Abstract: A liquid processing apparatus comprised of a housing comprising a bottom wall, a side wall, and a central wall dividing a volume enclosed by the bottom wall and side wall into a treatment chamber and a discharge chamber; and a cartridge disposed in the treatment chamber. The cartridge may be comprised of a base wall and a lateral wall forming a media chamber, and a plurality of passageways through at least one of the base wall and side wall rendering the media chamber in communication with the treatment chamber. A treatment medium is contained in the media chamber. The cartridge may be comprised of a plurality of divider walls partitioning the media chamber into media compartments. The housing may be further comprised of a plurality of locating walls extending vertically upward from the bottom wall of the housing and between the divider walls of the cartridge.

Abstract: A liquid pump comprising a motor housing, a motor, a volute housing joined to the motor housing, and upper and lower seals contained in the volute housing. The motor housing has a motor housing side wall including a distal end joined to the volute housing. The motor includes a rotatable shaft that extends into the volute housing. The volute housing includes an upper volute wall having a major portion in direct fluid communication with the motor housing volume, thereby enabling a high rate of heat transfer from the motor to the fluid in the volute that is being pumped. In that manner, the pump has dual seal capability that reduces the risk of motor damage due to a seal failure, while also having a high rate of heat transfer out of the motor housing, which reduces the risk of failure of the motor from operating at a high temperature.

Abstract: A pump cartridge comprising an external housing including a lateral wall, a first fin extending from a first side of the lateral wall, and a second fin extending from a second side of the lateral wall. The second side of the lateral wall may be opposite the first side of the lateral wall, such that the fins are on opposite sides of the lateral wall. The pump cartridge may be part of a pumping system further comprised of a chassis comprising a pump basin including an interior side wall, a first tab extending inwardly from the interior side wall, and a second tab extending inwardly from the interior side wall and opposed to the first tab. The first fin of the cartridge is reversibly engageable with the first tab of the chassis and the second fin of the cartridge is reversibly engageable with the second tab of the chassis.

Abstract: A pump comprising a volute housing, a rotatable shaft, and an impeller. The volute housing comprises a volute cavity side wall, an upper cylindrical wall, and an upper wall. The upper cylindrical wall extends upwardly from an upper perimeter edge and includes an upper recessed notch formed therein. The upper wall extends radially inwardly from the upper cylindrical wall. The rotatable impeller is operatively coupled to the rotatable shaft and comprises a top cylindrical wall and a top flange. The top cylindrical wall extends upwardly from a top perimeter edge of the top flange and includes a top recessed notch formed therein. The top cylindrical wall is separated from the upper cylindrical wall of the volute housing by an upper annular gap. The top recessed notch of the rotatable impeller and the upper recessed notch of the volute housing may be slot-shaped or wedge-shaped.

Abstract: A liquid processing apparatus comprised of a housing comprising a bottom wall, a side wall, and a central wall dividing a volume enclosed by the bottom wall and side wall into a treatment chamber and a discharge chamber; and a cartridge disposed in the treatment chamber. The cartridge may be comprised of a base wall and a lateral wall forming a media chamber, and a plurality of passageways through at least one of the base wall and side wall rendering the media chamber in communication with the treatment chamber. A treatment medium is contained in the media chamber. The cartridge may be comprised of a plurality of divider walls partitioning the media chamber into media compartments. The housing may be further comprised of a plurality of locating walls extending vertically upward from the bottom wall of the housing and between the divider walls of the cartridge.

Abstract: A pump cartridge comprising an external housing including a lateral wall, a first fin extending from a first side of the lateral wall, and a second fin extending from a second side of the lateral wall. The second side of the lateral wall may be opposite the first side of the lateral wall, such that the fins are on opposite sides of the lateral wall. The pump cartridge may be part of a pumping system further comprised of a chassis comprising a pump basin including an interior side wall, a first tab extending inwardly from the interior side wall, and a second tab extending inwardly from the interior side wall and opposed to the first tab. The first fin of the cartridge is reversibly engageable with the first tab of the chassis and the second fin of the cartridge is reversibly engageable with the second tab of the chassis.

Abstract: A pump comprising a volute housing, a rotatable shaft, and an impeller. The volute housing comprises a volute cavity side wall, an upper cylindrical wall, and an upper wall. The upper cylindrical wall extends upwardly from an upper perimeter edge and includes an upper recessed notch formed therein. The upper wall extends radially inwardly from the upper cylindrical wall. The rotatable impeller is operatively coupled to the rotatable shaft and comprises a top cylindrical wall and a top flange. The top cylindrical wall extends upwardly from a top perimeter edge of the top flange and includes a top recessed notch formed therein. The top cylindrical wall is separated from the upper cylindrical wall of the volute housing by an upper annular gap. The top recessed notch of the rotatable impeller and the upper recessed notch of the volute housing may be slot-shaped or wedge-shaped.

Abstract: A cutting assembly and a grinder pump including the cutting assembly are disclosed. The cutting assembly includes a cutting plate that has a plurality of cutting ports with cutting edges that are distributed over a range of radial locations of the plate. The cutting edges of the cutting ports define a series of cutting regions of the cutting blades of a rotary cutter that operate in a shearing action with the cutter plate. The cutting action by the blades of the rotary cutter is distributed over nearly the entire lengths of the cutting edges of the cutting blades, thereby distributing the wear on the cutting blades evenly, and extending cutting assembly life.

