Fluid handling – Siphons – With flow starting – stopping or maintaining means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-13
2001-04-17
Michalsky, Gerald A. (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Siphons
With flow starting, stopping or maintaining means
C137S152000, C137S577000, C137S591000, C222S416000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216720
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a siphon adapter that when used with a shut-off device (like a faucet) can aid in removing liquid from containers that would, without this invention, normally be left in the container and wasted.
2. Description of the Prior Art
This invention relates to containers where the drain hole is located higher than the bottom of the container and the container is situated so that there is clearance below the bottom of the container to allow for the use of the invention. The main application is with metal or plastic drums used in industry to transport, store and dispense liquids. The most typical drum sizes are 55 U.S. gallons and 30 U.S. gallons. However, this invention could be used on any size drum.
In most industrial settings, many different liquids are used on a regular basis. Dispensing liquids from drums can be done in a vertical or horizontal position. To dispense liquids in a vertical position, one of the bung plugs needs to be removed and replaced with a pump which reaches to the bottom of the drum. The liquid is then removed as needed until there is very little liquid remaining in the drum.
Horizontal dispensing is preferred because the drums can be stored on racks in a much more space-efficient manner. To dispense liquids in a horizontal position, a faucet and a vent are installed in the bungholes while the drum is vertical. The drum is then placed in its horizontal position on a rack. Because the bunghole is located in from the edge of the drum, the liquid will stop flowing when the liquid reaches the lower edge of the bunghole. Typically, approximately two U.S. gallons of the liquid remain in the drum.
The current solutions for trying to remove the remaining liquid are: while still in the rack, manually raising the backside of the drum (if it is accessible), or to manually pull the drum out of the rack somewhat to let it hang down in the front. Both of these methods could be dangerous to employees and still result in residual liquid remaining in the drum. The remaining liquid is valuable and it typically is discarded with the drums when they are recycled or scrapped. Therefore there is a longfelt need to easily, cheaply and safely remove a greater percentage of liquid from a drum laying in a horizontal position. Further, recent government regulations require that all but 3% of the liquid in a drum must be removed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
We provide a siphon adapter comprised of a hollow pipe having two ends. The first end is configured to fit through the opening of a container where the opening is higher than the bottom of the container. The first end is positioned and can be adjusted so that the opening of the pipe is very near and substantially parallel to the bottom of the container. The second end of the pipe remains outside the container and is lower than the first end. A faucet or other shut-off device is connected to the second end of the pipe. The shut-off device may have an open position and a closed position. When the shut-off device is in the open position, the liquid in the container flows out of the container through the pipe and the shut-off device. When the shut-off device is in the closed position, no liquid can flow out of the container and an airtight seal is formed by the shut-off device. In order for the pipe to act as a siphon, the level of liquid initially has to be above the opening. After the shut-off device is opened, the pipe fills with liquid and the liquid begins to exit the container. Therefore, the pipe acts as a siphon and liquid continues to exit the container through the pipe and the shut-off device even after the level of liquid is lower than the opening, until substantially all the liquid has exited the container or the shut-off device is in the closed position. Because the shut-off device forms a seal and is lower than the liquid level, if it is placed in an open position after it has been closed, the pipe will again act as a siphon even if the level of the liquid was below the opening when the shut-off device was closed.
The pipe can be molded as one piece or can be made up of two or more pieces. The pipe can be configured for attachment to the bunghole with a threaded connection. The first end of the pipe can be adjusted so that it is in substantially close proximity with the lowest side of the drum regardless of the distance between the bunghole and the side of the drum. There can be a slip joint sealing arrangement around the threaded connection that can be adjusted after the siphon adapter has been tightened in the bunghole. The siphon adapter can be sized so that it fits in a bunghole that has a diameter of two inches, three quarter inches or any size. The siphon adapter can be constructed primarily of metal, plastic or any other suitable material.
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Evans, Jr. Raymond Douglas
Huff Matthew James
Buchanan Ingersoll P.C.
Michalsky Gerald A.
New Pig Corporation
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