WO1994006686A1 - Procede et appareil nouveaux et ameliores a element tubulaire pneumatique - Google Patents

Procede et appareil nouveaux et ameliores a element tubulaire pneumatique Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1994006686A1
WO1994006686A1 PCT/US1992/008099 US9208099W WO9406686A1 WO 1994006686 A1 WO1994006686 A1 WO 1994006686A1 US 9208099 W US9208099 W US 9208099W WO 9406686 A1 WO9406686 A1 WO 9406686A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
pressurized air
inflatable object
fluidic
supply
pressure
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1992/008099
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Mark Huza
Michael Pesce
Jack M. Olich
Original Assignee
Diba Industries Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Diba Industries Inc. filed Critical Diba Industries Inc.
Priority to US08/244,329 priority Critical patent/US5454407A/en
Priority to AU27525/92A priority patent/AU2752592A/en
Priority to PCT/US1992/008099 priority patent/WO1994006686A1/fr
Publication of WO1994006686A1 publication Critical patent/WO1994006686A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
    • B60P7/00—Securing or covering of load on vehicles
    • B60P7/06—Securing of load
    • B60P7/065—Securing of load by pressurizing or creating a vacuum in a bag, cover or the like
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
    • B65B55/20—Embedding contents in shock-absorbing media, e.g. plastic foam, granular material

Definitions

  • This invention relates to new and improved pneumatic wand apparatus and method which are particularly adapted for hand ⁇ held use in the essentially automatic filling with ambient air of non-elastic dunnage bags to predetermined overpressures in situ in cargo containers.
  • the Angarola et al inflation gun operates through the entrainment of ambient air by high pressure air jets from the pressurized air fill orifices to force air through the fill valve assembly into the dunnage bag; and, upon filling of the dunnage bag to the specified maximum pressure level, simply dumps excess pressurized air back into the surrounding atmosphere, thus requiring reliance upon the skill and attention of the fill gun operator to detect this condition (see for example telltales 597 in Angarola's FIG. 21), discontinue pressurized air flow to the gun, remove the same from the dunnage bag fill valve assembly, and seal the same; it being noted that although Angarola et al do mention at lines 63-
  • an external pneumatic pressure regulator is required to establish a set point for the pressure sensing function; while this prior art inflation apparatus further requires a total in all of at least seven pressure regulators and included gauges, a plurality of valves and connecting lines, and the like, a separate needle assembly lubrication system which includes a lubricating oil reservoir and needle lubrication line, and an output pressure reservoir tank; all to result as above in a highly complex, expensive, and clearly maintenance-prone device.
  • the Stuckel Ball Inflation Apparatus functions to inflate elastic objects to a pre-set pressure and, as such and in accordance with the technological complexity thereof as above, would most probably represent technological overkill, so to speak, if attempts were made to apply the same to the task of this invention.
  • the Stuckel Ball Inflation Apparatus could, in any event, as a practical matter be satisfactorily applied to the filling of dunnage bags in situ in a cargo container since some portion of the lubricating oil supplied to the coaxial inflation needle assembly would, as a virtual certainty, rub or be blown off the same with resultant contamination of the container cargo; while the sharpness of that needle assembly in the relatively cramped confines of a cargo container could very well result in the puncture of the dunnage bag by the same. Too, and to the extent made clear by the Stuckel disclosure, the Ball Inflation Apparatus thereof would by no means appear suitable to hand-held use within the confines of a cargo container.
  • the apparatus and method of the invention are embodied in a fiuidic operating circuit which operates to supply pressurized ambient air from an appropriate source thereof taking the form of a pump to an inflatable object to rapidly fill the same to a desired overpressure.
  • the pressurized air is supplied to the inflatable object through a wand which includes an annulus formed between coaxial inner and outer tubes having generally aligned tip portions which are inserted into the object to be filled to create a fiuidic effect taking the form of a venturi with attendant negative pressure at the tip portion of the inner tube in response to pressurized air flow through the annulus.
  • this shift in amplifier condition operates to close a pressure actuated valve to discontinue the further supply of pressurized air to the thusly inflated object; while, in a second disclosed embodiment, this shift in amplifier condition operates to close a pressure actuated switch to discontinue operation of the pump to like effect.
  • Adjustment in the operpressure to which the inflatable object is filled is provided for by convenient adjustment in the alignment of the respective outer and inner tube tip portions to thereby adjust the overpressure in the object at which the venturi will stall.
  • the second disclosed embodiment includes a selector valve which, in a first position thereof, connects the outlet of the pump to the inflatable object to supply pressurized air thereto to inflate the same and, in a second position thereof, connects the inlet of the pump to an inflated object to withdraw air therefrom and deflate the same for re ⁇ use.
