bung seal

Abstract

The invention relates to a bung seal (10) for a bunged container, the bung seal (10) having a bung (11) for being arranged in a bung socket of a bunged container, the bung (11) having a bung recess (16) for insertion of a mating tool, the bung recess (16) having a recess bottom (15) provided with at least one vent opening (23), and the bung (11) being provided with a vent bung (12) which is arranged in the bung recess (16) and whose threaded stud (13) is accommodated in an internal thread (39) of a receiving hole (14) formed in the recess bottom (15) and which has a cover disc (29) provided with a handling unit (35) and connected to the threaded stud (13) for sealing the vent opening (23) in a closed position of the vent bung (12).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a plug seal for a stoppered container, the plug seal having a plug for being disposed in a plug socket of the stoppered container, the plug having a plug recess for inserting a mating tool. Background Technology

[0002] The aforementioned type of plug seal is used both in plugged containers formed as drums and in plugged containers formed as inner containers for intermediate bulk containers (IBCs). Depending on the nature of the liquid contained in the plugged container, the plug has a closed recessed bottom or a recessed bottom with a gas exchange mechanism, which allows for ventilation and venting of the container interior to utilize the surrounding area of ​​the container for pressure compensation, if necessary.

[0003] Regardless of the specific embodiment of the recessed bottom of the plug socket, the plug is removed from the filling opening, which is usually located on the upper surface of the container, to empty the plugged container so as to allow sufficient ventilation inside the container, for removing the liquid contained in the container by means of a removal unit, which is usually formed on the side of the container.

[0004] In practice, a fitting tool inserted into the recess of the plug hole is used to unscrew the plug hole plug, which is connected to the plug hole socket by a threaded connection, from the plug hole socket, so that the entire opening cross-section of the plug hole socket can be used for ventilation of the container interior.

[0005] In addition to the fact that performing known ventilation measures requires the use of appropriate tools (which must be kept in reserve accordingly), the mating threads of the plug socket and plug, as well as the seal inserted between them, will wear down, especially with repeated removal of partial amounts of liquid contained in the plugged container. Furthermore, due to the large open cross-section of the plug socket, there is a risk of foreign matter entering the container. Complete removal of the plug from the plug socket also requires proper handling of the plug during liquid removal from the plugged container so that it can be screwed back into the plug socket after liquid removal.

[0006] These preceding explanations illustrate that the practice of ventilating plugged containers during liquid removal, as used to date, requires considerable effort and appropriate care when performing container ventilation. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a plug seal that significantly facilitates the ventilation necessary for removing liquid from a plugged container.

[0008] This objective is achieved by the plug seal according to the invention.

[0009] The plug seal according to the invention has a recessed bottom with at least one ventilation opening, and a plug hole is provided with a ventilation plug disposed in the plug recess and having a threaded bolt received in the internal thread of a receiving hole formed in the recessed bottom, and has a cover plate provided with an operating unit and connected to the threaded bolt for sealing the ventilation opening in the closed position of the ventilation plug.

[0010] The vent plug formed in the plug according to the invention allows ventilation of the inner container without the need for a fitting tool to remove the plug plug from the plug socket. Instead, to ventilate the interior of the plugged container, it is sufficient to unscrew the vent plug from the receiving hole to such an extent that, in the closed position of the vent plug, the cover plate covering the ventilation opening formed in the bottom of the recess is lifted away from the bottom of the recess. In this case, air can enter the interior of the container through the ventilation gap formed between the circumferential edge of the cover plate and the inner wall of the plug recess, or through an opening formed in the cover plate that does not overlap with the ventilation opening formed in the bottom of the recess.

[0011] The actuation unit formed on the cover plate allows for the actuation of the vent plug, meaning that neither tools are needed to unscrew the threaded bolt of the vent plug from the receiving hole formed in the bottom of the recess nor to screw the vent plug into the receiving hole. As described above, since simply lifting the cover plate from the bottom of the recess is sufficient to allow ventilation inside the container, the vent plug remains securely connected to the plug hole plug even in its ventilated position.

