EP4098872A1 - Mobile submersible pumping device - Google Patents

Abstract

The pumping device (10) comprises a prismatic body (12) delimiting a chamber (15), a piston (22) comprising at its free longitudinal end a plate (30) movable between a closed position in which the passage of material towards the chamber (15) is prevented, and an open position in which the passage of material to the chamber (15) is permitted, at least one discharge conduit (40) in fluid communication with the chamber (15), at least one valve ( 46) at an inlet of the discharge duct (40) movable between a closed position in which the passage of material from the chamber (15) to the at least one discharge duct (40) is prevented, and an open position in which the passage of material from the chamber (15) to the at least one discharge duct (40) is permitted, and an external drive system (50) configured to move the device (10) during its operation.

Description

The present invention relates to a submersible pumping device.

There are submersible pumps used to empty basins whose suction height is too great for an external pump to be used.

These submersible pumps are typically centrifugal pumps that create negative pressures in the inlet area of the pump.

The substances to be pumped are sucked into the pump.

In the case of non-homogeneous substances, some submerged pumps are designed to tolerate the passage of solid particles, as is the case for the transport of waste water and liquid animal waste, such as pig manure.

Faced with this suction force, the reactions of the solid and liquid phases are different.

The liquid phase, which is more mobile, is able to move between the solid particles and to be sucked more easily inside the pump, bringing with it the soluble particles and the solids put in suspension by the effects of turbulence .

Therefore, when the substance to be pumped includes large concentrations of solids, the liquid phase is pumped more, generating an accumulation of the solid fraction in the bottom.

This is particularly true for pig manure. Although pumped after agitation of the pits, to homogenize its contents, the solid fraction partially accumulates from year to year in the bottom of the pits. It is therefore necessary to carry out regular mechanical cleaning of the empty pits so that they recover their original volume. This cleaning is done either with heavy machinery, such as backhoe loaders, by hydrocleaning, with the addition and mixing of water, or manually.

Piston pumps are also known, suitable for transporting substances at any level of solid particle load or viscosity.

Such pumps are used in particular for transporting food in factories, concrete, sludge or even cattle manure, which is relatively dry and strawy.

However, these results are only possible thanks to the fact that the pump is supplied with positive pressure, generally thanks to a hopper which discharges the material directly inside the body of the pump.

This type of pumping of difficult products can only be used in cases of installations designed from the start to dump the solid load into the pump, by conveyor or by gravity.

This is the case with silos, concrete mixer trucks that pour the concrete into the pump hopper, facilities for raising cattle that have a ditch dedicated to receiving scraping sludge, with an underground pump, or activated sludge wastewater treatment plants in which the settling tanks are designed in the shape of a prism thus forming a large funnel and equipped with a scraping system, which directs the separated sludge towards the outlet at the bottom, connected to the equipment of pumping.

However, the systems described above do not make it possible to suck in areas with a high concentration of solid particles, and with a height requiring the creation of negative pressures, not intended to be evacuated automatically from these solids.

There is therefore a need for a pumping device making it possible to suck in areas having a high concentration of solid particles, and the height of which requires suction by the application of negative pressures.

To this end, the subject of the present invention is a mobile submersible pumping device comprising a prismatic body defining a chamber for receiving material to be pumped, a piston configured to move in the receiving chamber of the prismatic body and extending between a inlet side and a discharge side, the piston having a free longitudinal end and comprising at its free longitudinal end a plate movable between a closed position in which the passage of material towards the receiving chamber of the prismatic body is prevented, and a open position in which the passage of material towards the receiving chamber is authorized, the pumping device further comprising at least one discharge conduit in fluid communication with the receiving chamber and the pumping device comprising at least one valve at one inlet of the discharge conduit, the at least one valve being movable between a closed position in which the pitch passage of material from the receiving chamber to the at least one discharge duct is prevented, and an open position in which the passage of material from the receiving chamber to the at least one discharge duct is permitted, the device for pump further comprising an external drive system configured to move the device during operation.

