GB2134872A - Compartmented container for liquids - Google Patents

Abstract

A container (1) for fluids comprises a first compartment (3) defined by the interior of a storage vessel (2) and a second compartment (5) defined by flexible means such as a bag (4) or bellows within the first compartment. Fluid can be circulated from one compartment to the other by a pump (9) by way of a valve (11) and processing plant (10), but fresh and spent fluids are kept separate within the container by the flexible means, the container is kept full and the need for separate containers for fresh and spent fluids is avoided. The bag (4) may be removably mounted within the container. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container for fluids The present invention relates to containers for fluids. The term "fluids" as used herein means a liquid or gas or a material, such as powder, which acts like a fluid.

Many industrial processes require the use of fluids such as chemical preparations and substances in liquid form which, after they have been used in the process, require to be stored for subsequent treatment or disposal. For example, when etching the liquid etching solution, after it has been used in the etching process, needs to be collected and stored for subsequent treatment to recover metal, e.g., copper, therefrom and/or for disposal. Generally, in these circumstances, the chemical preparation or substance for use in the process is delivered to the user in a suitable container such as a drum and the used or "spent" chemical preparation or substance is collected in an empty container, e.g., an empty drum. The consequence of this is that the user has to store both full and empty containers and this is wasteful of valuable floor space.Other situations also arise where it is necessary to provide both a container for a fluid to be used and an empty container for the used fluid, with consequent waste of space.

For example, in caravans, boats or aircraft a tank may be provided for the storage of fresh water and a separate tank for waste water.

The present invention has as its object to provide a container for fluids which overcomes the aforesaid problem, The invention also provides a recirculating system for fluids and a method of storing and using a fluid which utilises the container of the present invention.

The present invention provides a container for fluids comprising a first compartment adapted to contain a fluid and a second compartment adapted to contain a fluid in isolation from the fluid in the first compartment, said second compartment being defined by flexible means contained within the first compartment whereby said compartments are of variable volume such that when one compartment is filled with fluid and fluid is withdrawn therefrom a substantially equal volume of fluid can enter the other compartment, said compartments each having an opening communicating therewith whereby fluid can enter or be withdrawn therefrom.

The present invention also provides a recirculating system for fluids comprising a container having a first compartment adapted to contain a fluid and a second compartment adapted to contain a fluid in isolation from the fluid in the first compartment, said second compartment being defined by flexible means contained within the first compartment whereby said compartments are of variable volume such that when one compartment is filled with fluid and fluid is withdrawn therefrom a substantially equal volume of fluid can enter the other compartment, said compartments each having an opening communicating therewith whereby fluid can enter or be withdrawn therefrom, and means whereby fluid can be taken from one of said compartments and returned to the other compartment.

The invention further provides a method of storing and using a fluid, the method comprising providing a container according to the present invention, filling one of said compartments of the container with a fluid for storage therein, taking the stored fluid from said one compartment for use and returning the used fluid to the other compartment.

The flexible means defining said second compartment may comprise a bag or bellows members which is mounted within the first compartment and which will expand to receive fluid or contract when fluid is taken therefrom. The flexible bag or bellows member may be formed from any suitable material such as a suitable synthetic rubber or plastics material or a textile material coated or impregnated with a synthetic rubber or plastics material so as to render it proof against leakage of fluid therethrough, the material from which the bag or bellows member is formed being so chosen that it will be unaffected by the fluid to be contained therein.

The first compartment may comprise the interior of a drum, tank or other storage vessel which is preferably self-supporting and which may be formed from metal, plastics or other suitable material. Again the drum, tank or other storage vessel defining the first chamber should be formed from or lined with a material which is compatible with the fluid to be contained therein.

The recirculating system of the present invention may comprise a pump or pumps for withdrawing fluid from one of said compartments and/or for returning fluid to the other of said compartments. In many cases it will be found that the recirculating system need comprise only a single pump. Thus, if the fluid is stored in the first compartment it can either be pumped therefrom so that the second compartment is caused to expand and increase in volume and so create a region of low pressure in the second compartment which draws the used fluid thereinto or the used fluid can be pumped under pressure into the second compartment which will cause the second compartment to expand and increase in volume and so force fluid out of the first compartment.

Conversely, if the fluid to be used is stored in the second compartment then either fluid can be withdrawn from the second compartment to create a region of low pressure in the first compartment or used fluid can be pumped into the first compartment to force the fluid to be used out of the second compartment. The recirculating system may further comprise suitable valve or other means for controlling the flow of fluid in the system.

