Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02795964 2016-07-04
RECHARGEABLE BATTERY POWERED UTILITY PUMP
WITH SERIES CENTRIFUGAL PUMP CONFIGURATION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pump; and more particularly a rechargeable
portable utility pump.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a utility pump featuring a new and unique
combination of a housing and a battery. According to some embodiments of the
present invention, the housing may be configured with a series configuration
of
integral pumps, and also configured with a battery receiving portion having
electrical
terminals for receiving power for providing to the series configuration of the
integral
pumps; and the battery may include a protruding portion with corresponding
electrical terminals configured to contact the electrical terminals of the
battery
receiving portion to provide power to the series configuration of the integral
pumps
when the protruding portion of the battery is inserted into the battery
receiving
portion of the housing and rotated in one direction to an "ON" position, and
also
configured so as not to contact the electrical terminals when the battery is
not rotated
to the "ON" position.
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According to some embodiments of the present invention, the utility pump
may also include one or more of the following features:
The series configuration of the integral pumps may include a first centrifugal
pump and a second centrifugal pump.
A suction side of the first centrifugal pump may be configured to receive a
fluid through a lower strainer unit, and/or a discharge of the first
centrifugal pump
may be configured to be directly integrated into a corresponding suction side
of the
second centrifugal pump so that the fluid is then discharged out the second
centrifugal pump through a fitting.
The utility pump may include a rechargeable battery pack and printed circuit
board (PCB) controls that are housed inside a thermoplastic assembly or
housing.
The protruding portion may also include a cylindrical wall with an 0-ring
configured to frictionally engage and make sealing contact with an internal
wall of the
battery receiving portion to prevent the fluid from contacting the electrical
terminals
and the corresponding electrical terminals when the battery is inserted into
the
battery receiving portion, so that the utility pump may be operated when
either
partially and totally submersed in the fluid.
The battery receiving portion may include an internal wall configured with at
least one axial channel therein; and the protruding portion may include an
external
wall having at least one protruding portion configured to engage the at least
one
axial channel for guiding and orienting the battery when inserted into the
battery
receiving portion into a first rotational position.
The internal wall of the battery receiving portion may also be configured with
at least one partial circumferential channel; and the at least one protruding
portion
may also be configured to engage the partial circumferential channel for
rotating the
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battery from the first rotational position when the protruding portion of the
battery is
inserted into the battery receiving portion of the housing into either a
second
rotational position, including the "ON" position where the series
configuration of
integral pumps is turned "ON", or to a third rotational position, including
the "OFF"
position where the series configuration of the integral pumps is turned "OFF."
The at least one axial channel may also include two axial channels disposed
on opposite sides of the battery receiving portion, and the at least partial
circumferential channel may also include two partial circumferential channels;
and
the external wall of the protruding portion may include two protruding
portions
configured to engage respectively the two axial channels for guiding and
orienting
the battery when inserted into the battery receiving portion, and also to
engage the
two partial circumferential channel for positioning the battery in either the
second
rotational position ("ON") or the third rotational position ("OFF").
The two axial channels may be configured and dimensioned with different
sizes, and the two protruding portions may be configured and dimensioned with
corresponding different sizes, so that the battery can only be inserted into
the battery
receiving portion with one orientation.
The at least one partial circumferential channel may include a flexible
locking
device having a first face and a second face and being configured on a
flexible hinge
portion. The first face may be configured on an angle so as to respond to the
at
least one protruding portion and flex the flexible locking device downwardly
into an
opening or slot and below the channel surface so as to allow the at least one
protruding portion to slide or pass by when the battery is rotated in the one
direction
in the battery receiving portion. The flexible locking device may be
configured to flex
back upwardly above the channel surface once the at least one protruding
portion
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slides or passes by the first face. The second face may be configured to
extend into
the partial circumferential channel above the channel surface so as to prevent
the at
least one protruding portion from passing or sliding by when the battery is
rotated in
an opposite direction in the battery receiving portion so as to lock the
battery in the
battery receiving portion so it cannot be removed.
