Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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RECIRCULATING JET PUMP AND METHOD OF MOVING MATERIAL
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to hydraulic nomnechanical pumping
devices for
transfernng material, and specifically, to j et pumps for moving solid, semi-
solid and/or liquid
materials, as well as related methods.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Previous inventions described in U.S. Patents 6,322,327 B1 and
6,450,775 B1
provide jet pumps with significantly increased vacuum efficiency, resulting in
the ability to
move greater amounts of solid or slurry materials without a proportionate
increase in energy
consumption. While those pump configurations have made a significant
contribution in the
field of pump efficiency and capabilities, the material being vacuumed or
suctioned in the
pump configurations typically is mixed with the motive fluid of the jet pump.
This can
present difficulties where the material being pumped might become volatile
when placed in
contact with the motive fluid or when the material being pumped is preferably
kept separate
from the motive fluid for other reasons. Also, those previous developments
still required
significant volumes of motive fluid in many commercial scale pumping
operations.
[0003] Thus, a need has continued to exist for a jet pump which does not
require a large
volume of motive fluid in commercial operations, and which allows a user to
keep pumped
material separate from the motive fluid of the jet pump. A need also continues
to exist for a
system and related methods which allow uninterrupted operation of the jet pump
while the
pumped material is transported elsewhere by the same system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention meets these and other needs by providing, among
other things,
apparatus comprising:
(a) a jet pump in fluid communication with a passageway for a material to be
suctioned,
the j et pump being sized and configured to create a vacuum in the passageway
when
the jet pump is in use;
(b) a motive fluid pump sized and configured to supply a motive fluid to the
jet pump;
and
(c) a motive fluid reservoir downstream from the jet pump, the motive fluid
reservoir
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being in fluid communication with the jet pump and the motive fluid pump so
that
durW g use the motive fluid pump recirculates at least a portion of the motive
fluid
from the motive fluid reservoir to the j et pump;
wherein the j et pump is comprised of a nozzle assembly which is sized and
configured to (A)
receive the motive fluid and a gas, and (B) eject the motive fluid as a liquid
flow while
feeding the gas into proximity with the periphery of the liquid flow.
Preferably, the j et pump
in apparatus of this invention is further comprised of a housing defining a
suction chamber
into which the nozzle assembly may eject the liquid flow, the housing further
defining a
suction inlet and a suction outlet; and an outlet pipe extending from the
suction outlet away
from the suction chamber, the outlet pipe being in fluid communication with
the suction
chamber and being disposed to receive the liquid flow; the outlet pipe
defiiung at least a first
inner diameter along a portion of its length and a second inner diameter along
another portion
of its length, the second inner diameter being less than the first inner
diameter. It is
particularly preferred in certain applications that the nozzle assembly extend
into the suction
chamber towards the suction outlet and into the imaginary line of flow of the
suction pipe.
[0005] In another embodiment of the invention, the apparatus further comprises
a material
collection reservoir which is sized and configured to permit the formation of
a vacuum
therein. In this embodiment, the collection reservoir is intermediate to, and
in fluid
communcation with, the passageway for the material to be suctioned and the j
et pump. This
collection reservoir allows material which is suctioned to be collected
without mixing with
or otherwise contacting the motive fluid of the jet pump.
[0006] Yet another embodiment of this invention provides a method of moving
material
from one location to another. The method comprises:
a. inj ecting a pressurized fluid into a nozzle assembly to produce a flow of
pressurized
fluid,
b. providing a gas to the nozzle assembly to surround the flow of pressurized
fluid with
the gas,
c. directing the flow of pressurized fluid surrounded by the gas into a
suction chamber
which defines both an inlet in fluid communication with a collection reservoir
and an
outlet in fluid communication with an outlet pipe, the outlet pipe defining a
venturi-
lil~e inner surface, and directing the flow of pressurized fluid surrounded by
the gas
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into the outlet pipe to produce a vacuum in the collection reservoir,
d. suctioning the material to be moved into the collection reservoir using the
vacuum
produced in step (c.), and
e. recirculating at least a portion of the pressurized fluid directed into the
outlet pipe
bacl~ into the nozzle assembly.