[0012] Preferably, the threaded bolt has a spring member for support on the wall surface of the receiving hole, or the receiving hole has a spring member for support on the wall surface of the threaded bolt, such that the preload is effective between the threaded bolt and the receiving hole.

[0013] Due to the spring member formed on the threaded bolt of the vent plug or the receiving hole in the recessed bottom, the defined axial positioning of the vent plug in the recessed bottom can be achieved by means of the frictional engagement formed between the threaded bolt and the receiving hole by the spring member, without the need to establish sufficient self-locking in the threaded engagement. Therefore, the threads of the threaded bolt or the internal threads of the receiving hole can be formed very steeply to move the vent plug from its closed position to its maximum open position, in which the maximum distance is formed between the recessed bottom and the cover plate with minimal rotation. Furthermore, the axial positioning between the threads of the threaded bolt and the internal threads of the receiving hole is frictionally locked due to the spring member, preventing the operator-selected open position of the vent plug from being affected by external influences such as container vibrations, which could cause the vent plug to move to its closed position due to gravity. Just as the open position of the vent plug is defined, the closed position of the vent plug is also defined by the frictional engagement caused by the spring member.

[0014] In an advantageous embodiment, the spring member is formed on the wall surface of the threaded bolt or receiving hole, the wall surface being formed by the threaded surface, such that the spring member can be designed to be integrated into the threaded bolt or receiving hole.

[0015] If a spring member has at least one spring tab formed on a threaded bolt and has a tab head that radially protrudes from the threaded bolt's threaded core, then the spring member can be manufactured together with the threaded bolt in a joint manufacturing step.

[0016] If the spring component has multiple spring tabs with their heads positioned in a common horizontal plane of the threaded bolt, radial frictional engagement support of the threaded bolt in the receiving hole can be achieved, the support being distributed on the circumference of the threaded bolt.

[0017] Preferably, the spring tab is located at the lower end of the threaded bolt, so that the threaded engagement between the bolt thread and the internal thread of the receiving hole is not affected.

[0018] Considering the ideal short embodiment of the threaded bolt or receiving hole, it is particularly advantageous if the spring member is formed on the threaded portion of the threaded bolt or the threaded portion of the internal thread of the receiving hole. Therefore, the spring member forms a threaded component, thus having a dual function.

[0019] Particularly preferably, the spring member has at least one spring tab formed on a threaded portion, the spring tab having a radial threaded protrusion formed on the threaded portion, such that a threaded core is used to form the elastic tab portion, and the thread itself is used to form a tab head that protrudes radially from the threaded core.

[0020] What is particularly advantageous is that this creates a continuous transition between the tab head and the adjacent threaded portion, so that the tab head has as little impact on the thread function as possible.

[0021] Preferably, the cover plate has a locking member that interacts with a reverse locking member disposed in the plug recess, such that the axial relative movement of the cover plate in the plug recess is restricted on one side by the bottom of the recess and on the other side by the reverse locking member, such that the maximum open position of the vent plug is defined by the reverse locking member.

[0022] Preferably, the reverse locking member has a reverse locking element disposed on the inner wall of the plug recess and formed to interlock with an annular locking protrusion formed on the engaging member of the sealing cap inserted into the plug recess.

[0023] This embodiment allows a reverse locking element to also be used to limit the maximum open position of the vent plug. This reverse locking element can be formed in any way on the inner wall of the plug recess to interlock with the sealing cap, which makes access to the plug recess interference-free.

[0024] In a particular embodiment of the plug seal, the plug has a gas exchange mechanism formed on the bottom of the recess for venting and exhausting the interior of the plugged container, and a threaded bolt disposed in the receiving hole has a channel hole that serves as a gas exchange hole for forming a gas exchange opening, such that the vent plug forms an integral part of the gas exchange mechanism. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] Figure 1 This is an isometric view of a plug seal, wherein a vent plug is disposed within the plug seal;

[0027] Figure 2 It is based on Figure 1 The vent plug seal shown is cut along line II-II, with the vent plug positioned in the closed position;

[0028] Figure 3 It shows Figure 2 The shown plug seal has a vent plug positioned in the open position.

