Login| Sign Up| Help| Contact|

Patent Searching and Data


Title:
HOLDING AND EXTRACTING LIQUID
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2019/178646
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A method of configuring a vessel 1 for extraction of a liquid from the vessel. The vessel holds the liquid and has a port 7 and one or more threads 7a with which a threaded closure 9 is engaged to close the port. A fitting 11 includes a threaded collar 13 and a spanning portion 15 for spanning an interior of the threaded collar. The spanning portion engages a first hose 17 for conveying the liquid away from the vessel and defines a vent path for gas to escape the vessel. The threaded collar is rotatable, whilst the spanning portion is held stationary, to engage the vessel without twisting the first hose. The method includes disengaging the threaded closure from the one or more threads and engaging the threaded collar with the vessel to fit the fitting in place of the threaded closure.

Inventors:
BUTLER BRENDAN (AU)
Application Number:
PCT/AU2019/050252
Publication Date:
September 26, 2019
Filing Date:
March 22, 2019
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
ASTRAL POOL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD (AU)
International Classes:
B65D47/32; B65D47/06
Domestic Patent References:
WO1992008548A11992-05-29
Foreign References:
EP0389191A11990-09-26
DE944719C1956-06-21
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
WADESON (AU)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

1. A method of configuring a vessel for extraction of a liquid from the vessel; the vessel holding the liquid and having a port; and one or more threads with which a threaded closure is engaged to close the port; a fitting including a threaded collar and a spanning portion for spanning an interior of the threaded collar; the spanning portion engaging a first hose for conveying the liquid away from the vessel; and defining a vent path for gas to escape the vessel; the threaded collar being rotatable, whilst the spanning portion is held stationary, to engage the vessel without twisting the first hose; and the method including disengaging the threaded closure from the one or more threads; and engaging the threaded collar with the vessel to fit the fitting in place of the threaded closure.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the engaging the threaded collar with the vessel is engaging the threaded collar with the one or more threads.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein a liquid-collection hose portion extends downwardly from the spanning portion.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the hose portion is liquid-collection hose and the spanning portion engages an upper end of the liquid-collection hose.

5. The method of claim 3 or 4 wherein a lower end of the liquid-collection hose portion is weighted. 6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the spanning portion engages a second hose for conveying the gas away from the vessel.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the fitting is within a building and the second hose is routed to release the gas outside of the building.

8. The method of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the liquid is swimming pool sanitizer.

9. The method of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the vessel includes an externally threaded cylindrical portion defining the port and the one or more threads.

10. The method of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the liquid, when at room temperature and pressure, is chemically unstable so as to give off gas. 11. The method of any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the vessel is a bag-in-box vessel.

12. A vessel holding a liquid and configured for extraction of the liquid from the vessel; the liquid, when at room temperature and pressure, being chemically unstable so as to give off gas; the vessel having a port; one or more threads about the port; a fitting engaged with the one or more threads to span the port; the fitting including a threaded collar and a spanning portion; the spanning portion spanning an interior of the threaded collar; engaging a first hose for conveying the liquid away from the vessel; and defining a vent path for the gas to escape the vessel.

13. The vessel of claim 12 including a liquid-collection hose portion extending downwardly from the spanning portion.

14. The vessel of claim 13 wherein the hose portion is liquid-collection hose and the spanning portion engages an upper end of the liquid-collection hose.

15. The vessel of claim 13 or 14 wherein a lower end of the liquid-collection hose portion is weighted.

16. The vessel of any one of claims 12 to 15 wherein the spanning portion engages a second hose for conveying the gas away from the vessel. 17. The vessel of claim 16 wherein the fitting is within a building and the second hose is routed to release the gas outside of the building.

18. The vessel of any one of claims 12 to 17 wherein the liquid is swimming pool sanitizer.

19. The vessel of any one of claims 12 to 18 wherein the vessel includes an externally threaded cylindrical portion defining the port and the one or more threads.

