US3590888A - Composite container and method of handling fluent materials - Google Patents

Abstract

A composite container is assembled by introducing a flexible bag, in collapsed condition, into a rigid shell through an opening therein and distending the bag for all-around support by the shell by injecting inflation gas through a multipassage conduit extending through the shell and bag openings; fluent material to be confined is thereafter admitted to the bag while simultaneously exhausting displaced gas through the same conduit means. The material can be discharged through the nozzle means by pumping or by forcing gas into the space between the shell and bag to collapse the bag; or a separate opening can be formed in the bottom of the bag. The two passages may end at the conduit means, and at least one communicates directly with an upper part of the bag to discharge displaced gas. The conduit means has a plate or bar to position the bottom of the bag within the shell.

Description

United States Patent 11113,590,888

[72] Inventor ClarenceB.Coleman 3,068,561 12/1962 Jones 220/63X 2401MercedSl.,SanLeandro,Calil. 2.987.216 6/1961 Fletcher 220/63x 94517 3.083.875 4/196 Welty m1... 222/95 21 4 1.816. 599.070 3.159.306 12/1964 Lyall 220/63 12 Filed -2. 3 FOREIGN PATENTS 1451 Pa'cmed 1 1,144,649 2/1963 Germany.... 220/63 66.802 3/1957 'France 222/95 154] COMPOSITE CONTAINER AND METHOD OF HANDLING FLUENT MATERIALS 15 Claims, 17 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 141/5, 141/48. 141/313. 220/63. 222/95 151] lnt.Cl B65b3/00, 865d 25/14. B67c 3/00 1501 FieldofSareh 141/4.5.

21,10, 37, 47. 48. 313.1. 2.59. 63. 69. 70,114. 314; ZZZ/3,95. 183; 53/27. 175; 220/63 Primary Examiner-Theron E. Condon Assistant Examiner-Neil Abrams Attorney-Rubin. Brucker & Chickering ABSTRACT: A composite container is assembled by in troducing a flexible bag, in collapsed condition, into a rigid shell through an opening therein and distending the bag for all-around support by the shell by injecting inflation gas through a multipassage conduit extending through the shell and bag openings; fluent material to be confined is thereafter admitted to the bag while simultaneously exhausting displaced gas through the same conduit means. The material can be discharged through the nozzle means by pumping or by forcing gas into the space between the shell and bag to collapse the bag; or a separate opening can be formed in the bottom of the bag. The two. passages may end at the conduit means, and at least one communicates directly with an upper part of the bag to discharge displaced gas. The conduit means has a plate or bar to position the bottom of the bag within the shell.

PATENTEU JUL 6 I971 SHEET 1 OF 5 IN VIL'NI'UK.

g LARENcE B. COLEMAN @mm, 6M1, g &

' ATTORNEYS PATENTED JUL 6l97l SHEET 2 UF 5 IN VliN '1 0R. i 7 CLARENCE B. COLEMAN ATTORNEYS BY 0AM PATENTEDJUL si n 7 3,590,888

mm, Emir/u, Wm 8an em ATTORNEYS COMPOSITE CONTAINER AND METHOD OF HANDLING FLUENT MATERIALS The invention relates to a composite container for and to a method of handling fluent material, such as liquids and pulverulent solids, for shipment or storage. More particularly, it is concerned with confining the material within an impervious bag of flexible material which bag is contained within a rigid container or shell in engagement with the inner surface thereof for structural support.

It is known to confine material within a flexible envelope which is inside of a rigid shell. Such composite containers are useful when it is desired to isolate the confined material from the ambient atmosphere regardless of whether the shell is im pervious, and are sometimes used when it is desired to obviate the need to clean the inside of a drum or bottle, as well as to provide a confining wall which is inert relatively to the confined material and/or has a variable volume to limit or avoid the presence of gas in contact with the material when the container is only partly filled, e.g. while emptying the container, or for allowing ullage for thermal changes in volume of the material.

