WO1986004319A1

WO1986004319A1 - A connection hose between two containers

Info

Publication number: WO1986004319A1
Application number: PCT/DK1986/000009
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kim Larsen
Original assignee: Kim Larsen
Priority date: 1985-01-17
Filing date: 1986-01-17
Publication date: 1986-07-31
Also published as: DK23185D0; EP0208774A1; DE8690009U1; DK23185A; GB8622204D0; AU5395586A; GB2183602B; GB2183602A

Abstract

In order to be able to refuel an engine in a safe and simple manner, for example an outboard engine in the open sea, one can with advantage use a connection hose (4) between the tank (1) and the reserve fuel container (10). The hose (4) consists of a twin hose comprising an air channel (6) and a liquid channel (5) with the same sectional area. The air channel is extended so that it projects up over the liquid channel (5) in the filling position. The ends of the hose are provided with elastic plugs (3, 7) which have ribs (8) on their outer sides. This ensures a tight connection between the hose and the spout. When the hose with the plug is secured, the container (10) is raised and the liquid will flow in until it reaches up to the channel (6) and shuts off the evacuation of air from the tank (1). Overflow is thus prevented, and the risk of fire and/or the danger of explosion is hereby eliminated.

Description

A CONNECTION HOSE BETWEEN TWO CONTAINERS.

The invention relates to a connection hose between two containers, said hose comprising a liquid channel and an air channel and having connection pieces for tight fastening in the container spouts, and where the one container in the filling position is raised above the other container so that the liquid can be transferred from the upper to the lower container.

When inflammable liquid such as engine fuel (petrol) or the like is to be transferred from a container to the tank on an engine, whether this be an outboard engine, motor mower, rotary cultivator, motor generator or the like, a certain risk is always connected with such a filling operation.

In practice the filling can be effected via a funnel which is placed in the spout of the tank, and into which the fuel is poured carefully from the discharge spout on the container. In other cases, a hose is secured to the container spout and this hose is inserted down into the tank, after which the fuel is made to flow by an appropriate lifting of the container.

However, both of these methods involve a considerable risk of the escape of vapour and liquid, which can easily be ignited by contact with the hot parts of the engine. This can cause very serious accidents which are due solely to the uncontrollable flow. In addition to this, there is the risk of overflow if one does not stop the filling in time. In practice it is difficult to determine when the tank is close to being full, the reason being that it is seldom that the liquid level can be observed during the actual filling.

From French patent no. 2,146,304 there is known a filling method which provides security against the escape of vapour. The means of achieving this is a closed circuit which, by means of mechanical pumps, drives the liquid through the hose. This system cannot function without the help of these pumps, which limits the application possibilities. From German patent no. 3005/1878 there is also known a filling can with an air hose and a liquid channel. When pouring from this can, the liquid while flowing out from the spout will press the air from the underlying container up through the air hose at the top of the can and out through a pipe.

Since the air hose has a relatively smaller capacity than the discharge spout, there arises a limitation on the liquid discharge, in that this is limited by the ability of the air to pass through the pipe.

Moreover, the air hose opens out above the surface of the liquid, in order for the air to be able to escape from the hose when the discharge is initiated at the start of the filling. There is no "free flow" for the liquid, the reason being that the air is restricted by the thin hose and by its passage through the pipe, which reduces the filling capacity.

The object of the invention is to remedy these disad vantages and risks, particularly with the filling of fuel, and this is achieved by use of a connection hose which comprises a liquid channel and an air channel, and where the liquid channel and the air channel have the same cross-sectional area, and the air channel is extended in such a manner that it projects up above the liquid channel in the filling position.

There is hereby achieved first and foremost a completely closed circuit, this being established between the two containers which can be a tank and a can, whereby the risk of the escape of vapour and liquid during the filling is eliminated in a safe and simple manner. The transfer of the fuel is effected easily and under complete control, the reason being that a closed circuit is established. The result is that there will be free flow for both liquid and air and, since the liquid and the air amount have the same volume, the amount of air which is evacuated from the container is equal to the amount of liquid which is admitted to the container. Furthermore, the liquid is separated from the air and is thus not disturbed by the passage of the air up through the down-flowing liquid.

