FIELD

[1 ] Various embodiments of a fluid container closure and a method for dispensing fluid from a fluid container are disclosed herein.

SUMMARY

[2] According to one aspect there is provided a fluid container closure comprising:

a cap to seal an opening of a container, the cap including an outer surface and an inner surface and being detachable from the container;

at least one valve incorporated into the cap between the outer and inner surfaces to enable egress of fluid from the container; and

a piercing member attached to a portion of at least one of the, or each, valve on the inner surface of the cap, to enable piercing of a seal on the opening of the fluid container.

[3] The cap may reversibly seal the container by means selected from a group including threaded screw means, clamp means, grip means and push means.

[4] The, or each, valve may be reversibly incorporated into the cap.

[5] The container closure may further include a dip tube between at least one of the, or each, valve and the piercing member. The dip tube may be integral to the piercing member. The dip tube may be reversibly attached to the valve.

[6] The cap may include a gasket seal on the inner surface.

[7] The fluid may be hygroscopic. The fluid may be an oil. The fluid may be an oil selected from the group consisting of refrigerant oil, mechanical oil and automotive oil.

[8] Two valves may be incorporated into the cap between the outer and inner surfaces to enable egress and ingress, respectively, of fluid from the container.

[9] A valve adapter may be arranged on each valve to permit a hose or line to be connected to said each valve, such that connection of the hose or line to said each valve opens said each valve.

[10] A first dip tube may be arranged on one of said valves and a second dip tube may be arranged on another of said valves such that a further fluid can be pumped into the container via the second dip tube to expel fluid from the container via the first dip tube.

[1 1 ] The first dip tube may open proximate a bottom of the container and the second dip tube may open proximate a top of the container

[12] According to another aspect, there is provided a fluid container that incorporates the fluid container closure described above.

[13] According to another aspect, there is provided a method for dispensing fluid from a fluid container using a fluid container closure, the container closure including a cap to seal an opening of the container, the cap including an outer surface and an inner surface and being detachable from the container, at least one valve incorporated into the cap between the outer and inner surfaces to enable egress of fluid from the container, and a piercing member attached to a portion of at least one of the, or each, valve on the inner surface of the cap, to enable piercing of a seal on the opening of the fluid container, the method comprising the steps of:

piercing the penetrable seal with the piercing member; and

sealing the container opening with the cap.

[14] The method may include the step of activating at least one of said the, or each, valve and dispensing the fluid through the valve, while substantially preventing ingress of air and contaminants into the container.

[15] The method may include the step of connecting a valve adapter to at least one of said the, or each, valve such that the valve adapter activates and opens said at least one of the, or each, valve. Two of said valves may be incorporated into the cap, and the method may include the step of connecting two of said valve adapters to respective said valves.

[16] The method may include the step of connecting two fluid conduits to respective said valves via the valve adapters, respectively, and pumping a gas into the container via one of said fluid conduits so that the fluid is expelled from the container via another of said fluid conduits.

[17] The two fluid conduits may be refrigeration service lines and the method may include the step of connecting the refrigeration service lines to respective inlet and outlet service valves of a compressor of a refrigeration system. [18] Specific exemplary embodiments of the present technology are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[19] In order that the present technology may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like parts. The use of like reference numbers to refer to like parts should not be regarded as limiting the embodiments described herein to use with identical parts across the embodiments. Said like reference numbers are only used for convenience. The drawings are provided by way of example only, wherein:

[20] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a fluid container closure.

[21 ] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the fluid container closure of figure 1 .

[22] Figure 3 is a perspective representation of an embodiment in which the fluid container closure may be attached to a fluid container.

[23] Figure 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment in which the fluid container closure is attached to, and seals, a fluid container.

[24] Figure 5 is a side view of an embodiment of a fluid dispensing apparatus.

[25] Figure 6 shows an embodiment of an apparatus for re-filling a refrigeration system with oil.

