GB2372984A

GB2372984A - Transport container for fluids or particulate matter

Info

Publication number: GB2372984A
Application number: GB0120812A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brendan Mckenna
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-03-07
Filing date: 2001-08-28
Publication date: 2002-09-11
Anticipated expiration: 2021-08-28
Also published as: GB0120812D0; GB2372984B; GB0105649D0; GB2372982A; GB2372982B

Abstract

Apparatus for transporting fluids or particulate matter comprises<BR> ```a transport container (2);<BR> ```a flexible container (1) of the type comprising a base region, an upper region and a connecting region joining the base and upper regions; and<BR> ```a bulkhead assembly (3). The transport container (2) comprises a floor and walls, a door being provided in one of the walls to allow access to the interior, the flexible container (1) being located within the transport container with the base region of the flexible container supported on the floor, and the bulkhead assembly (3) being located between the flexible container (1) and the door. The flexible container (1) comprises an inlet/outlet valve assembly (5) located in proximity to the base region and the bulkhead assembly (3) comprises an aperture through which the inlet/outlet valve assembly (5) is accessed. The bulkhead assembly (3) comprises a backing panel to which transverse supports are attached.

Description

- 1 - APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE TRANSPORTATION OF EQUIPS

OR PARTICUI^TE OTTER

This invention relates to an apparatus for use in 5 the transportation of gases, liquids or particulate matter in transporters such as mobile containers, tankers, trailers, rigid van bodies or the like. The apparatus may equally be used as a free standing container for the transportation of liquid or 10 particulate matter. In particular, but not exclusively, the apparatus may be used for the transportation of gases, liquids or particulate matter in ISO containers.

It is known to transport liquids and particulate 15 matter in containers such as ISO containers using a flexible container commonly referred to as a flexible tank or 'flexitank'. Typically a flexitank comprises an inner liner for containing the liquid or particulate matter to be transported, and in some 20 instances an outer liner. The inner liner is made of polyethylene or a similar material which is flexible and impermeable to the liquid or particulate to be transported. The inner liner may have a single-ply construction or, alternatively, a multi-ply 25 construction. The outer liner is made from a material such as polypropylene and is preferably woven to improve its tensile strength and tear resistance.

An inlet/outlet valve is provided in the inner liner which protrudes through the outer liner to allow 30 for filling and emptying of the liquid or particulate matter into or out of the inner liner. In known flexitanks the inlet/outlet valve is located on a topmost surface of the liner. When the flexitank is installed in an ISO container on a trailer the 35 inlet/outlet valve may be around 3 meters above ground level.

- 2 According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for transporting fluids or particulate matter comprising: 5 a transport container; a flexible container of the type comprising a base region, an upper region and a connecting region joining the base and upper regions; and a bulkhead assembly, 10 the transport container comprising a floor and walls defining an interior of the transport container, a door being provided in one of the walls to allow access to the interior, the flexible container being located within the transport container with the base 15 region of the flexible container being supported on the floor, and the bulkhead assembly being located between the flexible container and the door of the transport container, wherein the flexible container comprises an inlet/outlet valve assembly located in 20 proximity to the base region and the bulkhead assembly comprises an aperture through which the inlet/outlet valve assembly is accessed.

There is also provided a method of transporting fluids or particulate matter comprising the steps of: 25 placing a flexible container of the type comprising a base region, an upper region and a connecting region joining the base and upper regions on a floor of a transport container; inserting a bulkhead assembly between the 30 flexible container and a door of the transport container; filling the flexible container with fluid or particulate matter by accessing an inlet/outlet valve assembly of the flexible container through an aperture 35 in the bulkhead assembly; and transporting the transport container.

An embodiment of the present invention will now

- 3 - be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional schematic view of 5 an apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic end view of the apparatus of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a schematic view of an elbow assembly of the apparatus of Figure 1.

The apparatus of the present invention, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, comprises a flexible container 1, commonly know as a 'flexitank' having an inner liner and in some instances an outer liner. For the sake of 15 clarity the inner and outer liners have not been shown separately. The flexitank may be of any desired shape but is commonly shaped to have a generally elongated parallelepiped shape with a domed upper surface 11 so 20 as to fit in a standard ISO container 2, as shown in Figure 1. For example, the flexitank may have a generally rectangular base surface or region and four generally rectangular wall surfaces or regions connecting between the base surface and the domed 25 upper surface 11. The upper surface 11 need not be domed. The upper surface, wall surfaces and base surface may be separate pieces which are joined together by fluid-tight seams or may alternatively be formed from fewer pieces by, for example forming the 30 base surface and wall surfaces as one piece.