  • the apparatus and method of the invention are particularly adapted to the essentially automatic filling of non-elastic dunnage bags to desired overpressures in situ in cargo shipping container to protect shock sensitive cargoes during shipping, and to the deflation of those dunnage bags at the cargo shipping container destination for economic re-use.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram depicting a fiuidic operating circuit configured and operable in accordance with the teachings of a first embodiment of the currently contemplated best mode of the apparatus and method of our invention
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view, with parts cut away for purposes of illustration, depicting the outer portion of the wand assembly of the operating circuit of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the fiuidic diaphragm amplifier of the operating circuit of FIG. 1 depicting the amplifier in the "INPUT OFF" condition thereof;
  • FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the fiuidic diaphragm amplifier of the operating circuit of FIG. 1 depicting the amplifier in the "INPUT ON" condition thereof;
  • FIG. 5 is an assembly view, with parts cut away for purposes of illustration, depicting the operating circuit of FIG. 1 packaged for use in an operating circuit housing;
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view, with parts cut away for purposes of illustration, depicting a contemporary dunnage bag of the nature of those particularly adapted to be filled by the apparatus and method of our invention
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view, with parts cut away for purposes of illustration, depicting the operative connection of the apparatus of our invention to the dunnage bag of FIG. 6 for the filling of the latter;
  • FIG. 8 is a side view, with parts cut away for purposes of illustration, depicting the end portion of the wand assembly of the operating circuit of FIG. 1, and illustrating a first representative relative disposition of the respective ends of the outer and inner tubes of that wand assembly;
  • FIG. 9 is a side view, with parts cut away for purposes of illustration, depicting the end portion of the wand assembly of the operating circuit of FIG. 1, and illustrating a second representative relative disposition of the respective ends of the outer and inner tubes of that wand assembly;
  • FIG. 10 is a side view, with parts cut away for purposes of illustration, depicting the end portion of the wand assembly of the operating circuit of FIG. 1, and illustrating a third representative relative disposition of the respective ends of the outer and inner tubes of that wand assembly;
  • FIG. 11 is a side view depicting the end portion of the wand assembly of FIG. 1 wherein the outer wand assembly tube is made of a transparent material;
  • FIG. 12 is a perspective view, with parts cut away for purposes of illustration, depicting the operative connection of the apparatus of our invention to the dunnage bag of FIG. 6 for the deflation of the latter;
  • FIG. 13 is a perspective view, with parts cut away for purposes of illustration, depicting the operative connection of one of the tubes of the wand assembly of the operating circuit of FIG. 1 to the dunnage bag of FIG. 6 for the deflation of the latter;
  • FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram depicting a fluidi ⁇ - electric operating circuit configured and operable in accordance with the teachings of a second embodiment of the currently contemplated best mode of the apparatus and method of our invention.
  • FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of the selector valve of FIG. 14 in a first operational valve position
  • FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of the selector valve of FIG. 14 in a second operational valve condition
  • FIG. 17 is a perspective view, with parts cut away for purposes of illustration, depicting the operating circuit of FIG. 14 packaged for use in an operating circuit housing in accordance with the teachings of our invention, and operatively connected to the dunnage bag of FIG. 6 for the deflation of the latter;
  • FIG. 18 is a perspective view, with parts cut away for purposes of illustration, illustrating a representative application of the apparatus and method of our invention to the sequential filling dunnage bags in situ for the protective packaging of shock sensitive cargo in cargo shipping containers in a typical industrial application;
  • FIG. 19 is a perspective view, with parts cut away for purposes of illustration, further illustrating the sensitive cargo protective packaging sequence of FIG. 16. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  • FIG. 1 of the application drawings a fiuidic operating circuit representatively configured and operable in accordance with the teachings of a first embodiment of the currently contemplated best mode of our invention is schematically depicted and indicated generally at 20.
  • a readily adjustable source of pressurized ambient air which does not per se form part of this embodiment of our invention, for example a compressor, is schematically indicated at 22; and may be understood to include a suitable air filter of, for example, 40 micron particle separation capability.
  • compressor 22 would simply form part of the existing, immediately available plant pressurized air supply system which would be readily adjustable through use for example of an included pressure regulator, to supply pressurized ambient air throughout a range of between 7 to 25 PSIG to operating circuit 20 through pressurized air supply line 24 which branches as shown into pressurized air supply lines as indicated at 26 and 28, respectively.
  • a spring biased, cartridge check valve assembly is schematically indicated at 30 and is disposed as shown in pressurized air supply line 26.
  • Valve assembly 30 includes a relatively low force constant spring as indicated at 32 which, for a typical application of the apparatus and method of our invention, would be rated to retain the valve assembly 30 closed at air supply pressures below 7 PSIG in supply line 26.
  • a spring biased, cartridge check valve assembly is indicated schematically at 34, and is connected as shown to the output side of check valve assembly 30 by pressurized air supply line 36.
  • Valve assembly 34 includes a relatively high force constant spring as indicated at 38 which, for a typical application of the apparatus and method of our invention, would be rated to maintain the valve assembly 34 closed at air supply pressures below 30 PSIG in supply line 36.
  • a manually operable apparatus actuating push button assembly is indicated schematically at 40; and is mechanically connected as indicated by the dashed line to the cartridge check valve assembly 34 in such manner that manual downward depression of the push button 40 by the apparatus operator from the "OFF" position thereof to the “ON” position thereof as indicated in FIG. 1 will open valve assembly 34 against the action of spring 38 to enable the flow of pressurized air through the latter despite the fact that the same is at less than 30 PSIG.
  • a spring biased cartridge check valve assembly which operates as a safety relief valve as described in detail hereinbelow, is indicated schematically at 42 in FIG. 1, and is connected as shown to the output side of valve assembly by a pressurized air supply line as indicated at 44.
  • Valve assembly 42 includes a spring 46 also of relatively low force constant which, for a typical application of the fluidic operating circuit 20 of our invention under discussion, would be rated to retain the valve assembly closed at air pressures below 10 PSIG in supply line 44.
