GB2247451A - Fluid transfer system - Google Patents

Abstract

In a fluid transfer system, preferably for transferring concentrate from a smaller to a larger container for dilution, comprising two containers each provided with a respective adaptor having first and second fluid flow paths, the adaptors being capable of coupling together when one container is inverted to provide communication between the respective first and second fluid flow paths. control means are provided responsive to such coupling to open the flow paths of at least the adaptor of the inverted container. In the preferred embodiment the control means comprise valves 32, (46 figs. 1, 3) which control concentrate flow and venting of air respectively. <IMAGE>

Description

LIQUID TRANSFER SYSTEM The present invention relates to liquid transfer systems.

In the agricultural industry wider use is being made of chemicals both for use as a fertiliser and as an insecticide. Crop spraying equipment is thus becoming more widespread. Fertilisers and insecticides are usually supplied in concentrated form and need dilution before use. Usually a small container of concentrate is emptied into a large container of water to dilute the concentrate. Two maJor problems arise. Firstly, the concentrates can be highly corrosive or toxic and there is therefore a considerable risk that the operative, if he does not take the proper precautions by wearing protective gear etc, may become contaminated and suffer serious damage. Secondly, diluting the concentrate, one tankfull at a time, usually results in a quantity of the diluted concentrate remaining after the crop spraying operation has been completed.This residual liquid needs to be disposed of, but because of its nature it cannot simply be poured down the drain.

Proposals to solve this latter problem include the provision of an injection system in which te concentrate is injected slowly into a stream of water as it is being used to spray crops. Thus only the concentrate needed is actually dilute for a particular task.

Concentrate is usually only supplied in small containers and since often quite large areas need to be treated, the crop sprayers need to be or can be provided with a series of larger concentrate containers each of which has the necessary capacity to store the necessary volume of concentrate for the job in hand.

These larger containers have to be filled from smaller containers and so once again the operative is at risk during the transfer process.

It is an object to provide an improved transfer system.

According to the present invention there is provided a fluid transfer system comprising first and second containers each provided with a respective adaptor, each adaptor having a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path, the adaptors being capable of coupling with each other when the first container is inverted to provide communication between the first fluid flow paths of the adaptors and to provide communication between the second fluid flow paths of the adaptors, and control means responsive to coupling taking place to open the normally closed first and second fluid flow paths of at least the adaptor of the inverted container.

According to the present invention there is further provided an adaptor for fitting into the opening of a container for use in a liquid transfer system, the adaptor comprising an outer body housing a slidable inner conduit, the outer body defining a chamber at one end with which the conduit communicates, a valve located in said chamber coupled to said conduit whereby the valve can be opened and closed in response to displacement of said conduit.

A liquid transfer system embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a concentrate bottle fitted with a liquid transfer adaptor; Figure lA is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the bottle of Figure 1 when filled with an ordinary closure.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section of the bottle of Figure 1 to an enlarged scale when inverted and fitted on the adaptor of a storage container; Figure 3 is a fragmentary section of the lower portion of the concentrate bottle to an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the liquid transfer system; Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through an adaptor for a reservoir bottle; Figure 6 is a longitudinal section through the adaptor of the concentrate bottle and the adaptor of the reservoir bottle when both are coupled together; Figure 7 is a section through a vented closure for the adaptor of the reservoir bottle; Figure 8 is a longitudinal section through a modification for the adaptor of Figure 6.

The liquid transfer system comprises a first small concentrate bottle fitted with a first transfer adaptor and a second larger reservoir bottle fitted with a cooperating second transfer adaptor so that transfer of liquid from the first bottle to the second bottle can take place with very little risk of the operator being contaminated by the liquid.

Instead of the second reservoir being a bottle it can take the form of a tank fitted with a sealable closing lid.

Figure 1 shows the first bottle 2 in which the regular screwthreaded sealing cap 4 (see Figure 1A) has been removed and replaced by an adaptor cap 6 of the first adaptor. The adaptor cap 6 is then fitted with an adaptor tube mechanism 8.