[26] Skilled addressees will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. By way of example, the relative dimensions of some of the elements in the drawings may be distorted to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[27] In figures 1 to 4, reference numeral 100 generally indicates an exemplary embodiment of a fluid container closure of the present disclosure. Reference numeral 200 generally indicates a fluid container which may be suitable for use with a fluid container closure of the disclosure, in the method of the disclosure. [28] The fluid container closure 100 includes a cap 102 which incorporates a valve 104. The cap 102 has an inner surface 108 and an outer surface 1 10. In the embodiments illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the cap 102 has an orifice 1 14 from the outer surface 1 10 to the inner surface 108 through which the valve 104 extends. In this embodiment, the valve 104 is incorporated into the cap 102 by a threaded portion 105, which is secured to the inner surface 108 of the cap using a washer 1 18 and a nut 1 16.

[29] The cap 102 may be manufactured of any material of suitable strength and durability. The cap 102 can be manufactured of metal or plastic, and, for example, is manufactured of plastic. Referring also to figure 3, the cap 102 may be any appropriate size to fit an opening 202 of a corresponding fluid container 200.

[30] The cap 102 includes any means for securing to a container opening. Figures 1 and 3 illustrate a thread 1 12 on the inner surface 108 of the cap 102. This corresponds to the thread on the container opening 202 to substantially seal the cap 102 to the fluid container 200. The cap 102 may be secured to the container opening 202 by other appropriate means, including a clamp means securing the cap to the container opening or a push-on tight seal means integral to the cap.

[31 ] The seal between the cap 102 and the fluid container 200 can be further enhanced by inclusion of a gasket 122, between the opening of the container 202 and a top inner surface 1 1 1 of the cap 102. The gasket 122 may be manufactured from any material with sufficient sealing ability and durability and is preferably manufactured from a rubber or plastic-based material. Once the cap 102 is in place on the container 200, the gasket 122 provides a further air-tight seal between fluid in the container 200 and the air outside of the container.

[32] The valve 104, which is incorporated into cap 102, can be reversibly or irreversibly incorporated. As discussed above, figures 1 and 2 illustrate the valve 104 incorporated into the cap 102 by the threaded portion 105. The valve 104 may be incorporated by other appropriate means, including but not limited to welding, solvent gluing, rubber sealing or moulding.

[33] Valve 104 may be any valve which, when activated, enables movement of fluid in substantially exclusively one direction. In other words, the valve 104 may be a non-return valve. For the purposes of the fluid container closure of this disclosure, the valve 104 may be any valve that enables fluid egress from the container 200 and prevents air ingress from outside the container 200, once attached by the cap 102 to the container 200, and activated. An example of such a valve may be the Schrader valve (American valve), which has at its core a poppet valve and pin, assisted by a spring. A hose or other structure with a threaded fitting or valve adapter at one end is connected to the valve. Inside the hose fitting or adapter is a small bar which pushes the valve pin down and opens the valve when the fitting is screwed onto the valve. Other forms of adapter are also envisaged. When the fitting is unscrewed, the bar releases from the valve and a small spring pushes the pin back up and the valve closes. The spring ensures that the valve is closed, preventing air ingress, unless the pin is depressed, as when the valve is activated, enabling fluid egress. Thus, the hose fitting can be a Schrader valve adaptor.

[34] The fluid container closure 100 further includes a piercing member 106 attached to a portion of the valve 104 on the inner surface of the cap 102. Referring also to figure 3, the piercing member 106 may be used to pierce or puncture a seal 204 on the opening 202 of a fluid container 200. Seal 204 can be made of any penetrable material but is generally made of foil, plastic or polymer-lined paper.

[35] Referring to figures 1 and 2, the piercing member 106 can be attached to the valve 104 by any appropriate means, and can be reversibly or irreversibly attached to the valve 104. The piercing member 106 can also include a dip tube 120 between the piercing member 106 and the valve 104. The dip tube 120 can be integral to the piercing member 106, and can be of varying length. The dip tube 120 can enable effective dispensing of fluid from a container 200 by extending into the fluid once the fluid container closure 100 is attached to the container 200. The piercing member 106 and dip tube 120 can be manufactured from any practicable material, including plastic and metal. The piercing member 106 is manufactured from a material that can be sharpened sufficiently to enable piercing of a seal 204 on a fluid container 200.

[36] The fluid container closure 100 may be manufactured as separate parts and subsequently assembled before use, or may be manufactured as a single unit by injection moulding, including but not limited to a cap, a valve and a piercing member.

