Sauglances

Abstract

Suction lance for extracting a liquid medium from a container (2) comprising a first suction lance section (3) which, when the suction lance (1) is mounted on the container (2), is arranged inside the container (2) and a second suction lance section (4) which, when the suction lance (1) is mounted on the container (2), is arranged outside the container (2), wherein the first suction lance section (3) has a tube (5) made of a dimensionally rigid material, at the free end of which a float switch (6) is provided, wherein a suction line (7) extends laterally out of the tube (5), which is formed at least partially by a hose (8) made of a semi-rigid material, wherein a suction body (9) with a suction opening (9.1) is arranged at the free end of the suction line (7), wherein the suction body (9) is designed to sink to the bottom of the container (2).1) of the container (2) filled with the liquid medium and wherein the suction line (7) has a length such that when the first suction lance section (3) is inserted into the container (2) such that the float switch (6) is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the container bottom (2.1), the suction body (9) can sink down to the container bottom (2.1).

Description

[0001] The innovation concerns a suction lance for extracting liquid media from a container, in particular an IBC container.

[0002] Suction lances for extracting liquid media from containers are already known.

[0003] These have a section extending into the container from the top, where the liquid medium is drawn in.

[0004] A problem with known devices is that they often result in insufficient emptying of the container, especially if the container is deformed or tilted.

[0005] Based on this, the task of the innovation is to provide a suction lance that enables improved emptying of the container.

[0006] The problem is solved by a device according to the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0007] The invention relates to a suction lance for extracting a liquid medium from a container. The suction lance comprises a first suction lance section designed for insertion into the container. Preferably, the suction lance is designed to be inserted into the top of the container and attached to it. In other words, when the suction lance is mounted, the first suction lance section is located inside the container. The suction lance further comprises a second suction lance section, which is located outside the container when the first suction lance section is inserted. The first suction lance section has a tube made of a rigid material. A float switch is provided at the free end of the tube. A suction line extends laterally from the tube, which is formed, at least in part, by a hose made of a semi-rigid material.A suction element with a suction opening is arranged at the free end of the suction line. The suction element is designed to sink to the bottom of the container filled with the liquid medium; that is, it has a density greater than the density of the liquid to be drawn from the container by the suction lance. The suction line is long enough that, when the first section of the suction lance is inserted into the container and the float switch is positioned in close proximity to the bottom, the suction element can sink to the bottom of the container.

[0008] The main advantage of the new suction lance is that, on the one hand, the float switch can be placed very close to the bottom and thus clearly indicate the empty state of the container, and on the other hand, the suction takes place via a suction body spatially separated from the float switch, which rests on the bottom of the container, so that a complete or substantially complete emptying of the container is made possible via this suction body.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the suction line has a length such that, with the float switch positioned centrally or substantially centrally in the container, the suction element is located in the container's edge region. This ensures that even if the installation surface is not perfectly horizontal, the container can be emptied effectively, as the suction element can be placed in the edge region where the highest liquid level occurs due to the container's incline.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the suction body has a contact section that is designed to face the bottom of the container. The suction opening is provided on this contact section. This ensures that the fluid is drawn in very close to the bottom.

[0011] According to one embodiment, at least one spacer is provided on the system section, which creates a distance between the suction opening and the bottom of the container. The spacers ensure that the fluid to be suctioned can flow under the suction body, thus guaranteeing fluid flow to the suction opening.

[0012] According to one embodiment, a check valve is provided in the suction line. This prevents the suction line from draining, which would lead to air inclusions in the suction line and thus to insufficient pumpability of the liquid.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the check valve is integrated into the suction body or arranged directly adjacent to it. This minimizes the distance between the check valve and the suction opening, thus reducing the risk of air entrapment in the suction line.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the check valve is designed to prevent fluid from flowing back from the suction line towards the suction body. This prevents the suction line from running dry, which would lead to air entrapment that is detrimental to the pumping of the liquid medium.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the suction line hose is inserted into the pipe of the first suction lance section via an inlet opening and / or a branch and extends within this pipe into the second suction lance section. This ensures that the interior of the pipe of the first suction lance section 3 itself does not come into contact with the pumped liquid, which offers advantages for the design of the float switch, the electrical wiring connected to the float switch, and the mounting of the suction lance.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the tube of the first suction lance section is sealed fluid-tight. This ensures that, despite the tube being immersed in the liquid medium in the container, the liquid medium cannot penetrate the interior of the tube, which offers advantages for the requirements of the suction lance components, in particular the float switch and the associated electrical wiring.

