	US 11,448,224 C2 (13,229th)
	Pump for immersion within a fluid reservoir
Ian Nuhn, Stratford (CA)
Filed by Nuhn Industries Ltd., Sebringville (CA)
Assigned to NUHN INDUSTRIES LTD., Sebringville (CA)
Reexamination Request No. 90/019,482, Apr. 15, 2024.
Reexamination Certificate for Patent 11,448,224, issued Sep. 20, 2022, Appl. No. 17/743,610, May 13, 2022.
Reexamination Certificate C1 11,448,224, issued Feb. 2, 2024.
Application 90/019,482 is a continuation of application No. 17/021,323, filed on Sep. 15, 2020, abandoned.
Application 17/021,323 is a continuation of application No. 16/053,331, filed on Aug. 2, 2018, granted, now 10,808,707.
Application 16/053,331 is a continuation of application No. 15/063,566, filed on Mar. 8, 2016, granted, now 10,066,629.
Application 15/063,566 is a continuation of application No. 14/570,504, filed on Dec. 15, 2014, granted, now 9,488,190.
Application 14/570,504 is a continuation of application No. 13/038,189, filed on Mar. 1, 2011, granted, now 8,944,758.
Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate issued on Apr. 6, 2026.
Int. Cl. F04D 7/04 (2006.01); A01C 3/02 (2006.01); A01C 3/06 (2006.01); A01C 23/00 (2006.01); A01C 23/04 (2006.01); F04D 3/00 (2006.01); F04D 7/02 (2006.01); F04D 13/02 (2006.01); F04D 13/08 (2006.01); F04D 25/06 (2006.01); F04D 29/24 (2006.01); F04D 29/42 (2006.01); F04D 29/46 (2006.01); F04D 29/60 (2006.01); F04D 29/62 (2006.01)

CPC F04D 7/04 (2013.01) [A01C 3/026 (2013.01); A01C 3/06 (2013.01); A01C 23/002 (2013.01); A01C 23/005 (2013.01); A01C 23/045 (2013.01); F04D 3/00 (2013.01); F04D 7/02 (2013.01); F04D 13/02 (2013.01); F04D 13/08 (2013.01); F04D 29/24 (2013.01); F04D 29/4293 (2013.01); F04D 29/466 (2013.01); F04D 29/607 (2013.01); F04D 29/628 (2013.01)]

AS A RESULT OF REEXAMINATION, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT:

Claim 11 is cancelled.

Claims 1, 3, 4, 7, 10, 14, 16, 17 and 20 are determined to be patentable as amended.

Claims 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 18 and 19, dependent on an amended claim, are determined to be patentable.

New claims 21-53 are added and determined to be patentable.

1. A liquid manure pump for immersion in a liquid manure reservoir comprising:

a frame;

a pump body connected to the frame [ , the pump body having a bottom end and a top end] ;

a fluid conduit mounted on the pump body [ , the fluid conduit having a longitudinal axis] ;

a housing located at a [ the ] bottom end of the pump body, the housing comprising a [ single ] fluid inlet and at least two tangential fluid outlets [ , the single fluid inlet facing away from the top end of the pump body, and the at least two tangential fluid outlets comprising a first tangential fluid outlet and a second tangential fluid outlet] ;

a combiner for creating a fluid connection between the at least two [ tangential ] fluid outlets and the fluid conduit;

[ at least two outlet conduits comprising a first outlet conduit and a second outlet conduit, the first outlet conduit connected to the first tangential fluid outlet and the combiner, the second outlet conduit connected to the second tangential fluid outlet and the combiner, the first outlet conduit comprising a first open end in fluid communication with the first tangential fluid outlet, a second open end in fluid communication with the combiner, and a central axis from the first open end to the second open end, the central axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis at the second open end, and the second outlet conduit comprising a first open end in fluid communication with the second tangential fluid outlet, a second open end in fluid communication with the combiner, and a central axis from the first open end to the second open end, the central axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis at the second open end;]

a drive shaft mounted on the pump body;

an [ a single ] impeller connected to the drive shaft and located within the housing, the drive shaft providing motive power to the [ single ] impeller to direct ~~the~~ liquid [ manure ] from the [ single fluid ] inlet to the at least two [ tangential ] fluid outlets; and,

a rotatable agitator nozzle, in fluid communication with at least one fluid outlet, for directing a portion of the liquid manure outwardly from the pump, the agitator nozzle comprising a valve for controlling liquid manure flow rate through the [ agitator ] nozzle, the valve rotatable with the agitator nozzle.

3. The pump of claim 2, wherein the combiner is located near a [ the ] top [ end ] of the pump [ body] .

4. The pump of claim 1, wherein the combiner is located near a [ the ] top [ end ] of the pump [ body] .

7. The pump of claim 5, wherein the combiner is located near a [ the ] top [ end ] of the pump [ body] .

10. The pump of claim 1, wherein the combiner comprises gradual bends to reduce likelihood of pressure loss of the liquid manure [ , the combiner located downstream of the housing and upstream of the agitator nozzle] .

