Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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VACUUM CONTAINER SYSTEM AND RELATED METHOD
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to apparatus and systems for transferring
material into a
bulk bag using a vacuum, and especially to pump or vacuum systems configured
for transferring
liquid, particulate or slurry materials into bulk bag containers for
transport, storage, disposal
and/or de-watering.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention enables the facile placement of solid
particulate, liquid or slurried
materials into bulk bags configured for commercial-scale operations which
could range from
volumes smaller than one cubic meter to volumes of 5, 10, 20 and over 30 cubic
meters,
depending upon the application, size of containers and other equipment, weight
restrictions and
the like. Various commercial settings require the placement of material into a
substantially
nonporous, flexible bag in order to facilitate the transportation, storage or
disposal of the material
involved. The material involved can vary widely from non-hazardous, non-toxic
materials such
as, e.g., grain, vegetable and other food products, particulate insulation
material, to hazardous
or toxic materials such as, e.g., paint or other chemical or petrochemical pit
slurries, waste
treatment pond dredgings or liquids, and the like. The present invention
provides a system which
enables the repeated and rapid placement of such materials into a disposable
or reusable bag
configured to retain the material so that an outer vacuum container employed
within the system
can be reused for subsequent loadings without the inconvenience or cost of
significant cleaning
procedures in between loads.
[0003] Thus, in one embodiment of this invention is provided .apparatus
comprising (a) a
substantially rigid container defining at least one inlet port and at least
one outlet port, and being
sized and configured to define a first volume for receiving a liquid, solid
particulate or slurry
material; (b) flexible, substantially non-porous bag which forms a bag opening
perimeter in
sealed attachment to the container at the inlet port and being in an initial
deflated state; and (c)
a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the rigid container through said
outlet port, wherein
during operation of the vacuum pump, a vacuum is created within the rigid
container to thereby
cause the bag in an initial deflated state to expand and form a vacuum within
the bag to draw
material through the inlet port and into the bag.
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[0004] In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided apparatus
comprising (a) a
substantially rigid container defining at least one inlet port, at least one
outlet port and at least
one sealable bladder port, and being sized and configured to define a first
volume for receiving
a liquid, solid particulate or slurry material; (b) a flexible, substantially
porous bag wluch forms
a bag opening perimeter in sealed attachment to the container at the inlet
port and being in an
initial deflated state; and (c) a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the
rigid container
through said outlet port, wherein during operation of the vacuum pump, a
vacuum is created
within the rigid container to thereby cause the bag in an initial deflated
state to expand and form
a vacuum within the bag to draw material through the inlet port and into the
bag. This
embodiment enables, amongst other things, the facile de-watering of slurried
solids. When a
bladder is placed across the bladder port and the port is open to the
atmosphere outside the
container, and when the inlet is closed during operation of the vacuum pump,
even greater
amounts of liquid can be removed from the slurry material within the bag,
enabling for example
the efficient de-watering of solids in the original slurry.
[0005] In yet another embodiment of this invention, there is provided a method
which
comprises (a) forming a vacuum in a substantially rigid container, which rigid
container defines
at least one iuet port and at least one outlet port, is sized and configured
to define a first volume
for receiving a liquid, solid particulate or slurry material, and includes a
flexible, substantially
non-porous bag which forms a bag opening perimeter in sealed attachment to the
container at the
inlet port, the bag being in an initial deflated state prior to vacuum
formation, and (b) placing the
bag interior volume in fluid communication with the liquid, solid particulate
or slurry material
through the inlet port so that, when the vacuum of step (a) is formed, the
liquid, solid particulate
or slurry material is suctioned into the bag when the vacuum of step (a) is
formed in the
container.
(0006] Still another embodiment of the invention provides a method comprising
(a) forming
a vacuum in a substantially rigid container, which rigid container defines at
least one inlet port,
at least one outlet port and at least one sealable bladder port, is sized and
configured to define
a first volume for receiving a liquid, solid particulate or slurry material,
and includes a flexible,
substantially porous bag which forms a bag opening perimeter in sealed
attachment to the
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container at the inlet port, the bag being in an initial deflated state prior
to vacuum formation, and
(b) placing the bag interior volume in fluid communication with the liquid,
solid particulate or
sluxry material through the inlet port so that, when the vacuum of step (a) is
formed, the liquid,
solid particulate or slurry material is suctioned into the bag when the vacuum
of step (a) is
formed in the container.
[0007] These and other embodiments, objects, advantages, and features of this
invention will
now become apparent from the following description, accompanying drawings and
appended,
non-limiting, exemplary claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rigid container in an embodiment of
this invention.
[0009] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a bulk bag in an embodiment of this
invention.
[0010] Fig. 3 is a side view in cross section illustrating the embodiment of
Figs. 1 and 2 during
use to move material into the bulk bag of Fig. 2.
[0011] Fig. 4 is a side view in cross section similar to that of Fig. 3, but
illustrating an
embodiment of this invention for removing liquid from a slurry material placed
in a liquid
permeable bulk bag within a rigid container in accordance with this invention.
[0012] Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 4, showing the system of Fig.
