GB2466833A

GB2466833A - A siphon

Info

Publication number: GB2466833A
Application number: GB0900378A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter George Goodman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-01-10
Filing date: 2009-01-10
Publication date: 2010-07-14
Also published as: GB2467211A; WO2010079364A1; GB0900378D0; US20120000539A1; GB2467211B; EP2389518A1; CN102272459A; GB201000395D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a siphon 10 for siphoning liquid 11 from a storage container 12 to another 13. The siphon comprises a flow duct 14 for a liquid and a plug 16 which is arranged to move in sealing contact within the flow duct. The siphon further comprises means such as a tether 15 for causing the plug to move along the flow duct to draw liquid along the duct and thus transfer liquid from the one container to the other. The tether is preferably threaded through the duct and each end of the tether is connected to the plug in such a way that the tether forms a loop. The plug may comprise a pair of seals (20 figure 2). A later embodiment relates to a method of siphoning liquid comprising the above siphon.

Description

Siphon The present invention relates to a siphon and a method of siphoning a liquid.

When siphoning a liquid from one container to another it is common to submerse one end of a tube within the liquid that is held within a storage container. A collection container, into which the siphoned liquid is to flow, is subsequently positioned below the storage container. A user then reduces the air pressure within the tube to draw the liquid from the storage container into the collection container. This is typically achieved by sucking on the free end of the tube until the liquid starts to flow along the tube, and then quickly positioning the free end of the tube into the collection container to maintain the liquid flow.

The free end of the tube must be positioned in the collection chamber at the correct time to avoid spilling the liquid and to avoid the liquid passing into the users' mouth, particularly if the liquid is harmful. However, if the reduced pressure is removed too early then the liquid will flow back along the tube into the storage container.

I have now devised a siphon and a method of siphoning a liquid which alleviates these problems.

In accordance with the present invention as seen from a first aspect, there is provided a siphon, the siphon comprising a flow duct for a liquid and a plug arranged to move in sealing contact within the flow duct, the siphon further comprising means for causing the plug to move along the flow duct.

The siphon thus enables liquid to be drawn along the flow duct simply by moving the plug along the flow duct, and therefore provides a simple means of transferring liquids from one container to another.

Preferably, the plug comprises at least one seal disposed thereon for providing.a liquid seal within the flow duct.

Preferably, the means for causing the plug to move within the flow duct comprises a tether that is coupled to the plug and which passes within the flow duct, such that upon pulling the tether, the plug is caused to move along the flow duct.

The tether preferably extends through the flow duct and opposite ends of the tether are coupled to the plug to form a tether loop comprising the plug.

Preferably the flow duct comprises a tube.

In accordance with the present invention as seen from a second aspect there is provided a method of siphoning liquid, the method comprising the steps of: submersing one end of a flow duct within the liquid to be siphoned; positioning an opposite end of the flow duct beiow the one end of the flow duct; and, moving a plug in sealing contact within the flow duct to draw liquid along the flow duct.

Preferably, the method further comprises initially moving the plug into the flow duct from the one end that is submersed in the liquid.

Preferably, the method comprises moving the plug along the flow duct from the one end and out of the opposite end.

The plug is preferably moved along the flow duct by pulling a tether that is coupled to the plug.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the siphon according to an embodiment of the preset invention, during use; Figure 2a is a magnified perspective view of the plug of the siphon of figurel, prior to entry into the flow duct; Figure 2b is a magnified perspective view of the plug of the siphon of figure 1, following entry into the flow duct; Figure 3a is a sectional view along the siphon of figure 1 prior to the entry of the plug into the flow duct; Figure 3b is a sectional view of the siphon of figure 1 with the plug arranged intermediate opposite ends of the flow duct; and, Figure 3c is a sectional view of the siphon of figure 1 following the exit of the plug from the flow duct.

Referring to figure 1 of the drawings there is shown a siphon 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, for transferring a liquid 11 from a storage container 12 to a collection container 13.

The siphon 10 comprises a tube 14 through which siphoned liquid 11 can flow. A tether is threaded through the tube 14 and is coupled at one end, to one end of a plug 16.

The opposite end of the tether 15 is coupled to an opposite end of the plug 16.

Accordingly, the tether 15 is formed into a loop comprising the plug 16.

