Abstract:
A refilling pump arrangement comprises a refilling hose ( 1 ), and a pump ( 2 ) mounted at the free end of the hose which takes in fluid. This hose and pump arrangement can be stored anywhere, either on or off a vehicle or other machine that receives fluid, and when stored on the machine the hose and pump can be stored in an area that does not need to be adjacent the liquid tank. This enables space savings for the parts of the vehicle which have the most critical space demands.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This is a continuation-in-part of PCT/GB2006/004535 filed 5 Dec., 2006, which claims priority from British patent applications GB 0525134.3 filed 9 Dec., 2005 and GB 0607849.7 filed 20 Apr., 2006. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to pump arrangements. Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to pump arrangements used for the refueling of hydrocarbon fueled machinery that have movement cost implications. Such machinery is typically refueled on site from mobile storage vessels such as barrels or bowsers that are carried by truck or other vehicle. 
         [0003]    Examples of such machinery may include construction, agricultural or industrial machinery. Off road vehicles such as diggers, cranes, and other excavation vehicles are generally refueled on site. These are typically, but not exclusively diesel vehicles. Boats and other marine equipment also have refueling mobility issues. 
         [0004]    The need to take these vehicles to a filling station is an inefficient use of the machinery resource. Instead, such vehicles are typically refueled on site from a barrel, bowser or some other such mobile or localized static containers. 
         [0005]    To enable this refueling operation, the machinery is typically provided with a pump which is mounted on the machinery, usually in a toolbox. A flexible hose is stored in a tool compartment, and this is coupled at one end to the pump inlet, whereas the hose free end is placed in the mobile container. The outlet to the pump may be permanently connected to the machinery&#39;s fuel tank. The free end of the hose has a strainer, which is immersed in the diesel fuel within the container. 
         [0006]    For some machinery, space saving and weight is of vital importance. For example, excavators that are designed for working in confined spaces (in cities) are referred to as short radius or zero swing machines. Boats designed for speed are weight dependant. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to the invention, there is provided a pump arrangement for pumping liquid from a reservoir of liquid to a vehicle storage tank, the pump arrangement comprising a hose having a first end adapted to be releasably coupled to the vehicle storage tank, and a pump mounted at the second end of the hose, the pump being adapted to be temporarily immersed in the reservoir of liquid. 
         [0008]    This arrangement provides the pump for refueling or refilling of another tank as part of the refueling/refilling hose. This hose and pump assembly can be stored anywhere, either on or off a vehicle, and when stored on the vehicle, it can be stored in an area that does not need to be adjacent the fuel/water tank. This enables space savings for the parts of the vehicle which have the most critical space demands. 
         [0009]    The pump may comprise a centrifugal pump, which is a well known reliable pump which can be made with no elastomeric moving parts, and is particularly suitable for the transfer of hydrocarbon fuels due to its safe dry running capability. 
         [0010]    The pump is powered by a fully submersible electric motor which may be cooled directly from the fluid being pumped. 
         [0011]    The pump is preferably fitted within a primarily cylindrical housing at the end of the hose, and this is sized to fit into the opening in a standard fuel barrel. For example, the housing can have an outer diameter preferably less than 60 mm, and particularly less than a 2 inch (50 mm) BSP (British Standard Pipe) female thread. 
         [0012]    A strainer can be provided at the pump inlet. A flow straightener can also be provided at the pump inlet and these two may be combined. The pump preferably comprises an electric motor, and electrical supply wires are provided through the inside of the hose which protects them from rough handling and abuse. A non return valve can be provided at the pump outlet. To aid priming, a valve can be incorporated into the pump to allow air to be expelled from inside the pump before use, but to restrict fluid loss during pump operation. 
         [0013]    The pump and hose may be de-coupled (including electrical connections) to aid serviceability. 
         [0014]    A shut off device can be provided for shutting off power to the pump based on the pump drive conditions. For example, the pump can comprise an electric motor, and the shut off device shuts off power to the pump when the current drawn by the pump motor is below a threshold level. This can be used to detect when the pump is running dry, or if there is a blockage in the hose. 
         [0015]    The invention also provides a vehicle having a pump arrangement of the invention. The vehicle may comprise a fuel tank with the pump separate or attached to it. 
         [0016]    The invention also provides a method of refilling a storage tank of a vehicle, comprising:
       coupling a pump arrangement to the tank, the pump arrangement comprising a hose having one end adapted to be coupled to the vehicle storage tank, and a pump mounted at the other, free end of the hose, immersing the pump in a reservoir of liquid; and controlling the pump to provide refilling.       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    An example of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a pump arrangement of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  shows a vehicle and a mobile tank to which the invention can be applied; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  shows how the cable arrangement is installed into the hose; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  shows a modification to the pump arrangement. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    A first example of the invention relates to machinery such as vehicles, which are refuelled remotely from a fixed refuelling centre, typically using fuel stored in barrels, bowsers (pumps for dispensing fuel) or other containers driven to the site of the machinery. The machinery may have a tank that holds 1000 liters (250 gallons) of diesel fuel. 