14. The pump of claim 1, wherein the [ single ] impeller directs the liquid [ manure ] tangentially within the housing from the [ single fluid ] inlet to the at least two [ tangential ] fluid outlets.

16. The pump of claim 14, wherein the combiner is located near a [ the ] top [ end ] of the pump [ body] .

17. The pump of claim 15, wherein the combiner is located near a [ the ] top [ end ] of the pump [ body] .

20. The pump of claim 18, wherein the combiner is located near a [ the ] top [ end ] of the pump [ body] .

[ 21. The pump of claim 1, wherein the pump body comprises a telescoping pump body and the fluid conduit comprises a telescoping fluid conduit, and wherein the pump body and the fluid conduit are extensible along the longitudinal axis.]

[ 22. The pump of claim 21, further comprising a hydraulic body cylinder configured to change the length of the pump body and the fluid conduit.]

[ 23. The pump of claim 21, wherein the drive shaft is a telescoping drive shaft.]

[ 24. The pump of claim 23, further comprising a hydraulic body cylinder configured to change the length of the pump body, the fluid conduit, and the drive shaft.]

[ 25. The pump of claim 1, wherein the first outlet conduit and the second outlet conduit each have one or more gradual bends.]

[ 26. The pump of claim 1, wherein the first outlet conduit and the second outlet conduit each have one or more gradual bends.]

[ 27. The pump of claim 1, wherein the impeller comprises at least one vane, the at least one vane comprises:

a flat portion perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the impeller; and

a plate perpendicular to the flat portion, the plate increasing in area toward a center of the impeller.]

[ 28. The pump of claim 27, wherein the plate has a curved edge.]

[ 29. The pump of claim 27, wherein the plate is along a lower edge of the vane.]

[ 30. The pump of claim 27, wherein the at least one vane further comprises a curved portion that is curved forwardly in the direction of rotation of the impeller, whereby the area of the curved portion increases progressively with distance from a center of the impeller.]

[ 31. The pump of claim 1, further comprising:

a first sun gear, a first moon gear engaged with the first sun gear, and a first motor, the first sun gear, the first moon gear, and the first motor configured to rotate the rotatable agitator nozzle at least partially around the longitudinal axis; and

a second sun gear, a second moon gear engaged with the second sun gear, and a second motor, the second sun gear, the second moon gear, and the second motor configured to rotate the rotatable agitator nozzle around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.]

[ 32. The pump of claim 31, wherein one or more of the first motor and the second motor is a hydraulic motor.]

[ 33. A liquid manure pump for immersion in a liquid manure reservoir comprising:

a frame;

a pump body connected to the frame, the pump body having a bottom end and a top end;

a fluid conduit mounted on the pump body, the fluid conduit extending along a longitudinal axis;

a housing located at the bottom end of the pump body, the housing comprising a top, a bottom, a single fluid inlet, and at least two tangential fluid outlets, the top of the housing connected to the bottom end of the pump body and the single fluid inlet in the bottom of the housing, the at least two tangential fluid outlets comprising a first tangential fluid outlet and a second tangential fluid outlet, wherein at least a portion of each of the first tangential fluid outlet and the second tangential fluid outlet are angled toward the top end of the pump body;

at least two outlet conduits, the at least two outlet conduits comprising a first outlet conduit and a second outlet conduit, the first outlet conduit connected to the first tangential fluid outlet, and the second outlet conduit connected to the second tangential fluid outlet;

a combiner for creating a fluid connection between the at least two tangential fluid outlets, the at least two outlet conduits, and the fluid conduit, the first outlet conduit comprising a first open end in fluid communication with the first tangential fluid outlet, a second open end in fluid communication with the combiner, and a central axis from the first open end to the second open end, the central axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis at the second open end, and the second outlet conduit comprising a first open end in fluid communication with the second tangential fluid outlet, a second open end in fluid communication with the combiner, and a central axis from the first open end to the second open end, the central axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis at the second open end;

a drive shaft mounted on the pump body;

a single impeller connected to the drive shaft and located within the housing, the drive shaft providing motive power to the single impeller to direct liquid manure from the single fluid inlet to the at least two tangential fluid outlets; and,

a rotatable agitator nozzle, in fluid communication with at least one fluid outlet, for directing a portion of the liquid manure outwardly from the pump, the agitator nozzle comprising a valve for controlling liquid manure flow rate through the agitator nozzle, the valve rotatable with the agitator nozzle, the combiner located downstream of the housing and upstream of the agitator nozzle.]

[ 34. The pump of claim 29, wherein the single fluid inlet is centrally located in the bottom of the housing and has a diameter at least a third of the diameter of the housing.]

