GB2283736A - Valved closure for venting container - Google Patents

Abstract

A closure for sealing a vessel having a neck 5 comprises a closure cap with an aperture 22 and a flexible disc shaped valve member 25 secured to the cap. The member 25 tightly seals against the neck in a closed position of the cap (figure 2) and at least a portion of the member can be displaced inwardly when the cap is in a partially opened position to allow inflow of air to the vessel interior if negative pressure occurs within the vessel. If on the other hand excess pressure occurs within the vessel, then in the partially open position of the cap venting can occur, e.g. by means of a passage 20 between the screw threads of the cap and neck or through an uncovered side opening 90 in the cap. The member 25 may include a flap (95, figure 8), in which case only the flap 95 is displaced to allow inflow of air. The cap may connect with the vessel by means of screw threads or a bayonet connection or a two-position connecting means. The vessel may contain dangerous liquids such as acids. <IMAGE>

Description

SEALING DEVICE FOR A VESSEL, SUITABLE STOPPER AND VESSEL THUS EQUIPPED The invention relates to the generai field of sealing and ventilation devices, for example for vessels and other containers.

In relation to the invention it should be noted, for example, that in the field of transporting dangerous materials, and in particular liquids such as acids, it is at present usually necessary to fulfil both qual -, and safety requirements.

Thus, in particular in this field, vessels or equivalent items are needed, which: - can provide leaktightness which is effective with respect to the materials being transported, and perform this both in normal service (straight vessel with all possible outle apertures closedj, and in the case of inversion - allowing, preferably, a possible iniet of air into the vessel during emptying (most particularly, of course, in the case o iiquias ; and - avoiding any substantial risk of excess pressure in the interior of the container (in particular in the case of products which may give off gasesj.

Hitherto, the apparently conflicting requirements vleautightness and ventiiationj have not been met in a truly satisfactory manner.

The present invention thus relates to an attachment, which may be integrated into an appropriate container or not, and which by means of its structure and operation, can constitute a stopper, which may be substantially hermetic in a first sealing position, and a vent or a ventilation means in a second position, and in which said attachment may furthermore optionally have the features of a "flow interrupter", if the material contained in the vessel is fluid, ana in particular liquid.

More precisely, the invention thus proposes a device for sealing a vessel or equivalent, with leaktightness of the closure or ventilation this device comprising: - a neck securely connected to the vessel along an axis, defining a mouthpiece therefor; and - a stopper comprising screwing means or equivalent, intended to be mounted substantially in the axis of said neck, the stopper comprising a closing means which is secured thereto and which incorporates a sealing joint associated with a valve for selective closing of said mouthpiece and is interposed between said neck and at least one aperture for communicating with the exterior which passes through the stopper, which closing means can be displaced substantially axially in relation to the neck;; - between an opening position in which said closing means is separated from the neck to open a leakage and/or ventilation passage between the vessel and the exterior whilst leaving the movement of said valve free for an optional other communication between the vessel and the exterior, through said orifice of the stopper; and - a closed position in which said closing means is peripherally blocked between the stopper and the neck so that its sealed joint closes said passage.

Thus, when the stopper is in the closed position, this device which is connected to the vessel will perform its sealing function by providing, at the location at which it is disposed, a substantially hermetic sealing of said vessel (at least in the direction from the vessel towards the exterior), whereas in the opening position of the stopper, the device will operate in the manner of a vent (to permit, for example, the escape of a gas which may have accumulated inside the vessel) whilst also permitting the inlet of, in particular, air into the vessel.

According to a complementary feature of the invention, the leak or ventilation passage mentioned hereinabove is preferably defined by a clearance, which is created during the manufacture between the complementary means of cooperation between the stopper and the neck of the vessel, these means being in particular constituted by threads in the case (as is clearly envisaged hereinabove) of the application of a stopper screwed to the neck, indeed by a bayonet or clic- in system or by any other equivalent means allowing a guided, and in general limited, displacement of the stopper in translation and;or rotation.

As regards the valve of the stopper, this may furthermore advantageously be of the unidirectional type, so as to only permit entry of gas towards the vessel, such that a preaetermineå subpressure prevails in this vessel in relation to the exterior.

