Device, method and separation element for said method and for said device for removing a pumpable medium from a container

Abstract

A device for removing a pumpable medium (6), in particular a liquid or paste, from the container (5) with a follower plate (8) which has at least one ventilating opening (8a) for drawing off gas (7), in particular air, between the pumpable medium (6) and the follower plate (8), and at least one intake opening (14) for sucking in the pumpable medium (6), and with a dividing element (1) which is arranged on the follower plate (8). The dividing element (1) has a gas-permeable main body (2) and an opening (3) for removing the pumpable medium, wherein the main body has a membrane which is semi-permeable for gas. The invention also discloses the corresponding method for removing a pumpable medium and the dividing element which is necessary for this purpose.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a device and a separating element, in particular in the form of a flexible planar structure, for this device for extracting a pumpable medium, in particular a liquid or paste, from a container, in particular a barrel, with a base body that is at least partially gas-permeable for venting before and / or during the extraction of the pumpable medium from the container with the device, and with at least one opening for extracting the pumpable medium from the container with the device. State of the art

[0002] To prevent air inclusions before and / or during the extraction of a pumpable medium, namely a paste, DE102005049805B4 proposes the use of a separating element in the form of a sieve plate. This sieve plate has a base body with sieve openings, making this base body partially gas-permeable. Furthermore, this base body is provided with a central opening that completely penetrates it. The device can extract the pumpable medium from the container through this opening. However, a disadvantage is that the sieve plate fills up relatively quickly with the pumpable medium – which is particularly problematic when viscous or highly viscous media, such as pastes, need to be extracted from a container.Such media are known to have a comparatively high surface waviness, which leads to the sieve plate becoming unevenly filled across its contact area with the medium and hinders venting between the medium and the sieve plate. Therefore, a high degree of gas contamination, namely air, must be expected during extraction. Further separation elements for extracting a pumpable medium are known from DE102007003972A1 and JPH06293388A. Description of the invention

[0003] The invention therefore aims to improve a separating element of the type described above in such a way that it can ensure reliable venting for the extraction of the pumpable medium, regardless of the type of pumpable medium.

[0004] The invention solves the stated problem through the features of claim 1.

[0005] If the base body has a membrane that is semipermeable to gas, especially air, it can be ensured, in contrast to the prior art, that the functionality of the separating element for venting is maintained regardless of the size of the contact area with the medium. This is because the medium cannot enter the space behind the membrane of the separating element intended for venting and thus disrupt the venting process. Therefore, it is possible to reliably vent even containers with viscous and / or highly viscous media, such as pastes, which are known to have a high degree of surface waviness, via the separating element. The semipermeable membrane guarantees controlled venting across the entire contact area with the medium. This advantageously keeps the level of gas-contaminated medium low or prevents this contamination entirely when the medium is extracted from the container via the opening of the separating element using the device.The separating element according to the invention can therefore lead to significant cost savings when emptying the container.

[0006] This cost saving is achieved in particular by designing the separating element as a flexible sheet. This allows, for example, flexible adaptation to the surface contour of the pumpable medium when applying the separating element, thus reducing the venting effort compared to rigid separating elements.

[0007] Preferably, the semipermeable membrane consists of a polymer, enabling it to flexibly follow various surface undulations. Furthermore, such a polymer membrane can further reduce the cost of the separating element and, due to its flexibility, ensure damage-free use.

[0008] This is especially true if the semipermeable membrane is a flat membrane. For example, the membrane is a film.

[0009] For example, the membrane is a polymer film. For example, the polymer film is open-pored. The polymer film can be made of, for example, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

[0010] Preferably, the semipermeable membrane has pores. For example, the semipermeable membrane has a pore diameter of at most 100 µm (micrometers). In particular, a pore diameter of at most 1 µm (micrometer) can ensure sufficient separation between air and silicone as a pumpable medium. For silicone as a pumpable medium, for example, a pore diameter of at most 0.6 µm may be sufficient. Thus, the semipermeable membrane, due to its open porosity, can retain the silicone while allowing gas to pass through.

