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 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 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 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 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 pump for pumping liquids containing entrained solids. The pump includes 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 includes 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 includes 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 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 macerating apparatus for a toilet in which the problem of jamming the macerator at startup is solved by rapidly detecting the flushing of the toilet and accelerating the macerator before motion-jamming solid objects in the effluent from the toilet can reach the macerator. The macerating apparatus may be comprised of a macerating cutter operatively connected to a motor, and a sensor in communication with the motor. The sensor may detect the flow of effluent from the toilet toward the macerator, the flow of makeup water from the supply tank into the toilet, or the mechanical action of the mechanism used to flush the toilet. The apparatus may include an intake basket having an asymmetric inlet tube and containing the macerating cutter, wherein the asymmetry of the inlet tube provides additional operating clearance between a cutting blade of the macerating cutter and the intake basket.

Abstract: A basin for use in liquid handling, such as sewage handling. The basin is comprised of a bottom wall, a side wall, and an open top, and a hanging feature formed in the body of the basin. A basin assembly for liquid handling may include the basin, and a hanging member suspended from the hanging feature within the basin. One or more level switches may be attached to the hanging member. A sewage handling system may include the basin assembly, a top cover fastenable to the open top of the basin, and a pump disposed in the basin.

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 macerating apparatus for a toilet in which the problem of jamming the macerator at startup is solved by rapidly detecting the flushing of the toilet and accelerating the macerator before motion-jamming solid objects in the effluent from the toilet can reach the macerator. The macerating apparatus may be comprised of a macerating cutter operatively connected to a motor, and a sensor in communication with the motor. The sensor may detect the flow of effluent from the toilet toward the macerator, the flow of makeup water from the supply tank into the toilet, or the mechanical action of the mechanism used to flush the toilet. The apparatus may include an intake basket having an asymmetric inlet tube and containing the macerating cutter, wherein the asymmetry of the inlet tube provides additional operating clearance between a cutting blade of the macerating cutter and the intake basket.

Abstract: A pump having anti-airlock provisions. The pump is comprised of a volute comprised of a volute wall, and an impeller comprising back vanes on a side of the impeller that is proximate to the volute wall, with the back vanes having a length extending radially outwardly along the impeller. A bleed hole is formed in the volute wall in communication with the portion of the volute between the back vanes and the volute wall, and the exterior of the volute, such that the bleed hole is located midway along the length of the back vanes. When the pump is operating with air, liquid, or a combination of air and liquid in the volute, the bleed hole is under positive pressure with respect to the exterior of the volute. The bleed hole may be in communication with the exterior of the volute through a lateral tunnel formed in the pump.

Abstract: A basin for use in liquid handling, such as sewage handling. The basin is comprised of a bottom wall, a side wall, and an open top, and a hanging feature formed in the body of the basin. A basin assembly for liquid handling may include the basin, and a hanging member suspended from the hanging feature within the basin. One or more level switches may be attached to the hanging member. A sewage handling system may include the basin assembly, a top cover fastenable to the open top of the basin, and a pump disposed in the basin.

Abstract: A macerating apparatus for a toilet in which the problem of jamming the macerator at startup is solved by rapidly detecting the flushing of the toilet and accelerating the macerator before motion-jamming solid objects in the effluent from the toilet can reach the macerator. The macerating apparatus may be comprised of a macerating cutter operatively connected to a motor, and a sensor in communication with the motor. The sensor may detect the flow of effluent from the toilet toward the macerator, the flow of makeup water from the supply tank into the toilet, or the mechanical action of the mechanism used to flush the toilet. The apparatus may include an intake basket having an asymmetric inlet tube and containing the macerating cutter, wherein the asymmetry of the inlet tube provides additional operating clearance between a cutting blade of the macerating cutter and the intake basket.

Abstract: A pump having anti-airlock provisions. The pump is comprised of a volute comprised of a volute wall, and an impeller comprising back vanes on a side of the impeller that is proximate to the volute wall, with the back vanes having a length extending radially outwardly along the impeller. A bleed hole is formed in the volute wall in communication with the portion of the volute between the back vanes and the volute wall, and the exterior of the volute, such that the bleed hole is located midway along the length of the back vanes. When the pump is operating with air, liquid, or a combination of air and liquid in the volute, the bleed hole is under positive pressure with respect to the exterior of the volute. The bleed hole may be in communication with the exterior of the volute through a lateral tunnel formed in the pump.

Abstract: A macerating apparatus for a toilet in which the problem of jamming the macerator at startup is solved by rapidly detecting the flushing of the toilet and accelerating the macerator before motion-jamming solid objects in the effluent from the toilet can reach the macerator. The macerating apparatus may be comprised of a macerating cutter operatively connected to a motor, and a sensor in communication with the motor. The sensor may detect the flow of effluent from the toilet toward the macerator, the flow of makeup water from the supply tank into the toilet, or the mechanical action of the mechanism used to flush the toilet. The apparatus may include an intake basket having an asymmetric inlet tube and containing the macerating cutter, wherein the asymmetry of the inlet tube provides additional operating clearance between a cutting blade of the macerating cutter and the intake basket.