[0029] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 The bottom view of the plug shown;

[0030] Figure 5 It corresponds to Figure 2 The illustration shows an additional embodiment of the plug seal, wherein the vent plug is positioned in the closed position;

[0031] Figure 6 yes Figures 1 to 3 A cross-sectional view of the vent plug of an embodiment of the plug-hole seal shown;

[0032] Figure 7 yes Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the vent plug of an embodiment of the plug-hole seal shown;

[0033] Figure 8 It corresponds to Figure 2 The illustration shows an additional embodiment of a plug seal with a vent plug in the closed position;

[0034] Figure 9 It shows Figure 8 The shown plug seal has a vent plug positioned in the open position.

[0035] Figure 10 It corresponds to Figure 2The illustration shows an additional embodiment of a plug seal with a vent plug in the closed position;

[0036] Figure 11 yes Figure 8 A separate illustration of the ventilation plug;

[0037] Figure 12 yes Figure 10 A separate illustration of the ventilation plug is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0038] Figure 1 The first embodiment shows a plug seal 10, which has a vent plug 12 disposed in a plug plug 11, and a threaded bolt 13 of the vent plug 12 is inserted into a receiving hole 14, particularly as shown in the figure. Figure 2 As shown, the receiving hole 14 is located in the bottom 15 of the recess 16 formed in the plug hole 11.

[0039] On its circumferential wall 17, the plug 11 is provided with a plug thread 18, by means of which the plug 11 can be screwed into a plug socket (not shown further), which is provided on a plugged container, specifically a plugged barrel. Alternatively, the plug 11 can be screwed into a plug socket formed in a screw cap, which is used to seal the filling opening on an intermediate bulk container (IBC), the filling opening being enlarged compared to the plug socket.

[0040] A plug recess 16 formed in the plug 11 is used for inserting a tool, through which the plug 11 can be screwed into or out of the corresponding plug recess. A wall recess 20 is formed in the inner wall 19 of the plug recess 16 for engaging the tool, such that an actuator (not shown) formed on the tool can engage in the wall recess 20 to transmit torque between the actuator and the stop surface 21 of the stop 22 formed by the wall recess 20 in the inner wall 19.

[0041] like Figure 2 As further shown, in addition to the receiving hole 14, the recessed bottom 15 is also provided with a ventilation opening 23, in this case (also as Figure 4 As shown in the diagram, the ventilation opening 23 has four opening segments 24, which are formed by cylindrical edge webs 25 formed on the recessed bottom 15. The cylindrical edge webs 25 are connected to the sleeve-shaped hub 27 of the recessed bottom 15 via radially connecting webs 26 arranged in a spoke-like manner. The hub 27 forms a receiving hole 14, which is provided with an internal thread 39 for threaded engagement with the external thread 28 of the threaded bolt 13 formed on the ventilation plug 12.

[0042] Especially Figure 6As shown, the vent plug 12 has a cover plate 29, which is connected to a threaded bolt 13 and is used for... Figure 2 The vent plug 12 shown is closed in a position to seal the vent opening 23. In the closed position, the cover plate 29 rests against the recessed bottom 15, and the seal 32 is disposed in a circumferential groove 31 formed on the lower surface of the cover plate 29 to seal the space between the opening edge 30 of the vent opening 23 and the cover plate 29.

