GB2192178A

GB2192178A - The transportation of liquid, in particular diesel fuel

Info

Publication number: GB2192178A
Application number: GB08714064A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William J C Dunlop
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-06-26
Filing date: 1987-06-16
Publication date: 1988-01-06
Also published as: MW4187A1; GB8714064D0

Abstract

A transportation system 10 for transporting diesel fuel includes a flexible tank 12 within which the diesel fuel is contained. The tank 12 is located in a bag-like element 16 which is made of a material which is impervious to diesel fuel. The tank 12 and bag-like element 16 are placed within a standard transport container 14. The system 10 includes a sheet 32 of the same material as the bag-like element 16. The sheet 32 covers the top of the tank 12 and serves to channel any liquid that seeps or spills from the tank 12 into the bag-like element 16 to be contained by the bag-like element 16. Elasticised ropes 34 are provided to retain the sides of the bag-like element in position against the sides of the tank 12 and to hold the sheet 32 in position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION The transportation of liquid, in particular diesel fuel This invention relates to the transportation of liquids, in particular the transportation of diesel fuel. In particular, it relates to an accessory for use in the transportation ofthe liquids, to atransportation system including the accessory, and to a method of packing or transporting the liquids.

The liquids are presently transported in a flexible tankwhich is located in an ISO transport container.

Unfortunately, these flexible tanks seep or liquids spill out ofthem into the transport container. With most liquids this is not important. However with diesel fuel, if only a very small amount seeps out of theflexibletankorspillsout,thiscontaminatesthe container and it is extremely expensive and time consuming to replace contaminated wooden floor members of the transport container.

Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides an accessory for use in the transportation of liquids, in particular diesel fuel, which includes a flexible bag-like element of a material which is impervious to the liquid, and which in its operative configuration is substantially box-shaped having at least one open side, for removably receiving a flexible tankforthe liquid such thatthe bag-like element at least partially surroundsthetank.

The accessory may include a retaining means for retaining the bag-like element in its operative configuration aboutthetank.

The retaining means maycomprisea pluralityof ropes having hooks at their ends, the ropes, in use, passing over the top of the tank, and the hooks engaging openings provided in a peripheral portion of the bag-like element extending about the open side of the bag-like element. The ropes may be of an elastomeric material.

The accessory may include a covering means for covering at least that portion of the tank which, in use, is not surrounded by the bag-like element.

The covering means may include a sheet of material which is the same as that ofthe bag-like element, the sheet, in use, being placed over the top ofthe flexible tank with side portions ofthe sheet being tucked between the tank and the sides ofthe bag-like element, and the sheet being retained in position by the retaining means.

The bag-like element may have a floor portion and four side-wall portions. The portions may be joined to one another byfluidtightseams.

According to another aspect ofthe invention there is provided a transportation system fortransporting liquids, in particular diesel fuel, which includes a rigid transport container; a flexible tank for the liquid within the container; and an accessory as described abovewithin which the tankis located for catching and holding any liquid that mayseep orspill from theflexibletank.

The bag-like element may extend partially up the sides ofthetank.

The system may include a positioning means for positioning the tank in the bag-like element, the positioning means further serving releasablyto secure the tank and the bag-like element together.

The positioning means may include a first component extending along an inner surface of a floor ofthe bag-like element, and a second component extending along an outer surface of the bottom of the flexible tank, the first component and second component being such that they releasably grip each other.

The bag-like element and the covering sheet may be of a suitable synthetic plastics and/or rubber material. Preferably, the bag-like element and the sheet may be of a synthetic plastics material which has been impregnated with a rubber material.

By means of the invention, a system is provided whereby diesel fuels may be transported without contamination of the transport container in which the fuel is being transported.

The invention extends also to a method of transporting liquid, in particular diesel fuel, which includes placing a flexible tank within an accessory as described above; placing the tank and the accessory within a transport container; and charging the flexible tank with the liquid to be transported.

The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a side elevation of an accessory in accordance with the invention for use in the transportation of liquids; Figure2 shows an end view of the accessory of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a sectional side view of a wall of the accessory taken along linelll-lll in Figure 1; and Figure 4shows a schematic sectional end view of a transportation system in accordance with the invention.

Referring to Figure 4, a transportation system for transporting liquids, in particular diesel fuel, in accordance with the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The transportation system 10 includes a flexible tank 12 within which the liquid iscontained.Theflexibletank 12 isadaptedfortransportation in a rigid ISO transport container 14.

The flexible tank 12 is located within an accessory, in accordance with the invention for the transportation of diesel fuel, the accessory being in the form of a bag-like element 16. The bag-like element 16, together with the tank 12 is placed within the container 14. The bag-like element 16 is of a synthetic plastics material impregnated with an elastomeric material that is impervious to diesel fuel.

The bag-like element 16 is formed from a flat sheet of the plastics material which is folded into the required shape,which can besubstantiallya box-shape, having a floor 18 and side walls 20 and end walls 22 that are substantially perpendicular to one another and to the floor 18. Where the end walls 22 and the side walls 20 meet, the end walls 22 are folded over onto the side walls 20 to form substantiallyfluid tight seams 24. Reinforcing means 23 are provided in each corner of the element 16. The upper free ends ofthe walls 20 and 22 are folded over as shown at 26 in Figure 3. Holes, or openings 28 are provided in the walls 20 ofthe bag-like element 16 close to the upper free ends thereof.

