Recirculating jet pump and method of moving material

Abstract

A system for moving a wide variety of materials using a recirculating liquid jet pump is described. The system is preferably equipped with an material collection reservoir enabling the placement of material to be suctioned into the collection reservoir without bringing together the material to be suctioned with the motive fluid of the liquid jet pump. The collection reservoir is also connected to a removal means and controller so that suctioned material can be removed from the collection reservoir concurrently with action of the liquid jet pump.

That which is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system comprising: 
 (a) a material collection reservoir in fluid communication with a passageway for suctioned material, the collection reservoir being sized and configured to permit formation of a vacuum within the collection reservoir,    (b) a jet pump in fluid communication with the collection reservoir and the passageway, the jet pump being sized and configured to form a vacuum within the collection reservoir so as to enable collection of the suctioned material in the collection reservoir without permitting suctioned material to directly enter the jet pump, and    (c) removal means for removing at least a portion of the suctioned material from the collection reservoir, the removal means being configured to enable removal of at least a portion of the suctioned material from the collection reservoir while the jet pump is in use.    
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the jet pump is comprised of (1) a nozzle assembly which is sized and configured to receive a motive fluid and a gas, and (2) eject the motive fluid as a liquid flow while feeding the gas into proximity with the periphery of the liquid flow.  
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the system further comprises a controller which controls the operation of the removal means based upon the level of suctioned material in the collection reservoir.  
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 3  wherein the removal means comprises a removal pump.  
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 4  wherein the controller is configured to maintain at least a level of material which prevents loss of prime of the removal pump.  
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 4  wherein the removal pump is a positive displacement pump.  
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 4  wherein the removal pump is a mechanical pump.  
     
     
         8 . A method for moving material from one location to another, the method comprising: 
 a. creating a vacuum in a material collection reservoir by action of a jet pump, the collection reservoir being in fluid communication with a passageway for a material to be moved and with the jet pump, and    b. suctioning the material through the passageway into the collection reservoir while controlling an amount of material in the collection reservoir so as to prevent the material from entering the jet pump.    
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein the jet pump is comprised of (1) a nozzle assembly which is sized and configured to receive a motive fluid and a gas, and (2) eject the motive fluid as a liquid flow while feeding the gas into proximity with the periphery of the liquid flow.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein in step b the amount of material in the collection reservoir is maintained by removing at least a portion of the material from the collection reservoir.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein removal of the material is controlled based upon the level of suctioned material in the collection reservoir.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the controlled removal is carried out by removal means for removing the material from the collection reservoir and a controller which ensures that the level of material in the collection reservoir is maintained within a pre-selected range.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the removal means is a removal pump and wherein the level of material in the collection reservoir is maintained so as to prevent a loss of prime in the removal pump.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein the removal pump is a positive displacement pump.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein the removal pump is a mechanical pump.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the jet pump and the removal means are used concurrently.