         [0024]    Conventionally, a pump is mounted near the fuel tank of the machinery which is to be filled and connected via a hose. A hose is connected to the pump and leads to the external fuel container for refueling purposes. 
         [0025]    A first example of the invention provides a refueling pump arrangement  30  ( FIG. 2 ) comprising a refueling hose  1  connected to or inserted into the machinery fuel storage tank  13 , and a pump  2  mounted at the free end of the hose. The refueling pump  2  may be stored in the machinery cab C and the hose is typically stored in a tool kit, either on or off the vehicle, when not in use. When stored on the vehicle, the hose can be stored in an area  34  that does not need to be adjacent to the fuel tank. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  shows a pump arrangement  30  that includes a hose  1  for submersion into a mobile container such as a fuel barrel  12 . In most cases the mobile container  12  is transported to a mobile fluid location adjacent to the machine M by a vehicle indicated at V. The pump arrangement also includes a pump  2  at the end of the hose. The pump  2  lies in a primarily cylindrical housing  6  which houses an electric motor  3 , a pump element  4  such as centrifugal vanes and a non-return valve  5 . 
         [0027]    A filter can also be incorporated into the pump. A flow straightener can also be added to the pump inlet  7 , and these two items can be combined. An air check valve can also be incorporated into the pump above the pump element or set  4 . 
         [0028]    The pump element  4  comprises a centrifugal element for a centrifugal pump, which is a well known pump suitable for fuel pumping. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  shows one example of the type of machinery which may use the pump arrangement of the invention, and shows excavation machinery M. 
         [0030]    The pump housing  6  is designed to fit into the opening  36  in a standard fuel barrel  12 . For example, the housing can have an outer diameter of 60 mm. 
         [0031]    A control panel  10  is used to control the refueling operation, once the refueling pump arrangement has been connected to the inlet  22  of the fuel tank  13 . This connection provides both fluid and electrical connection of the refueling pump arrangement to the fuel tank and control panel  10 . The pump housing  2  is submerged in fuel  11  in the barrel  12 . 
         [0032]    The control panel  10  can provide automated control of the pump to provide the required delivery flow rates and to cease operation of the pump when the tank  13  is full or when the container  12  is empty. 
         [0033]    The refueling pump arrangement, including the hose and pump can be stored as part of the tool kit of the vehicle, and this can be stored anywhere on or off the vehicle. 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  shows how the electricity supply cables  14  can be provided to the pump through the hose  1 , although it may instead run attached to an outer wall of the hose. 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  shows a system with an additional safety shut off device  20  that is added to the automated control mentioned above, and which controls the power supply to the pump  2 . This device can be used to prevent the pump running when the pump is not immersed in fluid, for example because all fluid has been pumped or the pump has not been inserted deeply enough into the tank  12 . This prevents overheating and can also save energy. 
         [0036]    In the case of a centrifugal pump, the load on the pump is directly related to the material being pumped. As a result, the current drawn by the pump motor can be measured and used as an indicator of whether the pump is immersed in liquid or if it is in a gas (e.g. air). 
         [0037]    By way of example, the motor may draw 8 to 9 Amps when pumping liquid, but draw 4 Amps when in air. 
         [0038]    In this example, a current flow of 5 Amps or less provides an indication that the pump is running dry, there are air bubbles in the pump, or there is no flow because the hose is blocked. By switching off the pump in these circumstances, there is an energy saving, overheating is prevented and the lifetime of the pump may be prolonged. 
         [0039]    A further switch  22  can be installed in the tank  13  to be filled, to provide an indication that the tank  13  is full to switch off the pump. This can be in the form of a normally closed float switch. 
         [0040]    The user control panel ( 10  of  FIG. 2 ) forms part of the safety device  20  of  FIG. 4 , and can simply comprise an on and an off button  24 ,  26 , as shown schematically in  FIG. 4 . The pump can only be turned on when there is sufficient current, and current overload can be protected by a fuse. 
         [0041]    The safety device will switch off whenever the tank being filled is full or the tank being emptied is empty. The manual off switch provides an extra user controlled shut off capability. 
         [0042]    Only one type of machinery has been shown, but as outlined above, the invention can be applied to many different types of machinery, especially vehicles, where space or weight saving is an issue, so that the freedom to detach the pump arrangement and choose where storage should be will provide advantage. 
         [0043]    In the example above, the pump arrangement is for refueling, but the same arrangement may be used for pumping other liquids. For example, the pump arrangement can be used to pump water from a stream/creek to a water storage tank. This may be of interest for many different types of agricultural machinery such as vehicles. 
         [0044]    The arrangement of the invention provides the pump at the free end of the hose, namely as a portable fitting which is immersed in the liquid to be pumped on site. 
         [0045]    There are various possible pump designs that can be used, for example the centrifugal pump mentioned above, sliding vane pumps or others. 
         [0046]    Various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
         [0047]    Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art, and consequently, it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.