[0011] For example, the semipermeable membrane has a pore diameter in the range of 1 mm (millimeter) to 0.1 µm (micrometer), in particular from 0.6 µm (micrometer) to 0.1 µm (micrometer).

[0012] It is conceivable – for example, in combination with the aforementioned pore diameter – that the semipermeable membrane has a thickness in the range of 1 to 100 µm (micrometers) in order to meet sufficient mechanical properties while maintaining relatively high flexibility. Preferably, the semipermeable membrane has a thickness in the range of 5 to 25 µm (micrometers).

[0013] The venting of the separating element can be further improved if the multi-layered base body has an open-pore layer that forms one flat side of the base body. This allows, for example, direction-independent transport of the vented gas. This is particularly advantageous when pressure is applied to the separating element with a follower plate, and the vented gas then needs to be discharged between the separating element and the follower plate.

[0014] Preferably, the open-pore layer is provided on the semipermeable membrane to allow the gas passing through the membrane to be conveyed in a direction-independent manner and with reduced resistance. Preferably, the open-pore layer is laminated onto the membrane.

[0015] It is conceivable that the open-pore layer is a textile fabric. This textile fabric could have a woven, felted, knitted, or nonwoven structure. A nonwoven structure could be particularly advantageous for the low-resistance transfer of the vented gas.

[0016] Furthermore, it is conceivable that the open-pored layer is an open-pored elastic foam, in order to facilitate pressing the separating element against the pumpable medium.

[0017] Furthermore, the open-pore layer can be an open-pore sintered structure, for example made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

[0018] Alternatively, an open-pore deposition structure is conceivable.

[0019] The open-pored layer is preferably gas-permeable in the thickness direction and preferably perpendicular to the thickness direction. This further facilitates the direction-independent transport of the vented gas.

[0020] Preferably, the open-pore layer has a thickness in the range of 0.1 to 10 mm (millimeters). A layer thickness of 0.4 mm may already prove sufficient.

[0021] Preferably, the open-pored layer is at least partially media-tight on its outer surface towards the opening, or has a media-tight covering. This prevents the escape of vented gas into the area of ​​the extracted pumpable medium – which can further improve venting through the separating element.

[0022] The design of the separating element can be further simplified if the opening is circular.

[0023] Furthermore, it can be advantageous for handling the separating element if the opening is centrally located on the base body. This makes the separating element particularly suitable for a standardized device with a follower plate for extracting a pumpable medium from a drum. In addition, a centrally located opening can facilitate handling and storage of the separating element.

[0024] For example, the separating element can have a circular outer contour to fit containers shaped like drums. This makes it possible, for instance, to reduce wrinkling on the separating element, which can further improve venting.

[0025] Further simplification of handling can be achieved if the separating element, preferably in the edge area, has a visually perceptible marking for alignment. This makes centering over the edge of the container to be emptied relatively easy, which can reduce the risk of improper venting.

[0026] By providing the marking on the open-pore layer, it is also possible to indicate the correct application or position of the separating element relative to the medium to be pumped in a user-friendly manner.

[0027] Preferably, the base body has a pressure drop in the range of 30 Pa (Pascal) to 50,000 Pa (Pascal), measured according to DIN EN ISO 9237:1995-12, in order to ensure a high degree of venting.

[0028] For example, the separating element can have a thickness in the range of 0.2 to 0.5 mm to allow for flexible handling.

[0029] The design can be further simplified if the semipermeable membrane forms the flat side of the base body facing the medium.

[0030] The separating element according to the invention is particularly suitable for a device for extracting a pumpable medium from a container with a follower plate. The separating element can be conveniently positioned between the pumpable medium and the follower plate. The pumpable medium can be a liquid or a paste, for example, silicone.

[0031] For venting, such a follower plate has at least one vent opening for extracting gas, in particular air, between the pumpable medium and the follower plate. In addition, this follower plate has at least one intake opening for drawing in the pumpable medium. The separating element is arranged between the medium and the follower plate such that its base body is connected to the vent opening for extracting gas and its opening is connected to the intake opening for drawing in the pumpable medium.

[0032] The device can thus extract the pumpable medium from the container in a stable and bubble-free manner - which can further reduce the loss of pumpable medium, for example in newly connected containers.