The maximum volume of the flexitank 1 may be varied depending on the maximum volume of liquid or particulate matter that is likely to be required to be transported. The maximum volume of the flexitank 1 35 typically ranges from 5000 litres to 30,000 Tithes.

A bulkhead assembly 3 is inserted in the ISO container 2 between the flexitank 1 and the ISO

container doors. The bulkhead assembly 3 comprises a generally planar backing panel 12 to which is attached a number of transverse supports 13 to serve as strengthening members. The bulkhead assembly 3 may be 5 of a conventional timber construction or alternatively be of a substantially plastic construction. Where the bulkhead assembly is of plastic construction the assembly comprises a backing panel formed as a single piece of corrugated plastic or alternatively 10 constructed from a number of smaller sheets to form the overall backing panel.

The transverse supports 13 constructed of timber, steel, pultruded plastic section or similar material are coupled to the backing panel to provide the 15 necessary structural strength. The transverse supports are attached to the backing panel by means of plastic cable ties which are looped around the transverse supports and passed through apertures in the backing panel and then tied off.

20 According to the present invention, an inlet/outlet valve assembly 5 is provided in the flexitank 1 which, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, is located in a lower region of one of the generally vertical wall surfaces of the flexitank 1. Preferably 25 the inlet/outlet valve assembly 5 is located in the lower half or lower third of the wall surface.

As shown in Figure 3, the discharge/fill assembly 5 comprises a threaded receptacle disk 9 which is welded, or otherwise fixed, in an aperture formed in 30 the liners of the flexitank 1. A correspondingly threaded elbow pipe 4 is screwed onto the thread of the receptacle disk 9. A distal end of the elbow pipe is closed off by a footplate 8. A series of apertures 14 in the wall of the elbow pipe above the footplate 8 35 allows the gas, liquid or particulate matter to pass between the elbow pipe 4 and flexitank 1. Preferably, a frusto-conical plastic hood or cowl 20 is positioned

- 5 on the elbow pipe 4 immediately above but spaced from the footplate 8 to help prevent congestion of the inlet suction area around apertures 14 by the inner liner or other parts of the flexitank material.

5 Finally, a valve assembly 15 is then screwed into the elbow pipe 4 to complete the discharge/fill assembly 5.

An aperture 16 is provided in the bulkhead assembly 3 at the height of the discharge/fill 10 assembly 5 to allow access to the valve assembly 15 of the discharge/fill assembly 5 with the bulkhead assembly 3 in place. Preferably the aperture 16 is located in the lower half or lower third of the bulkhead assembly 3. As shown in Figure 2 the 15 position of the aperture 16 and the valve assembly 15 is easily within reach of an operative standing on the ground even when the ISO container 2 is on a trailer.

In use the flexitank 1 is positioned in the ISO container 2 and the bulkhead assembly 3 is installed.

20 The flexitank 1 is then filled with gas, liquid or particulate matter through the discharge/fill assembly 5 which is accessed through the aperture in the bulkhead assembly 3. In order to empty the flexitank 1 the discharge/fill assembly 3 is again utilised in 25 order to pump out the flexitank contents. The footplate 8 of the elbow pipe 4 prevents the flexible liners of the flexitank 1 being sucked into the elbow pipe 4 and thereby blocking the discharge process.

Preferably, when filling or emptying the 30 flexitank 1, one of the doors of the ISO container 2 is kept closed to provide additional support to the bulkhead assembly 3. In this way a lighter, cheaper bulkhead my be used. As shown in Figure 2 the aperture 16 in the bulkhead assembly 3 is off-set to 35 allow ready access when one of the ISO container doors is closed.

Advantageously, the positioning of the

- 5 flll/discharge assembly 5 near the bottom of the flexitank 1 provides greatly improved access for the filling and emptying operations. An operative need no longer climb onto the trailer and/or bulkhead assembly 5 3 in order to access the valve assembly 15. In addition, the positioning of the fill/discharge assembly S near the bottom of the flexitank 1 and the position of the apertures 14 of the elbow pipe 4 mean that the net positive suction head experienced during 10 discharge is significantly reduced on emptying of the flexitank 1. This makes the pumping out of the flexitank 1 more efficient and thereby enhances the overall attractiveness of using a flexitank.

Optionally, an additional fill/discharge valve 15 assembly 6 may be provided in the conventional position on the domed surface 11 of the flexitank 1.

