Vacuum Truck with Loading Pump

Abstract

A transport truck for removing and transporting waste fluids, the transport truck having a storage tank mounted on a frame, a motor furnishing transport power to move the truck, and a fluid transfer apparatus. The fluid transfer apparatus includes a diaphragm pump in fluid communication with the storage tank, and having a first side and a second side. The first side has a first coupling configured for attachment to an external structure, and the second side has a second coupling connected to the storage tank by a fluid conduit. The fluid transfer apparatus is closed, so that the fluids within the fluid transfer apparatus are substantially separated from ambient air.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . In a transport truck for removing and transporting waste fluids, the transport truck having a storage tank mounted on a frame, and a motor furnishing transport power to move the truck, a fluid transfer apparatus comprising:
 a diaphragm pump in fluid communication with the storage tank, the diaphragm pump having a first side and a second side, and driven by a power takeoff unit that transfers power from the motor of the truck to the diaphragm pump;   the first side of the diaphragm pump having a first coupling configured for attachment to an external structure, and the second side of the diaphragm pump having a second coupling connected to the storage tank by a fluid conduit;   the fluid transfer apparatus being closed, so that the fluids within the fluid transfer apparatus are substantially separated from ambient air;   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm pump comprises a dual diaphragm pump. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm pump has diaphragms made of a material selected to resist harmful or corrosive components. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first side of the diaphragm pump has a pair of valves, and the second side of the diaphragm pump has a pair of valves, the valves individually openable and closeable to control the direction of fluid flow through the diaphragm pump, thereby allowing the diaphragm pump to transfer fluid inwardly from an external source to the storage tank, or outwardly from the storage tank to an external source. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein each of the valves of the diaphragm pump is controlled by a manual control mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fluid manifold connecting the diaphragm pump to the fluid conduit.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fluid conduit has a fluid transfer connection to a discharge port in a lower portion of the storage tank. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a pump support mounted to the frame of the truck for supporting the diaphragm pump. 
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a surge dampener in fluid communication with the fluid transfer apparatus for absorbing pressure surges or pulsations within the fluid transfer apparatus. 
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the storage tank, and configured to pump fluid from the external structure to the storage tank. 
     
     
         11 . In a transport truck for removing and transporting waste fluids, the transport truck having a storage tank mounted on a frame, and a motor furnishing transport power to move the truck, a fluid transfer apparatus comprising:
 a diaphragm pump in fluid communication with the storage tank, the diaphragm pump having a first side and a second side;   the first side of the diaphragm pump having a first coupling configured for attachment to an external structure, and the second side of the diaphragm pump having a second coupling connected to the storage tank by a fluid conduit;   the diaphragm pump and fluid conduit being closed, so that the fluids within the diaphragm pump and fluid conduit are substantially separated from ambient air; and   a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the storage tank, and configured to pump fluid from the external structure to the storage tank.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a control mechanism having first and second states, the first state configured to activate the diaphragm pump, and the second state configured to activate the vacuum pump. 
 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the diaphragm pump has diaphragms made of a material selected to resist hydrocarbons, acids, bases, and corrosive materials. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the diaphragm pump is driven by a mechanism selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic motor, an electric motor, and the motor that furnishes transport power to move the truck. 
     
     
         15 . A method of transporting waste fluids in a truck having a storage tank and a fluid transfer apparatus including a diaphragm pump driven by a power takeoff unit that transfers power from the motor of the truck to the diaphragm pump, the method comprising the steps of:
 connecting a first end of the diaphragm pump to an external structure containing the fluids to be transported;   connecting a second end of the diaphragm pump to the storage tank via a fluid transfer conduit;   activating the diaphragm pump to draw the fluids from the external structure into the diaphragm pump, and to push the fluids from the diaphragm pump into the storage tank.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
 reversing the flow path through the diaphragm pump by adjusting valves on the pump so that the pump draws the fluids from the storage tank into the diaphragm pump, and pushes the fluids from the diaphragm pump into a structure at a treatment facility.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of:
 driving the diaphragm pump with a motor selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic motor, an electric motor, and the motor that furnishes transport power to move the truck.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of:
 reducing volatile emissions by keeping the fluids within the fluid transfer apparatus substantially separate from ambient air.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of:
 introducing the fluid into the bottom of the storage tank so that as the fluid enters the storage tank it enters any liquid fluids that have accumulated at the bottom of the storage tank.