Mobile fluid pump unit with internal battery chamber

Abstract

Mobile fluid pump unit (1) comprising a bottom construction (10), a machine housing (50) on the bottom construction (10) that bounds a machine room (53), and inside the machine room (53) a fluid pump (101) and an electric motor (105) for driving the fluid pump (101), wherein the bottom construction (19) comprises a bottom container (11) with an internal battery chamber (17), an electric battery pack (106) with a battery pack top side (108) in the internal battery chamber (17), and a bottom shell (60) that covers the battery pack top side (108) and that bounds a bottom of the machine room (53), wherein the bottom shell (60) comprises a shell bottom wall (61) that extends above the battery pack top side (108), and that merges into a fluid collecting gutter (67), wherein the fluid collecting gutter (67) comprises a gutter bottom wall (65) that extends along the electric battery pack (106) and below the battery pack top side (108).

Description

[0001] P143418PC00

[0002] Mobile fluid pump unit with internal battery chamber

[0003] BACKGROUND

[0004] The invention relates to a mobile fluid pump unit comprising a bottom construction, a machine housing on the bottom construction that bounds a machine room, and inside the machine room a fluid pump and an electric motor for driving the fluid pump .

[0005] A known mobile fluid pump unit that is driven by an electric motor comprises multiple electric batteries that are mounted inside the machine room where they practically fit best . A number of electric batteries is for example mounted as a stack aside the fluid pump, and some electric batteries are mounted above, aside and under the fluid pump .

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] A disadvantage of the known mobile fluid pump unit is that the di fferent mounting positions of the electric batteries are a compromise between available space and protection of the electric batteries against fluid that may leak from the fluid pump and drop from it, for example when maintenance is performed on the fluid pump . Thereby the available space inside the machine room is inefficiently used .

[0008] It is an obj ect of the present invention to provide a mobile fluid pump unit of abovementioned type, in which the available space is ef ficiently used for housing the electric batteries .

[0009] The invention provides a fluid pump unit comprising a bottom construction, a machine housing on the bottom construction that bounds a machine room, and inside the machine room a fluid pump and an electric motor for driving the fluid pump, wherein the bottom construction comprises a bottom container having a bottom wall , and a front wall , a rear wall , a left side wall and a right side wall that extend upwards from the bottom wall and surround an internal battery chamber, an electric battery pack with a battery pack top side in the internal battery chamber, and a bottom shell that covers the battery pack top side and that bounds a bottom of the machine room, wherein the bottom shell comprises a shell bottom wall that extends above the battery pack top side , and that merges into a fluid collecting gutter, wherein the fluid collecting gutter comprises a gutter bottom wall that extends along the electric battery pack at a level below the battery pack top side .

[0010] The mobile fluid pump unit according to the invention comprises a bottom construction with a bottom container and an internal battery chamber in which a battery pack is provided . The bottom construction comprises a bottom shell that covers the battery pack top side and that bounds a bottom of the machine room . The bottom shell may thereby fully protect the electric battery pack inside the bottom construction against fluid that leaks and drops from the fluid pump . The fluid flows into the fluid collecting gutter . As the gutter bottom wall extends at a level below the battery pack top side and aside the electric battery pack, the shell bottom wall bounds a deep machine room for the fluid pump that can be efficiently used for the fluid pump .

[0011] In an embodiment the bottom shell comprises a fluid separation wall that extends upright inside the fluid collecting gutter and that bounds a fluid separation chamber . In an embodiment thereof the bottom shell comprises a fluid drain that is connected with the fluid separation chamber, wherein the fluid drain has an outflow opening to the outside of the bottom container .

[0012] In an embodiment the fluid separation wall comprises a fluid separation wall bottom opening at the gutter bottom wall , and a higher fluid separation wall top edge that limits a fluid level inside the fluid collecting gutter . This embodiment is preferred when the leaked fluid is water that may be contaminated with lubricants such as oil . The fluid accumulates in the fluid collecting gutter, wherein it enters the fluid separation chamber via the fluid separation wall bottom opening . As from a first fluid level in which the fluid separation wall bottom opening is fully submerged, the contamination that forms a top layer of the fluid, for example the lubricant that floats on the water, is blocked by the fluid separation wall from entering the fluid separation chamber, in this manner the contamination remains enclosed in the fluid collecting gutter without being drained off to outside the bottom container .

