Pond pump having a controllable suction volume

Abstract

A pond pump includes a housing having a discharge port and an intake area, the intake area having a plurality of openings. A pump device is installed in the housing. A suction port in the housing is in fluid communication with the discharge port via the pump device. An intake connector is supported by the housing and is movable relative to the suction port so that the percentage of suction volume of the suction port drawn in between the intake connector and the intake area can be varied. The pond pump also has a motor for driving the pump device, and a control unit for controlling the pump device and the motor.

1 .- 10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . A pond pump comprising: 
 a housing having a discharge port and an intake area, the intake area having a plurality of slots providing openings in the housing;    a pump device mounted in the housing and connected to the discharge port;    a suction port connected to the pump device so that the suction port is in fluid communication with the discharge port via the pump device;    an intake connector movably mounted to the suction port so that a percentage of suction volume drawn through the suction port can be variably split between the intake connector and the intake area; and    a motor for driving the pump device.    
   
   
       12 . The pond pump of  claim 11 , wherein the intake connector is operable to be adjusted between a first position, where approximately 100% of the suction volume of the suction port is drawn from the intake connector, and a second position, where approximately 100% of the suction volume of the suction port is drawn from the intake area.  
   
   
       13 . The pond pump of  claim 12 , wherein the intake connector is operable to be adjusted continuously between the first position and the second position.  
   
   
       14 . The pond pump of  claim 12 , wherein the intake connector is operable to be adjusted to a predetermined intermediate position between the first position and the second position.  
   
   
       15 . The pond pump of  claim 12 , wherein the intake connector has a fluid communication cross-section relative to the suction port which is progressively reduced when the intake connector is adjusted from the first position to the second position.  
   
   
       16 . The pond pump of  claim 12 , wherein the intake connector has a first longitudinal axis, the suction port has a second longitudinal axis, and the first and second longitudinal axes are coplanar, and wherein the intake connector is operable to be adjusted between the first position and the second position around an axis perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       17 . The pond pump of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second longitudinal axes coincide when the intake connector is in the first position, and form an angle when the intake connector is not in the first position.  
   
   
       18 . The pond pump of  claim 17 , wherein the angle is in the range of approximately 0° to approximately 90°.  
   
   
       18 . The pond pump of  claim 17 , wherein the angle is in the range of approximately  0 ° to approximately 90°.  
   
   
       19 . The pond pump of  claim 11 , wherein the intake connector is manually adjustable.  
   
   
       20 . The pond pump of  claim 11 , further comprising a control unit connected to and controlling the pump device and the motor.  
   
   
       21 . The pond pump of  claim 20 , wherein the control unit is also operable to control adjustment of the intake connector.