Apparatus for agitataing solid debris in confined spaces with interchangebale scroll case

Abstract

An apparatus for agitating solid material comprising a drive housing with a drive having a first portion of a drive coupling mounted to a drive output shaft thereof. An impeller housing has a scroll case with an inlet opening at a bottom portion thereof adapted for passage of the solid material disposed in a bottom portion of a structure therethrough, and an outlet opening at an upper portion thereof. An impeller has an impeller shaft that is rotatably movably mounted to the impeller housing. The impeller shaft has a second portion of the drive coupling mounted to an end portion thereof with the second portion of the drive coupling being adapted for being coupled with the first portion of the drive coupling. The impeller housing is removable/re-attachable to the drive housing and the second portion of the drive coupling is removable/re-attachable connected to the first portion of the drive coupling.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for agitating solid material comprising:
 a drive housing;   a drive disposed inside the drive housing and mounted thereto, the drive having a first portion of a drive coupling mounted to a drive output shaft thereof;   an impeller housing having a scroll case with the scroll case comprising at least an inlet opening at a bottom portion thereof adapted for enabling passage of the solid material disposed in a bottom portion of a structure therethrough and an outlet opening at an upper portion thereof; and,   an impeller disposed in the scroll case for agitating the solid material and directing the same towards the outlet opening, the impeller having an impeller shaft with the impeller shaft being rotatably movable mounted to the impeller housing, the impeller shaft having a second portion of the drive coupling mounted to an end portion thereof with the second portion of the drive coupling being adapted for being coupled with the first portion of the drive coupling;   wherein   the impeller housing is removable/re-attachable mounted to the drive housing in a removable/re-attachable manner and wherein the second portion of the drive coupling is removable/re-attachable connected to the first portion of the drive coupling.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  comprising at least a guiding structure for guiding the drive housing and the impeller housing with respect to each other for substantially accurate mounting of the same. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the at least a guiding structure comprises an elongated guiding element having a T-shaped cross-section and a respective T-shaped aperture for accommodating the guiding element therein. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the at least a guiding structure comprises a guiding plate and a respective aperture for accommodating the guiding plate therein. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the impeller housing comprises a front plate and a rear plate with the front plate and the rear plate forming a front wall and a rear wall of the scroll case disposed therebetween and wherein the rear plate comprises the guiding plate mounted thereon such that the rear plate and the guiding plate are oriented substantially parallel. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein a front wall of the drive housing comprises the aperture for accommodating the guiding plate therein and wherein a front surface of the front wall of the drive housing is in contact with a rear surface of the rear plate of the impeller housing when the impeller housing is mounted to the drive housing. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the elongated guiding element is mounted to a rear plate of the impeller housing such that the same is facing rearwardly and is oriented substantially perpendicular to a rear surface of the rear plate and wherein a front wall of the drive housing comprises the T-shaped aperture. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein a distal end portion of the elongated guiding element is tapered. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the outlet opening is adapted for being mounted to a suction conduit. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for agitating solid material comprising:
 a housing having a scroll case;   a drive disposed inside the housing and mounted thereto; and,   an impeller disposed in the scroll case, the impeller being mounted to an impeller shaft with the impeller shaft being rotatably movable mounted to the housing and connected to an output shaft of the drive;   wherein   the scroll case comprises a first forward facing inlet opening and a second rearward facing inlet opening at a bottom portion thereof for enabling passage of solid material disposed in the bottom portion of the structure therethrough and an outlet opening at an upper portion thereof for enabling passage of the solid material agitated by the impeller therethrough.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein a bottom portion of the scroll case forms a band having a substantially constant width. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the width of the band is substantially smaller than a width of an upper portion of the scroll case. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein the impeller comprises a plurality of substantially flat plates extending from the impeller shaft and oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the impeller shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the impeller comprises a circular support plate mounted to the impeller shaft and oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the impeller shaft and wherein the support plate is placed in proximity to a center of the impeller. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein the outlet opening is adapted for being mounted to a suction conduit. 
     
     
         16 . A method for removing solid material disposed in a bottom portion of a structure comprising:
 providing an apparatus for agitating the solid material, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing having a scroll case with the scroll case comprising at least an inlet opening at a bottom portion thereof adapted for enabling passage of solid material disposed in the bottom portion of the structure therethrough and an outlet opening at an upper portion thereof; 
 a drive disposed inside the housing and mounted thereto; and, 
 an impeller disposed in the scroll case for agitating the solid material and directing the same towards the outlet opening, the impeller being mounted to an impeller shaft with the impeller shaft being rotatably movable mounted to the housing and connected to an output shaft of the drive; 
   lowering the apparatus into the bottom portion of the structure;   using the drive, driving the impeller;   agitating the solid material;   providing suction via a suction conduit; and,   removing the agitated solid material.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein the suction is provided via the suction conduit with the same being mounted to the outlet opening. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein the solid material is agitated while the apparatus is moved in a forward direction. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein the solid material is agitated while the apparatus is moved in a rearward direction. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein the apparatus is lowered a confined space of the structure with the structure belonging to a sewer system or drainage system.