TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a foot for a pump. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a foot for a pump which provides simple and convenient methods to adjust or manage different heights of the pump as per the requirements of common users.

BACKGROUND

A pump is a device that allows transport of fluids such as liquids or gases, or sometimes slurries, by mechanical actions. For example, a submersible pump is a device which has a hermetically sealed motor close-coupled to a pump body. The submersible pump may be submerged in a fluid to be pumped. Generally, the pumps are used to pump water from wells, or to filter aquariums, ponds, or may be used in car industries or energy industries for desired purposes. The pump may include a foot. The foot may help to attain desired heights depending on a liquid level in which the pump is submersed.

However, there may be instances where working with adjustment of pump heights with the help of foots of the pump may become troublesome process. Generally, an additional structure (such as base of a pump) may be coupled or uncoupled with the pump to get the desired height of the pump. Further, the coupling and uncoupling of additional parts to the pump may lead to formation of unrequired complex construction of the pump. Moreover, many technical issues may occur during assembly or disassembly of the additional structures with the pump.

United States patent application US2016161051 provides a system for lifting tables, chairs, bed bases and the like. The system is lockable and unlockable automatically through at least one universal telescopic snap movement or in a known way including at least one pantograph — a vertically moveable load-bearing structure arranged between a base and the bottom of a piece of furniture or element to be lifted. Further, a stopping device is provided to keep the pantograph in a desired height position. Moreover, the load-bearing structure is formed by at least one pantograph having a plurality of parallelograms articulated to one another whose lower vertex is articulated to the base and upper vertex is articulated to the bottom of the furniture or object to be lifted and the stopping device is an integral part of telescopic snap movement. However, the system seems short of providing an improved arrangement for changing different positions (say lifting or lowering) of a pump which may be easy and user-friendly. Further, there also seems to be no role of an improved foot of a pump which may make the system simple, efficient and less prone to downtime due to a large number and complex linking of movable parts of the system.

The German patent application DE102006016981 describes a submersible pump. The lower side of the housing of that pump forms feet that allow the pump to stand on a surface in operational mode. In addition to these feet the pump includes pivotably mounted foot parts that can be pivoted below the feet and into the inner side of the housing. Thus the foot parts can be pivoted-in or pivoted out with respect to the feet of the pump. By this action the pump housing and thus its water inlet can be lifted or lowered in respect to the surface it stand on. In the pivoted-in arrangement, the pivotably mounted foot part move into respective receiving spaces around bottom of the pump. Further, when in the receiving spaces, the pivotably mounted foot part are no longer visible or accessible from outside. This may make application of the pump with the pivotably mounted foot part cumbersome, and involve lifting/movement of the pump in order to access the pivotably mounted foot part. Further, the pump of the present application involves two-different “foots” i.e., the pivotably mounted foot part and the feet formed with the housing of the pump. The feet of the pump rest on the standing surface when the pivotably mounted foot part are pivoted-in (and not accessible therefor) into the respective receiving spaces. This arrangement with the two-different “foots” needs the user to shift the pump out of its operational position when wanting to manipulate the foot parts.

In a somewhat similar manner the Chinese utility model CN 201 568 282 U also describes a pump that has pivotable feet attached to its pump housing from underneath. These feet are connected to their respective housing via a hinge. The hinge and thus the coupling is sturdily secured by a securing element that is at the hinge screwed onto the base body after coupling. The feet of the pump can be pivoted between a first stabile position and a second stabile position in respect to the base body. Doing this changes the height of the pumps water inlet in respect to the ground when the pump is back in its operational position. Again accessing the feet from underneath the housing need to shift the pump out of its operational position.

Thus, there is a need for an improved pump which allows safe, convenient and trouble-free adjustments of heights of the pump.

SUMMARY

In view of the above, it is an objective of the present invention to solve or at least reduce the drawbacks discussed above. The objective is at least partially achieved by a pump having a pump housing and a foot. The foot includes a base body and a coupling structure coupled to the base body. The coupling structure includes a front panel that is configured to remain in a first stable position and a second stable position in respect to the base body. Herein, the front panel is accessible during the operational position of the pump from the side of its pump housing. The foot is characterized in that the base body rests on the foot in the first stable position and the second stable position. And, pushing and pulling of the foot keeps (or moves) it between the first stable position and the second stable position. Thus, the present disclosure provides a simple, efficient, and convenient foot to adjust different heights of the pump.

