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Removal of a first liquid, such as water, from a tank containing a second liquid of lower specific gravity, such as diesel fuel, is achieved with a liquid trap chamber into which the first liquid is delivered by a primer wick and from which the first liquid is withdrawn by an exhaust wick or pump. T

Removal of a first liquid, such as water, from a tank containing a second liquid of lower specific gravity, such as diesel fuel, is achieved with a liquid trap chamber into which the first liquid is delivered by a primer wick and from which the first liquid is withdrawn by an exhaust wick or pump. The primer wick transversely fills an in-flow passage above a downward-facing inlet opening of that passage. The first liquid is drawn from the tank by the primer wick, which spills that liquid over a weir into the liquid trap chamber. The bottom of the liquid trap chamber is disposed at a level below said inlet opening. The exhaust wick is disposed to transversely fill an outlet passage disposed above the liquid trap chamber with the bottom of the exhaust wick or pump sensor positioned at least as high as the top of the primer wick. When the first liquid in the tank falls below an established level, the primer wick stops pumping and liquid from the liquid trap chamber falls below the bottom of the exhaust wick or pump sensor to prevent further removal of liquid therefrom. The first liquid remaining in the liquid trap chamber forms a dam which blocks flow communication from the primer wick to the exhaust wick or pump sensor. Any of the second fluid which may enter the liquid trap chamber collects on top of the dam at the primer wick side.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for use in an upright position in separating a first liquid having a first specific gravity from a second liquid having a second specific gravity less than said first specific gravity, said apparatus comprising: a liquid trap chamber having a liquid-containing portion including a bottom ch

Apparatus for use in an upright position in separating a first liquid having a first specific gravity from a second liquid having a second specific gravity less than said first specific gravity, said apparatus comprising: a liquid trap chamber having a liquid-containing portion including a bottom chamber wall, an upwardly-directed inlet opening disposed above said liquid-containing portion, an upwardly-directed outlet opening disposed above said liquid-containing portion, and a top wall with a lowermost section separating said inlet and outlet openings; an inlet passage having a liquid ingress opening disposed at a level above said bottom wall and below said lowermost section of said top wall, said inlet passage further including weir means disposed at a level above said top and positioned to spill liquid above a predetermined level in said inlet passage into the inlet opening of said chamber; an outlet passage extending generally upward from said outlet opening of said chamber; primer wick means, having top and bottom ends disposed to transversely fill a portion of said inlet passage, for drawing liquid upward through said inlet passage from said ingress opening, wherein the bottom end of said primer wick means is disposed at a level spaced above said ingress opening; and exhaust means disposed at a further level in said outlet passage for drawing liquid at or above said further level upward through said outlet passage, wherein said further level at least as high as the top end of said primer wick. A method for separating a first liquid of known specific gravity from a second liquid of lesser specific gravity in a tank wherein the second liquid is supported by surface tension in a column above said first liquid, said method comprising the steps of: drawing liquid from the bottom of said tank upward through an inlet passage with a primer wick; flowing liquid from said inlet passage over a weir and into a liquid trap chamber; drawing liquid above a predetermined height in said liquid trap chamber out of said tank; and establishing a liquid dam of said first liquid in said liquid trap chamber to block flow communication between said inlet passage and said predetermined height when the level of said first liquid in said tank falls to a predetermined level.