In addition to the device of the type described, the invention likewise relates to the stopper itself, and to a vessel or equivalent equipped therewith.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be seen from the more detailed description which follows and which is given with reference to the attached drawings. In the drawings: - Figure 1 shows a vessel provided with a device according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a view in vertical section along the line II-II in Figure 3 (completed by symmetry) of the device in question; - Figure 3 is a semi-sectional view along a horizontal plane of the stopper (line III-III) in Figure 2; - whereas Figure 2 shows the device according to the invention with the stopper in the closed position, Figure 4 shows said device with its stopper open, with a section along the line IV-IV in Figure 3; - Figure 5 is a detailed view of the zone marked V in Figure 4; - Figure 6 shows, in a view identical to that in Figure 4, the same device when the vessel is in an inverted position;; - Figure 7 is a variant of the embodiment in which the fixed tubular part, which supports the stopper, is not integrated into the vessel, but constitutes an attached, separate piece; and - Figure 8 is a section showing a variant of the embodiment of the closing means, in the zone designated vI-I in Figure 2.

Referring first to Figure 1, there will be seen a known plastic vessel (moulded from high density polyethylene for example) for the transport of a dangerous product (hydrochloric acid for example) comprising, in the lower part, an emptying throat 4 for the recovery of the product and, in the upper part, a refilling aperture formed of a stopper 6 next to which there is located a vent which may be closed by a stopper.

Since this stopper vent, of a design which is conventional and usual in this type oL vessel, only performs the functions which seem important to the present applicant in an imperfect manner, the device according to the invention, which is intended to replace it, is shown in the Figures 2 to 8 which follow.

As may be seen in particular in Figure 2, this device, designated 1, comprises a stopper 3 of a particular type, mounted on a tubular part 5 which is rigidly connected to the vessel 2 and defines a mouthpiece 7 therefor.

In this case, the tubular part 5 is produced as a single piece with the vessel to form a projecting neck or throat.

The stopper 3 is mounted substantially in the axis 9 of the neck, the neck and the stopper comprising, for the cooperation thereof and for the guided displacement of the stopper in relation to the neck, cooperating means. In this case, these means are constituted by threads lia, lib, formed, respectively, in the general direction 9, on the exterior wall of the neck 5 and on an internal wall of the skirt 13 of the stopper. It is, however, clear that other cooperating means, such as, for example, click-in connecting means, two-position (open or closed) connecting means, or even bayonet connection means, may also be used.

Above its lateral peripheral skirt 13, the stopper 3 has an inner shoulder 15 (and, in this case, also an outer one 16) restricting the section thereof at least in the interior, the stopper subsequently being extended by a domed area with an upper wall 17a and a lateral wall 17b. From the transverse wall 17a, and towards the interior of the stopper, there extends a block of material 19 which occupies a central position, substantially in the general axis 9, this block constituting a type of short axial dog point which is broken off substantially in the vicinity of the shoulder 15, defining, about itself, a chamber 18, which is optionally divided into several independent sections 18a, 18b, etc separated by internal reinforcement ribs 21 (Figure 3).

Preferably, all the above-mentioned component parts of the stopper 3 are produced as a single part, it being possible to produce a stopper of moulded plastics material.

As is shown in particular in Figures 2 and 3, one or more lateral orifices 22, designed to be disposed substantially horizontally, are provided in the stopper, through its wall zone 17b, in such a manner that the interior chamber(s) 18 may communicate with the exterior, limiting the risk of excessive entry of water (of rain in particular).

At its free end, and thus opposite the apertures 22, the dog point 19 supports a selective closing means 25 which may act as a joint and/or a valve as will be explained hereinbelow. This closing means is, in this case, in the form of a deformable, flexible, continuous disc-shaped membrane, of a material which cannot be altered by the products which are transported, for example caoutchouc, and has a diameter which is suitable for the exterior periphery thereof to be come to bear, in the closed position, against the interior shoulder 15 of the stopper.This membrane, which normally, in the inoperative position, extends substantially perpendicular to the general axis 9, is here maintained in contact with the dog point 19 by a retaining means such as a screw (for example of plastics material) 27, a shoulder 29 of the dog point correctly positioning the valve whilst still encouraging the deformation thereof in opening/closing.

Constituted as above, the device according to the invention operates as follows: as shown in Figure 2, when the stopper 3 is in the closed position (in this case entirely screwed onto the neck 5), the selective closing means 25 is blocked or wedged between the shoulder 15 and the free end 5a of the neck. In this position, the selective closing means thus performs, at the periphery, the function of a sealing joint, by preventing any communication (in particular any ventilation or leakage of gas, or leakage of liquid) between the exterior and the vessel, through the mouthpiece 7 of the neck.

