Siphon tube control device and system

Claim 2

A control device for a siphon tube having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and adapted to be disposed with the inlet in a liquid to be drawn through the tube in a siphon action, said device comprising a valve at the outlet end of the tube for regulating the liquid outflow from the tube, the valve being arranged so that the flowing liquid within the tube adjacent the outlet acts to close the valve, and float actuating means operatively associated with said valve for moving the valve in response to the liquid level at the tube inlet, said valve being opened at a predetermined upper liquid level to permit liquid flow therethrough by the float actuating means and closed at a predetermined lower liquid level by the action of the liquid flow within the tube to trap a column of liquid in the tube above the valve and tube outlet so that when said upper level is restored the valve is opened and said column primes the tube by gravity flow therethrough.

Claim 3

A control device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve includes a flaplike member hingedly supported from the tube in contact with the liquid flow within the tube.

Claim 4

A control device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said valve includes an internal annular flange portion downstream of the flaplike member defining a valve port against which the flaplike member is moved in the closed position with the weight of the column of water acting on the flaplike member to hold the flaplike member against the flange portion to provide a positive seal.

Claim 5

A control device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said flaplike member is hingedly supported inside the outer end portion of the tube.

Claim 6

A control device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said flaplike member is hingedly supported inside a tubular valve housing attached to the outlet end portion of the tube arranged in flow communication with the tube.

Claim 7

A control device for a siphon tube as set forth in claim 3 wherein said flaplike member is pivoted by said actuating means as the liquid level raises to an upper, open position generally parallel with the inside of the flow passage of the tube to provide a minimum area of contact with the liquid flow therethrough.

Claim 8

A control device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said flaplike member is pivoted downwardly and away from said open position by said float actuating means as the liquid level lowers progressively increasing its area of contact with the liquid flow therethrough.

Claim 9

A control device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said flaplike member moved to the closed position when the area of contact of said flaplike member with said liquid flow is sufficient to snap it against said flange portion.

Claim 10

A control device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said flangelike portioN is inclined inwardly at an angle with a line normal to the flow passage of the tube.

Claim 11

A self-priming, siphon tube and liquid level control assembly comprising, in combination, a siphon tube having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends adapted to be disposed with its inlet in a liquid to be drawn therethrough in a siphon action, a valve mounted at the outlet end of the tube for regulating a liquid outflow through the tube, said valve including a flaplike member arranged in contact with the liquid flow within the tube and adapted to pivot so as to move between open and closed positions with the valve being arranged so that the flowing liquid within the tube adjacent the outlet acts to close the valve, and an actuating mechanism for the valve mounted on the tube for transport therewith, said actuating mechanism including a float at the tube inlet and a linkage member coupled between the float and flap member to translate the up and down motion of the float to an in and out motion to pivot the flaplike member, said flaplike member being moved to an open position when the liquid level at the tube inlet is at a predetermined upper level for liquid transfer therethrough and to a closed position at a preselected lower level by the action of the liquid flow within the tube prior to the breaking of the siphon action through the tube to trap a column of water in the tube above the valve and tube outlet so that when the upper liquid level is restored the flaplike member is moved to the open position and the column primes the tube by gravity flow therethrough.

Claim 12

A self-priming, siphon tube and liquid level control assembly comprising, in combination, a siphon tube having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends adapted to be disposed with its inlet in a liquid to be drawn therethrough in a siphon action, a valve mounted at the outlet end of the tube for regulating a liquid outflow through the tube, said valve including a flaplike member arranged in contact with the liquid flow within the tube and adapted to pivot so as to move between open and closed positions with the valve being arranged so that the flowing liquid within the tube adjacent the outlet acts to close the valve, and an actuating mechanism for the valve mounted on the tube for transport therewith, said actuating mechanism including a float at the tube inlet and a linkage member coupled between the float and flap member to translate the up and down motion of the float to an in and out motion to pivot the flaplike member, said flaplike member being moved to an open position when the liquid level at the tube inlet is at a predetermined upper level for liquid transfer therethrough and to a closed position at a preselected lower level by the action of the liquid flow within the tube prior to the breaking of the siphon action through the tube to trap a column of water in the tube above the valve and tube outlet so that when the upper liquid level is restored the flaplike member is moved to the open position and the column primes the tube by gravity flow therethrough.

Claim 13

A self-priming siphon tube and liquid level control assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said linkage member includes an elongated arm pivotally supported from the tube for an up and down rocking motion at each end thereof, said arm having the float member at one end above the tube inlet.