[37] The fluid for use with the fluid container closure of the disclosure can be any air sensitive fluid. Examples can include fluids used in the automotive, aeronautical and nautical industries. In particular, the fluid can be an air sensitive oil. More particularly, the oil can be a hygroscopic oil for use in the refrigerant and air- conditioning industry. A fluid container closure of the disclosure ensures protection of fluid in a container for use later. [38] In figures 1 , 2 and 4, a container 200 is shown. The container 200 includes an air sensitive fluid and a penetrable seal 204 over the opening 202 of the container. In order to dispense the fluid in the container without substantially exposing the fluid to air, a fluid container closure 100 of this disclosure is used. The piercing member 106 is pressed through the seal 204 on the container 200 and the cap 102 is attached to the container opening 202, in this example by screwing the cap 102 onto a corresponding screw thread on the container opening 202. In this way, the fluid in the container 200 is still sealed from external air, but is now accessible through the valve 104. The required amount of fluid is dispensed through the valve 104, for example with the use of a suitable adapter, without ingress of air, and fluid remaining in the container 200 is substantially sealed from exposure to air. The remaining fluid is thereby protected from degradation, and is available in an acceptable condition for future use. For example, the container 200 can be configured to be squeezed to expel the fluid. In other examples, the container 200 can be pressurized with an inert gas or other suitable propellant. In that case, the adapter or conduit connected to the adapter can incorporate a valve that can be operated selectively to dispense the fluid once the adapter is in an operative position. It will be appreciated that once the adapter is removed, the valve 104 is closed to retain the pressure in the container to facilitate further dispensing of the fluid.

[39] The fluid container closure of this disclosure can also be reused on any number of other fluid containers, as required.

[40] In one or more preferred aspects, the fluid container closure has one or more of the following advantages: (i) sealing a container of air-sensitive fluid while enabling dispensing as required; (ii) ease of reversible attachment of the fluid container closure to a fluid container; (iii) enabling re-use of the fluid container closure on other containers; (iv) flexibility of manufacture to accommodate different size containers and container openings; (v) ease of operation of the fluid container closure. It will be appreciated that each embodiment described herein need not possess all the aforementioned advantages, and that the aforementioned advantages are not to be construed as being required features of the claimed invention. Indeed, one or more embodiments may not possess any of the above advantages, but include an advantage not listed above.

[41 ] In figure 5, reference numeral 300 generally indicates an embodiment of a fluid container closure. With reference to the preceding drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified. [42] The closure 300 includes two of the valves 104. Valve adapters 302 can be attached to the valves 104, in a detachable or releasable manner, to open the valves 104. The valve adapters 302 can be used to connect hoses, conduits or lines to the valves 104 to establish fluid communication between the conduits and the contents of the fluid container 200.

[43] Each valve 104 is connected to a dip tube 302. Thus, a suitable fluid or gas can be introduced into the container 200 via one of the dip tubes 302. That results in fluid being expelled from the container 200 via the other of the dip tubes 302. It will readily be appreciated that just one dip tube extending into the stored fluid can be used with the introduced fluid or gas simply passing through one of the valves 104 that does not necessarily have a dip tube attached thereto.

[44] The valve 104.1 is connected to a first dip tube 302.1 that is of sufficient length to open in a region near a bottom of the container 200. The valve 104.2 is connected to a second dip tube 302.2 that is shorter than the first dip tube 302.1 above the fluid in the container.

[45] The fluid can thus be fed out of the valve 104.1 , through the valve adapter

302.1 and into a hose connected to the adapter 302.1 , by pumping fluid or gas into the container 200 via the adapter 302.2 and valve 104.2. The selection of a suitable pumping fluid can achieve a substantially moisture- and contaminant-free transfer of the fluid out of the container 200. For example, where the fluid in the container 200 is a hygroscopic liquid, the pumping fluid can be a suitable gas, such as moisture-free nitrogen. Once a desired amount of fluid has been pumped from the container 200, the adapters 302 and associated hoses can simply be removed so that the valves 104 move to their closed positions. In that condition, the gas is retained in the container 200 so keeping the hygroscopic liquid in an uncontaminated condition and ready for further dispensing.