[ 35. The pump of claim 33, wherein the combiner comprises gradual bends to reduce likelihood of pressure loss of the liquid manure.]

[ 36. The pump of claim 33, wherein the frame comprises:

a first portion pivotally connected to a second portion, the first portion connected to the pump body, the pump body pivoting about the second portion when the first portion pivots; and,

a pivot cylinder connected to the first and second portions, actuation of the pivot cylinder causing the first portion to pivot relative to the second portion thereby adjusting an angular relationship between the pump body and horizontal.]

[ 37. The pump of claim 33, wherein the first outlet conduit and the second outlet conduit each have one or more gradual bends.]

[ 38. The pump of claim 33, wherein the impeller comprises at least one vane, the at least one vane comprises:

a flat portion perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the impeller; and

a plate perpendicular to the flat portion, the plate increasing in area toward a center of the impeller.]

[ 39. The pump of claim 38, wherein the plate has a curved edge.]

[ 40. The pump of claim 38, wherein the plate is along a lower edge of the vane.]

[ 41. The pump of claim 38, wherein the at least one vane further comprises a curved portion that is curved forwardly in the direction of rotation of the impeller, whereby the area of the curved portion increases progressively with distance from a center of the impeller.]

[ 42. The pump of claim 33, further comprising:

[ 43. The pump of claim 42, wherein one or more of the first motor and the second motor is a hydraulic motor.]

[ 44. A liquid manure pump for immersion in a liquid manure reservoir comprising:

a frame;

a fluid conduit, the fluid conduit having a longitudinal axis, the fluid conduit comprising a first fluid conduit portion and a second fluid conduit portion, the first fluid conduit portion and the second fluid conduit portion configured to move relative to one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis;

a pump body connected to the frame, the pump body comprising a first pump body portion, a second pump body portion, a bottom end, and a top end, the first pump body portion and the second pump body portion configured to move relative to one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the bottom end on the first pump body portion, and the top end on the second pump body portion, the fluid conduit mounted on the pump body with the second fluid conduit portion and the second pump body portion in a fixed position relative to one another;

a housing located at the bottom end of the pump body, the housing comprising a top, a bottom, a fluid inlet, and at least two tangential fluid outlets, the top of the housing connected to the first pump body portion at the bottom end of the pump body, the fluid inlet in the bottom of the housing, the at least two tangential fluid outlets comprising a first tangential fluid outlet and a second tangential fluid outlet;

a combiner for creating a fluid connection between the at least two tangential fluid outlets and the fluid conduit;

at least two outlet conduits comprising a first outlet conduit and a second outlet conduit, the first outlet conduit connected to the first tangential fluid outlet, the second outlet conduit connected to the second tangential fluid outlet, the first outlet conduit comprising a first open end in fluid communication with the first tangential fluid outlet, a second open end in fluid communication with the combiner, and a central axis from the first open end to the second open end, the central axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis at the second open end, and the second outlet conduit comprising a first open end in fluid communication with the second tangential fluid outlet, a second open end in fluid communication with the combiner, and a central axis from the first open end to the second open end, the central axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis at the second open end;

a drive shaft mounted on the pump body;

a single impeller connected to the drive shaft and located within the housing, the drive shaft providing motive power to the single impeller to direct liquid manure from the fluid inlet to the at least two tangential fluid outlets; and,

a rotatable agitator nozzle, in fluid communication with at least one fluid outlet, for directing a portion of the liquid manure outwardly from the pump, the agitator nozzle comprising a valve for controlling liquid manure flow rate through the agitator nozzle, the valve rotatable with the agitator nozzle.]

[ 45. The pump of claim 44, wherein the first fluid conduit portion, the first pump body portion, the housing, and the combiner are in a fixed longitudinal position relative to one another and are configured to move longitudinally relative to the second fluid conduit portion and the second pump body portion.]

[ 46. The pump of claim 44, wherein the combiner comprises gradual bends to reduce likelihood of pressure loss of the liquid manure.]

[ 47. The pump of claim 44, wherein the frame comprises:

a first portion pivotally connected to a second portion, the first portion connected to the pump body, the pump body pivoting about the second portion when the first portion pivots; and,

[ 48. The pump of claim 44, wherein the impeller comprises at least one vane, the at least one vane comprises:

a flat portion perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the impeller; and

a plate perpendicular to the flat portion, the plate increasing in area toward a center of the impeller.]

[ 49. The pump of claim 48, wherein the plate has a curved edge.]

[ 50. The pump of claim 48, wherein the plate is along a lower edge of the vane.]

[ 51. The pump of claim 48, wherein the at least one vane further comprises a curved portion that is curved forwardly in the direction of rotation of the impeller, whereby the area of the curved portion increases progressively with distance from a center of the impeller.]

[ 52. The pump of claim 34, further comprising:

[ 53. The pump of claim 52, wherein one or more of the first motor and the second motor is a hydraulic motor.]