Claim 14

A self-priming siphon tube and liquid level control assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said tube has a guide member extending upwardly from the tube to prevent lateral swinging of said arm during its rocking movement.

Claim 15

A self-priming siphon tube and liquid level control assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said tube has means for detachably mounting the tube to a stake arranged to be driven into the ditch for supporting the tube in an upright manner on the ditch.

Claim 16

The combination with a siphon tube having an inlet and outlet arranged to transfer liquid through the tube in a siphon action, an automatic priming device for the tube comprising a valve at the outlet end of the tube for regulating the liquid flow through the tube, the valve being arranged so that the liquid flow within the tube adjacent the tube outlet acts to close the valve, and a liquid level sensing means adjacent the inlet operatively coupled with said valve to move the valve toward a closed position with the outflowing liquid from the tube being used to snap-close said valve when the water reaches a preselected lower level prior to the breaking of a siphon action to trap a column of liquid in the tube above said tube outlet and valve and open said valve to release the column when the liquid rises to a predetermined level to prime the tube and start the flow through the tube.

Claim 17

The combination with a siphon tube having an inlet and outlet arranged to transfer liquid through the tube in a siphon action, an automatic priming device for the tube comprising a valve at the outlet end of the tube for regulating the liquid flow through the tube, the valve being arranged so that the liquid flow within the tube adjacent the tube outlet acts to close the valve, and a liquid level sensing means adjacent the inlet operatively coupled with said valve to move the valve toward a closed position with the outflowing liquid from the tube being used to snap-close said valve when the water reaches a preselected lower level prior to the breaking of a siphon action to trap a column of liquid in the tube above said tube outlet and valve and open said valve to release the column when the liquid rises to a predetermined level to prime the tube and start the flow through the tube.

Claim 18

An automatic siphon tube level control device for a reservoir subject to being filled by a water supply comprising a siphon tube adapted to be disposed with the inlet in the water contained by the reservoir and an outlet extending outside the reservoir to draw water from the reservoir in a siphon action, a valve at the outlet end of the tube for regulating the liquid flow through the tube, the valve being arranged so that the liquid flowing within the tube acts to close the valve, and a level sensing, valve-actuating mechanism coupled to the valve to move the valve toward the closed position with the liquid flowing from the tube being used to close the valve to stop the flow through the siphon tube when the water level drops to a lower leveL to restart the flow in the tube when the water level rises to a higher level so as to maintain the water level between said higher and lower levels.

Claim 19

An automatic siphon tube level control device for a reservoir subject to being filled by a water supply comprising a siphon tube adapted to be disposed with the inlet in the water contained by the reservoir and an outlet extending outside the reservoir to draw water from the reservoir in a siphon action, a valve at the outlet end of the tube for regulating the liquid flow through the tube, the valve being arranged so that the liquid flowing within the tube acts to close the valve, and a level sensing, valve-actuating mechanism coupled to the valve to move the valve toward the closed position with the liquid flowing from the tube being used to close the valve to stop the flow through the siphon tube when the water level drops to a lower leveL to restart the flow in the tube when the water level rises to a higher level so as to maintain the water level between said higher and lower levels.

Claim 20

A siphon tube level control system for a reservoir having a fluctuating water supply such as an irrigation ditch comprising a plurality of siphon tubes arranged along the bank of the reservoir, selected ones of said tubes having an inlet extending into the water in the reservoir and an outlet extending outside the reservoir and leading to a runoff area along said irrigation ditch to draw the water from the reservoir in a siphon action, float-controlled valve means associated with said ones of said siphon tubes including a valve member at the outlet of each of said ones of said tubes responsive to the water level in the reservoir to stop the flow through said ones of said siphon tubes when the water level in the reservoir drops to a preselected lower level and to automatically open the valve members and restart the siphon action in said ones of said tubes each time the water level rises to a preselected higher level to maintain the water in the reservoir between said upper and lower levels.

Claim 21

A siphon tube level control system for a reservoir having a fluctuating water supply such as an irrigation ditch comprising a plurality of siphon tubes arranged along the bank of the reservoir, selected ones of said tubes having an inlet extending into the water in the reservoir and an outlet extending outside the reservoir and leading to a runoff area along said irrigation ditch to draw the water from the reservoir in a siphon action, float-controlled valve means associated with said ones of said siphon tubes including a valve member at the outlet of each of said ones of said tubes responsive to the water level in the reservoir to stop the flow through said ones of said siphon tubes when the water level in the reservoir drops to a preselected lower level and to automatically open the valve members and restart the siphon action in said ones of said tubes each time the water level rises to a preselected higher level to maintain the water in the reservoir between said upper and lower levels.