As shown in Figure 1A, the mouth of the container 2 is sealed by a foil membrane 10. This membrane 10 remains in place when the cap 4 is removed and is perforated when the adaptor cap 6 is caused to screwthreadedly engage the neck of the bottle. For this purpose the cap 6 has on its underside an annular rib 12 with a raised cutting edge 12A over a small sector thereof. The rib 12 retains an annular seal 14 so that when the cap 6 is screwed home it forms a liquid tight seal with the neck of the container.

The cap 6 has a central opening which is surrounded by an upstanding tube 16. On the inner face of the tube 16 there is an annular locating recess 18 and axially spaced therefrom an annular recess partially engaged by an O-ring 20. A sacrificial sealing plug (not shown) closes the lower end of the tube (as viewed in Figure,).

The tube 16 is engaged by the adaptor tube mechanism 8. The mechanism 8 has a tubular housing 22 which is sized to sealingly engage the O-ring 20.

In a modification the O-ring may be located in a recess in the outer wall of the housing 22 to sealingly engage the tube 16. At its upper end the housing 22 has a radially outwardly directed flange 20A which is arranged to abut the upper end of the tube 16 when the housing 22 is pushed down into the tube 16. tying just below the flange 20A is an outwardly directed locating rib 24 which is arranged to engage the locating recess 18 and thereby lock the housing 22 to the tube 16.

The tubular housing accommodates a hollow slidable rod 26 which passes through a radially inwardly directed flange 28 rigid with the housing 22. An O-ring 30 is partially accommodated in an annular recess in the circumferential wall of the flange 28 to provide a liquid tight seal between the rod 26 and the flange 28.

A first plug member 32 is rigid with the upper end of the rod 26 while a second plug member 34 is rigid with the lower end of the rod 26 (as viewed in Figure 1). A coil spring 34 encircles the rod 26 between the flange 28 and the first plug member 32 to urge the assembly consisting of the rod 26 and the two plug members 32 and 34, upwardly (as viewed in Figure 1) into a first position. The first plug member 32 can be urged against the resilience of the spring to displace the assembly downwardly into a second position.

The housing 22 has, in its outer wall, a circumferentially extending series of equiangularly spaced apertures 36 at the level of the first plug member 32 when in the first position.

An O-ring 38 partially recessed in the outer wall of the first plug member just above the apertures 36 sealingly engages the housing. Another 0-ring 40 partially recessed in the outer wall of the first plug member just below the apertures 36 also sealingly engages the housing. Thus when the first plug member 32 is in the first position no liquid from the container 2 can enter the part of the housing above the plug member 32 and so no liquid can escape. It is only when the first plug member is moved down into the second position that it will clear the apertures 36 and so allow the liquid to escape through the cap 6.

The tubular housing 22 is also provided with two further series of circumferentially extending equiangularly spaced apertures, one series of apertures 42 being located immediately below the flange 28 and another series of apertures 44 being located immediately above the second plug member 34 when in the first position.

These apertures 42 and 44 admit liquid from the container 2 freely into the space between the rod 26 and the housing in an intermediate section thereof so that the amount of liquid displaced when the housing 22 is inserted into the container 2 is kept to a minimum and the level of liquid in the container 2 does not rise up excessively. In a modification the space between the housing 22 and the rod 26 may be divided into a series of axial spaced chambers with apertures in the top and bottom of the side walls of each chamber. This ensures that if the bottles were to fall over while the housing 22 and rod were being inserted, the maximum spillage would be the amount of fluid present in one of the chambers.

The rod 26 carries a closure flange 46 at its lower end. The closure flange 46 is arranged to sealingly engage an O-ring 48 partially recessed in the adjacent axial end of the housing when the assembly is in the first position. An O-ring 50 partially recessed in the outer wall of the second plug member 34 sealingly engages the housing 22 to form a sealed compartment 52 between the plug member 34 and the closure flange 46. A circumferentially extending series of equiangularly spaced apertures 54 are provided in the rod 26 immediately adjacent the closure flange to provide communication between the housing 22 and the hollow interior of the rod 26.

