BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates generally to transferring a liquid from one container to another
container. More specifically, it relates to transferring the liquid by means of a
hand-held, siphoning pump apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] It is old and well known in the art to utilize a piston device to facilitate the
siphoning action to transfer liquid from one container to another container such as
taught in U.S. patents 4,112,963 and 4,232,694. Other prior art devices are known
for facilitating the siphoning of liquid from one container to another by utilizing
a bellows device in the transfer tubing between the two containers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] None of the prior art described above discloses a means for expeditiously and cleanly
shutting off the siphoning action between two containers when the container being
filled has reached a desired level. This is precisely the purpose of this invention:
a siphoning apparatus that incorporates a shut-off mechanism that will prevent overfilling
of the container being filled. This invention will eliminate messy spills, reduce
waste in the liquid being transferred (important, especially if the liquid is fuel)
and eliminate a potential fire hazard around hot machinery when the liquid is highly
flammable. In operation, the siphoning pump apparatus of this invention has an inlet
hose or tube inserted in a liquid supply container and an outlet nozzle inserted in
the opening of a liquid receiving container which is positioned at a lower height
than the liquid supply container. A practical example of use for the siphoning pump
apparatus of this invention would be to fill a small container with gasoline from
a storage tank.
[0004] The siphoning pump apparatus of this invention comprises a main housing including
a cylindrically hollow pump body attached to a bellows and a shut-off valve attached
to the bottom of the bellows and movable axially within the pump body. The hollow
pump body has an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe oppositely connected to the cylindrically
hollow pump body. A flexible hose or tube is attached to the inlet pipe by an intermediate
connector and a flexible hose or tube is attached to the outlet pipe by an intermediate
connector. Connected between the inlet side of the pump body and the bellows is a
mechanism for priming and pumping the siphoning pump apparatus to initiate and control
the flow of liquid from one container to another, the details of which will be explained
below. This mechanism is also used to shut off the flow of liquid from one container
to the other; this operation will also be explained below.
[0005] It is an object of this invention to provide a hand-held, siphoning pump apparatus
which will initiate and facilitate the flow of liquid from one container to another
container.
[0006] It is another object of this invention to provide a hand-held, siphoning pump apparatus
which can manually control the flow of liquid from one container to another container.
[0007] It is a further object of this invention to provide a hand-held, siphoning pump apparatus
which, during the siphoning process, has a mechanism to easily and quickly shut off
the flow of liquid from one container to another container when desired.
[0008] Other objects and advantages of the siphoning pump apparatus will become apparent
to the reader after reading the description of this invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the siphoning pump apparatus of this invention.
FIG. 2 is a full longitudinal sectional view taken through lines 2-2 of FIG 1.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the pump and bellows of the siphoning pump apparatus of this
invention with the poppet valve in a seated or sealed position.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but with the poppet valve in an unseated or raised position and with the bellows
compressed.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the unassembled constituent parts of the siphoning
pump apparatus of this invention.
FIG. 6 shows a practical application of the siphoning pump apparatus of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] As shown in FIG.
1, the siphoning pump apparatus 1 of this invention has a housing 2 with an extended
handle 3A attached to the right side thereof and a tubular nozzle 3B attached to and
extending from the left side thereof. A bellows 4 extends from the bottom of the housing
2. Between one end of the handle 3 and the bellows 4 there is a lever arm 5 attached,
at one of its ends, to the bottom of the bellows 4 by a snap-on disc 6 and, at its
opposite end, to the handle 3 by a pivotal stud 7, which also serves as one of the
posts for attaching the two half sections 2' and 2" of the housing 2 together. The
housing 2 is made from two sections 2' and 2" which are screwed to each other utilizing
6 internally threaded posts or studs (not numbered) on the half-section 2' and 6 screws
(not numbered) passing through apertures in the half-section 2". When the two half
sections 2' and 2" are fastened together, there is a slight overlap of half section
2' with respect to half section 2" so that the inner components of the siphon pump
apparatus 1 cannot be seen externally. Furthermore, each half section 2' and 2" near
the open end of the nozzle 3B has a pair of spaced half rings. When the two half sections
2' and 2" have been fastened together by the six screws, a plastic or rubber O-ring
is slipped over the front end of the nozzle 3B and between the pair of spaced half
rings to further secure the two half sections 2' and 2" of the housing 2 together.