On the other hand, when the stopper 3 is axially offset to the throat 5, in this case unscrewed, the membrane 25 may effectively perform its role of valve, the displacement of the stopper towards the open position thereof which is shown in Figure 4 furthermore opening or disengaging, of itself and preferably permanently, a passage permitting the leakage or the ventilation in particular of gas (air), towards or away from the exterior.

In this case, this passage is constituted by the intermediate space which, during manufacture, was provided between the threads ila and llb of the neck and the stopper respectively, the passage in question having been shown, in enlarged scale, designated 20 in Figure 5. Thus, in this hypothesis, there exists a certain transverse play between the stopper and the neck.

For this reason, it may in particular be provided that either the internal screw thread llb of the stopper has more rounded threads than those 11a of the neck, or that those of the threads 11b are rounded, whilst those of the neck 5 may be at an angle which is more or less acute.

Irrespective thereof, the reserved passage 20 permits the circulation of air at least towards the exterior of the vessel, thus in particular preventing superpressure from prevailing there.

If, despite this passage, an excess subpressure exists in the interior of the vessel when the stopper is open (the subpressure being due to the emptying of the vessel for example) then the membrane 25 itself will open, in such a manner as to permit air to enter from the apertures 22 through the chamber(s) 18, via the path indicated by the arrow 10, the membrane 25 deforming so as to become separated from its peripheral seat (see Figure 4).

In practice, it is advisable to provide several ribs 21, thus multiplying the support surfaces for the membrane at the location of the free end 21a of said ribs (forming partitioning walls in the case of an embodiment with several chambers).

In this case (which is not, however, limiting in any way), it is understood that the membrane 25 is in fact a "unidirectional" opening flap, which is normally closed, and thus the aperture cannot be obtained until after the moment when the stopper is in the open position and a sufficient subpressure prevails in the interior of the vessel.

If, on the contrary, an excess pressure prevails in the interior of this vessel, the only permitted path for the leak is the passage 20.

The same applies if the vessel, for example filled with liquid, is reversed or inverted (Figure 6). In this case, the pressure P of the liquid will be applied against the valve 25 which, being pressed against its seat, simultaneously prevents any outflow or entry of liquid or other substances via the apertures 22.

The liquid may, on the contrary, at least after a given time, escape to a greater or lesser extent via the passage 20. Since, however, this is only a fairly minor leak, the liquid cannot in any way be ejected as a strong jet. The passage 20 thus fulfils the function of a "flow interruptor", it being possible to perform this function in the straight position (Figure 4) when, if there is excess superpressure inside the vessel, this may no longer be due to gas but to the liquid which tends to circulate along said passage.

With reference to the embodiment in Figure 7, it is only necessary to note that which differentiates the stopper device 30 shown in this Figure, and that, in this case, the mouthpiece of the vessel 70 is not defined by a neck merging into a single part with the vessel, but by a tubular connection piece 40 which is connected to the vessel and is suitable for being engaged in a rigid manner through an aperture 71 of the vessel.

For this purpose, the tubular connection piece 40 ends on one side in a flange collar 42 which is retained under the wall 72 which surrounds the aperture 71, a ring 80 which may be screwed and which presses the flange collar 42 against the vessel, in being screwed, on the opposite side, onto complementary threads 43 provided towards the base of the mouth which comprises, above these same threads, and optionally in the extension thereof, the above-mentioned threads lib which are adapted to cooperate with the complementary threads 11a of the stopper 3, maintaining, between them, the passage 20.

Insofar as the "functionally active" part is, as regards the sealing/ventilation functions of the device 40 in Figure 7 the same as those in the preceding Figures, it is clear that the operation of this device is the same as that which has already been described.

Of course, other embodiments of the invention may be envisaged. In particular, the passage 20 between the cooperating, non-leaktight threads, may, for example, be replaced (or supplemented) by one (or several) calibrated hole(s), shown in dash-dotted lines in Figure 4 and designated 90. This hole, which passes through the skirt 13 of the stopper below the level at which the valve is secured, is only covered when the stopper is open, as is clearly shown in Figure 4.

