EP0198710B1

EP0198710B1 - Pouring funnel

Info

Publication number: EP0198710B1
Application number: EP19860302801
Authority: EP
Inventors: John Denton
Original assignee: PHOTAX (LONDON) PLC
Current assignee: PHOTAX (LONDON) PLC
Priority date: 1985-04-16
Filing date: 1986-04-15
Publication date: 1989-08-30
Also published as: EP0198710A1; GB8509686D0; DE3665295D1

Description

This invention relates to pouring funnels, and particularly to funnels adapted for filling containers having relatively narrow necks, with liquids.
Particularly in their application to photographic apparatus, a common problem with pouring funnels is that the liquid tends to swirl as it is dragged into the tube of the funnel, and this impedes the flow, reducing its speed. When it is desired to quickly fill a container such as a developing tank, slow filling can be a serious problem since it can result in films being unevenly developed and thus completely spoiled.
One of the reasons for slow filling of developing tanks in the past, was the lack of venting to allow air to escape from the tank, and modem designs invariably include some form of venting. French specification no. 36 72 73 shows a pouring funnel having a diametrally extending baffle to prevent swirling, while French specification no. 45 93 56 shows a funnel having an external recess forming a vent for the expulsion of air from the container being filled. However, it has been found that baffles or vents alone are not sufficient to prevent the swirling action mentioned above, and the present invention seeks to overcome this particular problem.
Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention provides a pouring funnel of the kind comprising a body including an open inlet portion into which fluid is poured, in use, and which tapers down to a generally tubular outlet portion which is adapted to be positioned in the neck of a container, the inlet portion including at least one reentrant portion in the wall of the funnel which is so arranged as to provide a vent which in use connects the interior of the container with the atmosphere to facilitate filling and also forms a baffle member which protrudes into the open inlet portion sufficiently so as to prevent swirling of the fluid when poured through the funnel.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a film development tank including a lid with a funnel part in accordance with the said first aspect of the invention so as to prevent swirling of fluid when poured into the tank through the funnel.
It will be appreciated that, in accordance with the invention, a funnel may be provided with more than one radially extending baffle member, and in a preferred arrangement, a pair of such radially extending baffles are provided, on opposite sides of the funnel neck, so as to extend across a diameter of the funnel.
Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :

Figure 1a is an axial cross-section through a funnelasccording to the invention ;
Figure 1 b is a side elevation of the funnel of Figure 1a as seen in the direction of arrow A ;
Figure 1c is a top plan view of the funnel of Figures 1 a and 1 b ;
Figure 1 is a partial cross-section through the wall of the funnel of Figures 1a to 1 c ;
Figure 2a is an axial cross-section of a developing tank generally in accordance with the invention ; and
Figure 2b is a top plan view of the developing tank of Figure 2a ;
Figure 1 shows a funnel of basically conventional external shape, having a cylindrical main body 2 and a narrow neck 4 which, in use, is. placed in the neck of a container to be filled. A pair of baffles 6 are arranged on opposite sides of the internal surface of a tapered base portion 8, so as to substantially prevent swirling of the liquid poured into the funnel. The baffles are hollow, and formed as re-entrant portions of the wall of the funnel, so that their interior surfaces are open to the outside (Section E-E Figure 1 d). This allows air to be freely vented from the container as indicated at 30, Figure 1c.
Figure 2 shows a photographic developing tank 10, having a generally drum shaped body 12 which receives a film spiral assembly 14 in a manner known « per se ». The lid 16 of the tank incorporates a generally funnel shaped internal part 18, having a shallowly tapered base 20 leading to a neck 22 through which liquid is passed into the interior of the tank. Radially extending baffles 24 are arranged on either side of the neck portion 22. These may be made retractable into the surface of the lid, into suitably light-proof recesses.

Claims

1. A pouring funnel of the kind comprising a body including an open inlet portion (2) into which fluid is poured, in use, and which tapers down to a generally tubular outlet portion (4) which is adapted to be positioned in the neck of a container, the inlet portion including at least one re-entrant portion (6) in the wall of the funnel which is so arranged as to provide a vent which in use connects the interior of the container (28) with the atmosphere to facilitate filling and also forms a baffle member (6) which protrudes into the open inlet portion (2) sufficiently so as to prevent swirling of the fluid when poured through the funnel.

2. A pouring funnel according to claim 1 including a pair of baffle members (6) which extend in opposite directions from said junction so as to extend across a diameter of the funnel.

3. A film processing tank (10) or drum having a lid (16) including a funnel portion (18) according to claim 1 or claim 2, to facilitate the pouring of the processing chemicals in the tank.