The housing may also include a switch configured to respond to a switching
actuation and move the flexible locking device downwardly into the opening or
slot
and below the channel surface to allow the at least one protruding portion to
pass by
when the battery is rotated in the opposite direction in the battery receiving
portion,
so that the battery may be moved to the first rotational position and removed
from
the battery receiving portion.
The battery receiving portion may also be configured with a flat wall having
the electrical terminals arranged thereon; and the protruding portion may also
be
configured with a corresponding flat wall having the corresponding electrical
terminals arranged thereon for contacting the electrical terminals when the
battery is
inserted into the battery receiving portion and rotated.
The housing may also have a detachable two-part construction, including a
lower part configured with openings to receive fluid to be pumped, and an
upper part
configured with an outlet port for providing the fluid being pumped.
The battery may be a rechargeable battery.
The battery may also include a cover position having an arrow-shaped
member configured to provide a visual indication of the orientation of the
battery.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The drawing, which is not necessarily drawn to scale, includes the following
Figures:
Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a portable bilge pump according to some
embodiments of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a front view of the portable bilge pump shown in Figure 1 with the
battery inserted, according to some embodiments of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a front view of the portable bilge pump shown in Figure 1 without
the battery inserted, according to some embodiments of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a side view of the portable bilge pump shown in Figure 1 according
to some embodiments of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of the portable bilge pump shown in
Figure 3 according to some embodiments of the present invention;
Figure 6 is a side view of a battery that forms part of the portable bilge
pump
shown in Figure 1 according to some embodiments of the present invention;
Figure 7 is a back view of the battery shown in Figure 6 according to some
embodiments of the present invention; and
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the battery shown in Figure 6 according to
some embodiments of the present invention.
Figures 9a, 9b show a utility pump according to some embodiments of the
present invention, where Figure 9a is an isometric view of the utility pump,
and
Figure 9b is a cross-sectional view of the utility pump shown in Figure 9a.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Figures 1-8 show a pump generally indicated as 10 that features a new and
unique combination, arrangement or configuration of a housing 12 and a battery
14,
including a rechargeable battery, which is disclosed and claimed in patent
application serial no. 13/222,303, filed 31 August 2011, consistent with that
set forth
below. For the convenience of the reader, it is noted that the subject matter
shown
in Figures 9a and 9b and the description thereof set forth below form the
basis of the
additional subject matter of the instant continuation-in-part patent
application as set
forth herein.
As shown by way of example in Figures 3 and 5, the housing 12 may be
configured with a battery receiving portion generally indicated as 16 having
electrical
terminals 18a, 18b for receiving power to the pump 10. The battery receiving
portion
16 is configured or formed as a cavity in part of the housing 12 that is
dimensioned
to receive some portion of the battery 14, consistent with that described
herein.
As shown by way of example in Figures 6-8, the battery 14 may include a
protruding portion 20 with corresponding electrical terminals 22a, 22b
configured to
contact the electrical terminals 18a, 18b of the battery receiving portion 16
to provide
power to the pump 10 when the protruding portion 20 of the battery 14 is
inserted
into the battery receiving portion 16 of the housing 12 as shown in Figure 2
and
rotated in one direction indicated by arrow A (Figure 2) to an "ON" position,
and also
configured so as not to contact the electrical terminals when the battery 14
is not
rotated to the "ON" position. The battery 14 is not rotated to the "ON"
position when
it is any other rotational position other than in the "ON" position, e.g.,
including when
it is in a battery insert position generally indicated by reference label I in
Figures 2-3,
and also including when it is in the "OFF" position.
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,
As shown by way of example in Figure 6, the protruding portion 20 may also
include a cylindrical wall 24 with an 0-ring 26 configured to frictionally
engage and
make sealing contact with one cylindrical internal wall 28 of the battery
receiving
portion 16 as shown in Figures 3 and 5 to prevent the fluid from contacting
the
electrical terminals 18a, 18b (Figure 3) and the corresponding electrical
terminals
22a, 22b (Figure 7) when the battery 14 is inserted into the battery receiving
portion
16 as shown in Figure 2, so that the pump 10 may be operated when either
partially
and totally submersed in the fluid. The configuration of the cylindrical wall
24 and 0-
ring 26 includes the cylindrical wall 24 having an annular channel or groove
for
receiving and retaining the 0-ring 26 therein, as well as embodiments in which
the
0-ring 26 is arranged on the cylindrical wall 24 without using an annular
channel or
groove.
