U.S. patent application number 11/064878 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-24 for discharge apparatus for a shipping container.
This patent application is currently assigned to Powertex, Inc.. Invention is credited to Stephen D. Podd.
Application Number | 20060186117 11/064878 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36911578 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060186117 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Podd; Stephen D. |
August 24, 2006 |
Discharge apparatus for a shipping container
Abstract
A shipping container discharge system and method of using the
shipping container discharge system includes a bulkhead liner for a
shipping container with a reinforced area and a discharge sleeve
extending from within the shipping container. The discharge sleeve
has a discharge passage in communication with an interior space of
the bulkhead liner for discharging a product from the interior
space. The shipping container discharge system also includes a
manifold having a first aperture and at least one attachment
member. The discharge sleeve extends through the first aperture and
the attachment member is attached to the reinforced area of the
bulkhead liner to secure the manifold to the bulkhead liner. A high
hat with a second aperture is attachable to the manifold with a
portion of the discharge sleeve secured between the manifold and
the high hat to prevent contamination of a product to be unloaded
from the interior space of the bulkhead liner.
Inventors: |
Podd; Stephen D.; (Rouses
Point, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DORITY & MANNING, P.A.
POST OFFICE BOX 1449
GREENVILLE
SC
29602-1449
US
|
Assignee: |
Powertex, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
36911578 |
Appl. No.: |
11/064878 |
Filed: |
February 24, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/1.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 90/048 20130101;
B65D 2590/046 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/001.6 |
International
Class: |
B65D 88/00 20060101
B65D088/00 |
Claims
1. A shipping container discharge system, comprising: a bulkhead
liner for a shipping container having a reinforced area and a
discharge sleeve depending from proximate the reinforced area, the
discharge sleeve defining a discharge passage therein in
communication with an interior space of the bulkhead liner for
discharging a product from the interior space; a manifold defining
a first aperture therethrough and at least one attachment member,
the discharge sleeve extending through the first aperture, the at
least one attachment member configured for attachment to the
reinforced area to secure the manifold to the bulkhead liner; and a
high hat defining a second aperture therethrough, the high hat
attachable to the manifold with a portion of the discharge sleeve
secured between the manifold and the high hat to prevent
contamination of the discharging product.
2. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 1, wherein
the bulkhead liner is a pliable material and the reinforced area is
a polymer patch attached thereto.
3. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 1, further
comprising an inner sleeve depending from within the discharge
sleeve and securable about the high hat.
4. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 1, wherein
the manifold defines an edge shaped complementary to a surface of
the shipping container, the edge positionable on the surface to
support the manifold and align the first and second apertures with
the discharge sleeve.
5. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 1, wherein
the manifold defines a window for viewing the product during
discharge from the interior space of the bulkhead liner.
6. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 1, wherein
the manifold includes an attachment device for securing the high
hat to the manifold.
7. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 6, wherein
the attachment device is at least one adjustable rod and at least
one bolt and the high hat includes at least one rod receptacle, the
at least one adjustable rod attachable to the at least one rod
receptacle by the at least one bolt.
8. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 1, wherein
the at least one attachment member is a pair of opposing bars.
9. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 8, further
comprising a plurality of cable ties and wherein the reinforced
area defines a plurality of slits therethrough, each of the cable
ties insertable in respective slits and securable about the pair of
opposing bars.
10. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 1, wherein
the high hat defines a spout with a plurality of weld beads
disposed thereon, the spout configured to direct the product during
discharge, the weld beads configured to hold a take-away hose about
an inner sleeve folded over the weld beads, the inner sleeve
depending from within the bulkhead liner through the discharge
sleeve to prevent contamination of the product.
11. A shipping container discharge system, comprising: a manifold
defining an aperture therethrough and attachable to a reinforced
area of a bulkhead liner for a shipping container to secure the
manifold to the bulkhead liner, a discharge sleeve of the bulkhead
liner extending through the aperture and secured about the
manifold, the manifold configured for receiving a take-away hose
for discharging a product from the bulkhead liner through the
aperture and the discharge sleeve.
12. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 11, wherein
the manifold defines an edge shaped complementary to a surface of
the shipping container, the edge positionable on the surface to
support the manifold and align the aperture with the discharge
sleeve.
13. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 11, wherein
the manifold defines a window for viewing the product during
discharge from the bulkhead liner.
14. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 11, wherein
the bulkhead liner is a woven or extruded polypropylene or
polyethylene material and the reinforced area is a woven or
extruded polypropylene or polyethylene patch attached to the
bulkhead liner.
15. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 11, further
comprising a plurality of cable ties and wherein the reinforced
area defines a plurality of slits therein, each of the cable ties
insertable in respective ones of the slits and securable to the
manifold.
16. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 11, further
comprising a high hat defining a complementary aperture
therethrough, the high hat attachable to the manifold with the
discharge sleeve secured between the manifold and the high hat.
17. The shipping container discharge system as in claim 16, wherein
the high hat defines a spout with a plurality of protrusions
disposed thereon, the spout configured to direct the product during
discharge, the protrusions configured to hold a take-away hose
about a complementary sleeve disposed between the protrusions and
the take-away hose, the complementary sleeve depending from within
the bulkhead liner through the discharge sleeve.
18. A method of discharging a product from a shipping container,
comprising the steps of: providing a bulkhead liner for a shipping
container having an external surface and an internal surface
defined about a cavity therein, and at least one discharge sleeve
attached to the internal surface and depending through the external
and internal surfaces; attaching a manifold to the external
surface, the at least one discharge sleeve depending from the
internal surface through a first aperture of the manifold; and
attaching a high hat to the manifold with a portion of the at least
one discharge sleeve secured between the manifold and the high hat,
the high hat defining a second aperture therethrough for unloading
a product from within the bulkhead liner through the at least one
discharge sleeve and the second aperture.
19. The method of discharging a product as in claim 18, further
comprising the step of attaching a reinforcement patch to the
internal surface, the manifold attached to the external surface
opposite the reinforcement patch.
20. The method of discharging a product as in claim 19, further
comprising the steps of providing a plurality of slits through the
external and internal surfaces and the reinforcement patch,
inserting at least one cable tie into a first one of the slits,
projecting the at least one cable tie from a second one of the
slits, and securing the at least one cable tie about an attachment
member of the manifold to attach the manifold to the external
surface.
21. The method of discharging a product as in claim 18, further
comprising the steps of providing the bulkhead liner with a
complementary sleeve disposed in the at least one discharge sleeve,
and securing a portion of the complementary sleeve between the high
hat and a take-away hose for unloading the product from the
bulkhead liner through the second aperture.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a discharge apparatus for a
shipping container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Cargo containers are used to carry bulk cargo such as dry
bulk chemicals, powdered and pelletized resins, flour, coffee,
grains and the like. When cargo containers are used to carry bulk
cargo, the container must be kept clean or be cleaned after each
load of cargo is emptied from the container, so that the container
can be subsequently used with another load of cargo. Moreover, the
cargo must be protected from contamination and from undesirable
exposure to natural elements.
[0003] Removable liners typically are used to line interior walls
or surfaces of the cargo containers in order to carry the bulk
cargo without sullying the container and contaminating the cargo.
Such a removable liner protects the cargo during shipment or
storage from rain, debris, and the like. After the cargo is
delivered, the liner can be removed so that the container is again
usable without significant cleaning to carry another load of
cargo.
[0004] The conventional removable liner typically includes a
pliable tube or sleeve that is tied off during transportation of
the cargo. After the container arrives at an unloading destination,
the sleeve is untied and attached to a take-away device through
which the cargo is unloaded. Due to the pliability of the liner and
the sleeve, attachment of the take-away device is difficult.
Moreover, as the container is inclined to unload the cargo, forces
exerted by the shifting cargo can cause the liner sleeve to slip
off the take-away device thus spilling and contaminating the
cargo.
