Roving submersible pump

Abstract

A roving submersible pump arrangement for movement in a body of fluid is presented. The pump arrangement includes a submersible pump having an inlet and a discharge outlet and a buoyant transport device connected to the submersible pump. The buoyant transport device is operable to position the inlet of the submersible pump at a selected distance from a surface containing the body of fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A roving submersible pump arrangement for movement in a body of fluid, comprising:
 a submersible pump having an inlet and a discharge outlet;   a buoyant transport device connected to the submersible pump; and   wherein the buoyant transport device is operable to position the inlet of the submersible pump at a selected distance from a surface containing the body of fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The roving submersible pump arrangement of  claim 1  further comprising a directional control system for directing the movement of the buoyant transport device along the surface containing the body of fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The roving submersible pump arrangement of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a remote control device structured for operation at a distance from the submersible pump; and 
 a driver control device communicatively coupled to the buoyant transport device for receiving commands to move the transport device. 
 
     
     
         4 . The directional control system of  claim 2 , further comprising a maneuvering device communicatively coupled to the buoyant transport device and including a programmable control unit for receiving data relating to dimensional, geographical and/or topographical features of the body of fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The roving submersible pump arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein the programmable control unit is pre-programmed with data relating to known dimensional, geographical or topographical features of the body of fluid, the known dimensional, geographical or topographical data providing boundaries within which the roving submersible pump is directed to move. 
     
     
         6 . The directional control system of  claim 2 , further comprising a maneuvering device communicatively coupled to the buoyant transport device, the maneuvering device including a global positioning system unit communicatively coupled to a global positioning system to facilitate maneuvering the roving submersible pump through the body of fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The roving submersible pump arrangement of  claim 2  further comprising sensors to sense the presence of objects in the body of fluid, the sensors communicatively coupled to the buoyant transport device and the directional control system for effecting a diversionary movement of the buoyant transport device. 
     
     
         8 . The roving submersible pump arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the buoyant transport device comprises at least two buoyant wheel units connected to the submersible pump, the buoyant wheel units adjustable to position the inlet of the submersible pump at the selected distance from the surface. 
     
     
         9 . The roving submersible pump arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the wheel units are aligned on a central wheel axis and the submersible pump is positioned such that a center of gravity of the submersible pump is below the central wheel axis. 
     
     
         10 . The roving submersible pump arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein the submersible pump is retained between the two spaced apart wheel units. 
     
     
         11 . The roving submersible pump arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the buoyancy of each wheel unit is dynamically adjustable to selectively position the inlet of the submersible pump at the selected distance. 
     
     
         12 . The roving submersible pump arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the dynamic adjustment of each wheel unit is effected by a self-adjusting buoyancy apparatus positioned relative to each wheel unit. 
     
     
         13 . The roving submersible pump arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the buoyant transport device includes a carriage, the carriage supporting the submersible pump and at least two wheel units attached to the carriage. 
     
     
         14 . The roving submersible pump arrangement of  claim 13 , wherein the at least two wheel units dynamically adjust to selectively position the inlet of the submersible pump at the selected distance relative to the surface. 
     
     
         15 . The roving submersible pump arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the submersible pump is a slurry pump. 
     
     
         16 . The roving submersible pump arrangement of  claim 1  further comprising an agitator operable to agitate sediment on the surface. 
     
     
         17 . A mobile, submersible pump system for removing solids from a body of fluid, comprising:
 a submersible pump having an inlet and a discharge outlet;   a buoyant transport device connected to the submersible pump operable to dynamically adjust the position of the inlet; and   an agitator operable to engage a surface containing the body of fluid to create turbidity in the body of fluid.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the buoyant transport device comprises at least two buoyant wheel units, the buoyant wheel units adjustable to adjust the position the inlet of the submersible pump. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the wheel units are aligned on a central wheel axis and the submersible pump is positioned such that a center of gravity of the submersible pump is below the central wheel axis. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the submersible pump is retained between the two spaced apart wheel units. 
     
     
         21 . A method for removing silt or other debris and fluid from a containment pond, comprising:
 providing a roving pump system including a submersible pump having a suction inlet, a buoyant transport device connected to the submersible pump, and a directional control system for directing the movement of the buoyant transport device through the containment pond;   selectively adjusting the buoyant transport device to position the suction inlet at a selected distance from the bottom of the containment pond; and   activating the submersible pump to remove the silt containment pond.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising moving the roving pump system in the containment system based on dimensional, geographical and/or topographical features of the containment pond.