Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/839,847 filed on Jun. 26, 2013, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC AND INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF THE MATERIAL 
       [0004]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    1. Field of Endeavor 
         [0006]    The present invention relates to systems and devices for draining the bilge of a vessel in a body of water. More particularly, the invention relates to systems and devices having no moving parts and which may be used to drain a boat bilge. 
         [0007]    2. Background Information 
         [0008]    Since boats were first built, water collecting in the bilge, or the bottom of the interior of the hull, has been a problem. Numerous methods of been developed to remove bilge water from a boat. Automatic drains have been developed which open while a boat is in motion, allowing water to drain out. When the boat comes to a stop, the drain closes. However, because even when a boat is at rest, it is still subject to wind, current and other forces, such automatic drains often do not remain completely closed while a boat is at rest. 
         [0009]    Another difficulty encountered with automatic drains is that they typically include components exterior to the hull. Prior to the advent of powered boats, this did not present a significant problem. However, many boats today are designed to operate at high speed. The hulls of most boats are streamlined to minimize water resistance and drag. Pumps, which include bulky devices on the exterior of the hull are thus not desirable. 
         [0010]    Most boats today come with an automatic bilge pump. While these pumps are typically effective, they generally consist of an electric motor and some sort of pump mechanism. Because many boats are subjected to harsh conditions, it is not unusual for a bilge pump to become damaged or to cease functioning. Bilge pumps may require maintenance and may be inefficient. Further, pumping mechanisms generally require seals, rings, or other components made of rubber or other pliable substance. These substances often wear out when subjected to salt water. This further complicates maintenance of the system&#39;s. 
         [0011]    In view of the foregoing, there is a need to provide a device and system for draining the bilge of a boat. It is therefore desirable to provide a device and system for draining the bilge of a boat that requires little maintenance, does not increase drag substantially, and is efficient. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a static bilge pump. 
         [0013]    In greater detail, the invention provides a bilge pump having no moving parts and which removes water from the bilge without any application of force or energy. In one embodiment, a static bilge pump comprises an inlet tube, a body and at least one eductor. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment the static bilge pump further comprises one or more of an inlet tube having an inlet duct and a drain conduit extending to a drain plug, a body having a frame and a conduit in fluid communication with the inlet duct, an eductor having a buttress, an eductor inlet in fluid communication with the conduit of the body, a nozzle in communication with an aperture, an annular vacuum chamber, an eduction chamber and an exhaust, a siphon hose attached to the inlet tube, plugs providing access to one or more of a drain, a conduit in the body, and an induction inlet. 
         [0015]    In a further embodiment, the static bilge pump is attached to the stern of a boat. 
         [0016]    In another embodiment a static bilge pump comprises an inlet tube housing a pump conduit and a drainage conduit, a body housing an internal conduit in fluid communication with the pump conduit, and at least one eductor in fluid communication with the internal conduit in the body. The static bilge pump is capable of being attached to the exterior of a boat hull and it removes water from a bilge of a boat when the boat is moving forward. The drainage conduit provides fluid communication between an aperture on the side of the inlet tube and a drainage outlet on the body, and is not in fluid communication with the pump conduit. The pump may have a plurality of eductors, and the body may have a frame. A siphon hose may be removably attached to the inlet tube. 
         [0017]    In another embodiment, the static bilge pump may have one or more eductors comprising an eductor housing having an eduction chamber, an intake aperture, an intake nozzle providing fluid communication between the eduction chamber and the intake aperture, an eductor inlet providing fluid communication between an eduction port and the internal conduit, an annular vacuum chamber in fluid communication with the eductor port and eduction chamber and an exhaust port. 
         [0018]    In another embodiment, the eductor housing is cylindrical, the intake aperture includes a screen to prevent debris from entering the eductor housing, and/or the body further has an internal frame. A siphon hose is removably attached to the inlet tube. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment, the static bilge pump of claim  6  wherein the drainage conduit provides fluid communication between an aperture on the side of the inlet tube and a drainage outlet on the body, and is not in fluid communication with the pump conduit. 
