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(11) | EP 2 243 744 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Control valve for pressurising and depressurising a container, device for filling or emptying a container and device for closing a container |
| (57) The invention relates to a control valve for selectively placing under pressure or
in a depression an environment or a container, comprising: an inlet opening (2), predisposed
for connecting with a source of a pressurised fluid; a connecting conduit (3) predisposed
for connecting with an environment to be pressurised or de-pressurised; a venturi
tube (4, 5, 6), provided with an inlet section (4), an outlet section (5) and a gully
section (6); a shaped obturator (7), mobile between a central position, in which the
inlet opening (2) and the connecting opening (3) are closed, a pressurised position,
in which the inlet opening (2) is set in communication with the connection opening
(3), and a depressed position, in which the inlet opening (2) is set in communication
with the inlet section (4) and the connecting conduit (3) is set in communication
with the gully section (6) of the venturi tube (4, 5, 6). The invention also relates
to a device for filling or emptying a container, comprising the control valve, and
a closing device for a container, comprising a lid (102) and the device for filling
or emptying a container.
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[0001] The invention relates to a control valve for selectively placing under pressure or in a depression an environment or a container, a device for filling or emptying a container and a device for closing a container.
[0002] The invention relates in particular to container filling and emptying operations, such as for example buckets or pails for transport and/or storage of liquids.
[0003] Filling a pail with a liquid is normally done from above, with the pail open. The upper cover of the pail is removed and the liquid is poured internally of the pail from above. Even though total care is taken, during normal filling operations it is not unusual for sprays or spills of the liquid to fall outside the container. In the presence of toxic liquids, this can constitute a serious problem. Sprays or spills of liquid can also be produced after the container has been filled, in particular during application of the closing lid.
[0004] The container is usually emptied after the lid has been removed, by tipping the container or introducing therein an aspirating conduit. Even during this container-emptying operation it is not unusual to have uncontrollable spraying and spilling.
[0005] The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems encountered in the prior art, by providing a device which enables the container to be filled or emptied while drastically reducing the risk of causing uncontrolled spraying or spilling of the liquid.
[0006] A further aim of the present invention is to provide a device which simplifies and speeds the container filling and emptying operations.
[0007] The aims of the invention are attained by the control valve for selectively placing an environment or a container under pressure or in a depression, a device for filling or emptying a container and a device for closing a container, according to the appended claims.
[0008] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will better emerge from the following non-limiting description that follows of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the invention, made with reference to the accompanying figures of the drawings in which:
figure 1 is a closing device for a container according to the present invention;
figure 2 is a control valve of the present invention, illustrated in section along plane II-II of figure 3;
figure 3 is the control valve illustrated along plane III-III of figure 1;
figure 4 is the view of figure 2 in a further operating configuration;
figure 5 is the view of figure 2 is a further operating configuration;
figure 6 is a component in enlarged scale of the device for filling or emptying a container according to the present invention.
[0009] The control valve 1 of the present invention comprises a body 1a, 1b provided with an inlet opening 2, predisposed for connecting with a pressurised fluid source, and a connecting conduit 3, predisposed for connecting to an environment to be pressurised or depressurised, for example an inside of a closed container. In a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, the body 1a, 1b of the valve is made up of at least a first portion 1a and at least a second portion 1b.
[0010] The connecting conduit 3 develops in a tortuous fashion in part across the first portion 1a, and in part across the second portion 1b of the valve body and in part through a connection 30 positioned inferiorly of the second portion 1b of the valve body.
[0011] A venturi tube is defined internally of the second portion 1b of the valve body, which venturi tube exhibits an inlet section 4, and outlet section 5 and a gully section 6. The various sections of the venturi tube 4, 5, 6 are defined in the following way.
[0012] A shaped conduit 40 is housed internally of the second portion 1b. The shaped conduit 40 exhibits a narrowing 41, concentrically of which, and internally of the second portion 1b of the valve body 1, an annular chamber 42 is afforded, which is isolated from the surrounding environment by two seal rings 44, 45 arranged at ends thereof. The annular chamber 42 overall defines the inlet section 4 of the venturi tube. The chamber 42 is placed in communication with the outlet section 5 of the venturi tube via a plurality of holes 43 afforded through an annular first end portion 40a of the shaped conduit 40. The holes 43 open onto an annular surface at which the gully section 6 of the venturi tube is located.
