Abstract: An improved liquid manure agitating and pumping apparatus for alternatively pumping and agitating liquid manure in a manure pit and including a housing having an impeller disposed therewithin and a motor situated on the housing for rotation of the impeller. The housing has an opening for fluidly communicating with the liquid manure in the pit and a discharge outlet. A sliding gate valve has a stationary guide plate with an opening in fluid communication with the discharge outlet and a sliding gate in sliding cooperation with the stationary guide plate. The sliding gate has a discharge pipe for connection with a suitable conduit to discharge the liquid manure out of the pit. A handle assembly is attached to the sliding gate for moving the sliding gate between a pumping position wherein the discharge outlet is in fluid communication with the discharge pipe and an agitating position wherein the discharge outlet is positioned for fluid communication with the manure in the pit.

Abstract: An apparatus for agitating a fluid that contains a sludge-like material which is stored in an enclosure, such as a pit, storage tank or pond, includes an elongated frame with a motor and a propeller pivotally mounted within a guard at a lower end of the frame, a linkage assembly attached at one end to the motor and the propeller, and a handle pivotally mounted at an upper end of the frame and connected to the other end of the linkage assembly. The motor and propeller are pivotally mounted so that the propeller is pivotable in a generally vertical direction between a first position, generally along the axis of the frame, and a second upward position, angularly displaced from the first position, for directing the agitation caused by the propeller. In addition, the motor and propeller are mounted within the guard so that the propeller is prevented from hitting the floor of the enclosure when the apparatus is rotated about its longitudinal axis.