An age-old problem for all sailors of all ships and boats is the effective removal of bilge water from the bottom of the ship or boat. Clearly boats and ships are built to be as watertight as possible-but this can never completely eliminate the gathering of water (mixed with oil and detritus) at the bottom of the boat-known as bilge or bilge water.

Many bilge pumps are available-and the majority of boat owners will own at least one. A typical bilge pump is a centifugal impellor pump which pumps up the bilge from the surrounding area and pushes it upwards and out into either a holding tank or directly out of the boat via a tube or pipe. If the boat rocks and heels the bilge water sloshes around and the bilge pump takes in air, substantially reducing the efficiency of the pump. Moreover the head of water above the pump will flow back when the pump is switched off, leaving puddles of water on the floor. The head may be in the order of 1.5m which will provide a significant back flow. This can be a particular problem when the boat is to be left for a season-on return to the boat, bilge water puddles left will have become noxious and unpleasant.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention there is provided apparatus for removing fluid from a surrounding area, comprising an inlet through which fluid enters the apparatus, a primary vacuum fan for creating a vacuum in the inlet to

suck surrounding fluid from the surrounding surface, an intermediate. tank into which liquid is fed, an outlet out of which liquid leaves the apparatus from the intermediate tank and a secondary pump for pumping liquid from the outlet.

Thus in this case, the apparatus effectively comprises two pumps-one, a vacuum pump which sucks fluid into the apparatus and any liquid into an intermediate tank, and the other which may be any standard pump, to pump the liquid out of the apparatus. When the apparatus has been working and is then switched off, the back flow liquid in the outlet pipe back flows into the tank, NOT the surrounding surface.

Preferably the apparatus is a bilge water removal apparatus and the fluid to be removed is bilge from the bottom of the boat but there is no reason why spillage in other areas could not effectively be removed using the apparatus, or in any other container requiring near 100% removal of fluids.

The apparatus can at the same time as removing liquids from the surrounding area, also remove gases which may include noxious smells.

Hitherto no bilge pump has been able effectively to do this.

Preferably the apparatus comprises a single housing holding all the elements. Preferably the vacuum pump comprises a fan motor mounted at an upper region of the housing coupled to a centrifugal fan blade mounted to rotate about a substantially vertical axis to create a vacuum in a vacuum chamber below. In such case preferably the housing is generally substantially cylindrical.

Preferably the inlet comprises a substantially vertical pipe having an opening at its lower end which faces the surface upon which the apparatus

is placed. Preferably a peripheral projection forms a stable base to the housing while ensuring sufficient clearance between the inlet and the surface to allow entry of the liquid into the inlet pipe.

Although it would be possible to arrange a vacuum chamber in communication with an intermediate tank, preferably the vacuum chamber forms the intermediate tank and the secondary pump is mounted within the vacuum chamber.

Conveniently the secondary pump may be a standard submersible pump.

The secondary pump is motor driven. The motor used to drive the vacuum pump may be the same as the pump used to drive the secondary pump or they may each have dedicated motors.

Preferably the apparatus also comprises a float switch, mounted within the vacuum chamber, coupled to the centrifugal fan of the vacuum pump, to switch off the vacuum pump if the liquid level within the tank exceeds a maximum. This protects the fan and motor of the apparatus. As soon as the level has been pumped to below the maximum by the secondary pump, the vacuum pump can then restart.

Preferably the apparatus also includes a gas/liquid separation duct and a separate gas exhaust. The apparatus may also be arranged to include filters to clean the gas and/or liquid before it is discharged. The choice of such filters or cleaning means will be apparent to the skilled addressee of the specification.

Brief Description of the Drawings Three examples of apparatus for removing liquid from a surrounding area, in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Figure 1 is a front view of the first apparatus; Figure 2 is a plan view of the first apparatus; Figure 3 is a section along line A-A of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a section along line B-B of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a section along line C-C of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a schematic section through the second apparatus; Figure 7 is an isometric view of the third apparatus; Figure 8 is an isometric section view of the third apparatus; and Figure 9 is a schematic section through the third apparatus Description of the Preferred Embodiment The first bilge removal apparatus 1 shown in the drawings is for removing fluid (both gas and bilge water) from a surrounding area 3 which in this case is the bottom of a boat (not shown). It comprises an inlet 5 through which fluid enters the apparatus 1, a primary vacuum fan 7 for creating a vacuum in the inlet to suck surrounding fluid from the surrounding area, an intermediate tank 9 into which liquid is fed, an outlet 11 out of which liquid leaves the apparatus from the intermediate tank 9 and a secondary pump 13 for pumping liquid from the outlet 11.

The apparatus comprises a housing 15 of ABS, although other hardwearing polymers could be used. The housing is generally cylindrical in shape having a lower peripheral projection 17 which acts as feet to stabilise the housing 15 on the floor of a boat. The inlet 5 comprises a

substantially vertical pipe having an open lower end 19, spaced from the floor upon which the apparatus is placed to allow entry of fluids.