When the level of the liquid in the lower container reaches up to the channels, a balance will arise, in that the air can no longer leave the hose through the air channel. This means that the flow of liquid stops immediately. When the lifted can is then lowered, by slightly loosening one of the plugs the liquid can be made to flow out of the hose and down in the containers, without any need for as much as a drop of liquid spilling out, and moreover without the escape of undue amounts of vapour. The latter is solely a question of how quickly this part of the operation can be carried out.

Furthermore, as presented in claim 2, it is expedient to let the air channel in the discharge end extend for a distance down into the tank, hereby stopping the filling at a safe distance from the spout.

The invention will now be described in closer detail with reference to the drawing, where

fig. 1 shows a connection hose mounted between two containers during the transfer of liquid from the upper to the lower container, and

fig. 2 shows an example of a connection hose.

In figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a preferred embodiment of a connection hose 4 according to the invention.

This comprises a piece of twin hose, preferably executed in a flexible, transparent synthetic material, and where there is a liquid channel 5 and an air channel 6 which have the same sectional area.

The hose 4 is mounted between two truncated coneshaped plugs 3, 7. At the upper end, the air channel 6 is extended.

At the discharge end of the hose 4 it is shown that both the air and the liquid channels are extended for a suitable distance in order to determine the maximum liquid level, shown with a stippled line in fig. 1, that the liquid 2 can reach in the container 1 after the filling.

The plugs 3, 7 are preferably made of an elastic plastic foam with a skin-like surface, such as polyurethane on ether base. In the plug there is a tight fit for the hose 4, which passes tightly through the plug.

On the outside of the plug there are shown a number of parallel-running ribs 8 which give the plug its corrugated appearance.

This configuration ensures that a plug can be pressed easily into the spout on a container, and that it remains here firmly and tightly during the filling. After use, the plug can be wriggled out of its engagement and is able to be used again and again without becoming leaky.

When in use, the connection hose is mounted on the spouts of the two containers by means of the cone -shaped plugs, hereby providing a completely closed circuit between the containers. It is a condition for the correct function that all joints are absolutely tight.

The connection hose is mounted so that the inlet is effected through that end at which the air channel 6 extends up over the liquid channel 5 when the container 10 is lifted and tipped, as shown in fig. 1. The difference in height between the inlets of the two channels 5, 6 results in a higher pressure in the lower channel 5 than in the higher channel 6, whereby the air from the lower container 1 will be pressed up through the channel 6 because of the lower pressure in this channel. At the beginning, this channel is more or less filled with liquid, which is therefore pressed up through the channel and out in the upper container.

Hereafter, there is free flow for both liquid and air, and since the liquid and air amounts are of the - same volume, the amount of air which is evacuated from the container 1 will be equal to the amount of liquid admitted to the container. Moreover, the liquid is separated from the air, and is thus not disturbed by the passage of the air up through the down -flowing liquid.

When the level of the liquid in the lower container 1 reaches up to the channels 5, 6, a balance will arise, in that the air can no longer leave the hose through the channel 6. This means that the liquid immediately ceases to flow.

When the raised container 10 is then lowered, by slightly loosening one of the plugs 3, 7 the liquid can be made to run out of the hose and down into the containers, without the need for as much as a drop of liquid being spilt, and moreover without the escape of undue amounts of vapour. The latter is solely a question of how quickly this part of the operation can be carried out. The spout is provided with a cap, and the filling has been completed in a safe, clean and simple manner.

The use can be envisaged of plugs to which the hose is secured by welding or the like, in that the hose does not need to pass through the plug, but can end at the plug. The air channel, which must be extended, can be secured to the one plug's opposite end, for example by welding or the like.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Connection hose between two containers, said hose comprising a liquid channel and an air channel and having connection pieces for tight fastening in the container spouts, and where the one container in the filling position is raised above the other container so that liquid can be transferred from the upper to the lower container, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the liquid channel (5) and the air channel (6) have the same sectional area, and that the air channel (6) is extended so that it projects up over the liquid channel (5) in the filling position.

2. Connection hose according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least the air channel (6) is extended a distance through the connection piece (3) in the discharge end of the hose.