Liquid transfer system

Claim 2

IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING LIQUID FROM A STORAGE VESSEL CONTAINING LIQUID TO A LIQUID-CONTAINING RESERVOIR HAVING MEANS FOR WITHDRAWING LIQUID FROM THE RESERVOIR, THE RESERVOIR BEING LOCATED ABOVE THE STORAGE VESSEL, THE APPARATUS ALSO MAINTAINING THE LEVEL OF SAID LIQUID IN THE RESERVOIR AT A SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT LEVEL AS LIQUID IS WITHDRAWN THEREFROM, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: MEANS FOR CLOSING THE STORAGE VESSEL AND FORMING AN AIR BELL ABOVE THE LIQUID IN THE STORAGE VESSEL, A LIQUID SUPPLY THE CONNECTED TO THE RESERVOIR BELOW THE LEVEL OF LIQUID THEREIN AND EXTENDING DOWNWARD INTO THE STORAGE VESSEL BELOW THE LEVEL OF LIQUID IN THE STORAGE VESSEL,

Claim 3

In apparatus for transferring liquid from a storage vessel containing liquid to a liquid-containing reservoir having means for withdrawing liquid from the reservoir, the reservoir being located above the storage vessel, the apparatus also maintaining the level of said liquid in the reservoir at a substantially constant level as liquid is withdrawn therefrom, the improvement comprising: means for closing the storage vessel and forming an air bell above the liquid in the storage vessel, a liquid supply line connected to the reservoir below the level of liquid therein and extending downwardly through the storage vessel to below the level of liquid in the storage vessel, a pneumatic pressure suppLy line extending below the level of liquid in the storage vessel, a pressure regulator which comprises a container of liquid, open to the atmosphere, and a tube of smaller diameter than the liquid container and having one end connected to the pneumatic pressure line and the other end extending downwardly through the container to a level below the liquid level in the container, and means for supporting the liquid container and the tube therein movable vertically with respect to each other whereby the depth to which the other end of said tube extends below the level of liquid in the container may be adjusted.

Claim 4

In apparatus for transferring liquid from a storage vessel containing liquid to a liquid-containing reservoir having means for withdrawing liquid from the reservoir, the reservoir being located above the storage vessel, the apparatus also maintaining the level of said liquid in the reservoir at a substantially constant level as liquid is withdrawn therefrom, the improvement comprising: means for closing the storage vessel and forming an air bell above the liquid in the storage vessel, a liquid supply line connected to the reservoir below the level of liquid therein and extending downwardly through the storage vessel to below the level of liquid in the storage vessel, a pneumatic pressure suppLy line extending below the level of liquid in the storage vessel, a pressure regulator which comprises a container of liquid, open to the atmosphere, and a tube of smaller diameter than the liquid container and having one end connected to the pneumatic pressure line and the other end extending downwardly through the container to a level below the liquid level in the container, and means for supporting the liquid container and the tube therein movable vertically with respect to each other whereby the depth to which the other end of said tube extends below the level of liquid in the container may be adjusted.

Claim 5

The improvement described in claim 2 wherein the elevation of the liquid in the liquid column above the lower end of the tube therein is at the desired elevation of the liquid level in the reservoir above the lower end of the supply line.

Claim 6

The improvement described in claim 2 wherein the liquid supply line and the tube in the pressure regulator liquid column extend downward to the same level, and the liquid column has an upper level at the liquid level to be maintained in the reservoir.

Claim 7

The improvement described in claim 2 wherein the liquids in the liquid column and in the storage vessel have different specific gravities and the ratio between the height of the liquid level in the liquid column above the lower end of the tube therein to the height of the liquid level in the reservoir above the lower end of the supply line is inversely proportional to the ratio between the specific gravity of the liquid in the liquid column and the specific gravity of the liquid in the storage vessel and the reservoir.

Claim 8

The improvement described in claim 2 wherein the pressure regulator comprises liquid column means connected in tandem comprising a plurality of containers and tubes, including at least a first closed container with liquid therein and an open container with liquid therein, each container having a tube extending downward therein through liquid therein, and being of greater diameter than the tube, the tube in the first closed container being connected to the pressure supply line and each succeeding container tube being connected to the upper end of the preceding container, the open top container constituting a final container of the tandem liquid column means.

