Shipping container with clamping disc
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ボドリヒター
- Filing Date
- 2023-03-13
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-19
AI Technical Summary
Existing liquid containers, such as IBCs, face challenges with deformation due to pressure differentials and filling level changes, which affects the socket's position and stability, making filling and emptying difficult, especially with hazardous materials.
The container design incorporates a socket with male and female threads, a clamp disk with a female thread, and thread locks to secure the socket to the container top, preventing repositioning due to deformation and ensuring a secure connection despite vibrations during transport.
This design enhances handling and safety by maintaining the socket's position relative to the container top, preventing liquid spills, and ensuring the connection remains secure even during transport and filling/emptying operations.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a container for transporting and storing liquids comprising an inner plastic container for containing the liquid and an outer plastic container having a rigid base, a rigid shell, and a rigid container top. [Background technology]
[0002] Such containers are known as IBCs (Intermediate Bulk Containers) and are equipped with a pallet to allow easy movement with a forklift. Liquids can be filled and removed from the inner container via a socket and a dip tube on the inner container. Such containers are often used to store flammable, highly toxic, high purity and highly acidic liquids, for example in the semiconductor industry.
[0003] From DE 195 35 707 A1 a disposable and reusable container is known, which comprises an inner container with an integrally formed filling neck on its upper side, the end of which projects outwardly from the container top of the outer container. The filling neck is held in the opening of the rigid container top by a slotted clamping ring, the opening edge of which abuts against the upper side of the inner container. The filling neck is closed by a screw cap.
[0004] During use of the container, changes in the shape of the inner container may occur. For example, an increase in the filling temperature and the subsequent cooling stage may create a vacuum in the inner container and thus cause deformations in the inner container. Changes in the filling level of the inner container may also cause deformations. Such deformations also change to some extent the exact position of the socket opening, which may be critical during filling and emptying, since due to the hazardous nature of the contents, workers often wear protective clothing and gloves, which makes fine movements difficult. The exact position of the socket relative to the container top is a further problem. Vibrations during transport may result in the connection between the socket and the container top becoming loose, so that the socket moves loosely or wobble in the opening, which makes filling and removing liquid difficult.
[0005] The present patent application has a German utility model application with the docket number 20 2022 101 418.3. The German Patent and Trademark Office carried out a prior art search on this utility model application. The search report refers to two documents belonging to category A (documents defining the technical background), namely German patent application DE 10 2009 016 451 A1 and US 4 164 304 A1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0006] [Patent Document 1] DE 195 35 707 A1 [Patent Document 2] German Utility Model Application No. 20 2022 101 418.3 [Patent Document 3] German Patent No. 10 2009 016 451 Specification [Patent Document 4] US Patent Application Publication No. 4 164 304 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0007] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE It is an object of the present invention to provide a container for transporting and storing liquids which is simple in construction and which provides improved handling when filling and emptying the inner container. [Means for solving the problem]
[0008] This problem is solved by the feature combination in claim 1. Advantageous configurations are given in the dependent claims.
[0009] In the present invention, the socket, which is formed integrally with the inner container, has an external thread and an internal thread. A clamping disk, which has an internal thread, can be screwed with the external thread of the socket and, when screwed, can clamp the container top at the edge of its opening. The socket is thus fixed to the rigid container top and cannot be displaced relative to the outer container, even if the inner container is deformed due to pressure differences or variations in the filling level. This makes handling easier during filling and emptying and avoids the risk of spilling problematic liquids. Furthermore, the present invention comprises a thread lock, which interacts with the external thread of the socket and the internal thread of the clamping disk and is suitable for preventing unintentional loosening of the clamping disk and the socket. This measure also increases the safety of the container, since loosening or dislodging due to vibrations during transport or due to unscrewing the sealing plug is prevented.
[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least the rigid container top is made of conductive plastic. The conductivity in this case is achieved, for example, by mixing conductive carbon black particles or aluminum particles into the plastic. The conductivity is adjusted so that charges that may arise due to triboelectricity when filling and emptying the inner container are dissipated. The screw connection of the container top to the inner container advantageously has three functions: on the one hand, the exact fixation of the tube receptacle to the outer container, on the other hand, protection against unintentional loosening of the container top from the socket and also the avoidance of dangers due to discharges.
