GB2232966A

GB2232966A - Device for drawing fluid from, and supplying fluid to, a container

Info

Publication number: GB2232966A
Application number: GB8820477A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Robert Chester
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-08-31
Filing date: 1988-08-30
Publication date: 1991-01-02
Also published as: GB8820477D0

Abstract

A device (10) for use in the handling of fluid held in a container comprises an integral assembly of two pipes (12, 14) in a concentric relation, each pipe having an independent opening (24, 34) at one end of the assembly for communication with the interior of a container when that end of the assembly is inserted into the container. Each pipe (12, 14) also has at the other end respective independent openings (22, 42) for coupling to a pump and/or source of pressurised fluid. Liquid may be withdrawn from the container through pipe (14), pipe (12) then acting as a vent. <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE FOR DRAWING FLUID FROM, AND SUPPLYING FLUID TO, A CONTAINER The present invention relates to a device for use in handling fluids that are stored in containers such as drums or barrels.

There are many fluids, particularly liquids, that are stored in drums or the like containers and which are withdrawn by users for subsequent use, the contents of a drum being withdrawn in one or a number of operations. Such fluids stored in drums are used widely in industrial and agricultural activities and the fluid or liquid may be of a type harmful to humans, particularly through direct physical contact. Frequently, the user is required to wear protective gloves and/or other protective clothing to prevent accidental contact with the fluid or liquid and the risk of such contact is particularly high when withdrawing the fluid from the container and/or subsequently endeavouring to wash the container after the fluid has been removed therefrom.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a device which will assist in the handling of containers carrying such fluids so as to reduce the risk of contact between the user and the fluid contents of the container.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for use in the handling of fluids comprising integral first and second pipe means forming an elongate assembly for insertion through an opening in a container to locate one end of the assembly in the container and the opposite end out of the container, each pipe means having respective openings at or adjacent said one end of the assembly to provide in use independent communication between the interior of the container and the interior of the respective pipe means, each pipe means having respective openings at or adjacent said other end of the assembly to provide in use communication through the respective pipe means with the interior of the container, whereby fluid may be withdrawn from the container through one of said pipe means and supplied to the container through the other of said pipe means.

Preferably, the second pipe means is disposed within the first pipe means with the interiors thereof isolated from one another. Conveniently, the second pipe means is positioned to extend coaxially within the first pipe means.

The device constructed as above described, may be inserted through the normal opening in a drum or barrel so that the one end of the assembly is located within the container and a pump may be coupled to the opening in the second pipe member at the other end of the assembly, which is externally of the drum to withdraw the fluid, such as liquid, and supply it as required. The opening in the first pipe means at the other end of the assembly may be left open to permit air to enter the drum through the second pipe means to replace the fluid or liquid being withdrawn from the container.

After the contents of the container have been all withdrawn from the container, water or other liquid may be delivered into the container via a pump or like connected to the opening in the first pipe means at the opposite end of the assembly, which is then delivered into the drum through the openings in the first pipe means at said one end of the assembly. Where the openings at said one end of the first pipe means are arranged circumferentially about the assembly, the water will issue in the form of a spray which will clean the interior of the drum and remove all traces of any dangerous liquid or fluid that had previously been stored in the container. The cleaning liquid may also be removed from the container by means of a pump connected to the second pipe means as previously discussed.

The device may also be used to enable mixing of a fluid supplied to the drum with another fluid already in the drum and drawing of the mixed fluids from the drum.

Preferably, the mixed fluid may be drawn simultaneously as the first-mentioned fluid is being supplied.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the device in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is an elevational cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1 slightly modified at its lower end.

In the drawings, there is shown a device (10) for supplying fluid to and drawing fluid from a container.

Preferably, the fluids to be supplied and drawn are liquids.

The device (10) comprises first pipe means in the form of a generally elongate pipe (12) for supplying fluid to the container and second pipe means in the form of a generally elongate pipe (14) for drawing fluid from the container. The supplying pipe (12) is provided with inlet opening (22) and outlet opening (24). The drawing pipe (14) is provided with inlet opening (34) and outlet opening (42).