[46] In figure 6, reference numeral 400 generally indicates an embodiment of an apparatus for dispensing fluid. With reference to the preceding drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified.

[47] The apparatus 400 is particularly suited for re-filling a refrigeration system, indicated at 500, with oil. The oils used in the refrigeration industry are extremely hygroscopic. Absorbed moisture can corrode and damage the internal workings of a system, so reducing the efficiency of the system. [48] The refrigeration system 500 includes a compressor 502 and an oil reservoir 516. The compressor 502 is used to generate a positive pressure within the oil reservoir 516.

[49] A refrigeration service line 510 is connected at one end to an outlet service valve 504 of the compressor 502. Another end of the line 506 is connected to the valve adapter 302.2 so that a pressure can be set up within the container 200 via the dip tube 304.2 as the compressor 502 operates.

[50] A refrigeration service line 506 is connected to an inlet service valve 512 of the compressor 502. The service line 506 is also connected to the valve adapter 302.1 so that fluid driven out of the container 200 can be fed to the reservoir 516 via the line 506.

[51 ] The reservoir 516 includes an oil sight glass 518 so that an operator can check on an amount of fluid delivered.

[52] Once enough fluid has been delivered, the adapters 302 can simply be detached from the valves 140. The valves 140 then automatically close, sealing the container 200. At that point, the pressures at the valves 140 are balanced so that the pressure in the container 200 is low enough for the container 200 to be stored without having to release pressure. The detachment can occur while the compressor 502 is still running. This can save energy because it will not be necessary to shut down the refrigeration system. Furthermore, the container 200 with the apparatus 400 can be used again to supply remaining fluid or oil in the container 200 in a substantially moisture- and contaminant-free manner.

[53] In this embodiment, the Schrader valves 140 can be those used in the refrigeration industry.

[54] It is to be appreciated that the compressor 502 and oil reservoir 516 do not necessarily have to be those of a refrigeration system. As such, the compressor 502 and the oil reservoir 516 can be part of any system capable of extracting fluid from the container 200.

[55] The container 200 can be an existing container that is used to supply fluids, such as those described herein, to equipment. An example of such a container would be an oil can containing the oil for the refrigeration system, as described above.

[56] It has been found that up to 1 L of refrigerant oil per 5 L can of oil can be lost using conventional techniques for refilling oil reservoirs of refrigeration systems. Use of the apparatus 400 can result in very little loss of refrigerant oil because the oil does not become contaminated when dispensed in the manner described above. Furthermore, this saving of oil can have significant environmental benefits because the need to dispose of the waste oil is obviated.

[57] The fluid container closures described herein can be manufactured in various ways. For example, apart from the valves 104 and associated attaching components, the closures can be injection moulded of a suitable plastics material.

[58] The fluid container closures can be reused. Thus, once the associated container is empty, the fluid container closures can be detached and subsequently used with further containers, for example, oil cans storing the refrigerant oil described above.

[59] The appended claims are to be considered as incorporated into the above description.

[60] Throughout the specification, including the claims, where the context permits, the term "comprising" and variants thereof such as "comprise" or "comprises" are to be interpreted as including the stated integer or integers without necessarily excluding any other integers.

[61 ] It is to be understood that the terminology employed above is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The described embodiments are intended to be illustrative of the present technology, without limiting the scope thereof and is capable of being practised with various modifications and additions as will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

[62] Various substantially and specifically practical and useful exemplary embodiments of the claimed subject matter, are described herein, textually and/or graphically, including the best mode, if any, known to the inventor for carrying out the claimed subject matter. Variations (e.g., modifications and/or enhancements) of one or more embodiments described herein might become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this application. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the claimed subject matter to be practiced other than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, as permitted by law, the claimed subject matter includes and covers all equivalents of the claimed subject matter and all improvements to the claimed subject matter. Moreover, every combination of the above described elements, activities, and all possible variations thereof are encompassed by the claimed subject matter unless otherwise clearly indicated herein, clearly and specifically disclaimed, or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

[63] The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate one or more embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of any claimed subject matter unless otherwise stated. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non- claimed subject matter as essential to the practice of the claimed subject matter.