[0005] A discharge apparatus for a pliable liner that can be
readily installed when a load of cargo is to be unloaded, which
will easily attach to a take-away hose and remain attached during
cargo unloading, is needed in the industry.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is directed in general to a discharge
apparatus for a pliable bulkhead liner for a shipping container.
The discharge apparatus is readily attachable to the bulkhead liner
to discharge a load of cargo or product held in the bulkhead liner.
The component parts of the discharge apparatus are simple and
economical to manufacture, assemble and use. Other advantages of
the invention will be apparent from the following description and
attached drawings, or can be learned through practice of the
invention.
[0007] According to one aspect of the invention, a shipping
container discharge system includes a bulkhead liner for a shipping
container having a reinforced area and a discharge sleeve extending
from the reinforced area. The discharge sleeve has a discharge
passage in communication with an interior space of the bulkhead
liner for discharging the product from the interior space. In this
aspect, the bulkhead liner is made from a pliable material such as
a polymer and the reinforced area is a patch attached to the
bulkhead liner. The patch can also be made of polymer.
[0008] The shipping container discharge system includes a manifold
with a first aperture and one or more attachment members. In this
aspect, the discharge sleeve extends through the first aperture of
the manifold. The attachment members can be, for instance, a pair
of opposing arms, bars or attachment holes in a portion of the
manifold. The attachment members are attached to the reinforced
area to secure the manifold to the bulkhead liner. A plurality of
cable ties inserted in respective slits formed in the reinforced
area is used to secure the attachment members of the manifold to
the liner.
[0009] The manifold in this aspect of the invention has a flat or
straight edge, which complements a surface of the shipping
container. The edge is positioned on the surface to support a
weight of the manifold, to stabilize the manifold and to align the
first and second apertures with the discharge sleeve. The manifold
can also have a window for viewing the product during discharge
from the interior space of the bulkhead liner. Additionally, the
manifold can have an attachment device for securing a cap or high
hat to the manifold. The attachment device, for example, can be a
plurality of adjustable rods attachable to respective rod
receptacles of the high hat via a plurality of bolts or the
like.
[0010] The high hat is attachable to the manifold with a portion of
the discharge sleeve secured between the manifold and the high hat
to prevent contamination of the discharging product. The high hat
can have a spout to direct the product during discharge. In this
aspect, an inner sleeve extends from within the discharge sleeve
through a second aperture of the high hat and is secured about the
high hat by folding over a perimeter of the spout. The spout can
have a raised band or a plurality of weld beads to hold a take-away
hose against the inner sleeve folded over the weld beads.
[0011] In another aspect of the invention, a shipping container
discharge system includes a manifold with an aperture formed
through the manifold. The manifold includes at least one attachment
member such as a bar, rod or arm attachable to a reinforced area of
a bulkhead liner to secure the manifold to the bulkhead liner. The
bulkhead liner is a woven or extruded polypropylene or polyethylene
material and the reinforced area is a woven or extruded
polypropylene or polyethylene patch attached to the bulkhead liner.
A discharge sleeve of the bulkhead liner extends through the
aperture and is secured about the manifold. A take-away hose is
attached to the manifold and the discharge sleeve for discharging a
product from the bulkhead liner through the aperture and the
discharge sleeve.
[0012] The manifold in this aspect of the invention has an edge,
which is shaped complementary to a surface of the shipping
container. The edge is positioned on the surface to support the
manifold and to align the aperture with the discharge sleeve. The
manifold can have a window for viewing the product during discharge
from the bulkhead liner.
[0013] The shipping container discharge system also includes cable
ties, which are inserted in slits formed in the reinforced area.
The cable ties are securable to the attachment member.
[0014] The shipping container discharge system further includes a
high hat with a complementary aperture formed in the high hat. The
high hat is attachable to the manifold with the discharge sleeve
secured between the manifold and the high hat.
[0015] The high hat can have a spout with a plurality of
protrusions formed on or attached to the spout. The spout directs
the product during discharge while the protrusions hold a take-away
hose about a complementary sleeve extending from within the
bulkhead liner through the discharge sleeve. The complementary
sleeve is placed between the protrusions and the take-away hose to
hold the complementary sleeve in position.