[0011] In another embodiment, it is envisaged that an electrically insulating sealing ring is arranged between the tube receptacle and the socket, and the tube receptacle made of conductive plastic has an electrically conductive contact element electrically connected to the clamping disk. Such a sealing ring, for example made of TPE (thermoplastic elastomer), provides a liquid-tight seal between the inner container and the outside. With the help of the electrically conductive contact element, the electrically insulating seal is bridged, so that continuous electrical conductivity is ensured between the tube receptacle, the clamping disk and the container top, further reducing the risk of spontaneous discharge.
[0012] In a further advantageous embodiment, an anti-rotation lock is provided, which interacts with the contact element, the tube receptacle and the clamping disk and is suitable for preventing relative rotation of the tube receptacle and the clamping disk. With the aid of this anti-rotation lock, the tube receptacle is fixed to the clamping disk. The clamping disk is fixed against unintentional loosening by the above-mentioned screw lock. This means that, for example, even if the sealing plug is screwed in very tightly or is firmly seated in the tube receptacle due to the screwing in of the screw connection being stiffened by deformation, the tube receptacle will not move when the sealing plug is unscrewed, so that the safety of the entire container is improved. For example, this prevents liquid from splashing out. In this way, due to the interaction of the screw lock and the anti-rotation lock, even if the sealing plug is relatively tightly fastened, the tube receptacle and the clamping disk will not come off the screw connection, so that the safety of the entire container is improved.
[0013] According to one preferred embodiment, the inner container with integral socket is manufactured from HDPE by a blow molding process or a plastic rotational molding process.
[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a transport container for transporting and storing liquids. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a container. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing parts of the device for filling and / or emptying the inner container, as well as a portion of the container top and socket in the inner container. [Figure 4] 1A-1C are partial views showing various contact rings with contact arms; [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of an assembled device for filling and / or emptying the inner container; [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a schematic detail view showing a detent cam and a lock cam. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 shows another embodiment in which the contact lugs are provided on the contact ring. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing another example in which contact lugs are provided on a tube receptacle. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing detent teeth and tube receptacles provided on a contact ring. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of the components of a transport container 10 according to the invention for transporting and storing liquids. FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the transport container 10. The transport container 10 comprises an outer container 12 having a rigid bottom 14 made of conductive plastic, preferably PE, and resting on a pallet 16 having the dimensions of a Europallet. The outer container 12 further comprises a rigid shell 18 and a rigid container top 20 or lid. Contained within the outer container 12 is an inner container 22 made of plastic, preferably high-purity HDPE, and intended to contain a liquid. At least one device 24 for filling and / or emptying the inner container 22 is connected to the rigid container top 20 and to the inner container 22. A dip tube 25, forming part of this device 24, extends into the interior of the inner container 22. The inner container 22 is filled and / or emptied via this dip tube 25. An electrical ground connection 13 is provided for discharging electrical charges from the outer container 12.
[0017] 3 is an exploded view showing further details of the above-described device 24 and its attachment to the container top 20 and inner container 22. An upwardly open socket 28 is integrally formed in the inner container 22. The socket 28 has external threads 30 and internal threads 32. The inner container 22 is formed by a blow molding or rotational molding process during which the socket 28 is formed with the threads 30, 32 and at least one detent element 40. The rigid container top 20 has an opening 34 which surrounds the socket 28 with clearance.
[0018] The device 24 includes a clamping disk 36 having internal threads 38 that are adapted to threadingly engage the external threads 30 of the socket 28 upon assembly to clamp the container top 20 at the edge of its opening.
[0019] At least one first detent element 40 is formed at the bottom of the male thread 30. At least one second detent element 42 is formed on the side of the clamping disk 36 facing the socket 28 in the lower region of the female thread 38. With the help of these two detent elements 40, 42 a screw lock is formed, which latch together when the clamping disk 36 is screwed clockwise into the socket 28 in the case of a clockwise thread. In this latch a form-fitting fit is formed which prevents the clamping disk 36 from coming off the socket 28 after the screw connection has been established. The clamping disk 36 has a peripheral recess 44 in which a tool (not shown) can engage in order to screw in with sufficient torque. Preferably the first detent element is formed as a protruding detent cam 40 on the lower circumference of the male thread 30 in the socket 28 and the second detent element on the clamping disk 36 is formed as a locking cam 42 on the lower circumference of the female thread 38. Forming the detent cam 40 on the male 30 threaded core cylinder has the advantage that positive latching occurs even with thickness variations in the container top 20. However, it is also possible to form the first detent element 40 on the end face of the inner container 22, where the first detent element 40 faces a second detent element 42 formed on the end face of the clamping disc 36.