[0017] According to one embodiment, an electrical conductor connected to the float switch runs inside the tube of the first suction lance section. The tube thus serves as a protective sheath for the electrical conductor.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the float switch has a float that is slidably guided on a guide section of the float switch. When the first suction lance section is inserted into the container, the free end of the guide section is designed to rest against the bottom of the container. This allows the suction lance to be placed directly on the bottom, enabling the float switch to be positioned very close to the bottom in a reproducible manner.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the float switch is fluid-tightly connected to the tube of the first suction lance section. This can be achieved using a sealing element or by bonding. Preferably, this protects the cable entry of the electrical conductor, which determines the switching position of the float switch, from liquids, thus ensuring a long service life for the suction lance.

[0020] According to one embodiment, a cap is provided which can be placed, in particular screwed on, onto the opening edge of the container, wherein the screw cap is axially displaceable on the second suction lance section. This ensures that even with height tolerances of the container or deformations, the suction lance can be positioned on the container bottom and mounted to the container using the cap.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the second suction lance section comprises a distributor head with multiple fluid connections. These fluid connections are in fluid communication with the suction line. This allows the suction lance to supply multiple outlets with the liquid contained in the tank. Preferably, the suction lance itself does not have a pumping device; instead, the pumping device is integrated into the fluid connection between the distributor head and the outlet.

[0022] According to one embodiment, a vent valve is provided on the distributor head, which allows air to be supplied into the interior of the container via a vent channel provided in the distributor head. This ensures that no vacuum or negative pressure forms in the container when the liquid is pumped out.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the vent valve allows gas to flow in a first direction and blocks gas flow in the opposite direction. This ensures that air from the environment can flow into the container, but prevents gases from escaping.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the first and second suction lance sections are rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the suction lance relative to the cap when the lance is mounted. This allows the suction line to be positioned within the container by twisting the first and second suction lance sections, thus placing it in a section near the container edge where the fill level is highest, for example, due to the container being tilted.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the float switch is designed to provide not only an empty signal but also a pre-empty signal, with the pre-empty signal indicating a low residual fill level in the container. This allows operating personnel to be informed that a container change or refilling will soon be necessary even before the container is completely empty.

[0026] The term “semi-rigid material” as used in this disclosure means any material which lies between the limits of “dimensionally stable” and “flexible”, i.e., is not completely rigid but also not soft.

[0027] The terms “approximately”, “essentially” or “about” mean, within the meaning of the invention, deviations from the respective exact value by + / - 10%, preferably by + / - 5% and / or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant for the function.

[0028] Further developments, advantages, and application possibilities of the innovation also arise from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. All described and / or illustrated features, individually or in any combination, are fundamentally the subject of the innovation, irrespective of their inclusion in the claims or their cross-reference. The content of the claims is also incorporated into the description.

[0029] The innovation is explained in more detail below using figures illustrating exemplary implementations. These figures show: Fig. 1. An exemplary and schematic representation of a suction lance inserted into a container; and Fig. 2. Example of a suction lance in a longitudinal section view.

[0030] Fig. 1 and Fig. Figures 2 each show a suction lance 1. The suction lance 1 is designed to extract a liquid medium from a container 2. The container 2 can, in particular, be an IBC container. The liquid medium can, in particular, be a liquid chemical used in a wastewater treatment process. Examples of such chemicals are: - Agents for nutrient elimination, for example agents for precipitating phosphates such as iron(III) chloride or agents to support biological nitrogen removal such as methanol, acetic acid or glycerol; - Chemical cleaning and sludge treatment agents such as coagulants, flocculants, sludge conditioning agents or heavy metal precipitating agents; - Oxidation and disinfection agents; - Defoamers, deposit inhibitors, etc.

[0031] The suction lance 1 has a first suction lance section 3 and a second suction lance section 4. The first suction lance section 3 is designed to be inserted into the interior of the container 2 through an opening provided on the top of the container 2. This first suction lance section 3 is thus immersed, at least partially, in the liquid medium contained in the container 2. When the suction lance 1 is mounted on the container 2, the second suction lance section 4 is located outside the interior of the container and projects from the top of the container 2.