According to first embodiment of the present invention, a method of actuating the foot of the pump is provided. The method provides the coupling structure. The method includes the step of proving a first arm which is coupled to the base body at a first end. The method further includes providing a second arm which is coupled to the base body at a second end. Further, the method includes providing a third arm which is positioned to actuate both the first arm and the second arm. Moreover, the first arm, the second arm and the third arm are cooperatively movable relative to each other between the first stable position and the second stable position, such that the front panel is adapted to actuate the third arm to move against the first arm and the second arm. This helps in engagement of the front panel with the base body. A general bistable mechanism is described by U.S. patent 6,215,081 whether naming any exemplary use, in particular not for use for the feet of pumps, nor describing any featural additions necessary for a certain use case.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the coupling structure includes a first end and a second end. The first end of a coupling structure adapted to be pivotally coupled to the base body. The coupling structure is engaged with at least one of a first structural feature and a second structural feature defined on the base body. The coupling structure engages with the first structural feature in the first stable position and the coupling structure engages with the second structural feature in the second stable position of the coupling structure. This provide the foot with an ability to stay in the first stable position and the second stable position without power input and despite small external disturbances.

According to this second embodiment of the present invention, the front panel is coupled to the second end of the coupling structure. This allows free movement or actuation of the front panel by the common user.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first stable position corresponds to a first height of the pump base and the second stable position corresponds to a second height of the pump base. This may help in achieving the desired heights which are meant to suck/pump a large quantity of liquid in which the pump is submerged.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second height is greater than the second height. This may allow suction or pumping of liquid when the liquid level is relatively high.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first height and the second height are 1mm and 5mm respectively. This may allow the pump to force the liquid entry at both desired liquid heights.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the front panel include at least one tab. This may allow the front panel to get engaged with the base body. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the base body is structurally integrated with the pump. This may prevent strength to the foot of the pump.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the foot is removably coupled with the pump. This may allow assembly of the foot to the pump as per the applicational requirements of the common users.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first arm and the second arm are coupled by flexible hinges. As durability of the flexible hinges may allow repetitional movements of the foot. The flexible hinges may experience little friction when the first arm, the second arm, and the third arm are actuated. Further, the flexible hinges may typically result in a long service life. Moreover, an integration of the flexible hinges may eliminate the need of extra components.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first arm and the third arm are coupled by a snap connection. The snap connection may provide simple and cost -effective ways to assemble different parts of the foot.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the base body includes one or more recesses/grooves. This may allow assembly of the foot to the on remainder part of the pump housing through the one or more recesses/grooves.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the base body is engaged to the pump through the one or more recesses/grooves. This may connect the foot to the pump to form a single body.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the foot for a pump having a pump housing may be manufactured using a three-dimensional (3-D) printing process. Further, the present disclosure provides a data file, corresponding pre- stored instructions that include a digital representation of the foot, and that when run in a processor controlling an operation of three-dimensional printer makes the three-dimensional printer manufacture the foot. Use of three- dimensional printing (alternatively, 3D printing) may provide versatility of using different materials along with lower lead-time in manufacturing and design of the foot. An embodiment of the present invention also concerns a pump having a pump housing and have the claimed foot associated with it.

Other features and aspects of this invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a pump base with one or more feet, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2A illustrates a side view of the foot for the pump in a first stable position, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2B illustrates a front view of the foot for the pump in the first stable position, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate side and front views of the foot in a second stable position respectively, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate front and side views of another embodiment of the foot, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate front and side views of another embodiments of the foot in the first stable position, in accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate front and side views of another embodiments of the foot in the second stable position, in accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates the pump base in the first stable position, in accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 8 illustrates the pump base in the second stable position, in accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the invention incorporating one or more aspects of the present invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. For example, one or more aspects of the present invention may be utilized in other embodiments and even other types of structures and/or methods. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the invention. For example, "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "side", "longitudinal", "lateral", "transverse", "upwards", "downwards", "forward", "backward", "sideward", "left," "right," "horizontal," "vertical," "upward", "inner", "outer", "inward", "outward", "top", "bottom", "higher", "above", "below", "central", "middle", "intermediate", "between", "end", "adjacent", "proximate", "near", "distal", "remote", "radial", "circumferential", or the like, merely describe the configuration shown in the Figures. Indeed, the components may be oriented in any direction and the terminology, therefore, should be understood as encompassing such variations unless specified otherwise.