20. The vessel of any one of claims 12 to 19 being a bag-in-box vessel.

21. A vessel holding a liquid; the liquid being chemical for a swimming pool; the vessel being a bag-in-box container and vented to enable gas to escape from the vessel whilst the vessel is in transit.

22. The vessel of claim 21 including a vented screw cap. 23. The vessel of claim 21 or 22 wherein the chemical is sanitizer.

24. The vessel of claim 21 or 22 wherein the chemical is hypochlorite.

25. The vessel of claim 21 or 22 wherein the chemical is acid.

26. The vessel of claim 21 or 22 wherein the chemical is one or more of

hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and cyanuric acid. 27. A method of treating a swimming pool including extracting liquid from the vessel of any one of claims 21 to 26.

28. The method of claim 22 including configuring the vessel in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 10.

29. A fitting for venting gas to an exterior of a wall; the fitting having a tubular body; and spaced along the tubular body, a hose-engaging nipple, a stop and externally threaded portion configured to pass through a hole in the wall and co-operate with a nut so that the nut clamps the wall against the stop. 30. The fitting of claim 29 and the nut.

31. A method of venting gas including fitting the fitting of claim 29.

Description:
HOLDING AND EXTRACTING LIQUID FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The various aspects of the invention relate to one or more of holding liquid in vessels, extracting liquid and treating swimming pools with extracted liquid.

The technology herein is described in connection with liquid swimming pool chemicals. Other variants of the technology may well entail other liquids.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Maintaining a healthy swimming pool frequently entails regular treatments with liquids such as sanitiser (e.g. sodium hypochlorite and/or calcium hypochlorite) and acids (such as hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid and/or syanuric acid).

Sanitiser is commonly supplied in 15 litre drums. Sanitiser such as hypochlorites are chemically unstable such that at room temperature and pressure they give off gas. The drums are fitted with vented caps to allow this gas to escape. The vented caps have a small hole spanned by suitable porous material. The porous material is configured to enable the gas to pass through but to resist the flow of liquid, e.g. if the drum was tipped over. Without any form of venting, the drums would bloat and potentially rupture.

Sometimes the swimming pool is treated by simply pouring the liquid into the swimming pool. Other times the pool is treated with the aid of a dosing machine. For dosing machine applications, it is commonplace to drill a hole through the vented cap of the drum and then feed the dosing machine's liquid-collection hose through the hole.

Whilst the preceding approach to the supply and delivery of liquid pool chemicals has long been routine in the art, the present inventors have recognised various

shortcomings. More specifically, the present inventors have recognised that transporting the drums is inefficient: a typical pallet load of 1 ,000 litres of sanitiser typically occupies a volume of space much larger than 1 ,000 litres. This adds to transport and storage costs.

Furthermore the drums themselves are costly. Often the drums are sold on a deposit scheme whereby the drums are in theory returned to the supplier, cleaned and reused. In practice not all drums are returned and processing the returned drums is inconvenient and costly. In particular an empty drum occupies the same region of a space as a full drum. As such costly warehouse space is consumed by empty drums and man hours are consumed moving these drums about.

The need for a power tool such as a drill to configure the vessel for liquid to be extracted therefrom by the dosing machine is inconvenient.

Corrosion is commonplace in connection with swimming pool equipment although the present inventors have recognised that corrosion is particularly problematic in and about dosing machines. Furthermore it has been recognised that the gases given off by sanitiser contribute to this corrosion.

With the foregoing in mind, the present invention in its various aspects aims to provide improvements in and for one or more of holding liquid, extracting liquid and treating swimming pools, or at least to provide a practical alternative for those concerned with holding liquid, extracting liquid and/or treating swimming pools.