A drawback of prior composite containers of this type was the danger of rupturing the flexible wall. If the wall is distended by the material to be confined, it sometimes presses excessively large parts of the flexible wall against the shell, e.g. as folds, especially at the lower portions where the weight of the material is most effective; this prevents all of the other parts of the wall from engaging smoothly the shell wall. The unsupported parts of the flexible wall are then prone to stretching and rupturing. This danger has made it impracticable to fill such composite containers rapidly from a condition in which the flexible bag is collapsed.

On the other hand, prior containers of this type in which the bag was dilated before the introduction of the fluent material were not well suited to preventing air or other ambient gas from coming into contact with the material within the bag. It is, however, frequently desirable to confine fluent material out of contact with air or other gas that can have a deleterious effect on the material. Further, prior arrangements for venting from the bag the gas which is displaced by the admitted material were not always suitable and often limited the rate at which the material could be introduced if entrainment of the material, especially when pulverulent, by the escaping gas was to be avoided.

Still another drawback of many prior constructions was the difficulty of installing the flexible bag within the shell with facility. This has heretofore been done by using an open-top shell and fitting the bag therein before closing the shell. lt is often desirable to confine the fluent material within a new bag which is clean and compatible with the stored material and/or may contain or be lined with a fresh coating of a treating agent, as for protecting the bag against the material or to dissolve in or to react with the material. The utility of such a composite container could be enhanced by arranging the bag for rapid introduction into the shell and providing means by which the bag can be easily installed within the shell without manipulation of the bag inside of the shell.

Finally, in prior composite container the arrangements for the introduction into the bag of a device for conditioning the material (conditioning" being herein used to include test ing), such as a heater, cooler, stirrer, injection tube, thermometer, or the like, were lacking or awkward to use. There is, however, frequent need to introduce such an instrument into the bag for agitating, circulating or treating the confined material or for controlling its temperature.

Now according to this invention, there is provided a composite container for fluent, nongaseous material which includes a rigid container or shell having at least one opening and a flexible bag which can be introduced through a shell opening in collapsed condition, which bag includes conduit means providing at least one passageway which is in direct communication with an upper part of the bag, for admitting inflation gas into the bag. It is preferable that the conduit means includes two passageways, one for inflating and charging the fluent material into the bag through, the other for simultaneously discharging the inflation gas from the bag. The rigid shell, which may be gastight or gas-pervious, provided with holes, has means such as the said holes or, when gastight, a valved opening or a coupling fitting, through which gas usually air-can escape from the space between the outside of the bag and the inside of the shell, and gas can enter the space when the bag is collapsed during efflux of the confined material. The material can be discharged from the bag through the same conduit means that was used to admit the materially; however, in some embodiments a separate, initially closed, discharge opening is provided or is later formed in the bag. It may be noted that the bag is flexible but preferably not significantly stretchable, e.g. made of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, or other polymeric material, and has a shape to fit against the inside of the shell for structural support thereby. The bag may be as large as or larger than the container, so that substantially all ofthe bag is supported.

The conduit means is sealed to the bag at an opening of the bag which may be situated as desired, e.g. at the top or near the bottom, and this sea] may be permanent or temporary, e.g. includes adhesives or a mechanical clamp. This conduit means may, in one embodiment, include as the first passageway a dip tube that communicates with a lower part of the bag interior and leads out of the shell at the top, and this dip tube can be vertically adjustable and receive pump means to empty the contents of the bag; it may also terminate near the shell wall, either at the top or at the bottom. The second passageway is arranged to communicate directly with an upper part of the bag interior and may, for example, take the form of a mere opening in a plug fitted to the shell wall, or a tube situated alongside of or concentrically with the dip tube and provided with one or more openings, or may be a riser tube when the opening in the shell is situated near the bottom. Usually the conduit means extends through the same opening in the shell wall asthat through which the collapsed bag is inserted, but a different opening may be used.

