GB2294455A

GB2294455A - Multi-part closure with decanting aperture

Info

Publication number: GB2294455A
Application number: GB9522099A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Neville Coupe; Uri Friedlaender
Original assignee: DENLEY INSTR Ltd
Current assignee: DENLEY INSTR Ltd
Priority date: 1994-10-27
Filing date: 1995-10-27
Publication date: 1996-05-01
Also published as: GB9421701D0; GB9522099D0

Abstract

A multi-part closure for a container, e.g. a laboratory flask, comprises a first part 2 with a first through passage 4 and a second part 6 with a decanting aperture 10 and a second through passage 8 positioned to communicate with the first through passage 4, the two parts being held in engagement, e.g. by means of a threaded collar 12, and the second part remaining attached to the container neck when the first part is removed. Preferably the interconnection between passages 4 and 8 is provided by the second part including a recess 15 in which a coupling tube 13 on the first part sealingly engages via an O-ring 28. The decanting aperture preferably occupies at least 30% of the overall transverse cross section of the second part, permitting easy emptying or replenishment of the container therethrough when the first part is removed. The first part preferably includes a supplementary through passage 14 to communicate with the decanting aperture, a source of vacuum or pressure being connectable to the passage 14. The closure may include a Hall effect level sensing arrangement 24, 48. <IMAGE>

Description

CAP The present invention relates to a cap suitable for connecting a fluid conduit to a container such as a flask so as, for example, to supply fluid from or to the container.

In laboratory situations there is commonly a requirement to supply a fluid from a flask or deliver fluid to it. To this end the flask is normally closed by a bung through which pipes project to which fluid conduits are connected. When the flask has been emptied, or filled, as the case may be, there often arises the need to quickly exchange the flask for another. When performing this changeover there is a tendency for any apparatus, such as pipes or instruments which project through the bung into the flask to drip on work surfaces in the vicinity of the changeover location. One alternative to removing the bung and associated apparatus is to disconnect any conduits, pipes etc. connected to the bung. This also leads to undesirable spillage and also results in the used flask not being easy to fill or empty as required due to the presence of the bung.Furthermore it may be difficult to disconnect the conduits easily.

The object of the invention is to provide a cap which will overcome at least some of the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

Thus according to the invention there is provided a container cap comprising first and second selectively engageable parts, the first part including a first conduit connection means and a first through passage interconnected therewith, the second part including a second through passage adapted to be in fluid communication with the first through passage when the cap parts are engaged and a separate decanting aperture wherein the second cap part can remain connected to the container when the first cap part is disengaged therefrom.

With such a cap, any apparatus extending from the cap into the container need not be removed from the container when a conduit connected to the first conduit connection means is to be separated from the container. The second cap part can be left connected to the container and the first cap part, together with the conduit connected thereto, can be separated therefrom. Without removing the second cap part from the container the container contents can be easily poured from the decanting aperture or alternatively the container can be filled by pouring fluid in through the decanting aperture.

So as to provide a positive sealing engagement between the first and second through passages preferably the fluid interconnection of those passages is provided by one of the first and second cap parts including a coupling tube and the other cap part including a coupling recess into which the coupling tube is sealingly insertable.

The cap preferably further includes engagement means, such as a threaded collar for releasably connecting the first and/or second cap parts to the container.

Alternatively the engagement means may be provided by engagement of one or both of the cap parts with the container for example by a snap-fit or friction-fit with an inner or outer surface of a neck of the container.

So as to facilitate decanting fluid into or out of the container the decanting aperture preferably occupies at least 30% and more preferably at least 50% of the overall transverse cross sectional area of the second cap part.

In order to facilitate container venting, the first cap part preferably includes a supplementary through passage arranged to communicate with the decanting aperture when the first and second cap parts are engaged. Gas can thereby enter or leave the container as it is emptied or filled respectively.

More preferably the supplementary through passage is interconnected with a supplementary conduit connection means in order that a source of vacuum or pressure can be supplied to the container via the supplementary through passage to facilitate collection of fluid in or delivery of fluid from the container respectively.

In order to avoid incorrect assembly of the cap parts preferably they are configured so as to only be interengageable with the first and second through passages in fluid communication.

So as to provide a signal relating to level of fluid in the container the cap preferably further includes a fluid level sensing arrangement.

Such an arrangement may conveniently include a magnet connected so as to be displaceable by a buoyant member.

In order that disengagement of the cap parts is not impeded by the fluid level sensing arrangment, the arrangement may conveniently include a Hall effect sensor, such as a Hall effect switch, arranged on the first cap part in the vicinity of adjacent membrane regions of the first and second cap parts. Preferably the magnet can be positioned within 5mm and more preferably within 3mm of the Hall effect switch so as to provide the fluid level detector with adequate sensitivity. This arrangement will also mean that a small magnet, producing only a low magnetic flux density, may be used in the fluid level detector.