         [0020]    In another embodiment, a static bilge pump has an inlet tube housing a pump conduit and a drainage conduit, a body having a frame and housing an internal conduit in fluid communication with the pump conduit, and at least one eductor in fluid communication with the internal conduit in the body. The static bilge pump is capable of being attached to the exterior of a boat hull and removes water from a bilge of a boat when the boat is moving forward. The drainage conduit provides fluid communication between an aperture on the side of the inlet tube and a drainage outlet on the body, and is not in fluid communication with the pump conduit. The eductor comprises a cylindrical eductor housing having an eduction chamber, an intake aperture having a screen to prevent entry of debris, an intake nozzle providing fluid communication between the eduction chamber and the intake aperture, an eductor inlet providing fluid communication between an eduction port and the internal conduit, an annular vacuum chamber in fluid communication with the eductor port and eduction chamber and an exhaust port. 
         [0021]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a static bilge pump having no moving parts and which may be easily integrated with existing boat hulls. 
         [0022]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a static bilge pump in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view of a static bilge pump in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a a lateral cross-sectional view of an inlet tube of a static bilge pump in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a transverse cross-sectional view of a body of a static bilge pump in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a lateral cross-sectional view showing the interior of an eductor of a static bilge pump in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a static bilge pump with a siphon hose in accordance with the principles of the invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a static bilge pump in accordance with the principles of the invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is an environmental view of a static bilge pump with a siphon hose in accordance with the principles of the invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is a lateral cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of an eductor of a static bilge pump in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  front plan view of an alternative embodiment of an eductor of a static bilge pump in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 11  is a graph showing the amount of gallons per minute a static bilge pump in accordance with the principles of the invention may be capable of pumping, as a function of speed of the boat. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0035]    Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0036]    Disclosed is a static bilge pump for watercraft requiring no moving parts. The static bilge pump may be attached to the hull over the drain hole commonly found at the back of the boat adjacent to the lowest point of the bilge. The static bilge pump may remove water from the bilge of a boat. When the boat is not submerged, the boat&#39;s original drain may still be utilized. 
         [0037]    In the following description, the term “distal” generally refers to a direction away from a boat to which the static bilge pump is attached, and the term “proximal” generally refers to a direction toward the boat. Thus, “distal” could optionally be considered “back” or “rear” and “proximal” could optionally be considered “forward” or “front.” 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , the static bilge pump  10  may include an inlet tube  12 , a body  14  and one or more eductors  17 . The inlet tube  12  may house a drainage conduit  40  and a pump conduit  34 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , that are not in fluid communication with each other. The drainage conduit  40  may extend from the drain aperture  26  to the drainage outlet  28 . Drainage outlet  28  may be located on the distal end of the body  14  as shown in  FIG. 1 , or may optionally be located on the side of the body  14 . Drainage outlet  28  may be sealed by inserting a drain plug  18 . Fluid communication between the drain aperture  26  and the drainage outlet  28  may allow a boat to be drained while out of the water, in the same manner used in the absence of an attached static bilge pump. When a boat is in the water, it may be preferable to have the drain plug inserted into the drainage outlet. 
         [0039]    An attachment mechanism may be used to affix the static bilge pump  10  to a boat&#39;s hull. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , the attachment mechanism comprises a bolt  20  and bolt holes  32 . Other attachment mechanisms suitable for attaching devices to the exterior of a boat hull may be used. For example, the inlet tube  12  may include an annular sleeve that may be inserted about the portion of the inlet tube that extends into the interior of the boat hull. 
         [0040]    In this embodiment, the body  14  includes an interior frame  22  to provide strength and rigidity to the body  14 . The body  14  may optionally be formed as a solid block. The body  14  may house an internal conduit  38  in fluid communication with the pump conduit  34  and the eductor inlets  46 . In this embodiment, a conduit plug  24  may provide access to the internal conduit  38  which may be desirable for inspection, repair and/or manufacturing. Other plugs, for example inlet plugs  26  may also provide access to the internal conduit  38  and facilitate inspection, repair, cleaning and/or manufacturing. 