FIG. 1 illustrates a pump base 100 of a pump 150. The pump 150 is a mechanical device which pumps fluids such as liquids, gases, or sometimes slurries. The pump 150 may be used indoors or outdoors according to applicational needs of a common user. In the depicted example the pump 150 includes a handle 103 to lift or displace the pump 150. The body includes a water inlet 102 (not visible). The water inlet 102 is present at the bottom of the pump housing 105, that is at the bottom of its pump base 100 and allows a liquid to be sucked by the pump 150. Further, the pump 150 has an outlet 104. The outlet 104 discharges the liquid. The discharged liquid may be used to different applications such as irrigation, washing etc. FIG. 1 shows the pump 150 in its operational position that allows to suck water via its water inlet 102 (not visible) on the bottom of the pump housing 105 that find itself on the bottom of the pump 150 in its operational position. The pump housing 105 comprising a pump base 100 including one or more feet 106 or alternatively, foot 106. The one or more feet 106 are accessible during the normal operation of pump 150 from side of the pump housing 105. This allows to adjust desired heights of the pump 150 being in its operational position. The common user may need the pump 150 to get adjusted at different heights. The pump 150 at different heights may cater to different application requirements. Pushing and pulling of the foot (106) moves it between its first stable position and its second stable position. The pump base 100 may be an integral part of the pump housing 105 or may be assembled or disassembled with a pump housing 105 through one or more pump base connectors 132 connecting the pump base 100 to the remainder part of the pump housing 105.

In some embodiments, the one or more feet 106 may be manufactured by three-dimensional printing. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a data file, corresponding pre-stored instructions that include a digital representation of the foot 106, and that when run in a processor controlling an operation of three-dimensional printer makes the three-dimensional printer manufacture the foot 106. Use of three-dimensional printing (alternatively, 3D printing) may provide versatility of using different materials along with lower lead- time in manufacturing and design of the one or more feet 106.

In some embodiments, the one or more feet 106 may be made up of a material selected from steel, brass, stainless steel, aluminum or plastic. Nature of the material is chosen as per the requirements of the common user. The desired nature of the material provides the one or more feet 106 with certain characteristic features such as flexibility, elasticity, rigidity, heat or vibrations resistant properties.

FIG. 2A illustrates a side view of the foot 106 for the pump 150 in a first stable position. As from the point of clarity and consideration only one foot 106 is discussed in further figures. Another, one or more feet 106 may be similar or variant from the foot 106 described in the FIG. 2A. The foot 106 includes a base body 110. The foot 106 further includes a coupling structure 112. The coupling structure 112 is coupled to the base body 110. The base body 110 has a first end 116 and a second end 118. The coupling structure 112 allows the foot 106 to pivotally move between the first stable position and a second stable position (shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B respectively).

Moreover, the pump 150 further includes a front panel 114. The front panel 114 is actuated by a user to move the foot 106 between the first stable position and the second stable position. The front panel 114 includes a tab 120. The tab 120 allows an engagement (shown in FIGS.3A and 3B) and disengagement of the front panel 114 with the second end 118 of the base body 110. The foot 106 further includes a first arm 122, a second arm 124 and a third arm 126. The first arm 122 is coupled to the base body 110 at the first end 116. Further, the second arm 124 is coupled to the base body 110 at the second end 118. Moreover, the third arm 126 is positioned to actuate both the first arm 122 and the second arm 124. The first arm 122, the second arm 124 and the third arm 126 are cooperatively movable relative to each other between the first stable position and the second stable position.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the first arm 122 and the second arm 124 are coupled by one or more flexible hinges 128. As durability of the one or more flexible hinges 128 may allow repetitional movements of the foot 106. The one or more flexible hinges 128 may experience little friction when the first arm 122, the second arm 124, and the third arm 126 are actuated. Further, the one or more flexible hinges 128 may typically result in a long service life. An integration of the one or more living hinges 128 may eliminate the need of extra components. The first arm 122 and the third arm 126 are coupled by a snap connection 130. Moreover, the snap connection 130 may provide simple and cost-effective ways to assemble different parts of the foot 106.