[0033] The degree of venting can be further increased if the open-pore layer of the separating element faces the subsequent plate. Furthermore, even if the subsequent plate is wetted with a pumpable medium, venting via the separating element to the vent opening can occur, which further improves the stability of the device for extracting pumpable medium – free from contamination with gas, such as air.

[0034] Preferably, the subsequent plate has an unstructured surface. Additionally or alternatively, the subsequent plate can have a surface with a mean roughness Ra, measured according to DIN EN ISO 4287, in the range of 1.2 µm to 18 µm.

[0035] For example, by ensuring that the opening in the base of the separating element has a diameter greater than or equal to the diameter of the intake opening of the follower plate, the separating element can be reliably prevented from being sucked into the suction channel for medium extraction. This can also further reduce the risk of contamination of the medium by particles drawn in by the separating element. Furthermore, such a larger opening allows for greater flexibility in positioning relative to the intake opening, which can further simplify the handling of the separating element and thus the entire device.

[0036] Preferably, the outer dimension of the separating element is larger than the outer dimension of the follower plate, so that the separating element can be positioned more easily on the container above the medium. For example, the separating element should also be marked to facilitate easy centering on the container. Precise centering ensures, among other things, that there is no or minimal wetting or contamination of the follower plate by the pumpable medium – thus avoiding, for example, labor-intensive cleaning work on the device.

[0037] Furthermore, the larger dimensions allow the separating element to be clamped between the container and the follower plate, completely encircling the follower plate. The follower plate is designed to fit tightly against the container, thus clamping the separating element between the follower plate and the container. This allows the separating element to be clamped and precisely applied to the surface of the pumpable medium, ensuring a high degree of venting.

[0038] The invention also aims to improve a method for extracting a pumpable medium from a container.

[0039] Preferably, the semipermeable membrane of the separating element faces the medium in order to retain the medium already on the second flat side of the separating element.

[0040] The invention solves the stated problem through the features of claim 20.

[0041] Since the device according to the invention is used in which a gas, in particular air, located between the pumpable medium and the follower plate is drawn off via the base body of the separating element for venting, a withdrawal of a pumpable medium with reduced or no gas content can be ensured. Brief description of the drawings

[0042] The figures illustrate the invention in more detail using an exemplary embodiment. Fig. 1 a top view of a separating element, Fig. 2 a partially shown sectional view of the Fig. 1 The separating element shown in Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a device with the separating element according to Fig. 3. Figs. 1 and 2 and with a container containing a pumpable medium and Fig. 4 a sectional view of the device according to Fig. 3 during the venting of the container. Method for implementing the invention

[0043] After the Figures 1 and 2 Figure 1 shows a separating element having a gas-permeable base body 2 and an opening 3. This opening 3 completely penetrates the base body 2, as shown in Figure 1. Fig. 2 to be recognized. In addition, this opening 3 is designed with an opening width d such that a according Fig. 3 The illustrated device 4 can extract a medium 6, namely silicone, which can be pumped at room temperature, from a container 5, namely a barrel, and can draw it in via the suction opening 14 on a follower plate 8. This can be done, for example, by means of a barrel pump of the device 4 (not shown in detail).

[0044] Before or during the extraction of the pumpable medium 6, venting takes place to prevent the extracted medium 6 from being contaminated with gas 7, namely air. Venting occurs via the gas-permeable base body 2, as shown in Fig. 4to be recognized. For this purpose, the gas 7 flows out through several vent openings 8a in a subsequent plate 8 of the device 4.

[0045] As in Fig. 3 As can be seen, the medium 6 to be extracted exhibits a comparatively high degree of waviness on its surface 6a due to its high viscosity at room temperature. This means that the separating element 1 cannot come into full contact with the medium 6 to be extracted, at least initially during venting.

[0046] In order to avoid contamination of the separating element 1 with the medium 6 on that first flat side 2a of the base body 2 which is opposite the second flat side 2b of the base body 2 which faces the medium 6, the base body 2 is specially designed on the flat side 2b facing the medium 6.