  • a coaxial dunnage bag filling and dunnage bag fullness sensing tube assembly, or wand, is schematically indicated at 48 in FIG. 1; and comprises an outer pressurized air supply dunnage bag fill tube 50, and an inner dunnage bag fullness sensing tube 52 coaxially disposed therewithin; and a pressurized air supply line as indicated at 54 connects supply line 44 beyond relief valve 42 to the input end of dunnage bag fill tube 50.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates that pressurized supply air from supply line 54 will flow through the wand 48 via the annulus 56 into the interior of an operatively connected dunnage bag as illustrated and described in greater detail hereinbelow; while the resultant air pressure created at the tip of the inner bag fullness sensing tube 52 will be concomitantly communicated therethrough via a sensing line 55 for control of the operation of the fluidic operating circuit 20 of FIG. 1, again as illustrated and described in greater detail hereinbelow.
  • a piston-cylinder assembly is indicated schematically at 56 in FIG. 1 and comprises a cylinder 58 and a piston 60 slidably disposed therewithin.
  • the rod 62 of piston 60 is mechanically connected as indicated by the dashed line to cartridge check valve assembly 30 in such manner that downward movement of the piston 60 in cylinder 58 as seen in FIG. 1 will be effective in conjunction with valve spring 32 to close valve assembly 30 despite air supply pressures in supply line 26 of up to the maximum of 25 PSIG as can be provided by compressor 22 in the typical operational example of the apparatus and method of our invention here under discussion.
  • a fluidic diaphragm amplifier taking for example the form of that illustrated and described in some detail as the F- 4014-Series Diaphragm Amplifiers at pages 3 and 4 of Publication 8450 of the Air Logic Division of Fred Knapp Engineering Co., Inc., 5102 Douglas Avenue, Racin, Wisconsin 53402, is indicated schematically at 64 in FIG. 1.
  • fluidic diaphragm amplifier 64 comprises a housing 66 which is divided by a pilot diaphragm 68 into an input chamber 70 and a vented, supply-output chamber 72.
  • Chamber 70 includes an input port 74; while chamber 72 includes supply, output and vent ports as indicated at 76, 78 and 80, respectively.
  • Pressurized air supply line 28 extends as shown into communication with amplifier supply port 76 to supply pressurized air from compressor 22 thereto through a restricting orifice as indicated at 82 internally of the amplifier chamber 72.
  • Dunnage bag fullness sensing line 55 extends as shown from the inner end of dunnage bag fullness sensing tube 52 of the wand 48 to connect the same to the input port 74 of the fluidic diaphragm amplifier 64; while an output line 86 extends as shown from the amplifier output port 78 to cylinder 58 of piston- cylinder assembly 56 above piston 60 to communicate the diaphragm amplifier output signal pressure thereto.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 of the application drawings which respectively depict the amplifier 64 in the "Input Off” and “Input On” conditions thereof, FIG.
  • a circular flat spring 88 which is included as shown in the amplifier pilot diaphragm 68 functions to bias the same away from the opening formed by amplifier chamber 72 between the supply port 76 and the vent port 80 thereby enabling a jet of the pressurized air as supplied to the amplifier 64 to pass through supply port 76 and amplifier output chamber 70 to atmosphere out of amplifier vent port 80.
  • pilot diaphragm 68 is biased thereby by that pressure level in input chamber 70 against the action of flat spring 88 to seal off fluid flow communication through diaphragm output chamber 72 between supply port 76 and vent port 80, whereby the total pressurized air supply from line 28 will flow through output chamber 72 to and through amplifier output port 78 and connected line 86 to cylinder 58 above piston 60 to force the same to the non-depicted lower or bottom dead center position thereof against the action of valve spring 32 to close the cartridge check valve assembly 30 and prevent further flow of the pressurized air from supply line 26 therethrough.
  • FIG. 5 of the application drawings depicts the fluidic operating circuit 20 of FIG. 1 representatively packaged in accordance with the currently contemplated best mode of our invention; and, to that effect, depicts an operating circuit housing as generally indicated at 90 which comprises a main housing section 92 and a nozzle or wand section 94 joined as shown thereto in fluid-tight manner at an approximately 45* angle by a suitable attachment screw as indicated at 96.
  • the housing sections 92 and 94 are preferably molded from any readily available, appropriately light weight, high strength and electrically non-conductive material, for example ABS plastic.
  • FIG. 5 makes clear that the inner dunnage bag hardness sensing tube 52 is fixedly attached at the inner end thereof by a barbed fitting 98 to extend therefrom through the mating passages in housing sections 92 and 94 which form the pressurized air supply line 44 and 54 of FIG. 1; and further extends from the outer end of housing section 94 coaxially through the outer dunnage bag fill tube 50 to form the annulus 56 of FIG. 2 therebetween, with relief cartridge check valve assembly 42 extending as shown from the passage in housing section 94 which forms pressurized air supply line 44 through that housing section to atmosphere upon opening of that relief valve assembly under operational conditions as described in detail hereinbelow.
  • dunnage bag fill tube 50 is telescopically disposed into the outer end of the passage in housing section 94 which forms pressurized air supply line 54; and is adjustably retained in position relative to that housing section and the outer end of coaxial dunnage bag hardness sensing tube 52 by a two piece, Sigma-type collet locking sleeve assembly or fitting as indicated at 100 and 102, thereby making possible the ready and convenient adjustment, to purposes described in detail hereinbelow and without requirement for tools or specialized skills of any nature, of the position of the outer end of tube 50 relative to the outer end of tube 52.
