Water column floating pump

US5297925A · kind A · utility

Inventors

• Sek-Wah Lee · San Francisco, US
• John C. Lee · Nanhu, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 20, 1991
• Grant date: Mar 29, 1994
• Expiry date: Dec 20, 2011

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F04D1/14
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

This new invention, the water column floating pump, is a fluid pump which uses a rotationally symmetric container to pump fluid from an inlet reservoir to the outlet end of the rotationally symmetric container. The rotationally symmetric container is adapted to float with its axis of rotation vertical in a pump flotation chamber. The rotationally symmetric container floats and rotates in the fluid being pumped and uses the buoyancy of the fluid to carry its weight. A plurality of helically spiralling conduits proximate the periphery of the symmetric container forms a system of vacuum suction tubes designed to suck water from the inlet reservoir, proximate the bottom of the fluid pump, to the outlet end proximate the top of the container. The rotationally symmetric container operates at low rotational speed and requires a small horsepower motor to overcome water friction and water pressure. Under normal operation, the fluid filled spiral conduits form a heavy mass on the periphery of the rotationally symmetric container. This heavy rotating peripheral mass, in turn, generates sufficient centrifugal force and high torque to push fluid upward continuously from the inlet end of the rot…