US2972956A - Boat bailer - Google Patents

Description

1961 D. D. NEWTON 2,972,956

BOAT BAILER Filed Jan. 17, 1958 INVENTOR! DEVAULSON D. NEWTON ATTORNEY i nited This invention relates to self-operating pumps, and more particularly, to a self-operating bailer adapted to bail water from a boat into the body of water supporting the boat. This invention also relates to a method for removing water from a boat.

Heretofore, various means have been provided for removing water from a vessel into another body of Water. Such means have included the conventional siphon, which is adapted to transfer water or liquid from one body' to another at different elevations. However, the siphon is adapted to perform most efiiciently with stationary bodies of liquids. Another method comprises the use of a lift pump operated by a wind vane actuating an cecentric mechanism. In order for this method to function properly, either the vessel or the wind must be moving rapidly in order to provide suflicient power to actuate the pump. A further concept contemplates the use of a water wheel adapted to be turned by means of Water moving over the wheel relatively to the speed of the boat or vessel. The turning wheel turns a series of shafts through the use of pinions and the linkage turns or operates a conventional pump. Quite obviously, a high rate of speed of either the boat or the water is required in order to derive the power necessary to move the linkage and operate the pump. The apparatus is therefore somewhat limited to the use with high-speed craft.

It is therefore a prime object of this invention to provide an apparatus for bailing water from a boat directly as a result of the movement of the body of Water relatively to the position of the boat, or the movement of the boat relatively to the water, and wherein the only requirement for operation is that the body of water be moving relative to the boat.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus which is completely independent in operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method for removing water from a boat into the body of water supporting the boat.

In accordance with the foregoing objects there is provided an apparatus for removing a liquid fromla vessel into a moving-stream of liquid, wherein either the stream of liquid or the vessel or both are moving relatively to the movement of the other. The apparatus comprises an impeller rotatably mounted at an end of a hollowed body member connected with a volume of liquid to-be removed from the vessel. A hole is formed'through the length of the blade of the impeller. Liquid is drawn from the vessel into the body of the apparatus and is discharged centrifugally through the hole through the blade in the impeller. The method comprises the turning of the impeller by the stream of liquid moving relatively to the movement of the vessel. Liquid enters. the priming duct provided in the body of the apparatus and is discharged through the hole 'inthe blade, whereincentrifugal force reduces the volume of liquid in the body" of the invenrates herein Fatented Feb. 28, 19%1 ice out, and a more complete understanding of the invention may be had from the following description, when read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross section of the bearing.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the bearing.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal elevation of the impeller.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross section of the body.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a blade of the impeller.

Figure 7 is an illustration of an application of the invention.

An embodiment of the pump is illustrated in Figure 1, which is particularly well adapted for use as a self-bailer for a boat or other water-borne vessel. This embodiment is merely illustrative of a single application, and should not be construed as a limitation.

Figure 7 illustrates a boat 22 floating in a body of water 24. A volume of water as has entered the boat such as by leaking or due to rain or the like. The boat 22 is moving in a direction represented by arrow 23, which direction is in contrast to the direction indicated by arrow 25. The arrow 25 thus would represent the direction of a stream of water relative to the motion of the boat 22 represented by arrow 23.

The bailer or pump comprises an impeller 1 having one or more blades 2 radially extended from the axis thereof. The impeller 1 is rotatably mounted on a bearing nut S which is fastened into one end of a body member 12. A pipe member 18 is fastened into one end of a body member 12, and extends any convenient distance therefrom. A flexible tubing 19 connects the pipe 18 to an inlet plug 20 which is placed in the volume of liquid 26 in the boat or vessel 22. A hole is provided in the inlet plug 20 for admitting liquid into the tube 19 and thence into the pipe 18 and thus ultimately into the interior of the body member 12. A cage body 16 is supported by means of rods 17 extended from the body 12 so as to protect the impeller from objects in the body of liquid in which the impeller is placed.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 illustrate the assembly of the bearing nut 3, impeller 1 and body 12, respectively. The body 12 is formed from any suitable rigid material and has formed therein an axial bore 13. An inlet hole 15 connects the bore 13 with the pipe 18, the pipe being fastened therein by any suitable means such as a threaded connection. A priming duct 14 is formed in the body 12 so as to connect the interior bore 13 with the outside of the body 12, around which Hows the moving stream of liquid (not shown).