  • such adjustment requires only the manual grasping of piece 100 of the locking sleeve assembly and the sliding of the same forward or away from housing section 94 along tube 50 from the depicted locking detent position of the sleeve assembly to release the tube 50 from the grasping action thereof, the manual grasping of the thusly released tube 50 and the sliding thereof inwardly or outwardly relative to the housing section 94 to change the position of the outer end of tube 50 relative to the fixed position of the outer end of tube 52, and the sliding of the locking sleeve assembly piece 100 backward along the thusly re-positioned tube 50 to return the same to the depicted locking detent position thereof and again fixedly grasp the tube 50 in the new position thereof.
  • both the outer dunnage bag fill tube 50 and the inner dunnage bag fullness sensing tube 52 are fabricated from any suitable readily available and relatively pliable plastic tubing material which is simply cut to the appropriate lengths to form the same; with the formation of any particularly sharp tubing edges, especially at the outer end of tube 50, to be avoided.
  • a dunnage bag representatively fabricated and configured in accordance with extremely low unit cost contemporary technological techniques to that effect is indicated generally at 106 in application drawing FIG. 6, and will be seen to comprise a main body portion 108 formed as shown by overlapped single or multi-ply sheets 110 and 112 of an appropriate, high strength and low cost plastic film material, for example polyurethane, suitably sealed together in air-tight manner as indicated at 114 substantially around the respective perimeters thereof by any appropriate technique, for example simple heat sealing.
  • a dunnage bag fill stem comprising nothing more than an essentially flattened tube of the same plastic material from which the dunnage bag 106 is fabricated, is indicated at 116 in FIG.
  • the fill stem 116 is sealed in like air-tight manner as indicated at 118 to the bag body portion sheets 110 and 112.
  • the fill stem 116 includes a conventional flapper or duck bill type valve as indicated generally at 120 formed by mating sheets 122 and 124 of the same plastic material here under discussion which are sealed within the stem as indicated at 126 to provide an opening 128 extending therethrough into communication with the interior of the bag body portion 108 through the fill stem 116; and which, in the absence of anything disposed in the opening 128 to open or spread the valve sheets 122 and 124 apart, will prevent the flow of air from the bag interior to the surrounding atmosphere to thus function as a particularly inexpensive and effective check valve.
  • dunnage bag fill tube 50 is predetermined in accordance with the size of opening 128 in the dunnage bag valve 120 to insure that the tube may be readily inserted therethrough with some measure of clearance therebetween.
  • pneumatic wand apparatus configured and operable as heretofore described in accordance with the teachings of the first embodiment of our invention are indicated generally at 130, and are depicted in operative relationship with dunnage bag 106 for the filling of the same with pressurized ambient air. More specifically, this will be seen to require nothing more than the simple insertion of the outer portion of the apparatus wand assembly 48 through the bag fill stem 116 and the opening 128 in the bag flapper valve assembly 120 so that the wand extends therethrough as shown into the otherwise sealed interior of the dunnage bag.
  • FIG. 7 of the application drawings pneumatic wand apparatus configured and operable as heretofore described in accordance with the teachings of the first embodiment of our invention are indicated generally at 130, and are depicted in operative relationship with dunnage bag 106 for the filling of the same with pressurized ambient air. More specifically, this will be seen to require nothing more than the simple insertion of the outer portion of the apparatus wand assembly 48 through the bag fill stem 116 and the opening 128 in
  • this grasping of the dunnage bag 106 and pressing of the bag fill stem assembly 106 against the underlying portion of wand assembly 48 as described will of course function to seal, at least in large measure, the clearance between the opening 128 in the bag valve assembly 120 and the wand assembly 120 to substantially limit, although most probably not totally prevent, the escape of some portion of the pressurized air therethrough upon the introductin of the same into the dunnage bag 106.
  • the extent to which the dunnage bag 106 must be grasped and retained in position by the one hand of the apparatus operator relative to the wand assembly 48 will be dependent upon the environment in which the bag is to be filled; with the filling of the dunnage bag 106 in situ in a cargo container wherein the bag is in substantial surface contact with the cargo and/or the walls of the cargo container lessening the extent to which the bag must be grasped and retained in position relative to the wand assembly 48 to prevent separation therebetween while the bag is being filled.
  • the actuating level of the fluidic diaphragm amplifier 64 set by way of representative example at 1" ⁇ 0.25" Water Column and the amplifier of course in the "INPUT OFF" condition thereof, the outer dunnage bag fill tube adjusted as heretofore described so that the tube end 132 is even with the end 134 of the inner dunnage bag fullness sensing tube 52 as illustrated in FIG. 8 of the application drawings, and compressor 22 of FIG.
  • the pressurized ambient air at 25 PSIG from supply line 22 will be communicated via connected supply line 26 to cartridge check valve assembly 30 to open the same against the action of valve spring 32 which enables opening of the valve at supply air pressures above 7 PSIG for flow therethrough; and, via connected supply line 36, to cartridge check valve assembly 34 which will then be effective to discontinue further supply air flow at that point since valve spring 38 is operable as heretofore described to retain valve 34 closed at supply air pressures in line 36 below 30 PSIG.
