A LIQUID SUPPLY SYSTEM AND PUMP APPARATUS THEREFOR

SYSTEME D'AMENEE DE LIQUIDE ET POMPE CONNEXE

English Abstract

A supply system for supplying liquid, such as
water, from a lower level to a higher level wherein a
supply pipe has one end at the lower level and another end
connected to a closed container substantially full of
liquid, in use. A pump is immersed in the liquid in the
container with an inlet to draw liquid from the container
and pump it through a supply pipe to supply liquid to the
higher level whereby, in use, the container substantially
fills with liquid which is drawn into the pump and then
out through the outlet. Pump apparatus is also described.

Claims

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The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A supply system for supplying liquid from a
lower level to a higher level comprising:
a supply pipe with one end at said lower level and
another end connected to a closed container substantially
full of liquid, in use,
a pump immersed in the liquid in said container
with an inlet to draw liquid from said container and pump
it through an outlet of said container,
a supply pipe with one end connected to said outlet
and another end at said higher level to supply liquid
thereto.
2. A supply system for supplying liquid from a
lower level to a higher level comprising:
a supply pipe with one end at said lower level and
another end connected to a closed container substantially
full of liquid, in use, and buried in the ground with at
least its base at a sufficient depth so that the liquid
does not freeze at that depth,
a pump immersed in the liquid in said container
with an inlet to draw liquid from said container and pump
it through an outlet of said container,
a supply pipe with one end connected to said outlet
and another end at said higher level to supply liquid
thereto.
3. A water supply system for supplying water to
a building at a higher level than a lake comprising:
a water supply pipe with one end in said lake and
another end connected to a closed container substantially
full of water, in use, and buried in the ground with at
least its base at a sufficient depth so that the water
does not freeze at that depth,

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a water pump immersed in the water in said
container with an inlet to draw water from said container
and pump it through an outlet of said container,
a water supply pipe with one end connected to said
outlet and another end at said building to supply water
thereto.
4. Pump apparatus comprising:
(a) a closed container having an inlet and an
outlet for liquid,
(b) a pump within said container to draw liquid
in through said inlet and out through said
outlet,
(c) whereby, in use, said container substantially
fills with liquid which is drawn into the
pump and then out through said outlet.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said
pump is a water pump.

Description

CA 02229712 1998-02-16
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This invention relates to apparatus for supplying
liquid from one level to a higher level. The invention is
particularly applicable for use in moving water from a
lake or river, etc., to a building, such as a house or
cottage, which is at a higher level than the lake or river.
To supply a house or cottage with water from a lake
it has been the practice to build a pump house beside the
lake. Often the pump itself is located in the lake and
this can freeze over in the winter. Furthermore, the pump
can be pulled away by ice in the lake or river. It is
also extremely difficult to remove the pump from the water
if a fault occurs and maintenance is required. There are
thus several disadvantages in previous systems.
On occasions a well is built near a house to supply
water for bath, showers and toilets, and, perhaps,
drinking water. This can be expensive and a disadvantage.
From one aspect of the invention it is an object to
provide a liquid supply system in which the
above-mentioned disadvantages are obviated or
substantially reduced.
According to this aspect there is provided a supply
system for supplying liquid from a lower level to a higher
level comprising a supply pipe with one end at said lower
level and another end connected to a closed container
substantially full of liquid, in use, a pump immersed in
the liquid in said container with an inlet to draw liquid
from said container and pump it through an outlet of said
container, a supply pipe with one end connected to said
outlet and another end at said higher level to supply
liquid thereto.

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According to another aspect of the invention there
is provided pump apparatus comprising a closed container
having an inlet and an outlet for liquid, a pump within
said container to draw liquid in through said inlet and
out through said outlet, where, in use, said container
substantially fills with liquid which is drawn into the
pump and then out through said outlet.
An embodiment of the invention will now be
described, by way of example, with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a
water supply system; and
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a
pumping assembly for use in the water supply system of
Figure 1, shown partly in a dissembled condition for ease
of description.
Referring to Figure 1 a pump apparatus 2 containing
a pump 4 is installed with its lower end 6 below ground
level and buried in the ground with at least its base 6 at
a sufficient depth so that any water therein does not
freeze at that depth. This is normally referred to as
below the frost line. An inlet 8 to the pump assembly 2
has an inlet pipe 10 connected thereto . The other end of
the pipe 10 is provided with a screened inlet portion 12
which is immersed in the water in a lake 14.
The outlet 16 from the pump apparatus 2 is
connected to a further pipe 18 whose other end is within a
house 20. The house 20 is at a higher level on the hill
22 than the lake 14.
As will be appreciated, when the pump apparatus 2
is operational it can draw water from the lake 14 for
supply to the house 20 or other building.

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In Figure 2 the pump apparatus 2 is
diagrammatically illustrated. Parts thereof are shown in
a dissembled condition for ease of the present description.
The pump apparatus 2 includes a container 24
enclosing the pump 4 which is of the submersible type.
The container 24 is of 6-inch diameter and at its lower
end the inlet 8 is at the end of a 6-inch by 1~4 reducer
portion and is provided with a threaded brass poly insert
fitting for connection to the pipe 10 (Figure 1).
The outlet 16 is located in the side of the
container 22 and at the top of the container a female
adapter 26 is provided. A corresponding threaded cap 28
is also provided and this screws within the adapter 26,
sealing being achieved by way of a rubber gasket 30. An
auto air vent 32 is provided on top of the cap 28 and this
is designed to release air and not water from the
container 24.
The submersible pump 4 has a water intake opening
34 and the pump motor 36 is located below the water intake
34. The outlet from the pump 4 is through a reduced
outlet 36 having a pump foot valve 38 (small hole drilled
in nylon foot valve).
The outlet from the portion 36 is through a brass
nipple portion 40 and then through a pitless adapter 42
and a brass insert adapter 44.
The electrical wires 46 for the motor 36 enter the
container 24 through an airtight seal 48.
As shown in Figure 2 the water inlet for the
container 24 is by way of a threaded brass poly insert
fitting 50 connected to the water inlet portion 8.