Likewise, as shown in Figure 8, the closing means 25 may be replaced with another means, 91, in this case formed as a deformable, flexible disc-shaped membrane, for example of caoutchouc, still secured at the centre of the stopper but coming, at the periphery at 91a, to bear to be permanently on the shoulder 15 to form the sealed joint, and having, between the periphery thereof and the centre thereof, an aperture 93, which is annular for example, which can be selectively closed off by means of a flap 95 which is articulated on the closing means to constitute the desired valve, a seat 97 preventing the flap from opening in the direction from the vessel towards the exterior.

Instead of, or as a supplement to, the radial play between the cooperating means of the stopper and the neck of the vessel, there may, moreover, be provided open axial sections (for example four in number and offset by an angle of 900), locally interrupting these cooperating means and thus forming, in the framework of the screwing means shown in Figure 7, communication channels 99 preferably interrupting the threads of the stopper.

Claims (10)

1. A sealing device for a vessel or the like, the device comprising: - a neck rigidly connected to the vessel the neck having an axis, and defining a mouthpiece for the vessel, and - a stopper comprising screw means or the like, for mounting substantially on the axis of said neck, the stopper containing a closing means secured thereto, which is integral with a sealing joint associated with a valve for selectIve closing of said mouthpiece and is interposed between said neck and at least one aperture for communicating with the exterior passing through the stopper, which valve is displaceable substantially axially in reflation to the neck betwee, - a closed position in which the closing means is peripherally blocked between the stopper and the neck so that its sealing joint closes a leakage andjor ventilation passage between the vessel and the exterior; and - an open position in which the closing means are remote from the neck to open said passage, leaving free the movement of the valve between an inoperative position in which it bears on a seat of said stopper to close the communication between the vessel and the exterior, through said aperture of the stopper, and an open state, in which it is away from said seat to permit circulation of air through said aperture, only in the direction from the exterior towards the vessel, from a given subpressure which prevails in said vessel.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein said screwing means or complementary equivalent cooperating means between the stopper and the neck cooperate with one another in a manner which is not sealed at least with respect to gas, in such a manner as to define and maintain, between them, a path for said leakage and/or ventilation passage between the vessel and the exterior.

A A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the internal closing means of the plug is in the form of a flexible disc-shaped member, - secured on the central part of the stopper; - constituting, at its periphery, said sealing joint when the stopper is in the closed position, peripherally supported on the one side against an interior shoulder of the stopper, and, on the other side, against a complementary shoulder of the neck; - and constituting, likewise at its periphery, said valve when the stopper is in the open position.

4. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim wherein said internal closing means is in the form of a flexible disc-shaped member - secured in the central part on the stopper; - the periphery of which constitutes said sealing joint when the stopper is in the closed position, by bearing at the periphery, against the shoulder of said stopper on one side against a complementary shoulder of the neck on the other side, said closing means having, between the periphery and the central part thereof, an aperture, opposite which a flap which is secured to the closing means is articulated.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein between the closing mear- and a plurality of said apertures thereof foi communication with the exterior, the stopper has an inner chamber where there extend ribs of which a free end constitutes a support for said closing means.

A A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the stopper and the neck cooperate with one another by means of screwing the stopper on the neck, the threads provided in the neck being round, or more rounded, than those provided on the stopper.

7. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the aperturets! for communicating with the exterior which is/are provided in the stopper extends substantially horizontally when the stopper is in a substantially vertical position on the neck.

A A sealing or ventilating stopper providing screwing or equivalent means, to be mounted substantially on the shaft of a tubular joining piece or neck defining, in the interior, a mouthpiece for a vessel or equivalent, saId stopper being displaceable in relation to the neck between an open position and a closed position whilst maintaining, in the open position, a first path and a second path for the optional passage of fluid between the mouthpiece of the vesse; and the exterior, the stopper being provided in the interior with a closing means extending transverse to the axis thereof and comprising:: - a leaktight connection opening said second passage when the stopper is in the open position and closing it when said stopper is in the closed position; - and a valve which is associated with said joint and which, in the open position of the stopper, is free to move between an inactive condition in which said stopper is supported on the seat to close the first path of the passage, and an open state in which it is drawn away from said seat to permit circulation of air through the first half of the passage, only from the exterior towards the vessel, from a given sub-pressure which prevails in said vessel.

9. A sealing device for a vessel or the like, the sealing device being substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 2 to 6, 7 or 8.

10. A vessel provided with a sealing device according to any one of Claims ; to 7 or 9 or a stopper according to Claim 8.