[0032] The first suction lance section 3 comprises a tube 5 which, when the suction lance 1 is mounted, is oriented vertically or substantially vertically and extends from the container opening 2.2 towards the container bottom 2.1. The tube 5 is made of a dimensionally stable material. Preferably, the tube 5 is formed from several tube sections which are fluid-tightly connected to one another via a detachable coupling point. The coupling point can, for example, be formed by a sealed screw connection.

[0033] A float switch 6 is provided at the free end of the tube 5. The float switch 6 is designed to provide information about the fill level in the container 2, in particular information indicating that the container 2 is completely or substantially completely empty. The float switch 6 has a connecting section by means of which it is connected to the free end of the tube 5. The connection between the float switch 6 and the free end of the tube 5 is preferably fluid-tight, so that no liquid can penetrate into the interior of the tube 5. The fluid-tight connection can be achieved, for example, by means of a sealing element or by bonding.

[0034] The float switch 6 has a float 6.1 which is guided, for example, by sliding along a guide section 6.2. The free end 6.2.1 of the guide section 6.2, which is located away from the pipe 5, is designed to rest directly against the bottom of the container 2.1. This free end 6.2.1 has, for example, a larger diameter than the guide section 6.2, so that the free end 6.2.1 simultaneously forms a contact section for the float 6.1 when the fill level of the medium in the container 2 has dropped so low that the float 6.1 no longer experiences buoyancy.

[0035] An electrical conductor is provided inside the tube 5, which is connected to the float switch 6 and leads to the outside at the second suction lance section 4. This allows the switch position of the float switch 6 to be detected and processed outside the container 2, in particular by issuing a visual and / or audible warning when the fill level in the container 2 has fallen below a threshold.

[0036] When the float 6.1 rests on the free end 6.2.1 of the guide section 6.2, the float switch 6 reaches a switching position that provides an empty signal to the electrical line. Preferably, the float switch 6 is configured to provide a pre-empty signal, particularly when the float 6 has reached an intermediate position between its upper and lower end positions on the guide section 6.2. This pre-empty signal indicates, in particular, that the container 2 is almost completely empty. This pre-empty signal can be used, for example, to issue a visual and / or audible warning to indicate to operating personnel that the container 2 is almost completely empty.

[0037] A suction line 7 extends laterally from the pipe 5. The suction line 7 is designed to form a fluid channel through which a liquid medium drawn into the container 2 by a pump can be pumped out of the container 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the pipe 5 has a branch 5.1 from which an obliquely oriented pipe section branches off from the otherwise straight pipe 5 (e.g., a Y-branch). When a suction lance 1 is mounted in a container 2, the obliquely oriented pipe section preferably points obliquely, and in particular obliquely and curved downwards, towards the bottom 2.1 of the container.

[0038] The suction line 7 further comprises a hose 8, which is made of a semi-rigid material. As in the Fig. 1 and Fig.As can be seen in Figure 2, hose 8 has a first hose section that protrudes from branch 5.1 and at the free end of which a suction element 9 is provided. A second section of hose 8 is inserted into pipe 5 via branch 5.1 and runs upwards inside pipe 5 towards the second suction lance section 4.

[0039] The first section of the hose 8 is of a length such that the suction element 9 rests on the bottom of the container 2 when the suction lance 1 is mounted on the container 2. Preferably, the length of the hose 8 is selected such that, when the suction lance 1 is mounted, the suction element 9 lies in the area of ​​the container wall, i.e., as far away as possible from the float switch 6, which, when the suction lance 1 is mounted, is located essentially in the center of the container 2. This allows the suction element 9, through which the liquid medium is drawn, to be positioned in the edge region of the container 2, which is advantageous for the complete emptying of the container 2.

[0040] Preferably, the first and second suction lance sections 3, 4 are freely rotatable about a longitudinal axis LA of the suction lance 1 when the suction lance 1 is mounted, in particular by 360°, so that the suction body 9 can be moved along the bottom of the container by means of the semi-rigid hose 8 by rotating the first and second suction lance sections 3, 4. This allows the suction body 9 to be positioned at a point in the edge region of the container where the fill level is as high as possible. This is particularly advantageous if the container 2 is not perfectly horizontal.

