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The invention relates to an apparatus for conveying a fluid from a replaceable fluid storage container to a fluid target container. Such apparatus comprises a fluid line which is flexible in at least partial sections along its length and which extends from the storage container to the target container.
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When replacing empty fluid storage containers by full/refilled fluid storage containers, the operator or maintenance staff usually fail at positioning the full/refilled fluid storage container in the same location as the just removed empty fluid storage container. Typically, such fluid storage containers ("tanks") are quite voluminous and very heavy when filled with a liquid. In addition, the opening in the fluid storage container for inserting one end of the fluid line is relatively small and just wide enough for the fluid line to pass through. As a result, the fluid line end and the full/refilled fluid storage container have to be readjusted or repositioned with respect to each other. This tends to be a time-consuming and troublesome task.
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It is an object of the present invention to overcome this inconvenience.
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To this end, the present invention provides an apparatus for conveying a fluid from a replaceable fluid storage container to a fluid target container, the apparatus comprising a fluid line flexible in at least partial sections along its length and extending from said storage container to the target container. According to a first aspect of the invention, the fluid line is associated with a fluid line adjustment system (skeleton system) comprising a fixed frame, a first member, a second member and a third member, wherein the first member is movably supported by the fixed frame, the second member is movably supported by the first member and the third member is movably supported by the second member.
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This skeleton-type adjustment system provides several degrees of freedom for moving the end of the fluid line with respect to the refilled/full fluid storage container and, thus, enables the fluid line associated with it to be easily adjusted with respect to the opening of the refilled/full storage container.
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When replacing empty fluid storage containers by full/refilled fluid storage containers, the operator or maintenance staff may fail at positioning the correct full/refilled fluid storage container at a given location from where the empty fluid storage container was just removed. Such mistakes may cause serious problems in systems using these fluids, such as disinfection/laundry stations in hospitals.
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It is a further object of the present invention to overcome this drawback.
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To this end, the present invention provides an apparatus for conveying a fluid from a replaceable fluid storage container to a fluid target container, the apparatus comprising a fluid line flexible in at least partial sections along its length and extending from said storage container to the target container. According to a second aspect of the invention, the fluid line is associated with a fluid line adjustment system (skeleton system) which comprises a first radio frequency identification device (RFID1) capable of interacting with a second radio frequency identification device (RFID2) fixed to the replaceable fluid storage container.
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This RFID-backed adjustment system provides a monitoring function for replacing an empty fluid storage container by a full/refilled fluid storage container. When the operator or maintenance staff replaces an empty fluid storage container with a wrong type of full/refilled fluid storage container, the monitoring system comprising the first and second radio frequency identification devices RFID1 and RFID2 will cause an alarm (optical/acoustic) and/or disable the fluid line (shut-off) and/or disable the adjustment system.
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When the end portion of the fluid line (flexible hose or rigid tube) is inserted into the fluid storage container and removed from it, or when the fluid line extending into the fluid inside the fluid storage container is raised somewhat, the outside of the end portion of the fluid line is covered with fluid. The fluid tends to drip from the end portion of the fluid line, and may be spilled all over the apparatus and the fluid storage container in the pump station. This not only causes an unpleasant mess around the pump station, possibly damaging some of the surrounding surfaces, but, more seriously, may also jeopardize the health of the operator or maintenance staff when such fluid contacts their skin or respiratory tract. This can be a major issue when the fluid is a disinfectant or laundry detergent used in disinfection/laundry stations at hospitals.
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It is a further object of the present invention to overcome this drawback.
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To this end, the present invention provides an apparatus for conveying a fluid from a replaceable fluid storage container to a fluid target container, the apparatus comprising a fluid line flexible in at least partial sections along its length and extending from said storage container to the target container. According to a third aspect of the invention, the fluid line is associated with a fluid line adjustment system (skeleton system) which comprises a movable member and an elongate dip member in fluid connection with the fluid line and slidably supported by the movable member such that the elongate dip member can be lowered through an opening into the storage container or raised through the opening out of the storage container. In this arrangement, a wiper means circumferentially surrounding the elongate dip member is provided for wiping off (stripping) fluid from the surface of the elongate dip member.
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This wiper means prevents fluid sticking to the end portion of the fluid line from being lifted out of the fluid storage container together with the end portion of the fluid line. Thus, no fluid will be spilled outside the fluid storage container.
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When raising the fluid-contacting end portion of the fluid line with respect to the fluid storage container, a significant additional length of fluid line has to be deposited or suspended somewhere outside the fluid storage container in order to prevent the operator or maintenance staff from tripping over the fluid line.
