MXPA97008971A - Closed container system filled - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a filling valve system for a container (3) having an upper wall (5) and an opening of the upper wall (5) through which the container (3) can be filled and emptying said valve system comprises: a valve body (13) adapted to be secured in the opening of the container, said valve body having a passage of fluid (15) therethrough; a magnetically attractable valve member (17) in the valve body (13) movable between a closed position (49) to block flow through the flow passage (15) and an open position (43) to allow flow through the flow passage (15), said valve member (17) being diverted by gravity to its closed position (49) when the container (13) is raised to inhibit unauthorized filling of the container through said flow passage (15) and being movable to a position open (43) allow the emptying of the holder (3) through said flow passage (15), characterized in that it further comprises a removable magnet carrier (61) insurable with respect to the container (3) in a position adjacent to the valve body (13); a magnet (65) carried by the magnet holder (61) to magnetically move the valve member (17) to an open position (43) when the magnet carrier (61) is secured with respect to the container (3) and the container (3) is thus raised to allow the filling the container (3) when the container (3) is erg

Description

FILLABLE CLOSED CONTAINER SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generally to containers and very particularly to a reusable container system and to a refill valve for use in said system. Growing concerns about waste and economic disposal over the years have done < The industry is looking for ways to economically fill and reuse containers for various products, such as liquid herbicides and other agricultural chemicals. However, the reuse of containers is often time-consuming and difficult, mainly because the empty containers must be decontaminated, by a triple rinse, before being refilled. EP-0 633 195 discloses a closure for a container comprising essentially an adaptable main valve body on a container neck and comprising sealing means sealable, by gravity optionally aided by resor + e means, in a corresponding valve seat, retaining means for the valve means and tamping evidence means between the main valve body and the neck of the container characterized in that it is associated with a f-deluxe control element comprising a essentially cylindrical extension of the body of the main valve, extending towards the container and comprising, at the end opposite to the valve body, as a product flow orifice, at least one orifice of (- " air and optionally, in the ex + valve of the valve body, one or at least two sep- arate drainage holes 2. Con fi dently with DE-ft-10 43 125, a magnetic valve is closed. in an upturned position of the carrier - by means of magnetic force and forces of gravity resulting from the masses of the valve member and the contents of the container. To open the valve in this position, a by + aiman is used, by means of which the valve member is raised to allow the emptying of the container. In the erect position of the contender the strength of L5 gravity of the valve member that opposes the force of magnetic attraction tends to open the valve thus allowing the filling. Therefore there is a need for a closed container of economic construction that can be easily emptied but can not be filled except by authorized fillers, so that there is no need to decontaminate the container before it is * refilled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 5 Among the various objects of this invention, one can note the provision of an improved closed container system that can be refilled unicarnen + e using a special mechanism available only for autologous reactors, thus substantially avoiding any decontamination. n of the container before being filled in so that decontamination of the container before filling is not necessary; the provision of such a system that can eliminate the risk of accidental cross-contamination by an authorized filler; the provision of such a refillable closed reactor system that is easy to use by the consumer - and by the filler; the provision of such a refillable closed container system that is reliable will last + e the operation; the provision of a system that can be used in connection with containers of various sizes and that can be connected to normal field equipment to remove material from the container; the provision of a system that is environmentally sound; the provision of a system that is economical to manufacture; and the provision of a system that facilitates the safe filling and reuse of a system container. In general, a refillable closed tank of this invention comprises a closed container having an upper wall and an opening in the upper wall through which the container can be filled and emptied., a valve body in the opening of the container having a flow passage therethrough to allow flow in and out of the container, a magnetic valve member in a + traversable in the valve body, and an insurable carrier to the container in a position adjacent to the valve body. The valve member is movable between a closed position to block the Muzzle through the passage and an open position to allow the flow through the passage. The valve member is diverted by gravity to its closed position when the container is raised to inhibit unauthorized filling of the container of said passage, and movable to an open position to allow emptying of the container through the passage. They carry a + to an image to move the valve member into the open position when the carrier is secured to the container and the container is raised so that the container can be refilled when the container is upright. Other objects and features will be evident and in part will be indicated further on.