[0041] The suction body 9 has a section 9.2 on which a suction opening 9.1 is provided. The section 9.2 is designed to at least partially abut the bottom of the container 2.1. Preferably, the section 9.2 has spacers 9.3 which allow the liquid medium to reach the suction opening 9.1 when the suction body 9 is in contact with the bottom of the container 2.1.

[0042] The suction body 9 has a material with a density greater than that of the medium to be pumped. In particular, the density of the suction body material is greater than 3.2 g / cm³. 3 The suction element 9 is thus designed so that it does not float in the liquid medium, but remains submerged and in contact with the bottom of the container 2.1. This allows for suction of the medium near the bottom, regardless of the fill level.

[0043] Preferably, a check valve 10 is provided in the suction line 7. The check valve 10 can, for example, be integrated into the suction body 9 or be installed between the suction body 9 and the hose 8. The check valve 10 is designed to prevent fluid from flowing back out of the hose 8, through the suction body 9, and into the interior of the container. In other words, the check valve 10 is designed to allow fluid to flow from the suction body 9 into the hose 8, but to prevent the fluid from flowing back from the hose 8, through the suction body 9, and into the interior of the container. This ensures that the hose 8 and the subsequent fluid channel in the suction lance 1 always contain fluid, even at low fill levels or when the suction lance 1 is repositioned during a container change.no air bubble can form in the subsequent fluid channel that restricts or prevents the continuous delivery of the fluid to a delivery point.

[0044] The second suction lance section 4 has a distributor head 12, on which at least one fluid connection 12.1 is provided. Preferably, several fluid connections 12.1 are distributed circumferentially around the distributor head 12. This makes it possible to supply several delivery points simultaneously with the fluid provided in the container 2 on which the suction lance 1 is mounted via the suction lance 1.

[0045] Preferably, the hose 8 extends over the pipe 5 into the distributor head 12 and is connected there in a fluid-tight manner to a fluid channel system into which the at least one fluid connection 12.1 is integrated, so that fluid provided in the container 2 can be guided via the suction body 9, the hose 8 and the fluid channel system to the at least one fluid connection 12.1.

[0046] The distributor head 12 preferably includes a ventilation channel 12.2, which is coupled to the interior of the container such that ambient air can flow into the container via the ventilation channel 12.2. The ventilation channel 12.2 is preferably coupled to a ventilation valve 13, which is provided, for example, on the top side of the distributor head 12. The ventilation valve 13 is preferably designed to allow a directional gas flow, namely to release a gas flow into the ventilation channel 12.2 of the distributor head 12 (and thus into the interior of the container) and to block a backflow from the ventilation channel 12.2 via the ventilation valve 13 into the environment of the container 2. This prevents the escape of gases present in the container 2 into the environment.

[0047] Alternatively, it is possible that an acid vapor separator is provided on the distributor head 12, which is designed to absorb chemical vapors escaping from the container 2.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, the first and second suction lance sections 3, 4 are axially displaceable relative to the screw cap 11 within a limited range. In particular, the screw cap 11 can assume a variable axial distance (axial with respect to the longitudinal axis LA of the suction lance 1) to the distributor head 12 between a lower and an upper limit. This ensures that, even with height tolerances of the container 2 or deformations, the free end of the first suction lance section 3 of the suction lance 1 can contact the container bottom 2.1 and be screwed onto the opening edge of the container opening 2.2 by means of the screw cap 11.

[0049] The innovation has been described above using exemplary embodiments. It is understood that numerous modifications and adaptations are possible without departing from the underlying concept of the innovation. Reference symbol list 1 suction lance 2 containers 2.1 Container bottom 2.2 Container opening 3 first suction lance section 4 second suction lance section 5 pipe 5.1 Branch 6 float switches 6.1 Floats 6.2 Leadership section 6.2.1 Free end of the guided section 7 Suction line 8 hose 9 suction cups 9.1 Intake opening 9.2 Plant section 9.3 Spacers 10 Check valve 11 sealing caps 12 Distributor head 12.1 Fluid connection 12.2 Ventilation duct 13 Ventilation valve LA Longitudinal axis

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