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It is a further object of the present invention to overcome this drawback.
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To this end, the present invention provides an apparatus for conveying a fluid from a replaceable fluid storage container to a fluid target container, the apparatus comprising a fluid line flexible in at least partial sections along its length and extending from said storage container to the target container. According to a fourth aspect of the invention, fluid line length-adjustment means for receiving some of the length of the fluid line are provided which permit length adjustment of the fluid line at locations where the fluid line bridges two members slidably mounted with respect to each other.
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This fluid line length adjustment or fluid line length "buffering" prevents length portions of the fluid line outside the fluid storage container from hanging or lying around in the pump station in an uncontrolled manner.
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As for the fluid line adjustment system (skeleton system), the first member may be pivotably mounted, preferably by a first joint, at the frame. Preferably, the first joint between the frame and the first member is a hinge-type joint.
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Similarly, the second member may be pivotably mounted, preferably by a second joint, at the first member. Preferably, the second joint between the first member and the second member is a hinge-type joint. This provides two degrees of freedom (angle, angle) for positioning the adjustment system.
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As an alternative, the second member may be slidably mounted, preferably by a slide bearing or a roller bearing, at the first member. Preferably, the bearing is a telescopic bearing. Again, this provides two degrees of freedom (radius, angle) for positioning the adjustment system.
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Also, the third member may be mounted, preferably by a third joint, at the second member. This third joint may be a ball joint.
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In a preferred embodiment, the third member is slidably mounted, preferably by a slide bearing or a roller bearing, at said second member. The bearing may be a telescopic bearing.
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Preferably, a point of the fluid line is fixed at each member of the adjustment system. In other words, a first point of the fluid line may be fixed at the first member, a second point of the fluid line may be fixed at the second member, and a third point of the fluid line may be fixed at the third member.
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In a further preferred embodiment, the fluid line length-adjustment means comprises a first roller having a fixedly-mounted axis of rotation and a second roller having a movably-mounted axis of rotation. Preferably, the fluid line adjustment system (skeleton system) comprises a hollow member and the fluid line length-adjustment means is located inside the hollow member.
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The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings.
- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a set-up including a pump and control device and an apparatus according to the invention for conveying the fluid from a replaceable fluid storage container to a fluid target container;
- Fig. 2 is a top view of the set-up with the containers and equipped with the apparatus according to the invention;
- Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention which can be mounted in the set-up of Fig.1, the range of motion of the apparatus being shown;
- Fig. 4 is a first lateral view of the apparatus according to the invention;
- Fig. 5 is a second lateral view of the apparatus according to the invention;
- Fig. 6 is a top view of the apparatus according to the invention, showing the range of motion of the apparatus;
- Fig. 7 is a perspective view of some elements of the apparatus according to the invention;
- Fig. 7A is an enlarged view of the encircled detail of Fig. 7.
- Fig. 8 is another perspective view of some elements of the apparatus according to the invention;
- Fig. 8A is an enlarged view of the encircled detail of Fig. 8.
- Fig. 9 is a perspective view of some elements of the apparatus according to the invention;
- Fig. 9A is an enlarged view of the encircled detail of Fig. 9.
- Fig. 10 is a top view of the bottom part of an element of the apparatus according to the invention;
- Fig. 10A is a sectional view of plane A-A in Fig. 10.
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Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a set-up 13 for receiving a fluid storage container C1 and a fluid target container C2 (shown in Fig. 2). The set-up includes a floor 13a, a rear wall 13b, a left-hand side wall 13c and a righthand side wall 13d. The set-up 13 is equipped with a pump and control device 9 comprising a pump 9a and a control device 9b as well as an apparatus 1 according to the invention for conveying the fluid from the replaceable fluid storage container C1 to the fluid target container C2. The fluid storage container C1 has a first opening 01 and a second opening 02 in its lid portion.
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The fluid storage container C1 is positioned on the floor 13a. The pump and control device 9 is mounted on the rear wall 13b. Like the fluid line (not shown in Fig. 1), the apparatus 1 extends between the pump and control device 9 and the fluid storage container C1. The apparatus 1 comprises a frame 2, a first member 4, a second member 6 and a third member 8. All these members are rigid members. The first member 4 is linked to a frame plate 2a of the frame 2 by a hinge 3. The second member 6 is linked to the first member 4 by a hinge 5. The third member 8 is slidably supported by the second member 6 via a slide bearing 7 (as shown in Figs. 10 and 10A). This third member 8 is the dip member at the end of the fluid line L (shown in Figs. 9 and 9A), which may be lowered into or raised out of the fluid storage container C1. As a result, the lower end or tip of the dip member 8 can be moved to all locations within a planar range R (as shown in Figs. 3 and 6) on top of the fluid storage container C1 and within a vertical range approximately corresponding to the length of the third member (dip member) 8 or the vertical length/height of the second member 6.