The upper end of the rod 26 terminates within the first plug member 32. The plug member 32 has a chamfered opening leading to the upper face of the rod 26 to act as a guide to bring a rod (not shown), associated with a second transfer adaptor of the second bottle, into the abutting engagement with the rod 26.

In operation upon receipt of a bottle 2 of concentrate, the cap 4 is removed and replaced by the adaptor cap 6. In screwing the adaptor cap home the cutting edge 12A cuts the foil seal 10 and the severed part of the seal falls to the bottom of the container. Instead the seal may not be entirely cut and so will be retained after it has been displaced from the opening. Once screwed home the cap 6 is sealed to the container 2 by the seal 14. The tubular housing 20 is then inserted into the tube 16 of the cap 6 and pushed home until the sacrificial plug is displaced from the tube 16 and the locating rib 24 snaps into the locating recess 18. At this point the lower end of the housing will lie just spaced from the floor of the bottle by a distance corresponding to the permitted travel of the rod 26.

As the housing 20 is lowered into the container liquid will enter the apertures 44 and air will be displaced from apertures 42. In this state liquid will be sealed in the bottle by seal 14 and O-rings 20 and 38. A sprung shoulder support mechanism (not shown) is mounted on the shoulders of the reservoir bottle 60.

In order to transfer liquid from the bottle 2, the bottle is inverted lowered on to the sprung shoulder support mechanism and caused to engage a rod of the second transfer adaptor. By displacing the bottle downwardly against the springing of the shoulder support mechanism, the assembly consisting of the plug members 32 and 34 will be displaced upwardly relative to the bottle 2 (as viewed in Figure 2).

The flange 46 will clear the end of the housing, and air will be admitted through the rod 26 and apertures 54 into the bottle 20. At the same time the plug member 32 will have cleared the apertures 36 and so liquid within the bottle will be permitted to escape from the tube 16.

The length of travel of the plug member 34 is arranged to be equal to its distance from the end of the housing so that when it is in its second position, the volume of the chamber 52 will be minimal and virtually no liquid will be trapped. The positions of the apertures 44, 36 and 42 are such that substantially all the liquid in the bottle can be drained therefrom through the tube 16.

If at any time during dispensing, the bottle is raised, the spring 34 will act to ensure that the bottle becomes immediately sealed again so that the bottle can be safely stored.

As shown in Figure 4 the concentrate bottle 2 is about to be coupled to the reservoir bottle 60 and a saddle 62 is provided between the two so as to ensure that the concentrate bottle is stably seated on the reservoir bottle 60. The reservoir bottle 60 has a sump 64 which extends just below the main floor of the bottle 60 and so a correspondingly profiled seat 66 is provided to ensure that the bottle 60 can rest stably on a level surface. The seat has two upstanding sides carrying respective inwardly directed projections 68 and 70 which respectively engage recesses 72 and 74 in the side wall of the bottle 60. In this way the seat 66 can be locked to the bottle 60, the bottle 60 has two carrying handles 76 and 78. The bottle 60 has a main opening closed by a screwthreaded cap 80. An adaptor 82 is fitted into a central opening in the cap to form a fluid tight seal.The adaptor 82 has a land 84 surrounding the opening therein which provides a platform on which a coiled spring 124 (see Figure 6) supporting the saddle 62 can rest. The bottle 60 has a further opening accommodating an extraction valve 86 which is coupled to a dip tube 88 extending from the valve 86 to the sump 64.

In operation the inverted bottle 2 is seated in the saddle 62 and the saddle is urged against the bias of the spring 124 to make contact with the land 84. The adaptor of the concentrate bottle 2 and that of the reservoir bottle 60 cooperate to open a first liquid path from the upper bottle 2 to the lower bottle 60, and a second air path from the lower bottle 60 to the upper bottle 2.

In this way liquid is transferred from the upper bottle 2 to the lower bottle and air in the lower bottle 60 is transferred to the upper bottle.

Neither air nor liquid escape from the liquid transfer system so that transfer can be effected in relative safety by an unskilled operator.