[0020] The tube receptacle 26 has in its upper region an external thread 46 which can be screwed into the internal thread 32 of the socket 28. The tube receptacle 26 supports the dip tube 25, which is shown in a significantly shortened state. A contact ring 50 made of conductive plastic rests on the end face 49 of the tube receptacle 26. On its underside facing the tube receptacle 26, the contact ring 50 has first detent means 52, e.g. detent teeth. These detent means 52 cooperate with second detent means 54, e.g. also detent teeth, on the end face 49. A sealing plug 56 with an external thread 58 is used to seal the inner container 22 liquid-tight. The external thread 58 is screwed into the internal thread 48 of the tube receptacle 26. This threaded connection provides a fixed locking of the contact ring 50 by the first detent means 52 and the second detent means 54, which unambiguously establishes the rotational position of the contact ring 50 and the tube receptacle 26. The pitch of the detent means 52, 54 defines the angular resolution of the rotational position of the contact ring 50. For example, by reducing the tooth pitch of the detent teeth, the angular resolution is increased.
[0021] In the example shown in Figure 3, the contact ring 50 includes contact arms 60 bent radially outwardly and downwardly around its circumference, the contact arms 60 having third detent means (not shown in Figure 3) which cooperate with fourth detent means 64 along the circumference of the clamping disc 36 and which engage with the detent means 64 during screwing, thereby preventing relative rotation of the tube receptacle 26 with respect to the clamping disc 36, and therefore with respect to the socket 28.
[0022] FIG. 4 shows in more detail in various partial views, in particular how the contact ring 50 is latched to the clamping disc 36. The lower part of FIG. 4 shows the assembled state of the device 24. The middle part of FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of detail C. The upper part of FIG. 4 shows the contact ring 50 with the contact arms 60, and the lower view shows an enlarged view E of the contact arms 60. Each contact arm 60 has a detent element 66 which engages with a gap 68 between adjacent detent cams 64, which form a fourth detent means along the circumference of the clamping disc 36. The contact ring 50 is made of a flexible plastic material and is clicked onto the ring with the detent cams 64, which the contact arms 60 engage from below.
[0023] When assembling the parts according to Figures 3 and 4, the clamping disk 36 is first screwed with its internal thread 38 onto the external thread 30 with the help of a tool which engages in the recess 44, in which case the container top 20 is clamped on the one hand and the first detent element 40 slides elastically on the second detent element 42 on the other hand and is locked in position to form a screw lock. The tube receptacle 26 is then inserted into the socket 28 and its external thread 46 is screwed into the internal thread 32. The contact ring 50 is then placed on the end face 49 of the tube receptacle 26, in which case the first detent means 52 come into contact with the second detent means 54 of the tube receptacle 26. The contact arms 60 engage with the ring of the detent cams 64 and the detent elements 66 engage with the gaps 68 between the detent cams 64, whereby the rotational position of the contact ring 50 is fixed. Finally, the external thread 58 of the sealing plug 56 is screwed into the internal thread 48 of the tube receptacle 26. With the aid of the anti-rotation lock formed by the first detent means 52 on the contact ring 50 and the second detent means 54 on the tube receptacle 26, as well as the third detent means 66 and the fourth detent means 64, on the one hand, and with the aid of the thread lock comprising the first detent element 40 and the second detent element 42, on the other hand, it is impossible to unintentionally loosen or remove the connection between the clamping disc 36 and the tube receptacle 26 and the socket 28 when unscrewing the sealing plug 56 counterclockwise, for example to fill or empty the inner container 22. This ensures, on the one hand, that the position of the tube receptacle 26 is clearly and precisely fixed, and, on the other hand, that its rotational position relative to the tube receptacle 26 cannot change, thus improving the handling and safety of the entire container.
