US 4,249,559 A · Reliable trap filling device for siphon apparatus

Abstract

In a siphon apparatus having at least two legs with a liquid trap therebetween, a liquid holding chamber is provided which communicates with the liquid trap through a restrictive orifice and which fills the liquid trap after the siphon is used, thereby insuring a liquid seal for the next use of the siphon. An overflow device is provided for the liquid trap which cooperates with a trigger mechanism to fill the liquid trap to a predetermined level at the same time assuring the filling of the trigger mechanism. The trigger device may be connected to a plurality of siphons, whereby each siphon flushes simultaneously when a predetermined level is reached in a tank which is to be discharged thereby. Preferably the siphons are conchoidally or spirally shaped, and the holding chamber comprises an inner void thereof. Also the siphon is designed to concentrate head losses near the discharge thereof by bell-shaping the inlet, progressively reducing the cross-sectional area of the legs of the siphon toward the outlet, and by reducing the radius of elbows toward the outlet.

Claims27

Dependent claims

In a liquid siphon apparatus adapted for discharging liquid from a tank, said siphon apparatus having at least two legs and a liquid trap communicating between said legs and allowing liquid flow from one of said legs to the other of said legs, a device for insuring the filling of said liquid trap after discharge of liquid from said tank comprising:

(a) liquid holding means independent from said tank and defining a periodically submerged liquid holding chamber elevated above at least a lower portion of said liquid trap;
(b) flow means providing flow communication between said holding chamber and liquid in said liquid trap so as to substantially fill said holding chamber with liquid as said tank fills with liquid and before said siphon discharges liquid from said tank;
and
(c) restrictive communicating means positioned between said holding chamber and said liquid trap through which liquid in said holding chamber flows into said liquid trap at a rate substantially less than normal flow rate between said legs, whereby the siphon action of said siphon apparatus does not empty said holding chamber when the liquid in said tank is discharged through said legs and said liquid trap subsequently refills with holding chamber contained liquid, whereupon said siphon apparatus is reliably prepared for reuse.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Reliable trap filling device for siphon apparatus

Life of this patent

Reliable trap filling device for siphon apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27