[0013] In an embodiment thereof the bottom shell comprises an overflow inlet that extends upright inside the fluid separation chamber, wherein the overflow inlet comprises an overflow top edge at a vertical height between the fluid separation wall bottom opening and the fluid separation wall top edge . The overflow inlet ensures that the fluid separation wall bottom opening remains submerged to keep the contamination that forms the top layer of the fluid behind in the fluid collecting gutter . In addition it ensures that this contamination flows over the fluid separation wall top edge .

[0014] In an embodiment the bottom shell comprises a shell side wall that bounds an end of the fluid collecting gutter, wherein the fluid separation wall extends spaced apart from the shell side wall and bounds the fluid separation chamber together with the fluid separation wall . In an embodiment wherein the bottom construction comprises an installation channel under the fluid collecting gutter that extends along the battery pack . The installation channel may be used for the electric wiring to the electrical batteries . The fluid collecting gutter covers the installation channel whereby it may fully protect the electric wiring against fluid that leaks and drops from the fluid pump .

[0015] In an embodiment the bottom construction comprises ventilation channels towards the internal battery chamber in any one of the front wall , the rear wall , the left side wall and the right side wall .

[0016] In an embodiment the bottom construction comprises a skid frame having li fting pockets .

[0017] In an embodiment the battery pack comprises one or more electric batteries .

[0018] In an embodiment the battery pack comprises multiple electric batteries aside each other .

[0019] In an embodiment the machine housing comprises multiple access openings towards the machine room that are closed off with access doors .

[0020] The various aspects and features described and shown in the specification can be applied, individually, wherever possible . These individual aspects , in particular the aspects and features described in the attached dependent claims , can be made subj ect of divisional patent applications .

[0021] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached drawings , in which :

[0023] Figure 1 is an isometric side view of a mobile fluid pump unit according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0024] Figure 2 is an isometric side view of the mobile fluid pump unit of figure 1 , of which some parts have been removed to show a bottom construction of the fluid pump unit ;

[0025] Figures 3A and 3B are an isometric side view and a cross section of the bottom construction of the mobile fluid pump unit of figures 1 and 2 ;

[0026] Figure 4 is an exploded view of the bottom construction as shown in figures 3A and 3B; and

[0027] Figures 5A and 5B are an isometric view and a cross section of a separation tray of the bottom structure of figures 3A and 3B .

[0028] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] Figure 1 shows a mobile fluid pump unit 1 according to an embodiment of the invention . Here a "mobile fluid pump unit" is understood to mean a fluid pump that is configured to be temporarily used at various locations , for various pumping tasks . The mobile fluid pump unit 1 can for instance be used at a building site for keeping it dry, or for water drainage in case of calamities such as floods , or for testing and certifying fire extinguishing water distribution tubes that are permanently installed in buildings by flushing water therethrough over a prescribed timespan and at a prescribed flow rate . The mobile fluid pump unit 1 comprises a bottom construction 10 and a machine housing 50 on the bottom construction 10 . The machine housing 50 has multiple access openings 51 that are closed off with access doors 52 .

[0030] In figure 2 , the access doors 52 have been removed for illustrative purposes . The machine housing 50 bounds a machine room 53 . The mobile fluid pump unit 1 comprises a pump installation 100 in the machine room 53 that is supported by the bottom construction 10 . The pump installation 100 comprises a fluid pump 101 , a fluid inlet 102 and a fluid outlet 103 that end outside the machine housing 50 to be connected to fluid hoses on site , an electric motor 105 for driving the fluid pump 101 , an electric controller inside an internal cabinet 54 , and an electric battery pack 106 as shown in figure 4 to power the electric motor 105 . The electric battery pack 106 comprises at least one electric battery 107 , in this example multiple electric batteries 107 aside each other, having a flat battery pack top side 108 and electric battery terminals 109 all at the same side of the electric battery pack 106.