The impeller 1 has a central hole, and in this hole is press-fit a bushing 5 having a bearing surface 6 on the interior thereof. Nut 8 has a bearing surface 9 formed thereon which is adapted to receive in a rotatable manner the bushing 5 so that the surfaces 6 and 9 are mating surfaces. The impeller '1 is placed over the bearing surface 9 of the nut, and the nut 8 is then fastened into the end of the body 12 by any suitable means such as screw threads or the like. H I

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the bearing nutas having a longitudinal central hole 10 extending a portion ofthe way through the nut from one end thereof- When the nut 3 is placed in the endof the body member 12, the open end of the hole 1%} is connected with the bore 13 in the body 12. Holes 11 connect'the hole 16 of the nut with the bearing surface 9 thereof. The -holes 11 are formed in any suitable pluralitythereof, as will later appear.

The protective cage 16 is formed from a piece of rigid cylindricalmaterial, and is supported from the body 12;

by means of a plurality of rods 17 fastened in suitable holes. in the body and fastened to the cage body 16.

Figures 1, 4' and oiillustrate the special adaptation of a blade 2 of impeller 1. A hole 3 is formed through the blade 2 radially from the center of the impeller. The hole 3 is thus formed through the side of the bushing 5 and longitudinally the length of the blade 2 and opens to the outer end of the blade. It will be noted that the hole 3 is formedsubstantially in the center of the blade 2. Arrow 21 shows the direction of rotation of the blade 2. The portion 4 of the end of the blade 2 is beveled and the bevel extends back away from the direction of rotation of the blade from the hole 3 to the trailing edge 7A of the blade.

The blade 2 of impeller 1 is formed in the conventional manner and is adapted to be rotated on its axis by a stream of liquid moving past the pump. A pitch is imparted to the blade of the impeller so that the blade has a leading edge 7 and a trailing edge 7A. This is well known in the art, and forms no part of this invention other than being required in order for a moving stream of liquid to cause the impeller to turn on its axis.

It will be assumed that there is a vessel 22 containing a volume of liquid 26. In the vicinity of the vessel there is another body of liquid 24. It is desired that the volume of liquid 26 in the vessel 22 be removed into the body of liquid 24, in the vicinity of the vessel. At this point, it will become immediately apparent that the boat may be stationary and the liquid be moving, as in a current or stream. Alternately, the liquid may be at rest, and the boat be moving through the liquid; or both the boat and the liquid may be moving in a direction contrary to each other.

To operate the pump, the body 12, impeller, nut 8 and the cage 16 assembled together are lowered beneath the surface of the liquid 24 as a unit and supported thereat by any conventional means such as a retaining chain, cable, bracket, or the like, as at 27. The inlet plug 29 is placed beneath the surface of the volume of liquid 2e in the boat 22, preferably at the bottom of the volume. The pipe 18 and the flexible tube 19 connect the plug 20 with the pump assembly.

For purposes of discussion, it will be said that the body of liquid forms a stream moving relatively to the vessel, and therefore relative to the pump. The stream is moving right to left, Figures 1 and 7. A portion of the stream enters the priming duct 14 and flows into the central bore 13 of the body 12. The stream also flows past the-blade 2 of the impeller 1 and causes the impeller to turn on its axis due to the pitch of the blade 2. It will be noted that, inasmuch as the bushing 5 is press-fit into the hub of the impeller, the bushing 5 turns with the impeller, the two turning on the bearing surface of the nut 8. In the embodiment shown, there are three blades 2. It has been found that with this particular number'of blades, it is to the advantage of the efiiciency ofthe pump to form preferably six holes 11 in the bearing 8, the holes extending radially fromthe axis of the bearing to the bearing surface 9. As the impeller turns, the holes 11 arein communication with the holes 3 formed in'the blades of the impeller.

As the liquid flows into the priming duct 14 and into the bore 14 of the body 12, the bore 13 will become filled and the liquid will flow into the hole 19 of the nut S and out through holes 11 into the holes 3. -The liquid will then be discharged into the body of liquid or stream due to the centrifugal force of the turning blades 2. As the entire. area of the holes 3 is greater than the area of the priming duct 14, the liquid in the pump will tend to be discharged at a rate greater than it isiadapted to enter through the priming duct 14. A condition of reduced pressure in the body of the pump will be thus produced,

with respect to the pressure of the body of liquid outside otthc pump. Dueto this condition of reduced pressure,

bore 13 and be discharged through the holes 3 in the blades 2 of the impeller 1.

Inasmuch as liquid is being continuously discharged through the holes 3 in the impeller, a condition of low pressure relative to the pressure of the body of liquid tends to be constantly formed in the body of the pump. Therefore, liquid will be constantly drawn through the pipe from the vessel until all of the liquid is removed. By reason of the fact that the area of the inlet 15 and pipes 18 and 19 is greater. than that of the duct 14, and due to the fact that the area of the holes 3 is also greater than that of the duct 14, the volume of liquid will flow from the vessel through the pump at a greater rate than that of the portion of the body of liquid entering through the duct 14. Therefore, once the pump has primed itself by means of liquid entering the duct 14, the operation will become highly efficient due to the negligible flow of liquid through the duct 14, and the relativel} higher rate of flow through the pipe 18 from the vessel.

