U.S. patent application number 13/273386 was filed with the patent office on 2013-04-18 for pressurized liner.
This patent application is currently assigned to GRAYLING INDUSTRIES, INC. The applicant listed for this patent is Kurt D. Ross. Invention is credited to Kurt D. Ross.
Application Number | 20130092706 13/273386 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48085319 |
Filed Date | 2013-04-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130092706 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ross; Kurt D. |
April 18, 2013 |
PRESSURIZED LINER
Abstract
A pressurized liner (10) is disclosed for use with a bulk
container. The pressurized liner has a central band (12), two inner
caps (13), and two outer caps (14). Each inner cap has an end wall
(20) and four peripheral side walls (21). Each outer cap has an end
wall (22) and four peripheral side walls (23). The central band and
inner caps define a central compartment (33) which has an inlet
port (34) and an outlet port (36). Each adjoining pair of inner
caps and outer caps define inflatable side compartments (39)
coupled to opposite sides of the central compartment. Each
inflatable side compartment has a pressurized air port (40) to
allow inflation and deflation of the side compartment. The inner
caps have a lateral depth (d1) generally equal to or greater than a
lateral depth (d2) of the outer caps.
Inventors: |
Ross; Kurt D.; (El Paso,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ross; Kurt D. |
El Paso |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
GRAYLING INDUSTRIES, INC
Alpharetta
GA
|
Family ID: |
48085319 |
Appl. No.: |
13/273386 |
Filed: |
October 14, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/105 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 77/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/105 |
International
Class: |
B65D 37/00 20060101
B65D037/00; B65D 33/00 20060101 B65D033/00; B65D 83/00 20060101
B65D083/00; B65D 25/14 20060101 B65D025/14 |
Claims
1. A pressurized liner for use with an intermediate bulk material
container, said pressurized liner comprising, a tubular central
band having at least one content port and at least one open end
defined by a peripheral edge; at least one inner cap sealed to said
tubular central band open end, said inner cap having an inner cap
end wall and peripheral inner cap side walls extending from said
inner cap end wall, and at least one outer cap sealed to said
tubular central band open end, said outer cap having an outer cap
end wall and peripheral outer cap side walls extending from said
outer cap end wall, said outer cap having an air inlet port
extending therethrough; said inner cap and said outer cap defining
an expandable pressure compartment therebetween in fluid
communication with said outer cap air inlet port, whereby the
inflation of the expandable pressure compartment moves the inner
cap to a position within the central band.
2. The pressurized liner of claim 1 wherein said inner cap has a
select first depth extending from said inner cap end wall and
wherein said outer cap has a second select depth extending from
said outer cap end wall, and wherein said first depth is generally
the same as or greater than said second depth.
3. The pressurized liner of claim 1 wherein said central band has a
second open end defined by a second peripheral edge, and wherein
said liner further comprises a second inner cap sealed to said
tubular central band second open end, said second inner cap having
a second inner cap end wall and peripheral second inner cap side
walls extending from said second inner cap end wall, and a second
outer cap sealed to said tubular central band second open end, said
second outer cap having a second outer cap end wall and peripheral
second outer cap side walls extending from said second outer cap
end wall.
4. The pressurized liner of claim 3 wherein said second outer cap
has a second air inlet port extending therethrough.
5. The pressurized liner of claim 3 wherein said second inner cap
has a select third depth extending from said second inner cap end
wall and wherein said second outer cap has a fourth select depth
extending from said second outer cap end wall, and wherein said
third depth is generally the same as or greater than said fourth
depth.
6. The pressurized liner of claim 1 wherein said inner cap and said
outer cap are sealed to said central band along a common seal.