The conduit means optionally has an access opening for the introduction into the bag of a conditioning device, which opening can be fitted with a closure to adapt the container for shipment.

The method according to the invention includes the assembly of the composite container by introducing the bag, in collapsed condition and together with the conduit means, into the rigid shell through an opening in the shell, and admitting an inflation gas through a multipassage conduit means which extends into the bag and through a shell opening to dilate the bag and cause it to lie against the inner surfaces of the shell, while gas is exhausted from the space between the bag and the shell. Thereafter the fluent material is introduced through the one passage of the conduit means directly or after fall by gravity to the lower part of the bag while gas which is displaced by the material is discharged through another separate passageway from the upper part of the bag. When the desired amount of material has been charged the bag can be sealed, either at the conduit means or after removing the conduit means from the bag.

Because the inflation gas acts on all internal parts of the bag, all parts are rapidly brought into engagement with the shell and the danger of rupture by stretching the bag is obviated. This danger would exist if liquid were injected directly into a collapsed bag. Further, because the bag is fully distended before the fluent material is introduced, the material can also be charged at a high rate without danger of rupture. in all embodiments, the bag is structurally supported by the shell at least during introduction of the material and subsequent shipment or storage.

It may be noted that the term nongaseous fluent material includes materials that may have a vapor pressure sufficient to generate some gas and/or materials that at some temperatures are so viscous as to be essentially nonfluent.

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and illustrating certain preferred embodiments, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of one embodiment of the composite container;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan of the container;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view, on a reduced scale, showing the discharge of material from the container;

FIG. 4 is an elevation of an accessory tube for causing agitation;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevation view of piping for causing circulation of the material;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the bag and conduit means according to a second embodiment, taken on the broken line 6-6 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 7 is a plan of FIG. 6, the pump and agitator being omitted;

FIG. 8 is a vertical section of the bag constructed according to third embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic plan of the bag in collapsed condition and showing, in dotted lines, partial distension according to a fourth embodiment, the outline of the rigid shell appear- FIGS. 10 and 11 are elevations of the fourth embodiment, shown in charging and discharging positions, respectively;

FIG. 12 is a vertical section of a fifth embodiment, before distension of the bag and adjustment of the bag bottom;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary section of the lower part of FIG. 12 showing the container just before admission of inflation gas;

FIG. 14 is an elevation of the container of FIG. 12 after distension of the bag;

FIG. 15 is an elevation of a removable filling assembly for the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a vertical sectional view of a sixth embodiment, wherein the conduit means enters the shell at its bottom; and

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary elevation of the plug on an enlarged scale.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the composite container comprises a rigid shell 15, e.g. impervious to gas and formed of a cylindrical sheet metal sidewall and top and bottom heads 16 and 17, resting on aplatform 18. The head 16 has a central opening 19 theedge of which is shaped to receive aclosure plate 20 in sealed relation. The head 16 may have anupstanding collar 21 at the opening, the top of the collar being rounded to seal against abead 22 on the closure plate and to provide an anchor edge for holddown means, such as acontractable drum band 23. I

Welded to theplate 20 at an opening therein is avertical tube 24 the bottom of which carries a circular plate 25 and optionally having anannular plate 26 welded near the top. This tube has axially spaced openings 27 between these plates, at least one opening being situated at the bottom and at least one near the top. A flexible bag 28, having a top edge defining an opening, is sealed to thetube 24 just above theplate 26, eg by a clamping band 29. The top of thetube 24 is fitted to a junction or tee 30 carrying at the top aplate 31 having two openings: one of these is fitted with anipple 32 which is internally or externally threaded to receive a closure; the other carries adip tube 33 which extends almost to the bottom of thetube 24 and is in communication with the interior of the bag 28 at its bottom through the lowermost opening 27. The top of the dip tube carries avalve 34 to which a conduit can be coupled. The tee 30 further has a plate 35 through which it communicates with piping connected to a pressure-relief valve 36 and avalve 37 to which valve a conduit can be coupled. The bag 28 can be collapsed to lie within the confines of theplates 25 and 26 and these plates have diameters less than that of the opening 19, whereby all parts below theclosure plate 20 can be inserted through said opening. 1

Theplate 20 has openings to which are fitted, respectively, avalve 38 and a pressure-relief valve 39. These communicate with the space within the shell 15 and outside of the bag 28.

