Removing Fluid Substances

Abstract

A suction device for removing a fluid substance from an accumulation site includes a housing comprising a sidewall that defines an interior channel, a first inlet disposed at a first end of the sidewall and through which the fluid substance is drawn, a second inlet disposed along a lateral area of the sidewall and through which a pressurized fluid flows, and an outlet disposed at a second end of the sidewall and through which the fluid substance and the pressurized fluid flow, the second end of the sidewall opposing the first end of the sidewall; and a graduated tube disposed within the interior channel of the housing and through which the fluid substance flows, the graduated tube comprising a tapered wall that accelerates the fluid substance through the graduated tube and towards the outlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A suction device for removing a fluid substance from an accumulation site, the suction device comprising:
 a housing comprising a sidewall that defines:
 an interior channel, 
 a first inlet disposed at a first end of the sidewall and through which the fluid substance is drawn, 
 a second inlet disposed along a lateral area of the sidewall and through which a pressurized fluid flows, and 
 an outlet disposed at a second end of the sidewall and through which the fluid substance and the pressurized fluid flow, the second end of the sidewall opposing the first end of the sidewall; and 
   a graduated tube disposed within the interior channel of the housing and through which the fluid substance flows, the graduated tube comprising a tapered wall that accelerates the fluid substance through the graduated tube and towards the outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The suction device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a first port that forms the first end of the sidewall to define the first inlet, a second port adjacent the second inlet and that extends from the lateral area of the sidewall to define the second inlet, and a third port that forms the second end of the sidewall to define the outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The suction device of  claim 2 , further comprising first, second, and third coupling members that are respectively engageable with the first, second, and third ports and that are engageable with an auxiliary component. 
     
     
         4 . The suction device of  claim 3 , wherein one or more of the first, second, and third coupling members comprises a valve. 
     
     
         5 . The suction device of  claim 3 , wherein the auxiliary component comprises a hose, a pipe, or a tube. 
     
     
         6 . The suction device of  claim 3 , wherein the first coupling member is directly engageable with a pressurized fluid source. 
     
     
         7 . The suction device of  claim 1 , wherein the graduated tube defines a base having a first width and disposed at a first end of the tapered wall and a tip having second width and disposed at a second end of the tapered wall, the second width being smaller than the first width, and the second end of the tapered wall opposing the first end of the tapered wall. 
     
     
         8 . The suction device of  claim 7 , wherein the tip of the graduated tube is positioned downstream of the second inlet. 
     
     
         9 . The suction device of  claim 1 , wherein the first inlet comprises a motive inlet and the second inlet comprises a suction inlet. 
     
     
         10 . The suction device of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid substance and the pressurized fluid form a mixture within the interior channel of the housing that is drawn through the outlet of the suction device. 
     
     
         11 . The suction device of  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized fluid imparts motion to the fluid substance. 
     
     
         12 . A method of removing a fluid substance from an accumulation site, the method comprising:
 flowing a pressurized fluid through a motive inlet of a suction device;   drawing the fluid substance through a suction inlet of the suction device;   accelerating the fluid substance through the suction device; and   flowing a mixture of the fluid substance and the pressurized fluid through an outlet of the suction device, wherein the suction device comprises:
 a housing comprising a sidewall that defines: 
 an interior channel, 
 the suction inlet, wherein the suction inlet is disposed at a first end of the sidewall, 
 the motive inlet, wherein the motive inlet is disposed along a lateral area of the sidewall, and 
 the outlet, wherein the outlet is disposed at a second end of the sidewall, the second end of the sidewall opposing the first end of the sidewall; and 
   a graduated tube disposed within the interior channel of the housing and through which the fluid substance flows, the graduated tube comprising a tapered wall that accelerates the fluid substance through the graduated tube and towards the outlet of the suction device.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the housing further comprises a first port that forms the first end of the sidewall to define the suction inlet, a motive port adjacent the motive inlet and that extends from the lateral area of the sidewall to define the motive inlet, and an outlet port that forms the second end of the sidewall to define the outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising respectively coupling first, second, and third auxiliary components to the first, second, and third ports. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the auxiliary component comprises a hose, a pipe, or a tube. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the suction device further comprises first, second, and third coupling members that are respectively engageable with the first, second, and third ports and that are engageable with the auxiliary component. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first, second, and third coupling members comprise valves. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first coupling member is directly engageable with a pressurized fluid source. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising placing the first auxiliary component within the fluid substance at the accumulation site. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising connecting the second auxiliary component to a pressurized fluid source. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising turning on the pressurized fluid source. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein flowing the pressurized fluid through the motive inlet of the suction device causes the fluid substance to be drawn through the suction inlet of the suction device. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein an outlet of the graduated tube is positioned downstream of the motive inlet. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising opening a valve located between the suction inlet and the accumulation site. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising placing the third auxiliary component at a discharge site. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the pressurized fluid imparts motion to the fluid sub stance. 
     
     
         27 . A method of manufacturing a suction device, the method comprising:
 forming a housing comprising a sidewall that defines:
 an interior channel, 
 a first opening disposed at a first end of the sidewall and through which a fluid substance is drawn, 
 a second opening disposed along a lateral area of the sidewall and through which a pressurized fluid flows, and 
 a third opening disposed at a second end of the sidewall and through which the fluid substance and the pressurized fluid flow, the second end of the sidewall opposing the first end of the sidewall; 
   forming a graduated tube that allows passage of the fluid substance, the graduated tube comprising a tapered wall that accelerates the fluid substance through the graduated tube and towards the third opening; and   joining the graduated tube to the housing along the interior channel of the housing.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 forming a first port at the first end of the sidewall to define the first opening;   forming the second opening along the lateral area of the sidewall;   joining a second port adjacent the second opening along the lateral area of the sidewall to define the second opening; and   forming a third port at the second end of the sidewall to define the third opening.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising respectively connecting first, second, and third coupling members with the first, second, and third ports, each of the first, second, and third coupling members being engageable with an auxiliary component. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein one of the first, second, and third coupling members comprise a valve. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the auxiliary component comprises a hose, a pipe, or a tube. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the first coupling member is directly engageable with a pressurized fluid source. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising joining a base of the graduated tube to the housing along the first end of the sidewall of the housing. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein a tip of the graduated tube is positioned downstream of the second opening. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the first opening comprises a motive inlet, the second opening comprises a suction inlet, and the third opening comprises an outlet. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the fluid substance is drawn through a base of the graduated tube and accelerated through a tip of the graduated tube. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the fluid substance experiences a loss in pressure as the fluid substance is accelerated through the graduated tube. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the fluid substance and the pressurized fluid form a mixture within the interior channel of the housing that is drawn through the third opening of the suction device. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the pressurized fluid imparts motion to the fluid sub stance.