Manual bulk liquid pump control and distribution system

#This invention relates to the field of controlling the directional flow of bulk liquids. Bulk liquids are generally held in large containment vessels to be stored or transported. This patent deals with the precise control and distribution of liquids from these containment vessels along with the capability of pumping liquid back into the containment vessel by the means of suction. Additionally this patent deals with a unique method of removing any excess liquid from the hoses and lines in the system to insure that no liquid is spilled on the ground or retained within the hoses.

#Existing methods of pumping and siphoning bulk liquids has in the past been cumbersome where quantities of the liquid are left within the pump, hoses and distribution lines and this liquid is often spilled onto the ground. A great amount of the bulk liquid is in the form of chemicals, fuel and oil products that produce an environmental hazard when spilled. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has endeavored to put strict regulations on the handling and spillage of these liquids. The petroleum tank and containment vessels are extremely regulated, but the pumping systems are not. No standard or performance windows have been made for the installation and capabilities of the pump systems presently in use.

#The new manual bulk liquid pump control and distribution system was designed primarily for the over the road petroleum transportation industry delivering to above the ground tanks, but it has been found to be useful in the handling of a wide variety of other bulk liquids. This patent is not intended be limited in its scope to the petroleum industry only, but has the capability to be effective in the handling of a variety of other bulk liquids. The new manual bulk liquid pump control and distribution system has been designed to revolutionize not only the way bulk liquids are handled by truck tankers but also the way bulk liquids are transferred between containment vessels. Bulk liquids in the petroleum industry consist of gasoline, oil, diesel, aviation-gas, and transmission fluid to anti-freeze, used oil, and more.

#The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the detailed description, serve to explain the principles of this invention.

#FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the left side of the manual bulk liquid pump control and distribution system illustrating the directional discharge flow of the bulk liquid with the intake orifice at the top and the discharge at the bottom.

#FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of a variety of different couplings that can be used to adapt the manual bulk liquid pump control and distribution system into different configurations.

#For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrating embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this invention. There is seen in FIG. 1 a perspective view of the left side of the manual bulk liquid pump control and distribution system 10. This view illustrates the directional discharge flow of the bulk liquid with arrows having the intake orifice 12 in the flanged coupling 14A with a flexible victaulic coupling means 16 at the top of the flow reversing two-way valve 18. The flow reversing two-way valve 18 is shown with the valve handle 20 to the right in the discharge position. At the bottom of the flow reversing two-way valve 18, the discharge is made through a 90-degree elbow 22 connected to a T-section 24 having two flexible victaulic coupling means 16, a conventional mounting flange 26 and cover plate 28. The flexible victaulic coupling means 16 uses an o-ring seal with a two-piece clamp ring 30 to give a sealed coupling that is similar to a ball joint type of flexible connection. One or more of these victaulic coupling means 16 or similar flexible sealed connecting means may be used on or between the lines or fittings in this system for flexibility and still remain within the scope of this patent. Coupled to the T-section 24 is a crossover line 32 having a similar conventional flange 26 and cover plate 28. The flexible victaulic coupling means 16 between the 90-degree elbow 22 and the T-section 24 allows flexibility along the X-axis parallel to the frame of the vehicle. The flexible victaulic coupling means 16 between the T-section 24 and the crossover line 32 allows flexibility along the Y-axis perpendicular to the frame of the vehicle. The angled strainer basket housing 34 is shown attached to the right side of the flow reversing two-way valve 18 by the means of a square-mounting flange 36. The strainer basket housing 34 has a cover plate 38. The conventional pump 40 is shown at the rear with an inter-connecting line 42 attached to the left side of the reversing two-way valve 18 by the means of a square-mounting flange 36. A pump mounting bracket 44 is attached to the conventional pump 40, the flow reversing two-way valve 18 and the frame of the vehicle supporting the assembly. A sampling and pump drain valve 46 are shown on the lower right side.

#FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of a variety of different couplings that can be used to adapt the manual bulk-liquid pump control and distribution system 10 into different configurations. The first fitting on the left is the flanged coupling 14A with the flexible victaulic coupling means 16. The second fitting is a threaded flanged coupling 14B. The third is a flanged elbow 22B, to be used when the crossover line 32 is not desired.

#FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the right side of the manual bulk liquid pump control and distribution system 10 illustrating the directional suction flow of the bulk liquid along with the strainer basket 48 partly removed from strainer basket housing 34. The extended handle 50 mounted on the lip 52 of the strainer basket 48 extends the strainer basket housing 34 forward increasing the accessibility to the cover plate 38. Note at this point that no matter whether the flow reversing two-way valve 18 is in the discharge or suction mode that the liquid always passes through the strainer basket 48 in the same direction. At the right is a half-round shield 54 for the drive coupling on the power take off.