[0024] FIG. 5 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the device 24 for filling and / or emptying the inner container 22 in an assembled state. The same parts are given the same reference numbers. The socket 28 formed on the inner container 22 receives, by its internal thread 32, the tube receptacle 26 having the external thread 46. The clamping disk 36 clamps the container top 20, in which case an annular fluid-tight seal 68 provides the seal (for example, the seal 68 is made of a flat molded thermoplastic elastomer). Between the tube receptacle 26 and the socket 28 an electrically insulating seal ring 70 (for example, also made of a thermoplastic elastomer) is arranged. The tube receptacle 26, the clamping disk 36 as well as the container top 20 are made of a conductive plastic to dissipate electric charges. The inner container 22, made of HDPE, is non-conductive. Therefore, a critical contact element in the form of a contact ring 50 is required, which establishes the necessary conductive connection between the container top 20 and the tube receptacle 26 via the clamping disk 36. The sealing plug 56 is screwed by its external thread 58 into the internal thread 48 of the tube receptacle 26 and is liquid-tight sealed via a further annular seal 72. The tube receptacle 26 has a further internal thread 74 which, during filling and / or emptying of the inner container 22, is firmly connected to the external thread of an adapter device (not shown) via which the liquid to be filled is removed from the tank or via which the liquid to be removed is supplied to a further device.
[0025] FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross-section through the socket 28 at the height of the detent cam 40 and the locking cam 42 in the clamping disc 36 in the screwed state (see FIG. 3). The detent cam 40 has a run-up ramp 40a, a plateau portion 40b and a descending edge 40c. The locking cam 42 has a run-up ramp 42a, a plateau portion 42b and a detent nose 42c. When tightened in the direction of the arrow, the run-up ramps 40a, 42a slide against each other, in which case the locking cam 42 is elastically deflected against the material of the socket 28. The detent nose 42c, after sliding on the plateau portion 40b, elastically engages at the descending edge 40c and is locked in the opposite direction. The engagement of the detent nose 42c can be felt by the operator, which further improves handling.
[0026] Figure 7 shows another embodiment in which the contact elements are configured as contact rings 76 with lugs 78. Screws 80 engage as fixing means into the gaps between the detent cams 64 via the lugs 78 provided with threads 79, so that an electrical contact is established. The screws 80 can be made of a conductive plastic. As in the embodiment according to figure 3, the contact ring 76 can have detent teeth and the tube receptacle 26 can also have detent teeth, so that a precise angular position can be set when the contact ring 76 and the tube receptacle 26 are latched together.
[0027] Figure 8 shows another embodiment in which the lugs 78 are formed on the edge with the tube receptacle 26 and are electrically conductive. The screws 80 can be electrically and elastically contacted with the surface of the conductive clamping disk 36 by their respective tips. The tip of each screw 80 engages with the gap 68 between the adjacent detent cams 64 to prevent relative rotation of the tube receptacle 26 and the clamping disk 36. In Figure 8, a number of coding holes 82 are shown. When the tube receptacle 26 is connected to the adapter device during filling / emptying, corresponding coding pins engage with these coding holes to prevent erroneous operation.
[0028] Figure 9 shows details of the detent teeth on the contact ring 50 and the tube receptacle 26 (see also Figure 3). A first detent means, designated 52 on the contact ring 50, has a ring of protruding detent teeth 52a and a second detent means, designated 54 on the tube receptacle 26, has a further ring of protruding detent teeth 54a. During latching, the opposing detent teeth 52a, 54a engage recesses in adjacent teeth to prevent relative rotation of the contact ring 50 and the tube receptacle 26. [Explanation of symbols]
[0029] 10. Transport Container 12 Outer container 13 Electrical Ground Connection 14 Bottom 16 palettes 18 Shell 20 Top of container 22 Inner container 24 Filling and / or emptying equipment 25 Dip tube 26 Tube Receptacle 28 Sockets 30 Male thread 32 Female thread 34 Aperture 36 Clamp disc 38 Female thread 40 First detent element, detent cam 40a run-up slope 40b Plateau section 40c Edge 42 Second detent element, lock cam 42a Run-up slope 42b Plateau section 42c detent nose 44 Recess 46 Male thread 48 Female thread 49 End face 50 Contact elements, contact rings 52 First detent means, detent teeth 52a Detent teeth 54 Second detent means, detent teeth 54a Detent teeth 56 Seal plug 58 Male thread 60 Contact Arm 64 Fourth detent means, detent cam 66 Third detent means, detent element 68 Gap 70 Electrical insulating seal ring 72 Seal ring 74 More female threads 76 Contact Ring 78 Rug 79 Thread 80 Screw 82 Coding hole
