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

When siphoning a liquid between two locations, for example between a storage container and a collection container, it is common to submerse one end of a tube within the liquid held within the storage container. The collection container is subsequently positioned below the storage container and a user 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 an air tight seal within the flow duct. Preferably, the means for causing the plug to move within the flow duct comprises a tether which extends along the flow duct. The plug is preferably coupled to the tether such that upon pulling the tether, the plug is caused to move along the flow duct.

The tether preferably comprises a continuous tether. Accordingly, the tether is arranged to form a loop comprising the plug.

Preferably, the siphon further comprises liquid pick-up means disposed at one end of the flow duct for facilitating the intake of liquid into the flow duct. The liquid pick-up means preferably comprises a housing and the flow duct is preferably arranged in fluid communication with the interior of the housing via an aperture disposed at an upper region thereof.

Preferably, the housing comprises a cross-sectional area which is greater than the cross-sectional area of the flow duct.

The housing is preferably bell shaped and comprises side walls which extend from an open lower periphery and which converge at an upper region thereof to substantially close the upper region. Preferably, the side walls comprise filter means which is arranged to filter liquid entering the housing, which may otherwise create a blockage within the flow duct. Preferably, the open periphery of the housing is closed by an apertured cover which is arranged to filter liquid which passes therethrough.

A portion of the flow duct proximate the one end thereof is preferably arranged to extend substantially parallel to a plane comprising the open periphery, such that when the housing is placed in the liquid, for example flood water, with the open periphery or apertured cover of the housing resting on the floor within the water, the flow duct does not cause the housing to topple over.

The housing preferably further comprises an aperture formed in the side wall thereof through which the tether can extend and preferably further comprises a tether guide, such as an arcuate slide for the tether, to facilitate the passage of the tether into tube through the aperture disposed at the upper region of the housing. Preferably, the flow duct comprises a tube and preferably further comprises at least one connector for connecting the tube to a further tube.

The tube, the at least one further tube and the at least one connector preferably comprise substantially similar an internal diameters.

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 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.

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 a first embodiment of the preset invention, during use;

Figure 2a is a magnified perspective view of the plug of the siphon of figurei , 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;

Figure 3c is a sectional view of the siphon of figure 1 following the exit of the plug from the flow duct;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the siphon according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a magnified view of the housing illustrated in figure 4;

Figure 6 is a magnified view of the tube connector illustrated in figure 4; and,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the siphon illustrated in figure 4 during use.

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

The siphon 10 comprises a tube 14 through which siphoned liquid 1 1 can flow. A tether 15 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.

Referring to figure 2 of the drawings, 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) which is disposed along a base region 19a, 19b of the respective section 18a, 18b, such that the conic end sections 18a, 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 21 a 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 20b formed within the peak 21 b of the other conic section 18b, in a direction that is toward the base region 19b of the conic section 18b. 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.

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 1 1 to be siphoned is positioned above a collection container 13 into which the siphoned liquid 1 1 is collected. The tether 15 is then pulled in one direction to cause the plug 16 to be positioned near a first end of the tube 14, as shown in figures 2a of the drawings. The first end of the tube 14 is then submersed within the liquid 1 1 in the storage container 12 and a second end, namely the opposite end of the tube 14 is positioned in the collection 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 first end of 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 1 1 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 second end of the tube 14, the liquid 1 1 flows along the tube 14 from the storage container 12 to the collection container 13 by virtue of the lower gravitational potential of the second end of the tube compared to the first end, as illustrated in figure 3c of the drawings.

Referring to figure 4 of the drawings, there is illustrated a siphon 100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention for siphoning flood water for example, from within a building 123. The siphon 100 is substantially the same as the siphon 10 illustrated in figures 1 to 4 and so like features have been referenced using the same numerals but increased by 100. The siphon 100 according to the second embodiment however, further comprises a liquid pick-up housing 124, as illustrated in figure 5 of the drawings, which enables the flood water 1 11 to be drawn right down to the floor 125 of the building 123, thereby maximising the extraction of water.

The housing 124 is substantially bell-shaped and comprises side walls 126 which extend from an open lower periphery 127 thereof and which converge to substantially close the upper region 128 thereof. The upper region 128 of the housing 124 however, comprises an aperture (not shown) disposed therein and the proximal end of the tube 114, namely the one end, is coupled to the housing 124 such that the interior of the housing 124 is arranged in fluid communication with the interior of the tube 114 through the aperture (not shown). The tube 1 14 is coupled to the housing 124 via a housing connector 129 which directs the proximal end of the tube 114 to extend substantially parallel to the floor 125. This helps to stabilise the housing 124 and thus enables the housing 124 to remain suitably orientated at the bottom of the flood water.