[0047] The base body 2 thus features a semipermeable membrane 9 that allows the gas 7 to pass through, but not the pumpable medium 6. The semipermeable membrane 9 has correspondingly shaped pores for this purpose. This keeps the space between the separating element 1 and the follower plate 8 free of the medium 6, guaranteeing trouble-free venting. According to the invention, the pumpable medium 6 can be withdrawn from the container 5 free from contamination by gas 7.

[0048] High flexibility in adapting the separating element 1 to the surface 6a of the medium 6 results from the semipermeable membrane 9 being formed from a polymer film.

[0049] Furthermore, the base body 2 has an open-pored layer 10 on its first flat side 2a. The base body 2 is thus multi-layered, which also results in a flexible and multi-layered separating element 1.

[0050] This open-pore layer 10 represents a gas-permeable textile surface structure, which is formed by a gas-permeable nonwoven fabric. This nonwoven fabric is laminated onto the polymer film or membrane 9.

[0051] The base body 2, consisting of polymer film and nonwoven fabric, is also extremely flexible and easy to handle. Furthermore, the open-pore layer 10 enables the direction-independent transport of the gas 7 to be vented from the respective point between the separating element and the pumpable medium 6 to the venting opening 8a. This allows venting even if the subsequent plate 8 is wetted or contaminated with the medium or another medium.

[0052] The separating element 1 shows, as in Fig. 1The circular outer contour is recognizable, making it particularly suitable for barrels. Furthermore, the opening 3 is circular and centered on the separating element 1, which further facilitates handling of the separating element 1, especially in positioning the separating element 1 on the barrel and relative to the follower plate 8, as shown in Fig. 3 to recognize.

[0053] This handling is further facilitated by the separating element 1 preferably having a visual marking 11 in its edge region for aligning the separating element 1. This marking 11 is provided on the open-pored layer 10, as shown in Fig. 2 to recognize.

[0054] Using marker 11, it is possible, as in Fig. 3 It is relatively easy to recognize how to align the separating element 1 with the edge of the container 5.

[0055] Furthermore, since the separating element 1 has a section that extends beyond the container 5 on all sides, this handling can be further simplified.

[0056] This also ensures that the separating element 1 is clamped between the follower plate 8 and the container 5. For this purpose, the follower plate 8 is designed with at least one seal 12 that surrounds one end face of the follower plate 8, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to recognize. The separating element 1 is thus completely clamped all the way around.

[0057] The separating element 1, in the form of a flexible sheet, can thus lie flat on the surface of the pumpable medium 5, which facilitates the venting of the container 5. Furthermore, the separating element 1 can be pressed against the container wall, ensuring a tight lateral seal, which keeps the subsequent plate clean and thus reduces cleaning effort.

[0058] Furthermore, the separating element 1 has a seal 13 at the central opening 3, which is formed, for example, on the base body 2 when the opening 3 is laser-cut. This prevents the escape of vented gas from the base body 2 towards the intake opening 14 when the pumpable medium 6 is drawn in.

[0059] The separating element 1 shown as an example is designed as a two-layer flexible sheet structure with a thickness of 0.4 mm. The semipermeable membrane 9 of the separating element 1 is formed by a polymer film with a membrane thickness of 8 µm and pores with a pore diameter of 0.6 µm. The open-pore polymer film consists of polyethylene (PE).

[0060] The nonwoven fabric (as an open-pore layer 10) forms the second layer of the flexible sheet structure. The nonwoven fabric is a polymer-based spunbond nonwoven. Furthermore, the nonwoven fabric has a thickness ranging from 0.1 to 10 mm, specifically 0.4 mm.

[0061] Furthermore, it is conceivable, though not described in detail, that the separating element has wedge-shaped sections in its protruding portion to prevent wrinkling. This can also improve centering.

[0062] It is generally accepted that "in particular" can be translated into English as "more particularly". A feature preceded by "in particular" is to be considered an optional feature that can be omitted and therefore does not represent a limitation, for example, of claims. The same applies to "preferably", which is translated into English as "preferably".

