Patent ID: 7686573
Filing Date: 2010-03-30
Classification: F04D

Abstract:
1. A pump for continuously elevating a fluid from a first level to a second level, said pump comprising: a sump for holding fluid to be elevated, said sump having a minimum operating water level; a pumping member rotatable about a vertical axis, said pumping member having at least one ramped path for fluid, said ramped path extending from a lower level to an upper level, said lower level being below said minimum operating water level, an uppermost portion of said ramped path being more distant from the vertical axis than a lowermost portion thereof, wherein said at least one ramped path includes an inner surface of a truncated first conical member and an outer surface of a non-truncated second conical member, said first and second conical members being coaxial, said second member being positioned within said first conical member, and wherein an apex angle of said second conical member is greater than that of said first conical member; and a motor coupled to said pumping member for imparting rotational motion to said pumping member about said vertical axis, said motor having sufficient power to generate a centrifugal force that will drive the fluid from the lowermost portion of the ramped path to the uppermost portion and into the catch chamber.