The flexitank may ne used with transport containers other than ISO containers, for example, rail transporters.

20 Optionally, the apparatus may be used as a free standing container for transporting liquid or particulate matter.

The flexitank 1 may be provided with a pressure release valve (not shown) coupled to a manual drain 25 tap by means of piping. The pressure release valve acts to prevent a dangerous pressure build-up within the flexitank 1, depending on the nature of the contents transported.

Claims

- 7 CLAIMS:

1. Apparatus for transporting fluids or particulate matter comprising: 5 a transport container; a flexible container of the type comprising a base region, an upper region and a connecting region joining the base and upper regions; and a bulkhead assembly, 10 the transport container comprising a floor and walls defining an interior of the transport container, a door being provided in one of the walls to allow access to the interior, the flexible container being located within the transport container with the base 15 region of the flexible container being supported on the floor, and the bulkhead assembly being located between the flexible container and the door of the transport container, wherein the flexible container comprises an inlet/outlet valve assembly located in 20 proximity to the base region and the bulkhead assembly comprises an aperture through which the inlet/outlet valve assembly is accessed.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the 25 aperture in the bulkhead assembly is in the lower half of the assembly 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the aperture in the bulkhead assembly is in the lower 30 third of the assembly.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the inlet/outlet valve assembly is located in the connecting region of the flexible container.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the inlet/outlet valve assembly is located in the lower

half of the connecting region.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the inlet/outlet valve assembly is located in the lower 5 third of the connecting region.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the connecting region is joined to the base region and upper region by means of seams.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the connecting region is formed unitarily with the base region and/or upper region.

15 9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the inlet/outlet valve assembly comprises a receptacle disk welded into an aperture in the flexible container.

20 lO. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the inlet/outlet valve assembly further comprises an inlet/outlet valve connected to the receptacle disk.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim 25 wherein the inlet/outlet valve assembly comprises an internal tubular extension defining an intake aperture. 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the 30 internal tubular extension comprises a footplate at its distal end.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the internal tubular extension comprises an 35 elbow such that the intake aperture is located in close proximity the base surface of the flexible container.

- 9 - 14. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the transport container is an ISO container.

15. A method of transporting fluids or particulate 5 matter comprising the steps of: placing a flexible container of the type comprising a base region, an upper region and a connecting region joining the base and upper regions on a floor of a transport container; 10 inserting a bulkhead assembly between the flexible container and a door of the transport container; filling the flexible container with fluid or particulate matter by accessing an inlet/outlet valve 15 assembly of the flexible container through an aperture in the bulkhead assembly; and transporting the transport container.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 comprising the 20 further steps of mounting the transport container on a vehicle prior to filling the flexible container, and an operator standing on the ground operating the inlet/outlet valve assembly though the aperture in the bulkhead assembly which is located in the lower half 25 of the bulkhead assembly.

17. A flexible container for use in the apparatus of claims 1 to 14.

30 18. A flexible container as claimed in claim 17 comprising a base surface, an upper surface and a connecting surface joining the base and upper surfaces. 35 19. A flexible container as claimed in claim 17 or 18 further comprising an inlet/outlet valve assembly located in the connecting surface of the flexible

container. 20. A flexible container as claimed in claim 19 wherein the inlet/outlet valve assembly is located in 5 the lower half of the connecting surface.

21. A flexible container as claimed in claim 19 wherein the inlet/outlet valve assembly is located in the lower third of the connecting surface.

22. A flexible container as claimed in any of claims 17 to 21 wherein the connecting surface is joined to the base surface and upper surface by means of seams.

15 23. A flexible container as claimed in any of claims 17 to 21 wherein the connecting surface is formed unitarily with the base surface and/or upper surface.

24. A flexible container as claimed in any of claims 20 18 to 23 wherein the inlet/outlet valve assembly comprises a receptacle disk welded into an aperture in the flexible container.

25. A flexible container as claimed in claim 24 25 wherein the inlet/outlet valve assembly further comprises an inlet/outlet valve connected to the receptacle disk.

26. A flexible container as claimed in any of claims 30 18 to 25 wherein the inlet/outlet valve assembly comprises an internal tubular extension defining an intake aperture.

27. A flexible container as claimed in claim 26 35 wherein the internal tubular extension comprises a footplate at its distal end.

28. A flexible container as claimed in claim 26 or claim 27 wherein the internal tubular extension comprises an elbow such that the intake aperture is located in close proximity the base surface of the 5 flexible container.

29. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. 30. A flexible container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.