WO2009021329A1 - Collapsible material containment vessel - Google Patents

Collapsible material containment vessel Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009021329A1
WO2009021329A1 PCT/CA2008/001460 CA2008001460W WO2009021329A1 WO 2009021329 A1 WO2009021329 A1 WO 2009021329A1 CA 2008001460 W CA2008001460 W CA 2008001460W WO 2009021329 A1 WO2009021329 A1 WO 2009021329A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
containment vessel
bladder
chamber means
inflation chamber
top end
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CA2008/001460
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Lain N.B. Mackay
Original Assignee
Mackay Lain N B
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 Mackay Lain N B filed Critical Mackay Lain N B
Publication of WO2009021329A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009021329A1/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D88/00—Large containers
    • B65D88/16—Large containers flexible

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a containment vessel for liquid and solids material and which, for storage purposes can be kept in a collapsed condition, and when needed, can readily rendered usable by inflating the collapsed vessel.
  • sizable storage containers or containment vessels are made from rigid materials and have the same cubic measure empty as when filled. Further, due to their size, the handling and shipping of large barrels such as rainwater storage containers is relatively expensive given their volume to weight ratio. Additionally, in emergency situations such as where hazardous materials must be contained as quickly as possible, the fast transport of the required number of rigid storage containers to hazardous collection site may not be possible.
  • collapsible containment vessels of my invention which can include collapsible storage containers, greatly facilitate handling and shipping costs since they can be transported in a collapsed condition.
  • a far greater number of collapsed containment vessels can be transported on a vehicle compared to only a limited number of empty rigid containers that can be carried on the same vehicle.
  • a collapsable containment vessel which includes a central material receiving bladder having a surrounding sidewall, a top end and a closed bottom end.
  • Inflation chamber means is positioned about and attached to at least one of an interior or exterior facing of the surrounding sidewall and which extends from the bottom end to proximate the top end.
  • a closable access port communicates with the inflation chamber means in order to facilitate the inflation and deflation of the chamber.
  • both the surrounding sidewalls of the bladder and the inflation chamber means are in a collapsed condition.
  • both the surrounding sidewall of the bladder and the inflation chamber means are rendered in a semi-rigid condition such that the bladder at its top end can be filled with liquid or solids material.
  • the bladder when the containment vessel is erected by inflation can be of any suitable configuration but preferably is either tubular or conical in shape. If conical, it is preferred that the surface area of the bottom end of the bladder is larger than that of its top end.
  • the inflation chamber means can take several configurations so as to semi- rigidify the vessel when in its inflated condition.
  • the chamber means can completely envelope the exterior facing of the surrounding sidewall regardless of the sidewall shape, and which as noted above and if desired, can be either tubular or conical.
  • the chamber means can comprise at least 3 equally spaced apart tubular ribs positioned about and attached to the exterior face of the surrounding sidewall.
  • the chamber means can advantageously also include an inflatable torus ring or collar about the top end and which can be in communicationwith each of the tubular ribs or inflated separately from the ribs which themselves can either be inflated together or separately one from the other .
  • the top end can be open, thus rendering the erected vessel suitable for the containment of rainwater or other materials which must be charged into the vessel without immediate concern of spillage.
  • the top end can be closed and be provided with a removable closure cap so as to permit the passage of liquid or solids material therethrough.
  • Erection of the collapsed containment vessel is achieved by passing a compressed gas, such as air or nitrogen, or a pressurized liquid, such as water through one or more closable access ports and into the inflation chamber or chambers.
  • a compressed gas such as air or nitrogen
  • a pressurized liquid such as water
  • a rigid vessel built to contain 200 litres of liquids or solids material has a measure of approximately 7 cubic feet which means that the container, if it has a circular sidewall, requires 9 to 10 cubic feet of storage space.
  • a containment vessel of this invention which is capable of containing the same 200 litres, when in its collapsed or deflated state, take significantly less storage volume and which can be in the order of 1 cubic foot. It will be appreciated that the size of the inflatable containment vessel and hence its central material receiving bladder can be varied to meet different circumstances or needs. Typically, where the bottom end of the bladder is circular, the ratio of the height of the surrounding sidewall to the length of the bottom end diameter of the bladder when the vessel is in its erected or inflated condition is 4:1 or greater and can be up to 13:1 or greater.
  • a closable material discharge port can be located in the surrounding sidewall of the bladder proximate its bottom end for the purpose of emptying material from the bladder.
  • collapsible containment vessel can be made out of any suitable material depending upon the substance to be contained or stored within the bladder, for general application purposes, it is preferred that the bladder and inflation chamber means be constructed from polyvinyl chloride which itself is reinforced as is well known in the art.
  • the inflation chamber means is to be charged with a gas
  • an outside supply source of same can be connected to the closable access port or ports for inflation purposes.
  • the vessel is to be inflated employing a source of pressurized liquid, such as water
  • the closable access port or ports can be connected to a water supply using a suitable connector hose.
  • collapsed containment vessels can have physically attached to their access ports, charged canisters of a pressurized gas which can be manually opened so as to readily and quickly inflate the inflation chambers making up the inflation means.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a containment vessel when the inflation chamber means has been inflated but the bladder portion of the vessel is empty;
  • Figure 2 is similar to that of Figure 1 but wherein the bladder has been filled with water;
  • Figure 3 illustrates a fluid-filled bladder similar to that of Figure 2, but where the tubular ribs are physically attached along their length to the exterior wall or facing of the bladder; and
  • Figure 4 is a fluid-filled bladder similar to that of Figure 2, but where the inflation chamber for the collar and individual ribs do not communicate with each other.
  • the containment vessel includes a material receiving bladder 1 which has a surrounding sidewall 2, a top end 3 and a closed bottom end 4.
  • the inflation chamber means as illustrated is made up of four equally spaced apart tubular ribs 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d and annular collar 11. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the lower portion of the four inflatable ribs (only three ribs 10a, 10b, and 10c, being shown) are connected to the exterior face of the surrounding sidewall proximate its bottom end by loop connectors 12. In the Figure 3 and 4 embodiment, inflatable ribs 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d, are physically attached along their length to the exterior face of sidewall 2 forming part of bladder 1.
  • the top end 3 of the containment vessels as illustrated include opening 30 which, as noted previously, is surrounded by annular collar or torus 11 forming part of the inflation chambers which is made up of the collar and tubular ribs. Opening 30, if desired, can be closed employing suitable means, such as a cap, as is well known in the art.
  • a closable access port 40 As the chambers of the inflatable collar 11 and inflatable ribs 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d illustrated in Figures 1 , 2 and 3 communicate with one another, provided in the annular collar 11 is a closable access port 40 best seen in Figure 3 and which when opened, permits the inflation chamber means to be charged with a gas or liquid for erection purposes and which, conversely, also permits the discharge of the inflation gas or liquid when the containment vessel is to be collapsed. When the inflation chamber means is inflated, the access port is closed in order to maintain the vessel in its semi-rigid and usable condition.
  • the collar is provided with its own dedicated access port 50 whilst each rib also has its own access port, with only ports 50a and 50b being illustrated in the drawing.
  • the exterior face 5 of the surrounding sidewall of the bladder is provided with a closable spigot or tap 6 which permits liquid contained in the bladder to be drained therefrom.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)