Thanks to the arrangement of the submersible pumping device, it is possible to pump in particular viscous substances or substances with high concentrations of solid particles, contained in structures where gravity admission from the top of the pump is impossible or too complex to put implemented.

Unlike other pumping devices which passively await the entry of the materials to be pumped into its interior, or which create negative pressures to induce this same entry, the device according to the invention recovers the material where it is deposited, at the image of a pool robot. The material enters the body of the open device as it moves, before being sent through the ducts to the outside.

The device according to the invention is also suitable for pumping substances whose viscosity or high concentration of solid particles only makes it difficult for them to be sucked up by a pump without a large amount of energy or prior mixing or dilution. is not necessary.

The device according to the invention can also be used in situations where the substance to be pumped is at the bottom of a structure that does not have a drain capable of priming a traditional pump by positive pressure.

• lorsque la plaque est en position fermée, l'au moins une vanne est en position ouverte, et lorsque la plaque est en position ouverte, l'au moins une vanne est en position fermée ;
• l'au moins un conduit de refoulement comprend deux conduits de refoulement ;
• l'au moins une vanne est une vanne à guillotine, ou une vanne passive, ou une vanne papillon, ou une vanne sphérique, ou une soupape ;
• l'au moins une vanne est actionnée par un système d'entraînement électrique, ou pneumatique, ou hydraulique, ou mécanique, ou un actionnement passif par différence de pression entre la chambre et l'au moins un conduit de refoulement ;
• le corps comprend une paroi périphérique délimitant la chambre de réception de matière à pomper, et dans lequel la plaque est pleine et est mobile en translation dans la course du piston en étant plaquée contre une portion de la paroi du corps prismatique et configurée pour s'étendre transversalement au corps prismatique du côté d'admission ;
• la plaque est transversale au corps prismatique, est mobile en translation dans la course du piston et comprend une soupape ;
• l'actionnement de la plaque est passif ou entrainé par des dispositifs de commande;
• le système d'entraînement externe comprend au moins deux tubes télescopiques fixés au corps de part et d'autre de la chambre et reliés à des pieds, des câbles, des roues, et/ou des chenilles ;
• le système d'entraînement externe est configuré pour déplacer le dispositif lors de son fonctionnement pour récupérer la matière là où elle est déposée ;
• le système d'entraînement externe est configuré pour déplacer le dispositif lors de son fonctionnement de sorte que de la matière rentre dans le corps du dispositif ouvert lors de son déplacement, avant d'être envoyée par l'au moins un conduit de refoulement vers l'extérieur ;
• le système d'entraînement externe est configuré pour déplacer le corps, de sorte que la matière rentre dans le corps du dispositif lors de son déplacement, lorsque la plaque est dans la position ouverte ;
• le système d'entraînement externe est configuré pour déplacer le dispositif, après que de la matière admise soit aspirée dans l'au moins un conduit de refoulement ; et
• le dispositif est propre à mettre en œuvre un procédé cyclique comprenant les étapes suivantes :
  • * le piston est en fin de course du côté de refoulement du dispositif de pompage, l'au moins une vanne passe en position fermée et la plaque passe en position ouverte ;
  • * le piston commence sa course vers le côté d'admission du dispositif avec la plaque en position ouverte, la matière se trouvant le long de la course du piston étant admise dans la chambre ;
  • * en fin de course du piston du côté d'admission, la plaque passe en position fermée ;
  • * la matière est compressée en direction de l'au moins une vanne, le piston se dirigeant vers le côté de refoulement avec la plaque en position fermée, l'au moins une vanne passant en position ouverte et la matière admise étant aspirée dans l'au moins un conduit de refoulement ; et
  • * le système d'entraînement externe déplace le dispositif de pompage.

