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  In-line jet pumps and methods of useUSPTO Application #: 20080044294Title: In-line jet pumps and methods of use Abstract: A jet pump comprising (A) a housing which defines at least a suction chamber, a suction inlet and a suction outlet; (B) a nozzle assembly disposed within the housing which nozzle assembly is sized and configured to receive at least a pressurized fluid and eject the pressurized fluid as a fluid flow into a portion of the suction chamber; and (C) a discharge conduit extending from the suction outlet away from the suction chamber, the discharge conduit being configured for fluid communication with the suction chamber and being disposed to receive the fluid flow from the nozzle assembly, wherein the discharge conduit defines at least a first inner diameter along a portion of its length and a second inner diameter along another portion of its length, the first inner diameter being less than the second inner diameter. The housing is configured so that the suction inlet provides a flow of suctioned material into the suction chamber which has a predominant direction of flow of suctioned material which is substantially parallel to a predominant direction of flow of the fluid flow from the nozzle assembly when the jet pump is in use. (end of abstract)
Agent: Sieberth & Patty, LLC - Baton Rouge, LA, US Inventors: Richard F. Dawson, Richard R. Dawson USPTO Applicaton #: 20080044294 - Class: 417151 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080044294. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]This invention relates generally to hydraulic nonmechanical pumping devices for transferring material, and specifically, to jet pumps for moving solid, semi-solid, slurried and/or liquid materials, as well as related methods. BACKGROUND [0002]When materials such as silts, sand and/or mud located at the bottoms of water bodies need to be removed, the equipment for accomplishing the removal is typically massive, heavy and difficult to maneuver. Therefore, a need exists for an apparatus of relatively small dimensions and lighter weight which can be manipulated in areas which present logistical problems for larger equipment such as drag lines, large excavators, and the like. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0003]The present inventions meet this need, amongst others by providing an in-line jet pump for suctioning material, which can be attached to an arm of a piece of equipment such as a backhoe and which can be manipulated so that the suction inlet is in very close proximity to the material to be suctioned. The novel configuration of the in-line jet pump of this invention enables close-in work in such locations as, for example, marinas, boat slips and small sediment ponds. [0004]The present invention provides a jet pump assembly comprising: (A) a housing which defines at least a suction chamber, a suction inlet and a suction outlet; (B) a nozzle assembly disposed within the housing which nozzle assembly is sized and configured to receive at least a pressurized fluid and eject the pressurized fluid as a fluid flow into a portion of the suction chamber; and (C) a discharge conduit extending from the suction outlet away from the suction chamber. The discharge conduit is configured for fluid communication with the suction chamber and is disposed to receive the fluid flow from the nozzle assembly. The discharge conduit defines at least a first inner diameter along a portion of its length and a second inner diameter along another portion of its length, the first inner diameter being less than the second inner diameter. The housing is configured so that the suction inlet provides a flow of suctioned material into the suction chamber which has a predominant direction of flow of suctioned material which is substantially parallel to a predominant direction of flow of the fluid flow from the nozzle assembly when the jet pump is in use. [0005]By predominant direction of flow of the suctioned material it is to be understood that most of the suctioned material moves or flows into the jet pump through the suction inlet in one general direction. By predominant direction of flow of the fluid flow it is to be understood that most of the pressurized fluid, as it leaves the nozzle assembly as a fluid flow, moves or flows into and through a portion of the suction chamber in one general direction. By substantially parallel it is meant that the predominant direction of flow of the suctioned material and the predominant direction of flow of the fluid flow are parallel to each other within the pathways of movement of the respective suctioned material and fluid through the jet pump so that the parallel nature of the directions of flow is maintained with very little deviation. [0006]Another embodiment of the invention provides a nozzle assembly which is sized and configured to receive the pressurized fluid and an gas and to eject the pressurized fluid as a fluid flow into the suction chamber while feeding the gas into proximity with the periphery of the fluid flow. Pursuant to another embodiment of the invention, the gas is air. In another embodiment of the invention the gas is an inert gas. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the fluid flow (or liquid jet) created by passage of pressurized fluid through the nozzle assembly has minimal deflection of direction of flow as it exits the nozzle assembly because of an a gas bearing surrounding the liquid jet. Consequently, the in-line jet pump has improved efficiency and load capacity. [0007]Another embodiment this invention provides a jet pump which is sized and configured so that, during use of the assembly to suction solids-containing material, the rate of movement of the suctioned material is maximized. While performance of the jet pump is greatly impacted by the character of the material to be suctioned, under certain conditions, where the material to be suctioned is a slurry of a solid and a liquid such as water, in an embodiment of the invention, the rate of movement of suctioned material is at least about 50 tons (4.5.times.10.sup.4 kg) per hour when the second inner diameter of the discharge conduit is about 4 inches (10.2 cm), the first inner diameter of the discharge conduit is about 3 inches (7.6 cm), the diameter of the nozzle assembly at the point of ejection of the pressurized fluid is about 0.625 inches (1.59 cm), pressurized fluid pressure is about 150 psi (1034 kPa), and the flow rate of the pressurized fluid is about 140 gallons (530 L) per minute. In another embodiment of the invention, the rate of movement of suctioned material is at least about 100 tons (9.1.times.10.sup.4) kg) per hour when the second inner diameter of the discharge conduit is about 6 inches (15.24 cm), the first inner diameter of the discharge conduit is about 4 inches (10.2 cm), the diameter of the nozzle assembly at the point of ejection of the pressurized fluid is about 0.875 inch (2.22 cm), the pressurized fluid pressure is about 150 psi (1034 kPa), and the flow rate of the pressurized fluid is about 280 gallons (1060 L) per minute. [0008]In order to more readily provide access to material to be suctioned, which is often in somewhat inconvenient locations, in an embodiment of this invention, components of the jet pump are attached to or integral with an end of a excavator arm. In one embodiment of the invention the housing, the discharge conduit and a pressurized fluid supply conduit for supplying the pressurized fluid to the nozzle assembly are attached to or integral with an arm of an excavator so that the suction inlet is positioned in proximity to an end of the arm. In another embodiment a gas supply conduit for supplying the gas to the nozzle assembly is also attached to or integral with an arm of an excavator so that the suction inlet is positioned in proximity to an end of the arm. By the term excavator, it is to be understood that excavator can encompass a number of types of excavation equipment having articulated arms, such as, but not limited to, backhoes, track hoes, ditch witches, mini-excavators, drag lines and the like. [0009]An embodiment of the invention provides that the housing comprises a pipe which pipe has an imaginary center line which is co-linear with an imaginary center line of the discharge conduit. [0010]An embodiment of the invention provides a method of moving material comprising: (1) injecting a motive fluid as a fluid flow from a nozzle assembly into a housing which defines at least a suction chamber, a suction outlet, and a suction inlet, the suction inlet being configured for fluid communication with a material to be suctioned, so as to form a vacuum at the suction inlet; (2) placing the suction inlet of the housing in proximity to the material to be suctioned so that a flow of suctioned material through the suction inlet of the housing has a predominant direction of flow into the suction chamber which is substantially parallel to a predominant direction of flow of the fluid flow from the nozzle assembly; and (3) directing the flow of suctioned material and fluid flow into a discharge conduit extending from the suction outlet away from the suction chamber, the discharge conduit being configured for fluid communication with the suction chamber and being disposed to receive the fluid flow from the nozzle assembly. The discharge conduit defines at least a first inner diameter along a portion of its length and a second inner diameter along another portion of its length, the first inner diameter being less than the second inner diameter. [0011]In yet another embodiment of the invention the method further comprises feeding a gas to the nozzle assembly in proximity to the periphery of the fluid flow so that the fluid flow is surrounded by the gas. In one embodiment the gas is air and in another embodiment the gas is an inert gas. [0012]The methods of this invention provide that the nozzle assembly and housing are sized and configured so that, during use to suction solids-containing material, in an embodiment of the invention the rate of movement of suctioned material is at least about 50 tons (4.5.times.10.sup.4 kg) per hour when the second inner diameter of the discharge conduit is about 4 inches (10.2 cm), the first inner diameter of the discharge conduit is about 3 inches (7.6 cm), the diameter of the nozzle assembly at the point of ejection of the pressurized fluid is about 0.625 inches (1.59 cm), pressurized fluid pressure is about 150 psi (1034 kPa), and the flow rate of the pressurized fluid is about 140 gallons (530 L) per minute. Another embodiment of a method of this invention provides that the nozzle