AU753361B2

AU753361B2 - A valve assembly for liner bags for containers

Info

Publication number: AU753361B2
Application number: AU18502/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ladislav Stephan Karpisek
Original assignee: Technosearch Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Technosearch Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1998-04-01
Filing date: 1999-03-02
Publication date: 2002-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 2019-03-02
Also published as: AU1850299A

Description

-2- A VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR LINER BAGS FOR CONTAINERS FIELD OF THE INVENTION.

This invention relates to valves for use with or for incorporation with liner bags as used in containers to house liquids. In the following description the term liquids is to be understood to mean materials which have a viscosity, either inherent or induced by heat or other means, which allows :the material to flow under the influence of gravity. At the ends of the range of materials contemplated would be water and a material, such as lard, 10 which is solid in its natural condition at room temperature, but when heated can flow and gravity discharge from a container.

S"BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION.

It is common practice to store and transport liquids in containers which include a base (conventionally adapted to act as a pallet with means to 15 allow the use of a fork lift truck or a hand truck), four sides coupled to the base and a lid. A plastic film liner bag is located in the container to house the liquid. Discharge of the liquid is achieved through a nozzle mounted on the bag and accessible from outside the container.

In order to discharge the contents of the container several strategies have been developed. In one, a bottom discharge arrangement, the liner bag nozzle is in direct communication with the interior of the liner bag. The nozzle extends down into the base and then outwardly towards a side of I if It 3 the base. There is a manually operable butterfly or like valve in the nozzle to control the discharge of the liquid from the liner bag. The nozzle at its outlet end is threaded allowing a delivery hose to be coupled to the nozzle after the removal of a sealing cap, normally resident on the thread. The cap protects the nozzle thread against damage and prevents contamination entering the nozzle. The cap also serves a third and most important double security purpose. It ensures that any leakage through the butterfly valve when closed is contained in the nozzle and the cap usually has an associated tamper detection means. The liner bag and its 10 butterfly valved nozzle is a one-use only item.

A bottom discharge liner bag with an integral nozzle with valve, as just S:described, is far more expensive than a liner bag with a nozzle for side discharge, another strategy in use for discharging liquid from containers.

In the side discharge arrangement the nozzle has no valve. The nozzle 15 is threaded at its outlet end for a cap. Because the nozzle bore is not in "direct communication with the interior of the liner bag, being separated from the liner bag contents by a membrane over the inlet end of the bore of the nozzle, the cap does not need to be a sealing cap or include a tamper detection means. A one-use liner bag for side discharge is thus considerably cheaper than the one-use liner bag for a bottom discharge system. Cost is an important factor when the liner bag is used only once and then discarded.

'P

-4- In the side discharge arrangement the capped nozzle discharge end projects from a side of the container. In a discharge operation, the cap is removed and a membrane rupturing device is inserted into the nozzle.

The rupturing device is forced against the membrane as a reusable valve is threaded onto the nozzle. It follows that as soon as the membrane is ruptured the liner bag contents will enter the nozzle but discharge from the nozzle is prevented by the coupled reusable valve until discharge of the liner bag contents is required.

Whilst the side discharge system has several economic and practical 10 advantages over the bottom discharge system there has been a perceived need for a system which has the good features of both systems. The bottom discharge system has the advantage that the valve is part of the bag nozzle and is discarded with the bag, but the disadvantage that the membrane concept of the side discharge system cannot be utilised with S 15 known nozzle/valve assemblies.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION.

The present invention has been devised to provide a valve assembly for use with or incorporation with container liner bags, where the valve means acts as a discharge nozzle and is a self contained inexpensive disposable unit which incorporates a membrane puncturing arrangement.