As shown by way of example in Figures 3 and 5, the battery receiving portion
16 may include another internal wall 30a configured with at least one axial
channel
32a, 32b formed therein. As shown in Figures 6-8, the protruding portion 20
may
include at least one external wall 34a, 34b with at least one protruding
portion 36a,
36b configured to engage the at least one axial channel 32a, 32b for guiding
and
orienting the battery 14 when inserted into the battery receiving portion 16
as shown
in Figure 2 into a first rotational position as indicated by reference label I
in Figures
2-3.
As shown by way of example in Figure 5, the internal wall 30a of the battery
receiving portion 16 may also be configured with at least one partial
circumferential
channel 38 that is formed between the internal wall 30a and a corresponding
internal
wall 30b. The at least one protruding portion 36a shown in Figures 6-8 may
also be
configured to engage the partial circumferential channel 38 shown in Figure 5
for
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rotating the battery 14 from the first rotation position I (Figures 2-3) when
the
protruding portion 20 of the battery 14 is inserted into the battery receiving
portion 16
of the housing 12 as shown in Figure 2 into either a second rotational
position, such
as the "ON" position where the pump is turned "ON", or to a third rotational
position,
such as the "OFF" position where the pump is turned "OFF", as shown in Figure
2.
As shown by way of example in Figures 3 and 5, the two axial channels 32a,
32b are configured, disposed, arranged or formed on opposite sides of the
battery
receiving portion 16. In embodiments having two protruding portions 36a, 36b
(Figures 6-8), the at least partial circumferential channel 38 may include a
second
partial circumferential channel for receiving the corresponding protruding
portion
36b. The second partial circumferential channel is not shown in Figure 5, but
is
understood to be configured substantially similar to the partial
circumferential
channel 38 and dimensioned to receive the protruding portion 36b. Embodiments
are envisioned using one protruding portion, e.g., element 36a, so that one
corresponding circumferential channel, e.g., element 38, may be formed in the
battery receiving portion 16 for receiving the same. In operation, when
inserted into
the battery receiving portion 16 the two corresponding protruding portions
36a, 36b
are configured to engage respectively the two axial channels 32a, 32b for
guiding
and orienting the battery 14 in the battery receiving portion 16; and the two
corresponding protruding portions 36a, 36b are also configured to engage the
two
partial circumferential channels 38 for rotating and positioning the battery
14 in some
other rotational position, including either the second rotational position
(i.e. the "ON"
position) or the third rotational position (i.e. the "OFF" position), as shown
in Figures
2-3.
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As shown by way of example in Figures 3 and 5 and Figures 6-8, the two axial
channels 32a, 32b may be configured and dimensioned with different sizes, and
the
two protruding portions 36a, 36b may also be configured and dimensioned with
corresponding different sizes, so that the battery 14 can only be inserted
into the
battery receiving portion 16 with one orientation, i.e. the larger protruding
portion 36a
is received by the larger dimensioned axial channel 32a and the smaller
protruding
portion 36b is received by the smaller dimensioned axial channel 32b, as shown
in
Figures 3 and 5-7. The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to
any
particular dimension or size of the axial channels 32a, 32b or protruding
portions
36a, 36b in relation to one another or each other.
As shown by way of example in Figure 5, the at least one partial
circumferential channel 38 may also include a flexible locking device 40
having a first
face 40a and a second face 40b and being configured on a flexible hinge
portion 42.
