Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
In a developing machine for radiation-sensitive material, the combination comprising a vessel having an upper portion and a lowermost portion and arranged to normally confine a body of liquid having an upper surface located at or close to a predetermined level; means for circulating the liquid along a first path extending from the lowermost portion, outside of and to the upper portion of said vessel, said circulating means including pipe means and a first pump installed in said pipe means; liquid removing means; and means for evacuating the contents of said vessel in response to stoppage of said first pump along a second path extending between an intermediate portion of said first path and said removing means, said evacuating means including a jet pump installed in said intermediate portion of said first path and having a suction side, and a siphon having an intake end connected with said suction side and a discharge end connected with said removing means, said siphon having an uppermost section disposed at a level above said jet pump and below said predetermined level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a developing machine for radiation-sensitive material, the combination comprising a vessel having an upper portion and a lowermost portion and arranged to normally confine a body of liquid having an upper surface located at or close to a predetermined level; means for circulating the liquid along a first path extending from the lowermost portion, outside of and to the upper portion of said vessel, said circulating means including pipe means and a first pump installed in said pipe means; liquid removing means; and means for evacuating the contents of said vessel in response to stoppage of said first pump along a second path extending between an intermediate portion of said first path and said removing means, said evacuating means including a jet pump installed in said intermediate portion of said first path and having a suction side, and a siphon having an intake end connected with said suction side and a discharge end connected with said removing means, said siphon having an uppermost section disposed at a level above said jet pump and below said predetermined level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said jet pump is disposed at a level below said lowermost portion of said vessel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination of claim 2, wherein said siphon further comprises an upright section extending from the suction side of said jet pump to said uppermost section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination of claim 3, wherein said jet pump is dimensioned to maintain the upper surface of liquid in said upright section at a level below said uppermost section as long as said first pump causes the liquid to flow along said first path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said uppermost section is located at such a distance from and below said predetermined level that the liquid which rises in said siphon on stoppage of said first pump and attendant deactivation of said jet pump can rise into said uppermost portion and thereupon flows from the lowermost portion of said vessel, toward and through said siphon, and into said liquid removing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 1, further comprising means for admitting air into the uppermost section of said siphon at the will of an operator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination of claim 6, wherein said admitting means comprises an upwardly extending tubular connector having an end portion communicatively connected with said uppermost section and a normally closed aerating valve in said connector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said first pump is disposed at a level between said lowermost portion of said vessel and said predetermined level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said siphon further comprises two upright sections flanking said uppermost section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said pipe means includes a first pipe communicating with the lowermost portion of said vessel and disposed at a level below said vessel and a second pipe extending upwardly from said first pipe and discharging into the upper portion of said vessel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination of claim 10, wherein said jet pump is installed in said first pipe.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination of claim 10, wherein said first pump is installed in said second pipe.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 10, further comprising a third pipe connecting said first pipe with said removing means downstream of said jet pump and a shutoff valve in said third pipe.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said removing means is located at a level below said first pipe.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination of claim 1, further comprising means for admitting into said vessel fresh liquid when the upper surface of liquid in said vessel drops below said predetermined level and means for removing liquid from said vessel when the upper surface of the body of liquid in said vessel rises above said predetermined level.