GB2471183A - Pump apparatus for installation under the floor of a building - Google Patents

Pump apparatus for installation under the floor of a building Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2471183A
GB2471183A GB1009814A GB201009814A GB2471183A GB 2471183 A GB2471183 A GB 2471183A GB 1009814 A GB1009814 A GB 1009814A GB 201009814 A GB201009814 A GB 201009814A GB 2471183 A GB2471183 A GB 2471183A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
pump apparatus
pump
tubular housing
floor
building
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB1009814A
Other versions
GB201009814D0 (en
GB2471183B (en
Inventor
Andrew Clive Taylor
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB0910633A external-priority patent/GB0910633D0/en
Priority claimed from GB0910719A external-priority patent/GB0910719D0/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of GB201009814D0 publication Critical patent/GB201009814D0/en
Publication of GB2471183A publication Critical patent/GB2471183A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2471183B publication Critical patent/GB2471183B/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
    • E02D31/00—Protective arrangements for foundations or foundation structures; Ground foundation measures for protecting the soil or the subsoil water, e.g. preventing or counteracting oil pollution
    • E02D31/02—Protective arrangements for foundations or foundation structures; Ground foundation measures for protecting the soil or the subsoil water, e.g. preventing or counteracting oil pollution against ground humidity or ground water
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04D13/00—Pumping installations or systems
    • F04D13/02—Units comprising pumps and their driving means
    • F04D13/06—Units comprising pumps and their driving means the pump being electrically driven
    • F04D13/068—Battery powered
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04D13/00—Pumping installations or systems
    • F04D13/02—Units comprising pumps and their driving means
    • F04D13/06—Units comprising pumps and their driving means the pump being electrically driven
    • F04D13/08—Units comprising pumps and their driving means the pump being electrically driven for submerged use
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04D15/00—Control, e.g. regulation, of pumps, pumping installations or systems
    • F04D15/0088—Testing machines
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04D15/00—Control, e.g. regulation, of pumps, pumping installations or systems
    • F04D15/02—Stopping of pumps, or operating valves, on occurrence of unwanted conditions
    • F04D15/0209—Stopping of pumps, or operating valves, on occurrence of unwanted conditions responsive to a condition of the working fluid
    • F04D15/0218—Stopping of pumps, or operating valves, on occurrence of unwanted conditions responsive to a condition of the working fluid the condition being a liquid level or a lack of liquid supply
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
    • F04D29/60—Mounting; Assembling; Disassembling
    • F04D29/605—Mounting; Assembling; Disassembling specially adapted for liquid pumps
    • F04D29/606—Mounting in cavities
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A20/00—Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
    • Y02A20/20—Controlling water pollution; Waste water treatment

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Paleontology (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)

Abstract

A pump apparatus for locating under the floor 10 of a building comprises a pump 3 contained in a tubular housing 7 which, in use, extends at least to the floor 10. The tubular housing, eg of plastics material, may have inlet openings 2, an inlet filter 12 and an outlet tube 6 to be connected to a drainage system to dispose of flood water. The tubular housing 7 may be cylindrical with an outside diameter of less than 80mm and may have a cap 8 which seats on the floor 10, in use. The pump 3 and the control electronics 5 may be powered by mains and/or battery; the battery (16, fig.2) may provide power in the event of mains failure. The control electronics 5 may include level detectors 4,11 (eg float valves or liquid activated switches) and a system for periodically monitoring the operation of the pump and able to provide an indication of a malfunction.