FIG. 2B illustrates a front view of the foot 106 in the first stable position. The base body 110 is directly coupled to the pump 150. The foot 106 includes one or more recesses/grooves 132. This may connect the foot 106 to the pump 150 to form a single body. In some embodiments, the base body 110 is structurally integrated with the pump base 100. This may provide strength/ rigidity to the foot 106 of the pump 150. In some other embodiments, the foot 106 is removably coupled with the pump base 100. This may allow assembly or disassembly of the foot 106 with the pump base 100 as per the applicational requirements of the common users.

The base body 110 may engage with the pump base 100 through the one or more recesses/grooves 132. The base body 110 of the foot 106 may be engaged with the pump base 100 by both temporary and permanent means. The temporary connection may be done by gluing, screwing, tying with threads and the like. The permanent connection may be done by welding, riveting and any other fabrication technique which is used or known in the art. Alternatively, and additionally, the base body 110 and the pump base 100 may be connected by snap connections.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate side and front views of the foot 106 in the second stable position respectively. The front panel 114 is adapted to actuate the third arm 126 to move against the first arm 122 and the second arm 124. This helps in engagement of the front panel 114 with the base body 110. The actuation of the front panel 114 engages the tab 120 with the second end 118 of the base body 110. The front panel 114 may engage with the base body 110 by pressing or pushing the front panel 114 towards the base body 110. The front panel 114 may be actuated by pressing a top portion 133 of the front panel 114. The front panel 114 may engage with the base body 110 manually or by using simple tools. The second stable position of the front panel 114 with the base body 110 increases height of the pump 150 (shown in FIG. 8).

In some embodiments, the front panel 114 may be provided by some grooves. The grooves may help to actuate the front panel 114. The user may actuate the front panel 114 by inserting fingers into the grooves or by using some simple tool to actuate the front panel 114.

In some embodiments, the tab 120 may be made up of any material selected from one or more of a plastic, steel, nylon, rubber etc. The tab 120 may provide support to the front panel 114 to stay engaged with the second end 118 of the base body 110. In some embodiments, the second end 118 of the base body 110 may have some protrusions which may lock or engage with grooves present on the front panel 114. This arrangement may also provide firmness to the second stable position. Alternatively, or additionally, some designed structures may be present on the front panel 114. The designed structures may get engaged with complementary designed structures present on the second end 118 of the base body 110.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate front and side views of another embodiment of the present invention. The foot 106 includes a coupling structure 134. The coupling structure 134 includes a first end 136 and a second end 138. The coupling structure 134 further includes a first portion 140 towards the first end 136 of the coupling structure 134. Moreover, the coupling structure 134 includes a second portion 142 towards the second end 138 of coupling structure 134. The first end 136 of the coupling structure 134 is adapted to be pivotally coupled to the base body 110. The base body 110 of the foot 106 includes a first structural feature 144. Further, the base body 110 of the foot 106 includes a second structural feature 146. The coupling structure 134 engages with the first structural feature 144 in the first stable position and the coupling structure 134 engages with the second structural feature 146 in the second stable position. The base body 110 further includes a slanting portion 148. The coupling structure 134 engages at least one of the first structural feature 144 and the second structural feature 146 of the base body 110.

In some embodiments, the coupling structure 134 and the slanting portion 148 may be made up of three-dimensional printing. Use of three-dimensional printing (alternatively, 3D printing) may provide versatility of using different materials along with lower lead-time in manufacturing and design of the coupling structure 134 and the slanting portion 148. In some embodiments, the coupling structure 134 and the slanting portion 148 may be made up of a material selected from steel, brass, stainless steel, aluminum or plastic and the like.

