US20170283135A1

US20170283135A1 - Container for viscous liquid comprising a cap provided with a tap

Info

Publication number: US20170283135A1
Application number: US15/508,283
Authority: US
Inventors: Yannick LEMARCHAND
Original assignee: Total Marketing Services SA
Current assignee: TotalEnergies Marketing Services SA
Priority date: 2014-09-03
Filing date: 2015-09-01
Publication date: 2017-10-05
Also published as: FR3025186B1; EP3188980A1; WO2016034579A1; FR3025186A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a container (1) including: an upper wall (2), a lower wall (4) and a side wall (6) defining an inner space (8), a single opening (12) extending along a main axis (A), a cap (18) including a flow duct (20) provided with an outlet (22) extending along an axis (S) substantially perpendicular to the main axis (A), and a pipe (44) including a first end (46) in fluid communication with the outlet (22) and a second end (48) intended for extending above the level of the liquid in the container, the pipe being rotatably secured with the cap and extending essentially along a tilted axis (T) forming an angle (α) of 25° to 75° with the main axis (A) and having a length no less than half the length of the container.

Description

The present invention relates to a container of the type intended to contain a liquid having a viscosity greater than 20 cSt, said container comprising:

- an upper wall, a lower wall and at least one side wall extending between the upper wall and the lower wall, the walls defining an inner space of the container,
- a single orifice extending in said upper wall along a main axis,
- a cap screwed on said upper wall so as to close the orifice, said cap comprising a flow duct in fluid communication with the inner space and provided with an outlet extending along an axis substantially perpendicular to the main axis, said duct comprising a liquid flow channel and an air passage channel emerging in said outlet,
- a pipe extending in the inner space and comprising a first end in fluid communication with the outlet and a second end intended to extend above the level of the liquid in the container, the pipe being secured in rotation with the cap.

The present invention also relates to a method for using such a container.
The container according to the invention is particularly suitable for storing oil or other viscous liquids.
Emptying such a container containing such a viscous liquid is problematic because the viscosity of the liquid makes this operation particularly time-consuming, in particular when the container is nearly empty. Indeed, over the course of the emptying, a vacuum is created inside the container and the flow rate of the liquid leaving the container decreases as the container empties.
To offset this drawback, it has been proposed to add an air intake above the level of the liquid in the container in order to place the inner space of the container not occupied by the liquid at atmospheric pressure. Document EP-1,378,485 for example describes the addition of a flexible pipe extending in the inner space of the container and being provided with a float making it possible to keep the free end of the pipe above the liquid level. The flexible pipe is connected to a tap secured to a cap closing the orifice of the container.
Such a device is, however, not satisfactory for several reasons. The device comprises several elements that must be assembled to one another and passed through the opening of the container to insert them into the inner space, which can be inconvenient and increases the time necessary to place the device. Furthermore, the float can deteriorate in the container and its material can pollute the liquid contained in the container, in particular when the container stores the liquid for an extended length of time.
Furthermore, when the cap is screwed on the opening of the container, the flexible pipe and the float can form a “pellet” during the rotation of the cap and thus prevent satisfactory deployment of the pipe in the container, the free end of which then is not located above the liquid level. If the device is incorrectly assembled and the float separates from the pipe, the free end of the pipe is also no longer found above the liquid level, thereby preventing satisfactory operation of the device.
One of the aims of the invention is to offset the drawbacks described above by proposing a container allowing fast emptying while being easy to use and reliable.
To that end, the invention relates to a container of the aforementioned type, wherein the pipe extends essentially along a tilted axis forming an angle substantially comprised between 25° and 75° with the main axis and having a length greater than or equal to half the length of the container measured along the main axis.
By using a pipe extending along a tilted axis relative to the axis of the opening and providing a sufficient length of pipe, the container according to the invention makes it possible to guarantee that the free end of the pipe is always found above the liquid level without requiring the use of a float. Furthermore, by providing that the angle formed between the axis of the pipe and the axis of the opening is not too large, it is guaranteed that the pipe will not be blocked by the side wall of the container during screwing of the cap on the container. Thus, the pipe is placed without obstacle and automatically during the screwing of the cap on the container. Thus, the container according to the invention is simple and reliable to use and allows quick emptying, even with liquids having a high viscosity.
According to other features of the container according to the invention:

