Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
Liquid Tank And Pump Combination
NAME ( S ) OF INVENTOR S :-
Reginald David McP;inney
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a liquid tank and pump
combination and, in particular, a liquid tank with pump used
to supply liquid to a washing wand.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVErfTION
Washing units currently used in the oil industry include
a tank, a pump a.nd a wash wand connected to the pump by a
length of hose. '.Che washing units are frequently mounted on
skids. In order t;o economize on skid space and position the
pump where it will not be inadvertently damaged, the pump is
positioned on top of the tank. When the pump is shut off,
liquid drains by force of gravity from the pump. This causes
problems with priming t:he pump, the next time it is used. When
self-priming pumps are used, the output has been found to be
subject to undesirable fluid surges.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is a liquid tank and pump combination,
that is less suscE~ptibl~s to priming problems or fluid surges .
According to the ;present invention there is provided a
liquid tank with pump which includes a body having an upper
liquid retaining compartment and an underlying pump receiving
compartment which underlies the upper liquid retaining
compartment. A pump is disposed in the underlying pump
receiving compartment. The pump has an inlet and an outlet.
A feed conduit extends from the upper liquid retaining
compartment to the inlet of the pump. Liquid from the upper
liquid retaining ~~ompartment passes by force of gravity to the
inlet of the pump, thereby priming the pump.
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The liquid tank with pump, as described above, solves the
problem of primin~~ the pump. The pump is automatically primed
by liquid being fed by force of gravity from the upper liquid
retaining compartment, through the feed conduit to the inlet
of the pump. There is :no need to use a self priming pump that
causes problem with liquid surges. The pump is protected from
damage within the: underlying pump retaining compartment.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
use of the invention, as described above, there are some
features that w=_11 be hereinafter described that further
enhance the utility of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION' OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is
made to the appended drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a front elevation view of a liquid tank with
pump constructed in accordance with the teachings of the
present invention, with lower access door closed.
FIGURE 2 is ~~ front. elevation view of the liquid tank with
pump illustrated in FIGURE 1, with lower access door opened.
FIGURE 3 is ~~ side elevation view of the liquid tank with
pump illustrated in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 4 is a front elevation view, in section, of the
liquid tank with pump illustrated in FIGURE 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF' THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment, a liquid tank and pump
combination generally identified by reference numeral 10, will
now be described with reference to FIGURES 1 through 4.
Referring to FIGURE 2, combination 10 includes a body 12
which has a top 14, a bottom 16, a peripheral sidewall 18, an
upper liquid retaining compartment 20 and an underlying pump
receiving compartment 22 which underlies upper liquid retaining
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compartment 20.
Referring to FIGURE 4, a pump 24 is disposed in underlying
pump receiving compartment 22 powered by an electic motor 26.
Pump 24 has an inlet 28 and an outlet 30. A feed conduit 32
extends from upper liquid retaining compartment 20 to inlet 28
of pump 24, such that liquid 42 from upper liquid retaining
compartment 20 passes by force of gravity to inlet 28 of pump
24 thereby priming pump 24. Feed 32 conduit passes through a
drainage valve 3E~ which positioned on peripheral sidewall 18
of body 12. Drainage valve 36 may be closed so as to prevent
liquid 42 from entering pump. A discharge conduit 34 extends
from outlet 30 through peripheral sidewall 18 and connects to
hose 50. A regul,~tor 38 is positioned on pump 24 at outlet 30
whereby pressure on liquid 42 may be adjusted. A return
conduit 40 extends upwardly from regulator 38 to a check valve
37. Return conduit parses through check valve 37 into upper
liquid retaining compartment 20. When pump 24 is running and
liquid 42 is not required to be pumped through discharge
conduit 34, return conduit 40 circulates liquid 42 entering
pump 24 from feed conduit 32 back into to upper liquid
retaining compartment 20. Check valve 37 may be closed so as
to prevent liquid 42 from reentering pump 24. For example, the
use of drainage valve 36 and check valve 37 to prevent liquid
42 from entering pump 24 would be desirable when repair or
removal of pump 24 is necessary.
Referring to FIGURE 1, a lower access door 44 through
peripheral sidewa:ll 18 of body 12 provides access to underlying
pump receiving compartment 22.
Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, a first latching mechanism
64 is positioned on pE=_ripheral sidewall 18 of body 12. A
second latching mE~chani;~m 66 is positioned on lower access door
38. First latching mechanism 64 engages with second latching
mechanism 66 when lower access door 44 is in the open position
so as to maintain lower access door 44 in that position.
Referring to FIGUF;E 3, a site glass 46 is positioned in
peripheral sidewall 18 adjacent to upper liquid retaining
compartment 20, whereby a level of liquid 42 within upper
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liquid retaining compartment 20 is visually determined.
Protruding from periphE=_ral sidewall 18 of body 12 is a first
support 48 adaptE>d to :receive a length of hose 50. A second
support 52 which:protrudes from peripheral sidewall 18 of body
12 is adapted to receive a washing wand 54. A switch box 56
is positioned on peripheral sidewall 18 of body 12. An
electrical cord 58 exits switch box 56 and enters underlying
pump receiving compartment 22. A pair of supports 60 protrude
upwardly from top 14 o:E body 12 which are adapted to support
between them an electrical cord. A pair of lifting lifting
eyes 62 protrudes upwardly from top of body 12 and is adapted
to receive a lifting line whereby body 12 is lifted.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without
departing from t:he spirit and scope of the invention as
hereinafter defined in the Claims.