Description

Flood Defence The present invention relates to a flood defence apparatus. In particular, it relates to a pump for under floor use in a building.
Flooding of buildings may occur in coastal regions when there is an abnormally high tide or severe weather which causes sea defences to be breached. In other areas bad weather may result in streams and rivers bursting their banks and the water gaining entry to buildings through, for example, the gaps between doors and door frames. To address this problem, barriers can be placed around the door. However, even if water can be prevented from entering a building around the door, it can enter through other openings such as cracks, or damaged brickwork or render. If an area around a building becomes flooded, or in the case of heavy rainfall against a side of the building, water can even enter the building by seepage through the brickwork.
It is known to use sump pumps to remove water from basements or under the ground floor of buildings that are prone to flooding or water seepage. However, it can be difficult to install such pumps under floors of domestic residences. Instillation will generally require removal of the flooring and several floorboards. It is then necessary to create an access hole in the ground near an external wall of the building. Once the access hole has been created, the pump must be lowered into the hole and anchored to prevent unwanted movement of the pump. Unwanted movement of the pump can result in malfunction of the pump such as sensor operation of the pump.
A further problem with the conventional pumps is that their performance is unreliable and they are easily damaged during handling and placement into the access hole. Since the pump is located under the floor damage to it may go undetected until flooding occurs and the pump fails to operate. Maintenance of the pump is also difficult due to its location.
The present invention seeks to provide a pump for removing water from the under floor region of a building which can be easily and accurately installed without causing damage to the property. It also seeks to provide a pump which will be reliable and will conduct active health monitoring automatically.
Thus according to the present invention there is provided a pump apparatus for locating under the floor of a building: comprising a pump means and a tubular housing means, wherein the pump means is contained within the tubular housing and said housing extends in use at least to said floor.
It will also be understood that whilst the main usage of the pump apparatus of the present invention will be to pump flood water, it may also be used with other liquids such as chemical or the like spillages in factories and laboratories.
The components of the pump apparatus will be formed of materials which are resistant to the liquid being pumped. In particular the tubular housing can be formed of metal, plastics and the like.
The tubular housing is generally formed of a single elongate pipe which can accommodate the pumping means. Preferably, the tubular housing will have an external diameter of less than 8 0mm. The pump apparatus of the present invention can therefore be installed in a single hole made in the floor of the building, where the hole has a diameter which matches the external diameter of the tubular housing. Other than the single hole no other access is required such that the pump apparatus can be easily installed or removed. The tubular housing also serves to protect the components of the pump including the control electronics.
The pump apparatus can therefore be installed in any under floor void or gap. The tubular housing may be of any cross-section but will generally be of circular cross-section. The tubular housing may be formed from a single piece or it may be modular. The arrangement of the present invention may bc installed in any floor arrangement including under a suspended wooden floor or a block and beam floor.
I
A-
The ease of instillation allows the pump apparatus to be placed in any suitable location in the floor of the building, for example under a kitchen sink or in a bathroom. Ideally, the pump means of the pump apparatus will be located below the damp proof course of the building such that the present invention can prevent flood water from reaching or overcoming the damp proof course. In this way the present invention removes water before it reaches or overcomes a critical level that could cause internal damage to the building, for example before the water reaches the level of the floor joists.
The tubular housing will generally also accommodate control electronics. The control electronics are affanged to control the operation of the pump means. The control electronics may also include monitoring means affanged to monitor the operation of the pump means. This monitoring of the pump means that it is possible to provide fault indication in the event of a malfunction such that the pump apparatus can be removed and replaced or repaired. Monitoring is preferably caffied out periodically and automatically.
The fault indication can be an audible or visual indication, or a combination of both. The benefit of this is that in the event of a malfunction, the user can arrange for amendment or replacement in good time before it is actually needed when flooding occurs.
The pump means may be powered by any suitable electrical supply such as an AC domestic mains supply and/or battery. The battery can be a rechargeable battery which is recharged from the mains supply. The battery can be operable to provide power in the event of a failure of the mains supply or where it is necessary to disconnect the mains supply. The battery may be located in the tubular housing or located outside the tubular housing. The control electronic means will generally be poweid by the same means although they may be provided with their own power source.
The control electronics can include detector means arranged to detect the presence of flood water. The detector means can be any appropriate water detector such as a float detector, float valve or liquid activated switch.
The pump means can be any suitable pump such as submersible pump.
A removable cap may be provided at the top of the tubular housing. The removable cap may be affanged to sit on the floor of the building when the pump apparatus is installed.
The removable cap stops dust and dirt from entering through the top of the tubular housing. In addition, the cap may act to fix the pump apparatus in place to prevent movement when installed.
