Flood water removal system

Abstract

Flood water removal systems including a motor, a vacuum generating device, a discharge pump, and a vacuum tank can be efficiently arranged to be transversely mounted to a vehicle. Certain flood water removal systems can include a supercharger driven by the engine to generate vacuum. The systems can include a valve to prevent collapse of a vacuum tank and maintain a predetermined vacuum pressure without varying the speed of the motor. The systems can also include a two-stage exhaust that blends exhaust from the blower with motor exhaust in a silencer to reduce noise generation for operation in residential or other noise-sensitive settings. The systems can also include a vacuum tank comprising a noise reduction baffle to further reduce noise generation.

1 . A system for transporting liquid, the system comprising:
 a motor having an output shaft, the output shaft defining a longitudinal axis of the system;   a suction generation device positioned longitudinally behind the motor and laterally offset from the motor relative to the longitudinal axis of the system, wherein the suction generation device is coupled to the motor such that operation of the motor drives the suction generation device; and   a discharge pump positioned longitudinally behind the motor and laterally offset from the motor relative to the longitudinal axis in a direction opposite the lateral offset of the suction generation device, wherein the pump is coupled to the motor such that operation of the motor drives the pump,   wherein the motor, the suction generation device, and the discharge pump are positioned such that the system is configured to fit inside a vehicle oriented such that the longitudinal axis is substantially aligned with a width of the vehicle.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a silencer positioned under the motor and configured to receive an exhaust stream from the motor. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing configured to enclose the motor, the suction generation device, and the discharge pump. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a sealed gel battery. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the housing has a reinforced upper deck unit configured to receive at least one piece of equipment. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a suction hose operatively connected to the suction generation device and a discharge hose operatively connected to the pump. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the discharge hose is configured to assume a substantially planar configuration when the motor is not in operation. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is an internal combustion engine comprising a fuel system, and wherein the system further comprises a fuel tank fluidly connected to the fuel system of the motor. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a fuel input port on one of the fuel system of the motor and the fuel tank, wherein the fuel input port is configured to receive fuel from an external fuel tank. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a liquid extractor configured to be positioned on a front surface of the system. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the suction generation device comprises a supercharger. 
   
   
       12 . A system for transporting liquid, the system comprising:
 an internal combustion engine having an output shaft;   a liquid intake port;   a liquid outlet port configured such that the liquid intake port communicates with the liquid outlet port;   a supercharger having an input shaft driven by the output shaft of the internal combustion engine, the input shaft coupled to a compressor, wherein the compressor is configured to create vacuum in the liquid intake port; and   a discharge pump, wherein the pump is coupled to the output shaft of the motor such that operation of the motor drives the pump and wherein the pump is configured to transport liquid out of the liquid outlet port.   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising a vacuum tank fluidly coupled to the supercharger. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a valve fluidly coupled to the vacuum tank and having an open state in which air can flow through the valve into the vacuum tank and a closed state in which substantially no air can pass through the valve into the vacuum tank, wherein the valve is configured to enter the open state when a pressure in the vacuum tank reaches a preset level. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the preset level is less than a collapse pressure of the vacuum tank 
   
   
       16 . A vacuum tank for a liquid transport system, the tank comprising;
 a first tank portion having a liquid intake port;   a second tank portion configured to be coupled to the first tank portion, the second tank portion having a vacuum port;   a liquid discharge port disposed in one of the first tank portion and the second tank portion; and   a baffle interposed between the first and second tank portions and configured such that gas flow between the liquid intake port and the vacuum port is redirected therethrough.   
   
   
       17 . The vacuum tank of  claim 16 , further comprising a liquid extractor coupled to the liquid intake port such that liquid in an inflow from the liquid intake port is separated from the inflow. 
   
   
       18 . The vacuum tank of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid extractor comprises a sieve box, the sieve box having at least one mesh side configured to allow liquid to drain from the inflow from the liquid intake port and at least one solid side adjacent the baffle to elongate a flow path of the gas flow between the liquid intake port and the baffle. 
   
   
       19 . The vacuum tank of  claim 16 , wherein the vacuum tank has a substantially cylindrical profile. 
   
   
       20 . The vacuum tank of  claim 16 , wherein the vacuum tank is formed by rotomolding. 
   
   
       21 . A system for transporting liquid, the system comprising:
 an internal combustion engine having an intake system and an exhaust outlet;   a vacuum generator coupled to the engine such that operation of the engine drives the vacuum generator, the vacuum generator having a suction port and an exhaust port;   a discharge pump coupled to the engine such that operation of the engine drives the pump; and   an exhaust system to direct a flow of exhaust gases from the exhaust outlet of the engine, the exhaust system comprising a muffler fluidly coupled to the exhaust outlet of the engine and configured to receive the flow of exhaust gases from the engine.   
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the exhaust system further comprises a silencer configured to receive the flow of exhaust gases from the muffler and a flow of exhaust from the exhaust port of the vacuum generator. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the exhaust system is configured such that the system generates less than 80 dB of noise in operation. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the vacuum generator comprises a roots-type blower. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the preset level is less than a collapse pressure of the vacuum tank.