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In addition to its joint function or bearing function, the slide bearing 7 also provides a wiping or stripping function for fluid sticking to the surface of the third member (dip member) 8, thus preventing fluid from being dripped or spilled over the set-up 13.
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At the bottom end of the second member 6, a first radio frequency identification device (RFID) 16 is provided, and at the lid next to the opening 01 of the fluid storage container C1, a second radio frequency identification device (RFID) 17 is provided. The first RFID 16 is an active device while the second RFID 17 is a passive device. The passive RFID 17 is attached with a sticky label on the fluid storage container C1, and contains information on the type of fluid in the container C1. The active RFID 16 attached to the bottom part 6a (as shown in Fig. 10A) of the second member 6 contains information on the type of fluid required at this particular pump and control device 9. When brought into proximity of each other, the two RFIDs 16 and 17 interact with each other, and information from RFID 17 is passed to RFID 16. The RFID 16 is programmed such that it compares the fluid type-related information from RFID 17 with the fluid type-related information in RFID 16. If the fluid types in RFID 16 and in RFID 17 mismatch, RFID 16 will cause an alarm signal and/or shut off the pump 9a.
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Fig. 2 is a top view of the set-up 13 of Fig. 1 with the containers C1 and C2, the pump and control device 9 and the apparatus 1 according to the invention. In addition to the elements and reference signs which are identical to the corresponding ones in Fig. 1, a vertical plane X-X extending within the rear wall 13b of the set-up 13 indicates that, unlike the arrangement shown in these drawings, the fluid target containers C2 behind this plane X-X or rear wall 13b could be quite remote from the fluid storage container C1, the pump and control device 9 and the apparatus 1 according to the invention. In fact, the fluid target containers C2 could be located in a different room of a given floor or even on a different floor of a building.
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Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are different views of the apparatus 1 according to the invention without the set-up 13, on which it can be mounted. In addition to the elements and reference signs, which are identical to the corresponding ones in Figs. 1 and 2, a planar range R is shown. As mentioned above, this range R indicates the locations to which the third member (dip member) 8 of the apparatus 1 can be moved by pivoting the first member 4 and the second member 6 around the vertical axes of the hinges 3 and 5 (two degrees of freedom). In addition to all locations within the planar range R, the lower end or tip of the dip member 8 can be moved within a vertical range approximately corresponding to the length of the third member (dip member) 8 or the vertical length/height of the second member 6.
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Figs. 7, 7A, 8, 8A, 9, 9A and 10, 10A are different views showing only the apparatus 1 according to the invention or parts of it.
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Fig. 7A shows a detail of the second joint (hinge) 5 of Fig. 7. The upper part and lower part of the first member 4 each have an arm portion 4a interacting with the second member 6, thus forming the hinge 5. In addition, the upper parts of the hollow first member 4 and the hollow second member 6 are provided with a line duct opening 4b and 6b, respectively. As a result, the fluid line L, only part of which is shown in Figs. 8, 8A, 9, 9A, can be passed through the upper hollow part of the first member 4 and the second member 6 and on top of the arm portion 4a of the first member 4. The fluid line L has to be flexible in at least its length portion extending between the line duct openings 4b and 6b on top of the arm portion 4a.
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Figs. 8A and 9A ?? show a detail of the fluid line length-adjustment means 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 of Figs. 8 and 9, respectively for receiving some of the length of the fluid line L. In Figs. 9 and 9A, the hollow second member 6 of Figs. 8 and 8A has been removed for clarity.
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The overall fluid transport line is constituted by the hollow dip member or third member 8 forming a rigid portion of the overall fluid transport line and by the hollow hose forming a flexible portion or flexible fluid line L of the overall fluid transport line. In Figs. 8, 9 and 8A, 9A, the dip member 8 is in its lowermost position corresponding to the maximum depth penetration in the fluid storage container C1. At the upper end (only visible in Figs. 9 and 9A) of the dip member 8, the flexible fluid line L (hose) is attached and extends upward (concealed in Figs. 8 and 8A) along the entire vertical length of the hollow second member 6 up to a first roller (pulley) 10, where it is deflected about 180° around this first roller 10. From the first roller 10, it extends downward to a second roller 12 positioned below the first roller 10, where it is deflected about 180° around this second roller 12. From the second roller 12, it again extends upward to a line box 6c positioned above the second roller 12 and next to the first roller 10.