A flexible hose or tube T1 (inlet) extends from one end of the handle 3A and another
flexible hose or tube T2 (outlet) extends within the nozzle 3B; outlet hose T2 is
not shown in FIG.
1 but is shown in FIG.
2. There is a loop 3C on the housing 2 which can be used for storing the siphon pump
apparatus 1 on a hook when the apparatus 1 is not in use. The siphoning pump apparatus
1 can be carried by handle 3A and, during the siphoning process, is primed, pumped,
controlled and shut-off in conjunction with lever arm 5 (the operation of which will
be explained hereinbelow).
[0011] Referring now to FIGS.
2, 3, 4 and
5, the internal parts of the siphoning pump apparatus 1 of this invention will be explained.
Within the housing 2, there is a pump body 8 that has an inlet tubular connector 9
on one side thereof and an outlet tubular connector 10 on the opposite side thereof,
the inlet connector 9 being at a lower position on the pump body 8 than the outlet
connector 10. The inner and outer diameters of the inlet connector 9 are slightly
smaller than the inner and outer diameters of the outlet connector 10. There is slit
13 extending a short distance into the inlet tubular connector 9 for insertion therein
of a fiapper type check valve 15, substantially cylindrical in shape. The flapper
type check valve 15 has, at the top portion thereof, a pair of opposite extensions
(not numbered) which will function as a pivot therefor once placed in the slit 13
of the inlet tubular connector 9. A female hose connector 11 is friction fitted over
the inlet connector 9 and has a back stop or inlet seat 11S therein for the flapper
type check valve 15. There is slit 14 extending a short distance into the male hose
connector 12 for insertion therein of a flapper type check valve 16, similar in structure
to the flapper type check valve 15. The male hose connector 12 is friction fitted
into the outlet connector 10. Within the outlet connector 10 there is a back stop
or outlet seat 10S for the flapper type check valve 16. Thus, during the siphoning
process and in view of these flapper type check valves 15 and 16, there can only be
liquid flow in one direction, i. e., from the inlet tube T1, through the pump body
8, through the outlet tube T2 and out through the nozzle 3B. When the two sections
2' and 2" of the central housing are fastened together by the four screws and four
posts, the inner components such as the pump body 8 and the threaded element 23, attached
to the top of the bellows 4, are positioned and fixed within the central housing.
[0012] Centrally of the pump body 8 and the bellows 4, there is poppet valve 17 having an
elongated cylindrical stem 18 with a larger diameter cylindrical head 19 at the top
end thereof and a male retaining bulb 20, at the bottom end thereof, whose outer diameter
is slightly larger than the diameter of the elongated stem 16 but smaller than the
outer diameter of the cylindrical head 19. The outer diameter of the cylindrical head
19 is slightly less than the inner diameter of the pump body 8 so that it can move
freely within the pump body 8. At the top of the bellows 4 is a hollow cylindrical
element 23 which is threaded externally. The hollow pump body 8 has an internally
threaded portion 8T at the lower end thereof which threaded portion is screwed onto
the hollow cylindrical element 23 at the top of the bellows 4 during assembly of the
siphon pump apparatus 1. A cylindrical seating element 21 has four legs (not numbered)
the ends of which are partially inserted into the threaded cylindrical element 23
at the top of the bellows 4. During the assembly process, the seating element 21 becomes
positively fixed between the hollow cylindrical element 23 and an internal ledge 8L
within the hollow pump body 8. This seating element 21, which is hollow through its
center, has an upper circumferential surface 22 which mates with an external undersurface
19S of the poppet valve's cylindrical head 19 and effects a seal therebetween which
seal will cut off the flow of liquid through the pump body 8 during the siphoning
operation as will be explained hereinafter. The underside 19S of the cylindrical head
19 may have a tapered or semi-spherical surface which males or seats on an oppositely
tapered or semi-spherical surface 22 on an upper side of the seating element 21. The
cylindrical head 19 may incorporate an O-ring on its undersurface 19S in lieu of the
tapered or semi-spherical surface for better sealing thereof to the seating element
21.