I

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

Broadly stated the invention provides a valve assembly comprising a body with-a through -bore of-circular-cross-sectional- shape having a first portion adjacent an inlet end of the body bore and a smaller parallel second portion, a shoulder in the body bore spaced from said bore inlet end and separating the bore first and second portions, a flange on the body around the body bore inlet end whereby the valve means can be secured to the wall of a liner bag for a container, a closure member housed in the body bore, a head part on the closure member with an annular shoulder for engagement with the shoulder of the body bore to isolate the bore first portion from the bore second portion, a stem part of the closure member with radial vanes having outer edges in substantially sliding contact with the second portion of the body bore, liner bag puncturing means on the head l *part of the closure member, the puncturing means and the head part of the closure member being housed in the body bore first portion when said shoulders are in engagement, a crank member comprising two co-axial journal members with a crank pin disposed between the journal members and offset from the axis of the journal members, the crank pin journals are pivotally supported in the body member and the crank pin is engaged in radial slots in two adjacent vanes, pivotal movement of the crank member about the axis of said journals causes said closure member to move from a position where said shoulders are in engagement to a position where said i shoulders are separated and said puncturing means extends beyond the inlet end of the body bore.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

Fig.1 is a sectional elevation of a first embodiment of the valve assembly of the present invention when in a closed condition, Fig.2 is a view similar to Fig.1 with the valve assembly in the fully open condition, Fig.3 is a side view of the closure member of the valve assembly of Figs.1 e -6and 2, Fig.4 is an end view in the direction of the arrow 4 in Fig.3, is an end view in the direction of the arrow 5 in Fig.3, Fig.6 is a side view in the direction of the arrow 6 of Fig.3, Fig.7 is a view similar to Fig.1 of a second embodiment of the invention and Fig.8 is a view similar to Fig.1 of a third embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

The valve assembly 1 illustrated has a body 2 with a through bore which includes a transition portion 3 separating a first circular cross-section bore part 4, extending between the transition portion 3 and a bore discharge end, from a larger diameter circular cross-section bore part 5, extending from the transition portion 3 to a bore inlet end. The bore transition portion 3 has an annular sealing face 6 facing towards the bore inlet end and lying 15 in a plane inclined to the axis of the bore. The valve body 2 has a flange 7 whereby the valve body can be welded to the wall of a liner bag in one of several ways, as will be described later.

Slidably mounted in the body bore there is a closure member indicated generally as 8. The closure member 8 includes a head part 9, which in 2 0 end view is circular, and a stem directed away from the head 9 towards the bore discharge end. The closure member head 9 has an annular rear face which lies adjacent the stem and is in a plane at substantially the same 7 angle to the axis of the closure member as is the face 6. As the face 10 is substantially parallel to the face 6 sealing contact between the faces 6 and isolates the inlet end of the body bore from the discharge end of the body bore. The closure member head part 9, upstream from the sealing face 10, is provided with an upstanding thin annular ring on its end and there are teeth 11 along at least the major part of the annular ring.

The stem of the closure member extends away from the head part 9 as four vanes 12 radiating from a central stem spine 31 with the radial tips of the vanes 12 lying on the circumference of a notional circle with a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the bore part 4. The vane tips act as bearing surfaces engagable with the bore part 4 to provide guidance and support for the member 8 as it slides in the bore of the body 2. The configuration of the closure member 8 can be best seen in Figs. 3 6.

*e Se "See**The closure member 8 is moved along the bore of the body 2 by a cranked member 13 comprising a pair of shafts 14,15 respectively pivotally mounted in a blind hole 16 in the wall of the body? and in a bearing 17 mounted in the wall of the body 2. The shafts 14,15 share a common axis which lies diametrically across the body bore part 4. The shafts 14 and 15 are connected to a crank pin 20 by two crank arms 18,19.

The crank pin 20 is housed in a lateral and axially offset slot 21 in the .closure member 8 which extends from the spine 31 through parts of two of °closure member 8 which extends from the spine 31 through parts of two of 8 the vanes 12. The length of the crank arms 18,19 is such that by rotating the cranked member 13 about the common axis of the shafts 14,15, as by a handle or the like on the portion of the shaft 15 extending from the body 3, the crank pin 20 will bear against a side of the slot 21 to move the closure member 8 relative to the valve body 2. Rotation of the shafts 14,15 through 180 degrees will move the closure member 8 from the Fig.1 condition to the Fig.2 condition. In the Fig.1 condition the faces 6,10 are in sealing engagement. In the Fig.2 condition the faces 6,10 are separated and the head of the closure member lies outside the body bore allowing 10 free passage of liquid into the bore of the body around the head 9 of the closure member 8 to pass between the vanes 12 to the bore discharge end.