According to embodiments of the pumping device, taken alone or according to any technically feasible combination:

• when the plate is in the closed position, the at least one valve is in the open position, and when the plate is in the open position, the at least one valve is in the closed position;
• the at least one discharge duct comprises two discharge ducts;
• the at least one valve is a knife gate valve, or a passive valve, or a butterfly valve, or a ball valve, or a valve;
• the at least one valve is actuated by an electric, or pneumatic, or hydraulic, or mechanical drive system, or a passive actuation by pressure difference between the chamber and the at least one discharge duct;
• the body comprises a peripheral wall delimiting the chamber for receiving the material to be pumped, and in which the plate is solid and is movable in translation in the stroke of the piston while being pressed against a portion of the wall of the prismatic body and configured to extend transversely to the prismatic body on the inlet side;
• the plate is transverse to the prismatic body, is movable in translation in the stroke of the piston and includes a valve;
• plate actuation is passive or driven by control devices;
• the external drive system comprises at least two telescopic tubes attached to the body on either side of the chamber and connected to legs, cables, wheels, and/or tracks;
• the external drive system is configured to move the device during its operation to recover the material where it is deposited;
• the external drive system is configured to move the device during its operation so that material enters the body of the open device during its movement, before being sent through the at least one discharge conduit to the exterior;
• the external drive system is configured to move the body, so that the material enters the body of the device during its movement, when the plate is in the open position;
• the external drive system is configured to move the device, after admitted material is sucked into the at least one discharge duct; and
• the device is capable of implementing a cyclic process comprising the following steps:
  • * the piston is at the end of its travel on the discharge side of the pumping device, the at least one valve passes into the closed position and the plate passes into the open position;
  • * the piston begins its stroke towards the inlet side of the device with the plate in the open position, the material lying along the stroke of the piston being admitted into the chamber;
  • * at the end of the stroke of the piston on the inlet side, the plate goes into the closed position;
  • * the material is compressed in the direction of the at least one valve, the piston moving towards the discharge side with the plate in the closed position, the at least one valve passing in the open position and the admitted material being sucked into the at least one discharge duct; and
  • * the external drive system moves the pumping device.

• [Fig 1] La Figure 1 représente une vue schématique en perspective du dispositif de pompage selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• [Fig 2] La Figure 2 représente une vue schématique en perspective du dispositif de la Figure 1 dans lequel une partie du corps de piston et le système d'entraînement externe ne sont pas représentés, la plaque étant en position ouverte et l'au moins une vanne en position fermée ;

• [Fig 3] La Figure 3 représente une vue schématique analogue à la Figure 2, la plaque étant en position fermée et l'au moins une vanne en position ouverte ;
• [Fig 4] La Figure 4 représente une vue schématique du dispositif de pompage selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention, dans lequel une partie du corps de piston et le système d'entraînement externe ne sont pas représentés, la plaque étant en position ouverte et l'au moins une vanne en position fermée ; et
• [Fig 5] La Figure 5 représente une vue schématique du dispositif de pompage de la Figure 4, la plaque étant en position ouverte et l'au moins une vanne en position fermée.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the drawings in which:

• [ Fig 1 ] The Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the pumping device according to a first embodiment of the invention;
• [ Fig 2 ] The Figure 2 represents a schematic perspective view of the device of the Figure 1 wherein a portion of the piston body and the drive system external are not shown, the plate being in the open position and the at least one valve in the closed position;

• [ Fig.3 ] The Figure 3 represents a schematic view analogous to the Figure 2 , the plate being in the closed position and the at least one valve in the open position;
• [ Fig 4 ] The Figure 4 shows a schematic view of the pumping device according to a second embodiment of the invention, in which part of the piston body and the external drive system are not shown, the plate being in the open position and the at least a valve in the closed position; and
• [ Fig.5 ] The Figure 5 represents a schematic view of the pumping device of the Figure 4 , the plate being in the open position and the at least one valve in the closed position.