Seals such as O-ring seals are preferably provided for sealing between the first and/or second cap parts and/or the container. Such seals provide an effective seal while permitting easy sliding disengagement of parts sealed together.

In another aspect the invention includes a cap as described above in combination with a container.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic vertical cross section through a container fitted with a cap according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a top plan view of the first part of the cap shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a vertical cross section on the line AA of the first cap part shown in Figure 2, Figure 4 shows a side elevation of the first cap part shown in Figure 2, Figure 5 shows a bottom plan view of the first cap part shown in Figure 2, Figure 6 shows a top plan view of the second part of the cap shown in Figure 1, Figure 7 shows a vertical cross section on the line BB of the second cap part shown in Figure 6, Figure 8 shows a side elevation of the second cap part shown in Figure 6, Figure 9 shows a bottom plan view of the second cap part shown in Figure 6, Figure 10 shows a vertical cross section through a level sensing arrangement of an alternative cap according to the invention, Figure 11 shows an exploded view of the cap detailed in Figure 10, and Figure 12 shows a part cutaway view of the cap shown in Figures 10 and 11 connected to a container.

Figure 1 shows a container 1 fitted with a cap 3 according to the invention. The container is being used as a reservoir to supply fluid 5 via a down tube 7 and a fluid conduit 9 to other apparatus which is not shown.

The cap 3 includes three main parts. These are an upper first part 2, a lower second part 6 and a threaded collar 12.

The first part 2 which is also shown in Figures 2 to 5 separated from the other parts, includes a first through passage 4 at the upper end of which a first spigot 11 is located and at the lower end of which a coupling tube 13 is located. The first spigot 11 is dimensioned to be a sliding fit inside the fluid conduit 9, and the coupling tube 13 is dimensioned to sealingly engage a complementary coupling recess 15 in the lower second cap part 6 by means of an O-ring seal 28.

The first part also includes a supplementary through passage 14 at the upper end of which a second spigot 17 is provided for sealing engagement with a gas tube 19.

A Hall effect switch 24 comprising a small printed circuit board is accommodated in a recess 25, the lower end of which is closed by a thin walled first membrane region 20. Electrical connections 23 lead from the Hall effect switch 24 to sensing apparatus not shown.

A rim 31 projects outwardly around the periphery of the first cap part 2 and is engaged by an inwardly directed shoulder 34 of the collar 12. Screw threads 36 on an inner surface of the collar 12 engage complementary threads on a neck 21 of the container 1 and urge the rim 31 into sealing engagement with the neck 21 with an O-ring seal 26 interposed therebetween.

The second cap part 6 which is shown in detail in Figures 6 to 9 includes a down tube spigot 38, which is shown in Figure 1 with a down tube 7 connected thereto for delivery of fluid 5 to the cap 3. The down tube spigot 38 communicates with the coupling recess and thus also communicates with the first through passage 4 in the first cap part when the cap parts are engaged.

Diametrically opposed to the down tube spigot 38 is a cylindrical magnet recess 40 which is closed at its upper end by a second membrane region 22. A support tube 44 projects downwardly from the magnet recess 40 in which it is fixed by friction or glue. Inside the support tube 44 a connecting tube 46 with a float 48 at its lower end and a magnet 18 at its upper end is vertically slidable. When the float 48 is floating, the magnet 18 will be forced upwardly against the second membrane region 22 of the second cap part. The first and second cap parts are dimensioned such that the distance between the magnet 18 and the Hall effect switch 24 in this situation is 3mm or less.

Around the periphery of the second cap part 6 is a groove 50 in which an O-ring seal 28 is located for engagement with the inner surface of the neck 21 of the container 1. An outwardly directed lip 49 is provided around an upper peripheral edge of the second cap part 6 for engagement with the top of the neck 21 of the container 1.

A roughly dumbbell shaped decanting aperture 10 with concave regions 42 located adjacent the edge of the cap is centrally located between the magnet recess 40 and the down tube spigot 38. The decanting aperture 10 occupies approximately 60% of the overall transverse cross-sectional area of the second cap part 6 (which corresponds to the internal cross-sectional area of the neck 21 of the container 1).

With the cap 3 connected as shown in Figure 1 the container can be used as a reservoir for supplying the fluid 5 to some remote piece of apparatus via the fluid conduit 9. Gas pressure will be supplied via the gas tube 10 which is in communication with the interior of the container via the supplementary through passage 14 in the first cap part 2 and the decanting aperture 10 in the second part 6. Under the action of the pressure the fluid will be forced up the down tube 7 and then passes through the cap via the second through passage 8 and the first through passage 4. When the container is substantially empty the float 48, connecting tube 46 and magnet 18 will fall slightly, thus changing the state of the Hall effect switch 24 and cause an alarm (not shown) to be actuated.A user can then easily disconnect the first cap part 2 from the second cap part 6 by simply unscrewing the collar 12 from the bottle neck 21 and sliding the coupling tube 13 out of engagement with the coupling recess 15. The container can then be refilled through the decanting aperture 10 or replaced with a further container which has already been filled and provided with a cap second part 6 and associated float, down tube, etc ..... Engagement of the cap parts is a simple reversal of the process described above.

