Underwater drainage apparatus with air flow meters

Claim 2

In a drainage device for draining fluids from a cavity comprising an inlet opening adapted to be placed in communication with the cavity to be drained, a collection chamber in fluid communication with the inlet opening, a seal chamber having first and second columns in fluid communication with each other at the lower ends thereof, the upper end of the first column being in fluid communication with the collection chamber, the upper end of the second column being in fluid communication with a preselected fluid pressure level, said chamber adapted to receive a body of liquid within the first and second columns, and air flow measuring means disposed in said seal chamber, said air flow measuring means including a series of independent gas passageways and a common duct extending beneath said passageways, the gas passageway at one end of said measuring means being disposed immediately above and in the path of fluid flow from the connection of said first column to said second column and said common duct extending angularly downwardly across said second column.

Claim 3

In a drainage device according to claim 1 wherein each of said independent gas passageways of said air flow measuring means includes a plenum chamber disposed adjacent said common duct and an aperture of a diameter less than said plenum chamber at the upper end of said plenum chamber providing communication between said plenum chamber and said second column.

Claim 4

In a drainage device according to claim 2 wherein the apertures of said independent gas passageways are of vArying diameter.

Claim 5

In a drainage device according to claim 3 and further including walls extending upwardly between said apertures forming separate passages in said second column for each of said independent gas passageways.

Claim 6

In a drainage device according to claim 4 wherein said column duct extends angularly downwardly across said second column at an angle to the horizontal of between 7* and 13*.

Claim 7

In a drainage device for draining fluids from a cavity comprising an inlet opening adapted to be placed in fluid communication with the cavity to be drained, a vacuum opening adapted to be placed in fluid communication with a vacuum source and with the inlet opening for drawing fluid from the cavity into the device, a manometer for regulating the vacuum, said mano-meter comprising first and second columns in fluid communication with each other, said manometer adapted to receive a body of liquid within the first and second columns, the first column being exposed to atmosphere and the second column being exposed to the vacuum source, and air flow measuring means disposed in said manometer for measuring the air flow from said first column into said second column, said air flow measuring means including a series of independent gas passageways and a common duct extending beneath said passageways, the gas passageway at one end of said measuring means being disposed immediately above and in the path of fluid flow from the connection of said first column to said second column and said common duct extending angularly downwardly across said second column.

Claim 8

In a drainage device for draining fluids from a cavity comprising an inlet opening adapted to be placed in fluid communication with the cavity to be drained, a vacuum opening adapted to be placed in fluid communication with a vacuum source and with the inlet opening for drawing fluid from the cavity into the device, a manometer for regulating the vacuum, said mano-meter comprising first and second columns in fluid communication with each other, said manometer adapted to receive a body of liquid within the first and second columns, the first column being exposed to atmosphere and the second column being exposed to the vacuum source, and air flow measuring means disposed in said manometer for measuring the air flow from said first column into said second column, said air flow measuring means including a series of independent gas passageways and a common duct extending beneath said passageways, the gas passageway at one end of said measuring means being disposed immediately above and in the path of fluid flow from the connection of said first column to said second column and said common duct extending angularly downwardly across said second column.

Claim 9

In a drainage device according to claim 6 wherein each of said independent gas passageways of said air flow measuring means includes a plenum chamber disposed adjacent said common duct and an aperture of a diameter less than said plenum chamber at the upper end of said plenum chamber providing communication between said plenum chamber and said second column.

Claim 10

In a drainage device according to claim 7 wherein the apertures of said independent gas passageways are of varying diameters.

Claim 11

In a drainage device according to claim 8 and further including walls extending upwardly between said apertures forming separate passages in said second column for each of said independent gas passageways.

Claim 12

In a drainage device according to claim 9 wherein said common duct extends angularly downwardly across said second column at an angle to the horizontal of between 7* and 13*.

