its lower position
by appropriate means. Thus, the pump driving engine
5 is contained within the housing 3' and secured thereto
at its bottom surface by appropriate means. The jet
pump 5 is disposed exteriorly of the housing 3' at its
lower position and fixed to the lower frame 16 by
appropriate means. The floats 15 and 15 are bound to
the lower frame 16 at its opposite sides by means of a
binding member such as a fabric band or fabric cord. A
water strainer 12' is attached to the water intake pipe
4a in order to prevent the jet pump 4 from drawing any
foreign substance thereinto. As in the case of the
floating pump A according to the first embodiment
shown in Figs. 1 through 5, the housing 3' is provided
with a cover 3d' on which the antenna 6 for a remote
controller, and warning lamps 7, 8 and 9 are mounted.
The housing 3' contains therein the control box 10
providing control and indication regarding the pump
driving engine 5, and the battery 11 serving as a power
source for the control box 10. The control box 10 is
designed to control start/stop operation of the pump
driving engine 5 and adjustment of the throttle, in
accordance with the signals received from a remote
controller (not shown) via the antenna 6 for remote
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control. The control box 10 is also designed to lighten
the warning light 7, when the remaining quantity of fuel
for the pump driving engine 5 is decreased to a
predetermined value. The control box is also designed
to lighten the confirmation lamp 8, when the throttle
is actuated upon throttle adjustment of the pump
driving pump 5. The control box is further designed to
lighten the warning lamp 9, when the pump driving
engine 5 is about to overheat.
The floating pump A' is thrown into a water
source, such as a sea, a pond or a river, with the water
discharge pipe 4b of the jet engine 4 of the engine/pump
unit 1 being connected with a water supply hose (not
shown). Owing to the construction and location of the
floats 15 and 15, the jet pump 4 of the engine/pump unit
1 is submerged in water, while the pump driving engine
5 housed within the housing 3' floats on the water
surface W of the water source. By actuating a remote
controller on land, the jet pump 4 is driven by the pump
driving engine 5 of the engine/pump unit 1. Thus,
water in the water source is drawn into the jet pump 4.
The water drawn into the jet pump 4 is discharged, by
means he forcing effect of the jet pump 4,through the
water supply hose, for direct fire-flow or for
intermediate storage into a fire engine or a water tank
for fire-fighting.
In the floating pump A' according to the second
embodiment of the invention, the housing 3' is reduced
in its size so as only to contain therein the pump driving
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engine 5, but not the jet pump 4 of the engine/pump unit
1. Thus, the weight of the housing 3' is reduced.
Accordingly, the floats 15 and 15 are also reduced in size
and weight. Thus, several practically advantageous
features may be provided, including convenience in
handling and transportation, and compactness during
accommodation.
In each of the above embodiments, the floating
pump is designed so that it is transported to a place near
the water source. It is noted, however, that the
floating pump may be mounted on suitable self-
propelled means, so as to be moved by itself to a place
near the water source.
Although a jet pump 4 is employed in each of
the above embodiments, another type of pump other than
the jet pump may be used in the invention.
An extension hose may be connected to the fuel
tank, for the purpose of fuel supply. In such a case,
the floating pump may be continuously operated for an
extended time of period.
As explained in the above, a quantity of water
is transferred from a water source, such as a sea, a pond
or a river, to another place by means of a pump floating
on the water surface of the water source, in accordance
with the invention. Thus, a forcing effect of the jet
pump may be advantageously utilized, so that a large
quantity of water may be transferred from the water
source to a place on the ground, under a severely adverse
condition of water supply wherein there is an increased
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amount of head (level difference) in the order of 7 meters
or more between the water surface of a water source and
the ground level. Since two floats are provided at
opposite, left-hand and right-hand sides of the pump,
respectively, so that an increased stability is obtained,
whereby any risk of over-turn of the pump is prevented.
This assures a stable water supply operation. This
invention also conveniently provides compactness and
transportability of the pump. The pump according to
the invention may be remotely and securely controlled
by means of a remote controller at a position on land or
remote from the pump. Thus, the present invention
provides superior advantages over prior art pumps of
the type mentioned above.
It will further be obvious to those skilled in the
art that many variations may be made in the above
embodiments, here chosen for the purpose of
illustrating the present invention, and full result may
be had to the doctrine of equivalents without departing
from the scope of the present invention, as defined by
the appended claims.