As shown at the bottom of Figure 2, the outlet end portion of the supplying pipe (12) extends substantially parallel and adjacent to the inlet end portion of the drawing pipe (14). In those same end portions, outlet opening (24) is located in the vicinity of inlet opening (34).

The drawing pipe (14) is disposed within the supplying pipe (12) and sealingly isolated from the supplying pipe (12). In Figure 1, only the outer supplying pipe (12) which surrounds the inner drawing pipe (14) is shown.

The outer pipe (12) comprises a "T"-piece (16) and an elongated tube (18). An end port of the "T"-piece (16) is sealingly connected to one end of the elongate tube (18) by a suitable adhesive or may be by other sealable coupling means. A screw-thread attachment (20) is connected to the middle port of the "T"-piece (16) and forms the inlet (22) for the outer supplying pipe (12), at one end thereof. An elbow piece (23) is sealingly connected td the other end port of the "T"-piece (16).

The other end of the outer pipe (12) is provided with the outlet opening in the form of apertures (24) in the cylindrical wall of the tube (18). Preferably, three equally spaced apertures (24) are provided (although Figure 2 is modified to show a device with an even number, e.g. four, of equally spaced apertures 24).

Referring to Figure 2, the inner drawing pipe (14) is positioned to extend coaxially within the outer supplying pipe (12). The inner pipe (14) is retained inside the outer pipe (12) by retainer means at each end of the inner pipe (14).

At the inlet end of the inner drawing pipe (14), the retainer means comprises a short sleeve in the form of a cylindrical piece (28) which is attached to the inner wall of the elongated tube (18), by way of a suitable adhesive or other attachment means. For this purpose, the inlet end portion has slightly larger cross section. The cylindrical piece (28) is provided with apertures (30) which correspond in position with the outlet openings (24) in the tube (18) of the outer supplying pipe (12). An annular disc (32) extends between the inlet end of the inner drawing pipe (14) and the corresponding end of the cylindrical piece (28).

The annular disc (32) is sealingly connected to the inner pipe (14) and the cylindrical piece (28) by a suitable adhesive or may be integral therewith.

The fluid inlet means for the inner drawing pipe (14) is provided in the form of an axial end opening (34) at the inlet end.

It can be seen that the arrangement of the outlet opening (24) for the outer supplying pipe (12) and the fluid inlet means (34) for the inner drawing pipe (14) may be to enable mixing of a fluid supplied to the container with another fluid already in the container and drawing of the mixed fluid from the container. The mixed fluid may be drawn simultaneously as the first-mentioned fluid is being supplied.

At the outlet end of the inner drawing pipe (14), the retainer means also comprises a short sleeve in the form of a cylindrical piece (36) which is attached to the inner walls of the nT"-piece (16) and elbow (23), by way of a suitable adhesive or other attachment means. For this purpose, recesses (38) are provided in the inner walls of the "T"-piece (16) and the elbow (23). An annular disc (40) extends between the outlet end of the inner drawing pipe (14) and the corresponding end of the cylindrical piece (36). The annular disc (40) is sealingly connected to the inner pipe (14) and the cylindrical piece (36) by a suitable adhesive or may be integral therewith.

The elbow (23) covers the outlet end of the inner drawing pipe (14) and forms the outlet opening (42) for the inner pipe (14). The outlet opening (42) may be located in the vicinity of the inlet opening (22) of the outer supplying pipe (12).

It can be seen that the cylindrical pieces (28),(36) and the annular discs (32),(36) also function as separation means to sealingly isolate the inner drawing pipe (14) from the outer supplying pipe (12).

In use, the device 10 is used to draw fluid from and supply fluid to a container (not shown).

A A hose (not shown) is connected to the outlet opening (42) of the elbow (23) at one end of the device (10). This hose is connected to a pump (not shown). The other end of the device (10) provided with the axial inlet opening (34) is inserted into the container containing the fluid which is to be drawn. The pump is activated and fluid is drawn into the inner pipe (14) through the axial inlet opening (34). The fluid travels up the inner pipe (14) and discharges via the outlet opening (42) into the hose connected to the elbow (23). This hose then conveys the drawn fluid to another desired location.

The device (10) of the present invention allows the fluid in the container, that is to be drawn, to be mixed with a second fluid simultaneously with the drawing of the fluid from the container.