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a refillable closed container system of the present invention; Figure 2 is a top view of the valve body of the refill valve system of Figure 1 installed in a container; Figure 3 is a bottom view of the valve body of Figure?; Figure 4 is a view in cross-section of the valve body on line 4-4 of Figure 2; the figure is a top view of the filling valve system of figure 1; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the closed top-fillable container system tornado on line 6-fi of Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a view of the cross section of the refillable closed container system drawn on line 7-7 of Figure 6. The corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference characters in all the various views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODE Referring now to the drawings, and f very particularly to Figure 1, a refillable closed container system of the present invention is designated in its entirety by reference number 1. As shown above, the system it comprises a container, generally designated with the number 3, to hold a volumetric quantity of flowable liquid +, such as a liquid fertilizer or liquid herbicide. The container has an upper wall 5, a lower wall (not shown), and a cylindrical side wall 7. An internally threaded connecting ring 9 is fixed to the upper wall 5 and defines an opening to + of which the with + endor it can be filled and emptied. The system further comprises a valve body 13 in the opening of the container having a flow passage 15 therethrough which allows flow in and out of the container, and a magnetic valve member and atible ratchet. 17 (shown in Figure 1 as a spherical metal ball) in the valve body movable between a closed position to block flow through the flow passage and an open position to allow flow through the passage. The valve member 17b is diverted by gravity to its closed position when the container-3 is lifted to inhibit unauthorized filling of the container through the flow passage 15, and is movable to an open position to allow emptying of the container through the container. of said passage. It should be understood that the valve member may be a solid plastic member with metal particles dispersed throughout the ism or a member comprising plastic and metal parts, and may also be a non-spherical shape, without departing from the scope of this invention. For example, the valve member may comprise a solid or hollow plastic part in depression to receive a metal insert, and a plastic cover or lid secured in place-over the depression. More specifically, the valve body 13 has a top paste generally indicated at 19 (FIG. 4) defining an upper end of the flow passage 15 and a lower portion generally indicated at 21 defining a lower end of the flow passage. The upper art 19 is b generally cylindrical in shape, having a central (vertical) longitudinal axis 23, and is formed with external threads 25 at its inner end that coincide with internal threads 27 of the connecting ring 9 on the container 3. Corno result, the upper part of the body (Je valve 13 is projected upwards LO of the upper wall 5 of the container 3. An annular seal 29 (v. Gr., Ring in 0) disposed below a radial flange 34 on the upper part 19 seals against the upper edge 33 of the connecting ring 9 to provide a fluid tight seal between the container 3 and the valve body 13. The L5 upper end of the upper part 19 of the valve body 13 is formed of internal threads 35 for connection of a pump or other suitable equipment to the valve body for the removal of liquid from the container. It is understood that small containers of container 3 can also be emptied without said equipment simply by tilting the container to empty the liquid thereof. As illustrated better in Figures 1-3, the upper part 19 of the valve body 13 is formed with an internal horizontal wall 37 having a series of openings 39 in the same pair allowing liquid flow therethrough. The openings 39 are disposed in a circular array around a solid central portion 41 of the wall 37. A downwardly facing cup-shaped valve seat 43 is formed on the lower side of this central portion 4L of the wall 37. This seat 43 is directed and configured to tight-fit the ball 1 7 in the seat when the ball is in a fully open position (Figure 1), the arrangement being such that the ball is seated, its center is generally located above the central vertical axis 23 of the valve body 13. Means generally indicated at 40 are provided to prevent the removal of the valve body 13 once it has been installed in the opening of the container 3. These means comprise a plurality of flexibly elastic limbs 42 in the lower ex + bottom of the lower part-21 of the valve body 13. Each end 42 has a foot U at its lower end that projects radially outward with respect to the flow passage 15 to + raves of the valve body L3, the outer ex-towers 46 of the feet 44 hanging on a circle having a diameter substantially larger than the opening 48 in the container. The limbs 42 are designed to flex radially inwardly to allow insertion through the container opening 48 during the installation of the valve body 13, and then to move medially + jump outwards after it has passed through the opening to prevent- the removal of the valve body from the opening.

