US 12,486,920 B2Granted

Siphon systems and vacuum pumps

OwnerThomas Falkland Gardinerinventor

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Abstract

A vacuum pump for use with a siphon system to continuously purge gases that accumulate in a high point of the siphon system, or for priming the inlet to a pump, or to create vacuum for another purpose. Siphon systems require regular purging of gases when operating for long periods of time. The vacuum pump provides a mechanism that operates in a cycling manner. A first stage of the cycle involves filling a chamber using a pressurised liquid supply, and purging all gases from the chamber. A second stage involves isolating the chamber from the surrounding environment, and then allowing the liquid in the chamber to drain into the siphon system, while at the same time gases from within the siphon system are allowed to enter the chamber. Once the liquid has drained from the chamber, the chamber is isolated from the siphon system, and the liquid filling stage is repeated. Continual cycling of this process can purge the siphon system of gases, or be used to produce a vacuum for other purposes.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A vacuum pump for removing gases from a system, the vacuum pump comprising:

a transfer chamber,
a pressurised liquid inlet configured to allow pressurised liquid to enter the transfer chamber, wherein the pressurised liquid inlet is controlled by a liquid inlet valve,
a liquid outlet configured to allow liquid to be transferred from the transfer chamber and into the system, wherein the liquid outlet is controlled by a liquid outlet valve,
a gas outlet configured to allow gases to be expelled from the transfer chamber, wherein the gas outlet is controlled by a gas outlet valve, and
a gas inlet configured to allow gases to enter the transfer chamber from the system,
wherein the gas inlet is controlled by a gas inlet valve,
wherein:
the vacuum pump is configured such that the liquid outlet and the gas inlet are in communication with the system from which gases are to be removed;
the liquid outlet valve is operated by at least one outlet valve flotation device;
the vacuum pump is configured such that pressurised liquid entering the transfer chamber via the pressurised liquid inlet is directed onto an upper surface of the outlet valve flotation device;
and
the liquid inlet valve comprises a valve control mechanism that is operated by an inlet valve operating mechanism, and the inlet valve operating mechanism comprises at least one float operatively connected to the valve control mechanism, wherein the inlet valve operating mechanism comprises:
a high-level float situated at or adjacent an upper part of the transfer chamber, a low-level sinker or weight situated at or adjacent a lower part of the transfer chamber, and
a primary buoyancy float or float assembly situated between the high-level float and the low-level sinker or weight.

11 more elements

A vacuum pump for removing gases from a system, the vacuum pump comprising:

a transfer chamber,
a pressurised liquid inlet configured to allow pressurised liquid to enter the transfer chamber, wherein the pressurised liquid inlet is controlled by a liquid inlet valve,
a liquid outlet configured to allow liquid to be transferred from the transfer chamber and into the system, wherein the liquid outlet is controlled by a liquid outlet valve,
a gas outlet configured to allow gases to be expelled from the transfer chamber, wherein the gas outlet is controlled by a gas outlet valve, and
a gas inlet configured to allow gases to enter the transfer chamber from the system, wherein the gas inlet is controlled by a gas inlet valve,
wherein:
the vacuum pump is configured such that the liquid outlet and the gas inlet are in communication with the system from which gases are to be removed;
the liquid outlet valve is operated by at least one outlet valve flotation device;
the vacuum pump is configured such that pressurised liquid entering the transfer chamber via the pressurised liquid inlet is directed onto an upper surface of the outlet valve flotation device;
and
the vacuum pump further comprises at least one equalisation port or passage configured to allow a pressure within the transfer chamber to equalise to a pressure within the system when the liquid inlet and liquid outlet are closed.

8 more elements

A vacuum pump for removing gases from a system, the vacuum pump comprising:

a transfer chamber,
a pressurised liquid inlet configured to allow pressurised liquid to enter the transfer chamber, wherein the pressurised liquid inlet is controlled by a liquid inlet valve,
a liquid outlet configured to allow liquid to be transferred from the transfer chamber and into the system, wherein the liquid outlet is controlled by a liquid outlet valve,
a gas outlet configured to allow gases to be expelled from the transfer chamber, wherein the gas outlet is controlled by a gas outlet valve, and
a gas inlet configured to allow gases to enter the transfer chamber from the system, wherein the gas inlet is controlled by a gas inlet valve,
wherein:
the vacuum pump is configured such that the liquid outlet and the gas inlet are in communication with the system from which gases are to be removed;
the liquid outlet valve is operated by at least one outlet valve flotation device;
the vacuum pump is configured such that pressurised liquid entering the transfer chamber via the pressurised liquid inlet is directed onto an upper surface of the outlet valve flotation device;
the at least one outlet valve floatation device comprises a piston;
the piston is substantially positively buoyant:
and a force exerted by the pressurised liquid directed onto the upper surface of the outlet valve flotation device is sufficient to overcome the substantially positive buoyancy of the piston.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.