Abstract

A collapsible containment vessel, preferably made from a suitable plastics material such as polyvinyl chloride is constructed from a bladder having a surrounding side wall, a top end and a closed bottom end. Inflation chamber means is positioned about and attached to at least one of an interior or exterior facing of the surrounding side wall and which extends from the bottom end to approximate the top end. A closable access port communicates with the inflation chamber means in order to facilitate the inflation and deflation of the chamber. When deflated, both the surrounding side walls of the bladder and inflation chamber are collapsed significantly reducing the volume of the containment vessel. When inflated, both the surrounding side wall of the bladder and the inflation means are rendered in a semi-rigid condition such that the bladder at its top end can be filled with liquid or solids material.

Description

COLLAPSIBLE MATERIAL CONTAINMENT VESSEL
This invention relates to a containment vessel for liquid and solids material and which, for storage purposes can be kept in a collapsed condition, and when needed, can readily rendered usable by inflating the collapsed vessel.
A common problem of sizable storage containers or containment vessels is that they are made from rigid materials and have the same cubic measure empty as when filled. Further, due to their size, the handling and shipping of large barrels such as rainwater storage containers is relatively expensive given their volume to weight ratio. Additionally, in emergency situations such as where hazardous materials must be contained as quickly as possible, the fast transport of the required number of rigid storage containers to hazardous collection site may not be possible.
The collapsible containment vessels of my invention, which can include collapsible storage containers, greatly facilitate handling and shipping costs since they can be transported in a collapsed condition. In a like manner, a far greater number of collapsed containment vessels can be transported on a vehicle compared to only a limited number of empty rigid containers that can be carried on the same vehicle.
In accordance with my invention, there is provided a collapsable containment vessel which includes a central material receiving bladder having a surrounding sidewall, a top end and a closed bottom end. Inflation chamber means is positioned about and attached to at least one of an interior or exterior facing of the surrounding sidewall and which extends from the bottom end to proximate the top end. A closable access port communicates with the inflation chamber means in order to facilitate the inflation and deflation of the chamber. When deflated, both the surrounding sidewalls of the bladder and the inflation chamber means are in a collapsed condition. When inflated, both the surrounding sidewall of the bladder and the inflation chamber means are rendered in a semi-rigid condition such that the bladder at its top end can be filled with liquid or solids material. The bladder when the containment vessel is erected by inflation can be of any suitable configuration but preferably is either tubular or conical in shape. If conical, it is preferred that the surface area of the bottom end of the bladder is larger than that of its top end.
The inflation chamber means can take several configurations so as to semi- rigidify the vessel when in its inflated condition. For example, the chamber means can completely envelope the exterior facing of the surrounding sidewall regardless of the sidewall shape, and which as noted above and if desired, can be either tubular or conical. Alternatively, the chamber means can comprise at least 3 equally spaced apart tubular ribs positioned about and attached to the exterior face of the surrounding sidewall. Where inflatable ribs are employed, in order to maintain the top end of the bladder open when in the inflated or erected condition, the chamber means can advantageously also include an inflatable torus ring or collar about the top end and which can be in communicationwith each of the tubular ribs or inflated separately from the ribs which themselves can either be inflated together or separately one from the other .
Depending upon the desired application, the top end can be open, thus rendering the erected vessel suitable for the containment of rainwater or other materials which must be charged into the vessel without immediate concern of spillage. Alternatively, the top end can be closed and be provided with a removable closure cap so as to permit the passage of liquid or solids material therethrough.
Erection of the collapsed containment vessel is achieved by passing a compressed gas, such as air or nitrogen, or a pressurized liquid, such as water through one or more closable access ports and into the inflation chamber or chambers.
