GB2311516A

GB2311516A - Bulk storage and supply of liquids

Info

Publication number: GB2311516A
Application number: GB9706276A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neale Andrew Pybus; David Grant Barnett
Original assignee: Brightwell Dispensers Ltd
Current assignee: Brightwell Dispensers Ltd
Priority date: 1996-03-28
Filing date: 1997-03-26
Publication date: 1997-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 2017-03-26
Also published as: GB2311516B; GB9606566D0; GB9706276D0

Description

BULK STORAGE AND SUPPLY OF LIQUIDS The present invention relates to storage of liquids, and particularly concerns an arrangement to accommodate containers of bulk liquids such as detergents and rinse aids for commercial laundry and dishwashing equipment, and to supply liquid to the equipment. The arrangement can however be used for other applications where liquid is dispensed from bulk containers.

Hitherto, detergents and rinse aids for commercial laundry and dishwashing equipment have been stored by simply placing the containers in which they are supplied on the floor adjacent the inlet tube to the equipment to be supplied. To raise the containers off the floor, shelf space is often used. In both these storage methods, the changing of an empty container for a full one often involves removing a dip tube from the empty container, and in this operation the liquid on the internal and external surfaces of the dip tube can drip on to the floor or on to the operative. Clearly, when aggressive liquids are being used, this is a source of danger to the operative.

The objectives of the present invention are to provide an arrangement to accommodate containers of bulk liquids, and to permit the changing of containers without exposing operatives to risk by avoiding the exposure of contaminated dip tubes.

According to the present invention, a bulk storage and supply system to supply liquid to a dispenser via a supply tube comprises a number of containers having carrying handles at their upper extremities and provided with open necks into which are fitted dip tubes, a supply tube having at its end a fitting adapted to be connectable to the dip tube of a container, and at least one bracket capable of supporting a full container by its handle and having means to engage a supply tube adjacent its junction with the dip tube.

The end fitting of the supply tube preferably includes a valve element adapted to cooperate with the upper end of the dip tube to close the end of the supply tube when the supply tube is disconnected from the dip tube, and open the supply tube when the dip tube and supply tube are connected. Most preferably the dip tube forms part of the container, but it is envisaged that conventional containers may be used with the system by providing the user with a plurality of disposable dip tubes which can be fitted to a full container, and discarded when the container is empty.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the dip tube is provided with a valve member to prevent liquid from being expelled from the container if the container is squeezed, and means are provided to prevent operation of the valve member when the supply tube is connected to the dip tube.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a container and suspension arrangement; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the attachment of a dip tube to the container; Figure 3 is a sectional view of an alternative attachment of a dip tube to a container, and Figure 4 is a sectional view of an alternative attachment of a dip tube to a container, incorporating a safety valve.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a bracket 1 fixed to a wall 2 by means of screws 3. Extending from the bracket 1 is a telescopic arm 4 having a static part 4a and a sliding part 4b.

Preferably the sliding part 4b is a frictional fit within the static part 4a, so that the supply tube 6 is held against unwanted movement. However, it is foreseen that detent or clamping means (not shown) may be provided to retain the sliding part 4b in a selected one of a plurality of predetermined positions relative to the static part 4a. At the free end of the sliding part 4b is a tube holder 5 adapted to grip a supply tube 6 leading from the container to the equipment to which liquid is to be supplied.

Extending from the bracket 1 below the arm 4 is a swinging hook 7 pivotable about a horizontal pin 8, the hook 7 passing through a slot 9 in the bracket 1.

The attachment of the supply tube 6 to a container 10 is seen in Figure 2. The container 10 has an externally threaded neck 11, on to which a cap 12 can be tightened. The cap 12 serves to urge a supply tube end fitting 13 into a cup 14 which is sealingly received in the neck 11 at the upper end of a dip tube 15. The dip tube 15 extends through a base 1 4a of the cup 14 and has a castellated upper end portion 16 protruding within the cup 14.

The end fitting 13 comprises a hollow body having a flat base 17 with a central opening 18, a valve element 19 within the body being urged towards the opening 18 by a spring 20. The end fitting 13 is formed at its upper end with a spigot 21 on to which the supply tube 6 fits. A sealing ring 22 surrounds the lower part of the end fitting 13 to form a seal with the inside surface of the cup 14.

A vent opening may be formed through the cup 14, above the location of the sealing ring 22.

The bracket 1 is intended for use with containers 10 of generally parallelipipedal shape, with a carrying handle 23 formed on their upper face. The hook 7 engages with the handle 23 to support the container 10 clear of the floor, and the pivoting action of the hook 7 enables it to accommodate containers of various different dimensions, with the container urged towards the wall 2 by the inclination of the hook 7 to the vertical. The telescopic arm 4 can be adjusted in length to suit the differing sizes of container 10 by extending or retracting the sliding part 4b and tube holder 5.

When the container is empty, the supply tube 6 is disconnected by unscrewing the cap 12 and removing the end fitting 13 from the cup 14.

The cup 14 and dip tube 15 remain within the container. This action causes the castellated end 16 of the dip tube 15 to move out of the opening 18, and the valve element 19 is then pushed down by the spring 20 to close the opening 18, preventing any drips from the supply tube 6.