[0031] The bottom construction 10 is shown in more detail in figures 3A, 3B and 4 . As best shown in figure 4 , the bottom construction 10 comprises a steel bottom container 11 . The bottom container 11 comprises a skid frame 12 that is formed with a straight, rectangular bottom wall 13 , two parallel side beams 14 and two parallel rectangular lifting beams 15 there between under the bottom wall 13 that form parallel fork tine li fting pockets 16 for lifting the mobile fluid pump unit 1 by means of a fork lift truck . The bottom container 11 comprises a front wall

[0032] 20 and a rear wall 21 that extend parallel to each other and upwards from the bottom wall 13 , and a left side wall 30 and a right side wall 31 transverse thereto that are welded to the bottom wall 13 , the front wall 20 and the rear wall 21 . The front wall 20 and the rear wall 21 both comprise a straight lower wall section 22 that merges downwardly into the bottom wall 13 and upwardly into an outwardly proj ecting reinforcement profile 23 . The outwardly proj ecting reinforcement profile 23 merges upwardly into a straight upper wall section 24 that extends parallel to the straight lower wall section 22 .

[0033] The bottom container 11 comprises multiple reinforcement struts 25 behind the front wall 20 and the rear wall 21 that are welded to the bottom wall 13 and the respective straight lower wall section 22 and the straight upper wall section 24 . The front wall 20 and the rear wall

[0034] 21 both comprise multiple ventilation channels 28 through the straight upper wall sections 24 that are covered by a proj ecting top cover 26 and two proj ecting side covers 27 that merge into the outwardly proj ecting reinforcement profile 23 .

[0035] The bottom container 11 comprises a front support profile 35 that merges into the front wall 20 and a rear support profile 36 that merges into the rear wall 21 . The front support profile 35 and the rear support profile 36 are supported by the reinforcement struts 25 . The bottom container 11 comprises a left support profile 37 that merges into the left side wall 30 and a right support profile 38 that merges into the right side wall 31 . The front support profile 35, the rear support profile 36, the left support profile 37 and the right support profile 38 extend in the same plane . The bottom container 11 forms one rigid unity that bounds an internal battery chamber 17 .

[0036] As best shown in figure 4 , the bottom construction 10 comprises on the bottom wall 13 a rectangular bottom electric battery pad 41 that is made of a flexible material , for example rubber . The electric battery pack 106 stands on the electric battery pad 41 in the internal battery chamber 17 , wherein the electric battery pad 41 is larger than the footprint of the electric battery pack 106. The bottom construction 10 comprises a top electric battery pad 42 above the electric battery pack 106 that is made of a flexible material . The top electric battery pad 42 comprises a rectangular first electric battery pad section 43 on the electric battery pack 106 in the internal battery chamber 17 that is larger than the footprint of the electric battery pack 106, and an elongate second electric battery pad section 44 under a downward angle therewith .

[0037] As shown in figures 5A and 5B, the bottom construction 10 comprises a steel bottom shell 60 that is supported along its circumference by the front support profile 35 , the rear support profile 36, the left support profile 37 and the right support profile 38 . The bottom shell 60 comprises a straight shell bottom wall 61 that is formed with a plate . The shell bottom wall 61 merges via an upright shell rear wall 62 into a rear mounting profile 63 that is mounted to the rear support profile 36 of the bottom container 11 by means of not shown bolts . At the opposite side the shell bottom wall 61 merges into an inner gutter side wall 64 . The inner gutter side wall 64 merges via a gutter bottom wall 65 that extends parallel to the shell bottom wall 61 into an outer gutter side wall 66 to define a fluid collecting gutter 67 that extends along the longest side of the shell bottom wall 61 . The outer gutter side wall 66 merges into a front mounting profile 68 that is mounted to the front support profile 35 of the bottom container 11 by means of not shown bolts . The bottom shell 60 comprises a shell left side wall 70 and a shell right side wall 71 that extend along the shell bottom wall 61 and that form the ends of the fluid collecting gutter 67 .