[0013] A shaped obturator 7 is housed internally of the first portion 1a, which shaped obturator 7 is sealedly slidable along a cylindrical seating 70. The connecting conduit 3, the inlet section 4 and the gully section 6 are in communication with the cylindrical seating 70 respectively through a first opening 71, a second opening 72 and a third opening 73. In particular the gully section 6 of the venturi tube 4, 5, 6 is in communication with the cylindrical seating 70 through the shaped conduit 40 and a hole which opens at the third opening 73 through the second portion 1b of the valve body.
[0014] The shaped obturator 7 is mobile between a central position, a pressurised position and a depressurised position. In the central position of the shaped obturator 7 (illustrated in figure 2), the inlet opening 2 and the connecting opening 3 are closed. In the pressurised position of the shaped obturator 7 (illustrated in figure 5), the inlet opening 2 is placed in communication with the connecting opening 3. In the depressed position of the shaped obturator 7 (illustrated in figure 4), the inlet opening 2 is set in communication with the inlet section 4 of the venturi tube 4, 5, 6, through the second opening 72 and the connecting opening 3 is set in communication with the gully section 6 of the venturi tube through the shaped conduit 40 and the third opening 73.
[0015] A manoeuvring element 20, for example a manual lever, is predisposed on the control valve 1 for determining the sliding of the shaped obturator 7 between the three described positions. Alternatively to the manual lever, obviously any type of servo-command or hydraulic command can be used.
[0016] The control valve 1 of the present invention is particularly applicable for selective control of filling and emptying a closed container. To this end, the control valve 1 can be associated to a lid 102 predisposed to close a container 100. The connecting opening 3 is located such as to be in communication with the inside of the container 100 via the lid 102.
[0017] An aspiration/discharge conduit 12 can be associated to the lid 102 such as to place the inside of the container 100 in communication with the outside environment. To this end, the conduit 12 comprises a first portion 12a, predisposed to be positioned internally of the container 100, and a second portion 12b, predisposed to be positioned externally of the container 100. The first and the second portions 12a, 12b are preferably removably connected to one another by means of a connection 13 which at least partially projects externally of the container 100. In particular the connection 13 comprises a shaped portion 14 which projects externally of the container 100 via the lid 102. This shaped portion is predisposed to receive a closing cap or an attachment element 15, associated to an end of the second portion 12b of the conduit 12. In this way, the first portion 12a of the conduit can stay at all times associated to the lid 102 internally of the container 100. The second portion 12b of the conduit 12 can be removed from the connection 13 and a closing cap can be used in its stead. The attachment element 15 preferably comprises two cams, which can be activated in rotation by means of a respective lever 15a, which two cams are mobile between an engaged position, in which they can be arranged internally of an annular groove 14a of the shaped portion 14, such as to constrain the two portions 12a, 12b of the conduit 12, and a disengaged position, in which the two cams are not arranged internally of the annular groove 14a and the two portions 12a, 12b of the conduit 12 are constrained to one another.
[0018] The selective control of the filling or emptying of the container can be done very simply and effectively as follows.
[0019] In order to empty the container 100, after having connected the inlet opening 2 to a source of pressurised fluid, for example a compressor, it is sufficient to bring the shaped obturator 7 into the pressurised position (figure 5) in which the inlet opening 2 is placed in communication with the connecting opening 3. In this configuration of the control valve, the pressurised fluid is sent internally of the container 100 such that the pressure internally of the container 100 increases. The increase in pressure pushes the liquid contained inside the container 100 along the conduit 12 in an exiting direction from the container 100. The mouth of the container 12 can be located in a predetermined position, for example internally of a collecting trough for the liquid.
[0020] In order to fill the container 100, after having connected the inlet opening 2 to the pressurised fluid source, it is sufficient to place the shaped obturator 7 in the depressed position (figure 4) in which the inlet opening 2 is placed in communication with the inlet section 4 of the venturi tube 4, 5, 6 and the connecting opening 3 is set in communication with the gully section 6 of the venturi tube. By virtue of the known venturi effect, a drop in pressure is determined at the gully section 6, which causes an aspiration of fluid from the shaped conduit 40 through the gully section 6 towards the outlet section 5. Since in the depression position of the obturator 7 the gully section 6 is in communication with the connecting conduit 3, a depression is produced internally of the container 100 which recalls a liquid into the container 100 through the conduit 12. The opening of the conduit 12 can be located, for example, internally of a collecting trough for the liquid to be introduced in the container.