4 during operation
to remove a liquid from the material within the bulk bag.
[0013] In each of the above figures, like numerals or letters are used to
refer to like or
functionally like parts among the several figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The accompany figures illustrate preferred embodiments of this
invention. Fig. 1
illustrates a rigid container 10 for use in a preferred apparatus of this
invention. Container 10
provides an inlet port 12 and an outlet port 14, a first secondary port 11 and
a second secondary
port 13. Container 10 is sized and configured to define a first volume V for
receiving a liquid,
solid particulate or slurry material. During typical use of the apparatus,
inlet port 12 is in fluid
communication with a suction pipe 15 (Fig. 3). The apparatus of Fig. 1 can be
used with a
flexible, substantially non-porous bag 16 (see Fig. 2) which forms a bag
opening perimeter 18
for sealed attachment to container 10 at inlet port 12. As illustrated in
Figs. 2 and 3, bag 16 is
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gin. an initial deflated state prior tn installation ip container 1~. As
~wrtlnAr illu~ated u1 Fig. 3, the
apparafits ~~.er inchules a jet pump P in fluid commnnicatiam with container
10 through outlet
port 14. D~aing operation of pump P, a vacuum is created wi$un cod IO to
thereby cau~
bag 15 to expand and form a vaeutma witbia bgg a5, which ceases material, ~bo
be dawn throvglt
i~c scion, p~pe 15 and inlet part 12 into bag 16. Wye cot red, it is parttly
preferred
that the fine ettd (not shown) of su~ion pipe 15 be completely immersed ~ the
mamaal to be
suctio~n8d so tl~t the amount of air allowed to ewer suctiani pipe I5 is
minimizeal.
[0015) Although cot neily shown in the draw5ng~, it is particatetrly~ that poi
11 amd 13 be as close to ttn; botoom of container 10 as posss'ble so that
these ports may be
cnaveaie~ used to empty enmta~er 10 of sabstaat~tty all of i~ contents, ~
ceding
~qag .
[00.6] As seen from, tbs ~ tm'bodimeat of this invetidon ~Iusk~ied is Fig~es 4
end 5,
the ~ case also employ a flaxibl5 snbs~abally porous bag 17~ to th~eb~ casbdc
liquids
is the matea$1 into bag 17 to be sepat~d from the slurry to thereby fitter the
solids and
pert removal of the ~ liquids from contaisna~ 10. hi particular, coz~nGr 10
may be
placed in #Inid coat~on with and iame Ifquid tank T through a coad~t C, teak
T ht rum bemgia ~d commta~cadion with vacu~x jetpump P, In thds psatica)ar
embodimern,
it is d ti~at tbts vacumn co~ction m 10 be made st sacaadary cutter part I3
(tl~ post IA as shown in the embodies of Figs. I-3~ to removal of liquids
from caa~aer 10 dnriag operation ofpump P. Opofpump Pto ~c su~aeatvaconmrn
sluaymatedal to e~rbag 1? and draws li~idstbrot~ghthepaxs in b$g 17 to
the ltqulda from the solids, au~d to drag the liquids into tank T. if ewes
feather liqudd mmoval
:6~om the conte~ of bag I7 is deed, this Gmbodiau:nt provides a way to
avcamplish the same;
While oonZainer 10 ss substantially at outlet 14 (and i~t I2) and port Ii but
~ fluid
com~onwithtst~kl'viaca~it C and secondary outletpott 13, amauwaycover3amap
be opeuod, the opening ~g the bladder port 32 wbie~! may he placid a
sub~y nm~porons bladdeoc $, which fogs a b3ar~ p3~ ~
suy sealed feat tip cor 10 at blaidder port 32, so tl~t, when m place and
whoa mast way cover 30 is substantially shut but avalvc (not sbowa) a! cover
30 is opted to the
s~arom~ing ~ operation of pump p efroa of a vacu~ m the volume
dewed hg bladder B and she walls of coata~r 10, tb~eby pug bladder B to into
supplemtental Replacement _ 4 _
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cod to and the press against the wants ofbag l,?. As the Vaantm is maintained,
additional
liquids a~ removed, as 1iq>ud f ltrate, from,the solids ra~niag is bag I7 and
stoned into tsalc
T. In this vvaJr, slurry materials can be svbsfantially de-watered, removing
in. some cases 98°/a
or more of the liquids previously present is the slurry material, Tank T as
depicted imclndes a
gage pipe aBdvalvc, throughwhich tank T could he eutptied by opening the valve
orthro~gh
a tioa Lo a tank pump (not shown). It will, ~oow be appreGated tb~at this
could also bo
achieved with the ilF~ated ~ through application of fluid pyre (water or a
gas)
though, the valve (art a d~ valve) at cover 30 so as to cage bladder B to clad
into
co~x~aer ifl su~ci~r to t bag 1? to e~covr~age additional fhtid to from the
coaateats of bag I7.
IQO17) Ty~aralllr, container to will ix empxied by ~ sluuy pipe IS at port 1s,
then
closing at tying o~bag 16 (or 1,~ at its perimeter 18, and port 12 for
~aspor't~on of
co~rtainsr 10. To r~niosa eanta~er xD, a c&xr 19 of contaiuec to msy be opened
so access and
remove bag Is (or ~~ sad its cods.