Claims
1. A container (10) for transporting and storing liquids, - A plastic inner container (22) for holding liquid, - A plastic outer container (12) having a rigid bottom (14), a rigid shell (18), and a rigid container top (20), - At least one socket (28) opening upward on the top of the inner container (22) for filling and / or emptying the inner container (22), the socket (28) being integrally formed with the inner container (22) and having male threads (30) and female threads (32), the top of the container (20) having an opening (34) that surrounds the socket (28) with clearance, - The socket (28) has a male thread (30) and a female thread (38) that can be screwed into it, and a clamp disc (36) that can clamp the top portion (20) of the container with the edge of its opening (34) when screwing it in, - A thread locker suitable for cooperating with the male thread (30) of the socket (28) and the female thread (28) of the clamp disc (36), and for preventing the clamp disc (36) and the socket (28) from unintentionally loosening, - A pipe receptacle (26) that supports the immersion pipe (25) and has a female thread (48) and a male thread (46) that can be screwed into the female thread (32) of the socket (28), - A seal plug (56) having a male thread (58) that can be screwed into the female thread (48) of the pipe receptacle (26) and that can liquid-tightly close the pipe receptacle (26), A container equipped with [something].
2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the screw lock includes at least one first detent element (40) in the socket (28) and at least one second detent element (42) on the clamp disc (36) facing the socket (28), and when the female thread (38) of the clamp disc (36) is screwed onto the male thread (30) of the socket (28), the first detent element (40) and the second detent element (42) latch onto each other to prevent loosening of the screw connection.
3. A container according to claim 2, characterized in that the first detent element (40) is integrally formed with the inner container (22).
4. A container according to claim 3, characterized in that the first detent element is formed as a detent cam (40) on a cylindrical shaft at the bottom of the male thread (30) in the socket (28), and the second detent element on the clamp disc (36) is formed as a lock cam (42) on the lower circumference of the female thread (38) of the clamp disc (36).
5. A container according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the rigid container top portion (20) is made of conductive plastic.
6. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an electrically insulating sealing ring (70) is disposed between the pipe receptacle (26) and the socket (28), and the pipe receptacle (26), which is made of conductive plastic, has conductive contact elements (50, 76, 78) electrically connected to the clamp disc (36).
7. A container according to claim 6, wherein a rotation prevention lock is provided, and the rotation prevention lock cooperates with the contact elements (50, 76, 78), the pipe receptacle (26), and the clamp disc (36), and is suitable for preventing relative rotation of the pipe receptacle (26) and the clamp disc (36).
8. A container according to claim 7, characterized in that the contact elements are configured as contact lugs (76, 78), and the contact lugs (76, 78) can be fixed to the upper side of the clamp disc (36) by a conductive fixing element (80).
9. A container according to claim 7, wherein the anti-rotation lock includes a first detent means (52) on the contact element configured as a contact ring (50) and a second detent means (52) on the pipe receptacle (26), wherein when the contact ring (50) is clamped between a seal plug (56) and the pipe receptacle (26), the first detent means (52) and the second detent means (54) latch onto each other, preventing the contact ring (50) from rotating relative to the pipe receptacle (26).
10. A container according to claim 9, wherein the anti-rotation lock has a lock lug (78) that protrudes radially from a contact ring (76), and the lock lug (78) is fixable to the edge region of the clamp disc (36) after the pipe receptacle (26) has been screwed to the socket (28) in order to prevent relative rotation of the pipe receptacle (26) with respect to the clamp disc (36).
11. A container according to claim 9, wherein the contact ring (50) has a contact arm (60) directed radially outward on its circumference, and the contact arm (60) has a third detent means (66) that cooperates with a fourth detent means (64) on the clamp disc (36) to prevent relative rotation of the pipe receptacle (26) with respect to the clamp disc (36).
12. A container according to claim 11, wherein the third detent means on the contact arm (60) includes a detent element (66), the detent element (66) engaging with the gap between the outer detent cams (64) of the fourth detent means on the clamp disc (36).
13. A container according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal plug (56) is made of conductive plastic.