[0013] The male retaining bulb 20 at the bottom of the poppet valve 17 is small enough in
diameter to pass through the hollow seating element 21 and the hollow cylindrical
element 23 and ,thence, through the center of the bellows 4 to a female retaining
bulb 24 affixed at the bottom of the bellows 4. During the initial assembly of the
siphon pump apparatus 1, the seating element 21 is fixed between the cylindrical head
19 of the poppet valve 18 and the threaded element 23 at the top of the bellows 4.
Each of the four legs of the seating element 21 has an indent 21S at its lower end
which indent seats upon the upper rim of the bellow's threaded element 23. Once the
male retaining bulb 20 of the poppet valve 17 is snapped into the female retaining
bulb 24, the threaded portion 8T of the pump body 8 is screwed onto the externally
threaded element 23 at the top of the bellows 4, thereby centrally positioning the
poppet valve 17 within the bellows 4 and pump body 8. It should be pointed out here
that, prior to the preceding assembly, the bellows 4 is inherently spring biased in
an expanded condition and, subsequent to the preceding assembly, the bellows 4 is
slightly compressed. As a result of this latter assembly step, the seating element
21 becomes fixed between the threaded element 23 at the top of the bellows 4 and a
ledge 8L in the inner wall of the pump body 8. In operation of the siphon pump apparatus
1, the poppet valve 17 is movable axially within the pump body 8 and the bellows 4.
The female retaining bulb 24 attached to the bottom of the bellows 4 is inserted into
a snap-on support disc 6 thereby affixing the bellows 4 to the lever arm 5.
[0014] A flexible hose or tube T of suitable size and length is connected to the inlet hose
connector 11 and a flexible outlet hose or tube T2 of suitable size and length is
connected to the outlet hose connector 12. The length of the outlet tube or hose T2,
for most applications, does not extend beyond the opening in the nozzle 3B. The outer
diameter of the oulet hose or tube T2 is slightly less than the inner diameter of
the nozzle 3B so that there is little play between the outlet hose T2 and the nozzle
3B. Tubes T1 and T2 may be made of rubber or plastic. Nylon tubing was found to be
practical. All other parts and elements of the siphon pump apparatus 1 are made from
plastic material, for example, polyethylene. Other plastic materials can also be used.
Some of the parts and elements are made from high density plastic material and these
parts and elements are made by injection molding. Other parts and elements are made
from low density plastic material and these parts and elements are made by blow molding
and/or injection molding.
[0015] The parts and elements of the siphon pump apparatus 1 which arc made from high density
plastic material are: the housing 2; seating element 21 and lever arm 5. The other
parts and elements of the siphon pump apparatus 1 are made from low density plastic
material.
[0016] The overall dimensions of the siphon pump apparatus 1 are:
11 ½ inches - |
horizontally, from the tip of the nozzle 3B to the end |
|
of the handle 3A; |
4 ½ inches - |
vertically, from the bottom of the bellows 4 to the |
|
top of the housing 2; |
1 ½ inches - |
horizontally, the width of the central housing 2; and |
2 ¼ inches - |
the diameter of the bellows 4 and depth of the |
|
central housing 2. |
[0017] The above dimensions are approximate and may be varied.
[0018] FIG.