In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the material to be moved is
liquid material from
a slurry comprised of a mixture of solid material and liquid material. The
suctioning of step
(d.) is carned out after placing the collection reservoir in fluid
communication with a slurry
container equipped with a filter so that, when a vacuum is created in the
collection reservoir,
a vacuum is created in the slurry container and liquid material from slurry
within the slurry
container is suctioned through the filter and into the collection reservoir
while solid material
remains in the slurry container. Tlus preferred embodiment thus enables the
removal of liquid
from the slurry without mixing or otherwise bringing together the separated
liquid material
with the motive fluid of the j et pump. In another preferred embodiment of
this invention, the
method further comprises the step of controlling the flow rate of the gas into
the nozzle
assembly to thereby control the level of vacuum produced in the suction
chamber.
[0007] Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a system
comprising:
(a) a material collection reservoir in fluid communication with a passageway
for
suctioned material, the collection reservoir being sized and configured to
permit
formation of a vacuum within the collection reservoir,
(b) a jet pump in fluid communication with the collection reservoir and the
passageway,
the jet pump being sized and configured to form a vacuum within the collection
reservoir so as to enable collection of the suctioned material in the
collection reservoir
without permitting suctioned material to directly enter the jet puanp, and
(c) removal means for removing at least a portion of the suctioned material
from the
collection reservoir, the removal means being configured to enable removal of
at least
a portion of the suctioned material from the collection reservoir while the
jet pump is
m use.
Preferably the jet pump is comprised of a nozzle assembly which is sized and
configured to
(1) receive the motive fluid and a gas, and (2) eject the motive fluid as a
liquid flow while
feeding the gas into proximity with the periphery of the liquid flow. In
another embodiment,
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the system further comprises a controller which controls the operation of the
removal means
based upon the level of suctioned material in the collection reservoir.
[0008] Yet another embodiment of this invention provides a method for moving
material
from one location to another. The method comprises:
a. creating a vacuum in a material collection reservoir by action of a jet
pump, the
collection reservoir being in fluid conununication with a passageway for a
material to
be moved and with the jet pump, and
b. suctioning the material through the passageway into the collection
reservoir while
controlling the amount of material in the collection reservoir so as to
prevent the
material from entering the jet pump.
[0009] These and other embodiments, advantages, and features of this invention
will be
apparent from the following description, accompanying drawings and appended
claims.
BRIEF' DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Figure 1 is a partial cross-sectional, side view of a preferred
embodiment of the
present invention.
[0011] Figure 2 is a side view of another preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0012] Figure 3 is an enlarged view in cross-section of the jet pump component
of the
device of Figure 1.
[0013] Figure 4 is a side view of another preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0014] In each of the above figures, life numerals or letters are used to
refer to life parts
among the several figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] It will now be appreciated that the re-circulation of motive fluid for
the jet pump
component in apparatus of this invention coupled with a collection reservoir
intermediate in
series to the targeted material to be suctioned enables vacuum collection of
the material to be
moved into the collection reservoir without moving parts contacting the
material and without
the material contacting motive fluid of the jet pump. Thus solids, liquids,
gases and all
mixtures of two or more of those which are subject to being moved by a vacuum
can be
moved, collected and/or separated without vacuum pump contact, and the jet
pump driving
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the vacuum is self contained in that it only requires a fixed amount of motive
fluid to operate.
When using the preferred jet pumps of this invention, the foregoing can be
accomplished
without pump cavitation so as to maintain a stable level of vacuum during pump
operation
regardless of the material being suctioned.
[0016] Turning now to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates one preferred
embodiment of this
invention. There, a re-circulating jet pump apparatus is shown to include a
jet pump 10, a
pipe 12 which defines a passageway in fluid communication with pump 10, a
motive fluid
pump 14, a motive fluid reservoir 16, and a heat exchanger 46. Pump 14 is a
centrifugal or
other type of pump, controlled at a control panel 2. Pump 14 forces motive
fluid, e.g., liquid
water or another inert fluid, into a pipe loop l l which feeds the pressurized
motive fluid into
a nozzle assembly (see Fig. 3) of jet pump 10. A pressure gauge P is provided
to allow
monitoring of the motive fluid pressure. Loop 11 places the re-circulating
motive fluid in
thermal communication with heat exchanger 46 by directing the motive fluid
through
exchanger 46 to remove accumulated heat from the motive fluid during its re-
circulation.