7. A pressurized liner for use in conjunction with an intermediate
bulk container comprising, a central compartment having at least
one content port, and a side compartment coupled to said central
compartment, said side compartment having an open box shaped inner
cap and an open box shaped outer cap coupled to said open box
shaped inner cap about a peripheral rim of said box shaped outer
cap, said open box shaped inner cap being moveable between a first
position generally flush against an interior surface of said box
shaped outer cap and a second position positioned within said
central compartment, said open box shaped outer cap having an air
inlet therethrough.
8. The pressurized liner of claim 7 wherein said box shaped inner
cap and said box shaped outer cap are shaped generally as
rectangular prisms.
9. The pressurized liner of claim 7 wherein said box shaped inner
cap has a select first depth and wherein said box shaped outer cap
has a second select depth, and wherein said first depth is
generally the same as or greater than said second depth.
10. The pressurized liner of claim 7 further comprising a second
side compartment coupled to said central compartment, said second
side compartment having a second open box shaped inner cap and a
second open box shaped outer cap coupled to said second open box
shaped inner cap about a second peripheral rim of said second box
shaped outer cap, said second open box shaped inner cap being
moveable between a first position generally flush against an
interior surface of said second box shaped outer cap and a second
position positioned within said central compartment.
11. The pressurized liner of claim 10 wherein said second open box
shaped outer cap has a second air inlet port extending
therethrough.
12. The pressurized liner of claim 10 wherein said second open box
shaped inner cap has a select third depth and wherein said second
open box shaped outer cap has a fourth select depth, and wherein
said third depth is generally the same as or greater than said
fourth depth.
13. The pressurized liner of claim 7 wherein said open box shaped
inner cap and said open box shaped outer cap are coupled to said
central compartment along a common seal.
14. The pressurized liner of claim 10 wherein said second open box
shaped inner cap and said second open box shaped outer cap are
coupled to said central compartment along a common seal.
15. A pressurized liner for use with an intermediate bulk container
comprising, a central portion having a top wall, a bottom wall, a
front wall, and a rear wall which in combination define two
oppositely disposed open sides along two oppositely disposed
peripheral edges which are laterally spaced from each other, said
central portion having at least one content port; a first inner end
wall coupled to said central portion about one said peripheral
edge; a first outer end wall coupled to said central portion about
said one peripheral edge; a second inner end wall coupled to said
central portion about the other said peripheral edge; a second
outer end wall coupled to said central portion about the other said
peripheral edge, and said first inner end wall and said first outer
end wall defining a first side compartment therebetween having a
first air inlet; said second inner end wall and said second outer
end wall defining a second side compartment therebetween having a
second air inlet, whereby the flow of air through the first and
second air inlets inflate the first and second side compartments so
as to squeeze the contents within the central portion through the
content port.
16. The pressurized liner of claim 15 wherein said first inner end
wall, said first outer end wall, said second inner end wall, and
said second outer end wall are all box shaped caps.
17. The pressurized liner of claim 16 wherein said first inner end
wall, said first outer end wall, said second inner end wall, and
said second outer end wall are all box shaped caps of a generally
rectangular prism shape.
18. The pressurized liner of claim 16 wherein said box shaped first
inner cap has a select first depth and wherein said box shaped
first outer cap has a second select depth, and wherein said first
depth is generally the same as or greater than said second
depth.
19. The pressurized liner of claim 18 wherein said box shaped
second inner cap has a select third depth and wherein said box
shaped second outer cap has a fourth select depth, and wherein said
third depth is generally the same as or greater than said fourth
depth.
20. The pressurized liner of claim 15 wherein said first inner end
wall and said first outer end wall are coupled to said central
portion along a common seal.
21. The pressurized liner of claim 20 wherein said second inner end
wall and said second outer end wall are coupled to said central
portion along a common seal.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to bulk material liners used in
conjunction with bulk containers, and particularly to intermediate
bulk container liners which are pressurized to enhance the
evacuation of contents.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Flexible liners are oftentimes utilized in conjunction with
an intermediate bulk container or bag to ship large quantities of
liquid, viscous or granular products. A problem long associated
with the use of such liners has been the complete or near-complete
evacuation of the contents from within the liner. As such, some
liners have utilized pressurized regions to lift or angle the
bottom of the liner in order to move the contents closer to the
outlet of the liner. While these devices have aided in the
evacuation of the liner they can still result in rather large
quantities of content remaining within the liner.