A rigid vessel built to contain 200 litres of liquids or solids material has a measure of approximately 7 cubic feet which means that the container, if it has a circular sidewall, requires 9 to 10 cubic feet of storage space. A containment vessel of this invention which is capable of containing the same 200 litres, when in its collapsed or deflated state, take significantly less storage volume and which can be in the order of 1 cubic foot. It will be appreciated that the size of the inflatable containment vessel and hence its central material receiving bladder can be varied to meet different circumstances or needs. Typically, where the bottom end of the bladder is circular, the ratio of the height of the surrounding sidewall to the length of the bottom end diameter of the bladder when the vessel is in its erected or inflated condition is 4:1 or greater and can be up to 13:1 or greater.
Advantageously, and if desired, a closable material discharge port can be located in the surrounding sidewall of the bladder proximate its bottom end for the purpose of emptying material from the bladder.
While the collapsible containment vessel can be made out of any suitable material depending upon the substance to be contained or stored within the bladder, for general application purposes, it is preferred that the bladder and inflation chamber means be constructed from polyvinyl chloride which itself is reinforced as is well known in the art.
If the inflation chamber means is to be charged with a gas, an outside supply source of same can be connected to the closable access port or ports for inflation purposes. If the vessel is to be inflated employing a source of pressurized liquid, such as water, the closable access port or ports can be connected to a water supply using a suitable connector hose. If desired, collapsed containment vessels can have physically attached to their access ports, charged canisters of a pressurized gas which can be manually opened so as to readily and quickly inflate the inflation chambers making up the inflation means.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate various embodiments of my invention wherein the inflation chamber means includes a number of tubular ribs and an annular collar surrounding the top end of the bladder:
Figure 1 illustrates a containment vessel when the inflation chamber means has been inflated but the bladder portion of the vessel is empty;
Figure 2 is similar to that of Figure 1 but wherein the bladder has been filled with water; Figure 3 illustrates a fluid-filled bladder similar to that of Figure 2, but where the tubular ribs are physically attached along their length to the exterior wall or facing of the bladder; and
Figure 4 is a fluid-filled bladder similar to that of Figure 2, but where the inflation chamber for the collar and individual ribs do not communicate with each other.
As seen in Figures 1 through 4, the containment vessel includes a material receiving bladder 1 which has a surrounding sidewall 2, a top end 3 and a closed bottom end 4.
The inflation chamber means as illustrated is made up of four equally spaced apart tubular ribs 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d and annular collar 11. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the lower portion of the four inflatable ribs (only three ribs 10a, 10b, and 10c, being shown) are connected to the exterior face of the surrounding sidewall proximate its bottom end by loop connectors 12. In the Figure 3 and 4 embodiment, inflatable ribs 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d, are physically attached along their length to the exterior face of sidewall 2 forming part of bladder 1.
The top end 3 of the containment vessels as illustrated include opening 30 which, as noted previously, is surrounded by annular collar or torus 11 forming part of the inflation chambers which is made up of the collar and tubular ribs. Opening 30, if desired, can be closed employing suitable means, such as a cap, as is well known in the art. As the chambers of the inflatable collar 11 and inflatable ribs 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d illustrated in Figures 1 , 2 and 3 communicate with one another, provided in the annular collar 11 is a closable access port 40 best seen in Figure 3 and which when opened, permits the inflation chamber means to be charged with a gas or liquid for erection purposes and which, conversely, also permits the discharge of the inflation gas or liquid when the containment vessel is to be collapsed. When the inflation chamber means is inflated, the access port is closed in order to maintain the vessel in its semi-rigid and usable condition.
With reference to Figure 4, as the chambers of the inflation collar 11 do not communicate with the four inflation ribs (only ribs 10a, 10b and 10c being shown), the collar is provided with its own dedicated access port 50 whilst each rib also has its own access port, with only ports 50a and 50b being illustrated in the drawing.
As also seen in the figures, the exterior face 5 of the surrounding sidewall of the bladder is provided with a closable spigot or tap 6 which permits liquid contained in the bladder to be drained therefrom.
While the figures illustrate only a few working embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that variations in design as discussed earlier are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

