Patent ID: 7069965

Claim:
An apparatus adapted for use with a riser pipe of a liquid reservoir, comprising: a) a drop tube adapted for at least partial disposition in a riser pipe of a liquid reservoir, the drop tube including a wall with inner and outer surfaces; b) a drop tube insert at least partially disposed within an end portion of the drop tube, the drop tube insert including a wall with inner and outer surfaces, at least portions of the inner surfaces of the drop tube and drop tube insert cooperating to define a liquid flow path, the wall of the drop tube insert being devoid of any openings and fasteners extending between its inner and outer surfaces; c) an interstitial space interposed between at least portions of the outer surface of the drop tube insert and the inner surface of the drop tube; d) a fastener extending through the wall of the drop tube and the interstitial space to engage the drop tube insert and to secure the drop tube insert relative to the drop tube; and e) a first sealing member positioned between the outer surface of the drop tube insert and the inner surface of the drop tube, the first sealing member being operative to inhibit fluid communication between the interstitial space and the liquid flow path.