Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
21180~9 - -
8-CB-10.738 -1-
Genaral ~lectric Comp~ny of Schenectady, New York, United
States of America
ltlo: C O N T A I N E R
The present invention relates to a container for
storing high-viscosity fluids, the container comprising an
outlet aperture near its lower side.
It has so far been common practice to store such
high-viscosity fluids, for example, silicone paste, in
containers having a capacity of approximately 200 litres. The
fluid is present in such containers in a large synthetic resin
pouch sealed at its lower side by a sealing sheet. In
addition, a few pouches containing hygroscopic material are
usually incorporated in the container to prevent moisture from
contacting the said fluid.
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After emptying such a container, the pouch in which
the paste is incorporated, and the sealing sheet remain behind
as waste material, while comparatively much-material adheres
to said waste material and is also discarded. The processing ~ -
of such waste material is becoming a problem which is more and
more difficult to solve and only at higher and higher costs.
Moreover, a rather large quantity of valuable fluid is lost.
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8-CB-10.738 -2- ;~
It is therefore an object of the present invention
to provide a container for storing high-viscosity fluids in
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which the disadvantages inherent in the so far commonly used
solutions for storing such fluids can be avoided.
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According to the invention this can be achieved in
that the container is constructed from two equal parts which `
are secured together near the centre of the container `-~
according to a plane extending at least substantially normal
to a longitudinal axis of the holder, one end of a diaphragm
which can be moved between a first position in which the
diaphragm engages at least substantially the inner wall of one `
container part and a second position in which the diaphgragm
engages substantially the inner wall of the second container
part being clamped between the ends of the container parts
secured together. - -
When using a container according to the invention,
an effective and uniform emptying of the container can be
achieved, also when containers are used which have a
considerably larger capacity than the above-mentioned so far
conventionally used containers of approximately 200 litres, by
moving the diaphragm from the above-mentioned first position
to the above-mentioned second position, as a result of which
the fluid will effectively be forced out of the container. ~ P
Such a container can be used several times, as a result of
which the release of waste material will be effectively
avoided.
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8-CB-10.738 -3-
The invention will now be described in greater
detail with reference to an embodiment of a container
according to the invention shown in the accompanying drawing.
The left-hand half is a cross-sectional view of the container;
the right-hand half is an elevation of the same container.
As shown in the Figure, the container or tank 1
shown in the Figure comprises two ei~ual container parts 2 and
3 which at their facing open ends comprise flanges 4 and 5 and
are connected together by means of bolts which are passed
through the flanges but are not further shown. So the
container or tank 1 comprises two halves 2 and 3 which are at
least substantially mirror-symmetrical with respect to a plane
A-A extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal centre line
6 of the container.
The container 1 is supported by a frame 7 which is
built up from a number of vertically extending col~mns 8 and a ~.`
chassis 9, preferably in the form of a conventional pallet, so
that the frame 7 with the container 1 supported by the frame 7
can be transported by means of a fork-lift truck or the like
in a manner similar to that of a conventional pallet
optionally comprising a load.
A more or less hat-shaped diaphragm 10 is present in
the interior of the container or tank and comprises at one end
a circumferential rim 11 which is clamped between the flanges
4 and S.
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A sealing member 12, for example, a ball valve or
the like, via which the container can be emptied and/or,~
filled, is secured to the bottom of the lower container half -
A connector 14 to which a duct for supplying
pressurised medium, for example, compressed air, can be
connected, is provided on top of the upper container part 2.
The above-described container can be filled by
forcing the fluid into the holder via the sealing member 12. .
The hat-like diaphragm will gradually be moved from the solid
line position shown in the lower left part of the figure and
the broken-line position shown in the lower right-hand part of
the Figure to the position of the lines 10' shown in the
Figure.
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For emptying the container, pressurised medium, for .:~
:~ example, compressed air, may be forced into the interior of ::~
the container via the connector 14. If simultaneously the
sealing member 12 is opened, the fluid present in the
container will be forced out of the container in advance of .
~; the diaphragm and the diaphragm will gradually be moved back :~
~:: from the broken-line position shown in the Figure to the -
solid-line position shown in the Figure. -
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In the two extreme positions the diaphragm engages ~
at least substantially the inner wall of the container so that ~;
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2118059
8-Cs-10.738 -5-
on the one hand the capacity of the container may be used
optimally for receiving the f1uid and on t~le other hand
substantially all the fluid can be orced again out of the
container. For reasons of clarity the spaclng between the
inner wall of the parts 2 and 3 and the diaphragm is not drawn
to scale.
.
Only the inner wall of the lower container half 3 -
will be in contact with the fluid. If desired, the inner wall
of the said container half may optionally be provided with a
suitable lining, for example teflon or polyethylene.
The container may have a capacity of, for example,
from 1,600 to 2,000 litres, the dimensions and/or the weight ~-
of the container with the structure sùpporting the said
container nevertheless remainin(~ SUC~ ld~: ~he container can
be moved by means of a fork-lift truclc and can be transported
by means of a truck.
If so desired, hoisting means 13 may be provided on
the container 1 so that the container tocJether with the frame
7 can be hoisted by means of a hoistin~ apparatus.
For purposes of cleaning, checking or replacement of, for
example, the diaphragm, the container half 2 may also be
separated from the container half 3 with supporting frame 7,
by'only lifting container part 2 with the aid of the hoisting
means 13.
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