[0017] The motive fluid reservoir 16 further comprises a drain valve 8, a
breather valve 18
and an exhaust port 19. Valve 18 and port 19 exhaust gas built up in reservoir
16 during use
of the vacuum created by j et pump 10, in order to maintain a level of motive
fluid in reservoir
16 sufficient to feed a pipe 15 at the lower portion of reservoir 16. Pipe 15
in torn feeds
motive fluid to motive fluid pump 14. Reservoir 16 further comprises vertical
baffles 4 and
6 for diverting the flow of a mixture of motive fluid and gas suctioned into
and expelled out
of j et pump 10. By diverting the flow in this way, baffles 4 and 6 facilitate
the separation of
liquid from gas within reservoir 16 to minimize gas in the motive fluid
exiting reservoir 16
at pipe 15. This in turn minimizes the amount of gas fed into pump 14. While
this
configuration of the motive fluid reservoir is preferred, other reservoir
configurations or
labyrinth-life structures may be employed so long as the configuration
minimizes the amount
of gas transferred from the motive fluid reservoir to the motive fluid pump.
[0018] As seen in another preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the
apparatus of
Figure 1 is placed in fluid communication with a material collection reservoir
50. Collection
reservoir 50 defines a collection reservoir inlet 52 through wluch suctioned
material enters
reservoir 50. In the particular embodiment depicted, the material enters inlet
52 from a slurry
container T which is in fluid communication with reservoir 50 through inlet 52
and is lined
s
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with a filter F. As a vacuum is created in reservoir 50, the fluid
communication between
reservoir 50 and container T causes a vacuum to be formed in container T to
draw liquid
material from slurry therein through filter F and into material collection
reservoir 50. This
particular de-watering configuration is more particularly described in our co-
filed and
commonly owned U.S. Patent Application No. 10/199,777. A collection reservoir
outlet 54
is connected to pipe 12 to place the interior of reservoir 50 in fluid
communication with the
passageway defined by pipe 12. A discharge port 56 at a lower portion of
reservoir 50 may
be closed to allow suctioned material which enters reservoir 50 to accumulate,
or opened to
drain reservoir 50 of suctioned material. Draining through port 56 can be
facilitated during
j et pump operation by placing discharge port 56 of reservoir 50 in fluid
communication with
another vacuum pump (not shown in Fig. 2), or other pump capable of pulling or
removing
accumulated material from the lower portion of reservoir 50. Collection
reservoir 50 should
be constructed in such a way that it structurally withstands the vacuum
produced by the
pumps) with which it is in fluid communication during operation of the
apparatus.
[0019] In the preferred embodiments depicted, the jet pump is configured in
accordance
with our previously developed jet pump described in commonly-owned U.S.
Patents
6,322,327 B 1 and 6,450,775 B 1. Figure 3 illustrates in cross-section jet
pump 10 of Figures
1 and 2. Jet pump 10 includes nozzle assembly 307, which in turn is comprised
of a
constricted throat 301 formed by fluid nozzle 201, an air injection nozzle 202
which forms
a nozzle opening 303, and a nozzle housing 203. Nozzle housing 203 is a
flanged member
which is attached to and maintains the proper position of fluid nozzle 201
adjacent to air
injection nozzle 202. Air intake 211 is a passage through nozzle housing 203.
