Method and apparatus for degasing, during transportation, a confined volume of liquid to be measured

Claim 3

Apparatus for degassing a confined volume of liquid to be measured during the transportation of the liquid from a supply vessel to a liquid storage vessel, said apparatus comprising: a gas separation vessel having a top and a bottom; means providing fluid communication between said supply vessel and said gas separation vessel; a liquid discharge conduit providing liquid communication between said bottom of said gas separation vessel and said liquid storage vessel; means disposed in said liquid discharge conduit for measuring the volume of liquid passing therethrough; a gas discharge conduit providing gas communication with said top of said gas separation vessel; a continuously operating fluid vacuum pump connected on the suction side thereof to said liquid discharge conduit and to said gas discharge conduit; a first valve disposed in said liquid discharge conduit between said vacuum pump and said gas separation vessel and adapted to be selectively opened to permit said vacuum pump to withdraw liquid from said gas separation vessel to said liquid storage vessel through said liquid discharge conduit and to be selectively closed to prevent the flow of liquid from said gas separation vessel through said liquid discharge conduit; a second valve disposed in said gas discharge conduit between said gas separation vessel and said vacuum pump and adapted to be selectively opened to permit said vacuum pump to withdraw gas from said gas separation vessel through said gas discharge conduit and selectively closed to prevent the flow of gas from said gas separation vessel through said gas discharge conduit; a first level switch responsive to a first liquid level in said gas separation vessel and being operative to open said second valve and to close said first valve when the level of the liquid falls to said first liquid level; and a second level switch responsive to a second liquid level higher than said first liquid level in said gas separation vessel, said second level switch being operative to open said first valve and to close said second valve when the level of the liquid rises to said second liquid level and to open said second valve and close said first valve when the level of the liquid falls to a point between said second liquid level and said first liquid level from said second liquid level.

Claim 4

Apparatus for degassing a confined volume of liquid to be measured during the transportation of the liquid from a supply vessel to a liquid storage vessel, said apparatus comprising: a gas separation vessel having a top and a bottom; means providing fluid communication between said supply vessel and said gas separation vessel; a liquid discharge conduit providing liquid communication between said bottom of said gas separation vessel and said liquid storage vessel; means disposed in said liquid discharge conduit for measuring the volume of liquid passing therethrough; a gas discharge conduit providing gas communication with said top of said gas separation vessel; a continuously operating fluid vacuum pump connected on the suction side thereof to said liquid discharge conduit and to said gas discharge conduit; a first valve disposed in said liquid discharge conduit between said vacuum pump and said gas separation vessel and adapted to be selectively opened to permit said vacuum pump to withdraw liquid from said gas separation vessel to said liquid storage vessel through said liquid discharge conduit and to be selectively closed to prevent the flow of liquid from said gas separation vessel through said liquid discharge conduit; a second valve disposed in said gas discharge conduit between said gas separation vessel and said vacuum pump and adapted to be selectively opened to permit said vacuum pump to withdraw gas from said gas separation vessel through said gas discharge conduit and selectively closed to prevent the flow of gas from said gas separation vessel through said gas discharge conduit; a first level switch responsive to a first liquid level in said gas separation vessel and being operative to open said second valve and to close said first valve when the level of the liquid falls to said first liquid level; and a second level switch responsive to a second liquid level higher than said first liquid level in said gas separation vessel, said second level switch being operative to open said first valve and to close said second valve when the level of the liquid rises to said second liquid level and to open said second valve and close said first valve when the level of the liquid falls to a point between said second liquid level and said first liquid level from said second liquid level.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising first timing means associated with said first level switch and being operative to open said first valve and to close said second valve if the level of the liquid in said gas separation vessel does not rise to said second liquid level a first specified period of time after rising above said first liquid level.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising second timing means associated with said second level switch for opening said first valve and closing said second valve if the level of the liquid in said gas separation vessel fails to rise to said second liquid level a second specified period of time after falling below said second liquid level.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a second pump upstream of said fluid pump on said liquid discharge conduit adapted for pumping liquid from said gas separation vessel, said second pump being actuated by said second level switch when the level of said liquid in said gas separation vessel exceeds said second liquid level.