GB1197927A - Equipment for Removing Dispersed Liquids from the Ground - Google Patents

Abstract

1,197,927. Valves MORETRENCH CORP. 16 Oct., 1967 [14 Oct., 1966 ; 25 April, 1967], No. 47092/67. Heading F2V. ]Also in Division F1] In a pumping apparatus in which gas is separated from the pumped liquid upstream of the pump (see Division F1), the gas is separated in a chamber 40, Fig. 3, and is delivered through a peeler valve 54 and conduit 42 into a further separating chamber 44 from where the gas is withdrawn by a vacuum pump via a peeler valve 60 and conduit 46. Each peeler valve is controlled by a respective float in accordance with the liquid level in the associated chamber, and comprises a flexible flap 112 biased to its closed position by a relatively-stiff resilient member 114, and is joined to its float by a pair of rubber rings 116, 118. An alternative floatvalve construction, Fig. 5 (not shown), for the chamber (44), has a conically-shaped metal valve member (124) which co-operates with a frusto-conical plastics seat (126). The valve member is connected to one float or to a pair of vertically-spaced floats (132, 134) by a rod (130) which passes through a guide hole in a fixed bracket (142) and which may carry a weight (140). The total weight of the valve components (124, 130, 132, 134, 140) is balanced by the upward buoyancy force when the liquid level reaches a predetermined level (148). On closure of the valve a pressure differential develops across the valve member and holds it tightly on its seat until the liquid level has fallen well below the level (148). However, if the apparatus malfunctions, the pressure differential developed will be much greater so that the valve member will be held against its seat even after the chamber (44) has completely drained. The valve can then only be re-opened by turning off the vacuum pump or by opening an atmosphericair-inlet valve (146).