The lower part 21 of the valve body 13 comprises a thin flat annular member 31 generally coaxial with the upper torque + L9 of the valve body. This member 31 is secured, as by adhesive or by thermal welding, within an annular depression 32 at the lower end of the upper part 19 of the valve body 13. A valve seat 49 facing upwards is formed at -round the inner flange 50 of the annular member 31, the ball valve 17 being engageable with this seat when it is closed (figure 4) and being separated above the seat when it opens (figure 1). The lower part 21 of the valve body 13 also includes a connector 51 for attaching a dip tube 55 to the valve body. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the connector 51 comprises a series of elastically flexible extensions 53 extending downward from the annular member 31 in a formation for insertion into the upper end 54 of the tube 55 extending downward to a level adjacent to the lower wall of the container 3. The dip tube 55 is useful for suppressing the formation of foam during the filling of the container 3. The extensions 53 are separated to form spaces 54 extending from the annular member 31 towards down to the ends of the extensions. For smaller containers, the upper ends 54 of the irrsion tube 55 abuts against the shoulders 56 (Figure 6) on the extensions 53 to ensure that the LO portions The spaces between the extensions 53 remain exposed (open) to allow the flow of liquid to the outside- of the container 3 through the flow passage 15 in the valve body 13. It will be understood that the smaller containers are typically emptied by tilting the containers to perform gravity feed of the containers. For large containers, where the liquid is normally pumped to the outside of the container by suitable equipment, the spaces 54 between the extensions 53 must be closed to allow a vacuum to be created in the container. In this situation, the immersion tube allows completely complete emptying of the container. The system of this invention also includes a magnet 61 comprising a tubular filling layer 63 securable with respect to the container in a position adjacent to the valve body 13, and a magnet 65 carried by the filling layer 63 for magnetically moving the delivery member. valve 17 to an open position when filling is secured to container 3 and the container is raised to allow refilling of the container when the container is upright. As shown in Figure 1, the filler cap 63 has an externally threaded cylindrical upper end 67 and a cylindrical lower end 68 which is slightly larger in diameter and which is angled to fit around the upper end of the part. 19 of the valve body 13. The upper and lower ends 67, 68 of the filler cap 63 are connected by means of an annular connecting wall 69. A seal 71 disposed between this connecting wall is engaging with the upper edge 73 of the valve body 13 for sealing between the filling cap 63 and the valve body. A radial flange 75 projecting inwardly at the bottom of the filling pad 63 provides a loose seal between the filling pad and the valve body 13 immediately above the flange 34 on the valve body. An imaging bracket generally indicated at 77 is provided within the filler cap 63 to hold the magnet 65 in a position above the valve member 17 when the filler cap is secured to the valve body. The support is formed by a series of posts 79 which are preferably formed in integral form with the filling cap and which angle inwardly and downwardly from the inner wall of the upper end of the filling cap as shown in FIGS. and 6, and a cylindrical housing generally in the shape of a cup 81 for the uniting 65 carried by the posts 79. The configuration is such that when the filling cover 63 is in place, the window is separated immediately above the valve seat that looks downwards 43 in the valve body 13, the concept being that the magnet 65 is sufficiently close to the valve member 17 to be able to magnetically move the valve member to an open position, + to the co-ordinate in the figure 6. The posts 79 forming the bracket 77 of one are separated from one another and formed in such a way that they do not substantially interfere with the flow of liquid into the container 3 during filling. The upper part of the magnet housing 01 is closed by a diverter 85 which functions to protect the wheel 65 and to divert the flow of liquid radially outwards to minimize turbulence during filling. The diverter B5 comprises an inverted cone 87 directly above the magnet. The cone is suitably secured (eg, heat-welded) in place in the upper portion of the housing 81, the upper edge 88 of the housing and the internal edges of posts 79 that form a seat 91 for tightly receiving the lower end of the housing. cone (see figure 1). As shown in Figures 1 and 6, the filler cap 63 is removably insurable to the valve body by means of one or more supports each generally indicated at 101 (two are shown). Each support comprises a lever 103 having internal and external ends 105, 107, the inner end being secured with pin at 109 between a pair of parallel protrusions 111 projecting from the