assembly and housing are sized and configured so that, during use to suction solids-containing material, the rate of movement of suctioned material is at least about 100 tons (9.1.times.10.sup.4) kg) per hour when the second inner diameter of the discharge conduit is about 6 inches (15.24 cm), the first inner diameter of the discharge conduit is about 4 inches (10.2 cm), the diameter of the nozzle assembly at the point of ejection of the pressurized fluid is about 0.875 inch (2.22 cm), the pressurized fluid pressure is about 150 psi (1034 kPa), and the flow rate of the pressurized fluid is about 280 gallons (1060 L) per minute. [0013]In an embodiment of the invention a method provides that the housing, the discharge conduit and a motive fluid supply conduit for supplying the motive fluid to the nozzle assembly are attached to or integral with an arm of an excavator so that the suction inlet is positioned in proximity to an end of the arm. In another embodiment of the invention the housing, the discharge conduit, a motive fluid supply conduit for supplying the motive fluid to the nozzle assembly and a gas supply conduit for supplying the gas to the nozzle assembly are attached to or integral with an arm of an excavator so that the suction inlet is positioned in proximity to an end of the arm. [0014]In another embodiment of the invention a method provides that the housing comprises a pipe which has an imaginary center line which is co-linear with an imaginary center line of the discharge conduit. [0015]In further embodiments of the methods of this invention, the nozzle assembly is disposed within the housing. [0016]Another embodiment of the invention provides a suction system comprising: (I) a jet pump comprising: (A) a housing which defines at least a suction chamber, a suction inlet and a suction outlet; (B) a nozzle assembly disposed within the housing which nozzle assembly is sized and configured to receive at least a pressurized fluid and eject the pressurized fluid as a fluid flow into a portion of the suction chamber; and (C) a discharge conduit extending from the suction outlet away from the suction chamber, the discharge conduit being configured for fluid communication with the suction chamber and being disposed to receive the fluid flow from the nozzle assembly, wherein the discharge conduit defines at least a first inner diameter along a portion of its length and a second inner diameter along another portion of its length, the first inner diameter being less than the second inner diameter; wherein the housing is configured so that the suction inlet provides a flow of suctioned material into the suction chamber which has a predominant direction of flow of suctioned material which is substantially parallel to a predominant direction of flow of the fluid flow from the nozzle assembly when the jet pump is in use; and (II) control means for controlling at least the position of the suction inlet relative to a material to be suctioned. [0017]Embodiments of the invention also include a system wherein the nozzle assembly is sized and configured to receive the a pressurized fluid and a gas and eject the pressurized fluid as a fluid flow into the suction chamber while feeding the gas into proximity with the periphery of the fluid flow and wherein the control means is configured to control alignment of (a) the discharge conduit, (b) a pressurized fluid supply conduit for supplying pressurized fluid to the nozzle assembly and (c) a gas supply conduit for supplying the gas to the nozzle assembly; whereby (a), (b) and (c) are maintained in a substantially close-fitting relationship while the system is in use. In an embodiment of the invention the control means is comprised of a mechanical arm affixed to or integral with the discharge conduit and/or the jet pump. [0018]The phrase, close-fitting relationship, is understood to mean that selected components of the suction system such as, the discharge conduit, the pressurized fluid supply conduit and the gas supply conduit are attached to each other and/or attached to or integral with a device or structure serving as the control means. In this way, the selected components are moved about or manipulated as a unit. Maintaining a close-fitting relationship among the selected components together with the jet pump, permits unimpeded movement of the suction inlet. This avoids problems of poor positioning when, for example, the pressurized fluid supply conduit may become bound-up or impinged during use of the suction system. [0019]The various embodiments and features of this invention will now become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. SUMMARY OF THE FIGURES [0020]FIG. 1 shows a side plan view in partial cross section of an embodiment of the invention. Continue reading... Full patent description for In-line jet pumps and methods of use Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this In-line jet pumps and methods of use patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like In-line jet pumps and methods of use or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Pump arrangement with speed control Next Patent Application: Portable bailer Industry Class: Pumps ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the In-line jet pumps and methods of use patent info. 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