Claims

1. A collapsible material containment vessel comprising:
a) a central material receiving bladder having a surrounding sidewall, a top end and a closed bottom end;
b) inflation chamber means positioned about and attached to at least one of an interior or exterior facing of said surrounding sidewall and which extends from proximate said bottom end to proximate said top end;
c) a closable access port communicating with said inflation chamber means facilitating the inflation and deflation of said inflation chamber means whereby when deflated, both said surrounding sidewall of said bladder and said inflation chamber means are in a collapsed condition, and when inflated, both said surrounding sidewall of said bladder and said inflation chamber means are not collapsed and are in a semi-rigid condition.
2. The collapsible containment vessel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said surrounding sidewall of said bladder is tubular in shape.
3. The collapsible containment vessel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said surrounding sidewall of said bladder is conical in shape and the surface area of said bottom end is larger than that of said top end.
4. The collapsible containment vessel as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein said inflation chamber means surrounds the exterior facing of said surrounding sidewall.
5. The collapsible containment vessel as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein said inflation chamber means includes at least three equally spaced apart tubular ribs positioned about and attached to the exterior face of said surrounding sidewall.
6. The collapsible containment vessel as claimed in claim 5, wherein said inflation chamber means further includes an annular ring about said top end and which is in communication with each of said tubular ribs.
7. The collapsible containment vessel as claimed in claims 1 to 6, wherein said top end is open.
8. The collapsible containment vessel as claimed in claims 1 to 6, wherein said top end is closed and includes a removable closure cap which permits the passage of said material therethrough.
9. The collapsible containment vessel as claimed in claims 1 to 7, wherein said inflation chamber means is inflated through said closable access port by a compressed gas or a pressurized liquid.
10. The collapsible containment vessel as claimed in claims 1 to 9, wherein said bottom end is circular, and when said containment vessel is inflated, the ratio of a length of the diameter of said bottom end to a height of said surrounding said wall is 4:1 or greater.
11. The collapsible containment vessel as claimed in claims 1 to 9, wherein said ratio is 13:1 or greater.
12. The collapsible containment vessel as claimed in claims 1 to 11 , wherein said surrounding sidewall proximate said bottom end includes a closable material discharge port.
13. The collapsible containment vessel as claimed in claims 1 to 12, wherein said bladder and said inflation chamber means are constructed from polyvinyl chloride.
PCT/CA2008/001460 2007-08-14 2008-08-13 Collapsible material containment vessel WO2009021329A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA2,597,807 2007-08-14
CA 2597807 CA2597807A1 (en) 2007-08-14 2007-08-14 Collapsible material containment vessel

