Abstract:
A manually operative siphoning pump apparatus for transferring liquid from one container to another container. The siphoning pump apparatus has a hollow cylindrical pump body through which liquid from one container to another can flow and a bellows attached thereto for establishing a vacuum within said pump body. The hollow pump body has an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe with an elongated flexible hose or tube connected to each of the pipes, The siphoning pump apparatus has an axially movable valve within the hollow pump body for initiating, controlling and shutting off the flow of liquid through the pump body during the siphoning process and, hence, from one container to another container. The axially movable valve has a cylindrical head at one end thereof and a connector at the opposite end thereof for fixing it to the bottom of the bellows. The axially movable valve is manually controlled by an elongated lever arm pivotally attached to a housing handle at one end and fixedly attached to the bottom of the bellows.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    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.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    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. Pat. Nos. 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  
         [0005]    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 overfiling 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.  
           [0006]    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.  
           [0007]    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.  
           [0008]    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.  
           [0009]    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.  
           [0010]    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  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the siphoning pump apparatus of this invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a fill longitudinal sectional view taken through lines  2 - 2  of FIG. 1.  
         [0013]    [0013]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.  
         [0014]    [0014]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.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the unassembled constituent parts of the siphoning pump apparatus of this invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 shows a practical application of the siphoning pump apparatus of this invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]    As shown in FIG. 1, the siphoning pump apparatus  1  of this invention has a housing  2  with an extended handle  3 A attached to the right side thereof and a tubular nozzle  3 B 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  3 B 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  3 B and between the pair of spaced half rigs to further secure the two half sections  2 ′ and  2 ″ of the housing  2  together. A flexible hose or tube TI (inlet) extends from one end of the handle  3 A and another flexible hose or tube T 2  (outlet) extends within the nozzle  3 B; outlet hose T 2  is not shown in FIG. 1 but is shown in FIG. 2. There is a loop  3 C 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  3 A 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).  
         [0018]    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 flapper 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  11 S 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  10 S 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 T 1 , through the pump body  8 , through the outlet tube T 2  and out through the nozzle  3 B. 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.  
         [0019]    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  8 T 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  8 L 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  19 S of the poppet valve&#39;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  19 S of the cylindrical head  19  may have a tapered or semi-spherical surface which mates 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  19 S in lieu of the tapered or semi-spherical surface for better sealing thereof to the seating element  21 .  
         [0020]    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  21 S at its lower end which indent seats upon the upper rim of the bellow&#39;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  8 T 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  8 L 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 .  
         [0021]    A flexible hose or tube T 1  of suitable size and length is connected to the inlet hose connector  11  and a flexible outlet hose or tube T 2  of suitable size and length is connected to the outlet hose connector  12 . The length of the outlet tube or hose T 2 , for most applications, does not extend beyond the opening in the nozzle  3 B. The outer diameter of the outlet hose or tube T 2  is slightly less than the inner diameter of the nozzle  3 B so that there is little play between the outlet hose T 2  and the nozzle  3 B. Tubes T 1  and T 2  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.  
         [0022]    The parts and elements of the siphon pump apparatus  1  which are 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.  
         [0023]    The overall dimensions of the siphon pump apparatus  1  are:  
         [0024]    11½ inches—horizontally, from the tip of the nozzle  3 B to the end of the handle  3 A;  
         [0025]    4½ inches—vertically, from the bottom of the bellows  4  to the top of the housing  2 ;  
         [0026]    1½ inches—horizontally, the width of the central housing  2 ; and  
         [0027]    2¼ inches—the diameter of the bellows  4  and depth of the central housing  2 .  
         [0028]    The above dimensions are approximate and may be varied.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 6 shows a practical application of the siphon pump apparatus  1  of this invention. The inlet hose or tube T 1  of the siphon pump apparatus  1  is inserted into a storage tank CL containing, e.g., gasoline, and the outlet nozzle  3 B 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.  
         [0030]    The operation of the siphoning pump apparatus of this invention is as follows:  
         [0031]    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.  
         [0032]    Install a sufficient length of flexible tubing T 1  onto the hose connector  11  of the siphon pump apparatus  1  so that the tubing extends out from the end of the handle  3 A and into the bottom of the container from which liquid is to be siphoned.  
         [0033]    Insert the end of the nozzle  3 B of the siphon pump apparatus  1  into the container to be filled with the liquid.  
         [0034]    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.  
         [0035]    Prime the pump body  8  by depressing the lever arm  5  several quick times. As a result of this priming, the following operation results:  
         [0036]    1. Lever arm  5  depressed—Bellows outlet stroke  
         [0037]    a) Each time 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 .  
         [0038]    b) The flapper valve  15  will seat inside the hose connector  11  thus preventing liquid (or air) from flowing through the pump body  8 .  
         [0039]    c) The liquid (or air) flowing out from the bellows  4  will force the flapper valve  16  in the hose connector  12  to open.  
         [0040]    2. Lever arm  5  released—Bellows inlet stroke  
         [0041]    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  12   a  of the outlet stub  12  in the side wall of the pump body  8 .  
         [0042]    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  11   a  inside the inlet hose connector  11 .  
         [0043]    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 T 1  and into the pump body  8  and bellows  4 .  
         [0044]    The priming action should continue until clear liquid (no air) flows out from the end of the nozzle  3 B; this indicates that the siphoning process is established.  
         [0045]    The flow of the liquid from the container (from which the liquid is siphoned), through the inlet tubing T 1 , valve body  8 , nozzle  3 B 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 .  
         [0046]    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.  
         [0047]    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  3 B 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.  
         [0048]    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.