We represented on the Figure 1 a pumping device 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention.

The pumping device 10 comprises a prismatic body 12.

The body 12 comprises a peripheral wall 14 defining a chamber 15 for receiving the material to be pumped.

The peripheral wall 14 has for example a cross section of rectangular shape.

According to this example, the peripheral wall 14 comprises a lower portion 16 configured to run along the bottom of a surface to be cleaned, an upper portion 18 substantially parallel to the lower portion 16, and two side portions 20.

The peripheral wall 14 has a free end edge 21 placed on an inlet side C1 of material to be pumped.

The body 12 is for example made of metal, in particular of stainless steel.

The pumping device 10 comprises a piston 22, configured to move in the chamber 15 delimited by the body 12.

The piston 22 is driven by any conceivable source of energy, for example hydraulic, pneumatic or electric.

The piston 22 has a stroke extending in a longitudinal direction L and going in the direction of the intake side C1 of material to be pumped.

The piston 22 has a free longitudinal end 24 and a connected longitudinal end 26 placed on a delivery side C2 of the pumping device 10 opposite the inlet side.

The piston 22 comprises at its free longitudinal end 24 a plate 30 movable between a closed position in which the passage of material to be pumped towards the chamber 15 is prevented, and an open position in which the passage of material to be pumped to the chamber 15 is allowed.

In the first embodiment shown in the Figure 1 , the plate 30 is solid and is movable in longitudinal translation.

Along the stroke of the piston 22, the plate 30 is pressed against a portion of the peripheral wall 14 of the body 12.

In particular, the plate 30 is pressed against the upper portion 18 of the peripheral wall 14.

The plate 30 moves for example along rails provided on the peripheral wall 14.

When the plate 30 reaches the free end edge 21 of the peripheral wall 14, the plate 30 extends transversely to the body 12 so as to close the chamber 15 for receiving material.

The actuation of the plate 30 can be passive or driven by control devices.

In a second embodiment shown in the Figure 4 , the plate 30 extends transversely to the body 12, and includes a valve 36.

The valve 36 is configured to be closed in a movement of the piston 12 from the inlet side C1 towards the outlet side C2.

The valve 36 is configured to be opened in a movement of the piston 12 from the discharge side C2 towards the intake side C1.

The valve can be composed of a single piece or divided into several pieces.

In particular, in the embodiment of the Figure 4 , the valve 36 is divided into two parts 37, 38.

The two parts 37, 38 are typically rotatable about a central axis carried by a frame movable in translation along longitudinal rails.

In the open position of the valve 36, the two parts 37, 38 are pressed against each other.

In the closed position of the valve 36, the two parts 37, 38 form an angle substantially equal to 180° between them.

Actuation of valve 36 may be passive or driven by controllers.

The number and size of the valves is advantageously adapted according to the operating conditions of the device.

The plate 30 is for example made of metal, in particular of stainless steel.

The pumping device 10 comprises at least one duct 40 for delivering the pumped material.

The at least one conduit 40 comprises an inlet 44 in fluid communication with the chamber 15 and an outlet (not shown) which can be connected with a pump or be open to the atmosphere.

The at least one conduit 40 is for example a hose.

In particular, the device 10 comprises two conduits 40.

The at least one discharge duct 40 makes it possible to evacuate the material accumulated in the chamber 15 during pumping.

The pumping device 10 comprises at least one valve 46 arranged at the inlet 44 of the at least one conduit 40.

The at least one valve 46 is movable between a closed position in which the passage of material from the chamber 15 to the at least one conduit 40 is prevented, and an open position in which the passage of material from the chamber 15 to the At least one conduit 40 is allowed.

In the example shown in the Figure 1 , the pumping device 10 comprises two valves 46 each disposed at the inlet 44 of a conduit 40.

The at least one valve 46 is for example a knife gate valve.