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2009021329A1 true WO2009021329A1 (en) 2009-02-19

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2012073004A2 (en) 2010-11-29 2012-06-07 Ian Darby Container, container blank, and method of manufacture
US20140033654A1 (en) * 2012-08-06 2014-02-06 The Procter & Gamble Company Methods of Making Flexible Containers
US20150122373A1 (en) * 2013-11-06 2015-05-07 The Procter & Gamble Company Flexible Containers and Methods of Making the Same
EP3348488A4 (en) * 2015-09-09 2019-03-27 Kao Corporation Sheet material container

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1980002545A1 (en) * 1977-05-25 1980-11-27 Oconnor & You Inc Inflatable container
US4858755A (en) * 1988-01-22 1989-08-22 Kuivanen Lawrence J Inflatable display container
US5314250A (en) * 1993-05-18 1994-05-24 Lee Ung L Inflatable container
GB2333085A (en) * 1998-01-07 1999-07-14 Dorothy Jones Portable containers
WO2007030058A1 (en) * 2005-09-07 2007-03-15 Orben Ab Inflatable collecting container
US7225841B2 (en) * 2004-11-01 2007-06-05 Randall W. Folk Collapsible container for containing liquid, such as spent motor oil, and method of using same

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1980002545A1 (en) * 1977-05-25 1980-11-27 Oconnor & You Inc Inflatable container
US4858755A (en) * 1988-01-22 1989-08-22 Kuivanen Lawrence J Inflatable display container
US5314250A (en) * 1993-05-18 1994-05-24 Lee Ung L Inflatable container
GB2333085A (en) * 1998-01-07 1999-07-14 Dorothy Jones Portable containers
US7225841B2 (en) * 2004-11-01 2007-06-05 Randall W. Folk Collapsible container for containing liquid, such as spent motor oil, and method of using same
WO2007030058A1 (en) * 2005-09-07 2007-03-15 Orben Ab Inflatable collecting container

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2012073004A2 (en) 2010-11-29 2012-06-07 Ian Darby Container, container blank, and method of manufacture
WO2012073004A3 (en) * 2010-11-29 2012-09-07 Ian Darby Container, container blank, and method of manufacture
US20140033654A1 (en) * 2012-08-06 2014-02-06 The Procter & Gamble Company Methods of Making Flexible Containers
US10040581B2 (en) * 2012-08-06 2018-08-07 The Procter & Gamble Company Methods of making flexible containers
US20150122373A1 (en) * 2013-11-06 2015-05-07 The Procter & Gamble Company Flexible Containers and Methods of Making the Same
US9981759B2 (en) * 2013-11-06 2018-05-29 The Procter & Gamble Company Flexible containers and methods of making the same
EP3348488A4 (en) * 2015-09-09 2019-03-27 Kao Corporation Sheet material container
US11059626B2 (en) 2015-09-09 2021-07-13 Kao Corporation Sheet material container
US11878841B2 (en) 2015-09-09 2024-01-23 Kao Corporation Sheet material container

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Publication number Publication date
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