US 12,486,920 B2
Siphon systems and vacuum pumps
Thomas Falkland Gardiner, Waimauku (NZ)
Appl. No. 18/263,336
Filed by Thomas Falkland Gardiner, Waimauku (NZ)
PCT Filed Jan. 28, 2022, PCT No. PCT/NZ2022/050010
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 27, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/164331, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 4, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 772395 (NZ), filed on Jan. 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0077144 A1, Mar. 7, 2024
Int. Cl. F16K 21/18 (2006.01); F04B 37/14 (2006.01); F04F 10/00 (2006.01); F16K 31/28 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 21/18 (2013.01) [F04B 37/14 (2013.01); F04F 10/00 (2013.01); F16K 31/28 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vacuum pump for removing gases from a system, the vacuum pump comprising:
a transfer chamber,
a pressurised liquid inlet configured to allow pressurised liquid to enter the transfer chamber, wherein the pressurised liquid inlet is controlled by a liquid inlet valve,
a liquid outlet configured to allow liquid to be transferred from the transfer chamber and into the system, wherein the liquid outlet is controlled by a liquid outlet valve,
a gas outlet configured to allow gases to be expelled from the transfer chamber, wherein the gas outlet is controlled by a gas outlet valve, and
a gas inlet configured to allow gases to enter the transfer chamber from the system,
wherein the gas inlet is controlled by a gas inlet valve,
wherein:
the vacuum pump is configured such that the liquid outlet and the gas inlet are in communication with the system from which gases are to be removed;
the liquid outlet valve is operated by at least one outlet valve flotation device;
the vacuum pump is configured such that pressurised liquid entering the transfer chamber via the pressurised liquid inlet is directed onto an upper surface of the outlet valve flotation device; and
the liquid inlet valve comprises a valve control mechanism that is operated by an inlet valve operating mechanism, and the inlet valve operating mechanism comprises at least one float operatively connected to the valve control mechanism, wherein the inlet valve operating mechanism comprises:
a high-level float situated at or adjacent an upper part of the transfer chamber, a low-level sinker or weight situated at or adjacent a lower part of the transfer chamber, and
a primary buoyancy float or float assembly situated between the high-level float and the low-level sinker or weight.