lower end portion of the filling cap for pivotal movement of the lever between the raised and lowered positions. The inner end 105 of each lever 103 functions as a cam to move the fill cap 63 downwardly relative to the valve body 13 when the lever is rotated μivotalinen + e from its lowered position (not support) to its elevated (support) position. This is illustrated in Figure 6, where it can be seen that the levers are raised, the inner cam end 105 of each lever moves radially inwardly through an opening 110 in the cylindrical wall of the fill cap and to a rounded annular groove 115 formed in the upper part of the valve body 13. The inner ends 105 of the levers 103 are thus configured so that the levers are moved to a fully elevated position, to cam surfaces 117. on the internal ends of the levers the surfaces of the groove 115 in the valve body 13 are hooked to force the filling cap 63 downwards on the upper end of the valve body 13 to bring the sealing seal 71 against the upper edge 73 of the valve body. The filler cap 63 can be removed by moving levers L03 to their lowered positions (not support). It will be understood that other means could be used to reliably secure the fill cap 63 to the valve body 13 or the container 13 itself without departing from the scope of this invention. In the refill valve system it can also be equipped in such a way that a container 3 can be filled-using only a filler cap 63. This can be achieved using, for example, a key and slot mechanism or means. As shown in Figure 7, the valve body 13 is formed of a specific arrangement of one or more keys 121 that fit within one or more commuting grooves 123 in the Filling cap 63, although the + make sure that one or more keys 121 can be on the filler cap 63 and those one or more grooves 123 can be inside the valve body 13. The concept is that different configurations of keys 121 and grooves 123 correspond to different products , or riifer-ent.es filling sites, etc., so that a container equipped with a valve member 13 having a particular key (or slot) configuration can be filled only from a supply equipped with a fill cap having a key (or slot) configuration. coincident. This system can be used, for example, to prevent a container from being accidentally filled with the wrong product at the filling site (sometimes known as cross-contamination). From the foregoing it will be noted that a closed container system 1 of this invention is easy to use. The container 3 is sold to the consumer with the valve body 13 installed. Under usual circumstances, the filler cap 63 is not provided to the consumer. As a result, the container 3 can be easily emptied (either by using a pump or by simply tapping the container to empty the container's liquid), but can not be filled by the user, since the valve member 17 is diverted by gravity towards a closed position to avoid filling. In order to refill the con + enedor 3, the consumer must take the + enedor to an authorized source that has a filling cap 63 that matches the valve body on the container. The filling cap 63 can then be installed-on the container 3 in the manner described above. Once the filler cap 63 is installed, the magnet 65 in the cap magnetically lifts the ball 17 away from its valve seat 49 to an open position, at which time the container can be filled by connecting a filling hose or similar to the upper end of the lid 63. The filling is effected quickly and efficiently, with the emersion tube 55 reducing the spurn during the filling process at the same time. After the container 3 has been refilled, the filling lid 63 is removed and the container is returned to the user for reuse. A significant advantage of the system of this invention is that because the container can not be refilled except by an authorized person having a matching refill lid, the risk of contamination of the container by the consumer is substantially eliminated. As a result, decontamination of the container before filling is unnecessary, which saves time and expense. The risk of accidental cross-contamination is also eliminated, since the container can be filled using only the lid of Ib proper filling. All this is achieved without interfering with the normal use of the container by the user. The simplicity of the subject also makes it economical. It is contemplated that the valve body 13 and the filling cap 63 will be molded plas + parts (except for the valve member 17 and the flange 65, of course), but others are also suitable. For ease of assembly, the par + + is top and bottom of the filler cap 63 and preferably formed as separate parts, and the diverter 85 can also be formed separately from the remainder of the filler cap to allow for the positioning of the flange. in its housing during the manufacturing process. In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the various objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results are obtained. Since several changes can be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all material contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in an iimi + ante sense.

