Sump pump strainer and platform assembly
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/871,138, filed Apr. 20, 1992. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a sump pump assembly which is located in a sump pit and is positioned to receive drain water through drain tiles located around a residence or other establishment. It is particularly directed to such an assembly that is designed to prevent clogging of the sump pump used to evacuate the drain water, which clogging problem is inherent in existing systems. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It has been conventional to use strainer assemblies located in a sump pit into which drain water and other residue, such as mud, leaves, rocks, etc., are introduced along with drain water. A typical type of an arrangement that is used is a basket which is provided with elongated circumferentially spaced openings to allow the water to flow therethrough while preventing the introduction of large objects from contacting the pump inlet. Such arrangements are unsatisfactory if along with the rain water there are small particles of varying kinds of residues that are small enough to go through the openings of the strainer constructions. Such materials can find their way into the inlet of the pump and clog the same, thus requiring that the pump be cleaned very frequently, or under severe conditions require that the pump be periodically replaced. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, there are provided several novel embodiments of assemblies to prevent mud, leaves, and other debris from clogging up the intake of a sump pump. In one arrangement, there is employed a strainer basket assembly to prevent introduction of particulates, such as mud, leaves, rocks, and so forth, into the interior of a basket area in which the sump pump is located. 
     The sump pump pumps the drain water out through a discharge pipe secured thereto. The strainer basket is provided at its lower portion with a screen having relatively small openings which will effectively preclude the introduction of the aforementioned foreign materials. By preventing these materials from being introduced into the strainer basket they will not be conveyed to the inlet of the pump, thus clogging the pump and making cleaning and/or replacement of the pump necessary. In the event the screen becomes clogged, the strainer basket can be readily removed, cleaned, and replaced without damage thereto. 
     In another embodiment, there is provided a strainer platform on which the sump pump is located, which platform supports the sump pump in an elevated area and permits rocks and debris to be collected in an area beneath the sump pump and then directed away from the sump into the bottom of the sump pit. The platform can be used within a strainer basket assembly or it can be used separate or apart from a strainer basket, in which event it would include a strainer portion disposed thereabove to help to further minimize the introduction of mud, rocks, leaves, and so forth, into the area adjoining the inlet of the sump pump. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention can best be understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the strainer basket assembly; 
     FIG. 2 is a view showing the strainer basket located in place in a sump pit and having located therein a sump pump. 
     FIG. 3 is a second embodiment in which the sump pump is located on a platform; 
     FIG. 4 is an embodiment in which the platform is provided with a screen portion to replace the basket in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the platform; and 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the platform shown in FIG. 5. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the present invention embodies various forms, there are shown in the drawings that will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
     Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a sump pit located below the ground level 10. The sump pit 12 has disposed therein the novel strainer basket assembly 14 which is provided with elongated openings 16 through which the drain water flows into the interior thereof. The strainer basket is located on a catch tray 18 within the sump pit 12. Leading into the sump pit are drain tiles 20,22 through which the drain water and associated mud, leaves, rocks, etc. flow. 
     Located within the strainer basket 14 is the pump 24 having inlet 26 and a pump discharge pipe outlet 28. Thus, water received from the drain tile through the strainer basket will be pumped out of the sump pit by the pump 24 through the discharge pipe 28. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the strainer basket is provided around its lower portion with a screen 30 to prevent the introduction of mud, leaves, rocks, etc., into the interior of the strain basket, which could cause clogging of the pump and ultimate replacement thereof, or at the very least result in a decreased efficiency in its operation. 
     In addition, in the case of drain tile 22, through which water and associated debris can flow into the sump pit above the level of the strainer, there is provided a clip-on shield 32 that directs the water and associated debris downwardly into the bottom of the sump pit 12. The sump pit is covered by the cover 34. 
     Referring now to another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, there is shown an embodiment in which the pump 24 is located on a platform 40 which supports the pump above the level of the sump pit. The platform 40 is shown in detail in FIG. 5, wherein it contains a plurality of supports 44 on which the pump 24 rests. The platform consists of a downwardly sloped upper wall 47 that includes a central opening 48 located below the level of the pump inlet on which the rocks and other debris accumulate and fall through the hole 48 into the annular chamber 46 formed between the wall 47 and the outwardly sloped lower wall 49. The material in the annular chamber 46 moves outwardly and then falls through the circumferentially spaced openings 50 in the bottom wall 49 of the platform 40 where it will fall to the bottom of the pit. The platform is supported relative to the pit by the legs 42. 
     Thus, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, it can be seen that when the material comes in through the passages 22, normally the screen 30 will filter out a lot of the rocks and debris which will fall to the bottom into the catch tray 18. Rocks and so forth that enter the basket will drop onto the platform 40 and move toward the center thereof, drop through the opening 48 and flow outwardly through the chamber 46 and through the openings 50 into the bottom of the pit. 
     In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the outer basket can be dispensed with and the platform is provided with a screen portion 60 secured to the outer periphery of the platform and extending thereabove. Thus, material will tend to be screened out by the screen 60, but any material entering past the screen will drop down onto the platform 40 through the opening 48 and out the chamber 46 and openings 50 into the bottom of the sump pit. 
     It is intended to cover by the following claims all embodiments which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.