[0038] The bottom shell 60 comprises inside the fluid collecting gutter 67 a left fluid separation wall 73 spaced apart from the shell left side wall 70 that merges under an angle into a left deviation wall 74 on the shell bottom wall 61 and that is at its end connected with the shell left side wall 70 . The left fluid separation wall 73 has a left fluid separation wall top edge 75 that extends at about the vertical height of the shel f bottom wall 61 , and two left fluid separation wall bottom openings 76 that are partly bound by the gutter bottom wall 65. The left fluid separation wall 73 , the shell left side wall 70 , the inner gutter side wall 64 , the gutter bottom wall 65 and the outer gutter side wall 66 together bound a left fluid separation chamber 77 inside the fluid collecting gutter 67 . The bottom shell 60 comprises a left overflow inlet 78 that is in this example embodied as a hollow tube . The left overflow inlet 78 proj ects upwards from the gutter bottom wall 65 and is connected via a hole in the gutter bottom wall 65 to a left overflow drain connector 80 under the gutter bottom wall 65 . The left overflow inlet 78 has a left overflow top edge 79 at a vertical height under the left fluid separation wall top edge 75 . The left overflow drain connector 80 is connected to a not shown fluid drain hose having a fluid outflow opening to the outside of the bottom container 11 , in this example under the skid frame 12 .

[0039] The bottom shell 60 comprises inside the fluid collecting gutter 67 a right fluid separation wall 83 spaced apart from the shell right side wall 71 that merges under an angle into a right deviation wall 84 on the shell bottom wall 61 and that is at its end connected with the shell right side wall 71 . Like the left fluid separation wall 73 , the right fluid separation wall 83 has a right fluid separation wall top edge 85 that extends at about the vertical height of the shelf bottom wall 61 , and two right fluid separation wall bottom openings 86 that are partly bound by the gutter bottom wall 65 . The right fluid separation wall 83 , the shell right side wall 71 , the inner gutter side wall 64 , the gutter bottom wall 65 and the outer gutter side wall 66 together bound a right fluid separation chamber 87 inside the fluid collecting gutter 67 . The bottom shell 60 comprises a right overflow inlet 88 that is in this example embodied as a hollow tube . The right overflow inlet 88 proj ects upwards from the gutter bottom wall 65 and is connected via a hole in the gutter bottom wall 65 to a right overflow drain connector 90 under the gutter bottom wall 65. The right overflow inlet 88 has a not shown right overflow top edge at a vertical height under the right fluid separation wall top edge 85. The right overflow drain connector 90 is connected to a not- shown fluid drain hose having a fluid outflow opening to the outside of the bottom container 11 , in this example under the skid frame 12 .

[0040] As best shown in figure 3B, the mounted bottom shell 60 covers the bottom container 11 . The shell bottom wall 61 of the mounted bottom shell 60 contacts the top electric battery pad 42 on the electric battery pack 106 and bounds the upper side of the internal battery chamber 17 . The gutter bottom wall 65 extends vertically below the battery pack top side 108 . The bottom shell 60 extends under the fluid pump 101 .

[0041] When maintenance is performed on the fluid pump 101 , it happens that fluid leaks and drops from it . The fluid usually contains water that may be contaminated with lubricants such as oil . The leaked fluid falls onto the shell bottom wall 61 and flows into the fluid collecting gutter 67 , wherein the left deviation wall 74 and the right deviation wall 84 prevent the fluid from entering the left fluid separation chamber 77 and the right fluid separation chamber 87 . The fluid accumulates in the fluid collecting gutter 67 , wherein it enters the left fluid separation chamber 77 and the right fluid separation chamber 87 via the respective left fluid separation wall bottom openings 76 and right fluid separation wall bottom openings 86.

[0042] As from a first fluid level S in which the left fluid separation wall bottom openings 76 and right fluid separation wall bottom openings 86 are fully submerged, the contamination that forms a top layer of the fluid, for example the lubricant that floats on the water, is blocked by the left fluid separation wall 73 and the right fluid separation wall 83 from entering the respective left fluid separation chamber 77 and the right fluid separation chamber 87 . As from a higher second fluid level F of the separated fluid in which the left overflow top edge 79 and the right overflow top edge 89 is reached, the separated fluid is drained off via the left overflow drain connector 80 and the right overflow drain connector 90 . The left overflow inlet 78 and the right overflow inlet 88 ensure that the left fluid separation wall bottom openings 76 and right fluid separation wall bottom openings 86 remain fully submerged . The left overflow inlet 78 and the right overflow inlet 88 ensure that the fluid level in the fluid collecting gutter 67 remains below the left fluid separation wall top edge 75 and the right fluid separation wall top edge 85 whereby the contamination that forms the top layer of the fluid remains behind in the fluid collecting gutter 67 .