The composite container is assembled by inserting thetube 24, with the bag 28 collapsed and situated closely adjacently to the tube, through the opening 19 and securing theplate 20 to the head by theband 23. Thetubes 24 and 33 collectively constitute the conduit ineans, the latter providing the dip tube that communicates directly with the bottom of the bag interior and the former defining a passageway which communicates separately with the top of the bag interior. To distend the bag, thevalve 38 is opened, thenipple 32 andvalve 34 are closed, and thevalve 37 is connected to a source of inflation gas under superatmospheric pressure and opened, to admit a blast ofinflation gas. (Alternatively, thevalve 37 may be closed and the gas admitted through thevalve 34 or thenipple 32.) The inflation gas dilates the bag to the position shown, in engagement with the shell. Therelief valve 36 limits the inflation pressure and thereby is a safeguard for the shell. Most of the air which is initially present within the shell is exhausted by escape through theopen valve 38, which may then be shut to prevent reentry of air and sagging of the top of the bag to any 7 considerable distance from its position shown; however, such sagging is usually minimal and not always objectionable, and thevalve 38 may be left open.

The plate 25 maintains the bag bottom near thehead 17 and avoids the danger of damaging the bag bottom by the end of thetube 24 during insertion and while in position. It is also useful during discharge. Further, theplate 26 aids in causing the top of the bag to unfold readily and assume the radial position shown. 1

Thevalve 34 is coupled to a source of the fluent material to be confined and thevalve 37 is opened to the ambient atmosphere or, when the inflation gas is to be collected, to a suitable receiver. The fluent material is then forced into the distended bag through thedip tube 33, e.g. at atmospheric or superatmospheric pressure, and the inflation gas is displaced upwardly with little or no mixing with the material. This displaced gas is exhausted by flow through the openings 27, thetube 24 and thevalve 37. When filling is completed thevalves 34 and 37 are shut and disconnected from the material source and reservoir, and the container is ready for storage or Shipment.

It may be noted that when it is desired to avoid contact of the fluent material with air, the collapsed bag may initially contain a gas that is inert or not deleterious to the material, either the same as or compatible with the inflation gas, thevalves 34 and 37 and thenipple 32 being initially closed. Similarly, such a gas may be used as the inflation gas. Examples are nitrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, ammonia, methane, air, etc., depending upon the nature of the fluent material. A small amount of the inflation gas usually remains within the bag after it is charged with the fluent material. During shipment of storage, thermal expansion of the contents of the bag and shell may result in small movements in the top of the bag, changing the volume of the air space above it.

The material is discharged from the bag according to any of several techniques. In one, illustrated in FIG. 3, a gas such as air is admitted under superatmospheric pressure through thevalve 38 which is coupled to a source of gas. Thevalve 37 andnipple 32 being shut, thevalve 34 is coupled to a receiver and opened. The gas entering the shell under pressure collapses the bag and forces the fluent material to flow out through thetube 33. Therelief valve 39 protects the shell against excessive pressure from gas admitted through thevalve 38. This technique is especially suitable when the material is liquid.

According to another technique, thevalve 38 is opened to admit atmospheric air and the receiver which is connected to thevalve 34 is evacuated (or a suction pump is applied to the valve 34) to draw out the material through thedip tube 33.