Claim 13

In a drainage device for draining fluids from a cavity comprising an inlet opening adapted to be placed in communication with the cavity to be drained, a collection chamber in fluid communication with the inlet opening, a seal chamber having first and second columns in fluid communication with each other at the lower ends thereof, the upper end of the first column being in fluid communication with the collection chamber, the upper end of the second column being in fluid communication with a preselected fluid pressure level, said seal chamber adapted to receive a body of liquid within the first and second columns, and valve means disposed in said first column, said valve means closing the fluid communication between said first column and the collection chamber in response to a predetermined fluid pressure differential between the cavity to be drained and the second column of the seal chamber.

Claim 14

In a drainage device for draining fluids from a cavity comprising an inlet opening adapted to be placed in communication with the cavity to be drained, a collection chamber in fluid communication with the inlet opening, a seal chamber having first and second columns in fluid communication with each other at the lower ends thereof, the upper end of the first column being in fluid communication with the collection chamber, the upper end of the second column being in fluid communication with a preselected fluid pressure level, said seal chamber adapted to receive a body of liquid within the first and second columns, and valve means disposed in said first column, said valve means closing the fluid communication between said first column and the collection chamber in response to a predetermined fluid pressure differential between the cavity to be drained and the second column of the seal chamber.

Claim 15

In a drainage device for draining fluids from a cavity comprising an inlet opening adapted to be placed in communication with the cavity to be drained, a collection chamber in fluid communication with the inlet opening, a seal chamber having first and second columns in fluid communication with each other at the lower ends thereof, the upper end of the first column being in fluid communication with the collection chamber, the upper end of the second column being in fluid communication with a preselected fluid pressure level, said seal chamber adapted to receive a body of liquid within the first and second columns, anD valve means disposed in said first column, said valve means closing the fluid communication between said first column and the collection chamber in response to liquid rising in said first column from the seal chamber to move said valve means upwardly.

Claim 16

In a drainage device for draining fluids from a cavity comprising an inlet opening adapted to be placed in communication with the cavity to be drained, a collection chamber in fluid communication with the inlet opening, a seal chamber having first and second columns in fluid communication with each other at the lower ends thereof, the upper end of the first column being in fluid communication with the collection chamber, the upper end of the second column being in fluid communication with a preselected fluid pressure level, said seal chamber adapted to receive a body of liquid within the first and second columns, anD valve means disposed in said first column, said valve means closing the fluid communication between said first column and the collection chamber in response to liquid rising in said first column from the seal chamber to move said valve means upwardly.

Claim 17

In a drainage device according to claim 12 wherein said valve means comprises a cylinder within a valve chamber having a restricted aperture at the upper end thereof, said cylinder having a weight sufficient to rest at the lower end of the valve chamber and maintain said aperture open during normal operation of said device and to float upwardly to close said aperture when the pressure differential between the cavity and the second column is sufficient to cause the liquid within the seal chamber to rise into the valve chamber.

Claim 18

In a drainage device for draining fluids from a cavity comprising an inlet opening adapted to be placed in communication with the cavity to be drained, a collection chamber in fluid communication with the inlet opening, a seal chamber having first and second seal columns in fluid communication with each other at the lower ends thereof, the upper end of the first seal column being in fluid communication with the collection chamber, the upper end of the second seal column being in fluid communication with a preselected fluid pressure level, said seal chamber adapted to receive a body of liquid within the first and second seal columns, first air flow measuring means disposed in said seal chamber, said air flow measuring means including a series of first independent gas passageways and a first common duct extending beneath said passageways, the gas passageway at one end of said measuring means being disposed immediately above and in the path of fluid flow from the connection of said first seal column to said second seal column and said first common duct extending angularly downwardly across said second seal column, a vacuum opening in said drainage device adapted to be placed in fluid communication with a cacuum source and with the inlet opening for drawing fluid from the cavity into the device, a manometer for regulating the vacuum, said manometer comprising first and second manometer columns in fluid communication with each other, said manometer adapted to receive a body of liquid within the first and second manometer columns, the first manometer column being exposed to atmosphere and the second manometer column being exposed to the vacuum source, and second air flow measuring means disposed in said manometer for measuring the air flow from said first manometer column into said second manometer column, said second air flow measuring means including a series of second independent gas passageways and a second common duct extending beneath said passageways, the gas passageway at one end of said measuring means being disposed immediately above and in the path of fluid flow from the connection of said first manometer column to said second manometer column and said second common duct extending angularly downwardly across said second manometer column.