In a variant not shown, the at least one valve is a butterfly valve, a ball valve, a relief valve or any other suitable type of valve.

The at least one valve 46 is for example actuated by an electric, pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical drive system, passive actuation by pressure difference between the chamber and the at least one discharge duct, or any other type of suitable actuation.

The number and size of the valves 46 is adapted according to the operating conditions of the device.

The pumping device 10 is configured, once introduced into the material to be pumped, to encompass a solid volume with the body 12 of the piston 22 at each cycle of the piston 12.

To this end, the closing of the plate 30 causes a depression in the chamber 15 of the piston 12.

This makes it possible to advance the material towards the at least one discharge duct 40 in the same way as a syringe.

In order not to create a depression in the layer of solid material to be pumped, which would be immediately filled by the liquid fraction, which is more mobile, the device must move with each cycle to encompass new solid matter to be pumped in the next cycle, as will be detailed below.

The device 10 comprises for this purpose an external drive system 50 configured to move the device 10 during its operation.

In the embodiment of the Figure 1 , the external drive system 50 comprises two telescopic tubes 52 fixed to the body 12 on either side of the chamber 15, and set in motion simultaneously with the piston 22.

Each telescopic tube 52 advantageously extends along the longitudinal direction L.

The telescopic tubes 52 are for example each articulated around a pivot link 54 to the piston 22. Each pivot link 54 is rotatable around a transverse axis A.

The telescopic tubes 52 are for example provided at their end 56 opposite the pivot connection 54 with two independent feet 58.

The extension of each of the two telescopic tubes 52 makes it possible to determine the movement carried out by the pumping device 10.

Thus, if the two telescopic tubes 52 extend along the same length, the pumping device 10 moves in a straight line.

Each telescopic tube 52 is advantageously attached to an additional telescopic tube. The additional telescopic tube makes it possible to lift each foot 58 in a first vertical movement, then the deployment of the telescopic tube 52 advances the foot 58 so as to move the pumping device 10.

In a variant not shown, the external drive system comprises a different number of feet, and/or cables, and/or wheels, and/or tracks or any other system suitable for moving the device 10.

The external drive system is adapted according to the working environment conditions.

The external drive system 50 is for example operated by an electric, pneumatic, hydraulic drive, or any other suitable drive.

Unlike other known pumping devices which passively await the entry of the materials to be pumped into their interior, or which create negative pressures to induce this entry of materials to be pumped, the pumping device 10 recovers the material where it is deposited. Also, the displacement of the pumping device 10 helps not to create depressions in the material to be pumped, which would cause the entry of the liquid phase inside the device.

Pumping device 10 is configured to be submersible.

A method of implementing a pumping device 10 according to the invention will now be described.

The process is cyclic, so for the present description, the first step is chosen arbitrarily.

The piston 22 is at the end of its stroke on the discharge side C2 of the pumping device 10, the at least one valve 44 passes into the closed position and the plate 30 passes into the open position.

In this way, the material sucked in by the at least one conduit 40 cannot be pushed back.

In particular, in the first embodiment the plate 30 is pressed against a portion of the peripheral wall 14 of the body 12, as is visible on the Figure 2 .

In the second embodiment, the valve 36 is open, as can be seen in the Figure 4 .

The piston 22 begins its stroke towards the inlet side C1 of the device 10 with the plate 30 in the open position. Material along the stroke of piston 12 is admitted into chamber 15.

At the end of the stroke of the piston 22 on the intake side C1, the plate 30 passes into the closed position.

In particular, in the first embodiment, the plate 30 is folded down and extends transversely to the body 12 so as to close the chamber 15 for receiving material, as can be seen on the Figure 3 .

In the second embodiment, the valve 36 is closed so as to close the chamber 15 for receiving material, as can be seen on the Figure 5 .

The material is compressed in the direction of the at least one valve 46.

The at least one valve 46 switches to the open position and the admitted material is sucked into the at least one conduit 40 for discharge.

