Pump apparatus

Abstract

Pump apparatus comprising a base having a forward end region and a rearward end region with a longitudinal axis extending in a direction between the forward and rearward end region, a power unit and a reel assembly operatively mounted to the base, the reel assembly including a reel mounted for rotation about a rotation axis which extends laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis, a fluid conveying conduit operatively carried by the reel and adapted to be wound on, or payed out therefrom, at the forward end region of the base, the fluid conveying conduit being underwound onto the reel so that it is wound on and payed out adjacent the base, a guide device at the forward end region of the base for guiding the conduit onto or from the reel, and a vehicle which is at least partially submersible in fluid and which can be propelled over a surface on which it stands, the vehicle including a pump which is operatively connectable to the fluid conveying conduit.

1 . A pump apparatus comprising a base having a forward end region and a rearward end region with a longitudinal axis extending in a direction between the forward and rearward end region, a power unit and a reel assembly operatively mounted to the base, the reel assembly including a reel mounted for rotation about a rotation axis which extends laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis, a fluid conveying conduit operatively carried by the reel and adapted to be wound on, or payed out therefrom, at the forward end region of the base, the fluid conveying conduit being underwound onto the reel so that it is wound on and payed out adjacent the base, a guide device at the forward end region of the base for guiding the fluid conveying conduit onto or from the reel, and a vehicle which is at least partially submersible in fluid and which can be propelled over a surface on which it stands, the vehicle including a pump which is operatively connectable to the fluid conveying conduit. 
     
     
         2 . The pump apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein when the vehicle is propelled out from the forward end region of the base, the fluid conveying conduit is payed out from the underwound reel along a line which is aligned with the longitudinal axis, the guide device and the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The pump apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes an endless flexible track and associated wheels. 
     
     
         4 . The pump apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes a propulsion drive for propelling the vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The pump apparatus according  claim 1 , further including a platform operatively connected to the base at the forward end upon which the vehicle can stand. 
     
     
         6 . The pump apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the platform is pivotally mounted to the base so that it can be raised and lowered. 
     
     
         7 . The pump apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes a housing having an interior space for receiving the pump therein. 
     
     
         8 . The pump apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the housing comprises a rigid frame having openings therein for providing fluid access to the interior space. 
     
     
         9 . The pump apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide device comprises a main body which is mounted for lateral movement with respect to the longitudinal axis of the base. 
     
     
         10 . The pump apparatus according  claim 1 , including a control station which is remote from the vehicle for controlling the propulsion and steering of the vehicle and the operation of the pump. 
     
     
         11 . The pump apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide device comprises:
 a main body;   a plurality of rollers mounted to the main body and configured to provide for a guide path for the payout and retrieval of a one or more flexible line in a payout direction, the one or more flexible line at least comprising the fluid conveying conduit;   a track and a carriage, the track being mounted to a structure and the main body being mounted to the carriage, the carriage being adapted to move along the track, the arrangement being such that the movement is in a lateral direction with respect to the payout direction; and   a drive assembly for causing movement of the carriage along the track, the drive assembly comprising a drive and a transmission, the transmission comprising a flexible transmission element, the carriage being operatively connected thereto.   
     
     
         12 . The pump apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the track comprises an elongated rod operatively mounted to the base and extending laterally with respect to a base longitudinal axis, and the carriage comprises a sleeve member mounted for sliding movement along the elongated rod, the sleeve member being operatively connected to the main body of the guide device. 
     
     
         13 . The pump apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the transmission comprises a housing for the flexible transmission element, the housing being operatively connected to the track, the flexible transmission element comprising an endless element which passes around spaced apart wheels at least one of which comprises a drive wheel. 
     
     
         14 . The pump apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the main body comprises spaced apart side wall members connected together to form a rigid structure, the plurality of the rollers being disposed in a space between the side members, the space and the plurality of the rollers providing for the guide path. 
     