The first face 40a is configured on an angle so as to respond to the at least
one
protruding portion 36a and flex the flexible locking device 40 downwardly into
an
opening or slot 44 and below the channel surface so as to allow the at least
one
protruding portion 36a to slide or pass by when the battery 14 is rotated in
the one
direction A (see Figure 2) in the battery receiving portion 16. Once the at
least one
protruding portion 36a has slid and passed by the first face 40a when the
battery 14
is rotated in the one direction A (Figure 2), the flexible locking device 40
is
configured to flex back upwardly above the channel surface. In this position,
the
second face 40b is configured to extend into the partial circumferential
channel 38 so
as to prevent the at least one protruding portion 36a from passing or sliding
by when
the battery 14 is rotated in an opposite direction B (see Figure 2) in the
battery
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receiving portion 16 so as to lock the battery 14 in the battery receiving
portion 16 so
it cannot be removed.
As shown by way of example in Figures 1-3, the housing 12 may also include
a switch or button 50 configured to respond to a switching actuation, e.g., by
a user
pressing the button, and move the flexible locking device 40 downwardly so the
second face 40b is below the channel surface to allow the at least one
protruding
portion 36a to pass by when the battery 14 is rotated in the opposite
direction B
(Figure 2) in the battery receiving portion 16, so that the battery 14 may be
moved to
the first rotational position I (Figure 2) and removed from the battery
receiving portion
16. The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to the type or
kind of
coupling between the switch 50 and the flexible locking device 40, and a
person
skilled in the art would be able to implement such a coupling without undue
experimentation. By way of example, such a coupling may include an embodiment
in which the switch or button 50 is pressed inwardly by a user so the flexible
locking
device 40 moves downwardly below the channel surface and stays in place until
the
switch or button 50 is pressed a second time to release the flexible locking
device 40
and moves upwardly above the channel surface. Alternatively, such a coupling
may
include an embodiment in which the switch or button 50 may be pressed inwardly
by
the user and held by the user so the flexible locking device 40 moves
downwardly
below the channel surface and stays in place until the switch or button 50 is
released
by the user such that the flexible locking device 40 moves upwardly back above
the
channel surface.
As shown by way of example in Figure 3, the battery receiving portion 16 may
also be configured with a flat wall 60 having the electrical terminals 18a,
18b
arranged thereon. As shown in Figures 6-8, the protruding portion 20 may also
be
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configured with a corresponding flat wall 62 having the corresponding
electrical
terminals 22a, 22b arranged thereon for contacting the electrical terminals
18a, 18b
when the battery 14 is inserted into the battery receiving portion 16 and
rotated.
Embodiment are also envisioned in which the electrical terminals 18a, 18b
(Figure 3)
may be arranged on the cylindrical internal wall 28 and the corresponding
electrical
terminals 22a, 22b (Figures 6-8) may be arranged on the cylindrical wall 24 so
as to
make electrical contact when the protruding portion 20 is inserted into the
battery
receiving portion 16 of the housing 12 and suitably rotated to the "ON"
position.
Embodiment are also envisioned where one electrical terminal may be arranged
on a
flat wall and the other electrical terminal may be arranged on a cylindrical
wall, and
where one corresponding electrical terminal may be arranged on a corresponding
flat wall and the other corresponding electrical terminal may be arranged on a
corresponding cylindrical wall, so as to make electrical contact when the
protruding
portion 20 is inserted into the battery receiving portion 16 of the housing 12
and
suitably rotated to the "ON" position.
As shown by way of example in Figures 2, 4 and 6, the battery 14 may be
configured with a cover portion 90 having an arrow-shaped member 92 configured
to
provide a visual indication of the orientation of the battery 14. For example,
when
the battery 14 inserted in the battery receiving portion 16, the arrow-shaped
member
92 would be pointed to the reference label I in Figure 2; when the battery 14
is
rotated to the "ON" position in the battery receiving portion 16, the arrow-
shaped
member 92 would be pointed to the reference label "ON" in Figure 2; and when
the
battery 14 is rotated to the "OFF" position in the battery receiving portion
16, the
arrow-shaped member 92 would be pointed to the reference label "OFF" in Figure
2.