Claim 9

In apparatus for transferring liquid from a plurality of storage vessels containing liquid to a plurality of liquid-containing reservoirs at different levels with respect to the storage vessels from which they are to be supplied, the improvement which comprises: means for closing each of the storage vessels and forming air bells above the liquid in each storage vessel, a liquid supply line connected to each reservoir below the level of liquid therein and extending downwardly through the closing means of the associated storage vessel to below the level of liquid contained in such associated storage vessel, a pneumatic pressure line for each storage vessel, each pressure line extending to below the level of liquid in the associated storage vessel, and a pressure regulator for maintaining in the respective pneumatic pressure lines a pressure head measured in units of liquid height equal to the elevation of the liquid in the liquid reservoir above the lower end of the liquid supply line within the respective associated storage vessel, said pressure regulator comprising container means, open to the atmosphere, and having a liquid contained therein, a plurality of liquid column tubes in the liquid container means and having one end contained to a respective pneumatic pressure line for one of the reservoirs and a lower end extending a different distance downward through liquid in the container means.

Claim 10

In apparatus for transferring liquid from a plurality of storage vessels containing liquid to a plurality of liquid-containing reservoirs at different levels with respect to the storage vessels from which they are to be supplied, the improvement which comprises: means for closing each of the storage vessels and forming air bells above the liquid in each storage vessel, a liquid supply line connected to each reservoir below the level of liquid therein and extending downwardly through the closing means of the associated storage vessel to below the level of liquid contained in such associated storage vessel, a pneumatic pressure line for each storage vessel, each pressure line extending to below the level of liquid in the associated storage vessel, and a pressure regulator for maintaining in the respective pneumatic pressure lines a pressure head measured in units of liquid height equal to the elevation of the liquid in the liquid reservoir above the lower end of the liquid supply line within the respective associated storage vessel, said pressure regulator comprising container means, open to the atmosphere, and having a liquid contained therein, a plurality of liquid column tubes in the liquid container means and having one end contained to a respective pneumatic pressure line for one of the reservoirs and a lower end extending a different distance downward through liquid in the container means.

Claim 11

In apparatus for transferring liquid from a plurality of storage vessels to a plurality of different liquid containing reservoirs located at different heights above their respective storage vessels, the improvement which comprises: means for closing each stoRage vessel and forming an air bell above the liquid in such storage vessel, a liquid supply line connected to each reservoir below the level of liquid therein and extending downwardly through the closing means of the associated storage vessel to below the level of liquid in such associated storage vessel, a different pneumatic pressure line having one end extending through said closing means to a level below the level of liquid in the associated storage vessel, a pressure regulator having liquid column means connected in tandem comprising a plurality of containers and tubes and including at least a first closed container with liquid therein and an open top container with liquid therein, each container having a tube extending downwardly therein to a level below the liquid level of the liquid contained therein, the container being of greater diameter than the tube, the tube in the first closed container being connected to the pressure supply line for one of the storage vessels and each succeeding container tube being connected to the upper end of the preceding container, the open top container constituting a final container of the tandem liquid column means, and liquid pressure lines for successive liquid storage vessels each being connected to the upper end of the successively different container.

Claim 12

In apparatus for transferring liquid from a plurality of storage vessels to a plurality of different liquid containing reservoirs located at different heights above their respective storage vessels, the improvement which comprises: means for closing each stoRage vessel and forming an air bell above the liquid in such storage vessel, a liquid supply line connected to each reservoir below the level of liquid therein and extending downwardly through the closing means of the associated storage vessel to below the level of liquid in such associated storage vessel, a different pneumatic pressure line having one end extending through said closing means to a level below the level of liquid in the associated storage vessel, a pressure regulator having liquid column means connected in tandem comprising a plurality of containers and tubes and including at least a first closed container with liquid therein and an open top container with liquid therein, each container having a tube extending downwardly therein to a level below the liquid level of the liquid contained therein, the container being of greater diameter than the tube, the tube in the first closed container being connected to the pressure supply line for one of the storage vessels and each succeeding container tube being connected to the upper end of the preceding container, the open top container constituting a final container of the tandem liquid column means, and liquid pressure lines for successive liquid storage vessels each being connected to the upper end of the successively different container.