The side walls 126 of the housing 124 comprise apertured sections 130 which extend through the open periphery 127 of the housing 124 and which serve to filter the water 1 11 as it passes through the apertured sections 130 into the housing 124. The housing 124 may further comprise an apertured cover (not shown) which extends across the open periphery 127 thereof, and is arranged to filter any water which passes through the cover (not shown) in the event that the housing 124 topples over. The siphon 100 further comprises a tube connector 131 disposed at the distal end of the tube 114. The connector 131 comprises an inlet 132 which is coupled to the distal end of the tube 1 14 and a first and second outlet 133a, 133b. The first outlet connection 133a is disposed at an angle to the inlet 132 and is arranged to couple with a proximal end of a further or extension tube 134, whereas the second outlet 133b is arranged substantially collinear with the inlet 132 and is arranged to receive the plug 116 as it passes out of the tube 114, as illustrated in figure 6 of the drawings. In this respect, the tether 115 is arranged to pass along the tube 114 from the housing 124 and pass out through the second outlet 133b. The tether 1 15 is further arranged to pass out from the housing 124 through an aperture 135 disposed in the side walls 126 thereof in forming the loop comprising the plug 116.

Referring to figure 7 of the drawings, there is illustrated the siphon 100 of the second embodiment during use. In order to siphon water 1 11 from within a building 123, for example, the tether 1 15 is first pulled along the tube 114 to position the plug 116 within the housing 124 proximate to the aperture (not shown) disposed in the upper region 128 of the housing 124. The housing 124 (or at least the apertured sections 130) is then submersed in the flood water 1 11 for example, and orientated such that the open periphery 127, or apertured cover (not shown) which extends across the open periphery 127 of the housing 124, extends upon the floor 125. A proximal end of an extension tube 134 is then coupled to the first connector outlet 133a and the distal end (not shown) of the extension tube 134 is positioned at a vertical height which is below the housing 124.

The tether 1 15 is then pulled to cause the plug 116 to move into the tube 114 and along the tube 114 toward the tube connector 131. It is found that the initial entry of the plug 116 into the tube 114 requires a significant force and this is partly due to the friction created by the tether as it passes into the tube 1 14 through the aperture (not shown) disposed at the upper region of the housing 124. Accordingly, the housing 124 may further comprise an arcuate tether slide (not shown) which guides the tether 1 15 through the aperture (not shown) disposed at the upper region of the housing 124 into the tube 1 14 and thus facilitates the passage of the tether 115 within the housing 124 and tube 114. As the plug 116 moves, the pressure within the tube 1 14 arranged upstream of the plug 1 16 is held lower than atmospheric pressure by virtue of the plug seals 122. This causes the liquid 1 1 1 to become drawn into the housing 124 through the apertured sections 130 and the apertured cover (if fitted), and along the tube 1 14 with the plug 1 16. Upon reaching the connector 131 and in particular the junction between the outlets 133a, 133b, the seal between the plug seals 122 and the interior of the connector 131 is broken and water 11 1 is permitted to pass from the inlet 132 to the first outlet 133a and along the extension tube 134. The separation of the seals 122 along the length of the plug 116 is arranged to be greater than the diameter of the opening to the first outlet 133a, such that the seal 122 arranged downstream on the plug 1 16 forms a seal within the second outlet 133b of the connector 131 , before the seal arranged upstream on the plug 116 passes across the junction. The water 1 11 is thus prevented from passing out from the second outlet 133b by virtue of the positioning of the plug 116 in the second outlet 133b. In this respect, the internal diameter of the tube 114 and the inlet and outlets 132, 133a, 133b of the connector 131 are substantially the same.

The housing 124 comprises an increased cross-sectional are compared with the tube 1 14 and is arranged to collect water 11 1 from a larger area than would be possible using the first end of the tube 114 alone. In addition, the housing 124 enables water 11 1 to be drawn down to the floor level 125 and thus provides for an increased extraction of water 11 1 from within a building 123, for example. From the foregoing therefore, it is evident that the siphon of the present invention provides a simple yet effective means of siphoning a liquid.