[0016] In yet another aspect of the invention, a method of
discharging a product from a shipping container includes the steps
of: providing a bulkhead liner for a shipping container having an
external surface and an internal surface defined about a cavity
therein, and at least one discharge sleeve attached to the internal
surface and depending through the external and internal surfaces;
attaching a manifold to the external surface, the at least one
discharge sleeve depending from the internal surface through a
first aperture of the manifold; and attaching a high hat to the
manifold with a portion of the at least one discharge sleeve
secured between the manifold and the high hat, the high hat
defining a second aperture therethrough for unloading a product
from within the bulkhead liner through the at least one discharge
sleeve and the second aperture.
[0017] The method of discharging a product can also include the
step of attaching a reinforcement patch to the internal surface,
the manifold attached to the external surface opposite the
reinforcement patch.
[0018] The method of discharging a product can further include the
steps of providing a plurality of slits through the external and
internal surfaces and the reinforcement patch, inserting at least
one cable tie into a first one of the slits, projecting the at
least one cable tie from a second one of the slits, and securing
the at least one cable tie about an attachment member of the
manifold to attach the manifold to the external surface.
[0019] The method of discharging a product can also include the
steps of providing the bulkhead liner with a complementary sleeve
disposed in the at least one discharge sleeve, and securing a
portion of the complementary sleeve between the high hat and a
take-away hose for unloading the product from the bulkhead liner
through the second aperture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Further aspects and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the following description, or can be learned through
practice of the invention, in combination with the drawings in
which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shipping container
discharge system according to an aspect of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view a discharge apparatus according
to an aspect of the invention;
[0023] FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of a manifold and a
high hat of the discharge apparatus as in FIG. 2;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing a step
according to a method of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing another step
according to the method of the invention;
[0026] FIG. 6A is another partial perspective view showing a
further step according to the method of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 6B is yet another step according to the method of the
present invention;
[0028] FIG. 7A is another partial perspective view showing an
additional step according to the method of the present invention;
and
[0029] FIG. 7B is a partial perspective view showing a further step
according to the method of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] Detailed reference will now be made to the drawings in which
examples embodying the present invention are shown. The detailed
description uses numerical and letter designations to refer to
features of the drawings. Like or similar designations of the
drawings and description have been used to refer to like or similar
parts of the invention.
[0031] The drawings and detailed description provide a full and
written description of the invention, and of the manner and process
of making and using it, so as to enable one skilled in the
pertinent art to make a use it, as well as the best mode of
carrying out the invention. However, the examples as set forth in
the drawings and detailed description are provided by way of
explanation only and are not meant as limitations of the invention.
The present invention thus includes any modifications and
variations of the following examples as come within the scope of
the appended claims and their equivalents.
[0032] A shipping container discharge system is broadly embodied in
the Figures designated in general by the element number 10. The
shipping container discharge system 10 generally includes a
discharge apparatus 12 and a bulkhead liner 20 installed in a
shipping container 14. The shipping container discharge system 10
is used to discharge a product such as grains, dry chemicals or
other dry bulk cargo from the liner 20 via a take-away tube or hose
T, shown for instance in FIG. 7B. As described in greater detail
and by example operation below, the shipping container discharge
system 10 resists various forces imparted or exerted by the
discharging product against the take-away hose T to prevent
spillage and contamination of the product.
[0033] With particular reference to FIG. 1, the bulkhead liner 20
of the shipping container discharge system 10 is shown installed in
an interior space 15 of the shipping container 14. The liner 20 is
a pliable, flexible body, which is woven or extruded from a polymer
material such as polypropylene, polyethylene and similar durable,
plastic-like materials or combinations of these materials. An
exemplary liner suitable for use as the bulkhead liner 20 is
available from Powertex.RTM., Inc., Rouses Point, N.Y. and is the
subject of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/055,555,
filed Feb. 10, 2005, entitled "Braceless Liner".
