GB2260972A - Fluid transfer valve - Google Patents

Abstract

A valve 10 is connected, eg by screwing, to a liquid container for use in assisting the transfer of liquid by gravity from that container via a mouth piece 22 to a receptacle. The valve 10 comprises a hollow body 15 through which is a flow passage and within which a ball 19 is spring loaded towards a valve seat 18. The body 15 and mouth piece 22 are complimentary and arranged to be sealed by means 25. A pin 27 provided on the mouth piece 22 is arranged to raise the ball 19 from its seat 18 when the valve 10 is introduced into the mouth piece 22 to allow flow of liquid from the container to the receptacle. A flow passage may be provided between the outlet of the valve body and a space above liquid in the container (29-31, fig 3). Flow from the valve may be prevented once the liquid level in the receptacle rises to the valve outlet. The valve may comprise a flap valve rather than a ball. The body 15 may include guides for the bail (21, fig 1). <IMAGE>

Description

Valve This invention relates to a valve suitable for use with a liquid container, such as a drum, for assisting in the transfer of the contents of the container, under gravity, into a receptacle such as a tank, liquid using apparatus, or pipeline.

Many pieces of apparatus need lubrication and to this end they have tanks into which lubricant must periodically be introduced.

In the case of very large installations pumping from tankers is possible. In most installations, however, the transportation of lubricant is by way of drums and it is necessary that the content of the drums is poured into the tank or other receptacle. This is a process which can often result in leakage and spillage.

Of course, the invention covers not only supply of lubricant but any supply of container borne liquid into any receptacle.

It is an object of the invention to provide a valve whereby the process of transfer of the contents of a container to a receptacle is facilitated.

The invention provides a valve adapted to be secured to a container and having a body through which is a flow passage, the valve member within the body being urged towards a closed position and the valve preventing flow out of the container until the valve member is displaced.

The valve member can be a ball and can be urged by a spring against a valve seat provided by the body.

The valve is conveniently used in combination with a mouthpiece on a receptacle, the mouthpiece being structurally adapted to the received body of the valve and providing means to displace the valve member from its seat to allow flow of liquid into the receptacle.

The valve body can have guides for the valve member.

The means for displacing the valve member from its seat can comprise a pin upstanding from the mouthpiece.

Means can be provided which when in use, create a flow passage from an outlet of the valve body to a space above liquid in an inverted container to facilitate removal of fluid from the container.

The invention also provides a method of transferring a fluid from a liquid container to a receptacle including the steps of sealingly connecting a valve as aforesaid to a container, providing the receptacle with a mouthpiece adapted to receive-the valve and having means for displacing the valve member from its seat, inverting the container with the valve attached, the valve member preventing flow from the container, and lowering the combination of the container and the valve to engage the mouthpiece, said means on the mouthpiece moving the valve member from the valve seat to allow liquid to flow from the container into the receptacle.

The method can include the further step of raising the combination of the container and valve from the mouthpiece before the container is empty so as to avoid transferring the final contents of the container into the receptacle, said valve preventing leakage during this process.

It is further desirable if the arrangement is such that if and when liquid level in the receptacle rises to the outlet of the valve, flow from the valve into the receptacle is prevented. With this variation the container can either be left in position as a reservoir for the receptacle or can be removed until the reservoir needs replenishment once again.

In the case where a plurality of reservoirs needs to be replenished with a relatively small amount of lubricant a drum can be transported between the various reservoirs in its inverted condition without the need for constant inversion therefore, and without the use of funnels and comparable devices.

The invention will be described further, by way of example,with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein; Figure 1 is a schematic cross sectional view of a preferred valve of the invention, shown in an inverted, use, condition; Figure 2 is a cross sectional view showing the valve in use; and Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 but showing a variation.

Referring now to the drawings it will be seen that a preferred embodiment of the valve (10) of the invention is suitable for use with a drum (11) (only shown in part) which has an upper surface (12) which has an internally screwed spigot (13). The valve (10) is usually connected to the drum (11) whilst the drum (11) is in its upright condition, that is to say when the spigot (13) is above the surface (12). Sealing between the spigot (13) and the valve (10) is effected by a sealing ring (14).

The valve (10) has a hollow body (15) whose inner end (16) is threaded so as to be capable of connecting to the spigot (13) and whose outer end provides an annular outlet (17). A flow passage exists between the portion (16) and the outlet (17). Adjacent the outlet (17) the flow passage is surrounded by a valve seat (18) which is part spherical and which co-operates with a rubber (or other material) valve member (19) which is held into engagement with the seat (18) by a compression spring (20).

In the embodiment shown the valve (19) is guided within the body (15) by guide rods (21). These can, however, be omitted if necessary. The valve (10) is particularly suitable for use with a receptacle which is provided with a mouthpiece (22) (see figure 2). A mouthpiece (22) can be fitted directly to the top wall of the receptacle (not shown) or can be connectable to pipe work (23) either leading to the receptacle or leading directly to apparatus utilising the content of the container.

The mouthpiece (22) includes an upwardly directed socket (24) which is adapted to receive the valve body (15) and which mounts sealing rings (25) between the body (15) and socket (24).