- the pipe has a length greater than or equal to 75% of the length of the container measured along the main axis;
- the container comprises a separating wall extending in the flow duct, said separating wall sealably separating the liquid flow channel and the air passage channel;
- the container comprises an element closing off the flow duct, said element being movable between an open position, in which the outlet is in fluid communication with the inner space, and a closed position, in which the outlet is isolated from the inner space;
- the closing off element comprises an outer wall provided with a liquid passage orifice and an air passage orifice, said outer wall closing the flow duct in the closed position of the closing off element and said passage openings being positioned respectively across from the liquid flow channel and the air passage channel in the open position of the closing off element;
- the outer wall is rotatable around the axis of the outlet between the closed position and the open position so as to move the liquid and air passage openings outside or opposite the liquid flow channel and the air passage channel;
- the pipe is substantially rigid;
- the pipe comprises a downstream segment extending substantially rectilinearly along the main axis and an upstream segment extending substantially rectilinearly along the tilted axis, said pipe comprising a bend between the downstream segment and the upstream segment, said bend forming an angle substantially comprised between 25° and 75° between the tilted axis and the main axis;
- the pipe is formed in two parts, one of the parts being nested on the other part.

The invention also relates to a method for using a container as described above, the method comprising the following steps:

- filling the container with a liquid having a viscosity greater than 20 cSt through the opening, the container being in an upright position, in which the main axis of the opening extends substantially vertically,
- closing the container using a cap screwed on the upper wall, the angle formed by the pipe with the main axis being such that the cap can be screwed without blocking the pipe against the side wall of the container,
- tilting the container from the upright position to a reclined position, in which the main axis of the opening extends substantially horizontally, such that the liquid can flow through the flow duct while air is brought above the liquid level in the container by the pipe.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will appear upon reading the following description, provided as an example, and done in reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional schematic illustration of a container according to the invention, in the reclined position, the closing off element being in the open position,

FIG. 2 is an enlargement of zone II in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective illustration of the closing off element of the cap of the container of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional illustration of the container of FIG. 1 in the upright position, said container being closed by a traditional cap.