The slot 21 will now be described in detail with reference to the Figs.3 to 6 which are views as follows. Fig.3 is a side view of the closure member 15 8. Fig.4 is an end view in the direction of the arrow 4 in Fig.3. Fig.5 is an end view in the direction of the arrow 5 in Fig.3. Fig.6 is side view in the direction of the arrow 6 in Fig.3.

The slot 21 has a width slightly larger than the diameter of the crank pin thereby allowing sliding of the crank pin 20 in the slot 21 with a small working clearance. It will be seen from Figs.3 to 6 that the slots 21 in the vanes 12 have a common inner end 22 which extends into the spine 31 of the closure member 8. The shaded portion in Fig.3 indicates the common -9end 22 of the slots 21 cut into the spine of the stem. The crank pin 20 at the two ends of its arcuate travel to move the closure member 8 in the body bore will have its axis intersecting the central axis of the spine 31 of the stem of the closure member 8.

The extremities of the slots 20 extending radially from the common end 22 into two vanes 12 are indicated by the lines X Y in Figs.4 and 6.

In Fig.6 two small projections 23 are shown extending into the slots 21 and **o are preferred features. As will be understood the projections 23 narrow the width of the slots 21 and in theory prevent the crank pin 20 entering the end 22 of the slots. However, as the closure member 8 is made from a resilient plastic material the crank pin 20 can be forced (with resilient deflection of some or all of the projections, the vanes and the walls of the slot) into the end 22 of the slots where it is latched by the projections 23 until forcibly removed by rotation of the crank member 13. It would be 15 possible to achieve the above result using only one projection 23.

The latching arrangement as just described hold the faces 6-10 in sealed condition when the closure member is in the Fig.1 condition and also holds the closure member in the extended condition of Fig.2. It will be understood that other latching means can be used, for example, a detent arrangement on the shaft 15 where it extends from the bearing 17.

Whilst the latching arrangements proposed are desirable their function b 10 could be substantially duplicated by having (at least) the shaft 15 as a tight frictional fit in the bore of the bush 17.

The nozzle-valve as just described is welded to a liner bag for a container.

In one arrangement a hole is made in the liner bag indicated 32 in Fig.1, and the liner bag 32 is welded around that hole to the flange 7 of the body 2 with the body extension 24 projecting through the hole in the liner bag 32 into the interior of the liner bag. There is a membrane 25 welded to the body extension 24 to close off the inlet end to the body bore part 5. When the crank member 13 is rotated from the Fig.1 condition to the fully open 10 Fig.2 condition it will cause the teeth 11 to first pierce and then sever (or partly sever depending upon the configuration of the tooth array 11) a '0*V* membrane disk 26 from the membrane 25. In this way liquid housed in the liner bag and formerly sealed off from the bore of the body 2 by the 0* *S membrane 25 is now able to access the valve body bore. Prior to piercing the membrane a delivery hose would be coupled to the threaded end 27 0* of the body 2. Preferably some means, such as a spike or pressure sensitive adhesive, would be associated with the head 9 of the closure member 8 to hold a severed membrane disk 26 captive. In an alternative arrangement, where the teeth 11 do not provide a complete severing means, the membrane portion severed will be in the form a flap. Again, a spike or a pressure sensitive adhesive or some other suitable means would be provided to prevent the flap interfering with the discharge of the liquid and the operation of the closure member.

11 In another embodiment of the invention, see Fig.7, there is an O ring 29 or like continuous sealing ring member mounted in the body bore portion and it engages the outer surface of the head 9 of the closure member 8.

This form of seal could be used to replace the sealing achieved by the engagement of the faces 6,10 or to back-up that sealing engagement. If used as a back-up seal it would be possible to eliminate the membrane and the teeth 11 on the closure member 8. However, experience has shown that the membrane method of positively separating the liquid 9O 0 contents of a liner bag from the nozzle/valve for discharging the liquid to 10 be the most effective means of retaining liquid in a liner bag during storage •and transport of the liquid.