Upstanding from a base (26) of the mouthpiece (22) is a column (27) which, in the use position illustrated in Figure 2 acts as means to raise the ball (19) from the seat (18) to allow flow of liquid from the receptacle into pipe work (23) or into the container when attached to an upper point therein.

It will be appreciated that provided that the pipework (23) or the associated receptacle sealed to atmosphere, once the level of liquid reaches the level (28) it contacts the annular outlet (17) and prevents flow of balancing air into the drum (11). This effectively prevents further flow from the drum (11). At this stage the drum (11) and its valve (10) can be removed, or the drum (11) and valve (10) can be left in position to serve as a reservoir for the receptacle. If necessary, a cradle or the like can be used to support the inverted combination involved in position adjacent the equipment with which it is being used.

Figure 3 illustrates a variation which is particularly useful when viscous liquids are being dealt with. The valve (10) is conventional except that one or a plurality of flow tubes (19) extend from the annular outlet (7) to a manifold (30) which in turn connects to a dip tube (31). The length of the dip tube (31) is chosen so that when the valve (10) is attached to the container (11) (in a condition rotated through 1800 degrees from the condition shown in Figure 3) the tube (31) reaches almost to the bottom of the drum (11). Of course, when in use in the configuration of the Figure 3 the dip tube (31) will reach to the "top" of the drum (11), that is to say the portion thereof above the level of liquid within the drum (11).

During flow of liquid from outlet (17), volumne-compensating gas (usually air) can pass up the tubes (29) and into the dip tube (31) via the manifold (34). This compensating gas prevents the generation up of a low pressure within the drum (11) and allows easier flow of liquid from the drum (11). It will be appreciated, of course, that when the liquid level rises to the level of the outlet (17) the inlet to the tubes (29) will simultaneously be blocked and the flow again ceases as in the case of the earlier embodiment. The hollow tubes (29) can, of course, serve the same guiding functions as did the guide rods (21).

It might be thought that the dip tube (31) and the tubes (29) could form a passageway for flow of liquid out of the valve when the combination inserted prior to engagement with the mouthpiece.

However, as this arrangement is only necessary in relation to fairly viscous liquids, the sizes of the dip tube (31) and tube (29) can be chosen such that any flow out of the drum (11) along dip tube (31) is too slow to allow such liquid to reach the lower end of the tube (29) in the short time the combination is inverted.

The invention is not, of course, limited to the precise details of the foregoing and variations can be made thereto.

For example, the valve body (15) will normally be cylindrical but it can be of any convenient shape.

The valve can be used in combination with any type of container.

If desired the valve can be incorporated in the container during manufacture.

Any other different sort of valve member other than a ball could be provided. For example a flap valve or the like could be used.

Instead of being in direct contact between the upstanding column (27) and the valve member (19) the valve can incorporate a mechanism whereby contact between a part of the mechanism and part of the mouthpiece causing the valve to open.

Many other variations are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims (13)

Claims

1. A valve adapted to be secured to a container and having a body through which is a flow passage, the valve member within the body being urged towards a closed position and the valve preventing flow out of the container until the valve member is displaced.

2. A valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve member is a ball urged by a spring against a valve seat provided by the body.

3. A valve as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in combination with a mouthpiece on a receptacle, the mouthpiece being structurally adapted to the received body of the valve and providing means to displace the valve member from its seat to allow flow of liquid into the receptacle.

4. A combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein the valve body has guides for the valve member.

5. A combination as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the means for displacing the valve member from its seat comprises a pin upstanding from the mouthpiece.

6. A combination as claimed in claim 3, 4 or 5 wherein means is provided which, in use, create a flow passage from an outlet of the valve body to a space above liquid in an inverted container to facilitate removal of liquid from the container.

7. A combination as claimed in claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein the arrangement is such that if and when liquid level in the receptacle rises to the outlet of the valve, flow from the valve into the receptacle is prevented enabling the container to either be left in position as a reservoir for the receptacle or to be removed until the reservoir needs replenishment once again.

8. A method of transferring a liquid from a liquid container to a receptacle including the steps of sealingly connecting a valve as aforesaid to a container, providing the receptacle with a mouthpiece adapted to receive the valve and having means for displacing the valve member from its seat, inverting the container with the valve attached, the valve member preventing flow from the container, and lowering the combination of the container and the valve to engage the mouthpiece, said means on the mouthpiece moving the valve member from the valve seat to allow liquid flow from the container into the receptacle.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, including the further step of raising the combination of the container and valve from the mouthpiece before the container is empty so as to avoid transferring the final contents of the container into the receptacle, said valve preventing leakage during this process.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein a plurality of reservoirs need to be replenished, each with a relatively small amount of lubricant, the method including transporting a drum provided with the valve between the various reservoirs in its inverted condition without the need for constant inversion thereof and without the use of funnels and comparable devices.

11. A valve substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A combination of a valve and a mouth piece on a receptacle substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

13. A method of transferring a liquid from a container to a receptacle substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.