     
         15 . A pump apparatus comprising a base having a forward end region and a rearward end region with a longitudinal axis extending in a direction between the forward and rearward end region, a power unit and a reel assembly operatively mounted to the base, the reel assembly including a reel mounted for rotation about a rotation axis which extends laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis, a fluid conveying conduit operatively carried by the reel and adapted to be wound on, or payed out therefrom, at the forward end region of the base, the fluid conveying conduit being underwound onto the reel so that it is wound on and payed out adjacent the base, a guide device at the forward end region of the base for guiding the conduit onto or from the reel, and a vehicle which is at least partially submersible in fluid and which can be propelled over a surface on which it stands, the vehicle including a pump which is operatively connectable to the fluid conveying conduit;
 wherein when the vehicle is propelled out from the forward end region of the base, the fluid conveying conduit is payed out from the underwound reel along a line which is aligned with the longitudinal axis, the guide device and vehicle;   wherein the vehicle includes an endless flexible track and associated wheels;   wherein the apparatus includes a propulsion drive for propelling the vehicle;   further including a platform operatively connected to the base at the forward end upon which the vehicle can stand;   wherein the platform is pivotally mounted to the base so that it can be raised and lowered;   wherein the vehicle includes a housing having an interior space for receiving the pump therein;   wherein the housing comprises a rigid frame lowering openings therein for providing fluid access to the interior space;   wherein the guide device comprises a main body which is mounted for lateral movement with respect to the longitudinal axis of the base;   including a control station which is remote from the vehicle for controlling the propulsion and steering of the vehicle and the operation of the pump;   wherein the guide device comprises:
 a main body; 
 a plurality of rollers mounted to the main body and configured to provide for a guide path for the payout and retrieval of the flexible lines in a payout direction; 
 a track and a carriage, the track being mounted to a structure and the main body being mounted to the carriage, the carriage being adapted to move along the track, the arrangement being such that the movement is in a lateral direction with respect to the payout direction; and 
 a drive assembly for causing movement of the carriage along the track, the drive assembly comprising a drive and a transmission, the transmission comprising a flexible transmission element, the carriage being operatively connected thereto; 
   wherein the track comprises an elongated rod operatively mounted to the base and extending laterally with respect to a base longitudinal axis, and the carriage comprises a sleeve member mounted for sliding movement along the elongated rod, the sleeve member being operatively connected to the main body of the guide device;   wherein the transmission comprises a housing for the flexible transmission element the housing being operatively connected to the track, the flexible transmission element comprising an endless element which passes around spaced apart wheels at least one of which comprises a drive wheel; and   wherein the main body comprises spaced apart side wall members connected together to form a rigid structure, the plurality of the rollers being disposed in a space between the side members, the space and the plurality of the rollers providing for the guide path.   
     
     
         16 . A pump apparatus comprising:
 a base;   a reel assembly operatively mounted to the base and comprising:
 a reel mounted for rotation about a rotation axis and configured to carry a fluid conveying conduit adapted to be wound on, or payed out therefrom, 
   a guide device at the base for guiding the conduit onto or from the reel; and   a vehicle which is at least partially submersible in fluid and which can be propelled over a surface,   wherein the vehicle comprises a pump which is operatively connectable to the fluid conveying conduit.   
     
     
         17 . The pump apparatus according to  claim 16 , further including a platform operatively connected to the base at the forward end upon which the vehicle can stand. 
     
     
         18 . The pump apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the platform is pivotally mounted to the base so that it can be raised and lowered. 
     
     
         19 . The pump apparatus according to  claim 16 , further comprising a guide device at a forward end region of the base for guiding the conduit onto or from the reel. 
     
     
         20 . The pump apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the guide device comprises:
 a main body;   a plurality of rollers mounted to the main body and configured to provide for a guide path for the payout and retrieval of the fluid conveying conduit in a payout direction;   a track and a carriage, the track being mounted to a structure and the main body being mounted to the carriage, the carriage being adapted to move along the track, the arrangement being such that the movement is in a lateral direction with respect to the payout direction; and   a drive assembly for causing movement of the carriage along the track, the drive assembly comprising a drive and a transmission, the transmission comprising a flexible transmission element, the carriage being operatively connected thereto.