In the
embodiment depicted, a single air intake 211 is shown although a plurality of
intakes also may
be provided. A gas conduit in the form of an air hose 204 allows a gas to
enter jet pump 10
through intake 211. The gas enters the nozzle assembly through intalce 211 and
an aperture
304 in nozzle 202, then into an annular air gap 302 to form an air bearing
around fluid flow
ejected from nozzle 201 as the gas passing through gap 302 between the tip
ofnozzle 201 and
the upstream side of nozzle 202. The amount of gas allowed into jet pump 10 is
controlled
by a valve V which includes a gauge G (Fig. 1). By using valve V to control
the level of gas
entering jet pump 10, it is possible to increase or decrease the level of
vacuum produced by
j et pump 10.
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[0020] Water or other motive fluid from loop pipe 11 passes through fluid
nozzle 201 and
air injection nozzle 202 of nozzle assembly 307 and into a housing 200 which
defines a
suction chamber 205, a suction inlet 210 and a suction outlet 220. In suction
chamber 205,
the fluid in the form of a liquid flow combines with gas or gaseous material
entering from
pipe 12 through inlet 210, and the combined stream enters an outlet pipe 207
through outlet
220, pipe 207 being comprised of an outlet pipe segment 207a which is
detachable from the
apparatus and which itself comprises a concentric wear segment in the form of
a venturi target
tube 206. The combined stream then passes through target tube 206 into outlet
pipe 207 and
into motive fluid reservoir 16 (see Fig. 1).
[0021] Although not depicted in these drawings and typically less important
when the
material being suctioned does not include solid material, the nozzle assembly
307, and in
particular the downstream end of air injection nozzle 202 may be extended into
suction
chamber 205 and into an imaginary line of flow of material from pipe 12
through suction inlet
210 to increase the vacuum created by jet pump 10. This feature is more
particularly
described in the previously referenced U.S. Patent 6,322,327 B 1 and U.S.
Patent 6,450,775
B1.
[0022] Target tube 206 of outlet pipe 207 defines a first inner diameter Q of
outlet pipe 207,
and outlet pipe 207 also defines a second inner diameter R which is less than
inner diameter
Q. It should be appreciated that outlet pipes of this invention may also be
fabricated without
a target tube but with a non-uniform inner surface so as to define a.
narrowing passage
providing a venturi-like effect to the material exiting the suction chamber
through the outlet
pipe.
[0023] The gas employed in the jet pump component of preferred embodiments of
this
invention will preferably be under no more than atmospheric pressure, to
reduce risk of
operations and cost. The gas preferably will be an inert gas, e.g., nitrogen
or argon, when the
liquid or other material being pumped could be volatile in the presence of
certain atmospheric
gases, e.g., oxygen. When such volatility is not an issue, the gas employed
will be most
conveniently atmospheric air.
[0024] Typically, as depicted, the motive fluid pump is an electrically
powered centrifugal
pump or the lilce. However, the motive fluid pump alternatively may be any
pump that is
otherwise compatible with the motive fluid being pumped and is otherwise
capable of causing
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the motive fluid to re-circulate back into the jet pump sufficiently to cause
the jet pump to
form a vacuum. The motive fluid of this invention may be any fluid which is
capable of being
used in the jet pump to create a vacuum. Typically, the motive fluid will be
liquid water or
some other aqueous liquid solution, but the motive fluid also may be a gas or
another liquid
if the circumstances of use dictate that water is less preferred as the motive
fluid. Preferably,
the motive fluid is inert to the material being moved or suctioned, to reduce
hazardous
condition risks in the event that the motive fluid comes into contact with the
suctioned
material.
[0025] The heat exchanger in preferred embodiments of this invention may be
any device
which reduces the temperature of the motive fluid of the j et pump, and its
location along the
re-circulation path of the motive fluid may vary. The heat exchanger may, for
example, be
a set of copper coils located along the piping which extends from the motive
fluid pump to
the nozzle assembly of the j et pump. Or, it could be located within or
attached to the motive
fluid reservoir. The location and configuration of the heat exchanger may vary
as long as the
heat exchanger reduces the temperature of the motive fluid during use.