[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, when the liner 20 is filled with the
product (not shown), the liner 20 occupies most of the interior
space 15 of the shipping container 14 and generally assumes a shape
of the host shipping container 14. In this example, the shipping
container 14 is a rectangularly shaped trailer of the type used on
many tractor-trailers. The shipping container 14 includes a doorway
with a door or doors D, three internal walls or sides 14a-c, a
ceiling 14d and a floor 14e, collectively referred to herein as
container surfaces 14a-e.
[0035] FIG. 1 further shows the discharge apparatus 12, which
includes a manifold 16 and high hat or cap 18. The manifold 16 is
directly attached to the liner 20 and the high hat 18 is coupled to
the manifold 16. More particularly, the manifold 16 is attached to
an exterior surface 20a of the liner 20. As shown, a lattice 22 is
also attached to the exterior surface 20a to support the liner 20
when it is filled with the product. Also generally shown in FIG. 1,
an inner contamination sleeve 76 (alternatively referred to as
inner or complementary sleeve) extends from the liner 20 through
the discharge apparatus 12. These and other elements, components,
and characteristics of the shipping container discharge system 10
are described in detail and by way of example operation below.
[0036] FIGS. 2 and 3 more particularly show the manifold 16 and the
high hat 18 of the discharge apparatus 12. Specifically, FIG. 2
shows the manifold 16 and the high hat 18 coupled together, and
FIG. 3 shows the components separated for clarity.
[0037] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the manifold 16 includes a body
or base member 24, which defines an annular or circumferential neck
26 in this example that forms a discharge aperture 28. The manifold
16 also defines a lip 30, which has at least one flat edge 32 for
positioning the manifold 16 on a brace B of the shipping container
14 as described below with respect to FIGS. 4-7B.
[0038] FIGS. 2 and 3 further show a top hatch assembly 34, which
opens to provide a viewing window 36 to view the discharging
product. The top hatch assembly 34 includes a door 38 that is
attachable to the base member 24 by one or more hinge assemblies
40. As indicated by a double-headed arrow labeled "A" in FIG. 3, a
handle or latch 42 of the top hatch assembly 34 fits into a catch
44 to open and close the door 38 via the hinge assemblies 40 to
access the viewing window 36. Alternatively or in addition to the
door 38, the viewing window 36 can be a piece of durable clear
plastic for viewing the discharging product.
[0039] FIGS. 2 and 3 also show one or more attachment bars 46
(alternatively referred to as attachment members or arms), which
are used to secure the manifold 16 to the liner 20 as described
below. Also shown, the base member 24 of the manifold 16 includes
at least one high hat attachment device 48. The attachment device
48 includes a rod base or swivel 50 in which an adjustable,
threaded rod 52 is swivelably attached. As indicated by another
double headed arrow labeled "B" in FIG. 3, the adjustable rod 52
swivels away from the neck 26 until a technician is ready to attach
the high hat 18 to the neck 26 and secure the high hat 18 to the
manifold 16 as will be described operation below. The skilled
artisan will instantly appreciate that various alternatives to the
high hat attachment device 48 are available. For instance, a
plurality of snaps, screws, bolts and the like can be positioned on
and about the manifold 16 and the high hat 18 in lieu of or in
addition to the attachment device 48.
[0040] The high-hat 18 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 includes an annular
skirt 56 that defines an annular run 58 defined by concentric lips
or walls 58a,b (shown partially cut away) between which the neck 26
of the manifold 16 is inserted. The high hat 18 also includes
respective rod receptacles 60 for receipt of the swivelable rods 52
as noted above. Once the high hat 18 is positioned on the neck 26
of the manifold 16, the rods 52 are bolted against the rod
receptacles 60 by a plurality of nuts, butterfly nuts, or bolts 54
as shown in FIG. 2. Further, the high hat 18 includes an annular
spout 62 with one or more protrusions such as a band, ring or weld
beads 64 that are used to grip and immobilize the inner sleeve 76
as well as the take-away hose T as described below.