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The remaining portion (not shown in any of the figures) of the flexible fluid line L extends downward from the line box 6c along most of the vertical length of the hollow second member 6. In the lower part of the second member 6, the flexible fluid line L is bent about 90°, and extends horizontally through the line duct openings 6b and 4b (shown in Figs. 7A and 8A) across the upper part of hinge 5 and finally through the upper hollow part of the first member 4 and across the upper part of hinge 3 (better seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 7) all the way to the pump and control device 9.
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The axis of rotation 10a of the first roller (pulley) 10 is fixed with respect to the hollow member 6, whereas the axis of rotation 12a of the second roller 12 is movable with respect to the hollow member 6. The axis of rotation 12a is rotationally mounted on a movable suspension 12b (not shown). A helical spring 11 extends vertically between the movable suspension 12b and a bottom part 6a (shown in Figs. 10 and 10A) of the hollow second member 6.
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A drive motor 14 is rigidly connected to the bottom part 6a of the hollow second member 6. A toothed wheel (not shown) of the drive motor 14 engages a toothed drive belt 15 tensioned between a bottom suspension roller (not visible in the figures) fixed at the bottom part 6a of the hollow second member 6 and a top suspension 15a fixed at an upper part of the hollow second member 6. A slide or carriage 18 is fixed to the drive belt 15 and to the upper end portion of the dip member 8. When the drive motor 14 is turned on rotating its toothed wheel in a first direction, the slide/carriage 18 and the dip member 8 will move upward together with the drive belt 15. When the drive motor 14 is turned on rotating its toothed wheel in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the slide/carriage 18 and the dip member 8 will move downward together with the drive belt 15.
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The helical spring 11 provides tensioning of the flexible fluid line L, which is fixed at the upper end of the rigid dip member 8 and at the line box 6c and which passes around the two rollers (pulleys) 10, 12. When the slide/carriage 18 is moved the entire vertical distance upward/downward between its lower stop position and upper stop position inside the hollow second member 6, the second roller (pulley) 12 is moved a distance downward/upward corresponding to half the entire vertical distance between the lower and upper stop positions of the slide/carriage 18.
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Fig. 10 is a top view of the bottom part 6a of the second member 6 of the apparatus 1 according to the invention, and Fig. 10A is a sectional view of plane A-A in Fig. 10. The third member (dip member) 8 extends through a hole in the bottom part 6a of the second member 6, and is slidably mounted in a guide rail (not shown) within the hollow second member 6 and in a third joint 7, which also provides wiping action for wiping off fluid from the surface of the rigid dip member 8.
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If the rear wall 13b of the set-up 13 is not exactly vertical or has some other irregular shape, fixing the pump and control device 9 to this rear wall 13b would not guarantee that the plane of the planar range of motion R is exactly horizontal because the axes of rotation of the hinges 3 and 5 may not be exactly vertical. As a result, the first member 4 and the second member 6 would not be balanced, and would tend to swing to a position of lowest potential energy under the influence of gravity. In order to compensate for such instances of imbalance, a first group of adjustment holes 19, 20 are provided in the lateral walls of the frame 2 (best seen in Fig. 3), and a second group of adjustment holes 21 and 22 (best seen in Fig. 8A) are provided in the frame plate 2a. Each of these adjustment holes interacts with a pin-like element such as a screw (not shown) extending through such an adjustment hole. The first group includes a round adjustement hole 19 and an elongate/oblong adjustment hole 20. Similarly, the second group includes a round adjustment hole 21 and an elongate/oblong adjustment hole 22. This enables the frame plate 2a to be adjusted with respect to the frame 2 by tilting the frame plate 2a around a first axis of rotation defined by the round adjustment holes 19 in both lateral walls of the frame 2. Also, this enables the first joint 3 to be adjusted with respect to the frame plate 2a by tilting the first joint 3 around a second axis of rotation defined by the round adjustment hole 21 in the frame plate 2a. When properly adjusted, the first member 4 and the second member 6 of the apparatus 1 according to the invention will be balanced, irrespective of their positions. As a result, the adjustment system or skeleton system 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 may be moved with a minimum of force, and will stay at the position to which it is moved.
