Patent ID: 7284566

Claim:
A valve arrangement for guiding a liquid against a gas pressure gradient, the valve arrangement comprising: first, second and third pressure areas connected in series; an intake opening into the first pressure area; an outlet opening into the third pressure area; flow check valves selectively opening or closing passage openings between the first and second pressure areas and between the second and third pressure areas, whereby the flow check valves, free from outside influences, are opened when in a resting position and are automatically held in a closed position by gas counterpressure as follows: the flow check valve between the first and second pressure areas closing automatically when a pressure in the second pressure area is greater than a pressure in the first pressure area; and the flow check valve between the second and third pressure areas closing automatically when a pressure in the third pressure area is greater than a pressure in the second pressure area, whereby the first and third pressure areas are respectively connected to the second pressure area via ventilation lines, and whereby at least one ventilation valve is coupled to at least one of the ventilation lines, the at least one ventilation valve selectively opening or closing the at least one of the ventilation lines.