[0043] The cover plate 29 has a circumferential edge, which forms a locking member 33, and (as compared) Figure 2 and Figure 3 As it becomes clear, where the vent plug 12 is shown in the open position, the maximum open position of the vent plug 12 is defined by the locking member 33 abutting against the reverse locking element 34 in the region of the wall recess 20 provided on the inner wall 19 of the plug recess 16. Because the reverse locking element 34 limits the maximum open position of the vent plug 12, where the threaded bolt 13 of the vent plug 12 still engages with the internal thread of the receiving hole 14, the vent plug 12 is clearly defined in its maximum open position and is constrainedly connected to the plug hole plug 11.

[0044] During the fitting of the ventilation plug 12 into the plug recess 16 of the plug hole plug 11, the threaded bolt 13 is screwed into the receiving hole 14, and the reverse locking element 34 formed on the inner wall 19 of the plug recess 16 is overtaken due to the elastic deformation of the locking member 33 during the screwing of the threaded bolt 13.

[0045] In order to perform the fitting process and in order to remove the ventilation plug 12 from Figure 2 The indicated closing position is shifted to Figure 3 In the open position shown, the cover 29 has an operating unit 35 disposed on its upper surface. In this case, the operating unit has two gripping plates 37, specifically as shown in the figure. Figure 1 As shown, the two gripping webs 37 are arranged opposite to each other and separated from each other by a gap 36. The gap 36 formed between the gripping webs 37 can be used for tool engagement, i.e., in particular the use of screwdrivers, and especially facilitates the installation of the vent plug 12 in the plug recess 16.

[0046] exist Figures 1 to 3 In the embodiment of the plug seal 10 shown, the plug seal 10 is provided with a gas exchange mechanism 38, which is independent of the vent plug 12. Figure 2 The closed position shown is or Figure 3 The function or arrangement of its open position is shown, and it is used for continuous ventilation and exhaust of the interior of the plugged container sealed by the plug 11.

[0047] To form the gas exchange mechanism 38, a hub 27 formed on the recessed bottom 15 and having a receiving hole 14 is provided with a gas exchange module 40 at its lower end. The gas exchange module 40 has a membrane filter element 41 inserted into the lower end of the hub 27 and a splash guard 42 covering the lower end of the hub 27. Furthermore, the threaded bolt 13 of the vent plug 12 and the cover plate 29 of the vent plug 12 are provided with continuous gas exchange holes 43, making continuous gas exchange possible through the gas exchange holes 43 and the gas exchange module 40 regardless of the position of the vent plug 12.

[0048] In another embodiment, Figure 5 A plug seal 50 is shown, which has the same plug 11 as the plug seal 10, and unlike the plug seal 10, it has a vent plug 51 disposed in the plug recess 16, and particularly as shown in the diagram. Figure 7 As shown, it does not have a continuous gas exchange hole 43, but only a blind hole 53, which is formed in the threaded bolt 52 and has a hole bottom 54 formed by the cover plate.

[0049] In respectively Figure 6 and 7 A direct comparison of the ventilation plugs 12 and 51 shown indicates that the only difference between the embodiments of ventilation plugs 12 and 51 is that ventilation plug 12 is provided with a gas exchange hole 43 continuously formed therein, while ventilation plug 51 only has a blind hole 53 in the threaded bolt 52. Accordingly, due to the gas exchange hole 43 and the blind hole 53, threaded bolts 13 and 51 are respectively formed with threaded sleeves 44, which in the illustrated embodiment have a spring member 55 formed at the lower end of threaded bolt 13 or 52.

[0050] In each case, a spring member 55 is formed on the wall surface of the threaded bolts 13, 52, the wall surface being formed by a threaded surface 56. The spring member 55 has four spring tabs 57, which are uniformly distributed around the circumference of the threaded bolts 13, 52 in this case. Each spring tab 57 is formed from a section of a threaded sleeve 44 and protrudes radially from the threaded core 58 of the threaded bolts 13, 52. Each radial protrusion r is formed by a tab head 59, which is formed at the distal end of the spring tab 57 in this case. The spring tabs 57 formed by the sections are separated from each other by a gap 60, allowing the spring tabs 57 to move radially independently.

