Patent ID: 8672639

Claim:
A vacuum bilge pump for a boat comprising an integral housing with input and output internal chambers of substantially the same volume, said input chamber having an upper and a lower portion separated by a screen for solid particulates above a predetermined size, said input chamber having a bilge liquid input in the upper portion thereof being adapted to communicate with a source of bilge liquid so as to selectively draw bilge liquid therein when a negative pressure is applied interiorly of said input chamber, said input chamber having a fluid output in the lower portion thereof communicating with a lower portion of said output chamber, said bilge liquid input and said fluid output being on opposite sides of said screen, said output chamber having a sump portion in the lower portion thereof that extends under said input chamber, said output chamber having a gas output in an upper portion thereof adapted for communication with a vacuum source so that a negative pressure may be applied from a vacuum source to an interior of said output chamber and through said fluid output to said input chamber to draw bilge liquid into said input chamber through said bilge liquid input; and a liquid pump mounted internally of said output chamber capable of pumping entrained solids small enough to pass through said screen, said pump (a) being in communication with the sump portion of said output chamber so as to draw liquid therefrom at a height below [the bottom of] said input chamber, and (b) having a discharge conduit extending through the upper portion of said output chamber adapted for selective connection to an overboard discharge conduit.