6 shows a practical application of the siphon pump apparatus 1 of this invention. The
inlet hose or tube T1 of the siphon pump apparatus 1 is inserted into a storage tank
CL containing, e.g., gasoline, and the outlet nozzle 3B is positioned at the opening
of a smaller container CS or partially inserted therein. Typically, the storage tank
CL is at a higher elevation than the smaller container CS in order for the siphon
action to work.
[0019] The operation of the siphoning pump apparatus of this invention is as follows:
[0020] Make sure that the container from which the liquid to be siphoned is at a higher
elevation than the container to be filled with the liquid.
[0021] Install a sufficient length of flexible tubing T1 onto the hose connector 11 of the
siphon pump apparatus 1 so that the tubing extends out from the end of the handle
3A and into the bottom of the container from which liquid is to be siphoned.
[0022] Insert the end of the nozzle 3B of the siphon pump apparatus 1 into the container
to be filled with the liquid.
[0023] Hold the handle of the siphon pump apparatus 1 in a horizontal position so that the
flapper check valves 15 and 16 are seated properly.
[0024] Prime the pump body 8 by depressing the lever arm 5 several quick times. As a result
of this priming, the following operation results:
1. Lever arm 5 depressed - Bellows outlet stroke
a) Each tune the bellows 4 is compressed, the cylindrical head 19 of the poppet valve
17 is simultaneously lifted or raised from the seating element 21. This allows liquid
(or air) to flow out of the bellows 4.
b) The flapper valve 15 will seat inside the hose connector 11 thus preventing liquid
(or air) from flowing through the pump body 8.
c) The liquid (or air) flowing out from the bellows 4 will force the flapper valve
16 in the hose connector 12 to open.
2. Lever arm 5 released - Bellows inlet stroke
a) When lever arm 5 is released, the spring effect of the bellows 4 will make the
bellows 4 expand. This expansion will attempt to draw liquid (or air) through flapper
valve 16 in outlet connector 12 and, thus, the flapper valve 16 will be pushed onto
an internal seat 12a of the outlet stub 12 in the side wall of the pump body 8.
b) As the bellows 4 expands, a vacuum is created in the bellows 4 and pump body 8.
This condition will allow atmospheric pressure in the container from which liquid
is to be siphoned to force flapper valve 15 to open, i. e., to be unseated from an
internal seat 11a inside the inlet hose connector 11.
c) As the bellows 4 expands further, atmospheric pressure on the liquid in the container,
from which the liquid is to be siphoned, will force the liquid through the inlet tubing
T1 and into the pump body 8 and bellows 4.
[0025] The priming action should continue until clear liquid (no air) flows out from the
end of the nozzle 3B; this indicates that the siphoning process is established.
[0026] The flow of the liquid from the container (from which the liquid is siphoned), through
the inlet tubing T1, valve body 8, nozzle 3B and into the receiving container can
be controlled or regulated by the position of lever arm 5. The further the lever arm
5 is squeezed or depressed the farther the cylindrical head 19 of the poppet valve
17 is held off the seating element 21.
[0027] When the desired level of liquid is filled within the receiving container, the lever
arm 5 is released and the spring effect of the bellows 4 will cause the cylindrical
head 19 of the poppet valve 17 to seat on the sealing surface 22 of the seating element
21 and, in effect, shut off the flow of liquid through the siphon pump apparatus 1.
This automatic shut off of liquid flow is a unique feature of the siphon pump apparatus
1 of this invention.
[0028] When another receiving container is to be filled with the same liquid, then remove
the siphon pump apparatus 1 from the container being filled and insert the nozzle
3B into the other receiving container. A simple squeeze or depression of the lever
arm 5 of the siphon pump apparatus 1 should reinitiate the siphoning action and the
filling of the other container will commence.
[0029] Modifications of this invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the
art and it is intended that the invention be not limited by the embodiments disclosed
herein but that the scope of the invention be defined by the appended claims.
