Intake piece adapted for emptying containers with liquid

Claim 2

In a system for discharging liquid from a container portion of a vessel, said container portion having a top and a floor, said system comprising liquid pumping means connected to an inlet suction tube extending substantially vertically into said container from the top of said container, the tube having an open lower end adjacent the floor of said container, the improvement comprising at least one first port adjacent to and spaced from said open end of said inlet tube and disposed in the wall of said inlet tube, and a reservoir having a closed bottom and situated exteriorly of said inlet tube, the reservoir comprising a chamber surrounding said inlet tube adjacent said open end, said chamber defined by said inlet tube, a cylindrical wall member surrounding said inlet tube and a lower annular wall portion extending between said inlet tube and said cylindrical wall adjacent said open end, the interior of said reservoir defined by the exterior of the inlet tube and the cylindrical wall member being in fluid flow communication with the interior of said inlet tube through said at least one first port, said reservoir terminating above said at least one first port and adjacent the floor of said container, said reservoir having at least one second port positioned above said at least one first port and adjacent the floor of said container, said at least one second port permitting fluid flow communication between the interior of said reservoir and the space surrounding said reservoir.

Claim 3

In a system for discharging liquid from a container portion of a vessel, said container portion having a top and a floor, said system comprising liquid pumping means connected to an inlet suction tube extending substantially vertically into said container from the top of said container, the tube having an open lower end adjacent the floor of said container, the improvement comprising at least one second tube situated exteriorly of said inlet tube and having a lower end and an upper end and open at both said upper and lower ends, the lower end of said second tube being in fluid flow communication with the interior of said inlet tube through a first port adjacent to and spaced from said open end of said inlet tube and disposed in the wall of said inlet tube, said second tube extending upwardly from said first port to said open upper end at a level above said first port and adjacent said floor of said container to define a second port permitting fluid flow communication between the interior of the second tube and the space surrounding said second tube.

Claim 4

In a system for discharging liquid from a container portion of a vessel, said container portion having a top and a floor, said system comprising liquid pumping means connected to an inlet suction tube extending substantially vertically into said container from the top of said container, the tube having an open lower end adjacent the floor of said container, the improvement comprising at least one second tube situated exteriorly of said inlet tube and having a lower end and an upper end and open at both said upper and lower ends, the lower end of said second tube being in fluid flow communication with the interior of said inlet tube through a first port adjacent to and spaced from said open end of said inlet tube and disposed in the wall of said inlet tube, said second tube extending upwardly from said first port to said open upper end at a level above said first port and adjacent said floor of said container to define a second port permitting fluid flow communication between the interior of the second tube and the space surrounding said second tube.

Claim 7

continuing to withdraw said liquids until the level of said liquids in said container falls to the top of a reservoir disposed exteriorly of said tube, said reservoir having a closed bottom and an interior space defined by the exterior walls of said inlet tube and the walls of the reservoir and in fluid flow communication with the interior of said inlet tube through at least one first porting aperture situated above and adjacent to said open end of said inlet tube, said top of said reservoir having at least one second porting aperture permitting fluid flow communication between said interior of said reservoir and the space surrounding said reservoir, said second porting aperture being at a level above said first porting aperture and adjacent said floor of said container, 4. withdrawing liquids from said reservoir through said at least one first porting aperture whereby the level of liquids in said reservoir falls relatively faster than the level of said liquids in said container portion exteriorly of said reservoir, 5. continuing to withdraw said liquids from said reservoir until the level of liquids in said reservoir falls to said at least one first porting aperture whereby air is admitted to said inlet tube through said at least one first porting aperture, and thereupon terminating the withdrawal of said liquids through said inlet tube, 6. passing liquid into said reservoir from said container through said at least one first porting aperture until the level of liquids within said reservoir is equal to that of said liquids in said container exteriorly of said reservoir and above said first porting aperture,

Claim 8

continuing to withdraw said liquids until the level of said liquids in said container falls to the top of a reservoir disposed exteriorly of said tube, said reservoir having a closed bottom and an interior space defined by the exterior walls of said inlet tube and the walls of the reservoir and in fluid flow communication with the interior of said inlet tube through at least one first porting aperture situated above and adjacent to said open end of said inlet tube, said top of said reservoir having at least one second porting aperture permitting fluid flow communication between said interior of said reservoir and the space surrounding said reservoir, said second porting aperture being at a level above said first porting aperture and adjacent said floor of said container, 4. withdrawing liquids from said reservoir through said at least one first porting aperture whereby the level of liquids in said reservoir falls relatively faster than the level of said liquids in said container portion exteriorly of said reservoir, 5. continuing to withdraw said liquids from said reservoir until the level of liquids in said reservoir falls to said at least one first porting aperture whereby air is admitted to said inlet tube through said at least one first porting aperture, and thereupon terminating the withdrawal of said liquids through said inlet tube, 6. passing liquid into said reservoir from said container through said at least one first porting aperture until the level of liquids within said reservoir is equal to that of said liquids in said container exteriorly of said reservoir and above said first porting aperture,

Claim 9

resuming the withdrawal of liquids through said inlet tube by the creation of suction therein, and 8. repeating steps (4) through (7) until the level of said liquids in said container exteriorly of said reservoir is at the level of said first porting aperture and thereupon terminating said withdrawal of liquids.

Claim 10

resuming the withdrawal of liquids through said inlet tube by the creation of suction therein, and 8. repeating steps (4) through (7) until the level of said liquids in said container exteriorly of said reservoir is at the level of said first porting aperture and thereupon terminating said withdrawal of liquids.