Abstract:
An electrical non-priming submersible pump including a motor assembly that has a motor coupled to a shaft. The shaft has impellers formed thereon for propelling water. Also included is a housing assembly that surrounds the motor assembly. The housing assembly has an intake area that includes a multilayer sediment protection system that prevents the introduction of debris into the housing. The multi-layer sediments protection system includes a first plurality of slots positioned around the circumference of the housing assembly and a screen position in juxtaposition in relation to the first plurality of slots.  
     A sprinkling system is also disclosed including an electrical non-priming submersible pump that is connected to a control panel which is connected to a header pipe section. The header pipe section is connected to a zone pipe section that includes sprinkler heads for applying water to a desired location.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention pertains to the field of underground sprinkling systems. More particularly, the present invention pertains to underground sprinkler systems operating using a pump. Even more particularly, the present invention pertains to underground sprinkler systems operated using a non-priming submersible pump with housing.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Persons living on a body of water often utilize the water as a source for sprinkling lawns and/or gardens to avoid having to pay water utility charges to maintain their horticulture.  
           [0003]    Generally to implement such a watering system a pump is used to draw water from a source and pump it through a network of underground pipes to be dispensed through sprinkler heads. The pump generally utilized is a centrifugal type pump that requires “priming” before it can be operated.  
           [0004]    Priming the pump involves drawing water through a feed pipe into the pump, until all of the air is removed from the feed pipe and the cavity of the pump. Running the pump when there is air within the system can cause damage to the pump as well as to the sprinkling system.  
           [0005]    Generally the pump must be primed before each use, as the system usually drains when not running. It is undesirable to have to prime a pump each time one wishes to utilize the sprinkling system. It is also undesirable to have to wait until the underground network of pipes becomes filled with water, before operating the system under full operating pressure to avoid damage to the sprinkling heads.  
           [0006]    A multitude of submersible pumps with housings have been disclosed to the public as water pumping means, including those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,725 (A Top Suction Pump Including a Pump Housing) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,271 (A Horizontally Mounted Submersible Pump Assembly).  
           [0007]    Neither of the reference patents teaches a pump and housing assembly suitable for use in a sprinkling system utilizing a non-municipal water source such as a lake or other such water source. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,725 teaches a pump and housing assembly for use in a sump. The vertical orientation of the pump is not suitable in a lake environment, due to the possibility of clogging due to weeds and other debris commonly found in such an environment.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,271 teaches a horizontally mounted pump assembly for pumping water from water storage tanks. Again, the pump assembly would not be suitable for use in a lake environment, because it has no design features to avoid clogging by debris, and is specifically designed for use for transferring water from storage tanks.  
           [0009]    It is therefore, the purpose of the present invention to cure those deficiencies outlined above by providing a non-priming submersible pump assembly suitable for use in a lake environment to provide water for a sprinkling system.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    In a first aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed an electrical non-priming submersible pump that includes a motor assembly that has a motor coupled to a shaft. The shaft has impellers associated therewith for propelling water. There is also included a housing assembly that surrounds the motor assembly. The housing assembly has an intake area that includes a multi-layer sediment protection system that prevents the introduction of debris into the housing as well as prevents the build-up of sediment on the exterior of the housing.  
           [0011]    In a second aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a sprinkling system that includes an electrical non priming submersible pump, a control panel in communication with the pump to regulate liquid flow, a first means for connecting the pump to the control panel, a header pipe section, a second means for connecting the control panel to the header pipe section, at least one zone pipe section connected to the header pipe section, and at least one sprinkler head interposed within the at least one zone pipe section to supply water to a desired location. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a side sectional view with a cutaway disclosing the intake area.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a pump assembly.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a side view of the housing of the pump showing the motor assembly in phantom.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a diagram of a preferred embodiment of sprinkling system utilizing the pump of the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a diagram of the control panel system of the sprinkling system.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a top view detailing an end cap of the housing of the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the pump detailing the motor assembly and housing assembly. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]    With reference to FIGS. 2 and 7, there is a shown a preferred embodiment of a pump, denoted at  5 , used in the invention. The pump  5  includes a motor assembly  7 , and a housing assembly  100 .  
         [0020]    The motor assembly  7  includes a first bearing assembly  10  located at the rear of the motor assembly  7  and in communication with a motor shaft  15 . The motor shaft  15 , in a preferred embodiment, is made of stainless steel, but substitution of a suitable non-corrodible material can alternatively be used by the present invention. The motor shaft  15  is linked with an electric motor  20 , to apply rotational force to the motor shaft  15 . In a preferred embodiment, the electric motor  20  is of the 110-volt variety, capable of running on standard house current within the United States.  
