Method and system for propelling liquid through a pipe

Abstract

In a system and method for pumping liquid along a pipe, an impeller is mounted in a the pipe or a housing connected to the pipe. The impeller is driven by a turbine mounted outside the pipe or housing, wherein the turbine is preferably driven by air flow from a compressor. The invention finds use in the emptying the fuel left in the wetlines on a tanker truck, by providing a pipe that extends from the wetlines to the top of the housing tank of the tanker truck, and propelling the fuel using an impeller and turbine arrangement.

What is claimed, is:  
     
         1 . A method of emptying wetlines associated with a housing tank of a tanker truck, comprising, 
 pumping liquid in the wetlines into the housing tank, through a separated pipe extending from the wetlines to a location at or near the top of the housing tank.    
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the separate pipe extends from the wetlines to a location above or near the highest surface of the liquid in the housing tank.  
     
     
         3 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the separate pipe extends along an inner surface of the housing tank.  
     
     
         4 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the separate pipe extends along an outer surface of the housing tank.  
     
     
         5 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is pumped using an impeller mounted in the pipe or in an impeller housing connected in fluid flow communication with the pipe.  
     
     
         6 . A method of  claim 5 , wherein the impeller is driven by a turbine.  
     
     
         7 . Means for emptying wetlines associated with a holding tank on a tanker truck, comprising 
 a pipe extending from the wetlines to a location at or near the top of the housing tank, and    a pump for pumping the liquid along the pipe into the housing tank.    
     
     
         8 . Means according to  claim 7 , wherein the pump includes an impeller mounted in the pipe or in an impeller housing connected in fluid flow communication with the pipe.  
     
     
         9 . Means according to  claim 8 , wherein the pump further includes a turbine which drives the impeller.  
     
     
         10 . Means according to  claim 8 , wherein the turbine is located outside the pipe or any said impeller housing.  
     
     
         11 . Means according to  claim 8 , wherein the turbine is operated by fluid flow.  
     
     
         12 . Means according to  claim 11 , wherein the fluid is air, water, or oil.  
     
     
         13 . Means of  claim 12 , wherein the turbine is operated by air flow from a compressed air source.  
     
     
         14 . Means according to  claim 7 , wherein the separate pipe extends from the wetlines to a location above or near the highest surface of the liquid in the housing tank.  
     
     
         15 . Means according to  claim 7 , wherein the separate pipe extends along an inner surface of the housing tank.  
     
     
         16 . Means according to  claim 7 , wherein the separate pipe extends along an outer surface of the housing tank.  
     
     
         17 . Means for propelling liquid through a pipe, comprising 
 an impeller mounted in the pipe or a housing connected in fluid flow communication with the pipe, and    a turbine, wherein the turbine is operated by air flow from a compressed air source.    
     
     
         18 . Means for propelling liquid through a pipe, comprising 
 an impeller mounted in the pipe or a housing connected in fluid flow communication with the pipe, and    a turbine, wherein the turbine is located outside the pipe or any said housing.    
     
     
         19 . Means for propelling liquid through a pipe, comprising 
 an impeller mounted in the pipe or a housing connected in fluid flow communication with the pipe, and    a turbine, wherein the turbine is operated by fluid flow from a separate fluid source.    
     
     
         20 . Means according to  claim 19 , wherein the fluid is air, water, or oil.  
     
     
         21 . Means according to  claim 20 , wherein the turbine is operated by air flow from a compressed air source.  
     
     
         22 . Means according to  claim 21 , wherein the turbine is located outside the pipe or any said housing.