In the description, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” are defined relative to the direction of the liquid flowing outside the container. The terms “lower” and “upper” are defined relative to the axis of the container when the latter is in its upright position, shown in FIG. 4.
In reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, a container 1 is described comprising an upper wall 2, a lower wall 4 and at least one side wall 6 connecting the upper 2 and lower 4 walls so as to define an inner space 8 extending between the upper 2, lower 4 and side 6 walls.
According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the inner space 8 is substantially parallelepiped and the container 1 comprises four side walls 6 defining the inner space 8. The illustrated container is thus of the “Jerry can” type. It is, however, understood that the inner space 8 could have any other shape. As an example, the side wall 6 could be a cylinder of revolution so as to form a container in the form of a can or barrel. Advantageously, the lower wall 4 is configured so that the container 1 can rest stably on this lower wall 4 when the container 1 is in an upright position, as shown in FIG. 4. Also advantageously, at least one side wall 6 is also configured so that the container 1 can rest stably on this side wall 6 when the container is in a reclined position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
The container 1 can have any desired capacity; for example, the inner space 8 may be 5 L or less than 40 L or more depending on the desired use. According to one particular example, the inner space 8 is substantially equal to 20 L.
In a known manner, the walls can be configured so that the container 1 comprises a handle 10 or other gripping means and/or information on the origin, contents, space of the container 1 and/or a logo, for example.
The upper wall 2 comprises a opening 12 making it possible to fill and empty the inner space 8. To that end, the opening 12 is the only opening of the container placing the inner space 8 in fluid communication with the outside of the container 1. The opening 12 extends along a main axis A substantially perpendicular to the upper wall 2 and substantially parallel to the axis of the container 1. The main axis A extends substantially vertically when the container is in its upright position, as shown in FIG. 4, and substantially horizontally, or tilted downward, when the container 1 is in its reclined position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
According to one embodiment, the opening 12 is situated near the or one of the side wall(s) 6. More particularly, the opening 12 is situated near the side wall 6 configured so that the container can rest on it in the elongated position.
The opening 12 is defined by a mouth 14 extending from the upper wall 2 along the main axis A toward the outside of the container 1. The mouth 14 for example has a cylinder of revolution shape extending along and around the main axis A. The mouth 14 is provided on its outer face with a thread 16 arranged to receive a cap 18 by screwing.
The cap 18 is interchangeable and has a different shape and function depending on the use of the container 1.
When the container 1 is stored or transported while it is full, the cap 18 can be a traditional cap arranged to hermetically close the opening 12, as shown in FIG. 4.
When the container 1 must be emptied in several operations and while controlling the quantity and flow rate of the liquid taken from the container, the cap 18 comprises a flow duct 20 making it possible to let the liquid flow outside the container through an outlet 22 provided at the end of the flow duct 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The flow duct 20 therefore makes it possible to place the inner space 8 in fluid communication with the outside of the container 1 through the cap 18.
The outlet 22 extends along an axis S substantially perpendicular to the main axis A, such that the axis S extends substantially vertically when the container 1 is in the reclined position, which allows the liquid to flow through the outlet 22 by gravity.
The flow duct 20 comprises a tubular upstream segment 24, extending through the cap 18 along the main axis A so as to emerge in the inner space 8, and a tubular downstream segment 26, extending between the upstream segment 24 and the outlet 22 along the axis S to the outside of the inner space 8.
According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a closing off element 28 extends in the downstream segment 26 and makes it possible to cut the fluid communication between the inner space 8 and the outlet 22. The closing off element 28 is formed by an outer wall 30 extending against the inner wall of the downstream segment 26 and having a shape substantially complementary to this inner wall. The outer wall 30 therefore has a hollow tube shape defining an inner duct 31 extending in the flow duct 20. As shown in FIG. 3, a liquid passage orifice 32 extends through part of the outer wall 30 so as to allow communication between the outside of the outer wall 30 and the inner duct 31 through the orifice 32. The closing off element 28 is rotatable around the axis S in the downstream segment 26 between a closed position, in which the outer wall 30 extends across from the upstream segment 24 so as to close the flow duct 20 and interrupt the fluid communication between the inner space 8 and the outlet 22, and an open position, in which the liquid passage orifice 32 is placed across from the upstream segment 24 so as to allow the liquid to flow in the flow duct 20 and to place the inner space 8 in fluid communication with the outlet 22, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The rotation between the open position and the closed position is for example controlled by a gripping element 34 able to be actuated by a user.
The closing off element 28 further comprises an inner wall 36 separating the inner duct 31 into two parts isolated from one another. One of these parts forms a portion of a liquid flow channel 38 of the flow duct 20 and the other forms a portion of an air passage channel 40 of the flow duct 20. The liquid passage orifice 32 extends on the side of the inner wall 36 defining the portion of the liquid flow channel 38.
