Solids handling hydro-finn pump

Abstract

A flowable materials pump for moving flowable materials includes a substantially tubular pump housing having opposing first and second housing longitudinal open ends; an impeller assembly including an impeller rotatably mounted within and connected to the pump housing through which material flows through and around the impeller; and an impeller drive mechanism extending through the housing wall to and drivably connected to the impeller. The laterally position of the impeller drive mechanism relative to the pump housing permits stacking of the flowable materials pumps in linear series and in mutual fluid communication, so that the desired level of pumping force can be established incrementally by selecting the number of the pumps needed for a given application.

1 . A flowable materials pump for moving flowable materials, comprising:
 a substantially tubular pump housing having opposing first and second housing longitudinal open ends;   an impeller assembly comprising an impeller rotatably mounted within and connected to said pump housing through which material flows through and around said impeller;   and impeller drive means extending through said housing wall to and drivably connected to said impeller.   
   
   
       2 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein said tubular pump housing has an outwardly bowed housing segment surrounding said impeller for providing an increased flow passing cross-sectional area adjacent to said impeller to compensate for loss of flow passing cross-sectional area caused by said impeller. 
   
   
       3 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein said impeller drive means comprises an impeller hydraulic motor and wherein the given said impeller is hydraulically powered and hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic system pump is delivered and exits through said hydraulic fluid delivery and discharge tubes. 
   
   
       4 . The pump of  claim 3 , wherein said impeller assembly is mounted on at least one mounting flange extending radially between said impeller assembly and said housing wall. 
   
   
       5 . The pump of  claim 4 , wherein each said flowable material pump additionally comprises hydraulic fluid delivery and discharge tubes contained within said at least one mounting flange such that the flow profile of each of said fluid delivery and discharge tubes across the flow path is minimized. 
   
   
       6 . The pump of  claim 5 , additionally comprising housing wall openings;
 wherein said delivery and discharge tubes are in fluid communication with a hydraulic system through housing wall openings.   
   
   
       7 . The pump of  claim 5 , additionally comprising material propelling blades extending radially from said impeller assembly into the material flow path between said impeller and said housing wall, and extending longitudinally between opposing sets of impeller assembly mounting flanges. 
   
   
       8 . The pump of  claim 4 , wherein each said flowable material pump additionally comprising connection flange structures;
 wherein said opposing housing longitudinal open ends are fitted with said connection flange structures, such that said pump can be mounted in fluid communication with one of: inflow and outflow materials pipes, and other said pumps as a stack in mutual fluid communication for multiplying pumping power to a level required for a given pumping application.   
   
   
       9 . A pump assembly for moving flowable materials, comprising:
 a first flowable material pump comprising a substantially tubular pump housing having opposing first and second housing longitudinal open ends, an impeller assembly comprising an impeller rotatably mounted within and connected to said pump housing through which material flows through and around said impeller, and impeller drive means extending through said housing wall to and drivably connected to said impeller;   and a second flowable material pump comprising a substantially tubular pump housing having opposing first and second housing longitudinal open ends, an impeller assembly comprising an impeller rotatably mounted within and connected to said pump housing through which material flows through and around said impeller, and impeller drive means extending through said housing wall to and drivably connected to said impeller, said second housing longitudinal open end of said first flowable material pump being mounted to said first housing longitudinal open end of said second flowable material pump such that said first flowable material pump and said second flowable material pump are in mutual fluid communication and flowable material is propelled through said first flowable material pump and into and through said second flowable material pump.   
   
   
       10 . The pump assembly of  claim 9 , wherein each said tubular pump housing has an outwardly bowed housing segment surrounding the corresponding said impeller for providing an increased flow passing cross-sectional area adjacent to said impeller to compensate for loss of flow passing cross-sectional area caused by said impeller. 
   
   
       11 . The pump of  claim 9 , wherein each said impeller assembly is mounted on at least one mounting flange extending radially between the corresponding said impeller assembly and housing wall. 
   
   
       12 . The pump of  claim 11 , wherein said impeller drive means comprises an impeller hydraulic motor and wherein the given said impeller is hydraulically powered and hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic system pump is delivered and exits through said hydraulic fluid delivery and discharge tubes;
 wherein each said flowable material pump additionally comprises hydraulic fluid delivery and discharge tubes contained within said at least one mounting flange such that the flow profile of each of said fluid delivery and discharge tubes across the flow path is minimized.   
   
   
       13 . The pump of  claim 12 , wherein each said flowable material pump additionally comprises housing wall openings;
 wherein the given said delivery and discharge tubes are in fluid communication with a hydraulic system through housing wall openings.   
   
   
       14 . The pump of  claim 12 , wherein each said flowable material pump additionally comprises material propelling blades extending radially from the impeller assembly into said material flow path between said impeller and said housing wall, and extending longitudinally between opposing sets of impeller assembly mounting flanges. 
   
   
       15 . The pump of  claim 12 , wherein each said flowable material pump additionally comprising connection flange structures;
 wherein said opposing housing longitudinal open ends are fitted with said connection flange structures, such that said pump can be mounted in fluid communication with one of: inflow and outflow materials pipes, and other said pumps as a stack in mutual fluid communication for multiplying pumping power to a level required for a given pumping application.