The plug 16 comprises a substantially cylindrical body 17 having a diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the tube 14. Opposite longitudinal ends of the body 17 comprise conically shaped end sections 18a, 18b which are coupled to the body 17 by a screw thread (not shown) that is disposed along a base region 1 9a, 1 9b of the respective section 18a, 18b, such that the conic end sections iBa, 18b can be removably coupled to the body 17.

The tether 15 is coupled to the plug 16 by passing one end of the tether 15 through an aperture 20a formed within the peak 21a of the conic section 18a, in a direction that is toward the base region 19a. A knot (not shown) is then tied within the tether 15 at the one end such that the tether 15 cannot be pulled back through the aperture 20a.

The opposite end of the tether 15 is similarly passed through an aperture 2Db formed within the peak 21b of the other conic section 18b, in a direction that is toward the base region 19b of the conic section 1 8b. A knot (not shown) is then tied within the tether 15 at said opposite end, such that the tether 15 cannot be pulled back through the aperture 20b.

Referring to figure 2 of the drawings, the plug 16 further comprises a pair of seals 22; one seal of the pair being disposed at opposite longitudinal ends of the body 17, and which extend around the periphery of the body 17. The seals 22 comprise a resiliently, deformable material such as rubber, so that they can compress against the outer surface of the body 17.

In use, a storage container 12 that contains the liquid 11 to be siphoned is positioned above a collection container 13 into which the siphoned liquid 11 is collected. The tether 15 is then pulled in one direction to cause the plug 16 to be positioned near one end of the tube 14, as shown in figures 2a of the drawings. The one end of the tube 14 is then submersed within the liquid 11 in the storage container 12 and the opposite end of the tube 14 is positioned in the coDection container 13, as shown in figure 3a of the drawings.

The tether 15 is then further pulled to cause the plug 16 to enter the tube 14 as shown in figure 2b. The leading conic end section 18a of the plug 16 guides the plug 16 into the tube 14 and helps prevent any snagging of the plug 16 against the end of the tube 14. As the plug 16 enters the tube 14, the seals 22 compress between the inner surface of the tube 14 and the outer surface of the plug body 17, to create an air tight seal.

Once the plug 16 has entered the tube 14, the tether 15 is then further pulled to cause the plug 16 to move along the tube 14, as shown in figure 3b of the drawings. As the plug 16 moves, the pressure within the tube 14 arranged upstream of the plug 16 is held lower than the atmospheric pressure by virtue of the plug seals 22. This causes the liquid 11 to become drawn along the tube 14 with the plug 16. The tether 15 is then further pulled along the tube 14 until the plug 16 passes out through the opposite end of the tube 14. As the plug 16 passes out of the tube 14, the liquid 11 is found to flow along the tube 14 from the storage container 12 to the collection container 13 by virtue of the storage container 12 being arranged above the collection container 13, as shown in figure 3c of the drawings.

From the foregoing therefore, it is evident that the siphon of the present invention provides a simple yet effective means of siphoning a liquid.

Claims

Claims 1. A siphon, the siphon comprising a flow duct for a liquid and a plug arranged to move in sealing contact within the flow duct, the siphon further comprising means for causing the plug to move along the flow duct.
2. A siphon according to claim 1, wherein the plug comprises at least one seal disposed thereon for providing a liquid seal within the flow duct.
3. A siphon according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the means for causing the plug to move within the flow duct comprises a tether that is coupled to the plug and which passes within the flow duct, such that upon pulling the tether, the plug is caused to move along the flow duct.
4. A siphon according to claim 3, wherein the tether extends through the flow duct and opposite ends of the tether are coupled to the plug to form a tether loop comprising the plug.
5. A siphon according to any preceding claim, wherein the flow duct comprises a tube.
6. A method of siphoning liquid, the method comprising the steps of: submersing one end of a flow duct within the liquid to be siphoned; positioning an opposite end of the flow duct below the one end of the flow duct; and, moving a plug in sealing contact within the flow duct to draw liquid along the flow duct.
7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising initially moving the plug into the flow duct from the one end that is submersed in the liquid.
8. A method according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising moving the plug along the flow duct from the one end and out of the opposite end.
9. A method according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the plug is moved along the flow duct by pulling a tether that is coupled to the plug.
10. A siphon substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
11. A method of siphoning liquid substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.