The outer wall 30 further comprises an air passage orifice 42 extending through the outer wall 30 on the side of the inner wall 36 defining the portion of the air passage channel 40. The air passage orifice 42 is positioned across from the liquid passage orifice 32 such that when the closing off element 28 is in the open position, the air passage channel 40 is also across from the upstream segment 24, like the liquid passage orifice 32. Thus, the air passage orifice 42 and the liquid passage orifice 32 extend on either side of the inner wall 36 across from one another, as shown in FIG. 3. According to the embodiment shown in this figure, the air passage orifice 42 has an elongated oblong shape with a length exceeding the length of the liquid passage orifice 32 along the circumference of the outer wall 30. Thus, the air passage orifice 42 is across from the upstream segment 24 over a larger rotation range of the closing off element 28 than the liquid passage orifice 32.
A pipe 44 extends in the inner space 8 of the container between a first end 46, or downstream end, and a second end 48, or upstream end. The first end 46 of the pipe 44 is fastened in an orifice traversing the downstream segment 26 of the flow duct 20 so as to emerge in the downstream segment 26 across from the air passage orifice 42 of the closing off element 28.
The pipe 44 is secured in rotation with the cap 18. This means that the rotation of the cap 18 around the axis A rotates the pipe 44 around the main axis A. This is for example obtained by fastening the first end 46 in an orifice traversing the downstream segment 26 of the flow duct 20 of the cap 18. Thus, when the cap is in the process of being screwed or unscrewed, the pipe is rotated by the cap.
According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pipe comprises a downstream segment 50 extending from the first end in the upstream segment 24 of the flow duct 20. The downstream segment 50 of the pipe 44 extends parallel to the main axis A up to a bend 52 of the pipe 44 extending in the inner space 8. The pipe 44 next comprises an upstream segment 54 extending from the bend 52 to the second end 48.
The upstream segment 54 of the pipe extends along a tilted axis T forming an angle α substantially comprised between 25° and 75° with the main axis A. The angle α is measured between the part of the axis of the downstream segment 50 of the pipe 44 extending upstream of the bend 50 and the axis T of the upstream segment 54, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. According to another embodiment, the pipe 44 extends entirely on the tilted axis T forming the angle α with the main axis A. According to one embodiment, the angle α is comprised between 30 and 60° and is for example close to 45°.
The total length of the pipe 44 between its first and second ends 46, 48 is greater than or equal to half the length of the container measured along the main axis A, i.e., half the length of the side wall 6. According to one embodiment, the total length of the pipe 44 is greater than or equal to 75% of the length of the container measured along the main axis A. The majority of the total length of the pipe 44 is formed by the upstream segment 54 of the pipe 44, i.e., by the part extending along the tilted axis T. Thus, the pipe 44 extends essentially, or even completely, along the tilted axis T.
The pipe 44 is made from a substantially rigid material, while having a certain elasticity. These features mean that the pipe 44 retains its shape extending essentially along the tilted axis T without needing a support element outside the pipe 44, and that it is able to regain this shape when a stress, such as bearing, exerted on it is released. As an example, the pipe 44 is made from thermoplastic polymer, such as polyamide, for instance Rilsan®.
The features of the pipe described above cause the second end 48 of the pipe to extend above the liquid level in the container 1, as will be described later in relation to the method for using the container.
The pipe 44 can be made in two separate parts 56, 58, one of which is nested on the other. The first part 56 is for example permanently fastened on the cap 18 and for example comprises the downstream segment 50 and the bend 52, and the second part 58, nested on the first part, comprises the upstream segment 54. A same cap 18 can thus be used with different containers, for example with different capacities, while the second part 56 is changed, for example to modify its length based on the capacity of the container 1.
The first part 56 is then secured in rotation with the cap 18 and the second part 28 is secured in rotation with the first part 56. The pipe 44 assembly is thus secured in rotation with the cap 18.
The pipe 44 forms the rest of the air passage channel 40, while the part of the upstream segment 24 of the flow duct 20 outside the pipe 44 forms the rest of the liquid flow channel 38. The air passage channel 40 is therefore completely isolated from the liquid flow channel 38.
The assembly formed by the flow duct 20 and the closing off element 28 therefore forms a tap making it possible to control the flow of liquid from the container 1 through the cap 18.
The method for using the container 1 described above will now be described.
The container 1 is first filled with a liquid. The container is more particularly suitable for containing a viscous liquid. “Viscous” refers to a liquid having a kinematic viscosity greater than 20 cSt, i.e., greater than 20 mm²·s⁻¹at room temperature. The viscosity of the liquid is for example less than 1700 cSt, i.e., less than 1700 mm²·s⁻¹at room temperature. Such a viscosity range for example covers different grades of oils for a vehicle, such as lubricants for an engine and transmissions. The kinematic viscosity at room temperature of the viscous liquid can for example be measured using the method described in standard ISO-3104, titled “Petroleum products—Transparent and opaque liquids—Determination of kinematic viscosity and calculation of dynamic viscosity”.