  • the apparatus 130 of our invention will remain essentially static under these operating conditions; with the pressurized supply air from compressor 22 simply flowing to atmosphere as described through amplifier vent port 80, and the amplifier orifice 82 operating to perform an economical bleed function to limit pressurized air flow to atmosphere, and thus consumption thereof, under these apparatus operating conditions.
  • the dunnage bag 106 will never "feel" the pressurized supply air at 25 PSIG which, in any event, would most probably immediately burst a contemporary dunnage bag of the nature heretofore described in conjuntion with FIG. 6 of the application drawings.
  • the pressure in amplifier output line 86 will, again virtually immediately, shift from negative to positive, thereby applying a positive pressure, for example 20.0 PSIG due to system pressure drop, from amplifier supply - output chamber 72 through output port 78 and output line 80 to cylinder 58 of piston cylinder assembly 56 above piston 60 which, in accordance with the area of the latter, has been predetermined to be sufficient to force piston 60 downwardly to the non-depicted lower or bottom dead center position thereof against the action of valve spring 32 and the action of the pressurized supply air from compressor 22 thereby automatically discontinuing the supply of pressurized air through the cartridge check valve assembly 30 to the operatively connected dunnage bag 106; and this despite the fact that the operator of the apparatus 130 continues to hold the push button assembly 40 in the depressed position thereof to maintain cartridge check valve assembly 34 open.
  • a positive pressure for example 20.0 PSIG due to system pressure drop
  • the supply air pressure in supply line 44 will very rapidly, in the given example, exceed 10 PSIG, whereupon the safety relief cartridge check valve assembly will open against the action of valve spring 46 to vent the pressurized air supply to atmosphere thereby preventing bursting of the dunnage bag 106 and, in those instances wherein the bag is being filled in situ in a cargo container, damage to the cargo which is meant to be protected thereby.
  • safety relief cartridge check valve assembly 42 will again virtually immediately open in the face of the resultant "dead" load to vent the pressurized supply air to atmosphere and thus prevent overpressurization and damage to any of the essential operating components of the apparatus 130.
  • prevention of overpressurization and resultant bursting of the operatively connected dunnage bag 106 as heretofore described by the valve assembly 42 also prevents injury to the apparatus operator as might otherwise result therefrom.
  • Adjustment in the extent to which the operatively connected dunnage bag 106 is overpressured by the apparatus 130 of our invention is readily and conveniently achieved by the particularly simple manual adjustment of the position of the end 132 of the pressurized air supply tube 50 relative to the fixed position of the end 134 of the inner bag fullness sensing tube 52; with extension of the outer tube end 132 beyond inner tube end 134 resulting in a greater venturi effect or harder "pull" at the inner tube end 134 to thus require a higher overpressure in the dunnage bag 106 to stall the venturi and discontinue pressurized air supply thereto as heretofore described, and withdrawal of the outer tube end 132 inwardly of the inner tube end 134 resulting in a lesser venturi effect or sofer “pull” at the latter to thus require a lower overpressure in the dunnage bag 106 to stall the venturi and discontinue pressurized air supply to the dunnage bag.
  • FIG. 9 of the application drawings which depicts the pressurized air supply tube 50 adjusted through use of the Sigma-type fitting 100, 102 as heretofore described so that the tube end 132 extends approximately one inch beyond the end 134 of the inner dunnage bag fullness sensing tube 52, it may be understood that, in the given example, an overpressure of one atmosphere + approximately 10" Water Column, or roughly 0.35 PSIG, in the dunnage bag 106 will be required before the venturi is stalled at tube end 134 and pressurized air supply to the dunnage bag 106 automatically discontinued by the apparatus 130 of our invention as heretofore described.
  • the outer pressurized air supply tube 50 may readily be made from a transparent plastic material and include visible indicia as indicated at 140 formed thereon at the end portion thereof which can be appropriately labeled as such in terms of corresponding dunnage bag overpressurization and brought into alignment with the clearly visible end 134 of the inner dunnage bag fullness sensing tube 52 by adjustment of the outer tube 50 relative thereto as heretofore described to achieve the provision of the indicated level of overpressurization of the dunnage bag 106 in each instance.
  • Like indicia as indicated at 142 which will be clearly visible through transparent outer tube 50 can also be formed as shown on the outer portion of the inner wand tube 52.
  • the significant advantages of this provision for the ready and convenient adjustment in the level of dunnage bag overpressurization, or hardness, in accordance with the teachings of our invention include the capability for immediately meeting differing cargo - dunnage bag compatability requirements on site; with, for example, a greater degree dunnage bag hardness being called for in those instance wherein the dunnage bags in question are for use in the support and protection from shock damage of relatively heavy palletized cargo in a cargo shipping container, and a lesser degree of dunnage bag hardness being called for in those instances, for example, wherein the dunnage bags are to be utilized to separate, support and protect from shock damage relatively light, highly sensitive cargo in the nature of electronic circuit boards or fluorescent light bulbs or the like in a cargo shipping container.
  • a filled dunnage bag 106 need only be placed on a relatively flat surface, which may be within or without the cargo container, the apparatus 130 manipulated to insert the wand assembly 48 through the opening 128 in the bag fill stem 116 as heretofore described, and the bag simply flattened by the application of manual pressure thereto as shown by both hands of the operator to force the air out of the bag to atmosphere through the space between the outer wand tube 50 and the bag fill stem opening 128.