         [0021]    A motor  20  utilizing another current, such as a 220-volt variety can alternatively be used by the present invention. The motor  20  is encased in a watertight motor housing  25  to protect the electric motor from exposure to water. Within the motor housing  25  there is provided a coupling  30  which allows for the passage of a shielded electric supply cable  35  to connect with the electric motor  20  to provide a source of electric power for the motor  20 . The coupling  30  allows for the passage of the cable while maintaining a watertight seal to prevent intrusion of liquid into the motor housing  25 . At another end of the shielded electric supply cable  35  there is provided a GFI switch (not shown) to protect against electrocution. The GFI switch is also in communication with a source of power. GFI switches are known in the art to provide protection from electrical shock when an electric system is used in the proximity of water. The GFI switch cuts power to the electrical unit should there be a short circuit due to exposure to water.  
         [0022]    The motor shaft  15  further extends from the motor  20  through the motor housing  25  and is in communication with a second bearing assembly  40 .  
         [0023]    There is provided a motor intake screen  45  positioned between the motor unit  50  and the impeller unit  55  of the motor assembly  7 . The screen provides a barrier to filter debris and to prevent entry of debris into the impeller unit  55 . The motor shaft  15  further extends from the second bearing assembly  40  through the intake screen  45  and projects into the impeller unit  55 . In a preferred embodiment, there are provided  8  impeller blades  60  that are permanently affixed along the motor shaft  15  at uniform intervals. It is to be appreciated that a different number of impeller blades can alternatively be utilized by the present invention. Each impeller blade  60  has a pair of cerated fins  65  affixed to the blade at a uniform diameter from the center of the blade. The cerated fins  65  are biased at an angle relative to the impeller blade to propel water in a direction toward the threaded opening  70  of the pump  5 . Each impeller blade  60  has a pair of cerated fins  65  that are placed at a different diameter on the blade  60  relative to each of the other impeller blades  60 . This alignment provides for a more proficient propulsion of the water as the fins  65  cover a greater cross section within the impeller unit  55 .  
         [0024]    The shaft  15  further extends toward the threaded opening of the pump  5  and is in communication with a third bearing assembly  75 .  
         [0025]    As previously recited, there is provided a threaded opening  70  to allow for passage of water from the impeller unit  55  into a feed shaft  80  that is threadably engaged with the threaded opening  70 . There is provided within the feed shaft  70  a check valve assembly  85  to prevent backflow of water when the pump  5  is not in operation. There is also provided a coupling union  90  for securely engaging a feed line  95  to deliver water to a desired location.  
         [0026]    With reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and  7  there is shown a housing assembly  100 , with a first end cap  105  and a second end cap  110  and a main body portion  115  securely positioned there between.  
         [0027]    In a preferred embodiment, the first  105  and second  110  end caps are securely fastened to the main body  115  by a friction fit. The ends of the end caps that are to join with the main body are tapered so that they may be inserted within the main body a sufficient distance to frictionally engage the two parts.  
         [0028]    With reference to FIG. 3, there is disclosed in a preferred embodiment a first retaining band  120  and a second retaining band  125  that encircles the joint where the first  105  and second  110  end caps engage the main body  115 , to further maintain the union of the parts. There is also provided a first eyelet  130  and a second eyelet  135  attached to the first and second retaining bands respectively to facilitate the hanging of the pump  5  from a dock structure.  
         [0029]    Again with reference to FIG. 3, there is shown, via hidden lines, disposed centrally within the housing assembly  100  the motor assembly  7 . The motor assembly  7  is maintained centrally by a mounting bracket  140  at one end. The mounting bracket  140  is substantially cross-shaped and engages the motor housing  25  at 4 points to provide support. The mounting bracket  140  further engages the inside wall  139  of the main body section  115  to prevent movement of the motor assembly  7  within the housing assembly  100 . The mounting bracket  140  is designed to accommodate various sized motor assemblies  7  within the housing assembly  100 . The other end of the motor assembly  7  is maintained in a central position within the housing assembly  100  by the feed shaft  80 .  