1. A manual siphoning pump apparatus for transferring liquid from a first container to
a second container, said apparatus comprising an elongated, hollow pump body, an inlet
pipe extending from and communicating with said pump body, an outlet pipe extending
from and communicating with said pump body, an elongated flexible hose or tube connected
to each of said inlet and outlet pipes, a poppet valve axially movable within said
hollow pump body and operable to allow and prevent liquid from passing from said inlet
pipe to said outlet pipe through said hollow pump body, a bellows mounted to and communicating
with said pump body, and operating means connected to said poppet valve and said bellows
for axially moving said poppet valve and said bellows such that said bellows is usable
for initiating a flow of liquid through said hollow valve body when said elongated
flexible hose or tube on the inlet side of said pump body is at a higher elevation
than said elongated hose or tube on the outlet side of said hollow pump body.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said operating means is an elongated lever arm attached
to said bellows and to a handle which is attached to a housing enclosing said hollow
pump body.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said lever arm is attached to the bottom of said
bellows at one end thereof and to a pivotal element on said handle at the opposite
end of said lever arm.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hollow pump body is cylindrical and said poppet
valve has a cylindrical head axially movable within said hollow pump body and being
capable of permitting the flow of liquid through said hollow pump body as well as
controlling and stopping the flow of liquid therethrough.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said poppet valve has an elongated stem with said
cylindrical head attached at the top end thereof and a connecting part attached to
the bottom end thereof for attaching said poppet valve to the bottom of said bellows.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said poppet valve is axially movable within said
hollow pump body by manually actuating said operating means.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said poppet valve has a cylindrical head at the top
end (hereof which head has an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of said
pump body so that it moves freely therewithin.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said bellows has an externally threaded cylindrical
element affixed to the top end thereof and a cylindrical seating element affixed between
the top of said threaded cylindrical element and a cylindrical ledge in the hollow
pump body.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said cylindrical head of said poppet valve is capable
of seating in said cylindrical seating element and effecting a seal therebetween.
10. A siphoning pump apparatus for transferring liquid from one container to another,
said apparatus comprising a hollow, substantially cylindrical, pump body which is
closed at the top and open at the bottom, said pump body having a sidewall with an
inlet and an outlet connector, a handle attached to said pump body, an elongated flexible
tube being sealingiy connected to said inlet connector and an elongated flexible tube
being sealingly connected to said outlet connector, a bellows sealingly attached to
the bottom of said pump body, a lever connected between said beilows and said handle,
an elongated valve within said pump body and said bellows, said elongated valve having
a substantially cylindrical head within said pump body for controlling and shutting
off the flow of liquid through said pump body during a siphoning operation, and said
valve being axially movable within said pump body and operative by means of said lever
to control and shut off the flow of liquid through said pump body.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said valve has an elongated stem with said cylindrical
sealing head being attached to the upper end thereof.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein there is a male connecting part at the lower end
of said elongated stem for insertion into a female connecting part at the bottom of
said bellows.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein one end of said lever is attached to the bottom
of said bellows and the opposite end of said lever is pivotally connected to said
handle.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said cylindrical head of said elongated valve has
a clearance from said inner sidewall of said pump body so that it can move freely
therein.
15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein there is a seating element fixed within said pump
body, said seating element co-acting with said cylindrical head of said elongated
valve to form a seal therebetween.
16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said pump body has an internally threaded lower
portion and said bellows has an externally threaded upper element, said pump body
and said bellows being sealingly attached to each other by said threaded lower portion
and said threaded upper element.
17. A siphoning pump apparatus for transferring liquid from one container to another container,
said apparatus comprising:
pump means for effecting the How of liquid from said one container to said another
container by a siphoning action,
means connecting said one container to said another container through said pump means,
valve means within said pump means for controlling the flow of liquid through said
pump means, and
means connected between said pump means and said valve means for actuating said valve
means within said pump means for effecting the control of liquid through said pump
means.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said pump means has a sealing element therein.
19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said valve means has a movable sealing element.
20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said means connected between said pump means and
said valve means are a bellows attached to said pump means and said valve means and
a pivotal lever arm attached between said bellows and said pump means.