In another embodiment of the invention, see Fig.8, there is a sealing ring 28 mounted in the bore face 6 and the crank member 13 when operated would draw the closure member face 10 into compressing and sealing contact with the sealing ring 28. As will be understood the sealing ring 28 S. could be mounted on the face 10 of the closure member 8 and engage with the bore face 6.

The forgoing are preferred embodiments of a commercially viable economical one-use valve assembly for mounting on a liner bag for a container. It will be understood that changes can be made to the details of the embodiments disclosed without departing from the inventive concept herein disclosed.

12 One such change would be to have the flange 7 of the body in the same plane as the inlet end of the valve body bore, thereby eliminating the step 24, and by continuously welding the flange 7 directly to the liner bag wall as close as possible to the bore part 5, the liner bag overlying the inlet end of the valve body bore would act as the membrane 25. Naturally, it would also be possible, given the availability of suitable welding means, to retain the step 24 and weld the wall of the liner bag to the flange 7 and also to the end of the step 24. The liner bag wall would again provide the membrane In another modification, the double ended crank member 13 could be made with a robust shaft 15 and bearing 17, and the crank pin 20 could be supported by a single crank arm 18.

.*o The vanes 12 as illustrated are axial and radial, it would be possible to S. make the vanes in other forms. For example, spiral or radial with slots or holes in the vanes to allow liquid flow along the closure member stem, whilst still having the required guidance and support of the closure member vanes from the bore part 4.

The valve body as illustrated is externally threaded. In a variation the bore part 4 could be internally threaded or means other than threads could be provided to allow coupling of a liquid delivery pipe to the valve body.

Claims

1. A valve assembly comprising a body with a through bore of circular cross-sectional shape having a first portion adjacent an inlet end of the body bore and a smaller parallel second portion, a shoulder in the- body bore spaced from said bore inlet end and separating the bore first and second portions, a flange on the body around the body bore inlet end whereby the valve means can be secured to the wall of a liner bag for a container, a closure member housed in the body bore, a head part on the closure member with an annular shoulder for engagement with the shoulder of the body bore to isolate the bore first portion from the bore second portion, a stem part of the closure member with radial vanes having outer edges in substantially sliding contact with the second portion of the body bore, liner bag puncturing means on the head part of the closure member, the puncturing means and the head part of the closure member being housed in the body bore first portion when said shoulders are in S: engagement, a crank member comprising two co-axial journal members with a crank pin disposed between the journal members and offset from the axis of the journal members, the crank pin journals are pivotally supported in the body member and the crank pin is engaged in radial slots in two adjacent vanes, pivotal movement of the crank member about the axis of said journals causes said closure member to move from a position where said shoulders are in engagement to a position where said shoulders are separated and said puncturing means extends beyond the inlet end of the obody bore o. body bore. 14

2. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 1 having latching means to latch said crank pin in a latched position in said slots corresponding with engagement of said shoulders.

3. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 2 where the latching means includes yieldable slot width restricting means allowing said crank pin to be forced past said width restricting means to move said crank pin into and out of said latched position.

4. A valve assembly as claimed in any ne of claims 1 to 3 having a resilient seal member mounted on one of said shoulders and engagable by the other of said shoulders.

A valve assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 having a resilient seal member which is disposed between said bore first portion and an exterior surface of said head and is under compression when said *lO shoulders are in engagement.

6. A valve assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 having a resilient ring housed in a groove in said bore first portion and oe extending into said bore first portion for sealing engagement with an exterior surface of the head of said closure member when said shoulders are in engagement.

7. A valve assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 having a puncturable sealing membrane over the inlet end of the bore first portion to close off said inlet end of said body bore with the head part of said closure member and said liner bag puncturing means housed in the first portion of said body bore.

8. A valve assembly as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein the valve body adjacent the body bore discharge end is adapted for threaded engagement by liquid delivery means to deliver liquid from the valve assembly to a required destination.

9. A valve assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. Dated this 2 nd day of August, 2002 Technosearch pty. Limited By its Patent Attorney Robert G. Halliday