It is not admitted that any of the information in this patent specification is common general knowledge, or that the person skilled in the art could be reasonably expected to ascertain or understand it, regard it as relevant or combine it in any way before the priority date.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the invention provides a method of configuring a vessel for extraction of a liquid from the vessel; the vessel holding the liquid and having a port; and one or more threads with which a threaded closure is engaged to close the port; a fitting including a threaded collar and a spanning portion for spanning an interior of the threaded collar; the spanning portion engaging a first hose for conveying the liquid away from the vessel; and defining a vent path for gas to escape the vessel; the threaded collar being rotatable, whilst the spanning portion is held stationary, to engage the vessel without twisting the first hose; and the method including disengaging the threaded closure from the one or more threads; and engaging the threaded collar with the vessel to fit the fitting in place of the threaded closure.

The engaging the threaded collar with the vessel is preferably engaging the threaded collar with the one or more threads.

Preferably a liquid-collection hose portion extends downwardly from the spanning portion. The hose portion may be a liquid-collection hose. Optionally the spanning portion engages an upper end of the liquid-collection hose.

A lower end of the liquid-collection hose portion may be weighted. Optionally the spanning portion engages a second hose for conveying the gas away from the vessel. The fitting may be within a building. Preferably the second hose is routed to release the gas outside of the building. The liquid may be swimming pool sanitizer.

Preferably the vessel includes an externally threaded cylindrical portion defining the port and the one or more threads.

The liquid, when at room temperature and pressure, may be chemically unstable so as to give off gas.

Optionally the vessel is a bag-in-box vessel.

Another aspect of the invention provides a vessel holding a liquid and configured for extraction of the liquid from the vessel; the liquid, when at room temperature and pressure, being chemically unstable so as to give off gas; the vessel having a port; one or more threads about the port; a fitting engaged with the one or more threads to span the port; the fitting including a threaded collar and a spanning portion; the spanning portion spanning an interior of the threaded collar; engaging a first hose for conveying the liquid away from the vessel; and defining a vent path for the gas to escape the vessel. Another aspect of the invention provides a vessel holding a liquid; the liquid being chemical for a swimming pool; the vessel being a bag-in-box container and vented to enable gas to escape from the vessel whilst the vessel is in transit.

The vessel may include a vented screw cap. The chemical may be sanitizer. The chemical may be hypochlorite. The chemical may be acid. The chemical may be one or more of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and cyanuric acid.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of treating a swimming pool including extracting liquid from a vessel. Another aspect of the invention provides a fitting for venting gas to an exterior of a wall; the fitting having a tubular body; and spaced along the tubular body, a hose-engaging nipple, a stop and externally threaded portion configured to pass through a hole in the wall and co-operate with a nut so that the nut clamps the wall against the stop.

This aspect of the invention also provides a method of venting gas including fitting the fitting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bag-in-box container;

Figure 2 schematically illustrates a fluid extraction system;

Figure 3 is an enlargement of detail A in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a half section view of an installed vent fitting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 illustrates a vessel 1 in the form of a bag-in-box container. The vessel incorporates an outer 3 carrying and supporting a flexible bag. In this example the outer 3 is predominantly formed of cardboard and the bag is predominantly formed of metallised plastic. Other materials are possible, e.g. the outer might be formed of plastic or other self-supporting material.

The bag incorporates a rigid piece 5 defining a port 7 via which the liquid within the bag may be extracted. In this case, the piece 5 is a plastic piece. For transit, the port 7 is capped by vented cap 9.

The vessel 1 has a substantially rectangular cuboid (e.g. cubic) form for efficient packing, e.g. for efficient packing on a pallet.

Most of the vessel's exterior is defined by the box 3. The piece 5 is mounted at the top of the box, most preferably along (or in place of) one of the horizontal top edges of the cuboid form.

The piece 5 defines a recess in which the port 7 and cap 9 are located substantially within the cuboid packaging envelope of the vessel.

Of course other variants of the vessel 1 are possible, e.g. the port 7 and cap 9 might be packed away inside the box 3 for transit. Optionally the box 3 might have perforated (or otherwise flangeable) portions via which the cap can be accessed, although it is preferred that the cap 9 is accessible when the vessel 1 is in its transit configuration. The piece 5 is one example of a mechanism for holding the port 7 and cap 9 up to minimise the risk of leakage. Other mechanisms are possible.