  • the outer wand tube 50 may simply be removed from the apparatus housing 90 through use of the fitting 100, 102 as heretofore described and inserted as such in the manner of a straw through the bag fill stem opening 128 to again open the flapper valve 120 as shown in FIG. 13 of the application drawings, and both hands of the operator again used to simply flatten the bag 106 to force the air therefrom to atmosphere through tube 50.
  • deflation of the filled dunnage bag as described into the original essentially flat bag configuration makes possible the efficient return of the same, with minimum shipping space requirements, to the cargo shipper for immediate re-use to significant economic advantage, and with literally zero adverse environmental impact.
  • a fluidic - electric operating circuit representative ⁇ ly configured and operable in accordance with the teachings of a second embodiment of the currently contemplated best mode of the apparatus and method of our invention is schematically depicted and indicated generally at 150 in FIG. 14 of the application drawings. Since a number of the components of the operating circuit 150 of FIG. 14 are the same as those heretofore described in conjunction with the operating circuit 20 of FIG. 1 of the application drawings, like reference numerals are utilized in FIG. 14 to identify the same.
  • the same will be seen to comprise a source of pressurized supply air as schematically indicated at 152, and which preferably takes the form, for example, of a low sound level linear piston pump which is electrically driven by an included electric drive motor.
  • Pump 152 is operable to supply pressurized ambient air through a vacuum line 153, which connects as shown to the pump inlet, to the operating circuit 150 along supply line 24 at an appropriate dunnage bag inflation pressure, for example 5 PSIG.
  • Supply line 24 branches as shown into air supply line 28 which extends as heretofore described into communication with the vented supply - output chamber 72 of the fluidic diaphragm amplifier 64 through amplifier port 76; and into pressurized air supply line 154 which, in the invention embodiment of FIG. 14, will be seen to supply the pressurized air from pump 152 directly to the annulus 56 formed as heretofore described between the outer pressurized air supply tube 50 and the inner dunnage bag fullness sensing tube 52.
  • a two position four way-function, five ported selector valve is indicated schematically at 155 in FIG. 14, and is operatively connected as shown in pressurized air supply line 154 and vacuum line 153, respectively.
  • a two position selector valve actuating push button assembly is indicated schematically at 157 and is manually operable to move the valve between the respective first and second operating positions thereof. With the selector valve 155 in the first operating position thereof as schematically depicted in FIG. 15, the valve connects vacuum line 153 through the internal valve port 159 to enable flow of ambient air therethrough to the inlet of pump 152, and connects pressurized air supply line 154 through the internal valve port 161 to enable the flow of pressurized air from the pump 152 and supply line 24 to the annulus 56.
  • the valve With the selector valve 155 in the second operating position thereof as schematically depicted in FIG. 16 for dunnage bag deflation purposes as described in detail hereinbelow, the valve connects supply line to the right of the valve through the internal valve port 163 to the vacuum line 153 to enable the withdrawal of air through line 154 and the vacuum line 153 to the inlet of pump 152, and connects supply line 154 to the left of the valve through internal valve port 165 to atmosphere; it being here noted that the second position of the selector valve 155 is utilized only for automatic deflation of the dunnage bags at the point of cargo destination as described in greater detail hereinbelow.
  • a dual input, pressure operated electrical switch of essentially conventional configuration and manner of operation is indicated schematically at 156 in FIG. 14, and is connected as shown to the supply - output chamber 72 of the fluidic diaphragm amplifier 64 via amplifier output port 78, output line 86 and switch input port 157.
  • An apparatus actuating push button assembly is indicated schematically at 158 in FIG. 14 and, in this instance, includes a push button 160, and a piston-cylinder assembly as schematically indicated at 162 and which comprises a piston 164 slidably disposed in a cylinder 166 and biased upwardly in the same to the top dead center position of the piston by a cylinder-contained spring 168.
  • Push button 160 is directly mechanically connected as shown to the top of piston 164.
  • a pneumatic apparatus actuating signal supply line is indicated at 170 and extends as shown to connect cylinder 166 below piston 164 to the other input port 172 of the pressure operated electrical switch 156.
  • An electrical line is indicated at 174 and extends as shown from the switch 156 to the pump 152, and is operable to transmit an electrical signal from the switch to the pump 152 to turn on the pump drive motor and commence the supply of pressurized air to the operating circuit 150 under conditions as described in detail hereinbelow, and to subsequently transmit an electrical signal to the pump 152 to turn off the pump drive motor, again under conditions described in detail hereinbelow.
  • packaging of the operating circuit 150 of FIG. 14 in an appropriate housing would be essentially the same as that depicted and described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 5 of the application drawings regarding housing 90 for the operating circuit 20 of the embodiment of our invention of FIG. 1; it being immediately clear to those skilled in this art that the high degree of electrical non-conductivity of the ABS plastic material of that housing would insure protection of the apparatus operator from any and all electrical shock hazards from the operating circuit 150 of FIG. 14.
  • this pressurized supply air will flow from supply line 24 through connected supply line 154 and wand assembly annulus 56 into the operatively connected dunnage bag 106, at slightly less than 5 PSIG due to dynamic pressure losses in lines 24 and 154, to commence the filling of the bag; with the resultant venturi effect created as heretofore described at the end 134 of the inner dunnage bag fullness sensing tube 52 again functioning to create a slight negative pressure in that tube for communciation via sensing line 56 to the input port 74 of the amplifier 64 to maintain the amplifier in the "INPUT OFF" condition.