[0051] like Figure 2 , 3As shown in Figure 5, due to the protrusion r of the tab head 59 formed on the threaded core 58, at least one of the tab heads 59 disposed in the common horizontal plane applies an elastic preload force F to the threaded portions 61 and 62, regardless of the relative position of the ventilation plug 12 or 51 in the receiving hole 14, such that the ventilation plugs 12, 51 are secured in any axial position in the receiving hole 14 due to the radial preload force, regardless of the frictional force formed between the external threads 28 of the threaded bolts 13, 52 and the internal threads 39 of the receiving hole 14. Therefore, the threaded engagement between the external threads 28 of the threaded bolts 13, 52 and the internal threads 39 of the receiving hole 14 can be designed to establish the threaded engagement as smoothly as possible.

[0052] Due to the advantageous action of the spring member 55, the self-locking effect in the threaded engagement between the external thread 28 of the threaded bolts 13 and 52 and the internal thread 39 of the receiving hole 14 is not necessary for securing the vent plugs 12 and 51 in the axial position of the receiving hole 14. The engagement surface between the external thread 28 and the internal thread 27 can be minimized, that is, the external thread 28 and the internal thread 39 are formed as steep as possible with correspondingly short threads, so that the vent plug can be switched from its open position to its closed position with minimal turns, and vice versa.

[0053] The spring member 55 also prevents the function of the vent plugs 12, 51 from being impaired, even in the case of a large amount of clearance in the threaded connection. This is particularly advantageous when the plugged container with the plug seals 10, 50 is subjected to large temperature fluctuations, which may cause the vent plugs 11, 51 to become stuck in the receiving hole 14 in the case of insufficient clearance in the threaded connection.

[0054] Ventilation plugs 63 and 64 in Figure 11 and 12 As shown in a further embodiment, the ventilation plug 63 functionally corresponds to Figure 6 The ventilation plug 12 is shown, and the ventilation plug 64 functionally corresponds to Figure 7 The ventilation plug 51 shown.

[0055] like Figure 8 and 9As shown, a plug seal 73 is illustrated, a vent plug 63 is used to engage with the plug 11, and according to the vent plug 12, a threaded bolt 65 is provided, which is formed as a threaded sleeve 44 and has continuous gas exchange holes 43. Furthermore, according to the vent plug 12, the vent plug 63 is provided with a cover plate 29, which has a circumferential groove 31 on its lower surface for receiving a seal 32. In addition to the circumferential groove 31, an additional circumferential groove 66 is provided near the upper end of the threaded bolt 65 on the lower surface of the cover plate 29, which is used to receive an additional seal 67, which in this case is formed as an O-ring, such as... Figure 8 and 9 As shown. (e.g., by means of...) Figure 8 Understandably, the function of the additional seal 67 is to allow a seal between the receiving hole 14 and the ventilation opening 23, which is composed of the opening segment 24, particularly as Figure 4 As shown.

[0056] A spring member 68 having four spring tabs 69 evenly distributed on the circumference of a threaded bolt 65 is disposed on a ventilation plug 63 at the lower end of a threaded bolt 67. Each spring tab 69 is formed from a section of the threaded bolt 65, which is formed as a threaded sleeve 44. Unlike the spring tab 57 of the ventilation plug 12, the spring tabs 69 have radial threaded protrusions 71 formed on the lower threaded portion 70. Unlike the tab head 59 of the spring member 55 of the ventilation plug 12, which is disposed in a horizontal plane, the radial threaded protrusions 71 extend spirally along the path of the threaded portion 70.

[0057] from Figures 8 to 10 As can be seen, the radially acting elastic preload F is applied by the radial threaded protrusion 71 formed in the threaded engagement between the threaded bolt 65 and the receiving hole 14, such that the vent plug 63 is secured in any axial position in the receiving hole 14 in the lower threaded portion 70 due to the radial preload F, regardless of the frictional force formed between the upper threaded portion 71 of the external thread 28 of the threaded bolt 65 and the internal thread 39 of the receiving hole 14.

