System and method for collecting cutting fluid liquid and chips

A sump system for collecting a mixture of cutting fluid liquid and chips to be filtered in filtration equipment from a plurality of machining locations, comprising:

• a plurality of individual sumps, each arranged to receive a flow of cutting fluid containing chips at a respective one of said locations;
• a valve in each drawpipe and level control switch means at each sump causing opening of a respective drawpipe valve upon the level of collected liquid in said sump reaching a predetermined level;
• a sealed central collection tank containing a liquid;
• a series of drawpipes each extending to a respective sump and having one end extending to a lower level within a respective sump and an opposite end communicating with said collection tank;
• a liquid pump having an intake connected to a lower region of said collection tank and an outlet connected to said filtration system, operation of said pump generating a vacuum in said central collection tank to enable drawing said cutting fluid-liquid chip mixture from each of said sumps through said drawpipes and into said sealed collection tank;
• valve means when opened directing liquid pumped from said pump outlet to said filtration equipment to generate a vacuum in said collection tank;
• vacuum sensing means for sensing the vacuum in said sealed collection tank, said vacuum sensing means operating said valve means to be opened and allow pumping of said mixture out of said collection tank so as to tend to maintain said vacuum in said sealed collection tank as said mixture is drawn into said collection tank from one or more of said sumps.