  • the pressure in the amplifier output line 86 will virtually immediately shift from negative to positive as heretofore described for application via amplifier output line 86 to the input port 157 of pressure operated electrical switch 156 to open the same and discontinue the operation of pump 152 and the supply of pressurized air thereby to the dunnage bag; whereupon the wand assembly 48 is then simply withdrawn from the fill stem 116 of the now filled dunnage bag 106 to complete the filling and sealing of the same by the flapper valve 120 as heretofore described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the application drawings.
  • pump 152 may take the form of a rotary impeller pump driven by a reversible direction electric motor, and selector valve 155 eliminated from the operating circuit of FIG. 14, whereupon simple reversing of the pump drive motor will function to deflate the dunnage bag 106.
  • Safety of operation of pump 152 of the operating circuit 150 of FIG. 14 in the contexts of both the filling and deflation of dunnage bags 106 is provided for by a design feature of the pump which enables the same to be stalled or "dead headed" without pump motor burnout; thereby preventing damage to the pump drive motor in the event that the apparatus actuating pushbutton 160 is inadvertently depressed to supply pressurized air to the wand assembly 48 with the end of the same somehow blocked, and in the event that operation of the pump 152 with selector valve 152 in the second operating condition thereof to deflate a dunnage bag 106 is continued by failure to turn pump drive motor off after all of the air has been withdrawn from an operatively connected dunnage bag 106 to thus present a "dead headed" load to the pump.
  • dunnage bag inflation times may vary in accordance with the pressure of the supply air, it may be noted that with a supply air pressure of 25 PSIG as heretofore described with reference to the fluidic operating circuit 20 of the embodiment of our invention of application drawing FIG. 1, that the circuit is effective to fill approximately one cubic foot of dunnage bag volume in approximately 5 seconds, thus providing the apparatus operator with the capability of inflating a contemporary dunnage bag of representative 0.7 cubic foot volume in only approximately 3.5 seconds; it being here, in any event, reiterated that operation as described of the apparatus of our invention is independent of the volume(s) of the dunnage bag(s) to be filled thereby. This is to say that the apparatus of our invention have the immediate capability, or "unit intelligence" as it may be termed, to fill arbitrary dunnage bag volumes to the same desired overpressure totally without regard for differences in those volumes.
  • a representative weight for the hand-held dunnage bag inflation apparatus of our invention is approximately one pound which, when combined with the ergonomic configuration thereof, virtually guarantees long periods of fatigue-free apparatus utilization by the apparatus operator; while a maximum operational noise level well below 50 dba upon discharge of the pressurized air to atmosphere following dunnage bag filling by the pneumatic apparatus embodiment of FIG. 1 virtually insures that no damage to the hearing of the apparatus operator will occur despite long periods of apparatus utilization.
  • FIG. 18 of the application drawings which depicts a representative industrial application at a typical work station of the apparatus and method of our invention to the filling of dunnage bags in situ in cargo containers
  • a support table is indicated at 200 and has placed thereon a series of cargo containers, for example, cardboard boxes, as indicated at 202.
  • An additional supply of the containers in unassembled form is indicated generally at 204; while spaced supplies of the uninflated dunnage bags 106 are indicated generally at 206 and 208, respectively.
  • Shock- sensitive cargo for example assembled electronic equipment, is indicated at 210, and a supply of the same indicated generally at 212 intermediate the respective dunnage bag supplies 206 and 208.
  • a source of pressurized air taking the form of the plant air supply is indicated at 214, and is appropriately regulated by a pressure regulator as indicated at 216, which is in turn connected as shown by line 24 to the housing 90 of the fluidic apparatus operating circuit 20 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 of the application drawings.
  • the wand 48 of the inflation apparatus housing 90 is then operatively inserted as shown into the dunnage bag fill valve 120 and the dunnage bag 106 filled to the desired overpressure as heretofore described, whereupon the wand 48 is removed therefrom; thereby leaving the filled dunnage bag 106, which is specifically predetermined to be somewhat oversized relative to the bottom wall of the container 202, to occupy that container bottom wall and extend upwardly as shown along the container side walls.
  • a piece of cargo 210 is then removed from the supply 212 thereof and placed atop the filled dunnage bag 106 in the container 202 to in essence nestle in the same.
  • a second uninflated dunnage bag 106 is then removed from the supply 108 thereof, placed atop the cargo 210 and filled first dunnage bag 106 in the container 202, and the apparatus wand 48 inserted into the fill valve 120 of the second dunnage bag to fill the same to the desired overpressure; whereupon the lid of the container 202 is closed and sealed, as by use of an appropriate adhesive tape from a roll thereof as indicated at 214, to complete the protective packaging of the cargo piece 210 in the container 202.
  • this sequence is repeated as described until all pieces of the shock sensitive cargo 210 have been protectively packaged through use of the filled dunnage bags 106 in container 202.