         [0030]    With reference to FIG. 6 there is provided within the second end cap  110  a centrally located hole  111  of a diameter to allow passage of the feed shaft  80  there through. The feed shaft  80  engages the second end cap  110  through the hole  111  to support the motor assembly  7  in a central position. There is also provided within the second end cap  110  a hold and coupling  155  to allow for entry of the shielded electrical supply cable  35  to the motor assembly  7 . As can be seen in FIG. 6, there are multiple whole and couplings  155  to facilitate the various arrangements for entry of the shielded electrical supply cable  35 . Also shown in FIG. 6, are a plurality of access ports  157  having threaded fasteners removably attached to allow for entry of various articles into the housing  100 .  
         [0031]    With reference to FIGS. 1 and 7, there is provided an intake area  145  positioned near a rear portion of the housing assembly  100 . The intake area  145  includes a multilayer sediment protection system  145  for preventing the introduction of debris into the housing assembly  100  and subsequently into the motor assembly  7 . The multilayer sediment protection system  145  has a first plurality of slots  174  positioned around the circumference of the housing assembly  100 . As best seen in FIG. 1, the first plurality of slots  147  are generally circular and extend through the housing assembly  100 . It is to be understood that other shaped slots including ovoid, square, triangular, and other polygonal shaped slots may be utilized by the present invention.  
         [0032]    A set of retaining rings  148  hold a screen  149  which has first  151  and second  152  surfaces. The screen  149  is maintained in a position over the intake area  145 . The second surface  152  of the screen  149  is juxtaposition to the first plurality of slots  147 . The screen  149  has a second plurality of slots  153  formed therein. The second plurality of slots has a smaller size then that of the first plurality of slots  147 . The second pluralities of slots  153  are beveled such that the second plurality of slots  153  have an opening area that is larger at the second surface  152  then that at the first surface  151 . This arrangement of slots  153  and  147  prevents the entrance of debris from an outside environment, as well as, facilitates an even flow of water into the housing assembly  100 .  
         [0033]    After water enters the inlet area  145  through the first  147  and second  153  slots it travels in an annular area  150 , as best seen in FIG. 2, that is defined by an inside wall  139  of the housing assembly  100  and the motor assembly  7 . The water is drawn into the motor assembly  7  through the intake screen  45  and into the impeller unit  55 . The impeller unit  55  imparts a forward motion to the water, such that it may be transported to a desired location.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams of the preferred embodiment of the sprinkling system of the present invention.  
         [0035]    As shown in FIG. 4 there is provided a pump  5  and a first means for connecting  200  for connecting the pump  5  to a control panel  205 . In a preferred embodiment, the control panel  205  is in communication with a sprinkler time clock  210  to automatically operate the sprinkling system at preset time intervals. The control panel  205  is further connected to a second means for connecting  215  a control panel to a header pipe section  220 .  
         [0036]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is shown a first zone pipe section  225 , a second zone pipe section  230 , and third zone pipe section  235  connected to the header pipe section  220 . While the illustrated embodiment utilizes three zone pipe sections, it is to be understood that any number of zone pipe sections may be utilized by the present invention. A plurality of sprinklered heads shown as numbers  240  through  248  are interposed within the zone pipe sections to apply water to a desired location.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 5 is a diagram of the control panel system of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, there is a first means for connecting  200  the pump to the control panel  205 . Within the control panel  205  there is a sprinkler means for connecting  300  that connects to the first means for connecting  200  at one end and a second means for connecting  215  at the other end. There is included a pressure relief valve  305  within the means for connecting  300  which is preset to a desired range to provide a safety relief means for the sprinkling system should the pump pressure exceed a certain range. There is also included within the sprinkler means for connecting  300  a first pressure gauge  310  to monitor the water pressure entering the control panel  205 .  
         [0038]    There is also detailed a bypass means for connecting  315  to the sprinkler means for connecting  300  to allow for a return of water for the lake or other source of water. The bypass means for connecting  315  allows for regulating the pressure and capacity of water within the sprinkling system. There is also shown a back pressure valve assembly  320  that is interposed within the bypass means for connecting  315  to adjust the amount of water being returned to the lake or source of water.  
         [0039]    Finally, there is also shown a second pressure gauge  325  that is interposed within the sprinkler means for connecting  300  after the bypass means for connecting  315  to monitor the water pressure entering the sprinkler system via the second means for connecting  215 .  
         [0040]    While the invention isn&#39;t illustrated in detail in the drawings and in the foregoing description, the same is to be consider as illustration and not restrictive in nature. It is understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described fully and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.