The adaptor 82 is shown more clearly in fugue 5. The adaptor 82 has a tubular body portion 90 having a radially outwardly directed annular flange 84 (which in effect defines the platform on the cap 80) adjacent its upper end. The flange 84 supports a cylindrical locating member 92 which is arranged to engage the saddle 62 to locate the saddle 62, centrally of the cap 80 and to accommodate a spring 124 to urge the saddle upwardly. The body portion 90 is sized to fit snuggly through the central opening in the cap 80 and has a screwthreaded portion which is screwthreadedly engaged. by a locking member 96 to clamp the cap 80 between the flange 84 and the locking member 96. The face of the flange 84 and the face of the locking member which are arranged to engage the cap 80, can each be profiled to mate with the cap.Sealing means (not shown) are provided to ensure a fluid tight seal between the cap 80 and the adaptor 82. A sleeve 98 is supported centrally within the upper portion of the body portion 90 by a series of radial spokes or fins 100. An annular radially inwardly directed flange 102 within the lower portion of the body portion 90 supports an 0ring 104. The flange 102 is fustroconical in shape and slopes downwardly and radially outwardly away from the O-ring 104.

A hollow shaft 106 is slidably supported by the sleeve 98 and the O-ring 104. The shaft 106 carries an annular stop 108 at its upper end. A coil spring 110 extends about the shaft 106 between the stop 108 and the sleeve 98 to urge the shaft upwardly as viewed in Figure 5. The sleeve 98 is provided with an annular groove 112 which accommodates the lower end of the spring 110. The lower end of the shaft 106 carries a closure valve 114 which normally engages an O-ring 116 partially recessed in the inner wall of the body portion 90. Instead the 0ring 116 may engage a recess in the outer wall of the valve 114.

The flange 102 in effect divides the volume within the body portion 90 into two chambers; an upper liquid chamber and a lower air chamber; the chambers being sealed from one another by the O-ring 104.

In the wall of the body portion 90 at the lower end of the liquid chamber are located a series of circumferentially spaced openings 118 which allow liquid to drain from the liquid chamber. In the wall of that portion of the shaft which is located in the lower air chamber, are a series of circumferentially spaced openings 120 which allow air to be vented from the air chamber to the top of the shaft 106.

In operation when- the shaft 106 is displaced downwardly, the valve 114 disengages the 0ring 116 and so admits air from below to the air chamber from where it can escape through the hollow shaft 106.

In operation the saddle 62 is mounted on the adaptor 82 so that the locating member 92 engages the annular inner face of the saddle. The locating member has an inwardly directed annular rib at its upper end which can cooperate with an inwardly directed lower rib on the saddle to hold the saddle captive but to allow relative axial movement between the two. The saddle 62 provides a central opening for accommodating the cap 6 on the concentrate bottle 2 and a platform on which the shoulders of the concentrate bottle 2 can rest. Instead the shoulders of the concentrate bottle 2 can rest on a spring loaded table (not shown).

When the concentrate bottle 2 is inverted and applied to the saddle and the saddle urged downwardly against the bias of the spring 124, the upper end 108 of the shaft 106 will engage the plug member 32. Because the coil spring 110 is weaker than the spring 34, the shaft 106 will first be displaced downwardly until the valve 114 opens. This now allows air to communicate from the reservoir bottle 60 to the concentrate bottle 2. Upon further relative movement of the bottles 2 and 60 towards each other, the rod 26 is displaced to open the apertures 36 and the closure flange 46. Liquid from the concentrate bottle can then immediately drain from the bottle 2 through the tubular housing 22 and the body portion 90 and through the openings 118 into the reservoir bottle 60.In the meantime air in the reservoir bottle 60 displaced by the liquid entering the bottle 60 can escape through the openings 120 in the shaft 106 and is drawn upwardly through the rod 26 by the vacuum created by the liquid departing from the bottle 2. In this way a speedy transfer of air and liquid between the bottles is achieved.

Releasing the pressure on the bottles slightly will allow the springs 34 and 110 to act to close the flow paths between the bottles and so the flow rate between the bottles can to some extent be controlled.