         [0041]    In  FIG. 2  conduit  38 , bolt holes  32 , suction duct  34  and nozzle access ports  36  may be seen. Drain aperture  26  may be located within a recess  27  on the side of the inlet tube  12 . The opening to suction duct  34  may be located on the proximal end of inlet tube  12  and may be designed to accommodate removable fluid connection with a hose, pipe, tube or other device for moving fluids. 
         [0042]      FIG. 3  shows a lateral cross-section of the inlet tube  12  of the static bilge pump  10 . Within inlet tube  12 , a drainage conduit  40  extends from the drainage aperture  26  to the drain  28 , which may be sealed using drain plug  18 . Suction conduit  34  extends the length of inlet tube  12  from the proximal end  36  to the internal conduit  38 . Thus, pump conduit  34  provides fluid communication from the proximal end  36  of the inlet tube  12  to the internal conduit  38 . The pump conduit  34  and the drainage conduit  40  may not be in fluid communication with each other. However, in some alternative embodiments, it may be desirable to optionally provide fluid communication between these or other conduits or valves for adjusting fluid communication between the various conduits. 
         [0043]      FIG. 4  shows a transverse cross-section of the body  14  of the static bilge pump  10 . The body  14  includes the internal conduit  38  housed inside the body. The conduit plug  24  seals the end of the internal conduit  38  and also allows access to the conduit  38  from the exterior of the body  14 . Bolt holes  32  may extend through body  14 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , conduit  38  is in fluid communication with the suction duct  34 . Conduit  38  is also in fluid communication with eductor inlets  46 . 
         [0044]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a lateral cross-section of the static bilge pump  10  shows the interior of an eductor  17  and the body  14 . Internal conduit  38  is in fluid communication with the eductor inlet  46 . Plug  28  may be removed from the body  14  to access the interior of eductor inlet  46 . 
         [0045]    The eductor  17  may include several components. In this embodiment, the eductors include a cylindrical body housing the components of the eductor  17 . The eductor inlet  46  may be in fluid communication with an annular vacuum chamber  58  by means of eduction port  55 . Eduction inlet  46  may be integral to buttress  50 . Buttress  50  extends from the body  14  to provide additional rigidity and support to the static bilge pump  10  and may be optional. The annular vacuum chamber  58  may surround a cylindrical motive nozzle  56 , which may in fluid communication with intake aperture  30 . When a boat is in motion, water may enter intake aperture  30  and enter eduction chamber  54  through intake nozzle  56 . Water introduced into eduction chamber  54  through nozzle  56  creates a vacuum, courtesy of Bernoulli&#39;s Principle, within annular vacuum chamber  58 . This creates suction at induction port  55 . The suction, or negative pressure, applied to induction port  55  provides suction through eductor inlet  46 , conduit  38  and pump conduit  34 . Water and other items in eduction chamber  54  exit through exhaust port  56 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 6  shows the static bilge pump  10  with a siphon tube  60 . The static bilge pump  10  may be placed on the exterior of a boat such that inlet tube  12  extends through a boats drain hole. Alternatively, a separate hole may be made in the hull of a boat through which the inlet tube may be extended. Body  14  may then be affixed to the exterior of the hull such that the front apertures of the eductors  16  are exposed to oncoming water when the boat is in motion. The inlet to  12  may then be attached to siphon  60 . When in use, when a boat is traveling, the eductors  16  create vacuum suction which travels through the eductor inlets, the conduits and the inlet duct through siphon  60 . The end  62  of siphon to  60  may be placed at or near the bottom of the bilge. Alternatively, siphon  60  may be flexible such that the end  62  of siphon  60  may be used as a vacuum hose such that a person in the boat may move the end  62  about to suck up and remove bilge water wherever it is located. The arched, “upside-down U” characteristic shape of the siphon  60  may prevent water from entering a bilge while the boat is at rest or in reverse. 
         [0047]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of the static bilge pump  10 . The static bilge pump  10  may be attached to the stern of a boat but may also be attached to other objects. For example, a static bilge pump in accordance with the principles of the invention may include fins or other devices to facilitate proper orientation when dragged through water. Such an embodiment may be attached to the end of a hose and dragged by a boat. The motion through the water will generate suction and may provide an emergency back up alternative bilge pump for boats. The exhaust ports  56  of the eductors  17  may be swept back or swept together for hydrodynamic and/or aesthetic purposes.  FIG. 8  shows a static bilge pump attached to the stern of a boat. In this Figure, the static pump is retrofit to a boat through its drain hole. The pump may have a very low profile, not significantly increasing drag. 