(tfal8j Thenan'poronsbladderemployedsn.cerca~,emnboftl~epre~iuQVeatia~may
ba ~oa~oed fromo, a var~r of maIs, bat is typically famed from noa~por~ ~e~18
sly
or 8lna snob as, e.&, the Fi~aas product d Wider the brand PONDGARD, err the
ice,
TbB raa~isi slbouJd be s~aea~r fle~Ie to enable the bladder tn egpaod dvdmg
ion of
the so as to pezrmt an e~cient vacutmQ to be fox~ned in tips volume foxed by
the
cowaris and the bledde~, thereby mabliag re~ovai of edditie~ai hqa~d material
~ the
cod of the po~roas Gag within that vohtme formed by the cur walls aid the
bladder
[0019] The vaGUUm coataiaGr employed in the embodimGUts of this invention
shanld be
su~caea~ rigid to the vactu~m any to fac~i~e arc of the system, all ml~s,
out'~S a~poris da~dbythe walls ofthe container s3~otdd be ~ with $ttl:~ and
seals
wbiclt enable a vaco~~ to be maintained the conta~er Co~aaua! oantaine~s hown
as vacuum roll,off coos, for ample, can be niadified for use as tlxe c~aion
ac~dance with this inve~on when comn~CZa1 can fer tr~po~ea,, disposal or
storage of large vofumes of mated .
[OOZfl] The level of va~mm to be ~ within the cod will ~y depending upo~a
~pple~nt~ Repls~ent - s -
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the ambient pressure and temperature conditions, the nature of the material to
be moved, the size
of the vacuum container and related equipment and the physical characteristics
of the bulk bag
employed. As a non-limiting example, when employing a vacuum roll-off
container of the size
of about 25 cubic yards (22.86 cubic meters) and a bulk bag of the size of
about 25 cubic yards
(22.86 cubic meters) made from coated polypropylene sheet material, the vacuum
provided to
move about 20 cubic yards of slurry material into the bag, the material having
an average particle
size of about 3 inches or less and a weight of about 2000 pounds per cubic
yard, within a period
of time of about 20 minutes at room temperature and pressure, is in the range
of about 10 to
about 15 inches Hg.
[0021] The bulk bags employed in the systems of this invention will typically
be sized in a
fashion consistent with the size of the rigid container employed, but are
preferably somewhat
smaller than the container to avoid having excess bag material within the
container which might
foul the vacuum operation. Commercial vacuum roll-off containers suitable for
use in the
systems of this invention are typically in the range of about 25 to about 30
cubic yards (about
22.86 to about 27.43 cubic meters) in volume size. For a container of the size
of 25 cubic yards,
the bag will typically be in the range of about 3000 to about 5050 gallons,
depending on the
application. The material used to fabricate the bulk bags will depend upon the
application. For
applications requiring a substantially air and liquid impervious material, non-
limiting examples
of suitable material include coated woven polypropylene or a non-coated
polyethylene film
material. Such material is sold under the brand and product indentifier "PE"
by the First Line
Corporation of Valdosa, Georgia. For applications which require a
substantially liquid permeable
material for fabrication of the bag, and non-limiting example of suitable
material is non-coated,
woven or unwoven polypropylene. Such material is sold under the brand and
product identifier
"PP/Non-Coated" by the Linq Industrial Fabrics of Surnmerville, South
Carolina. In all cases,
the material thickness may vary depending upon the strength requirements for
the material to be
placed in the bag.
[0022] The vacuum pump employed to produce the necessary vacuum within the
vacuum
container may vary and could be virtually any pump capable of generating a
vacuum. Commonly
employed pumps will include centrifugal vacuum pumps, jet pumps, or the like.
However, in
preferred embodiments, the vacuum pump is one which is capable of creating a
vacuum in a
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substantially sealed volume without any meaningful air intake into the sealed
volume. In one
preferred embodiment, the pump is a jet pump substantially like that which is
taught in
commonly owned U.S. Patent 6,322,327, and commonly owned and co-pending U.S.
Patent
Application No. 10/388,780, filed on March 14, 2003. The pump described in the
latter patent
application, commonly known as the Pearce Closed Loop Vacuum System marketed
by Pearce
Pump Supply, Inc. of Prairieville, Louisiana, is particularly preferred for
its ability to achieve a
high vacuum and to maintain the vacuum under dry or wet conditions, its ease
of maintenance
as compared with conventional mechanical pumps and its ability to re-circulate
the motive fluid
which drives the jet pump.
[0023] Each and every patent, patent application and printed publication
referred to above is
incorporated herein by reference in toto to the fullest extent permitted as a
matter of law.
[0024] It should be appreciated that, while specific embodiments are described
hereinafter,
several other applications of the presently described invention may be
contemplated by those of
slcill in the art in view of this disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of this
invention is not limited
to the specific embodiments described in detail herein, and is instead defined
by the appended
claims and equivalents thereof permitted as a matter of law.
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