The engagement of the supply tube 6 by the arm 4 prevents it from swinging freely about, and keeps the exposed face of the base 17 of the end fitting 13 from picking up contaminants and from depositing any liquid adhered thereto on the floor or the operative. The empty container is then discarded, complete with cup 14 and dip tube 15. This ensures minimal risk of spillage, since there is no length of dip tube coated in liquid exposed to the environment during the container exchange. A new container and dip tube assembly is then hung on the hook 7.

The supply tube 6 is reconnected by inserting the supply tube end fitting 13 into the cup 14 already present in the container, after first removing and discarding any blanking cap (not shown) used to seal the container in transit and storage. The cap 12 is tightened down on the neck 11, urging the end fitting 13 into the cup 14. During the final tightening, castellated end 16 of the dip tube 15 pushes the valve element 19 into the end fitting against the action of spring 20, and the liquid in the container can then flow up the dip tube 15, through castellated end 16 and opening 18 into the end fitting 13 and thence into supply tube 6, drawn by a pump or the like (not shown).

In an alternative construction of the supply tube end fitting, seen in Figures 3 and 4, the cup 14 has an external tubular sleeve 1 4b extending downwards and receiving the upper end of a dip tube 15. An internal upstanding spigot 26, formed with castellations, serves the same purpose as the castellated end 16 of the dip tube in the previous embodiment. The body of the fitting is formed by two cooperating halves, each having a flat end plate 23, 33 and a circular skirt 24, 34 extending therefrom. The lower half has a conical opening 28 in its end plate 25, and the upper half has a tubular spigot 31 upstanding from its end plate 33 to which the supply tube 6 is attached.

The skirts 24 and 34 cooperate telescopically to form a sealed body. Within the body, a conical valve element 29 is urged towards opening 28 by a spring 30. It will be noted that the axial extent of the skirt 34 is less than that of skirt 24, and this provides a recess for a sealing ring 22. The operation of the fitting is the same as has been previously described in relation to Figures 1 and 2.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 4, a safety feature has been incorporated to prevent liquid from being expelled from the container if the container is squeezed. A valve member 40 is positioned within the sleeve 14b, and can move axially within the sleeve. Laterally extending tabs 41 locate the valve member 40 centrally in the bore of the sleeve 14b, and a valve seat surface 42 is cooperable with a conical surface 42a within the sleeve 1 4b and adjacent the underside of the end plate 25 to seal the upper end of the dip tube when the valve member 40 is urged upwards by fluid flowing up the dip tube 15. To prevent the valve member 40 from sealing off the dip tube during normal operation, an axially extending probe 43 is provided to extend up through the spigot 26 and contact the valve element 29. The length of the probe is such that when the probe contacts the valve element 29, the seat surface 42 of the valve member 40 is spaced from the conical surface 42a.

The function of the valve member 40 is to prevent liquid from being expelled from the dip tube 15 if the container 10 is compressed while it is not secured to the supply tube fitting. In such an event, the valve member 40 will be carried upwards within the sleeve 1 4b until the conical seat surface 42 of the valve member 40 bears against the corresponding conical surface 42a at the upper end of the sleeve 14b, to close off the upper end of the dip tube. When the container is relaxed, the suction will draw the valve member 40 away from the conical surface 42a, opening the dip tube. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the probe 43 is attached to the valve element 29, and extends down through the spigot 26 when the supply tube fitting is connected to the container 10, to prevent the valve member 40 from sealing the dip tube. The valve member 40 may be made from a light material, so that it floats on the liquid in the dip tube and is reliably carried to a sealing position when the level within the dip tube rises.

While the arm 4 is described as a telescopic arm, it will be understood that adjustment of the distance between the wall 2 and the tube holder 5 can be effected by any suitable means such as pivoting links, in order that movement of the supply tube 6 be limited when it is not attached to a container 10.

The bracket and arm are preferably moulded from synthetic plastics material, and the hook may be either of metal or other suitable material such as reinforced plastics. As an alternative to a rigid hook, a flexible element such as a cord, a strap, or a chain may be provided, with a hook at its free end.

Claims

1. A bulk storage and supply system to supply liquid to a dispenser via a supply tube, comprising a number of containers having carrying handles at their upper extremities and provided with open necks into which are fitted dip tubes, the supply tube having at its end a fitting adapted to be connectable to the dip tube of a container, and at least one bracket capable of supporting a full container by its handle and having means to engage the supply tube adjacent its junction with the dip tube.

2. A bulk storage and supply system according to claim 1, wherein the end fitting of the supply tube includes a valve element adapted to cooperate with the upper end of the dip tube to close the end of the supply tube when the supply tube is disconnected from the dip tube, and open the supply tube when the dip tube and supply tube are connected.

3. A bulk storage and supply system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the dip tube forms part of the container.

4. A bulk storage and supply system according to any preceding claim, wherein the dip tube is provided at its upper end with a valve member which is held open when the supply tube end fitting is attached to the container, and prevents egress of fluid from the container when the supply tube end fitting is not attached to the container.

5. A bulk storage and supply system according to claim 4, wherein the valve member includes a probe which extends out of the upper end of the dip tube when the valve member closes the dip tube, and the end fitting of the supply tube includes an abutment to push the probe into the dip tube when the supply tube end fitting is attached to the container.

6. A bulk storage and supply system according to claim 4, wherein the end fitting of the supply tube includes a probe which extends into the upper end of the dip tube when the supply tube end fitting is attached to the container, and the probe includes an abutment to push the valve member out of its sealing position to open the dip tube.

7. A bulk storage and supply system substantially as herein described, with reference to Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.