During the suction of the material, the piston moves towards the discharge side C2 with the plate 30 in the closed position.

The external drive system 50 moves the pumping device 10.

The cycle can then begin again.

The pump according to the invention can be used for a plurality of applications, for example the cleaning of sludge from waste water treatment basins by lagooning, without the need to dry the waste water. The pumped sediments are not resuspended, so the quality of the treated effluent is not compromised. The sludge is more concentrated and therefore easier to dry and recover.

Thanks to the arrangement of the pumping device 10 with the plate 30 and the at least one valve 46, it is possible to pump in particular viscous substances or substances with high concentrations of solid particles by applying a positive pressure in the chamber 15.

The pumping device 10 can be used in the recovery of a solid fraction of raw animal slurries or digestates from methanization units which are naturally separated by settling at the bottom of storage pits, for cleaning the pit, or as substitute for so-called phase separation processes, for which the advantage is to have these two fractions separated in view of the advantageous conditions of storage, spreading, transport and/or fertilization of crops.

The pumping device 10 can be used for cleaning out sludge in watercourses, for example canals or ponds.

The sludge is not resuspended, unlike cleaning with a backhoe.

The pumping device 10 can be used in the transport of raw materials from mining activity, for example phosphorus.

The pumping device 10 can be used for cleaning out storage basins for slurry treated by biological processes.

The pumping device 10 according to the invention can be fixed to a float making it possible to visually indicate the position of the pumping device 10 when it is submerged.

Claims (9)

Mobile submersible pumping device (10) comprising a prismatic body (12) delimiting a chamber (15) for receiving the material to be pumped, a piston (22) configured to move in the chamber (15) for receiving the body (12) prismatic and extending between an inlet side (C1) and a discharge side (C2), the piston (22) having a free longitudinal end and comprising at its free longitudinal end a plate (30) movable between a closed position in which the passage of material to the receiving chamber (15) of the prismatic body (12) is prevented, and an open position in which the passage of material to the receiving chamber (15) is permitted, the pumping device (10 ) further comprising at least one discharge conduit (40) in fluid communication with the receiving chamber (15) and the pumping device (10) comprising at least one valve (46) at an inlet of the discharge conduit (40) , the at least one valve (46) being movable between a closed position in which the passage of material from the receiving chamber (15) to the at least one discharge duct (40) is prevented, and an open position in which the passage of material from the chamber (15) receiving to the at least one discharge conduit (40) is allowed, the pumping device (10) further comprising an external drive system (50) configured to move the device (10) during its operation. Pumping device (10) according to claim 1, in which when the plate (30) is in the closed position, the at least one valve (46) is in the open position, and when the plate (30) is in the open position, the at least one valve (46) is in the closed position. Pumping device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one discharge conduit (40) comprises two discharge conduits. Pumping device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the at least one valve (46) is a knife gate valve, or a passive valve, or a butterfly valve, or a ball valve, or a valve. A pumping device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one valve (46) is actuated by an electric, or pneumatic, or hydraulic, or mechanical drive system, or an actuation passive by pressure difference between the chamber and the at least one discharge duct (40). Pumping device (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the body (12) comprises a peripheral wall (14) delimiting the chamber (15) for receiving the material to be pumped, and in which the plate ( 30) is full and is movable in translation in the stroke of the piston (22) while being pressed against a portion of the wall (14) of the prismatic body (12) and configured to extend transversely to the prismatic body (12) on the intake side (C1) . Pumping device (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the plate (30) is transverse to the prismatic body (12), is movable in translation in the stroke of the piston (22) and comprises a valve ( 36). A pumping device (10) according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the actuation of the plate (30) is passive or driven by control devices. Pumping device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the external drive system (50) comprises at least two telescopic tubes (52) fixed to the body (12) on either side of the chamber (15) and connected to legs (58), cables, wheels, and/or tracks.

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