Claim 19

In a drainage device for draining fluids from a cavity comprising an inlet opening adapted to be placed in communication with the cavity to be drained, a collection chamber in fluid communication with the inlet opening, a seal chamber having first and second seal columns in fluid communication with each other at the lower ends thereof, the upper end of the first seal column being in fluid communication with the collection chamber, the upper end of the second seal column being in fluid communication with a preselected fluid pressure level, said seal chamber adapted to receive a body of liquid within the first and second seal columns, first air flow measuring means disposed in said seal chamber, said air flow measuring means including a series of first independent gas passageways and a first common duct extending beneath said passageways, the gas passageway at one end of said measuring means being disposed immediately above and in the path of fluid flow from the connection of said first seal column to said second seal column and said first common duct extending angularly downwardly across said second seal column, a vacuum opening in said drainage device adapted to be placed in fluid communication with a cacuum source and with the inlet opening for drawing fluid from the cavity into the device, a manometer for regulating the vacuum, said manometer comprising first and second manometer columns in fluid communication with each other, said manometer adapted to receive a body of liquid within the first and second manometer columns, the first manometer column being exposed to atmosphere and the second manometer column being exposed to the vacuum source, and second air flow measuring means disposed in said manometer for measuring the air flow from said first manometer column into said second manometer column, said second air flow measuring means including a series of second independent gas passageways and a second common duct extending beneath said passageways, the gas passageway at one end of said measuring means being disposed immediately above and in the path of fluid flow from the connection of said first manometer column to said second manometer column and said second common duct extending angularly downwardly across said second manometer column.

Claim 20

In a drainage device for draining fluids from a cavity comprising an inlet opening adapted to be placed in communication with the cavity to be drained, a collection chamber in fluid communication with the inlet opening, means forming a water seal chamber in communication with said collection chamber, and air flow measuring means for measuring the air flow from the collection chamber through the water seal chamber, said air flow measuring means including a series of independent gas passageways and a common duct extending beneath said passageways, said common duct extending angularly downwardly along the path of the air flow from the collection chamber through the water seal chamber.

Claim 21

In a drainage device for draining fluids from a cavity comprising an inlet opening adapted to be placed in communication with the cavity to be drained, a collection chamber in fluid communication with the inlet opening, means forming a water seal chamber in communication with said collection chamber, and air flow measuring means for measuring the air flow from the collection chamber through the water seal chamber, said air flow measuring means including a series of independent gas passageways and a common duct extending beneath said passageways, said common duct extending angularly downwardly along the path of the air flow from the collection chamber through the water seal chamber.

Claim 22

In a drainage device according to claim 15 wherein each of said independent gas passageways of said air flow measuring means includes a plenum chamber disposed adjacent said common duct and an aperture of a diameter less than said plenum chamber at the upper end of saId plenum chamber.

Claim 23

In a drainage device for draining fluids from a cavity comprising an inlet opening adapted to be placed in communication with the cavity to be drained, a collection chamber in fluid communication with the inlet opening, means forming a water seal chamber in communication with said collection chamber, a pressure regulator chamber in communication with the water seal chamber, and air flow measuring means for measuring the air flow through the pressure regulator chamber, said air flow measuring means including a series of independent gas passageways and a common duct extending beneath said passageways, said common duct extending angularly downwardly along the path of the air flow through the pressure regulator chamber.