The water will generally be removed through an outlet pipe. Where the removable cap is present, the outlet pipe may pass through the cap. Alternatively, it may exit through a side wall of the housing below the cap.
The pump means will generally be located near the bottom of the tubular housing. Ideally the pump means is slightly raised from the bottom of the tubular housing to prevent the ingress of debris which can damage the pump means. The pump means can be raised using a riser, and the riser can also act as a filter or strainer to prevent the ingress of the debris.
The tubular housing will generally include one or more side openings at a position corresponding to the position of the pump means. The openings can include filter means which serve to filter debris from the water.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective cut away view of the pump apparatus according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a side view of the pump apparatus of Figure 1, installed in the floor of a building.
Figure 1 illustrates a pump apparatus 20 installed through a hole in a floor 10 of a building. The pump apparatus 20 comprises a tubular housing 7, which contains a pump means 3 and control electronics 5. The tubular housing 7 may be formed from any appropriate material such as plastics or metal and can be formed as a single tubular member with an outside diameter of less than 80mm. A removable cap 8 may be provided on a top end of the tubular housing 7. When the pump apparatus 20 is installed S in the floor 10 of the building and the cap 8 is attached to the tubular housing 7, the cap 8 will be seated on the floor 10. The cap 8 is arranged to prevent dust and debris entering through the top of the tubular housing 7 and also serves to secure the tubular housing 7 in the hole provided in the floor 10.
One or more openings 2 may be provided in the side of the tubular housing 7 near the bottom of the tubular housing 7 to allow flood water 1 to enter the tubular housing 7. The openings 2 may be arranged to filter debris contained in the flood water, preventing such debris from entering the pump means 3. An inlet filter 12 may also be arranged within the tubular housing 7 at the openings 2.
The pump means 3, is arranged to remove flood water 1 which enters the tubular housing by pumping the water up around the sides of the inlet filter 12 and out of the tubular housing 7 through an outlet tube 6. The outlet tube 6 may be connected to a drainage system to dispose of the flood water. The outlet tube 6 and may be connected to the drainage system through a hole in a wall of the building. The outlet tube 6 may exit the tubular housing 7 through a hole in the cap 8. The pump means 3 is arranged near the bottom of the tubular housing 7 adjacent to the one or more openings 2. The pump means 3 may be positioned in the tubular housing 7 on a strainer 14, such that it is elevated from the bottom of the tubular housing 7. The strainer 14 is arranged to prevent debris such as small stones from entering the tubular housing 7.
The pump means 3 and control electronics 5 can be powered by any appropriate means such as domestic mains supply or battery 16 as illustrated in Figure 2. The battery may be a rechargeable battery and is operable to provide power in the event of a failure of the mains supply. The battery 16 can be charged by the mains supply. The mains supply can be connected to the pump apparatus 20 by any appropriate means such as for example a plug and cable affangement connected to a ring or spur circuit of the mains supply.
The control electronics 5, includes detector means 4, 11. The control electronics 5 are further arranged to determine availability of mains power, battery charge state, electrical current drawn by the pump means 3, and control the operation of the pump means 3. The detector means comprises an upper 4 and lower 11 detectors. The detectors can be any appropriate water detectors, such as for example float valves or liquid activated switches.
When water enters the tubular housing 7 and rises to the level of the upper detector 4 the pump means 3 is activated and pumps the flood water as discussed above. Water is pumped until electrical current flow in the pump means 3 reaches a level which indicates that all water has been pumped from the tubular housing 7 and air is present at the level of the pump means 3. The current flow in the sensor can be detected using any appropriate current sensor. When all the water is pumped from the tubular housing 7 the pump means 3 is deactivated. The pump means 3 may also be deactivated when the level of the flood water falls below the detectors.
The control electronics 5 also includes a monitoring system. The monitoring system is arranged to periodically monitor the operation of the pump means 3 and provide an indication in the event of a malfunction. In the event of a malfunction the monitoring system can provide an audible or visual indication, or both.
Figure 2, illustrates the pump apparatus 20 according to the present invention located in the under floor region 10 of a building. The pump apparatus 20 is installed through a hole in the floor 10 and is located adjacent to the walls 22 of the building. The hole in the floor is such that it matches the dimensions of the tubular housing. The pump apparatus 20 is arranged in the floor 10 of the building such that any flood water will be pumped through the outlet pipe 6 before the flood water reaches the damp proof course 19 of the building.
The outlet pipe 6 can extend through the walls 22 of the building such that the water can be removed to an appropriate location such as an external drain (not illustrated). The pump means 3 is arranged to be installed in any under floor gap or void and no other access is required other than a hole in the floor 10. The pump apparatus 20 could be sited in any appropriate location in the floor 10 of a building, for example the under sink cupboard of a kitchen.
Also illustrated in Figure 2 is a brick pump 17 and an air brick 18. In conjunction with the present invention the brick pump 17 and air brick 18 provide a complete solution to preventing the ingress into and removal of flood water from a building. The brick pump 17 may be anangement described in co-pending application no 0910633.7 the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In addition, the air brick 18 may be the air brick which is the subject of GB 2397592 which is also incorporated herein by reference.

