Pump assembly

Abstract

A pump assembly includes a housing having a first end, a second end, and an axis extending through, the housing accommodating fluid flow therethrough. A pump assembly includes a pump coupled to the first end of the housing, the pump including an inlet in fluid communication with the housing, a motor configured to drive an output shaft, and a mixed-flow impeller coupled to the output shaft and disposed adjacent to the inlet, the mixed-flow impeller having an inlet diameter and an outlet diameter that is greater than the inlet diameter, the mixed-flow impeller configured to output fluid at an acute angle relative to the axis. A pump assembly includes a handle coupled to the second end of the housing and including an outlet in fluid communication with the housing, the handle also including a battery receptacle electrically coupled to the motor and configured to receive a battery pack.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A pump assembly comprising:
 a housing having a first end, a second end, and an axis extending through the first and second ends, the housing accommodating fluid flow therethrough;   a pump coupled to the first end of the housing, the pump including
 an inlet in fluid communication with the housing, 
 a motor configured to drive an output shaft, and 
 a mixed-flow impeller coupled to the output shaft and disposed adjacent to the inlet, the mixed-flow impeller having an inlet diameter and an outlet diameter that is greater than the inlet diameter, the mixed-flow impeller configured to output fluid at an acute angle relative to the axis; and 
   a handle coupled to the second end of the housing and including an outlet in fluid communication with the housing, the handle also including a battery receptacle electrically coupled to the motor and configured to receive a battery pack.   
     
     
         2 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the battery receptacle includes a lid that is movable between an open position, where the battery receptacle is configured to receive the battery pack, and a closed position, where the battery receptacle is configured to protect the battery pack from liquid ingress. 
     
     
         3 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes:
 a first housing portion including the first end,   a second housing portion including the second end, and   a connector disposed between the first housing portion and the second housing portion to selectively couple the first housing portion and the second housing portion together.   
     
     
         4 . The pump assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the connector includes two collar sections coupled together by fasteners. 
     
     
         5 . The pump assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the connector also includes a carrier between the first housing portion and the second housing portion, and wherein the carrier supports seals to inhibit fluid from leaking out of a junction between the first and second housing portions. 
     
     
         6 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet is a first outlet, and wherein the handle further includes a second outlet in fluid communication with the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The pump assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a cap that is alternately couplable to the first outlet and to the second outlet. 
     
     
         8 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter assembly at least partially surrounding the pump. 
     
     
         9 . The pump assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the filter assembly is removably coupled to an outer housing that houses the pump by a threaded interface. 
     
     
         10 . The pump assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a retention feature that inhibits unintentional decoupling of the filter assembly from the outer housing. 
     
     
         11 . The pump assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the retention feature includes a fastener received in a slot to block the filter assembly from being rotated relative to the outer housing. 
     
     
         12 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is a brushless direct-current motor. 
     
     
         13 . The pump assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the brushless direct-current motor is operable at a first non-zero speed and at a second non-zero speed that is different than the first non-zero speed. 
     
     
         14 . The pump assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a user interface configured to control a drive speed of the brushless direct-current motor, wherein the user interface is operable to control the drive speed of the brushless direct-current motor at two or more non-zero speeds. 
     
     
         15 . The pump assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the user interface includes a rocker switch. 
     
     
         16 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mixed-flow impeller is a conical frustum having a plurality of curved fins. 
     
     
         17 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pump further includes a volute cap that provides a flow path for fluid to flow from the inlet around the impeller, and wherein a distance between the mixed-flow impeller and the volute cap is at least 5 millimeters. 
     
     
         18 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is configured to drive the impeller to operate the pump assembly at a head height of at least 10 feet and provide a flowrate of at least 20 gallons per minute. 
     
     
         19 . A pump assembly comprising:
 a housing having a first end, a second end, and an axis extending through the first and second ends, the housing accommodating fluid flow therethrough;   a pump coupled to the first end of the housing, the pump including
 an inlet in fluid communication with the housing, 
 a brushless direct-current motor having a rotor and a stator, the brushless direct-current motor operable at a first non-zero speed and at a second non-zero speed that is different than the first non-zero speed and configured to drive an output shaft, and 
 an impeller coupled to the output shaft and disposed adjacent the inlet; and 
   a handle coupled to the second end of the housing and including an outlet in fluid communication with the housing, the handle also including a battery receptacle electrically coupled to the brushless direct-current motor and configured to receive a battery pack.   
     
     
         20 . A pump assembly comprising:
 a housing including
 a first housing portion defining a first end, 
 a second housing portion defining a second end, and 
 a connector disposed between the first housing portion and the second housing portion to selectively couple the first housing portion and the second housing portion together; 
   a pump coupled to the first end of the housing, the pump including
 an inlet in fluid communication with the housing, 
 a motor configured to drive an output shaft, and 
 an impeller coupled to the output shaft and disposed adjacent to the inlet; and 
   a handle coupled to the second end of the housing and including an outlet in fluid communication with the housing.