Claim 24

In a drainage device for draining fluids from a cavity comprising an inlet opening adapted to be placed in communication with the cavity to be drained, a collection chamber in fluid communication with the inlet opening, means forming a water seal chamber in communication with said collection chamber, a pressure regulator chamber in communication with the water seal chamber, and air flow measuring means for measuring the air flow through the pressure regulator chamber, said air flow measuring means including a series of independent gas passageways and a common duct extending beneath said passageways, said common duct extending angularly downwardly along the path of the air flow through the pressure regulator chamber.

Claim 25

In a drainage device according to claim 17 wherein each of said independent gas passageways of said air flow measuring means includes a plenum chamber disposed adjacent said common duct and an aperture of a diameter less than said plenum chamber at the upper end of said plenum chamber.

Claim 26

In a drainage device for draining fluids from a cavity comprising an inlet opening adapted to be placed in communication with the cavity to be drained, a collection chamber in fluid communication with the inlet opening, a water seal chamber, a passageway interconnecting the collection chamber and water seal chamber, and valve means disposed in said passageway, said valve means being normally open and closing said passageway when water from said water seal chamber rises in said passageway.

Claim 27

In a drainage device for draining fluids from a cavity comprising an inlet opening adapted to be placed in communication with the cavity to be drained, a collection chamber in fluid communication with the inlet opening, a water seal chamber, a passageway interconnecting the collection chamber and water seal chamber, and valve means disposed in said passageway, said valve means being normally open and closing said passageway when water from said water seal chamber rises in said passageway.

Claim 28

In a drainage device for draining fluids from a cavity comprising an inlet opening adapted to be placed in communication with the cavity to be drained, a collection chamber in fluid communication with the inlet opening, a water seal chamber, a pressure regulator chamber, passageways interconnecting the collection chamber and water seal chamber and interconnecting the water seal chamber and pressure regulator chamber, a passageway to atmosphere in the pressure regulator chamber, and valve means in said passageway to atmosphere, said valve means being normally open and closing said passageway in response to water rising in said passageway from the pressure regulator chamber.

Claim 29

In a drainage device for draining fluids from a cavity comprising an inlet opening adapted to be placed in communication with the cavity to be drained, a collection chamber in fluid communication with the inlet opening, a water seal chamber, a pressure regulator chamber, passageways interconnecting the collection chamber and water seal chamber and interconnecting the water seal chamber and pressure regulator chamber, a passageway to atmosphere in the pressure regulator chamber, and valve means in said passageway to atmosphere, said valve means being normally open and closing said passageway in response to water rising in said passageway from the pressure regulator chamber.

Claim 30

In a drainage device for draining fluids from a cavity comprising an inlet opening adapted to be placed in communication with the cavity to be drained, a collection chamber, a fluid passageway in fluid communication with the inlet opening and the collection chamber to receive fluids drained from the cavity and means in said fluid passageway for preventing the flow of fluid into the cavity during conditions of high negativity within the cavity, said means comprising a chamber with a restricted aperture at the upper end thereof and a valve within said chamber, liquid seal means disposed in said device on the side of said valve away from said cavity to prevent atmospheric pressure from reaching said cavity, said valve having a weight sufficient to rest at the lower end of the valve chamber and maintain said aperture open during normal operation of said device and to float upwardly to close said aperture when the pressure differential between the collection chamber and the cavity is sufficient to cause liquid fluid to rise within the passageway.

Claim 31

In a drainage device for draining fluids from a cavity comprising an inlet opening adapted to be placed in communication with the cavity to be drained, a collection chamber, a fluid passageway in fluid communication with the inlet opening and the collection chamber to receive fluids drained from the cavity and means in said fluid passageway for preventing the flow of fluid into the cavity during conditions of high negativity within the cavity, said means comprising a chamber with a restricted aperture at the upper end thereof and a valve within said chamber, liquid seal means disposed in said device on the side of said valve away from said cavity to prevent atmospheric pressure from reaching said cavity, said valve having a weight sufficient to rest at the lower end of the valve chamber and maintain said aperture open during normal operation of said device and to float upwardly to close said aperture when the pressure differential between the collection chamber and the cavity is sufficient to cause liquid fluid to rise within the passageway.