  • FIG. 19 illustrates this same sequence of protective packaging of the shock sensitive cargo pieces 210 in the container 202, but as seen from the side with the relevant container wall cut away for purposes of illustration; and is included in the application drawings to make clear that, as a result of the oversizing of the filled dunnage bags 106 relative to the container 206 and cargo piece 210, the filled dunnage bags will completely overlap all sides of the cargo piece 210 within the container 206 to thus insure complete protection from shock damage of all four sides, as well as the top and bottom, of the protectively packaged cargo piece.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Buffer Packaging (AREA)

Abstract

Appareil et procédé servant à remplir, essentiellement automatiquement, des objets gonflables non élastiques (106) d'air ambiant sous pression jusqu'à des niveaux de surpression prédéterminés. Le fonctionnement de l'appareil consiste à créer et à détecter un effet fluidique dans l'objet gonflable (106), au cours du remplissage de ce dernier, à interrompre cet effet fluidique lorsque l'objet gonflable a été rempli jusqu'à la surpression prédéterminée, à détecter l'interruption de cet effet fluidique et à interrompre l'alimentation de l'objet en air sous pression en réponse à cette détection. Il est possible de régler le niveau de surpression prédéterminée jusqu'auquel l'objet est rempli et d'inverser le fonctionnement de l'appareil et du procédé afin de dégonfler des objets gonflés pour les réutiliser. L'appareil et le procédé sont particulièrement adaptés pour remplir sur place des sacs d'arrimage (106) non élastiques dans des conteneurs (202) d'expédition de marchandises, afin de protéger des cargaisons (210) sensibles aux chocs, et pour dégonfler lesdits sacs (106) lorsque la cargaison est arrivée à destination afin de les réutiliser, ce qui permet de réaliser des économies.
PCT/US1992/008099 1992-09-24 1992-09-24 Procede et appareil nouveaux et ameliores a element tubulaire pneumatique WO1994006686A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/244,329 US5454407A (en) 1992-09-24 1992-09-24 Pneumatic wand apparatus and method
AU27525/92A AU2752592A (en) 1992-09-24 1992-09-24 New and improved pneumatic wand apparatus and method
PCT/US1992/008099 WO1994006686A1 (fr) 1992-09-24 1992-09-24 Procede et appareil nouveaux et ameliores a element tubulaire pneumatique

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1992/008099 WO1994006686A1 (fr) 1992-09-24 1992-09-24 Procede et appareil nouveaux et ameliores a element tubulaire pneumatique

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0987194A1 (fr) * 1996-03-06 2000-03-22 Ronald L. Voller Dispositif et procédé pour gonfler et dégonfler un sac de calage
AU748188B2 (en) * 1998-08-05 2002-05-30 Ronald L. Voller Apparatus for inflating and deflating a dunnage bag
WO2008016963A2 (fr) * 2006-08-01 2008-02-07 Pregis Innovative Packaging Inc. Buse de gonflage avec sonde pour le positionnement de la valve et alimentation en air par flux pulsatoire

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US3810262A (en) * 1973-04-27 1974-05-14 J Strand Automatic pressurization system for inflated pool enclosure
US4146070A (en) * 1977-07-29 1979-03-27 Signode Corporation Dunnage bag inflation air gun
US4702287A (en) * 1986-08-22 1987-10-27 Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. Method and apparatus for controlling the automatic inflation of tires for testing
US4711275A (en) * 1985-12-04 1987-12-08 Pegasus Airwave Limited Air supply and control apparatus for inflatable mattress
US4714098A (en) * 1983-06-08 1987-12-22 Stuckel Robert W Ball inflation apparatus
US4872492A (en) * 1988-04-11 1989-10-10 Hennessy Industries, Inc. Pneumatic tire inflator
US4875509A (en) * 1988-02-16 1989-10-24 E.R.C.D. Industries Inc. Air pump pressure control system for inflating pairs of automotive tires

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3810262A (en) * 1973-04-27 1974-05-14 J Strand Automatic pressurization system for inflated pool enclosure
US4146070A (en) * 1977-07-29 1979-03-27 Signode Corporation Dunnage bag inflation air gun
US4714098A (en) * 1983-06-08 1987-12-22 Stuckel Robert W Ball inflation apparatus
US4711275A (en) * 1985-12-04 1987-12-08 Pegasus Airwave Limited Air supply and control apparatus for inflatable mattress
US4702287A (en) * 1986-08-22 1987-10-27 Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. Method and apparatus for controlling the automatic inflation of tires for testing
US4875509A (en) * 1988-02-16 1989-10-24 E.R.C.D. Industries Inc. Air pump pressure control system for inflating pairs of automotive tires
US4872492A (en) * 1988-04-11 1989-10-10 Hennessy Industries, Inc. Pneumatic tire inflator

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0987194A1 (fr) * 1996-03-06 2000-03-22 Ronald L. Voller Dispositif et procédé pour gonfler et dégonfler un sac de calage
AU748188B2 (en) * 1998-08-05 2002-05-30 Ronald L. Voller Apparatus for inflating and deflating a dunnage bag
WO2008016963A2 (fr) * 2006-08-01 2008-02-07 Pregis Innovative Packaging Inc. Buse de gonflage avec sonde pour le positionnement de la valve et alimentation en air par flux pulsatoire
WO2008016963A3 (fr) * 2006-08-01 2008-04-24 Pregis Innovative Packaging In Buse de gonflage avec sonde pour le positionnement de la valve et alimentation en air par flux pulsatoire
US7926507B2 (en) 2006-08-01 2011-04-19 Pregis Innovative Packaging, Inc. Inflation nozzle with valve-locating probe and pulsating air supply
US8424552B2 (en) 2006-08-01 2013-04-23 Pregis Innovative Packaging, Inc. Inflation nozzle with valve-locating probe and pulsating air supply

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
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