Pumps – Motor driven – Electric or magnetic motor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-08
2001-08-21
Thorpe, Timothy S. (Department: 3746)
Pumps
Motor driven
Electric or magnetic motor
C417S360000, C417S423300, C417S423700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276908
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to pumps, and more particularly to a removable pump for a live well tank used in fishing vessels.
2. Description of Related Art
Commercial and recreational fishing boats typically include at least one on-board holding tank that stores bait or caught fish that need to be kept alive until the boat returns to shore. Pumps circulate water through these tanks in order to keep the bait and fish alive. The pump includes an intake pipe generally located below the boat's water line and a discharge pipe running to the tank. A drain tube discharges water overboard to maintain the proper water level in the tank. Conventional live well pumps are attached directly to the boat hull. The pump's intake pipe is inserted in a hole through the hull. The intake pipes are typically manufactured as part of a pump housing component in one integral piece.
The pumps circulate fresh and salt water and they often become clogged with debris and require cleaning. Furthermore, the individual pumps generally require repairs more frequently than the through-hull fitting. Because the intake pipe and pump housing are a single piece, removing the pump for cleaning or repair requires the removal of the intake pipe as well. When both the pump and intake pipes are removed, the hole formed in the boat hull is exposed. Therefore, the boat must be elevated, or removed from the water, or the hole in the boat hull itself must be plugged while the pump is serviced. Plugging the hole in the boat hull is difficult because this hole is often located low in the boat and out of the way, which limits its access and visibility. The prior art procedures for removing the pump are cumbersome and inefficient.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,406 discloses a removable cartridge-type pump in which a motor connected to one part of the housing may be removed from another part of the housing. This pump arrangement uses a bayonet or screw connection as well as a locking sear to keep the two parts of the housing together. In order to remove the motor in one embodiment (FIG.
12
), the operator must push down a leg
94
of the sear
91
and rotate the motor portion
15
of the pump before removing the motor. In another embodiment (FIGS.
13
and
14
), the sear
105
is pulled outward and the motor portion
15
is rotated. In another embodiment (FIG.
15
), because the motor portion
15
is formed with external threads which mate with threads
45
on the housing
12
, the motor portion
15
must be rotated to be removed. These rotating movements are cumbersome, especially when coupled with moving the sears
91
,
105
. There is a need in the prior art for a simpler way to remove the motor and pump from a housing connected to the boat transom.
SUMMARY
The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome to a great extent by the present invention, which provides a live well pump that is capable of being removed easily.
The present invention provides a pump for use in marine environments. The pump includes a pump housing including a cap portion, a main portion and a base, with the main portion including a pair of raised surfaces. Each of the surfaces slopes from a low end to a high end. The pump further includes a motor housing adapted to receive a motor, and a pair of pivotable clips. The cap portion is adapted to be in an unlocked position with each clip positioned over the low end of a respective raised surface and a locked position with each clip positioned over the high end of a respective raised surface.
The present invention also provides a pump for use in marine environments which includes a pump housing having a cap portion, a main portion and a base. Each of the cap and main portions have an outer circumference. The pump also includes a motor housing adapted to receive a motor, the motor housing including a flange extending radially outwardly beyond said outer circumferences of the cap and main portions, and a locking mechanism positionable over the flange to secure the cap portion to said main portion.
The present invention further provides a method of assembling a pump for use in marine environments. The method includes the steps of inwardly depressing one or more clips extending from a cap portion, positioning the cap portion over a main portion such that the clips extend over a pair of raised surfaces, each raised surface sloping from a low end to a high end, and rotating the cap portion from an unlocked position to a locked position.
The present invention further provides a method of assembling a pump for use in marine environments. The method includes positioning a cap portion over a main portion, the cap portion including a motor housing which contains a motor and which has a flange extending beyond an outer circumference of the cap and main portions, positioning a ring over the motor flange, the ring having a radially inwardly directed upper flange, one or more openings extending through the upper flange, and a plurality of radially inwardly directed protrusions on a lower extent of the ring, and rotating the ring such that the motor housing flange is locked between the upper flange and the protrusions.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a removable live well pump that is removable from the intake pipe.
It is another object of the invention to provide a removable live well pump that is capable of being disengaged with one hand.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawings of the preferred embodiments of the present invention.
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patent: 3822498 (1974-07-01), Butler
patent: 3982856 (1976-09-01), Hehl
patent: 4084377 (1978-04-01), Gaiser
patent: 4424007 (1984-01-01), Mehrens et al.
patent: 4734016 (1988-03-01), Sailer
patent: 4880364 (1989-11-01), Berfield et al.
patent: 4904166 (1990-02-01), Wasemann
patent: 4913620 (1990-04-01), Kusiak et al.
patent: 5044883 (1991-09-01), Neuder
patent: 5232341 (1993-08-01), Sheier et al.
patent: 5356105 (1994-10-01), Andrews
patent: 5538406 (1996-07-01), Siegal et al.
patent: 5833437 (1998-11-01), Kurth et al.
Batchelder Scott K.
Burrill James T.
Dickstein Shapiro Mori & Oshinsky LLP
Gray Michael K.
Rule Industries Inc.
Thorpe Timothy S.
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