Claims (5)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION
2. CLAIMS l.- A filling valve system for a container (3) having an upper wall (5) and an opening in the upper wall- (5) through which the container- (3) can be filled - and emptying, said valve system comprising: a valve body (13) adapted to be secured in the opening of the container-, said valve body having a flow passage (15) therethrough; a magnetically attractable valve member (17) in the valve body (13) movable in + re a closed position (49) to block the flow through the flow passage (15) and an open position ( 43) to allow the flow to + through the flow passage (15), said valve member (17) being deviated by gravity to its closed position (49) when the container (13) is raised to inhibit the flow. unauthorized filling of the container a + through said flow passage (15) and being movable towards an open position (43) to allow the emptying of the conner- (3) through said flow passage (15); characterized in that it further comprises a carrier (61) removly insurable with respect to the container (3) in a position adjacent to the valve body (13); an im (65) carried by the por + ainan (61) to magnetically move the valve member (17) to an open position (43) when the poriman (61) is secured with respect to the container (3) and the container (3) is thus raised to allow the container (3) to be refilled when the container (3) is upright. 2. A filling valve system according to claim 1, further characterized in that said holder (61) is removably insurable to the valve body (13). 3. A filling valve theme according to claim 2, further characterized in that said valve body (13) has an upper part (19) defining an ex + upper recess of said flow passage (15) and a lower part (21) defining a lower end of said flow passage (15) said tire carrier (61) comprising a tubular filling cap (63) sealable in a manner engageable with the upper part (19) of the valve body ( 13) around the upper end of said flow passage (15), said filling cap (63) having an inlet for receiving fluid and directing it to the flow passage (13) in the valve body (13) and a fastener of magnet (77) inside the filler cap (63) for holding the im (65) in a position above the valve member (17) when the filler cap (63) is secured to the valve body (13) ). 4. A filling valve system according to claim 3, further characterized in that said tubular filling cap (63) is directed to fit around the upper part (19) of the valve body (13). . 5. A refill valve system according to claim 3, further characterized in that said liner (65) is located on the central longitudinal axis of the tubular filler cap (63), said bra (77) comprising an iron housing (81) to hold the iron (65), and a diverter (85) above the iron holder (81) to deflect the flow away from the iron (65) during filling. 6 .-- A refill valve system in accordance with the indication r-ei 5, further characterized by the entry of the filler cap (63), the magnet (65), the flow passage (15) through the valve body (13) and valve member (17) are aligned along a common axis. 7. A refill valve system according to claim 5, further characterized in that said valve body (13) and said tire carrier (61) are formed with matching key (121) and groove (123) means so that A container (3) equipped with said valve body (13) can be filled only from a supply equipped with a matching ring (61). 8. A filling valve system according to claim 1, further characterized in that said valve body (13) has a valve seat (49) that faces upwards in the flow passage (15) through the valve body (13), said valve member (17). ) being engageable with the valve seat (49) when the valve member (17) is + a in its closed position and being spaced or above the valve seat (49) when the valve member (17) is in an open position »9.- A filling valve system according to claim 8, further characterized in that the valve body (13) has a top part (19) insurable to the upper wall (5) of the container (
3. 3) and a lower part (21) fixed to the upper part (19) below the upper wall (5) of the container, said upper part (19) defining a cavity that opens downwards (43) and the bottom part (21) being formed with the valve stem (49) facing upwards towards said cavity (43), said member valve (17) being movable in the cavity (43) between the open and closed positions. L0. ~ A refill valve system according to claim 9, further characterized in that the upper part (19) of the valve body (13) is formed with a valve seat (43) facing downwards engageable by the member. valve (17) when the valve member (17) is in a fully open position. 11. A refill valve system according to claim 9, further characterized in that it comprises an immersion tube (55) having an upper end fixed to the lower part (21) of the valve body (13) and communicating with the lower end of the flow passage (15) to + raves of the valve body (13), said immersion tube (55) being adapted to extend downward towards the container (3). 12. A refill valve system in accordance with claim 1, further characterized in that said connector (51) comprises a plurality of extensions (53) and a plurality of spaces (5
4. 4) between the extensions (53), portions of said spaces (54) being exposed when the dip tube (5
5. 5) is in place to store the flow out of the container (3) through the flow passage (15) in the valve body (13) . 13. A refill valve system according to claim 1, further characterized in that the valve member 17 is a metal ball. 14. A refill valve system according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises one or more clamps (101) to removably clamp the ferrule (61) to the valve body (13). 15. A refill valve system according to claim 14, further characterized in that said clamps comprise a plurality of levers (103) on the tire carrier (61), each lever (103) being mounted for movement between a position of no clamping to allow the application and removal of the carrier (61) towards and from the valve body (13), and a clamping position in which the lever (103) is clamped '") engageable with the valve body (13) to hold the valve (61) on the body of the valve (13)., 16.- A valve filling system according to claim 1, further characterized in that comprises means (40) for preventing the removal of the valve body (13) from the container (3) after it has been installed in said container opening (3).