Vacuum jet apparatus

Apparatus for removing a liquid and solid mixture from a storage tank comprising:

• an elongated hollow tube having a substantially open lower inlet end and an upper closed end, wherein said inlet end is positioned within the liquid and solid mixture and includes an aperture substantially equal in size to a transverse cross sectional area of said hollow tube;
• an intake assembly mounted to and extending outward from the inlet end of said hollow tube, said intake assembly having a plurality of apertures therein and a cross sectional area substantially equal to the cross sectional area of said elongated hollow tube;
• vacuum means disposed outside of said elongated hollow tube and including in combination a vacuum pump and a vacuum tank evacuated by said vacuum pump, said vacuum tank coupled to said elongated hollow tube adjacent to the upper closed end thereof for drawing the liquid and solid mixture up said elongated hollow tube toward the upper closed end thereof in removing the liquid and solid mixture from the storage tank;
• a propeller positioned adjacent to said intake assembly and outside of the inlet end of said elongated hollow tube for agitating and directing said liquid and solid mixture into the inlet end and toward the upper closed end of said elongated hollow tube;
• and
• drive means disposed outside of and mounted to said elongated hollow tube adjacent to the upper closed end thereof and wherein said drive means is coupled to said propeller for rotationally displacing said propeller in a first direction for removing the liquid and solid mixture from the storage tank, wherein a portion of the liquid and solid mixture directed into said elongated hollow tube by said propeller and not drawn up toward the closed upper end thereof by said vacuum means is directed through the apertures in said intake assembly back into the storage tank for thorough mixing therein.