GB1589782A - Flexible receptable - Google Patents

Description

(54) AN IMPROVED FLEXIBLE RECEPTACLE (71) We, BALFOUR BEATTY LIMITED, a British Company of 7 Mayday Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey, CR4 7XA, England, and BUILDING TREATMENTS AND APPLICATIONS S.A., a Belgian Company of 49 Chaussee de Charleroi, 1060 Bruxelles, Belgium, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: In the Complete Specification of our copending cognate Patent Applications Nos.

709/77 and 47987/77 (Serial No. 1 589 781) there is described and claimed an improved method of impregnating with an impregnant in a liquid or semi-liquid state a body or bodies made wholly or in part of organic fluid-permeable material, which method comprises introducing said body or a plurality of said bodies into a receptacle of flexible fluid-impermeable material through an opening therein, the flexible receptacle being supported by and secured to a substantially rigid structure in such a way that the receptacle is held open for the introduction through said opening of said body or plurality of bodies; sealing the opening in the receptacle to form a substantially fluid-tight enclosure; evacuating air and any other fluid from within the fluid-tight enclosure so formed and from voids in the or each body housed therein to cause the flexible, fluid-impermeable material of the receptacle to collapse around the body or bodies; and allowing impregnant in a liquid or semi-liquid state to enter the fluid-tight enclosure and to flow through and impregnate the organic fluid-permeable material of the or each body.

This invention is divided-out of the aforesaid Patent Application No. 47987/77 (Serial No. 1 589 781) and it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved receptacle for use in the impregnation with an impregnant in a liquid or semi-liquid state of a body or bodies made wholly or in part of organic fluid-permeable material.

According to the invention, the receptacle is made of flexible fluid-impermeable material and has an opening for introduction into the receptacle of said body or bodies, re-usable means for sealing said opening to form a substantially fluid-tight flexible enclosure, at least one outlet with an associated valve through which air and any other fluid can be evacuated from the rereptacle, and, separate from the outlet or outlets, at least one inlet with an associated valve through which impregnant in a liquid or semi-liquid state can be introduced into the receptacle.

The valves associated with the inlets and outlets preferably are non-return valves.

Preferably, the inlets and outlets are so positioned in the receptacle that, when the receptacle is in use, the or each inlet is at or near the bottom of the receptacle and the or each outlet is at or near the top of the receptacle. Preferably, also, the receptacle has at or near its lowermost part at least one drainage port with an associated valve for drainage of excess impregnant from the receptacle.

The re-usable means for sealing the opening in the receptacle may take any convenient form but it preferably comprises at least one air-tight sliding clasp fastening device.

Where a plurality of bodies, e.g. elongate members of timber, to be impregnated are arranged in the form of a stack, preferably the flexible receptacle is of a pre-formed shape to accommodate the stack. For example, it may be in the form of a flexible container of substantially rectangular shape.

The receptacle may be formed wholly or in part of a transparent material so that progress of the impregnation process can be observed. Receptacles made from flexible transparent polyethylene sheet are especially suitable; other suitable flexible materials include butyl rubber sheet. In all cases the receptacle may be strengthened by a detachable internal or external layer of netting or mesh of suitable flexible reinforcing material.

The invention will be further illustrated by a description, by way of example, of preferred receptacles for use in impregnating with an impregnant in a liquid state a stack of timber elongate members, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, are perspective views of four forms of flexible receptacles.

The flexible receptacle 1 shown in Figure 1 is in the form of a preformed container of rectangular shape which is made of butyl rubber and which has an opening 2, closable by an air-tight sliding clasp fastening device 3, for introduction of a stack of timber. As will be seen, the fastening device extends lengthwise across the top of the receptacle and partly down each end wall.

Loading and unloading of the receptacle is effected from above and a crane and/or a fork-lift truck can be used for this purpose.

The receptacle 1 has, near its base three inlets 4, each with an associated non-return valve 5, and a drainage port 8 with an associated valve 9. In an upper part of the receptacle 1 is an outlet 6 with an associated non-return valve 7.

The flexible receptacles shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 differ from that shown in Figure 1 in the position of the opening and sliding clasp fastening device and, in each case, features are given references differing by ten from the references to similar features in a preceding case. Thus, the receptacle 11 shown in Figure 2 has an opening 12, closable by an air-tight sliding clasp fastening device 13, which extends down one end wall of the receptacle and partly along the top and base of the receptacle. Loading and unloading of the receptacle 11 is effected laterally using a conveyor or a fork-lift truck or manually.

In the flexible receptacle 21 shown in Figure 3, the opening 22 extends around the upper part of one side wall and two end walls of the receptacle so that the top of the receptacle is in the form of a "lid" which is effectively "hinged" to the receptacle along the other side wall. The opening 22 can be closed by two air-tight sliding clasp fastening devices 23. The receptacle 21 is suitable for loading and unloading from above.

A flexible receptacle 31 suitable for lateral loading and unloading is shown in Figure 4. In the receptacle 31, the opening 32 extends across the top and bottom and one side wall of the receptacle near one end wall so that a "door" is formed which is effectively hinged to the receptacle down the other side wall. The opening 32 can be closed by two air-tight sliding clasp fastening devices 33.