[0041] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the manifold
16 and the high hat 18 can be manufactured from various durable
materials including metals such as aluminum. Thus, the manifold 16
and the high hat 18 can be repeatedly used and have sufficient
structure to withstand a force of the discharging product; however,
the manifold 16 and the high hat 18 have minimal weight to reduce
strain against the liner 20 and to simplify installation. It will
be further appreciated that the manifold 16 and the high hat 18 can
be manufactured in various shapes and sizes depending on customer
requirements and sizes and shapes of the take-away device. For
instance, the spout 62 of the high hat 18 can be square-shaped to
accommodate a square-shaped take way hose T. Likewise, the
discharge aperture 28 of the manifold 16 can have a 13-inch or a
21-inch outside diameter with a respective 18-inch or 8-inch high
hat outside diameter forming a complementary discharge opening or
aperture 65. Again, those skilled in the art will appreciate that
the invention is not limited to particular dimensions or
shapes.
[0042] The above and other aspects of the invention may be better
understood with reference to a method of using the shipping
container discharge system 10.
[0043] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4-7B, the method of utilizing the
shipping container discharge system 10 includes the steps of
providing the discharge apparatus 12 substantially as described
above for attachment to the liner 20 of the shipping container 14.
In FIGS. 1 and 4, for instance, the brace B of the shipping
container 14 is shown adjacent the door D. The liner 20 is placed
in the interior 15 of the shipping container 14 inward of the brace
B away from the door D. As introduced above, the liner 20 includes
the exterior surface 20a, which has an opposing interior or inner
surface 20b. A reinforcement patch or section of material 68 is
attached to the interior surface 20b in this example such as by
sewing the reinforcement patch 68 to the inner surface 20b with
nylon thread. The reinforcement patch 68 like the liner 20 is a
durable synthetic material such as polypropylene or polyethylene,
which reinforces an area of the liner 14 where the discharge
apparatus 12 is attached. The skilled artisan will instantly
recognize that the reinforcement patch 68 can also be attached to
the exterior surface 20a or to both exterior and interior surfaces
20a,b. Moreover, the reinforcement patch 68 can be a plurality of
separate patches as shown in this example, or a single patch of any
size depending on a size of the area of the liner 20 to be
reinforced.
[0044] With particular reference to FIG. 4, a plurality of slits 70
is formed through the exterior and interior surfaces 20a,b and the
reinforcement patch 68 so that a plurality of cable ties 66 can be
inserted in the slits 70 to position portions of the cable ties 66
against the interior surface 20b of the liner 20. The cable ties 66
are heavy-duty ties such as plastic that are sufficiently flexible
for repeated manipulation and sufficiently strong to secure the
manifold 16 to the liner 20 without requiring metal or wood
bracing. As shown, each cable tie 66 has a male end 66a and a
female end 66b that project from respective slits 70. The spacing
of the slits 70 permits adjustment of the cable ties 66 several
inches to either side to position the manifold 16 before securing
the manifold 16 in place with the cable ties 66. One of ordinary
skill in the art will recognize that the slits 70 can be spaced or
positioned about the reinforcement patch 68 to accommodate various
manifold diameters and liner discharge locations.
[0045] FIG. 4 further shows an outer contamination sleeve 74. The
outer contamination sleeve 74 can be attached to one or both of the
exterior and interior surfaces 20a,b of the liner 20. As shown in
these steps of the method, the contamination sleeve 74 is attached
to the interior surface 20b and pulled through an aperture 23 of
the liner 20. The outer contamination sleeve 74 is then inserted in
the manifold 28 and pulled through the discharge aperture 28.
[0046] Turning now to another step of the method as shown in FIG.
5, the flat edge 32 of the manifold is placed on the brace B of the
shipping container 14. The flat edge 32 is complementary to the
horizontally oriented brace B to prevent the manifold 16 from
rolling side to side on the brace B. Additionally and with brief
reference to FIG. 2, the flat edge 32 is spaced on the lip 30 at a
sufficient distance from the body 24 of the manifold 16 to align
the discharge aperture 28 with the liner aperture 23 when the flat
edge 32 is resting on the brace B. Such alignment avoids
constriction of the outer and inner contamination sleeves 74, 76
through the apertures 23 and 28 and facilitates product discharge.