The inlet 5 is coupled to a vacuum chamber 9, which in this case is the intermediate tank. Mounted at the end of the inlet 5 is an air and water separation duct 21 through which gases pass for later exhaust.

In the upper area of the housing 15 is 12 volt motor 23 coupled to centrifugal fan 25 which rotates about a vertical axis 27 to create a cyclone within cyclone duct 29. The fan motor 23 is sealed on the shaft of the fan by an oil/water shaft seal ring. The motor 23 is coupled to a cut out relay 31 which is controlled by float switch 35.

The rotation of the fan 25 serves to create a vacuum within chamber 9 which causes fluid (air and bilge water) to be sucked up through inlet 5.

At separation duct 21, the air and any other gas is drawn away through air exhaust 33.

The liquid falls into the vacuum tank 9. Mounted within the tank 9 is float switch 35. This is coupled to the motor 23. In the event that the level of liquid within the tank rises above a threshold level (here depicted as 37) the fan motor 23 will automatically cut out. This is especially important in the event of rough sea if the apparatus is tilted at an angle. It is important to prevent the fan from sucking liquid.

The submersible pump 13 pumps water out of the tank 9 via outlet 11, which may be coupled to a holding tank. The choice of a suitable submersible pump will be apparent to the skilled addressee of the specification. Typically a submersible pump with 350 to 500 gallons per hour should be suitable.

The housing includes an O-ring seal 41 to ensure a good seal between the lower part of the housing and the upper part of the housing housing the fan motor. Also grommet 43 seals the bore through which electric wires 45 extend into the housing. Maintenance of a watertight seal in the wet environment is essential.

The second apparatus 101 is also a bilge pump for removing fluid from the surrounding area 103. It comprises an inlet 105 through which fluid enters the apparatus 101, a primary vacuum fan 107 for creating a vacuum in the inlet to suck surrounding fluid from the surrounding area, an intermediate tank 109 into which liquid is fed, an outlet 111 out of which liquid leaves the apparatus from the intermediate tank 109 and a secondary pump 113 for pumping liquid from the outlet 111.

A single shielded motor 115 drives the fan 107 and the water pump 113.

A third bilge removal apparatus is shown in the figures 7 to 9 of drawings and is for removing fluid (both gas and bilge water) from a surrounding area 203 which in this case is the bottom of a boat (not shown). It comprises an inlet 205 through which fluid enters the apparatus, a primary vacuum fan 207 for creating a vacuum in the inlet to suck surrounding fluid from the surrounding area, an intermediate tank 209 into which liquid is fed, an outlet 211 out of which liquid leaves the apparatus from the intermediate tank 209 and a secondary pump 213 for pumping liquid from the outlet 211.

The apparatus comprises a housing 215 of ABS, although other hardwearing polymers could be used. The housing has a lower peripheral projection 217 which acts as feet to stabilise the housing 215 on the floor of a boat. The inlet 205 comprises a substantially vertical pipe having an

open lower end 219, spaced from the floor upon which the apparatus is placed to allow entry of fluids.

The inlet 205 is coupled to a vacuum chamber 209, which in this case is the intermediate tank. Mounted at the end of the inlet 205 is an air and water separation duct 221 through which gases pass for later exhaust.

To one side of the housing 215 is 12 volt motor 223 coupled to centrifugal fan 225 which rotates about a vertical axis 227 to create a cyclone. The fan motor 223 is sealed on the shaft of the fan by an oil/water shaft seal ring. The motor 223 is coupled to a cut out relay 231 which is controlled by float switch 235.

The rotation of the fan 225 serves to create a vacuum within chamber 209 which causes fluid (air and bilge water) to be sucked up through inlet 205. At separation duct 221, the air and any other gas is drawn away through air exhaust 233.

The liquid falls into the vacuum tank 209. Mounted within the tank 209 is float switch 235. This is coupled to the motor 223. In the event that the level of liquid within the tank rises above a threshold level (here depicted as 237) the fan motor 223 will automatically cut out. This is especially important in the event of rough sea if the apparatus is tilted at an angle. It is important to prevent the fan from sucking liquid.

The submersible pump 213 pumps water out of the tank 209 via outlet 211, which may be coupled to a holding tank. The choice of a suitable submersible pump will be apparent to the skilled addressee of the specification. Typically a submersible pump with 350 to 500 gallons per hour should be suitable.

The housing includes an O-ring seal 241 to ensure a good seal between the lower part of the housing and the upper part of the housing housing the fan motor. Also grommet 243 seals the bore through which electric wires extend into the housing. Maintenance of a watertight seal in the wet environment is essential.

By mounting the fan 207 adjacent the pump 213, the housing 215 can be of reduced height, for example to less than 14cm (5.5 inches). This lower package height makes it easier for placing within a boats existing bilge area.