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In use, when the motor 36 is switched on then the
pump creates a vacuum in the container casing 24 and this
draws water from the lake 14 (Figure 1). The water fills
up the container 24 so that the water level is
substantially at the top of the container casing. The
water is then pumped at high pressure to the house 20.
The small hole drilled in the foot valve 38 (a check
valve) allows a small amount to slowly return, thus
forcing any air trapped in the top of the pump casing to
escape out of the system.
The container 24 can be constructed of 5-inch or
larger diameter pipe made of PVC, styrene, metal, molded
fibre-glass or ABS.
The system works on the principle of the pump
creating a vacuum when it is running and sucking the water
from the lake, river, etc. via, for example, poly pipe
with a foot valve installed in the water.
The container 24 should be buried as close to water
level as possible to avoid reducing the head or pumping
height ability of the pump.
When the desired pressure is achieved in the house,
the pump shuts off. When this occurs the pressure and a
small amount of water returns slowly to the container 24
and forces any trapped air at the top of the pump housing
out via the automatic vent 32 which closes when the air is
vented.
The water can not return to the lake, etc. because
of the foot valve in the lake. If the entire pump housing
is kept free from air a hole in the pump check valve and
the auto vent are not required. These portions are added
so as to make the system more user friendly.
The water entering the bottom of the container
system is drawn over the pump motor, thus cooling the
motor. The pump housing and pipe to the lake must only be
filled once.

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The length of the pump housing and the horsepower
(H.P.) of the pump would be determined by the
application. It will be understood that the housing could
be sold in lengths of 4-foot to 8-foot or more with the
pump installed in it in the majority of cases.
The model numbers would indicate the length of
casing and the horsepower of the pump.
For example:-
Model P.W. 4 33
Pumpwell 4 ft. 1/3 H.P.
Model P.W. 6 50
Pumpwell 6 ft. ~ H.P.
Model P.W. 5 75
Pumpwe 11 5 f t . 3~4 H . P .
The advantages of a constructed pump well system
are as follows:-
(1) No need to dig a well and install well tile
where you may not find water.
(2) No need to drill a well which is extremely
expensive and no guarantee of water or
supply, or quality of water.
(3) No need to build a heated, insulated pump
house where a jet pump must be installed at
water source to have the ability to pump high
enough.
(4) No pump or wiring in water source.
(5) No need to ground fault system.
(6) Pump can be easily removed year round.
(7) Does not waste drinking water to flush
toilets, bath, etc.
(8) Many people even with drilled or dug wells
buy bottled drinking water.

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(9) In most cases water can be purified for just
drinking supply in house (if needed).
(10) No need to drain pump system if not used in
winter.
(11) Soft water better for washing, watering
lawns, and gardens, etc.
(12) With extra return line to lake and bypass
valve in home pump could be let run
continuously for heating, cooling purposes.
(13) No noisy pump in house.
(14) Very cost effective and efficient as compared
to drilling etc.
(15) Just dig trench deeper where pump well to be
installed.
(16) Pump is needed in all but gravity fed systems
already so cost of pump not really a factor.
(17) No risk of pump freezing over in water
source, or removing dug well lid and getting
ladder to remove pump.
(18) No risk of running out of water or running
pump dry.
(19) In a case where there is an existing well
that is or is not adequate, the pump could
compliment the well system.
(20) Many water sources in Canada and United
States, especially, are drinkable or could be
with little treatment.
(21) Very little water really used for consumption
(seems a shame to waste good drinking water
to flush toilets, wash cars, water lawns, etc.
(22) No need for a pump house (heated or not).
(23) Pump can be removed easily (winter or summer).
( 24 ) Pump wi 11 not f reeze or be pul led away by ice
in river or lake.

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(25) System does not have to be ground faulted.
(26) Pump can run continuously to keep lines from
freezing in shallow areas.
(27) In continuous operation returning water to
supply via water rads in home it would keep
the home constantly above freezing.
(28) No need to dig or drill a well 01200.00 -
$6000.00 or more).
(29) All you need (outside of trenching for poly
pipe) is an auger or post hole digger to
install it.
(30) In continuous mode pipes could nearly lay on
ground surf ace .
(31) No hard priming of pump (fill casing once).
(32) No noisy pump in house.
(33) Very good for tourist camps that need a very
large amount of water for toilets and showers.
(34) Need only a small area of over-burden to
install system.
(35) Many pump companies would be interested in
this system.
(36) Very good where you have a high head from
water source to home.
(37) Could help home cool in summer.
(38) Top can be flush with ground with Styrofoam
cover.
It will be understood that this system is
particularly advantageous in those areas where the lakes
or rivers freeze up and there is ice movement. With the
described embodiment it is not so difficult to examine the
pump if problems arise. Furthermore, the system can be
used year-round in cottage country so that the owner can
use the cottage at different times of the year.
It will be appreciated that the pump apparatus and
pump system may be used with other liquids than water.
For example, a large container of fuel oil may be located

CA 02229712 1998-02-16
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at the bottom of a hill and conveniently pumped to a house
at the top of the hill by means of the described
embodiment. It could also be used for wine or maple syrup.
The pump apparatus may, of course, be used when it
is at the same level as the source of liquid and the
destination thereof.
The system may sometimes be referred to as a
portable well system.
It will be readily apparent to a person skilled in
the art that a number of variations and modifications can
be made without departing from the true spirit of the
invention which will now be pointed out in the appended
claims.

Representative Drawing