[0026] While it is understood that at least one preferred jet pump described
herein is
characterized by certain component features, the foregoing description of
specific
embodiments can be readily adapted for various applications without departing
from the
general concept or spirit of this invention. Thus, for example, the inner
surface of the outlet
pipe (which provides the venturi effect feature of the outlet pipe)
alternatively can be defined
by the pipe itself, rather than a detachable wear plate. These and other
adaptions and
modifications are intended to be comprehended within the range of equivalents
of the
presently disclosed embodiments. Also, while specific embodiments have been
described
above, several other applications and embodiments of the presently described
invention may
be contemplated in view of this disclosure. Thus, for example, while the
accompanying
drawings illustrate the pumping system of this invention as used for
separating liquid material
from a slurry, the system may be used for virtually any application in which
liquids, solids as
agglomerate or particulate matter, or a slurry comprised of a mixture of
liquid and solid
material, must be separated or moved from one location to another. The system
also may be
employed to remove liquids from such slurry mixtures, thereby permitting solid
particulate
matter to be rapidly separated from the liquid and dried, if desired. In each
of the above
s
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examples, small batch operations as well as large commercial batch, semi-
continuous and
continuous operations are possible using pumping methods and systems of this
invention.
The present invention can be used in any application requiring significant
suction effect of
solid material in a liquid or gaseous environment. The invention can also be
used for suction
in gaseous or liquid environments without solids present, and maintain a
significant suction
effect. Thus, as noted extensively herein, the invention can also be used in
closed loop de-
watering applications to remove excess water or moisture from material.
[0027] The dimensions of the various component parts of, the pressure under
which motive
fluid is fed to the j et pump of, and the level of vacuum produced by, devices
of this invention
may vary depending upon the circumstances in which the device will be
employed, so long
as the dimensions, pressures and vacuum permit the apparatus to function as
described.
Except where specificallynoted otherwise herein, the component parts maybe
fabricated from
a wide variety of materials, the selection of which will depend again upon the
circumstances
in which the device will be employed. Preferably, metals, metal alloys or
resilient plastics,
for example, will be employed to insure that points of mechanical contact or
abrasive wear
in the systems and pumps will be resilient enough to withstand the forces
placed upon them
during pump operation.
[0028] It also should be appreciated that virtually any material which can be
suctioned or
vacuumed can serve as the material to be moved in the practice of this
invention. Thus, for
example, agricultural products, liquid products or side-products, liquid
waste, slurries of
wastes mixtures of liquids and solids and_particulate solids alone can all be
suctioned using
the apparatus and method of this invention.
[0029] As seen in another preferred embodiment of this invention illustrated
in Figure 4, a
system for removal of material comprises a material collection reservoir 50 in
fluid
communication with a passageway, defined by pipe 12. Collection reservoir 50
is sized and
configured to permit formation of a vacuum within reservoir 50. The system
also comprises
a j et pump 10, which is in fluid communication with a collection reservoir
outlet 54 of
collection reservoir 50 by way of the passageway defined by pipe 12. Action of
jet pump 10
causes a vacuum to be formed in collection reservoir 50 so that suctioned
material M is drawn
into collection reservoir 50 through collection reservoir inlet 52 from a
source not shown. The
system also comprises removal means for removing at least a portion of
suctioned material
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M from collection reservoir 50. As depicted, the removal means is a removal
pump 110.
Operation of removal pump 110 is controlled by a controller 112. The removal
of suctioned
material M is controlled based upon a level L of suctioned material in
collection reservoir 50.
Controller 112 as depicted comprises an ultrasonic sensor which is configured
to collect and
transmit real time information regarding level L of suctioned material M
present in collection
reservoir 50. This allows controller 112 to activate removal pump 110 when
material level
L reaches some predetermined value, causing suctioned material M to pass from
collection
reservoir 50 into discharge pipe 120. Controller 112 further activates a
reservoir discharge
valve actuator 118 to open (and close) a reservoir discharge valve 116.
Actuator 118 operates
to open and close discharge valve 116 to allow removal of suctioned material
out of collection
reservoir 50. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, controller 112
controls activation
of removal pump 110 concurrently with operation of actuator 118 in a manner to
remove
suctioned material from collection reservoir 50 and prevent level L of
suctioned material M
from reaching and passing into collection reservoir outlet 54 and thus
entering jet pump 10.