[0043] The bottom shell 60 fully protects the electric battery pack 106 inside the bottom construction 10 against fluid that leaks and drops from the fluid pump 101 . As the gutter bottom wall 65 extends vertically below the battery pack top side 108 and thereby aside the electric battery pack 106, the shell bottom wall 61 bounds a deep machine room 53 for the fluid pump 100 . Below the fluid collecting gutter 67 an installation chamber 18 is present to connect electric cables to the battery terminals 109 . As the electric battery pack 106 is fully enclosed in the bottom construction 10 , the center of gravity of the mobile fluid pump unit 1 is located relatively low, in particular when compared to prior art electric battery powered mobile fluid pump units in which electric batteries are fitted at random and high places inside the machine housing .

[0044] It is to be understood that the above description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention . From the above discussion, many variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art that would yet be encompassed by the scope of the present invention .

Claims

C L A I M S1 . Mobile fluid pump unit comprising a bottom construction, a machine housing on the bottom construction that bounds a machine room, and inside the machine room a fluid pump and an electric motor for driving the fluid pump, wherein the bottom construction comprises a bottom container having a bottom wall , and a front wall , a rear wall , a left side wall and a right side wall that extend upwards from the bottom wall and surround an internal battery chamber, an electric battery pack with a battery pack top side in the internal battery chamber, and a bottom shell that covers the battery pack top side and that bounds a bottom of the machine room, wherein the bottom shell comprises a shell bottom wall that extends above the battery pack top side , and that merges into a fluid collecting gutter, wherein the fluid collecting gutter comprises a gutter bottom wall that extends along the electric battery pack at a level below the battery pack top side .2 . Mobile fluid pump unit according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom shell comprises a fluid separation wall that extends upright inside the fluid collecting gutter and that bounds a fluid separation chamber .3 . Mobile fluid pump unit according to claim 2 , wherein the bottom shell comprises a fluid drain that is connected with the fluid separation chamber, wherein the fluid drain has an outflow opening to the outside of the bottom container .4 . Mobile fluid pump unit according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein the fluid separation wall comprises a fluid separation wall bottom opening at the gutter bottom wall , and a higher fluid separation wall top edge that limits a fluid level inside the fluid collecting gutter .

5. Mobile fluid pump unit according to claim 4 ,wherein the bottom shell comprises an overflow inlet that extends upright inside the fluid separation chamber, wherein the overflow inlet comprises an overflow top edge at a vertical height between the fluid separation wall bottom opening and the fluid separation wall top edge .

6. Mobile fluid pump unit according to any one of the claims 2-5, wherein the bottom shell comprises a shell side wall that bounds an end of the fluid collecting gutter, wherein the fluid separation wall extends spaced apart from the shell side wall and bounds the fluid separation chamber together with the fluid separation wall .7 . Mobile fluid pump unit according to any one of the preceding claims , wherein the bottom construction comprises an installation channel under the fluid collecting gutter that extends along the battery pack .8 . Mobile fluid pump unit according to any one of the preceding claims , wherein the bottom construction comprises ventilation channels towards the internal battery chamber in any one of the front wall , the rear wall , the left side wall and the right side wall .

9. Mobile fluid pump unit according to any one of the preceding claims , wherein the bottom construction comprises a skid frame having li fting pockets .10 . Mobile fluid pump unit according to any one of the preceding claims , wherein the battery pack comprises one or more electric batteries .11 . Mobile fluid pump unit according to claim 10 , wherein the battery pack comprises multiple electric batteries aside each other .12 . Mobile fluid pump unit according to any one of the preceding claims , wherein the machine housing comprises multiple access openings towards the machine room that are closed off with access doors .-o- o-o-o-o- o-o-o-FG / HZ

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