Siphon system for a submersible turbine pump that pumps fuel from an underground storage tank
AssigneeVeeder-Root Company
InventorRichard Dolson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A submersible turbine pump (STP) is provided. The STP includes a manifold having an integral siphon connection coupled to a fuel flow path in the STP and a siphon cartridge removably inserted into the manifold via the siphon connection. In general, the siphon cartridge includes a nozzle that directs fuel from the fuel flow path through a venturi when the STP is energized, thereby creating a vacuum in a chamber within the siphon cartridge. A connection point of the siphon cartridge is fluidly coupled to the chamber such that a fluid connection is provided from the exterior of the siphon cartridge to the vacuum.
Claims25
A submersible turbine pump for pumping fuel out of an underground storage tank, comprising:
- a manifold comprising an integral siphon connection coupled to a fuel flow path in the submersible turbine pump, said siphon connection in the form of a pluggable receptacle;
- and
- a siphon cartridge having an elongate portion removably inserted into the manifold via the siphon connection such that a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet defined by said siphon cartridge are located within said manifold along the fuel flow path, the siphon cartridge comprising:
- a nozzle directing fuel from the fuel flow path through a venturi within the nozzle when the submersible turbine pump is energized, thereby creating a vacuum in a chamber within the nozzle;
- and
- a connection point fluidly coupled to the chamber to provide a fluid connection to the vacuum, said connection point being located on said siphon cartridge at a location external to said manifold.
A method of pumping fuel out of an underground storage tank, comprising:
- providing a submersible turbine pump for pumping fuel from the underground storage tank and having a manifold comprising an integral siphon connection coupled to a fuel flow path in the submersible turbine pump, said siphon connection in the form of a pluggable receptacle;
- removably inserting an elongate portion of a siphon cartridge into the manifold via the siphon connection such that a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet defined by said siphon cartridge will be positioned in said manifold and a connection point of said siphon cartridge will be located external to said manifold;
- directing fuel from the fuel flow path through a venturi within a nozzle of the siphon cartridge when the submersible turbine pump is energized, thereby creating a vacuum in a chamber within the siphon cartridge;
- and
- fluidly coupling said connection point of the siphon cartridge to the chamber to provide a fluid connection to the vacuum.
A self-contained siphon cartridge used with a submersible turbine pump to provide a vacuum source for monitoring of fuel storage and dispensing equipment, said siphon cartridge comprising:
- a body having an elongate portion from which a connection portion extends, said elongate portion being removably inserted into a receptacle defined in a fluid manifold;
- said body being configured such that a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet positioned on said elongate portion will be located in said manifold and said connection portion will be external to said manifold;
- a venturi positioned in said elongate portion such that fuel from said fuel inlet will flow therethrough and then to said fuel outlet thereby creating a vacuum in a chamber within said body;
- and
- a connection point on said connection portion providing a fluid connection to the vacuum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.