The material from which the bag-like element 16 is made is known as Hyperlastic ("Hyperlastic" is a Registered Trade Mark). Hyperlastic is based on either a stabilized ethylene-vinyl acetate co-polymer formulation or a low density polyethylene formulation.

The transportation system lOfurtherincludesa positioning means, shown at 30 in Figure 4for positioning the tank 12 in the bag-like element 16.

The positioning means 30 also serves to secure the tank 12 and the bag-like element 16 together. The positioning means can be complementary strips of Velcro material (Velcro is a Registered Trade Mark).

Afirststrip of Veicro material extends along the length of the floor ofthe bag-like element 1 6to engage a complementary strip of Velcro material extending along the length ofthe bottom ofthetank 12.

The transportation system 10 also includes a sheet 32 made ofthe same material as the bag-like element 16. The sheet 32 serves to channel any liquid that seeps or spills from the tank 12 into the element 16, the sheet 32 being placed over the tank 12 and being tucked between the tank 12 and the sides ofthe bag-like element 16.

Retaining meansintheformofelasticised ropes 34 are provided to retain the sides ofthe bag-like element 16 in position againstthe sides of the tank 12 to ensure that the sides of the element 16 do notfall down in use. Hooks 36 are provided at the ends of each of the ropes 34for engaging the holes 28 atthe upperfree ends of the side walls 20 of the bag-like element 16. The ropes 34further serve to retain the sheet 32 in position on top ofthe tank 12.

In use, an empty tank 12 is placed in position within the bag-like element 16 so that the positioning means 30 ofthetank 12 and the bag-like element 16 engage one another. The tank 12 and bag-like element 16 are then placed within the transport container 14. Thetank 12 isfilled with diesel fuel via a filling trunk 38 projecting from thetop ofthetank 12.

Once the tank 12 has been filled, the sides ofthe element 16 are extended upthe sides ofthetank 12 and the sheet 32 is placed in position with the ends of the sheet 32 being tucked in between the sides ofthe tank 12 and the bag-like element 16. The ropes 34 are then secured in position.

Ifthetank 12 leaks in use, the diesel fuel is captured and contained bythe bag-like element 16 thus preventing wooden floor members 40 ofthe transport container 14 becoming contaminated by the diesel fuel.

Claims

1. An accessoryfor use ill thetransportation of liquids, in particular diesel fuel, which includes a flexible bag-like element-of a material which is impervious to the liquid, and which in its operative configuration is substantially box-shaped having at least one open side, for removably receiving a flexible tankforthe liquid such that the bag-like element at least partially surrounds the tank.

2. The accessory as claimed in Claim 1 which includes a retaining means for retaining the bag-like element in its operative configuration aboutthe tank.

3. The accessory as claimed in Claim 2 in which the retaining means comprises a plurality of ropes having hooks at their ends, the ropes, in use, passing overthe top of the tank, and the hooks engaging openings provided in a peripheral portion ofthe bag-like element extending about the open side of the bag-like element.

4. The accessory as claimed i n Clai m 3 in which the ropes are of an elastomeric material.

5. The accessory as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4 inclusive which includes a covering means for covering at leastthat portion ofthe tank which, in use, is not surrounded by the bag-iike element.

6. The accessory as claimed in Claim 5 in which the covering means includes a sheet of material which isthe same as that of the bag-like element, the sheet, in use, being placed overthetop of the flexible tank with side portions of the sheet being tucked between the tank and the sides ofthe bag-like element, and the sheet being retained in position by the retaining means.

7. The accessory as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, in which the bag-like element has a floor portion and four side-wall portions.

8. The accessory as claimed in Claim 7, in which the portions are joined to one another by fluid tight seams.

9. Atransportation system for transporting liquids, in particular diesel fuel, which includes a rigid transport container; a flexible tankforthe liquid within the container; and an accessory as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 inclusive within which the tank is located for catching and holding any liquid that may seep or spill from theflexibletank.

10. The system as claimed in Claim 9 in which the bag-like element extends partially up the sides of the tank.

11. The system as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10 which includes a positioning means for positioning the tank in the bag-like element, the positioning means further serving releasablyto secure the tank and the bag-like element together.

12. The system as claimed in Claim 11 in which the positioning means includes a first component extending along an innersurfaceofafloorofthe bag-like element, and a second component extending along an outer surface of the bottom ofthe flexible tank, the first component and second component being such thatthey releasably grip each other.

13. A method oftransporting a liquid, in particular diesel fuel, which includes placing a flexible tank within an accessory as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 inclusive; placing the tank and the accessory within a transport container; and charging the flexible tank with the liquid to be transported.

14. A new accessory for use in the transportation of liquids, substantially as described and as illustrated herein.

15. A new transportation system for transporting liquids, substantially as described and as illustrated herein.

16. A new method oftransporting liquids substantially as described herein.