[0003] Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains for an
intermediate bulk container liner that can more efficiently
evacuate the contents. It is to the provision of such therefore
that the present invention is primarily directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A pressurized liner for use with a intermediate bulk
container comprises a tubular central band having at least one
content port and at least one open end defined by a peripheral
edge, at least one inner cap sealed to the tubular central band
open end and at least one outer cap sealed to the tubular central
band open end. The inner cap has an inner cap end wall and
peripheral inner cap side walls extending from the inner cap end
wall. The outer cap has an outer cap end wall and peripheral outer
cap side walls extending from the outer cap end wall. The outer cap
has an air inlet port extending therethrough. The inner cap and
outer cap define an expandable pressure compartment therebetween in
fluid communication with the outer cap air inlet port. With this
construction, the inflation of the expandable pressure compartment
moves the inner cap to a position within the central band.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pressurized liner
embodying principles of the invention in a preferred form.
[0006] FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the pressurized
liner of FIG. 1.
[0007] FIGS. 3-8 are a series of side views of the pressurized
liner of FIG. 1, showing the liner being pressurized.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] With reference next to the drawings, there is shown a
pressurized liner 10 embodying principles of the invention in a
preferred form. The pressurized liner 10 is configured to be used
in conjunction with an intermediate bulk container, which can be in
the form of a flexible bag, a rigid container or a semi-rigid
container.
[0009] The pressurized liner 10 includes a tubular central band or
portion 12, two oppositely disposed inner caps 13, and two
oppositely disposed outer caps 14. The central band 12 has two
oppositely disposed peripheral edges 16 which are laterally spaced
from each other and which are sealed to an inner cap peripheral
edge 17 and an outer cap peripheral edge 18 so as to define two
vertically oriented, circumferential, peripheral seals 19. All
peripheral edges 16, 17 and 18 may also be termed peripheral
rims.
[0010] Each inner cap 13 has an end wall 20 and four peripheral
side walls 21 extending generally normal to and laterally from the
end wall 20 so as to define a generally open box shape
configuration, the opening of such facing the central band 12. The
open box shape can be described generally as a rectangular prism,
although it should be understood that due to the bellowing of
flexible plastic materials the walls of the rectangular prism are
not perfectly straight and some bowing or bellowing occurs. The
side wall 21 which forms a bottom side wall 21' may be considered
to be a bottom. Similarly, each outer cap 14 has an end wall 22 and
four peripheral side walls 23 extending generally normal to and
laterally from the end wall 22 so as to define a generally open box
shaped configuration, the opening of such facing the central band
12. Again, the side wall 23 which forms a bottom side wall 23' may
be considered to be a bottom. The central band 12 and the inner
caps 13 are preferably of a two or three ply construction while the
outer caps 14 are of a single ply construction. The central band 12
and caps 13 and 14 may be made of a plastic sheet or film material
such as a polyethylene film.
[0011] The central band 12 and inner caps 13 define a middle or
central compartment 33 which has a content inlet port or fitment 34
sealed to and extending through the top wall 35 of the central band
and a content outlet port or fitment 36 sealed to and extending
through a front wall 37 of the central band. Each adjoining or
adjacent pair of inner caps 13 and outer caps 14 define inflatable
side compartments 39 coupled to opposite sides of the central
compartment 33. Each inflatable side compartment 39 has a
pressurized air port or fitment 40 to allow the passage of
pressurized air therethrough to inflate and deflate the side
compartment 39.
