GB2498537A - Device and system enabling removal of pumping apparatus from tanks or pumping stations - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and system for the removal of pumping apparatus from self-contained pumping stations, tanks or chambers, such as those used for pumping sewage or effluent. Usually all pumping apparatus hold their position in a tank or chamber due to ducks feet or base supports that are bolted to a bottom of a tank chamber. They then have pipework, pumps, valves and guide rails mounted on top. If the pipework and/or valves break or become blocked, due to being attached to the ducks feet bolted to the tank or chamber floor, they cannot be removed from above. Therefore, according to the present invention there is provided a device and system for a fluid tank; wherein the system provides a device that permits a self contained circulatory apparatus that in use is displaceable in relation to the tank., wherein the device comprises a displaceable base for insertion into the tank. The base plate upon which all the components are secured may be plastic and preferably secured in place by centralizing cones moulded into the base of the tank, and which pass through holes in the base plate.

Description

A DEVICE AND SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device and system, more particularly for tanks or fluid pumping stations.

Background

Given increasing climate instability and greater independence and ruralisation, increasingly a greater number of people have self-contained pumping stations. A pumping station is also required when sewage, effluent or surface water disposed of from a building or premises needs pumping uphill to join the main sewer level.

Usually all the internal components hold their position due to ducks feet or base supports that are bolted to a bottom of a chamber or tank, they then have pipework, pumps, valves and guide rails mounted on top.

Quite often the pipework and/or valves can break or become blocked and due to being attached to the ducks feet bolted to the chamber floor, these cannot be removed from above.

Consequently this usually results in a trained engineer performing a tank entry to fix them. This can be both expensive and dangerous.

Tank entry is required whenever anything other than the pumps fails or becomes blocked.

For example a trained engineer then enters the tank, after fluid levels have been pumped down or the station has been tankered, to make appropriate repairs. Tank entries can be dangerous due to slips, falls, harmful gas or other hazards, and are expensive as they typically require at least two trained engineers to be on site as well as a vacuum tanker to control fluid flow.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem, including the following: Granted Spanish patent ES 2 323 339 (LEE) discloses a water purifying system comprising: a base having a first hole and a second hole, a storage tank removably connected to the base, an outlet defined through a wall of the base and communicating with an interior of the storage tank, a one-way valve engaged with the outlet; a control device connected to the base; a pump adapted to pump water in the storage tank out from the outlet, a first pipe connected between the one-way valve and the pump, a second pipe connected between the second hole and the pump, the pump being controlled by the control device; a level detection device having a high level detection unit and a low level detection unit, the high level detection unit connected between a second pipe and the storage tank, the low level detection unit connected to the first pipe; a purifying device received in the base and a third pipe connected between the first hole and the purifying device, and a faucet having a switch which is electrically connected with the control device, a third pipe connected between the faucet and the second hole.

Granted United States patent US 7 500 835 (HASSL.EN) discloses a sump draining apparatus, comprising: (a) a housing having first and second end portions, with the first end portion being adapted for engagement with a fluid conduit for conveying fluid away from the housing, with the second end portion having an inlet for drawing fluid into the housing, with the second end portion having an opening, with the housing having an axial direction; (b) a pump in the housing for pumping fluid from the inlet to the fluid conduit and away from the housing; (c) a motor in the housing and in communication with the pump to drive the pump; (d) a sensor for sensing a condition and being in communication with the motor whereby the motor may turn on and off in response to a sensed condition; and (e) a sensor mount for the sensor, with the sensor mount engaged with the second end portion of the housing, with the sensor mount and sensor being slidable in the axial direction into and out of the opening in the second end portion of the housing such that the sensor is easily taken in and out of the housing.

Granted European patent EP 0 314 658 (HOFSTAD) discloses a vertical submersible pump assembly, comprising a pump assembly casing which contains a hydraulic drive motor with a drive shaft, a pump house which is secured on pump assembly casing, a pump rotor which is provided inside the pump house and is connected with drive shaft, a transport conduit from pump house, which transport conduit extends upwards above the pump medium, and two driving medium conduits which extend from above the pump medium and down to pump assembly casing, characterized in that pump house is radially divided outside pump rotor, external ring shaped pump house portion being connected with transport conduit, and by the fact that each drive medium conduit comprises a releasable conduit means which when removed permits a unit comprising pump assembly casing with drive motor, pump rotor, and inner pump house portion to be pulled up.

United States patent application US 4 846 641 (PIETERS et al) discloses a rotary pump comprising a driven magnet having first connection means, a pump block having an axial first bore aligned with said first connection means, support means fixed to said pump block, a pump housing formed with a pump cavity adjoining said pump block, said pump block having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet communicating with said pump cavity, a support plate adjoining said pump housing on the side opposite said pump block and formed with a second bore aligned with said first bore, detachable retainer means holding said pump block, pump housing and support plate assembled, a shaft having second connection means cooperable with said first connection means whereby said driven magnet turns said shaft, said magnet being axially movable relative to said shaft, pump means fixed to said shaft in said cavity and operable to pump fluid from said inlet to said outlet, a first bushing loose axially and radially on said shaft and loose radially and axially in said first bore, and a second bushing loose axially and radially on said shaft and loose radially and axially in said second bore, said cavity being substantiaily the same dimension throughout from the side of pump housing adjacent said pump block to the side of said pump housing adjacent said support plate and said cavity being large enough so that, when said support plate is removed from said pump housing upon detachment of said retainer means, said pump means, said shaft and said first and second bushings may be removed from said pump for repair or replacement, without further disassembly of said pump, said first and second connection means being thereby disconnected, and said pump block remaining fixed to said support means.