This is done by connecting a hose (not shown) to the inlet opening (22) of the "T"-piece (16) at the one end of the device (10). This hose is connected to another pump (not shown) such that the second fluid may be pumped into the outer pipe (12) via the inlet opening (22). The annular discs (32) and (40) restrict axial flow of the second fluid in the outer pipe (12) and the second fluid is discharged therefrom via the outlet apertures (24) at the other end of the device (10). Due to the proximity of the outlet apertures (24) of the outer pipe (12) to the axial inlet opening (34) of the inner pipe (14) as arranged, the fluid is drawn from the container from a region where it has been mixed with the second fluid.

Once all of the fluid has been drawn from the container, the device (10) may be used to flush the container.

This is done by switching off the pump that draws the fluid through the inner pipe (14). Next, a suitable rinsing fluid is pumped into the outer pipe (12) via the attached hose. The rinsing fluid is discharged from the outlet apertures (24) and an operator may thereby rinse any residual fluid from the walls of the container. The pump that draws fluid through the inner pipe (14) may be switched on again to pump the rinsing fluid from the container and the pump that supplies rinsing fluid to the container is switched off. Once all of the rinsing fluid has been drawn from the container, the other pump may be switched off also.

The device (10) of the present invention allows fluids to be drawn from a container without the need to manipulate the container. Thus, the device (10) is particularly applicable to large containers that may be cumbersome to handle.

Further, due to the generally elongated structure of the device (10) or at least the hose-free end of the device (10), it may be inserted into containers having a comparatively narrow opening.

The device (10) also allows the fluid in a container to be readily mixed with another fluid, even if the container is large and cumbersome to handle and/or provided with a narrow opening. Further, the device (10) of the present invention allows a container to be readily flushed once the fluid has been drawn therefrom.

Additionally, the device (10) prevents any of the fluids in use coming into contact with an operator of the device (10). The present invention may, for example, be used to extract chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides from containers for use in agricultural applications. In such applications, the second fluid to be mixed with the herbicide or pesticide may be water. Water may also be used to flush the container once all of the herbicide or pesticide has been drawn therefrom. The herbicide or pesticide drawn from the container may be conveyed to the tank of a spraying apparatus.

The device of the present invention may be made to any desired length and from non-corrosive plastics material.

Also, graduations may be marked on the outside .surface of the outer pipe (12) to enable calculations of the amounts of fluid drawn, second fluid mixed, etc. to be made.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for use in the handling of fluids comprising integral first and second pipe means forming an elongate assembly for insertion through an opening in a container to locate one end of the assembly in the container and the opposite end out of the container, each pipe means having respective openings at or adjacent said one end of the assembly to provide in use independent communication between the interior of the container and the interior of the respective pipe means, each pipe means having respective openings at or adjacent said other end of the assembly to provide in use communication through the respective pipe means with the interior of the container, whereby fluid may be withdrawn from the container through one of said pipe means and supplied to the container through the other of said pipe means.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the second pipe means is disposed within the first pipe means with the interiors thereof isolated from each other.

3. A device according to Claim 2, wherein the second pipe means is positioned coaxially within the first pipe means.

4. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the first pipe means has a plurality of openings in said one end, arranged so fluid delivered therethrough to the container is dispersed within the container.

5. A device according to any one of Claims 2 to 3, wherein the opening in the first pipe means at said one end is a plurality of apertures formed circumferentially in the first pipe means, and the second opening in said one end of the second pipe means is an axial end opening.

6. A device according to any one of Claims 2, 3 or 5, wherein at said opposite end, said second pipe means extends laterally through the wall of the first pipe means to locate the opening in the second pipe means external of the first pipe means.

7. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein said device is made of non-corrosive material.

8. A device according to any one of Claims 1 tp 7, wherein a graduation scale is marked on the exterior of the assembly.

9. A device for use in the handling of fluids constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A method of withdrawing a first fluid from a container comprising positioning a device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in the container with said one end of the assembly inside the container and the said other end of the assembly outside the container and forcing a second fluid to flow through the said other pipe means and into the container at said one end of the assembly thereby causing the first fluid to be withdrawn from the container through the said one pipe means.