The container 1 is then in the upright position and has no cap 18, which allows the container to be filled quickly. In a known manner, the filling is done so as to leave a headspace 60 with no liquid, i.e., the inner space 8 is not completely filled, for easier manipulation of the filled container 1.
The container is next closed, still in its upright position, using a traditional cap as shown in FIG. 4. The container can thus be transported, for example by its handle 10, and stored in the upright position or reclined position with no risk of the liquid leaking through the mouth 14.
When the contents of the container must be used in a controlled quantity and repeatedly, i.e., when the container is not emptied in a single operation, which may be done simply by removing the cap, the container 1 is placed in the upright position and the traditional cap is replaced by a cap 18 provided with a tap, as previously described.
To that end, when the container 1 is in the upright position, the traditional cap is removed by unscrewing from the mouth 14. The cap 18 provided with the tap is next positioned on the mouth 14. It is understood that if the pipe 44 is made in two parts 56, 58, these parts are assembled first. To place the cap 18, the complete pipe 44 is first inserted into the inner space 8 until the cap 18 comes into contact with the mouth 14.
The cap 18 is next screwed on the mouth 14, which rotates the pipe 44 inside the inner space. Due to the angle α, which does not exceed 75°, the rotation of the pipe 44 can be done with no interference with the side wall(s) 6, i.e., without the pipe 44 coming into contact with the side wall(s) during screwing of the cap 18. It is, however, possible for the pipe 44 to come into contact with one of the side walls 6 during screwing, in particular the wall 6 closest to the mouth 14. In this case, the elasticity of the pipe 44 and the maximum value of the angle α mean that this contact does not cause the pipe 44 to be blocked against the wall 6 and the pipe can continue to rotate after this contact. Thus, the pipe 44 does not prevent the cap 18 from being screwed on the mouth 14. Furthermore, due to its rigidity, the pipe 44 does not form a pellet during the screwing of the cap 18, i.e., it retains its essentially rectilinear shape along the tilted axis T.
When the cap 18 is completely screwed on the mouth 14, the container 1 is tilted from its upright position to its reclined position, while the closing off element is in its closed position.
The cap 18 and the mouth 14 are arranged such that when the cap 18 is completely screwed on the mouth 14 and the container is in its reclined position, the downstream segment 26, and therefore the outlet 22, of the tap are oriented vertically downward in order to allow liquid to flow by gravity. Likewise, the pipe 44 is fastened to the cap 18 such that, when the cap 18 is completely screwed on the mouth 14 and the container is in its reclined position, the second end 48 of the pipe 44 extends near the side wall 6 or the part of the side wall positioned opposite the side wall 6 or the side wall parts on which the container rests in the reclined position. Thus, due to the headspace provided with no liquid, the second end 48 of the pipe 44 emerges from the liquid and extends above the liquid level in the container in the reclined position, as shown in FIG. 1.
It should be noted that the viscosity of the liquid and the small diameter of the pipe, for example from about 3 mm to 6 mm for the inner diameter of the pipe, prevent the liquid from penetrating inside the pipe 44 during screwing of the cap 18 and when the container is tilted from its upright position to its reclined position.
When a quantity of liquid must be withdrawn from the container, for example when part of the liquid contained in the container must be decanted into a smaller capacity container, the closing off element 28 is moved toward its open position when the smaller-capacity container is positioned below the outlet 22.
When the liquid passage orifice 32 is across from the upstream segment 24, the liquid begins to flow through the liquid flow channel 38 and is poured through the outlet 22. At the same time, the first end 46 of the pipe 44 is positioned across from the air passage orifice 42 and the air can circulate in the air passage channel 40. Thus, outside air enters the space extending above the liquid level in the container, which places this space at atmospheric pressure and accelerates the emptying of the liquid, as is known per se.
The fact that the length of the air passage orifice 42 is greater than that of the liquid passage orifice 32 makes it possible to allow air to circulate in the air passage channel 40, irrespective of the section of the liquid passage orifice 32 across from the upstream segment 24. Thus, the flow rate of the liquid can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the section of the liquid passage orifice 32 across from the upstream segment 24 while preserving the air intake function inside the container 1.
The container described above therefore makes it possible to accelerate the emptying of a container 1 containing a viscous liquid while being robust and easy to use due to the characteristics of the pipe 44.
The same cap 18 can be used simply with different containers having different capacities, by replacing the part 58 of the pipe 44 to adapt its length to the capacity of the container.
The invention has been described with a cap comprising a tap, but it is understood that the invention could apply to a cap simply comprising a flow duct with no closing off element and the emptying of which would begin by simply tilting the container from the upright position to the reclined position and would stop by returning the container to the upright position.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A container intended to contain a liquid having a viscosity greater than 20 cSt, said container comprising:

