Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatuses for extracting, transporting and/or releasing various kinds of liquid and semi-liquid materials. The materials may have very high viscosity and may include solids. Generally speaking, the apparatus includes a container, a gateway that functions as a valve without moving parts, and a means for controlling air pressure within the container. In addition, the apparatus may include flexible hoses and/or a separator for separating the solids in the material from the liquids. Applications include industrial and manufacturing processes, construction, dredging, remediation, laboratory, and home-based uses. When used in wells, the invention can bail water, oil, and sediment (cleanout operations). The tools according to the present invention are scalable to nearly any size.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatuses for extracting, transporting and/or releasing various kinds of material. Generally speaking, such methods and apparatuses involve vacuum-based (or low-pressure-based) components which, in the preferred embodiments of the invention, utilize various combinations of: a gateway that functions as a valve without moving parts, flexible hoses, and/or a separator for separating the solids in the material from the liquids. Such methods and apparatuses are useful in a variety of applications, including landfill-well cleanout and home-based, laboratory-based, commercial-based and manufacturing-based applications. The tools according to the present invention generally are scalable to nearly any size.