Preferred variants of the port 7 incorporate an externally threaded cylindrical portion 7a (Figure 3) akin to the necks of the conventional drums whereby the cap 9 may be a conventional vented cap. The inventors have found that a pallet of vessels 1 holding about 1 ,200 litres of fluid occupies about the same volume of space as a pallet of conventional drums holding about 1 ,000 litres of fluid. Thus the vessel 1 can be more efficiently stored and transported through the supply chain on route from the manufacturer to the consumer.

Once received by the consumer, the consumer can simply unscrew the cap 9 then screw a fitting 11 in its place to configure the vessel 1 for extraction of the carried fluid. The fitting 11 is advantageously co-operable with conventional drums.

The fitting 11 includes a collar 13 surrounding a spanning portion 15. The collar 13 is a threaded collar incorporating an internally threaded portion 13a complementary to the externally threaded portion 7a. The collar further includes one or more retaining features 13b inwardly directed above the threaded portion 13a. In this example the retaining features take the form of an inwardly directed annular flange.

The components 13, 15 are separable. Alternatively they may be inseparably connected to each other.

The spanning portion 15 includes a disc-like body portion dimensioned to sit over the free end of the cylindrical portion 7a. By screwing the collar 13 down onto the portion 7a the spanning portion 15 is clamped in place between the portion 7a and the flange 13b.

The spanning portion 15 is engaged with a fluid extraction hose 17. For this purpose the spanning portion 15 has an upwardly directed nipple 15a for engaging the hose 17. The hose 17 is connected to a dosing machine incorporating a suitable pump (e.g. peristaltic pump) for drawing the liquid from the vessel 1. As such the hose 17 serves to convey the liquid away from the vessel 1.

The nipple 15a (and in turn the hose 17) is communicated with the interior of the vessel 1 via a downwardly directed nipple 15b on the underside of the spanning portion 15. A liquid collection tube 19 is fitted on the nipple 15b and has a weighted end portion 21 that holds the lower end of the hose down to collect liquid from the bottom of the vessel 1.

The spanning portion 15 has a further nipple 15c. The nipple 15c projects upwardly to co-operate with a vent hose 23 via which gases given off by the contained liquid can escape the vessel.

In this example the nipples 15a, 15b, 15c are barbed nipples. The hoses engage the spanning portion 15 so that the fitting 11 is sealed to prevent gases escaping in the immediate vicinity of the vessel 1. This serves to prevent corrosive off gases reaching the dosing machine.

Other modes of engagement are possible. By way of example the nipples 15a, 15b might be replaced by a simple hole dimensioned to engage, so as to seal about, an exterior of the hose 17 whereby:

• the liquid-collecting hose portion 19 is an end portion of the hose 17; and

• the liquid conveying path defined by the spanning portion 15 carries the

hose 17.

The vent hose 23 may advantageously route the gases out of an enclosure, e.g. out of a building. Figure 2 shows the vent hose routing the gases through a shed wall SW with the aid of vent fitting 25. The vent fitting 25 incorporates a nipple, preferably barbed nipple, 25a along its elongate tubular body. Further along the body is a stop 25b. In this example the stop takes the form of a radial flange. Further along the elongate body still, the fitting has an externally threaded portion 25c co-operable with a nut 25d.

To install the fitting 25 the threaded portion 25c is passed through a suitable opening in a wall of the enclosure (e.g. shed wall SW). The opening may be pre-existing or formed (e.g. drilled) as part of the installation process. Nut 25a is engaged with the externally threaded portion 25c to clamp the wall SW against the stop 25b thereby securely mounting the fitting in place. The end of the hose 23 distal the vessel 1 is pushed onto the nipple 25a.

Whilst various examples are described, the invention is not limited to these examples. Rather the invention is defined by the claims.