an upper wall, a lower wall and at least one side wall extending between the upper wall and the lower wall, said walls defining an inner space of the container,

a single orifice extending in said upper wall along a main axis,

a cap screwed on said upper wall so as to close the orifice, said cap comprising a flow duct in fluid communication with the inner space and provided with an outlet extending along an axis substantially perpendicular to the main axis, said duct comprising a liquid flow channel and an air passage channel emerging in said outlet,

a pipe extending in the inner space and comprising a first end in fluid communication with the outlet and a second end intended to extend above the level of the liquid in the container, the pipe being secured in rotation with the cap,

wherein the pipe extends essentially along a tilted axis forming an angle substantially comprised between 25° and 75° with the main axis and having a length greater than or equal to half the length of the container measured along the main axis.

12. The container according to claim 11, wherein the pipe has a length greater than or equal to 75% of the length of the container measured along the main axis.

13. The container according to claim 11, comprising a separating wall extending in the flow duct, said separating wall sealably separating the liquid flow channel and the air passage channel.

14. The container according to claim 11, comprising a closing off element closing off the flow duct, said closing off element being movable between an open position, in which the outlet is in fluid communication with the inner space, and a closed position, in which the outlet is isolated from the inner space.

15. The container according to claim 14, wherein the closing off element comprises an outer wall provided with a liquid passage orifice and an air passage orifice, said outer wall closing the flow duct in the closed position of the closing off element and said passage openings being positioned respectively across from the liquid flow channel and the air passage channel in the open position of the closing off element.

16. The container according to claim 15, wherein the outer wall is rotatable around the axis of the outlet between the closed position and the open position so as to move the liquid and air passage openings outside or opposite the liquid flow channel and the air passage channel.

17. The container according to claim 11, wherein the pipe is substantially rigid.

18. The container according to claim 11, wherein the pipe comprises a downstream segment extending substantially rectilinearly along the main axis and an upstream segment extending substantially rectilinearly along the tilted axis, said pipe comprising a bend between the downstream segment and the upstream segment, said bend forming an angle substantially comprised between 25° and 75° between the tilted axis and the main axis.

19. The container according to claim 11, wherein the pipe is formed in two parts, one of the parts being nested on the other part.

20. A method for using a container (1) according to claim 11, the method comprising the following steps:

filling the container with a liquid having a viscosity greater than 20 cSt through the opening, the container being in an upright position, in which the main axis of the opening extends substantially vertically,

closing the container using a cap screwed on the upper wall, which rotates the pipe, the angle formed by the pipe with the main axis being such that the cap can be screwed without blocking the pipe against the side wall of the container,

tilting the container from the upright position to a reclined position, in which the main axis of the opening extends substantially horizontally, such that the liquid can flow through the flow duct while air is brought above the liquid level in the container by the pipe.