Selective barrier for a submersible pump

Abstract

A selective barrier for a submersible pump includes a frame, and a membrane wrapped around the frame and configured to enclose the submersible pump. The selective barrier is sized to be spaced apart from the submersible pump a pre-defined distance in order to define a contiguous fluid passageway between the selective barrier and a suction port of the submersible pump. In addition, the membrane includes a mesh having a plurality of passageways formed therein to allow fluid to pass through. The frame is cylindrical in shape and the membrane wrapped around the frame is configured to allow larger sized particles to pass than through a strainer over the suction port.

1 . A selective barrier for a submersible pump having a suction port at a first end and a discharge port at a second end, the selective barrier comprising:
 a frame having a top end and an opposing bottom end, and the top end having a central aperture therein, wherein the suction port of the pump is configured to be suspended inside the frame and proximate the bottom end of the frame;   the discharge port of the pump is configured to be proximate the top end of the frame so that a discharge pipe passing through the central aperture can be coupled to the discharge port of the pump positioned inside the frame; and   a membrane wrapped around the frame and configured to enclose the submersible pump;   wherein the selective barrier is sized to completely enclose the submersible pump and be spaced apart from the submersible pump a pre-defined distance in order to define a contiguous fluid passageway between the selective barrier and the suction port of the submersible pump that is suspended inside the selective barrier.   
     
     
         2 . The selective barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane comprises mesh having a plurality of passageways formed therein to allow fluid to pass through. 
     
     
         3 . The selective barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-defined distance is at least one inch. 
     
     
         4 . The selective barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-defined distance is at least two inches. 
     
     
         5 . The selective barrier of  claim 2 , wherein the submersible pump having a strainer over the suction port. 
     
     
         6 . The selective barrier of  claim 5 , wherein the membrane is configured to allow larger sized particles to pass than through the strainer over the suction port. 
     
     
         7 . The selective barrier of  claim 6 , wherein the frame is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         8 . The selective barrier of  claim 6 , wherein the membrane comprises plastic. 
     
     
         9 . The selective barrier of  claim 6 , wherein the membrane comprises metal. 
     
     
         10 . A submersible pump assembly comprising:
 an electric motor;   a submersible pump having a suction port at a first end and a discharge port at a second end, wherein the submersible pump is coupled to the electric motor;   a selective barrier completely enclosed around the electric motor and the submersible pump, the selective barrier comprising,
 a frame having a top end and an opposing bottom end, and the top end having a central aperture therein, wherein the suction port of the pump is configured to be suspended inside the frame and proximate the bottom end of the frame; 
 the discharge port of the pump is configured to be proximate the top end of the frame so that a discharge pipe passing through the central aperture can be coupled to the discharge port of the pump positioned inside the frame; and 
 a membrane wrapped around the frame and configured to enclose the submersible pump; and 
 wherein the selective barrier is spaced apart from the electric motor and the submersible pump a pre-defined distance to define a contiguous fluid passageway between the selective barrier and the suction port of the submersible pump. 
   
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The submersible pump assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the membrane comprises a mesh having a plurality of passageways formed therein to allow fluid to pass through. 
     
     
         13 . The submersible pump assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the pre-defined distance is at least one inch. 
     
     
         14 . The submersible pump assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the pre-defined distance is at least two inches. 
     
     
         15 . The submersible pump assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the submersible pump having a strainer over the suction port. 
     
     
         16 . The submersible pump assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the membrane is configured to allow larger sized particles to pass than through the strainer over the suction port. 
     
     
         17 . The submersible pump assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the frame is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         18 . The submersible pump assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the membrane comprises plastic. 
     
     
         19 . The submersible pump assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the membrane comprises metal. 
     
     
         20 . A submersible pump assembly comprising:
 an electric motor;   a submersible pump having a suction port at a first end and a discharge port at a second end, wherein the submersible pump is coupled to the electric motor;   a strainer secured over the suction port of the submersible pump;   a cylindrical frame having a top end and an opposing bottom end, wherein the suction port of the pump is configured to be suspended inside the frame and proximate the bottom end of the frame, the frame is secured around the electric motor and the submersible pump;   a mesh wrapped around the cylindrical frame completely encloses the electric motor and the submersible pump;   wherein the mesh is spaced apart from the electric motor and the submersible pump a pre-defined distance to define a contiguous fluid passageway between the mesh and the suction port of the submersible pump.