The portion 4 of the blade 2 which is beveled further aids the pump in operating efiiciently. As the blade moves in an arc in the direction of the arrow 21, it will be seen that portion 4A lies in an arc of greater radius than that of portion 4. That is to say, a hydrodynamic slip stream of reduced relative pressure is created at portion 4 with respect to portion 4A. Since any liquid will be displaced from a given point to a point of lesser relative pressure, liquid being discharged from the hole 3 in blade 2 is adapted to be more efliciently displaced into the slipstream adjacent the impeller bla'de due to the area of reduced relative pressure immediately adjacent the opening of the hole at portion 4 of the blade, and trailing back to the trailing edge 7A of the blade.

It will become readily apparent that this invention may be modified so that the pump assembly may be adapted to be inserted into a pipe line or the like. In certain piping applications, it is necessary to have an overflow system with a catch basin. Due to the inherent simplicity of this invention, the device is adapted to be placed in a pipe line and sealed therein. The inlet pipe would be placed in the catch basin so that as the liquid in the line overflows into the catch basin, the pump would automatically scavenge the liquid and return it to the pipe line as pressure and velocity conditions in the line reach a point which would permit the low-velocity re-entry of the liquid into the pipe line. Thus, in the case of expensive or volatile liquids, a sealed catch basin may be employed, whereby the overflow may be recovered uncontaminated, and expensive or volatile liquids may be recovered at a minimum loss.

Due to the inherent simplicity of the invention, virtually no maintenance is required other than an occasional inspection. The pump is self-lubricated by the liquid being pumped. A loose fit is provided between the bushing and the shaft or bearing portion of the nut. The water being discharged through the holes in the nut is adapted to also fill the space between the bushing and the nut, due to the slight velocity and pressure of the water. son, the bushing is kept spaced from the bearing surface of the'bearing nut, and wear of the parts is thus minimized. The parts ofthe'invention are constructed from material which is chemically inactive with the liquid being pumped so. as to resist corrosion; and the bushing 5 is formed from a material which has good wearing characteristics in conjunction with the-liquid being pumped.

The pump is necessarily a low volume-low velocity pump. However, the volume and velocity of delivery or discharge of the liquid is limited-only by the speed of rotation of the impeller, and the size of the inlet and the size of the holes through the impeller blade. Thus, the velocity of the stream of'water'about the blade ultimately governs the velocity of discharge of the pump.

An embodiment of the pump has been tested in conjunction witha small pleasure boat for purposes of bailing, and it has beenrfound that water can be lifted several For this rea- 1 feet over the side of the boat with the boat moving through the Water at a relatively slow speed.

An embodiment having been shown and described for the purposes of illustration only, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the embodiment shown, but it is to be construed as fairly falls within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a boat bailer the combination of; a body member having an axial bore therethrough and a priming duct formed between said axial bore and the outside of said body member, one end of said body member being connected with an inlet, a bearing nut fastened into one end of said body member, said bearing nut having an axial hole therein and a transverse groove having holes therethrough communicating with said axial hole, an impeller rotatably mounted on said bearing nut, said impeller having a blade having a radial hole formed therethrough in alignment with said groove, said impeller being adapted to be rotated by movement of a body of water relative to the movement of the vessel retaining said bailer whereby the radial hole in said blade is in communication with the transverse groove and holes in said nut and water is adapted to flow through said bailer from said inlet and be discharged centrifugally from said impeller.

2. In combination with a body member of a boat bailer; an impeller, a blade on said impeller, a hub forming part of said impeller having an axial hole therethrough, a bushing placed in said hub, said blade having a radial hole formed therethrough, a bearing nut having an axial hole therein and a transverse groove having holes therethrough communicating with said axial hole, said impeller being mounted rotatably on said bearing nut with its radial in alignment with said groove, said bearing nut being mounted in one end of the body member of the boat bailer; said impeller being adapted to be rotated on said nut by movement of a body of water relative to the movement of a boat carrying said bailer for discharging water from said bailer centrifugally through the radial hole in said blade.

3. A boat bailer comprising an impeller, a blade on said impeller, a body member having an axial bore formed therein, said body member having a priming duct between the axial bore and the outside surface of said 1 body member, said impeller being rotatably mounted at ment with said groove whereby the openings in said groove are in communication with the radial hole in said blade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,120,858 Davant June 14, 1938 2,684,635 Winkelman et al July 27, 1954 2,689,541 Williams Sept. 21, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 87,173 Switzerland Aug. 18, 1936 905,544 France Dec. 6, 1945

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