Rinsing Inverted Chemical Containers With Gravity Flow Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Concentrated liquid chemicals adhere to container surfaces during emptying, making it difficult to drain and resulting in residual contamination that prevents recycling or landfill disposal.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a gravity flow valve assembly and a rinse adapter assembly is used to invert chemical containers, allowing drainage and subsequent rinsing with pressurized water to remove residues, while also diluting chemicals for easier drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If concentrated liquid chemicals are shipped in containers with shipping caps, then the chemicals can be transported safely, but the chemicals adhere to the inside surfaces of the container upon emptying, preventing disposal or recycling
Solution Approach 1:
The rinse adapter assembly is attached to the container throat before emptying to enable post-emptying rinsing. This preliminary setup allows water to be introduced into the container after the chemical is drained, flushing out residual chemicals that would otherwise contaminate the container and prevent recycling or landfill disposal.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and concentration of chemicals in the container by introducing water. The rinse adapter delivers water that dilutes and flushes out the concentrated chemical residues, transforming the container from a contaminated state to a clean state suitable for disposal or recycling.
2Productivity
If thick concentrated liquid chemicals are emptied from containers, then the chemicals can be transferred for dilution, but the thickness makes it difficult to empty the chemical completely from the container
Solution Approach 1:
Water acts as an intermediary substance that facilitates complete emptying of the container. The rinse adapter delivers water into the container that acts as a mediator to flush out the thick, adhering chemical residues, enabling complete transfer of chemicals and eliminating losses that would otherwise remain in the container.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the viscosity and flow characteristics of the chemical by introducing water. The water dilutes the thick concentrated chemical, changing its physical parameters to make it flow more easily and drain completely from the container, thereby eliminating residual losses.
3Ease of operation
If containers with chemical residues are deposited in landfills or recycled, then disposal or reuse is achieved, but the chemical residue adhering to inner surfaces prevents this
Solution Approach 1:
The rinse adapter assembly is attached before emptying to enable a preliminary rinsing operation. This preliminary action of introducing water into the container flushes out chemical residues before the container is disposed of or recycled, eliminating the harmful factor that would otherwise prevent these operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables the recovery of the container for proper disposal or recycling by discarding the chemical residue through rinsing. The rinse adapter delivers water that flushes out and removes the adhering chemical residue, allowing the container to be discarded in landfills or recycled without contamination issues.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively rinses and dilutes chemical residues within containers, enabling safe disposal or recycling by ensuring complete drainage and removal of contaminants.
Implementation Method 1
a spring having upper and lower ends with the lower end of the spring being in engagement with the valve. The upper end of the spring is in engagement with the upper end of the plug member whereby the spring yieldably maintains the valve member in sealable engagement with the valve seat.
Implementation Method 2
A flexible duck-bill check valve, having upper and lower ends, is also provided. The check valve is normally closed. The lower end of the check valve is supported upon the check valve support so that the check valve extends upwardly therefrom.
Implementation Method 3
The lower end of the rinse tube is in selective fluid communication with a source of water under pressure.
Implementation Method 4
The apparatus may also be used to dilute the liquid chemical in the containers so that the liquid chemical may be more easily drained from the container.
Implementation Method 5
The container having liquid chemicals therein is shipped in an upright condition with a shipping cap closing the throat of the container. After the container has reached its destination for further mixing or dilution, the liquid container is inverted so that the liquid chemical therein may be drained therefrom.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for rinsing inverted chemical containers includes two main assemblies, namely a gravity flow valve assembly and a rinse adapter assembly. The gravity flow assembly is inserted into the throat of the container. The rinse adapter assembly is detachably secured to the throat of the inverted container. When the rinse adapter assembly is attached to the throat of the container, the rinse tube of the rinse adapter assembly extends upwardly through the gravity flow valve assembly and into the interior of the container. Rinsing fluid, such as water, is supplied to the rinse tube which sprays the rinsing fluid onto the interior of the container to rinse the chemical residue from the interior of the container. The apparatus may also be used to dilute the liquid chemical in the container so that the diluted chemical will more freely drain from the container.