The cap 3 thus permits the replacement of the container in a quick and easy manner with a minimum amount of spillage. At no point is it necessary to remove, from the container, parts which have been immersed in fluid in the container. Furthermore no electrical or mechanical connections of level sensor components need to be made in the course of disengaging or engaging the cap parts.

Accordingly the chance of adversely affecting the sensor's set-up is minimised.

If the container is to be used to collect fluid, the second spigot will be connected to a source of vacuum (or left vented) and the down tube 7 may be omitted. The connecting tube 46 and support tube 44 will be replaced by corresponding shorter tubes so as to provide a high level sensor with the float 48 located near the top of the container 1. In this situation, raising of the float 48 will indicate the container is full and actuate an appropriate alarm. When this occurs the cap parts can be easily separated as described above. The container can then either be emptied by pouring the fluid out of the container through the decanting aperture or replaced with a further container which is already empty and provided with a further second cap part 6 with associated float 44.

The coupling tube 13 may be positioned further from the centre of the first cap part in order to prevent incorrect engagement of the cap parts with the coupling tube 13 projecting into the decanting aperture 10. This will occur because the coupling tube 13 will come into contact with a portion of the second cap part which contact will obstruct engagement of the cap parts.

Figures 10 to 12 show a second embodiment of the cap in which like parts have been referred to with like numerals. This second embodiment of the invention only differs from the first embodiment as shown in the accompanying Figures 10 to 12 and as discussed below.

The second cap part 6 includes a downwardly projecting body 62 which receives a narrow upper portion 64 of the support tube 44 from an upper end of which the connecting tube 46 projects. The permanent magnet 18 is secured in a cylindrical magnet holder 60 which has a downwardly projecting peripheral skirt 66 glued to the upper end of the connecting tube 46. Downward movement of the connecting tube 46 is limited by abutment of the skirt 66 with an upper end face of the support tube 44 and upward movement is limited by abutment of an upper face of the magnet holder 66 with the second membrane region 22 of the second cap part 6.

A mounting grommet 68 accommodating a Hall effect chip 70 and a lever sensor printed circuit board 72 is fixed in the recess 25 in the first cap part 2 with an interference fit. A three core cable 74 connected to the circuit board 77 is provided for communication with an alarm device or remote control means.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A container cap comprising first and second selectively engageable parts, the first part including a first conduit connection means and a first through passage interconnected therewith, the second part including a second through passage adapted to be in fluid communication with the first through passage when the cap parts are engaged and a separate decanting aperture wherein the second cap part can remain connected to the container when the first cap part is disengaged therefrom.

2. The cap of claim 1 wherein fluid interconnection of the first and second through passages is provided by one of the first and second cap parts including a coupling tube and the other cap part including a coupling recess into which the coupling tube is sealingly insertable.

3. The cap of claim 1 or 2 further including engagement means for releasably connecting the first or second cap part to a container.

4. The cap of claim 3 wherein the engagement means comprises a collar for urging the first cap part both towards a neck of the container and into engagement with the second cap part which is engaged with the neck of the container.

5. The cap of any preceding claim wherein the decanting aperture occupies at least 30% of the overall transverse cross-sectional area of the second cap part.

6. The cap of claim 5 wherein the decanting aperture occupies at least 50% of the overall transverse crosssection area of the second cap part.

7. The cap of any preceding claim wherein the first cap part includes a supplementary through passage arranged to communicated with the decanting aperture when the first and second cap parts are engaged.

8. The cap of claim 7 wherein the first cap part includes supplementary conduit connection means in fluid communication with the supplementary through passage.

9. The cap of any preceding claim wherein the cap parts are configured so as to only be interengageable with the first and second through passages in fluid communication.

10. The cap of any preceding claim further including a fluid level sensing arrangement.

11. The cap of claim 10 wherein the fluid level sensing arrangement includes a buoyant member displaceably connected to the second cap part and arranged to displace a magnet relative thereto.

12. The cap of claim 11 wherein the magnet is located in the vicinity of first and second membrane regions of the first and second cap parts respectively when the cap parts are engaged.

13. The cap of claim 11 or 12 wherein the fluid level sensing arrangement includes a Hall effect sensor.

14. The cap of claim 11, 12 or 13 wherein the magnet is positionable within 5 mm of a sensor positioned in the first cap part.

15. A container cap substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying Figures.