GB1564058A

GB1564058A - Liquid reservoir drainage device

Info

Publication number: GB1564058A
Application number: GB50258/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: NJ Phillips Pty Ltd
Current assignee: NJ Phillips Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1976-12-03
Filing date: 1977-12-02
Publication date: 1980-04-02
Also published as: AU511038B2; NZ185787A; AU3095877A; ZA777042B

Description

(54) LIQUID RESERVOIR DRAINAGE DEVICE (71) We, N. J. PHILLIPSPTY.

LIMITED, a company incorporated in the State of New South Wales, of Middleton Road, Dee Why, New South Wales, 2099, Australia, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The present invention relates to a liquid reservoir drainage device particularly to drain liquid reservoirs, such as bottles used to contain vaccine, which are provided with a membrane seal. The vaccine on being drained from the bottle is delivered to a syringe or drench gun wherefrom it is injected into an animal.

The bottles employed have a rupturable seal usually formed of rubber or plastics material extending across the open end of the bottle. In the past a needle was inserted into the bottle by piercing the seal whereupon a measure of vaccine was drawn into the syringe or drench gun. It was also necessary to make a second puncture in the seal to allow air to enter the bottle as it was drained.

The above method of operation was inefficient and cumbersome as the seal had to be pierced twice and the bottle held in the upright position. Additionally the needle inserted into the bottle had to extend to the bottom of the bottle.

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to ameliorate the above disadvantages.

In general form the present invention is a device for draining a liquid reservoir having a membrane seal, the device comprising an elongated body with one end adapted to pierce the membrane of the reservoir, the body having a first longitudinal passage therethrough to pass liquid from the reservoir, a second longitudinal passage with an air outlet opening positioned adjacent said one end and an air inlet opening remote from said air outlet opening, said second longitudinal passage being provided with a valve; the valve being biassed to prevent liquid from flowing therethrough from the reservoir. Preferably, said body is provided with means remote from said one end enabling attachment of the device to a syringe or drench gun.

In an embodiment of the present inven tion, the device comprises an elongated body pointed at one end to enable insertion of at least part of the body within the reservoir by piercing the membrane; an air inlet passage extending longitudinally through said body to duct air into said reservoir as it is drained; said air inlet passage having an outlet adjacent the pointed end of said body and an inlet opening between said pointed end and the other end of said body, a liquid outlet passage extending longitudinally through said body for liquid from the reservoir, said outlet passage having an inlet located on said body at a location between the air inlet and outlet openings, and an outlet opening adjacent the other end of the body; and a one way valve located in said air inlet passage, the valve being biassed to prevent liquid passing from the air outlet opening to the air inlet opening.

A preferred form of the present inven tion will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompany ing drawing wherein there is depicted a drainage device of the present invention and a bottle containing vaccine, with which the device is intended to be used.

The bottle 10 is provided at its open end 11 with a rupturable membrane seal 12 to contain vaccine within the bottle 10. The draining device 13 is provided with a pointed end 14, adapted to rupture the seal 12 upon being inserted in the bottle, to be located adjacent the bottom of the bottle 10. The device 13 is provided with two longitudinal passages 15 and 16 of which passage 15 is adapted to let air into the bottle 10 as vaccine is drained therefrom.

The passage 15 has an outlet opening 17 and an air inlet opening 18 provided with a valve 19 in the form of a diaphragm 20 dimensioned to sealingly close off opening 22. The membrane 20 has part of its circumference adhered to the closure member 21 so that part of it is movable away from the opening 22 to allow air to enter the passage 15 while preventing the reverse passage of liquid down passage 15 by sealingly closing off the opening 22. The membrane 20 is located within the opening 18 so as to allow movement of the membrane 20.

The passage 16 has a liquid inlet opening 23 and a liquid outlet opening 24; there also being provided on the device 13, means 25 to engage thereon a syringe or a flexible conduit extending to a drench gun.

The bottle 10 and device 13 are depicted in the orientation they are intended to be used, that is with the pointed end 14 of the device extending vertically upwards, towards the sealed end of the upturned bottle.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A device for draining a liquid reservoir having a membrane seal, the device comprising an elongated body with one end adapted to pierce the membrane, the body having a first longitudinal passage therethrough to pass liquid from the reservoir, a second longitudinal passage with an air outlet opening positioned adjacent said one end and an air inlet opening remote from said air outlet opening, said second longitudinal passage being provided with a valve; the valve being biassed to prevent liquid from flowing therethrough from the reservoir, but to permit air to flow therethrough to the reservoir.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the body is provided with means remote from said one end enabling attachment of said device to a syringe or drench gun.

3. A drainage device to drain a liquid reservoir having an end sealingly closed by a membrane, said device comprising an elongated body pointed at one end to enable insertion of at least part of the body of within the reservoir by piercing the membrane; an air inlet passage extending longitudinally through said body to duct air into said reservoir as it is drained; said air inlet passage having an outlet adjacent the pointed end of said body and an inlet opening between said pointed end and the other end of said body, a liquid outlet passage extending longitudinally through said body for liquid from the reservoir, said outlet passage having an inlet located on said body at a location between the air inlet and outlet openings, and an outlet opening adjacent the other end of the body; and a one way valve located in said air inlet passage; the valve being biassed to prevent liquid passing from the air outlet opening to the air inlet opening.

4. The drainage device according to claim 3, wherein said valve comprises a closure member located in said air inlet passage, said closure member having a passage extending through it to provide continuity of said air inlet passage; and a flexible member extending across the closure member opening, said flexible member being deformable to allow air to pass from said air inlet to said air outlet by being at least partly movable away from said closure member opening, but to sealingly close said closure member opening to prevent liquid from passing from said air outlet opening to said air inlet opening.

5. A liquid reservoir drainage device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. located adjacent the bottom of the bottle 10. The device 13 is provided with two longitudinal passages 15 and 16 of which passage 15 is adapted to let air into the bottle 10 as vaccine is drained therefrom. The passage 15 has an outlet opening 17 and an air inlet opening 18 provided with a valve 19 in the form of a diaphragm 20 dimensioned to sealingly close off opening 22. The membrane 20 has part of its circumference adhered to the closure member 21 so that part of it is movable away from the opening 22 to allow air to enter the passage 15 while preventing the reverse passage of liquid down passage 15 by sealingly closing off the opening 22. The membrane 20 is located within the opening 18 so as to allow movement of the membrane 20. The passage 16 has a liquid inlet opening 23 and a liquid outlet opening 24; there also being provided on the device 13, means 25 to engage thereon a syringe or a flexible conduit extending to a drench gun. The bottle 10 and device 13 are depicted in the orientation they are intended to be used, that is with the pointed end 14 of the device extending vertically upwards, towards the sealed end of the upturned bottle. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A device for draining a liquid reservoir having a membrane seal, the device comprising an elongated body with one end adapted to pierce the membrane, the body having a first longitudinal passage therethrough to pass liquid from the reservoir, a second longitudinal passage with an air outlet opening positioned adjacent said one end and an air inlet opening remote from said air outlet opening, said second longitudinal passage being provided with a valve; the valve being biassed to prevent liquid from flowing therethrough from the reservoir, but to permit air to flow therethrough to the reservoir.