Moreover, the flat edge 32 supports the added weight of the product
as it discharges through the apertures 23, 28.
[0047] In a further step shown in FIG. 5, the female end 66b of the
cable tie 66 is wrapped around one of the attachment members 46 of
the manifold 16 and the male end 66a is inserted through female end
66b to secure the attachment member 46 and thus the manifold 16 to
the exterior surface 20a of the liner 20. As noted above, the
reinforcement patch or patches 68 enable the cable ties 66 to hold
the weight of the manifold 16 as well as the added weight of the
product as it discharges.
[0048] Turning now to FIG. 6A, once the cable ties 66 are secured
to the attachment members 46, the outer contamination sleeve 74 can
be trimmed with a knife, razor, or other cutting instrument "C" to
remove excess material from the outer contamination sleeve 74. As
shown, the rods 52 of the attachment devices 48 are swiveled away
from the neck 26 of the manifold 16 in this step until the
technician is ready to place the high hat 18 on the manifold
16.
[0049] FIG. 6B shows another step in the method in which the outer
contamination sleeve 74 is folded over and about the neck 26 of the
manifold 16 in preparation for receipt of the high hat 18.
[0050] FIG. 7A shows the high hat 18 slid or snapped on the
manifold 16. As introduced above with respect to FIG. 3, the run 58
of the high hat 18 mates against the neck 26 of the manifold 16. As
shown, this mating arrangement traps and secures the outer
contamination sleeve 74 between the manifold 16 and the high hat
18.
[0051] In a further step according to a method of the invention,
the rods 52 shown in FIG. 7A have been swiveled in their swivel
joints 50 to slide into the rod receptacles 60 of the high hat 18.
In another step, the bolts 54 are screwed on the rods 52 in a known
manner to secure the high hat 18 to the manifold 16. As noted
above, the skilled artisan will instantly appreciate that various
devices such as trunk locks, hasps or the like can be used in lieu
of or in addition to the high hat attachment devices 48.
[0052] Turning to FIG. 7B, the inner contamination sleeve 76 is
pulled from within the liner 20 and through the outer contamination
sleeve 74 in another step of the method. The inner contamination
sleeve 76, like the outer contamination sleeve 74, is attached to
one or both of the exterior and interior surfaces 20a,b and/or to
the outer contamination sleeve 74. Similar to the steps described
above for trimming the outer contamination sleeve 74, the inner
contamination sleeve 76 is trimmed and rolled over the spout 62 of
the high hat 18.
[0053] FIG. 7B shows another step in the method in which the
take-away hose T is placed over the spout 62 and held in position
as a function of size of the outer diameter of the spout 62 and the
inner diameter of the take-away hose T. Moreover, the protrusions
or weld beads 64 spaced about the spout 62 press against the inner
diameter of the take-away hose T, which compresses the inner
contamination sleeve 76 therebetween to hold both the sleeve 76 and
the take-away hose T securely in place while the product is
unloaded from the shipping container 14.
[0054] While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown
and described, those skilled in the art will recognize that other
changes and modifications may be made to the foregoing examples
without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For
instance, various durable, reusable materials can be used for the
liner 20, the reinforcement patch 68 and the cable ties 66.
Moreover, certain devices such as the high hat attachment devices
48 and the cable ties 66 can be substituted with other attachment
arrangements. Furthermore, additional cable ties 66 and respective
slits 70 can be used to further secure the manifold 16 to the liner
surface 20a. It is intended to claim all such changes and
modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims and
their equivalents.
[0055] References herein to "top," "upward," "upper," "higher,"
"lower," "bottom," "downward," "descending," "ascending," "side,"
"first," and "second" structures, elements, designations,
geometries and the like are intended solely for purposes of
providing an enabling disclosure and in no way suggest limitations
regarding the operative orientation or order of the exemplary
embodiments or any components thereof.
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