The invention will be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a container and recirculating system according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawing it will be seen that the container 1 comprises a self-supporting drum, tank or like storage vessel 2 which defines a first compartment 3 and a flexible bag 4 mounted within the compartment 3 and defining a second compartment 5. The arrangement is such that as a liquid 6 filling one of the compartments 3 or 5 is removed from that compartment an equal volume of liquid can be received by the other compartment. The flexible bag 4 is preferably formed from a suitable synthetic plastics material which is compatible with the liquid to be contained therein and in the compartment 3 although it could be formed from other suitable materials such as a natural or synthetic rubber or a suitable liquid-proofed textile material. Also if desired, the flexible bag 4 could be replaced by a flexible bellows or like member.The compartment 3 has an opening 7 communicating therewith whilst the compartment 5 has an opening 8 communicating therewith.

The container 1 is connected into a recirculating system comprising a pump 9 and a processing plant 10 in which the liquid to be used stored in the container 1 is employed. Control valves 11 and/or 12 may be provided for controlling the flow of liquid in the recirculating system.

The liquid 6 to be used in the plant 10 can be stored in either the compartment 3 or the compartment 5 and the used or "spent" liquid from the plant 10 can be returned to the other of said compartments. Assuming that the liquid to be used in the plant 10 is stored in the compartment 3 and the spent liquid is returned to the compartment 5 then the pump 9 can be used to withdraw liquid from the compartment 3 via the opening 7 and conduit 13 for supply to the plant 10. The removal of the liquid to be used from the compartment 3 will create a region of low pressure in the compartment 5 which will act to draw "spent" liquid from the plant 10 by way of the conduit 1 4 and opening 8 into the compartment 5.Alternatively, the pump 9 could be provided in the conduit 14 so as to pump the "spent" liquid into the compartment 5 so causing the bag 4 to expand and forcing liquid to be used in the plant 10 out of the compartment 3 and to the plant 10. Similarly, if the liquid to be used in the process plant 10 is stored in the compartment 5 then the pump 9 can be used either to pump the liquid to be used from the compartment 5 and so create a region of low pressure in the compartment 3 or can be used to pump the "spent" liquid under pressure into the compartment 3 and so force liquid to be used out of the compartment 5.

If desired the bag 4 may be removably mounted in the vessel 2. This is particularly advantageous where the "spent" liquid is returned to the compartment 5 defined by the bag 4 since the bag 4 containing the "spent" liquid can simply be removed from the vessel 2 for disposal and replaced by a fresh bag 4.

Claims (13)

1. A container for fluids comprising a first compartment adapted to contain a fluid and a second compartment adapted to contain a fluid in isolation from the fluid in the first compartment, said second compartment being defined by flexible means contained within the first compartment whereby said compartments are of variable volume such that when one compartment is filled with fluid and fluid is withdrawn therefrom a substantially equal volume of fluid can enter the other compartment, said compartments each having an opening communicating therewith whereby fluid can enter or be withdrawn therefrom.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein the flexible means defining the second compartment comprises a bag mounted within the first compartment which will expand to receive fluid or contract when fluid is taken therefrom.

3. A container according to claim 2 whei ein the bag is removably mounted within the container.

4. A container according to claim 1 wherein the flexible means defining the second compartment comprises a bellows member mounted within the first compartment which will expand to receive fluid or contract when fluid is taken therefrom.

5. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first compartment comprises the interior of a self-supportiny storage vessel.

6. A recirculating system for fluids comprising a container according to any one of the preceding claims, and means whereby fluid can be taken from one of said compartments and returned to the other compartment.

7. A recirculating system according to claim 6 comprising a pump for withdrawing fluid from one of said compartments and/or for returning the fluid to the other of said compartments.

8. A recirculating system according to claim 6 or claim 7 comprising valve means for controlling the flow of fluid in the system.

9. A method of storing and using a fluid, the method comprising providing a container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, filling one of said compartments of the container with a fluid for storage therein, taking the stored fluid from said one compartment for use and returning the used fluid to the other compartment.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the fluid stored in said one compartment is taken therefrom for use in a chemical process and spent process fluid is returned to the other compartment.

11. A container for fluids substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

12. A recirculating system for fluids substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

13. A method of storing and using a fluid substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.