FLUID PUMPING SYSTEM WITH A CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION

摘要

A technique for providing a water pumping system suitable for fighting wildfire, flood mediation, sewage transport, and the like is revealed. The system includes an internal combustion engine, a CVT with an input shaft and an output shaft, and a pump with an axial flow impeller. In one variation, multiple impeller stages are used and/or several systems are daisy-chained to provide for suitable delivery of water from its source. In another form, the system is carried by an all-terrain vehicle, side-by-side, or the like, to reach remote areas that need to move water to address a hazardous condition.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
providing a mobile water-pumping system to a selected site proximate to a water source, the system including: (a) an internal combustion engine, (b) a pump including an axial flow impeller positioned within a housing defining an intake and outlet, (c) a delivery conduit in sealed engagement with the outlet, and (d) a CVT including a power input shaft and an power output shaft; driving the power input shaft of the CVT with the internal combustion engine; rotating the axial flow impeller with the power output shaft of the CVT to operate the pump; mechanically governing selected operations of the system with the CVT, the CVT transferring power between the power input shaft and the power output shaft in accordance with a variable turn ratio, the CVT being responsive to change in power input shaft speed and power output shaft speed to adjust the variable turn ratio; and during the rotating of the axial flow impeller shaft, moving water from the water source through the intake and discharging the water through the delivery conduit to perform at least one of: (a) fighting fire with the water discharged from the delivery conduit, (b) wetting flammable matter in a designated area to establish a fire break, and (c) moving the water to abate an existing or threatened flood condition.