Patent ID: 7014779

Claim:
A vacuum separation, transport and collection system ( 10 ) for immiscible liquids, the system ( 10 ) comprising: a. separator means ( 12 ) for separating two or more immiscible liquids; b. a holder ( 16 ) in fluid communication with the separation means ( 12 ) for receiving and holding separated immiscible liquid ( 26 ) from the separation means ( 12 ); c. a collector ( 18 ) in fluid communication through a vacuum line ( 20 ) with the holder ( 16 ); d. vacuum generator means ( 22 ) in fluid communication with the collector ( 18 ) for applying a vacuum to the collector ( 18 ) and from the collector ( 18 ) through the vacuum line ( 20 ) to the holder ( 16 ) so that separated immiscible liquid ( 26 ) in the holder ( 16 ) is drawn into the collector ( 18 ) by the vacuum; and, e. controller means ( 28 ) in communication with the vacuum generator means ( 22 ) for controlling the vacuum generator means ( 22 ) to apply a vacuum to the collector ( 18 ) and holder ( 16 ) for a predetermined vacuum duty cycle to periodically transport separated immiscible liquid ( 26 ) from the holder ( 16 ) to the collector ( 18 ).