Abstract: A liquid pump comprising a motor housing, a motor, a volute housing joined to the motor housing, and upper and lower seals contained in the volute housing. The motor housing has a motor housing side wall including a distal end joined to the volute housing. The motor includes a rotatable shaft that extends into the volute housing. The volute housing includes an upper volute wall having a major portion in direct fluid communication with the motor housing volume, thereby enabling a high rate of heat transfer from the motor to the fluid in the volute that is being pumped. In that manner, the pump has dual seal capability that reduces the risk of motor damage due to a seal failure, while also having a high rate of heat transfer out of the motor housing, which reduces the risk of failure of the motor from operating at a high temperature.

Abstract: A pump for pumping liquids containing entrained solids. The pump is comprised of a volute surrounding an impeller comprising vanes that are self-cleaning. The outer surfaces of the vanes are coplanar and define a first plane and have a leading edge. The volute is comprised of a planar mating surface defining a second plane parallel to the first plane of the rotary impeller. The planar mating surface is proximate to the outer surfaces of the vanes and is comprised of a plurality of channels extending radially from the inner perimeter to the outer perimeter thereof. Each channel includes a forward edge in the direction of impeller rotation. The channels are oriented such that when the impeller is rotated within the volute, for any vane, the leading edge of the vane traverses each channel progressively from the inner end of the channel to the outer end of the channel.

Abstract: A liquid pump including a motor housing, a motor, a volute housing joined to the motor housing, and upper and lower seals contained in the volute housing. The motor housing has a motor housing side wall including a distal end joined to the volute housing. The motor includes a rotatable shaft that extends into the volute housing. The volute housing includes an upper volute wall having a major portion in direct fluid communication with the motor housing volume, thereby enabling a high rate of heat transfer from the motor to the fluid in the volute that is being pumped. In that manner, the pump has dual seal capability that reduces the risk of motor damage due to a seal failure, while also having a high rate of heat transfer out of the motor housing, which reduces the risk of failure of the motor from operating at a high temperature.

Abstract: A liquid level control module comprising an elongated tubular housing immersible through a surface of a liquid and into a bulk volume of the liquid, and first, second, and third electrical switches, and first and second floats movable along the tubular housing. The first electrical switch is disposed within a lower portion of the tubular housing, the second electrical switch is disposed within an intermediate portion of the tubular housing, and the third electrical switch is disposed within an upper portion of the tubular housing. Each of the switches has an open state and a closed state. Motion of the first float relative to the first switch changes its state. Motion of the second float relative to the second switch changes its state, and motion of the second float relative to the third switch changes its state. Thus a two-float module may provide three level control signals.

Abstract: A visually observable display comprising a circuit board including at least one illuminator emitting light outwardly from a surface of the board, a light transmissive display window pane operable to receive light at an inner surface and transmit the light through an outer surface, and an insert disposed between the illuminator and the display window pane. The insert comprises an elongated light distributing conduit receiving light from the at least one illuminator at a first location in a direction substantially perpendicular to the display window pane, distributing the light transversely through the light conduit along the inner surface of the display window pane, and redirecting the distributed light outwardly along an outer wall of the conduit and outwardly through the window pane. The display may include multiple light illuminators emitting light outwardly from the board surface and into the light distributing conduit at discrete locations along the conduit.

Abstract: A cutting assembly and a grinder pump including the cutting assembly are disclosed. The cutting assembly includes a cutting plate that has a plurality of cutting ports with cutting edges that are distributed over a range of radial locations of the plate. The cutting edges of the cutting ports define a series of cutting regions of the cutting blades of a rotary cutter that operate in a shearing action with the cutter plate. The cutting action by the blades of the rotary cutter is distributed over nearly the entire lengths of the cutting edges of the cutting blades, thereby distributing the wear on the cutting blades evenly, and extending cutting assembly life.

Abstract: A liquid level control module comprising an elongated tubular housing immersible through a surface of a liquid and into a bulk volume of the liquid, and first, second, and third electrical switches, and first and second floats movable along the tubular housing. The first electrical switch is disposed within a lower portion of the tubular housing, the second electrical switch is disposed within an intermediate portion of the tubular housing, and the third electrical switch is disposed within an upper portion of the tubular housing. Each of the switches has an open state and a closed state. Motion of the first float relative to the first switch changes its state. Motion of the second float relative to the second switch changes its state, and motion of the second float relative to the third switch changes its state. Thus a two-float module may provide three level control signals.

Abstract: A visually observable display comprising a circuit board including at least one illuminator emitting light outwardly from a surface of the board, a light transmissive display window pane operable to receive light at an inner surface and transmit the light through an outer surface, and an insert disposed between the illuminator and the display window pane. The insert comprises an elongated light distributing conduit receiving light from the at least one illuminator at a first location in a direction substantially perpendicular to the display window pane, distributing the light transversely through the light conduit along the inner surface of the display window pane, and redirecting the distributed light outwardly along an outer wall of the conduit and outwardly through the window pane. The display may include multiple light illuminators emitting light outwardly from the board surface and into the light distributing conduit at discrete locations along the conduit.

Abstract: A pump for pumping liquids containing entrained solids. The pump is comprised of a volute surrounding an impeller comprising vanes that are self-cleaning. The outer surfaces of the vanes are coplanar and define a first plane and have a leading edge. The volute is comprised of a planar mating surface defining a second plane parallel to the first plane of the rotary impeller. The planar mating surface is proximate to the outer surfaces of the vanes and is comprised of a plurality of channels extending radially from the inner perimeter to the outer perimeter thereof. Each channel includes a forward edge in the direction of impeller rotation. The channels are oriented such that when the impeller is rotated within the volute, for any vane, the leading edge of the vane traverses each channel progressively from the inner end of the channel to the outer end of the channel.