Claims

1. A dividing element, in the form of a flexible sheet-like structure, for a device (4) for removing a pumpable medium (6), more particularly a liquid or paste, from a container (5), more particularly a barrel, having an at least partially gas-permeable main body (2) for ventilating before and / or during removal of the pumpable medium (6) from the container (5) using the device (4), and having at least one opening (3) for removal of the pumpable medium (6) from the container (5) using the device (4), wherein the opening (3) fully penetrates the main body (2), wherein the main body (2) has a membrane (9) semi-permeable to gas, more particularly air.

2. The dividing element according to claim 1, characterized in that the semi-permeable membrane (9) consists of a polymer and / or is a flat membrane, more particularly a film.

3. The dividing element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the semi-permeable membrane (9) is a polymer film.

4. The dividing element according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the semi-permeable membrane (9) has a pore diameter of not more than 100 µm, more particularly of not more than 1 µm, for example of not more than 0.6 µm, and / or has a membrane thickness in the range from 1 to 100 µm, more particularly in the range from 5 to 25 µm.

5. The dividing element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the multi-layer main body (2) has an open-pored layer (10) forming a flat side (2a) of the main body (2) and more particularly being provided on the semi-permeable membrane (9).

6. The dividing element according to claim 5, characterized in that the open-pored layer (10) is a textile sheet-like structure, more particularly with a woven, a felt, a machine-knitted, a manually knitted or a nonwoven structure, an open-pored elastic foam, an open-pored sintered structure or an open-pored deposition structure.

7. The dividing element according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the open-pored layer (10) is gas-permeable in and / or normal to the thickness direction, and / or in that the open-pored layer (10) has a layer thickness in the range from 0.1 to 10 mm, more particularly of 0.4 mm.

8. The dividing element according to claim 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that the open-pored layer (10) is configured to be at least partially media-tight on its outside towards the opening (3) or has a media-tight cover.

9. The dividing element according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the opening (3) is configured to be circular and / or is arranged centrally on the main body (2).

10. The dividing element according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the dividing element (1) has a circular outer contour.

11. The dividing element according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the dividing element (1) has, preferably in the edge region, a visually perceptible marking (11) for aligning the dividing element (1).

12. The dividing element according to claims 5 and 11, characterized in that the marking (11) is provided on the open-pored layer (10).

13. The dividing element according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that there is a pressure drop across the main body (2) in the range from 30 Pa to 50,000 Pa, and / or in that the dividing element has a thickness in the range from 0.2 to 0.5 mm.

14. The dividing element according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the semi-permeable membrane (9) forms the flat side (2b) of the main body (2) facing the medium (6).

15. A device for removing a pumpable medium (6), more particularly a liquid or paste, from a container (5), having a follower plate (8) which has at least one ventilating opening (8a) for drawing off gas (7), more particularly air, between the pumpable medium (6) and the follower plate (8) and at least one intake opening (14) for sucking in the pumpable medium (6), and having a dividing element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, which dividing element (1) is arranged on the follower plate (8) with its main body (2) in communication with the ventilating opening (8a) for drawing off gas (7) and its opening (3) in communication with the intake opening (14) for sucking in the pumpable medium (6).

16. The device according to claim 15, characterized in that the open-pored layer (10) of the dividing element (1) faces the follower plate (8), and / or in that the follower plate (8) has an untextured surface structure and / or a surface with a mean roughness in the range from 1.2 to 18 µm.

17. The device according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the opening (3) in the main body (2) of the dividing element (1) has a diameter greater than or equal to the diameter of the intake opening (14) of the follower plate (8), and / or in that the outer dimension of the dividing element (1) is greater than the outer dimension of the follower plate (8).

18. The device according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the dividing element (1) is clamped between the follower plate (8) and the container (5) to completely surround the follower plate (8).

19. The device according to any one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that the semi-permeable membrane (9) of the dividing element (1) faces the medium (6).

20. A method for removing a pumpable medium (6), more particularly a liquid or paste, from a container (5) using a device (4) according to any one of claims 15 to 19, in which a gas (7), more particularly air, located between the pumpable medium (6) and the follower plate (8) is drawn off through the main body (2) of the dividing element (1) for ventilation.

Images