In addition controller 112 controls removal of suctioned material so as to
ensure that a
minimum level of suctioned material is maintained in the collection reservoir.
This
maintenance of a minimum material level in the collection reservoir prevents
air from being
drawn into the removal pump which could cause cavitation and loss of prime of
the removal
pump. A clean out port 114 is provided to allow access to discharge line 120
should discharge
line 120 become plugged.
[0030] Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, controlled removal of
suctioned
material from the collection reservoir is carried out by removal means for
removing the
material such as, for example, a removal pump. The controller ensures that the
level of
material in the collection reservoir is maintained within a pre-selected
range. This pre-
selected range should preferably have a maximum level of material which, if
reached, would
cause controller to activate the removal means and the discharge valve
actuator to drain at
least a portion of the suctioned material present in the collection reservoir.
The pre-selected
range also includes a minimum level of suctioned material wluch, when reached
in the process
of draining the collection reservoir, would cause the controller to de-
activate the removal
pump and the discharge valve actuator to prevent any further draining of
suctioned material.
Optimal benefit of the system of this invention is attained by use of the j et
pump to provide
to
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vacuum for drawing suctioned material into the collection reservoir while also
allowing
optional concurrent use of the removal means to simultaneously drain suctioned
material out
of the collection reservoir. Such continuous or semi-continuous operation of
the jet pump
with concurrent use of the removal pump avoids the necessity of stopping
material movement
operation to draw down the collection reservoir. In particularly preferred
embodiments, the
use of certain types of removal means, for example, mechanical reciprocating
pumps, allow
the automated movement and disposal of suctioned material over long distances
that is not
possible with systems which do not employ such removal means.
[0031] The jet pump component of the system of the invention is understood to
be
preferably that which has been described in detail previously, although other
jet pumps, e.g.,
nozzle-driven pumps which employ a venturi tube, can be used. The collection
reservoir
should be constructed so that it is capable of withstanding the vacuum
produced by the pumps
with which it is in fluid communication during operation of the system.
[0032] The removal means of this invention can be any device which provides
for adequate
removal of the suctioned material. Such removal means can include, but are not
limited to,
pumps, rotary valves and tilt mechanisms. The removal means of this invention
is preferably
a removal pump and more preferably either a positive displacement pump or a
mechanical
pump.
[0033] The controller of the invention can be any device which allows
controlling the
amount of suctioned material present in the collection reservoir. Such devices
can include,
but are not limited to devices which employ sensors in operative connection
with a switch for
controlling removal pump and/or valve operations. Exemplary sensors include,
e.g.,
ultrasonic sensors, laser sensors, radar sensors, mechanical sensors, magnetic
sensors, and
photoelectric sensors, though an ultrasonic sensor has been depicted. In
addition, though the
controller has been shown as an ultrasonic sensor located on top of the
collection reservoir,
it is to be understood that the location of the controller can be at other
region of the collection
reservoir. One alternative embodiment of the invention, though not shown, can
comprise a
controller comprised of at least two mag~letic or photoelectric sensors
located along a side of
the collection reservoir for sensing high and low level conditions of the
suctioned material.
Another alternative embodiment of the invention can comprise a controller
comprised of a
sight glass for manual inspection of the level of suctioned material within
the collection
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reservoir, together with a manual switch for activation of the removal pump.
[0034] As shown, the reservoir discharge valve is an actuated valve, though
numerous other
valve mechanisms, e.g., check valves or the like, can be envisioned by those
of skill in the art
which could alternatively serve the same purpose of controlling the flow of
suctioned material
from the collection reservoir. the reservoir discharge valve can be replaced
by a check valve.
It should also be appreciated that the material collection reservoir of this
invention may be
affixed to the other components of the system in a permanent or semi-permanent
fashion, or
may be configured for easy detachment from those components so that the
reservoir may be
made mobile.
[0035] This invention is susceptible to considerable variation in its
practice. Therefore, the
foregoing description is not intended to limit, and should not be construed as
limiting, the
invention to the particular exemplifications presented hereinabove.
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