[0021] The control valve 1 preferably comprises a device 8, 10, 11 for detecting the level of a liquid contained internally of the container 100. The device 8, 10, 11 is predisposed to occlude the connecting opening 3 if the level of the liquid exceeds a determined threshold. In a preferred though not exclusive embodiment of the invention, the detecting device of the liquid level comprises a tubular element 8 which, at an end thereof 8a, is associated to the connecting conduit 3, while at the other end 8b it is open. The tubular element 8 is provided with lateral openings 9 through which the connecting opening 3 can be set in communication with the inside of the container 100. A float 10 is slidable internally of the tubular element 8, which float 10 is provided with a seal element 11 predisposed to be positioned on the connecting opening 3 such as to occlude it. This occurs when the liquid level in the container grows beyond a determined threshold. The float 10, starting from a lower position (illustrated with a broken line in figure 2), is progressively pushed upwards up to a position in which the seal element 11 occludes the connecting opening 3, as can be seen in figures 2 and 3. In this way the liquid contained internally of the container is prevented from being aspirated internally of the control valve 1.
[0023] Firstly the filling and emptying of the container can be done with the container closed, i.e. with the closing lid applied on the container. In this way, the risks of eventual sprays or spills of liquid externally of the container are highly limited, if not entirely removed. Further, the container filling and emptying operations are extremely rapid. It is in fact sufficient to connect a pressurised fluid source to the inlet opening 2 of the control valve 1 and displace the shaped obturator 7 into the pressurised or de-pressurised position, by means of the manoeuvring element 20 or other device suited to the task.
1. A control valve for selectively placing under pressure or in a depression an environment
or a container, characterised in that it comprises: an inlet opening (2), predisposed for connecting with a source of a
pressurised fluid; a connecting conduit (3) predisposed for connecting with an environment
to be pressurised or de-pressurised; a venturi tube (4, 5, 6), provided with an inlet
section (4), an outlet section (5) and a gully section (6); a shaped obturator (7),
mobile between a central position, in which the inlet opening (2) and the connecting
opening (3) are closed, a pressurised position, in which the inlet opening (2) is
set in communication with the connection opening (3), and a depressed position, in
which the inlet opening (2) is set in communication with the inlet section (4) and
the connecting conduit (3) is set in communication with the gully section (6) of the
venturi tube (4, 5, 6).
2. The valve of claim 1, wherein the inlet section (4) of the venturi tube is defined
by an annular chamber (42) arranged concentrically of a shaped conduit (40) afforded
internally of the body (1a, 1b) of the valve.
3. The valve of claim 1 or 2, wherein: the gully section (6) of the venturi tube is positioned
on an annular surface at which a plurality of holes (43) open, which holes are afforded
through an annular first end portion (40a) of a shaped conduit (40); the holes (43)
placing the inlet section (4) in communication with the outlet section (5) of the
venturi tube.
4. The valve of claim 1, wherein the inlet opening (2), the connecting conduit (23) and
the inlet section (4) and the gully section (6) of the venturi tube (4, 5, 6) are
in communication with a cylindrical seating (70) in which the shaped obturator (7)
sealedly slides.
5. The valve of one of the preceding claims, comprising a device (8, 10, 11) for detecting
a level of a liquid internally of the container, predisposed for occluding the connecting
opening (3) if the liquid level exceeds a determined threshold.
6. The valve of claim 5, wherein the liquid-level detecting device (8, 10, 11) comprises:
a tubular element (8), associated by an end (8a) thereof to the connecting opening
(3) and provided with lateral openings (9); a float (10), slidable internally of the
tubular element (8) and provided with a seal element (11) which is predisposed to
be positioned on the connecting opening (3) such as to occlude said connecting opening
(3).
7. The valve of one of the preceding claims, comprising a manoeuvring element (20) predisposed
to cause the shaped obturator (7) to slide between the central position, the pressurised
position and the de-pressurised position thereof.
8. The valve of claim 7, wherein the manoeuvring element (20) is a manual lever.
9. The valve of claim 7, wherein the manoeuvring element (20) is a electrical or hydraulic
servo-command.
10. A device for filling or emptying a container, comprising: a control valve (1) as in
one of the preceding claims; a conduit (12), comprising a first portion (12a), predisposed
to be positioned internally of a container (100), and a second portion (12b), predisposed
to be positioned externally of the container (100).
11. The device of claim 10, wherein the first portion (12a) and the second portion (12b)
are connected to one another removably by means of a connection (13) predisposed to
at least partially project externally of the container (100), the connection (13)
being provided with a shaped portion (14) predisposed to project externally of the
container (100) and to receive a closing cap.
12. The device of claim 10, wherein the second portion (12b) of the conduit (12) comprises
an attachment element (15) predisposed to sealedly connected to the shaped portion
(14).
13. A closing device of a container, comprising: a lid (102), predisposed to be associated
to a container (100) such as to occlude and opening (100a) thereof; a device for filling
or emptying a container according to one of claims from 4 to 6.