Waste fluid discharge column

Fluid discharge apparatus for receiving and discharging waste fluid and air, the fluid discharge apparatus comprising:

• a generally vertically oriented discharge pipe having a lower end and an upper end, the pipe having a first cross-sectional area;
• a chamber having a second cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area attached to the upper end of the pipe and defining an inlet port for receiving the waste fluid and air, and a vacuum port, the waste fluid flowing into the pipe;
• and
• a vacuum source in fluid communication with the vacuum port, the vacuum source evacuating the air and generating a vacuum level in the pipe and chamber having a vacuum force which creates a standing column of waste fluid in the pipe, the standing column having a maximum height corresponding to the vacuum force such that a volume of fluid transported to the pipe after the fluid column reaches the height causes an equal volume of fluid to be discharged from the lower end of the pipe;
• wherein the vacuum port and inlet port are spaced to separate the air from the waste fluid.

Vacuum drainage apparatus for collecting and transporting a first waste fluid and a second waste fluid from first and second waste fluid generating sources, respectively, the vacuum drainage apparatus comprising:

• a vacuum source;
• a first, generally vertically oriented discharge column having an upper section comprising a vacuum port in fluid communication with the vacuum source and a waste fluid inlet, and a lower section comprising a waste fluid outlet open to atmosphere;
• a first collection branch in fluid communication with the waste fluid inlet of the first discharge column, the first collection branch transporting the first waste fluid from the first waste fluid generating source to the waste fluid inlet of the first discharge column, the vacuum source producing a vacuum force in the first discharge column which creates a standing column of first waste fluid in the first discharge column, the standing column having a maximum height corresponding to the vacuum force such that a volume of first waste fluid transported to the first discharge column after the fluid column reaches the maximum height causes an equal volume of first waste fluid to be discharged from the waste fluid outlet of the first discharge column;
• a second, generally vertically oriented discharge column having an upper section comprising a vacuum port in fluid communication with the vacuum source and a waste fluid inlet, and a lower section comprising a waste fluid outlet open to atmosphere;
• a second collection branch in fluid communication with the waste fluid inlet of the second discharge column, the second collection branch transporting the second waste fluid from the second waste fluid generating source to the waste fluid inlet of the second discharge column, the vacuum source producing a vacuum force in the second discharge column which creates a standing column of second waste fluid in the second discharge column, the standing column having a maximum height corresponding to the vacuum force such that a volume of second waste fluid transported to the second discharge column after the fluid column reaches the maximum height causes an equal volume of second waste fluid to be discharge from the waste fluid outlet of the first discharge column.