In contrast the present invention provides an easy way to conduct repairs, replacement and other work on pumping stations, which may be underground.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a device and system for a fluid tank; said system providing a device that permits a self contained circulatory apparatus that in use is displaceable in relation to the tank, In this way the apparatus may be removed from the tank for cleaning, repairs and/or maintenance.

According to a second aspect of the present invention the device consists of a displaceable base for insertion into a tank, upon which the apparatus is situate in use.

The apparatus may be screwed or bolted or otherwise fixed to the base in one or a plurality of locations.

This base therefore holds or maintains the apparatus. In preferred embodiments the base is maintained in place in the tank by a plurality of feet. This prevents rotation of the base in the tank, and accompanying damage to the tank, base or apparatus.

This ensures that a user is not compelled to enter the tank for such tasks and consequently the system and its associated device are able to improve safety, security, maintenance schedules, costs and cleanliness.

In standard embodiments the tank is typically situate in use in an underground or difficult to access location.

The circulatory apparatus therefore typically comprises a set of pipes and/or valves, said apparatus being standard issue and additionally or alternatively capable of isolation and/or movement without damage. Said movement is typically vertical, but includes more flexible movement possibilities.

In order to allow the user to displace the apparatus, it may be envisaged that the apparatus may be detached or isolated from a circulatory path it is included in.

Said path is typically a pad of a pumping station, normally wherein the tank is at one to four metres below ground.

Ideally therefore valves or stops are provided at a convenient location for disconnection, wherein said location is typically above ground or outside the tank and may be mechanically aided or electronically controlled, either remotely or locally.

Some embodiments may provide wired or wireless connectivity and key input requirements.

The means of attachment and/or detachment are ideally accessible without entering the tank.

In some embodiments the means comprises of the device weight such as when carrying fluid, that is gravity may maintain the apparatus within the tank when fluid is circulating.

In other embodiments electromagnets, or combination or key locking mechanisms may be in use to minimise or prohibit device movement within the system.

In this way when the path or station is closed down or evacuated the user is enabled to remove the device from the tank by lifting it above ground, and wherein it may be subsequently dropped into the tank after work and reconnected, and consequently any replacements or repairs are accomplishable above ground also.

The present system allows apparatus to be multifit and appropriate to a plurality of stations, and consequently components may be used that are standardised and are cost effective to manufacture.

These components may be assembled and diassembled remotely, ensuring no need for tank entry.

Thereby all internal components may be pre-assembled, and different pump sizes lowered into different sized chambers, meaning less stock and less danger from slips or falls or other associated hazards.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the device and system.

Detailed Description of Figures

The pictured and preferred embodiment of the system can be used whenever sewage, effluent or surface water disposed of from a building or premises needs pumping uphill to join the main sewer level.

The MDPE (medium-density polyethylene) base plate upon which all components are fixed is maintained in place by centralising cones moulded into the base of the tank.

Ideally the plate is pad spherical and/or smaller than the tank bottom.

This allows all the internal components to be removed and replaced with ease.

The system works by having the ducks feet (which would normally be bolted to the base of the chamber) attached to the MOPE base plate.

The plate isn't bolted to the chamber floor and is instead held in place by four centralising cones moulded into the chamber bottom which go through holes in the plate itself If the pipework and/or valves become blocked a user would first isolate the path using a gate valve, and then detach internal pipework from horizontal discharge via a quick release knuckle.

By using a chain (not shown) attached to the centre of the base plate, the user can remove all internal components including ducks feet, pipework, valves, guide rails, and service them outside of the tank, thus eliminating the need for a man entry within the chamber.

After the components have been serviced they can simply be lowered back into place using the centralising cones, and the holes in the MDPE base plate.

The following pads are included in a system according to the present invention: HOPE Chamber (with four centralising cones moulded into the base) Chequer Plate Access Cover Bolt Mounted Guide Rails 2 x 4m length of pipework (polyvinyl chloride, PVC) 4 x 900 Bends (PVC) 2 x 1-Piece (PVC) 1 x Socket Union (PVC) 1 x Tank Connector 1 x Blanking Caps 1 x Brass Isolating Gate Valve 2 x Brass Non-Return Valves 2 x Rubber Couplings (for internal/external discharge) 1 x Control Floats 2 x Sewage/Effluent Pumps (with chains for lifting) 2 x Ducks Feet (used to hold the pumps in the correct position) I x MDPE Base Plate (on which the ducks feet, punips, pipework, valves and guide rails are all mounted. The based plate also has a central chain attached for lifting) 1 x Control Panel with Beacons The device and system can be quickly assembled and dispatched the same day by having all internal components pre-assembled on the MDPE base plate and different pump sizes can be lowered into different sized chambers, thus requiring less stock.

Claims (1)

1. <claim-text>Claims 1. A device and system for a fluid tank; said system providing a device that permits a self contained circulatory apparatus that in use is displaceable in relation to the tank.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the device consists of a displaceable base for insertion into the tank.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A device according to claim 2 which maintains at least part of the apparatus.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A device for a system with an underground tank according to any preceding claim.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A device comprising of a modified tank according to any preceding claim.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A method of forming a pumping station according to any preceding claim.</claim-text>