This is especially useful when the lower bottle approaches a full state.

It will be appreciated that when the rising level of liquid within the reservoir container reaches the level of the O-ring 116 no further air can escape and as filling progresses a vacuum will be created in the upper bottle 2 so that draining of liquid from the bottle 2 will be halted before the liquid in the reservoir bottle 60 reaches the cap 80.

When the bottle 2 is released the spring 1 24 will act to lift the bottle and the saddle 62 whereupon both springs 110 and 34 will react to close the valve 114 and the plug member 32. The bottle 2 is thus effectively sealed and any residual liquid beyond the plug member 32 is allowed to drain into the reservoir bottle 60.

The profile of the flange 102 is such as to direct liquid draining from the bottle 2 into the bottle 60 away from the air path into the lower air chamber.

Figure 7 shows the adaptor 82 of the reservoir bottle 60 fitted with a vented closure cap after the reservoir bottle has been filled from the concentrate bottle 2. The closure 120 acts to allow air to be drawn into the bottle as liquid is drawn out through the dip tube 88 and allows air to be expelled when the bottle is filled with a flushing liquid through the dip tube 88. The closure 120 comprises a circular body 122 having a downwardly depending skirt 124 which is internally screwthreaded to screwthreadedly engage the outer rim of the flange 84. The skirt 124 accomodates the saddle 62 which, as shown, is urged into its upward position by the coil spring 124. Upstanding from the body 122 is an inverted cup 126 which accommodates the upper part of the shaft 106.The cup 126 allows the shaft 106 to be accommodated therein even when moved in its fully extended position by the spring 110 with the valve 114 closed.

The cup is provided with a series of circumferentially spaced openings 128 which allow air to enter the shaft 106. The cup 126 is held in place by a series of angularly spaced reinforcing ribs 130. The body 122 also has a spring loaded ball valve comprising a housing 138 which is screwed onto an opening in the body 122. A ball 132 within the housing 138 is urged by a spring 136 against a valve seat 134. When the pressure within the bottle exceeds a predetermined value the ball 132 is urged against the spring 132 to move away from the valve seat 134 and so release pressure.

In operation as liquid is withdrawn from the bottle 60 through valve 86 of the dip tube 88, the vacuum created will act on the valve 114 and pull the shaft 106 downwardly against the spring 110.

As a result air is admitted to the bottle 60 through the shaft. When the bottle 60 is required to be flushed, water is pumped down the dip tube 88 and the resulting air pressure in the bottle 60 will act on the stop member 138 to urge the valve 134 open against the bias of the spring 140 and so vent the compressed air to atmosphere.

When the level of the flushing liquid reaches the upper level of the opening 118, a float (not shown) is raised by the level of the flushing liquid to close the liquid path through the openings 118 and so liquid is prevented from escaping through the through the valve 134.

The bottle 60 can be flushed and rinsate expelled several times.

Once flushing has been completed the closure 120 is removed and replaced by a safely plug to remain in place which the bottle 60 is placed in store.

Figure 8 shows a modification of the adaptor of Figure 7 in which a float 140 is used. A cylindrical cup shaped member 150 is in nested engagement with the lower part of the body portion 90. The member 150 has a pair of downwardly depending legs 152 supporting the float 140. The member 150 has an internal annular shaped rib 154 which when the float 140 is in its lower most position is arranged to rest on the outer flange of the valve 114. A sleeve 156 rigid with the rod by means of a series of radial spokes 158 slidably engages the inner face of the body portion 90 to close or expose a series of circumferentially spaced openings 162 in the body portion 90 located immediately above the apertures 118.

The cup shaped member 150 also has a series of circumferentially spaced openings 160 located just above the rib 154.