FIGS. 5A and FIG. 5B illustrate front and side views of the foot 106 in the first stable position. The coupling structure 134 is engaged with the first structural feature 144 of the base body 110. The coupling structure 134 engages with the first structural feature 144 in the first stable position. The first end 136 of the coupling structure 134 may act as pivot for the engagement or disengagement of the front panel 114 with the first structural feature 144 and the second structural feature 146 (shown in FIG. 6A and 6B). The engagement of the front panel 114 with the first structural feature 144 and the second structural feature 146 may be done manually or by using some basic techniques used or known in the art.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate front and side views of the foot 106 in the second stable position. The coupling structure 134 is engaged with the second structural feature 146. The coupling structure 134 engages with the second structural feature 146 in the second stable position. The slanting portion 148 may provide support to the second portion 142 of the coupling structure 134 to stay engaged in the second stable position. The top portion 133 of the front panel 114 along with the tab 120 help to engage the front panel 114 with the second structural feature 146 of the base body 110. On actuating the front panel 114, the front panel 114 may engage with the first structural feature 144 and the second structural feature 146 as per the requirements.

In some embodiments, a control unit may be present to control different movements of the front panel 114. An increase or decrease in water level may be sensed by sensors present over the pump 150. The sensors may actuate the front panel 114 to move between the first stable position and the second stable position. On an increase in liquid level, the pump 150 may attain second stable position. Similarly, on lowering of liquid level, the pump 150 may attain the first stable position.

FIG. 7 illustrates the pump base 100 in the first stable position. The first stable position is attained by the pump 150, whenever the liquid level is quite low. The first stable position corresponds to a first height of the pump base 100. In an embodiment, the first height is 1mm. The first height of the pump 150 may help in sucking or pumping of water, even when the water level is quite low. FIGS. 2A, 2B and 5A, 5B corresponds to FIG. 7. The movement of the front panel 114 between the first stable position and the second stable position may eliminate need of external resources to lift or drop the pump 150. The front panel 114 may stay only in the first stable position and the second stable position. The front panel 114 may not stay in any intermediate position between the first stable position and the second stable position. Therefore, the front panel 114 may follow a bi- stabile mechanism. This may provide stability to the front panel 114 to stay in the first stable position and the second stable position without much power input and despite small external disturbances.

FIG. 8 illustrates the pump base 100 in the second stable position. The second stable position is attained by the pump 150, whenever the liquid level is quite high. With the feet of the pump in this second stable position that particles of a size by 5 mm can pass the pump. The second stable position corresponds to a second height of the pump base 100. In an embodiment, the second height is 5mm. The second height of the pump 150 may help in sucking or pumping of water, even when the water level is quite high. FIGS. 3A, 3B and 6A, 6B corresponds to FIG. 8. The second height is greater than the first height. The first height and the second height may allow the pump 150 to force the liquid entry at both desired liquid heights.

The present disclosure provides a method of actuating the foot 106 of the pump 150. The method provides the coupling structure 112 and includes the steps of providing the first arm 122 adapted to be coupled to the base body 110 at the first end 116. The method also includes providing the second arm 124 adapted to be coupled to the base body 110 at the second end 118. The method further includes proving the third arm 126 positioned to actuate both the first arm 122 and the second arm 124. The first arm 122, the second arm 124 and the third arm 126 are cooperatively movable relative to each other between the first stable position and the second stable position, such that the front panel 114 is adapted to actuate the third arm 126 to move against the first arm 122 and the second arm 124.

The present disclosure provides the pump 150 having the pump housing 105 and the foot 106. The foot 106 includes the base body 110. The foot 106 includes the coupling structure 112, 134 coupled to the base body 110. The coupling structure 112, 134 includes the front panel 114. The front panel 114 is configured to remain in the first stable position and the second stable position in respect to the base body 110. The front panel 114 is accessible during the operational position of the pump 150 from the side of its pump housing 105. The base body 110 rests on the foot 106 in the first stable position and the second stable position. And, pushing and pulling (or actuation, or engagement) of the foot 106 keeps it between the first stable position and the second stable position.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation of the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

LIST OF ELEMENTS

100 Pump Base

102 Water Inlet

103 Handle

104 Outlet

105 Pump Housing

106 Foot/ One or more feet

110 Base Body

112 Coupling Structure

114 Front Panel

116 First end

118 Second end

120 Tab

122 First Arm

124 Second Arm

126 Third Arm

128 One or more flexible hinges

130 Snap Connection

132 Pump Base Connectors

133 Top Portion

134 Coupling structure

136 First End

138 Second End

140 First Portion

142 Second Portion

144 First structural feature Second structural feature Slanting Portion Pump