Claims (18)

  1. Claims 1. A pump apparatus for locating under the floor of a building: comprising a pump means and a tubular housing means, wherein the pump means is contained within the tubular housing and said housing extends in use at least to said floor.
  2. 2. The pump apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the tubular housing is formed of a single tubular member.
  3. 3. The pump apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the tubular housing firther comprises one or more openings to allow entry of flood liquid.
  4. 4. The pump apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the one or more openings include a filter.
  5. 5. The pump apparatus according to any one or more of Claims 1 to 4, additionally including a removable cap for the tubular housing.
  6. 6. The pump apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the cap is arranged to sit on a floor of the building when the pump apparatus is installed.
  7. 7. The pump apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the tubular housing is formed of a plastics material.
  8. 8. The pump apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the tubular housing is of circular cross-section.
  9. 9. The pump apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, firther comprising control electronics.
  10. 10. The pump apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the control electronics comprise detector means.
  11. 11. The pump apparatus according to Claim 9 or 10, wherein the control electronics comprise means for caffying out active health monitoring
  12. 12. The pump apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein the detector means comprises upper and lower float valves affanged to detect the presence of water.
  13. 13. The pump apparatus according to any one of Claims 10 to 12, wherein the control electronics further comprises monitoring means affanged to monitor operation of the pump means.
  14. 14. The pump apparatus according to Claim 11 or 13, wherein the monitoring means further comprises a fault indication means.
  15. 15. The pump apparatus according to Claim 14, wherein the fault indication means is an audible and/or visible indicator.
  16. 16. The pump apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 or 15, wherein the pump means are powered by mains supply and/or battery supply.
  17. 17. The pump apparatus according to Claim 15, operable to switch from the mains supply to the battery supply in the event of an interruption in the mains supply.
  18. 18. The pump apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying figures.
GB1009814.3A 2009-06-19 2010-06-11 Flood defence Active GB2471183B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0910633A GB0910633D0 (en) 2009-06-19 2009-06-19 Flood defence
GB0910719A GB0910719D0 (en) 2009-06-22 2009-06-22 Flood defence

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201009814D0 GB201009814D0 (en) 2010-07-21
GB2471183A true GB2471183A (en) 2010-12-22
GB2471183B GB2471183B (en) 2012-05-16

Family

ID=42471521

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1009814.3A Active GB2471183B (en) 2009-06-19 2010-06-11 Flood defence

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2471183B (en)

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3807900A (en) * 1972-09-25 1974-04-30 Flood Control Valve Co Under floor pumping means
US4013383A (en) * 1973-12-03 1977-03-22 Rule Industries, Inc. Vertical shaft impeller pump apparatus
DE2546895A1 (en) * 1975-10-20 1977-04-28 Albert Blum Drainage water removal unit for cellar - has prefabricated water collection trough incorporating pump and all necessary fittings
US4057366A (en) * 1976-02-02 1977-11-08 Niemann Fred T Portable water evacuator
EP0840014A1 (en) * 1996-10-31 1998-05-06 Ksb S.A. Pumping set with a circuit enabling the saving of energy from the emergency power source
US5833437A (en) * 1996-07-02 1998-11-10 Shurflo Pump Manufacturing Co. Bilge pump
WO2000017521A2 (en) * 1998-09-24 2000-03-30 Rule Industries, Inc. Pump and controller system and method
US6712553B1 (en) * 2002-02-22 2004-03-30 Karl O. Niedermeyer Grid drain system
GB2396361A (en) * 2002-12-19 2004-06-23 Twb Ltd Water removal apparatus for wall cavity

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070175112A1 (en) * 2006-01-30 2007-08-02 Janesky Lawrence M Crawlspace encapsulation with drain and alarm system

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3807900A (en) * 1972-09-25 1974-04-30 Flood Control Valve Co Under floor pumping means
US4013383A (en) * 1973-12-03 1977-03-22 Rule Industries, Inc. Vertical shaft impeller pump apparatus
DE2546895A1 (en) * 1975-10-20 1977-04-28 Albert Blum Drainage water removal unit for cellar - has prefabricated water collection trough incorporating pump and all necessary fittings
US4057366A (en) * 1976-02-02 1977-11-08 Niemann Fred T Portable water evacuator
US5833437A (en) * 1996-07-02 1998-11-10 Shurflo Pump Manufacturing Co. Bilge pump
EP0840014A1 (en) * 1996-10-31 1998-05-06 Ksb S.A. Pumping set with a circuit enabling the saving of energy from the emergency power source
WO2000017521A2 (en) * 1998-09-24 2000-03-30 Rule Industries, Inc. Pump and controller system and method
US6712553B1 (en) * 2002-02-22 2004-03-30 Karl O. Niedermeyer Grid drain system
GB2396361A (en) * 2002-12-19 2004-06-23 Twb Ltd Water removal apparatus for wall cavity

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201009814D0 (en) 2010-07-21
GB2471183B (en) 2012-05-16

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