         [0048]    Static bilge pump  10  may include two eductors  17  housed in cylindrical eductor bodies  16 . It may be desirable to optionally utilize one eductor or  3  or more eductors, each having its own housing, which may be cylindrical or optionally parallelepiped or other shape. As shown in the Figures, the forward end of the inductors  17  are angled. This swept back design may minimize drag created by the eductor&#39;s and may also minimize the possibility of flotsam and jetsam lodging in and obstructing the apertures  30 . The eductor&#39;s  17  may be made larger or smaller and may have a front end that is not swept back. It may also be desirable to provide simpler eductors having a smaller body or having no housing at all. Optionally, the inlet apertures of the eductors may include a grate or screen to prevent debris from entering the eductor housings. 
         [0049]    Buttresses  50  extending between the body and the eductor housings  16  may provide additional stability to the static bilge pump  10 . They also may house the induction inlets. It may be desirable to include additional buttresses or to use none at all. The inlet tube  12  of the invention incorporates both atypical drain as well as and inlet duct for the static bilge pump  10 . It may be desirable to not include the simple drain aspects of the inlet tube  12 . 
         [0050]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show components of an alternative embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 9  shows an eductor assembly  80  in accordance with the principles of the invention. An eductor inlet  86  may be in fluid communication with annular vacuum chamber  88  by means of eduction port  85 . As with the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1-9 , the eductor inlet  86  may be integral to a buttress  90 . An annular vacuum chamber  58  may surround a cylindrical motive nozzle  92 , which may be in fluid communication with aperture  94 . When a boat is in motion, water may enter aperture  94  and may be ejected out of nozzle  92  and into eduction chamber  84 . The movement of water through nozzle  92  and into eduction chamber  84  creates a vacuum within annular vacuum chamber  88 . This in turn results in suction applied to eduction port  55  and through eductor inlet  86 . Water and any other items in eduction chamber  84  may exit through exhaust port  98 . Eductor assembly includes an integration block  100 . Integration block  100  may include a conduit  102 . A bolt hole  99  may be located just above integration block  110 . 
         [0051]    In  FIG. 10  is shows an alternative embodiment of a body  110  in accordance with the principles of the invention. Body  110  includes an integration socket  112 . Integration block  100  is sized to fit snugly with in integration socket well. Body  10  also includes bolt holes  114  for attaching the body  110  to a boat Hull. In this embodiment, body  110  also includes bolt holes  116 . Bolt holes  116  may correspond to bolt holes  99  of the eductor assembly  80 . Because bolt holes  116  may be located both above and below socket  112 , and because the integration block  100  and socket  112  are bilaterally symmetric, and eductor assembly  80  may be integrated with a body  110 . So that may be positioned either to the left or to the right of a boat hull&#39;s drain plug. It is not uncommon for various devices, such as trim tabs, sonar devices or other objects, to be installed close to a drain plug. If one or more devices are located adjacent to and left of a drain plug of a hole, it may not be possible to attach an eductor as shown in  FIGS. 1-8  to the hull. The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  allow for reversing and creating a mirror of the device as shown in  FIG. 9 . Making an eductor of the present invention ambidextrous, or capable of being flipped over to either side of a drain plug, facilitates an easier integration of the device into a boat hull. 
         [0052]      FIG. 11  shows a graph of the amount of suction produced by the static bilge pump as a function of the speed of the boat to which it is attached. As may be seen, the static bilge pump, requiring no external power and having no moving parts, is capable of pumping 15 gallons per minute when a boat is traveling at only 20 miles per hour. 
         [0053]    Whereas, the present invention has been described in relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention. Descriptions of the embodiments shown in the drawings should not be construed as limiting or defining the ordinary and plain meanings of the terms of the claims unless such is explicitly indicated. 
         [0054]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Technology Category: 2