[0012] The inner caps 13 have a substantially similar three
dimensional lateral depth d1 extending between their respective
peripheral edges 17 and their end walls 20. Similarly, the outer
caps 14 have a substantially similar or slightly smaller three
dimensional lateral depth d2 to that of d1 between their respective
peripheral edges 18 and their end walls 22 to insure that the inner
caps contact the outer caps when in an extended configuration. As
such, each inner cap 13 depth d1 is selected so as to nest flush
within and generally against the adjacent outer cap 14 when the
central compartment 33 is filled with contents (filled
configuration), as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The inner cap 13
selected depth d1 is also selected so that the inner caps 13
generally contact each other when the side compartments 39 are
inflated and the central compartment is substantially emptied or
evacuated of content (emptied configuration), as shown in FIG. 8.
In other words, the inner cap selected depth d1 substantially
equals or is greater the outer cap selected depth d2 so that they
are flush with each other.
[0013] In use, with the inner caps extending outwardly against the
outer caps, the contents to be stored within the liner, such as a
liquid, powder, granules, etc., flow into the central compartment
33 through the content inlet port 34. As the content fills the
central compartment 33 the inner caps 13 are forced to move
outwardly or are maintained outwardly against the outer caps 14, as
shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, until the central compartment 33 is full.
The inlet port 34 is then sealed or closed and the liner and
container combination may be transported.
[0014] When it is desired to empty or evacuate the contents from
the liner 10 the content outlet port 36 is opened so that the
contents may flow through the outlet port 36 to ambience. An air
pressure source is also coupled to the air ports 40 of the side
compartments 39 so that pressurized air flows into and thereby
inflates the side compartments 39 during the evacuation process.
Initially, the pressurized air inflates only the topmost portion of
the side compartments, as shown in FIG. 4. With continued
evacuation of the contents and additional airflow into the side
compartments 39, the side compartments become inflated to a greater
degree and thereby extend inwardly towards and into contact with
each other, as shown sequentially in FIGS. 5 and 6. As the contents
within the central compartment 33 are evacuated to a very low level
and with continued air pressurization of the side compartments, the
end walls 31 of the inner caps are pulled completely away from the
end walls 32 of the outer caps and they commence to roll upon the
underlying bottom side wall or bottom 21' of the inner cap, as
shown in FIG. 7. Finally, the air pressure within the side
compartments force the inner caps inwardly so that are fully
extended thereby pushing and squeezing a substantial portion of any
remaining contents from the central compartment through the content
outlet port 36. As such, it should be understood that the inner
caps commence in a fully outwardly extended position (filled
configuration) extending outwardly from the central band 12 and
against the outer caps and are then inverted to a fully inwardly
extended position (emptied configuration) fully within the central
band 12 and against each other. The rolling of the inner cap
against its own bottom side wall 21' aids in pushing the vast
majority of any remaining content material towards and through the
outlet port 36.
[0015] It should be understood that the three dimensional
configuration of the inner cap, as opposed to the prior art
pressure chambers formed by merely sealing the peripheral edges of
flat sheets together (a pillow type liner), provides for a great
amount of pushing ability or characteristics upon the contents,
especially in the lower portion of the central compartment 33
adjacent the bottom of the central compartment with the rolled
action of the inner cap adjacent the bottom side wall 21'. This
enhancement provides for a greater degree of content movement or
evacuation through the content outlet port 36.
[0016] It should be understood that should the pressurized liner
include only one set of inner and outer caps the opposite end of
the tubular central band is closed in conventional fashion with an
end wall, i.e., the pressurized liner has only one side
compartment. Lastly, it should be understood that as an option the
liner may include only one port which acts as both the content
inlet port and the content outlet port.
[0017] It thus is seen that a pressurized liner is now provided
which overcomes problems associated with pressurized liners of the
prior art. While this invention has been described in detail with
particular references to the preferred embodiments thereof, it
should be understood that many modifications, additions and
deletions, in addition to those expressly recited, may be made
thereto without departure from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *