Abstract: An amphibious pumping vehicle has a floatable vehicle body, a ground engaging propulsion structure, a fluid pump, a plurality of fluid nozzles comprising a first fluid nozzle connected by a fluid conduit to the fluid pump and at least one second fluid nozzle connected to the fluid conduit, a valve structure in the fluid conduit, the plurality of fluid nozzles and the valve structure co-operating to provide directional control and motive power for the vehicle when floating, and a power source configured to provide power to both the ground engaging propulsion structure and the fluid pump.

Abstract: A fluid pump having at least two pump heads in series permits pumping fluid at both high pressure and high volumetric rate. Each pump head has at least two fluid conduits in fluid communication with a housing, the housing containing an impeller for drawing fluid through an inlet in the housing and moving the fluid through the fluid conduits. The at least two fluid conduits of one pump head combine fluid flow at the inlet of a neighboring pump head to provide a single flow of fluid through the inlet into the neighboring pump head. A drive structure passing through the inlets between two pump heads is configured to commonly drive the impellers in the housing of each pump head.

Abstract: An amphibious pumping vehicle comprising: a floatable vehicle body; ground engaging propulsion structure configured to raise and lower relative to the vehicle body; a fluid pump; a first fluid nozzle configured to direct fluid through the air, the fluid nozzle connected by a fluid conduit to the fluid pump; and, a power source configured to provide power to both the ground engaging propulsion structure and the fluid pump. The vehicle is particularly well suited to pumping and recirculating fluid within manure lagoons and is able to be driven up out of the lagoon when the lagoon level has been lowered.

Abstract: A system and method that automatically transfer liquid manure from an intermediate holding receptacle to a lagoon involves a common pump for both agitating the liquid manure in and pumping the liquid manure from the receptacle. A pump motor, first valve, second valve and directable agitation nozzle of the pump are controlled by an electronic controller. The electronic controller switches on the pump motor, ensures that the first valve is closed and ensures that the second valve is open when the receptacle is full, directs the nozzle to at least two different locations in the receptacle to permit liquid manure to be redirected to the at least two different locations to agitate the liquid manure for a predetermined period of time, and opens the first valve after the predetermined period of time to permit pumping of the liquid manure from the receptacle to the lagoon.

Abstract: A pump for immersion in a fluid reservoir has an extensible body and a fluid conduit. The length of the pump may be varied in order to accommodate a variety of reservoir fluid heights. The pump may be pivotable relative to at least a portion of a frame in order that the entrance angle may be adjusted. The pump has a bottom housing with a bottom inlet and at least two, preferably at least three, tangential fluid outlets that are upwardly angled towards the conduit. The outlets may be merged with the fluid conduit. An impeller within the housing is shaped to transfer fluid tangentially and upwardly within the housing to co-operate with the upward angle of the outlets. These features reduce fluid pressure loss and thereby increase fluid flow rate through the pump for a given input power.

Abstract: A pump energy optimization method comprises determining the fluid output of a plurality of pumps and adjusting an energy modulating structure of each pump until both of the following conditions are met: i) a target fluid output is achieved; and, ii) total energy consumption of the plurality of pumps is minimized. An apparatus comprising input and output structure, an operator interface and a microprocessor is also provided for implementing the method.

Abstract: A pump is provided for immersion in a fluid reservoir, such as a pit or lagoon containing liquid manure, from a position at an edge of the reservoir. The pump may be adapted for connection to a farm vehicle, such as a tractor, positioned at the edge of the reservoir. The pump comprises an extensible body, fluid conduit and drive means in order that a length of the pump may be varied in order to accommodate a variety of reservoir fluid heights. In addition, the pump may be pivotable relative to at least a portion of a frame in order that the entrance angle may be adjusted. The pump may comprise a housing with an inlet and an outlet, the outlet in fluid communication with the fluid conduit. An impeller within the housing may direct fluid from the inlet to the outlet in the housing.