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As shown by way of example in Figures 1-5, the housing 12 may be
configured as a detachable two-part construction, including a lower part 70
configured with openings 72 to receive fluid to be pumped, and an upper part
80
configured with an outlet port 82 for providing the fluid being pumped. The
lower
part 70 has tabs 74 (Figure 1) and 76 (Figure 4) that are configured to be
received in
corresponding openings 84 (Figure 1) and 86 (Figure 4) of the upper part 80
and
pressed, e.g., by fingers of a user, to detach and release the lower part 70
from the
upper part 80. The lower part 70 is also configured with recesses 78a (Figure
1) and
78b (Figure 4) to be engaged, e.g., with the other fingers of the user, when
detaching
the lower part 70 and the upper part 80. Embodiments are also envisioned in
which
the pump 10 is assembled and the two parts 70, 80 of the housing 12 are sealed
together, e.g., using an ultrasonic sealing or welding. The housing 12 may
also be
configured with a handle 100 as shown in Figures 1-4 for portably carrying the
pump
10.
It is understood that the pump 10 is configured to contain some kind of
pumping device (not shown) inside the housing 10. Pumping devices are known in
the art and the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any
particular
type, kind or implementation thereof either now known or later developed in
the
future, including by way of example, a diaphragm pump. The pumping device
itself
does not form part of the underlying invention, and thus is not shown or
described in
detail. Moreover, consistent with that disclosed herein, a person skilled in
the art
would be able to implement such a pumping device, e.g., a diaphragm pump, into
the housing 12 without undue experimentation within the spirit of the
underlying
invention in order to make the pump 10 receive the fluid in the openings 72
(Figures
1-4) and provide the fluid from the port 82 (Figures 1 and 4).
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Figures 9a, 9b: Series Centrifugal Pump Configuration
Figures 9a, 9b shows a utility pump generally indicated as 200 that forms the
basis for the instant continuation-in-part application of patent application
serial no.
13/222,303, filed 31 August 2011, consistent with that set forth below.
Similar
elements in Figures 1-8 and Figure 9 are provided with similar reference
numerals
for the sake of consistency. So as to not unduly clutter Figure 9, not every
element
in Figure 9 is provided a reference numeral consistent with Figures 108.
The utility pump comprises a series configuration of two centrifugal pumps
202, 204 that gives an increase in the head pressure and is integral package
within
the pump housing 12.
The utility pump or pump system 200 comprises of an internal "hydraulics"
assembly which includes the two centrifugal pumps 202, 204. The suction side
of
the first centrifugal pump 202 receives water through a lower strainer unit or
openings 72. The discharge of the first pump 202 is directly integrated into
the
suction side of the second centrifugal pump 204. The fluid is then discharged
out the
second pump through a fitting 204b for providing out a discharge 206 (Figure
9a).
This hydraulic unit along with the rechargeable battery pack 14 and printed
circuit
board (PCB) controls are housed inside a thermoplastic assembly or pump
housing
12.
In Figure 9, the utility pump 200 is designed to meet consumer pumping
needs for applications which AC or other DC power may not be readily available
or
convenient for use.
In Figure 9a, the utility pump 200 includes a battery assembly release button
210 that may be pressed in order to allow the battery 14 to be rotated and
removed
from the housing 12. See the switch or button 50 shown in Figures 1-3.
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The utility pump 200 also includes pump legs 212a, 212b, 212c, and 212d for
supporting and stabilizing the utility pump 200.
The Scope of the Invention
Further still, the embodiments shown and described in detail herein are
provided by way of example only; and the scope of the invention is not
intended to
be limited to the particular configurations, dimensionalities, and/or design
details of
these parts or elements included herein. In other words, a person skilled in
the art
would appreciate that design changes to these embodiments may be made and such
that the resulting embodiments would be different than the embodiments
disclosed
herein, but would still be within the overall spirit of the present invention.
It should be understood that, unless stated otherwise herein, any of the
features, characteristics, alternatives or modifications described regarding a
particular embodiment herein may also be applied, used, or incorporated with
any
other embodiment described herein. Also, the drawings herein are not
necessarily
drawn to scale.
Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to
exemplary embodiments thereof, the foregoing and various other additions and
omissions may be made therein and thereto without departing from the spirit
and
scope of the present invention.
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