Liquid transfer system

Claim 2

A transfer system for pumping material in the form of a liquid, slurry or the like comprising: at least two pumping chambers; a material supply tank containing the material to be transferred; a common discharge line for said pumping chambers; material inlet means connected between said supply tank and said pumping chambers for alternately filling said pumping chambers with the material to be transferred; material outlet means connected between said pumping chambers and said common discharge line for alternately transferring the material from said pumping chambers to said common discharge line; fluid pressure head means connected to said pumping chambers for supplying a pumping fluid pressure head to said pumping chambers for forcing the material out of said pumping chambers; fluid exhaust line means connected to said pumping chambers for exhausting the pumping fluid pressure head from the pumping chambers after the material has been forced out of them; control means connected to said pumping chambers for controlling said inlet means, said outlet means, said fluid pressure head means and said fluid exhaust line means in proper sequence; and supply tank fluid line means connected between said exhaust line means and the material supply tank for increasing the static pressure head in said material supply tank; whereby the rate of flow of the material to said pumping chambers is increased and complete emptying of the material supply tank is enhanced.

Claim 3

The transfer system of claim 1 wherein there is further included: exhaust fluid reservoir means connected to said fluid exhaust line means and said supply tank fluid line means for building up and holding a certain pressure level; said exhaust fluid reservoir means comprising a fluid reservoir tank, a pressure control valve, an outlet to atmosphere and lines connecting said reservoir tank to atmosphere through said pressure control valve and to said fluid exhaust line means and said supply tank fluid line means; whereby a constantly availble source of fluid pressure is available to said material supply tank for maintaining a fluid pressure head therein.

Claim 4

The transfer system of claim 2 wherein said supply tank fluid line means includes pressure control valve means for reducing the pressure of the fluid from said fluid exhaust line means and said exhaust reservoir means.

Claim 5

The transfer system of claim 2 wherein there is further included: supplemental fluid exhaust line means, separate from said first recited fluid exhaust line means, connected from said pumping chambers to atmosphere, said first recited fluid exhaust line means serving as an initial exhaust line for exhausting the pumping fluid pressure head and said supplemental fluid enhaust line means serving as a final exhaust line for exhausting the pumping fluid pressure head during each cycle of operation.

Claim 6

The transfer system of claim 1 wherein there is further included: vacuum tank means connected to said pumping chambers for producing a vacuum in said pumping chambers for pulling the last of the material to be transferred into said pumping chambers.

Claim 7

The transfer system of claim 1 wherein said fluid exhaust line means includes: aspirator means in said fluid exhaust line means connected between said pumping chambers and atmosphere for producing a vacuum; as fluid flows through said aspirator means and wherein there is further included: vacuum tank means connected to said aspirator means through a check valve for producing a vacuum for auxillary or system use; fluid passing through said fluid exhaust line means and said aspirator means producing the vacuum in said vacuum tank means for such future auxillary or system use.

Claim 8

The transfer system of claim 6 wherein said vacuum tank means includes a line to said pumping chambers for producing a vacuum in said pumping chambers for pulling the last of the material to be transferred into said pumping chambers.

Claim 9

The transfer system of claim 6 wherein said vacuum tank means includes a line to an auxillary system for use in that system.

Claim 10

A transfer system for pumping material in the form of a liquid, slurry or the like comprising: at least two pumping chambers; a material supply tank containing the material to be transferred; a common discharge line for said pumping chambers; material inlet means connected between said supply tank and said pumping chambers for alternately filling said pumping chambers with the material to be transferred; material outlet means connected between said pumping chambers and said common discharge line for alternately transferring the material from said pumping chamber to said common discharge line; fluid pressure head means connected to said pumping chambers for supplying a pumping fluid pressure head to said pumping chambers for forcing the material out of said pumping chambers; fluid exhaust line means connected to said pumping chambers for exhausting the pumping fluid pressure head from the pumping chamber after the material has been forced out of it; control means connected to said pumping chambers for controlling said inlet means, said outlet means, said fluid pressure head means and said fluid exhaust line means in proper sequence; aspirator means in said fluid exhaust line means connected between said pumping chambers and atmosphere for producing a vacuum as fluid flows through said aspirator means in said fluid exhaust line; and vacuum tank means connected to said aspiration means through a check valve for producing a vacuum for auxillary or system use; fluid passing through said fluid exhaust line means and said siphon means producing the vacuum in said vacuum tank means for such future auxillary or system use.

Claim 11

A transfer system for pumping material in the form of a liquid, slurry or the like comprising: at least two pumping chambers; a material supply tank containing the material to be transferred; a common discharge line for said pumping chambers; material inlet means connected between said supply tank and said pumping chambers for alternately filling said pumping chambers with the material to be transferred; material outlet means connected between said pumping chambers and said common discharge line for alternately transferring the material from said pumping chamber to said common discharge line; fluid pressure head means connected to said pumping chambers for supplying a pumping fluid pressure head to said pumping chambers for forcing the material out of said pumping chambers; fluid exhaust line means connected to said pumping chambers for exhausting the pumping fluid pressure head from the pumping chamber after the material has been forced out of it; control means connected to said pumping chambers for controlling said inlet means, said outlet means, said fluid pressure head means and said fluid exhaust line means in proper sequence; aspirator means in said fluid exhaust line means connected between said pumping chambers and atmosphere for producing a vacuum as fluid flows through said aspirator means in said fluid exhaust line; and vacuum tank means connected to said aspiration means through a check valve for producing a vacuum for auxillary or system use; fluid passing through said fluid exhaust line means and said siphon means producing the vacuum in said vacuum tank means for such future auxillary or system use.

Claim 12

The transfer system of claim 9 wherein said vacuum tank means includes a line to said pumping chambers for producing a vacuum in said pumping chambers for pulling the last of the material to be transferred into said pumping chambers.

Claim 13

The transfer system of claim 9 wherein said vacuum tank means includes a line to an auxillary system for use in that system.

Claim 14

The transfer system of claim 9 wherein there is further included: supply tank fluid line means connected between said exhaust line means and the material supply tank for increasing the static pressure head in said material supply tank; whereby the rate of flow of the material to said pumping chambers is increased and complete emptying of the material supply tank is enhanced.

Claim 15

The transfer system of claim 12 wherein there is further included: exhaust fluid reservoir means connected to said fluid exhaust line means and said supply tank fluid line means for building up and holding a certain pressure level; said exhaust fluid reservoir means comprising a fluid reservoir tank, a pressure control valve, an outlet to atmosphere and lines connecting said reservoir tank to atmosphere through said pressure control valve and to said fluid exhaust line means and said supply fluid line means; whereby a constantly available source of fluid pressure is available to said material supply tank for maintaining a fluid pressure head therein.

Claim 16

The transfer system of claim 13 wherein said supply tank fluid line means includes pressure control valve means for reducing the pressure of the fluid from said fluid exhaust line means and said exhaust reservoir means.

Claim 17

The transfer system of claim 13 wherein there is further included: supplemental fluid exhaust line means, separate from said first recited fluid exhaust line means, connected from said pumping chambeRs to atmosphere, said first recited fluid exhaust line means serving as an initial exhaust line for exhausting the pumping fluid pressure head and said supplemental fluid exhaust line means serving as a final exhaust line for exhausting the pumping fluid pressure head during each cycle of operation.