Abstract: An amphibious pumping vehicle comprising: a floatable vehicle body; ground engaging propulsion structure configured to raise and lower relative to the vehicle body; a fluid pump; a first fluid nozzle configured to direct fluid through the air, the fluid nozzle connected by a fluid conduit to the fluid pump; and, a power source configured to provide power to both the ground engaging propulsion structure and the fluid pump. The vehicle is particularly well suited to pumping and recirculating fluid within manure lagoons and is able to be driven up out of the lagoon when the lagoon level has been lowered.

Abstract: A pump for immersion in a fluid reservoir, such as a pit or lagoon containing liquid manure, from a position at an edge of the reservoir. The pump may be adapted for connection to a farm vehicle, such as a tractor, positioned at the edge of the reservoir. The pump comprises an extensible body, fluid conduit and drive means in order that a length of the pump may be varied in order to accommodate a variety of reservoir fluid heights. In addition, the pump may be pivotable relative to at least a portion of a frame in order that the entrance angle may be adjusted. The pump comprises a bottom housing with a bottom inlet and at least two tangential fluid outlets that are upwardly angled towards the conduit. A combiner is provided to merge the outlets with the fluid conduit. An impeller within the housing is shaped to transfer fluid tangentially and upwardly within the housing to co-operate with the upward angle of the outlets.

Abstract: A pump for immersion in a fluid reservoir has an extensible body, fluid conduit and drive in order that a length of the pump may be varied in order to accommodate a variety of reservoir fluid heights. In addition, the pump may be pivotable relative to at least a portion of a frame in order that the entrance angle may be adjusted. The pump has a bottom housing with a bottom inlet and at least two tangential fluid outlets that are upwardly angled towards the conduit. A combiner is provided to merge the outlets with the fluid conduit. An impeller within the housing is shaped to transfer fluid tangentially and upwardly within the housing to co-operate with the upward angle of the outlets. These features reduce fluid pressure loss and thereby increase fluid flow rate through the pump for a given input power.

Abstract: A pump for immersion in a fluid reservoir, such as a pit or lagoon containing liquid manure, from a position at an edge of the reservoir. The pump may be adapted for connection to a farm vehicle, such as a tractor, positioned at the edge of the reservoir. The pump comprises an extensible body, fluid conduit and drive means in order that a length of the pump may be varied in order to accommodate a variety of reservoir fluid heights. In addition, the pump may be pivotable relative to at least a portion of a frame in order that the entrance angle may be adjusted. The pump comprises a bottom housing with a bottom inlet and at least two tangential fluid outlets that are upwardly angled towards the conduit. A combiner is provided to merge the outlets with the fluid conduit. An impeller within the housing is shaped to transfer fluid tangentially and upwardly within the housing to co-operate with the upward angle of the outlets.

Abstract: A liquid manure spreader is described which comprises a frame having a plurality of frame portions and having articulation means between each frame portion for permitting relative movement of each frame portion in response to directional changes of the liquid manure spreader. Such an arrangement facilitates turning of the liquid manure spreader. The liquid manure spreader also comprises two or more liquid manure tanks which are in fluid communication with each other. A pump may be used to re-circulate the liquid manure between the tanks, transfer the liquid manure to a spreader means, or both. Liquid manure can also be transferred between the tanks to thereby achieve a pre-determined weight distribution between the tanks. Such a fluid arrangement permits better weight distribution leading to better handling of the manure spreader.

Abstract: A liquid manure spreader is described which comprises a frame having a plurality of frame portions and having articulation means between each frame portion for permitting relative movement of each frame portion in response to directional changes of the liquid manure spreader. Such an arrangement facilitates turning of the liquid manure spreader. The liquid manure spreader also comprises two or more liquid manure tanks which are in fluid communication with each other. A pump may be used to re-circulate the liquid manure between the tanks, transfer the liquid manure to a spreader means, or both. Liquid manure can also be transferred between the tanks to thereby achieve a pre-determined weight distribution between the tanks. Such a fluid arrangement permits better weight distribution leading to better handling of the manure spreader.