The flexible receptacles shown in Figures 1 to 4 are especially, but not exclusively, suitable for use in the method of and apparatus for impregnating with an impregnant in a liquid or semi-liquid state a body or bodies made wholly or in part of organic fluid-permeable material as described and claimed in the Complete Specification of our aforesaid co-pending cognate patent applications.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. For use in the impregnation with an impregnant in a liquid or semi-liquid state of a body or bodies made wholly or in part of organic fluid-permeable material, a receptacle made of flexible fluid-impermeable material and having an opening for introduction into the receptacle of said body or bodies, re-usable means for sealing said opening to form a substantially fluid-tight flexible enclosure, at least one outlet with an associated valve through which air and any other fluid can be evacuated from the receptacle, and, separate from the outlet or outlets, at least one inlet with an associated valve through which impregnant in a liquid or semi-liquid state can be introduced into the receptacle.

2. A flexible receptacle as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the valves associated with the inlets and outlets are non-return valves.

3. A flexible receptacle as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the inlets and outlets are so positioned in the receptacle that, when the receptacle is in use, the or each inlet is at or near the bottom of the receptacle and the or each outlet is at or near the top of the receptacle.

4. A flexible receptacle as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein, when in use, the receptacle has at or near its lowermost part at least one drainage port with an associated valve.

5. A flexible receptacle as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the re-usable means for sealing the opening in the receptacle comprises at least one air-tight sliding clasp fastening device.

6. A flexible receptacle as claimed in any one of the preecding Claims, wherein the receptacle is in the form of a preformed container of substantially rectangular shape.

7. A flexible receptacle as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the opening is in a side or end wall of the receptacle.

8. A flexible receptacle as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the receptacle has a detachable internal or external layer of mesh or netting of flexible reinforcing material.

9. A flexible receptacle as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the flexible fluid-impermeable material of the receptacle is transparent.

10. For use in the impregnation with an impregnant in a liquid or semi-liquid state of a body or bodies made wholly or in

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. by a description, by way of example, of preferred receptacles for use in impregnating with an impregnant in a liquid state a stack of timber elongate members, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, are perspective views of four forms of flexible receptacles. The flexible receptacle 1 shown in Figure 1 is in the form of a preformed container of rectangular shape which is made of butyl rubber and which has an opening 2, closable by an air-tight sliding clasp fastening device 3, for introduction of a stack of timber. As will be seen, the fastening device extends lengthwise across the top of the receptacle and partly down each end wall. Loading and unloading of the receptacle is effected from above and a crane and/or a fork-lift truck can be used for this purpose. The receptacle 1 has, near its base three inlets 4, each with an associated non-return valve 5, and a drainage port 8 with an associated valve 9. In an upper part of the receptacle 1 is an outlet 6 with an associated non-return valve 7. The flexible receptacles shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 differ from that shown in Figure 1 in the position of the opening and sliding clasp fastening device and, in each case, features are given references differing by ten from the references to similar features in a preceding case. Thus, the receptacle 11 shown in Figure 2 has an opening 12, closable by an air-tight sliding clasp fastening device 13, which extends down one end wall of the receptacle and partly along the top and base of the receptacle. Loading and unloading of the receptacle 11 is effected laterally using a conveyor or a fork-lift truck or manually. In the flexible receptacle 21 shown in Figure 3, the opening 22 extends around the upper part of one side wall and two end walls of the receptacle so that the top of the receptacle is in the form of a "lid" which is effectively "hinged" to the receptacle along the other side wall. The opening 22 can be closed by two air-tight sliding clasp fastening devices 23. The receptacle 21 is suitable for loading and unloading from above. A flexible receptacle 31 suitable for lateral loading and unloading is shown in Figure 4. In the receptacle 31, the opening 32 extends across the top and bottom and one side wall of the receptacle near one end wall so that a "door" is formed which is effectively hinged to the receptacle down the other side wall. The opening 32 can be closed by two air-tight sliding clasp fastening devices 33. The flexible receptacles shown in Figures 1 to 4 are especially, but not exclusively, suitable for use in the method of and apparatus for impregnating with an impregnant in a liquid or semi-liquid state a body or bodies made wholly or in part of organic fluid-permeable material as described and claimed in the Complete Specification of our aforesaid co-pending cognate patent applications. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. For use in the impregnation with an impregnant in a liquid or semi-liquid state of a body or bodies made wholly or in part of organic fluid-permeable material, a receptacle made of flexible fluid-impermeable material and having an opening for introduction into the receptacle of said body or bodies, re-usable means for sealing said opening to form a substantially fluid-tight flexible enclosure, at least one outlet with an associated valve through which air and any other fluid can be evacuated from the receptacle, and, separate from the outlet or outlets, at least one inlet with an associated valve through which impregnant in a liquid or semi-liquid state can be introduced into the receptacle.

2. A flexible receptacle as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the valves associated with the inlets and outlets are non-return valves.

3. A flexible receptacle as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the inlets and outlets are so positioned in the receptacle that, when the receptacle is in use, the or each inlet is at or near the bottom of the receptacle and the or each outlet is at or near the top of the receptacle.

4. A flexible receptacle as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein, when in use, the receptacle has at or near its lowermost part at least one drainage port with an associated valve.

5. A flexible receptacle as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the re-usable means for sealing the opening in the receptacle comprises at least one air-tight sliding clasp fastening device.

6. A flexible receptacle as claimed in any one of the preecding Claims, wherein the receptacle is in the form of a preformed container of substantially rectangular shape.

7. A flexible receptacle as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the opening is in a side or end wall of the receptacle.

8. A flexible receptacle as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the receptacle has a detachable internal or external layer of mesh or netting of flexible reinforcing material.

9. A flexible receptacle as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the flexible fluid-impermeable material of the receptacle is transparent.

10. For use in the impregnation with an impregnant in a liquid or semi-liquid state of a body or bodies made wholly or in

part of organic fluid-permeable material, a receptacle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 or 4 of the accompanying drawings.