In operation with the valve 114 open and the bottle empty the float 140 is drawn downwardly by gravity until the rib 154 rests on the valve 114. As the level of liquid in the bottle rises,the cup shaped member 150 rises and closes the access to the valve 114. Both air and liquid must now pass through the openings 118 and so this causes a bubbling sound to give an audible warning that the bottle is almost full. As the float continues to rise its abuts the valve 114 tas shown in Figure 8) and in this position the cup member 150 closes the openings 118 to halt the further exchange of air and liquid. If the valve 114 is now displaced into its closed position the sleeve 156 will move to open the openings 162. The float 140 can now rise still further until the openings 160 in the cup member 150 become aligned with the openings 162 on the body 90. This allows any liquid trapped in the body 90 above this level to drain into the bottle. The residual liquid between the openings 162 and the valve 114 is released when the valve 114 is again opened.

Claims (17)

1. A fluid transfer system comprising first and second containers each provided with a respective adaptor, each adaptor having a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path, the adaptors being capable of coupling with each other when the first container is inverted to provide communication between the first fluid flow paths of the adaptors and to provide communication between the second fluid flow paths of the adaptors, and control means responsive to coupling taking place to open the normally closed first and second fluid flow paths of at least the adaptor of the inverted container.

2. A system according to Claim 1 , wherein the adaptor of the first container comprises a hollow body extending from an opening in the first container to the opposite end of the container, the body accommodating a conduit defining said second fluid flow path leading from said opening to a first chamber in the hollow body adjacent said opposite end, said first chamber having a valve to connect the chamber with the interior of said first container, said control means being operable to open and close said valve.

3. A system according to Claim 2, wherein said -conduit is slidable within said hollow body and is coupled to said valve, said control means being arranged to displace said conduit to open and close said valve.

4. A system according to Claim 2 or to Claim 3, wherein said hollow body defines a second chamber which in turn defines said second flow path, the chamber having an orifice therein which communicates with the interior of the first container at a location adjacent said opening, and a plug member located within said second chamber and movable by said control means to open and close said orifice.

5. A system according to Claim 4, wherein said plug member is rigid with said conduit.

6. A system according to Claim 4 or to Claim 5, wherein said hollow body defines a third chamber located between said first and second chambers, said third chamber being open to the interior of said first container at least in the regions of said first and second chambers.

7. A system according to any one of Claims 4 to 6, including biasing means for biasing said conduit in a sense to close said valve and said orifice.

8. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the adaptor of the second container comprises a second body housing a second conduit, the second body and the second conduit extending from an opening in the second container a predetermined distance into the upper region of the second container, the second body defining said first fluid flow path and the second conduit defining said second fluid flow path, the second fluid flow path extending from said opening to a chamber in the end of said second body remote from said opening, the said chamber having a second valve therein to connect the chamber to the interior of the second container, said control means being operable to open and close the second valve.

9. A system according to Claim 8, wherein said second conduit is slidable within said second body, and said second control means being arranged to displace said second conduit to open and close said second valve.

10. A system according to Claim 9, including second biasing means for urging said conduit in a sense to close the second valve.

11. A system according to Claim 8 or to Claim 9 as dependent upon Claim 4, wherein the first conduit terminates within said plug member and said plug member has an opening for receiving said second conduit to couple the said second paths, movement of said first container towards the second container effecting displacement of both conduits.

12. A system according to any preceding claim, including a saddle arranged to be located between said inverted first container and said container, said saddle incorporating reslient means urging said containers apart, the resilient force of which must be overcome to effect the coupling between the two adaptors.

13. A system according to any preceding claim, including a closure for closing the adaptor of the second container, the closure having a valved vent which is normally biased closed but which will open when the presure in the second container exceeds a predetermined level.

14. A system according to Claim 13, including means responsive to the level of liquid within the second container reaching a predetermined level to inhibit operation of the valved vent.

15. An adaptor for fitting into the opening of a container for use in a liquid transfer system, the adaptor comprising an outer body housing a slidable inner conduit, the outer body defining a chamber at one end with which the conduit- communicates, a valve located in said chamber coupled to said conduit whereby the valve can be opened and closed in response to displacement of said conduit.

16. An adaptor according to Claim 15, including means for biasing said conduit in a sense to close said valve.

17. A liquid transfer system substantially as hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.