[0058] In respectively Figure 11 and 12 A direct comparison of the ventilation plugs 63 and 64 shown in the figure reveals that the only difference between the embodiments of ventilation plugs 63 and 64 is that ventilation plug 63 is provided with gas exchange holes 43 continuously formed therein, while ventilation plug 64 only has blind holes 53 in the threaded bolt 75. Therefore, as Figure 10 As shown, it is used to form a plug seal 74 by combining with a plug 11 that does not have a gas exchange mechanism 38.

Claims

1. A plug seal (10, 50, 73, 74) for a plug container, the plug seal having a plug (11) disposed in a plug socket of the plug container, the plug (11) having a plug recess (16) for inserting a mating tool. Its features are, The plug recess (16) has a recessed bottom (15) with at least one ventilation opening (23), and the plug hole plug (11) is provided with a ventilation plug (12, 51, 63, 64), the ventilation plug is disposed in the plug recess (16) and has a threaded bolt (13, 52, 65, 75) received in the internal thread (39) of the receiving hole (14) formed in the recessed bottom (15), and has a cover plate (29) provided with an operating unit (35) and connected to the threaded bolt (13, 52, 65, 75) for sealing the ventilation opening (23) in the closed position of the ventilation plug (12, 51, 63, 64), the receiving hole (14) being formed independently of the ventilation opening (23).

2. The plug seal according to claim 1, Its features are, The threaded bolts (13, 52, 65, 75) have spring members (55, 68) supported against the wall surface of the receiving hole (14), or the receiving hole (14) has spring members supported against the wall surface of the threaded bolts (13, 52, 65, 75), such that the preload force F is effective between the threaded bolts (13, 52, 65, 75) and the receiving hole (14).

3. The plug seal according to claim 2, Its features are, Spring members (55, 68) are formed on the wall surface of threaded bolts (13, 52, 65, 75) or on the wall surface of receiving hole (14), the wall surface being formed by threaded surface (56).

4. The plug seal according to claim 3, Its features are, The spring member (55) has at least one spring tab formed on the threaded bolt (13, 52) and has a tab head (59) of a threaded core (58) that radially protrudes from the threaded bolt (13, 52).

5. The plug seal according to claim 4, Its features are, The spring member (55) has multiple spring tabs, the tab heads (59) of which are disposed in the common horizontal plane of the threaded bolts (13, 52).

6. The plug seal according to claim 5, Its features are, The spring tab is located on the lower end of the threaded bolt (13, 52).

7. The plug seal according to claim 3, Its features are, The spring member (68) is formed on the threaded portion (70) of the threaded bolt (65) or the threaded portion (70) of the internal thread (39) of the receiving hole (14).

8. The plug seal according to claim 7, Its features are, The spring member (68) has at least one spring tab formed on the threaded portion (70), the spring tab having a radial threaded protrusion (71) formed on the threaded portion.

9. The plug seal according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, The cover plate (29) has a locking member (33) that interacts with a reverse locking member disposed in the plug recess (16) such that the axial relative movement of the cover plate (29) in the plug recess (16) is restricted on one side by the bottom of the recess (15) and on the other side by the reverse locking member.

10. The plug seal according to claim 9, Its features are, The reverse locking member has a reverse locking element (34) disposed on the inner wall (19) of the plug recess (16) and formed to interlock with an annular locking protrusion formed on the engaging member of the sealing cap inserted into the plug recess (16).

11. The plug seal according to claim 1, Its features are, The plug (11) has a gas exchange mechanism (38) formed on the bottom of the recess (15) for venting and exhausting the contents of the plugged container. The gas exchange mechanism (38) has a gas exchange opening provided in the bottom of the recess (15). The threaded bolts (13, 65) provided in the receiving hole (14) have a channel hole, which serves as a gas exchange hole (43) for forming the gas exchange opening.

Images