When the material is solid, the shell and bag of the present invention are also advantageously employed provided it is free flowing or flutfy. When it is not free flowing aeration or fluidization of the material can often be used to achieve this characteristic. For example, aerating gas may be advantageously admitted to the bottom of the contents of the bag and shell by using theaccessory tube 40 shown in FIG. 4, which is secured within thetube 24 by threading the external lug 41 to the interior of thenipple 32 so as to position the angularly directed,open discharge end 42 opposite one of the bottom openings 27. The aerating gas is supplied through a conduit, not shown, coupled to the threaded coupling 43. The aerating gas is discharged together with the material.

Because the plate 25 maintains the central part of the bag depressed and away from the intake to thetube 33, substantially all of the material can enter the lowermost hole 27 and flow upwards through thetube 33. Only the amount in the shallow space between the top of the plate 25 and the bottom of thetube 33 is not exhausted.

It is evident that the-dip tube 33 can serve as a gauge by making it vertically adjustable within theplate 31 and, if desired, mounting the pump at the bottom of the dip tube. The user can then draw out material until its level within the bag is just below the bottom of thetube 33. I

During storage or shipment the cap closing thenipple 32 can be removed and a conditioning device, such as a stirrer, heater or cooler, inserted into thetube 24. Because of the holes 27, a part of the material will flll this tube. For example, a propeller causing vertical movement through thetube 24 will cause circulation through the part of the bag outside of the tube. Similarly, a heater or cooler will cause thermal circulation.

Circulation of the material or treatment can also be effected by bubbling a gas through it. For this purpose, thetube 40 of FIG. 4 is connected to inject a gas into the part of the bag out side of thetube 24. The injected gas escapes through thevalve 37, which may be opened slightly and connected to a receiver, or, when the gas is air and/or used in small amounts, through therelief valve 36.

External circulation of the confined material can also be effected by drawing out material through thetube 33, and pumping it back through thevalve 37, if desired after treating it to alter its temperature. An exemplary device for this is shown in FIG. 5, which shows acoupler 44 adapted to be connected to thevalve 34, apump 45 and a eoupler.46 adapted to be connected to thevalve 37. Atreater 47 can be connected in this circuit, e.g. a device through which a coolant or heating fluid is passed via aline 48.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, wherein the shell is omitted and only the parts attached to the closure plate are shown, the device includes aclosure plate 120 having abead 122 for sealing engagement to the top head of a shell as previously described for the shell 15. The plate has a circular opening to which is welded in sealed relation acup member 150 to the outside of which theflexible bag 128 is sealed by aclamping band 129. The base of the cup member carries in sealed relation thereto: asleeve 133a to which is threaded atube 133 extending to the bag bottom and having alateral opening 133b at the bottom; a sleeve 124a to which is threaded atube 124 extending to the bag bottom and havingopenings 127 at different levels; acoupling nipple 135; and, optionally, avent nipple 136. Thetubes 124 and 133 have flat plates at their lower ends for smooth engagement with the bag. Theplate 120 further has avent nipple 138. Thenipples 135, 136 and 138 are threaded to receive closures.

Coupled to thesleeve 133a is apipe 151 which is connected to apump 152 having asecond pipe 153. Usually the pump is driven to discharge liquid from bag interior, and then thepipes 151 and 153 are suction and discharge pipes, respectively. However, a reversible pump may be used, or one having a flow in the opposite direction may be substituted. A treating device of any type can be inserted into thetube 124. Illustrative is a handoperated agitator which comprises a plunger I54 fitting closely the inside of the tube and situated between theopenings 127, which is connected by arod 155 to ahandle 156 By moving the plunger up and down the material is caused to flow through theholes 127 and circulation of the material within the bag is effected.

According to different uses, thenipple 138 may be left open to the atmosphere or be connected to a valve and a pressurerelief valve, as described for thevalves 38 and 39. However, thenipple 138 can also be shut with a cap during shipment and storage.

The embodiment being described is adapted for storage and shipment with the pump and, usually, the agitator removed, these being used only during charging or emptying or at the site of use to condition the material. To assemble the container, the conduit means, comprising thecup member 150 and parts carried thereby, with thebag 128 collapsed about the tubes, is inserted into a shell and the plate is sealed' effected by gravity flow or by a pump. The upper ends of the sleeves and nipples in the cup are then closed. Preferably a pressure-relief valve is connected to thenipple 136. The container is now ready for storage or shipment.

Any treating device, such as theplunger 154, can be connected as desired. Further, circulation can be effected as described for the first embodiment in connection with FIG. 5 by connecting thedischarge pipe 153 to thenipple 135, or thepipe 40 of FIG. 4 can be inserted into thetube 124 to inject a gas, which is vented through thenipple 135.

The container can be discharged as described previously, using any of the techniques, e.g. applying air under pressure to thenipple 138 and discharging through thetube 133, and/or using thepump 152 to draw off the material.

FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment wherein the conduit means is apluglike structure 220 adapted to bethreaded into an opening in the shell head. The plug has at least a pair ofbores 224 and 233a, the latter being larger and having threaded therein the upper end of adip tube 233. This tube carries an enlarged flat,circular plate 225 at its bottom end and has alateral hole 233b at the bottom. Both bores can be closed by threadedcaps 257 and 258. Theflexible bag 228 is sealed about the lower end of theplug 220 by a sealingband 229, which has an external diameter smaller than the external threads 220a, so that the bag, collapsed against thetube 233, can be inserted into an internally threaded opening in the upper head of a shell, e.g. constructed as is shown in FIGS. 1 or 6 except for the threaded opening. However, this embodiment is especially designed for use in the embodiment of FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, and will be described in greater detail hereinafter. It may be noted however, that the bag of FIG. 8 can be inflated through either bore, preferably thebore 224, and filled and emptied through thetube 233 and bore 233a, using any of the previously described techniques. Displaced inflation gas is exhausted through thebore 224. A treating device can be introduced through thebore 224 for immersion in the fluent material.

Referring to FIGS. 9 through 11, the composite container includes acylindrical shell 215 having upper andlower heads 216 and 217, the former having an internally threaded opening situated adjacently one side for receiving theplug 220. This head further has an internally threaded vent opening, normally closed by aplug 238, advantageously situated diametrically opposite the hole for theplug 220, although this is not an absolute requirement.

To assemble the container, thebag 228 is initially folded as shown in solid lines in FIG. 9, to lie adjacently about and prin cipally to one side of thetube 233, and then inserted into the shell, theplug 220 being then tightened. Theplug 238 being removed to vent the shell, a blast of pressurized inflation gas is admitted through thebore 224. The bag is thereby dilated, passing first through the form shown in dotted lines and eventually assuming the shape of theshell 215. Theplug 238 may then be replaced (or a pressure-relief valve mounted in its place). (The folding shown in FIG. 9 may be used also for the prior embodiments, but in the first embodiment it is preferred to have the collapsed bag lie symmetrically about thetube 24.)

The container is charged while in the upright position shown in FIG. 10 by attaching the bore 233a to a source of the fluent material and thebore 224 to the atmosphere or to a receiver for the displaced inflation gas. The container is filled by gravity flow or under pressure. Theplugs 257 and 258 are then replaced and the container can be stored or shipped. A pressure relief valve or other safety means may be provided on one of the plug bores if theplug 238 is not replaced by such means.

The container may be emptied in the rotated position of FIG. 11, in which theplug 220 is depressed. In this variant the contents are discharged by gravity through either of the bores, thebore 224 being used at least at the end of the operation to drain the last part of the contents. During the emptying operations theplug 238 or its replacement is removed to permit the bag to collapse, as is indicated in FIG. 11.

FIGS. 12 through 15 show a fifth embodiment in which the bag is filled from the top but emptied from the bottom, and is useful for moving and storing material within a plant. Theshell 315 has anupper head 316 and afrustoconical bottom 317 and is supported on asupport structure 318 which may have casters. The top head has avent nipple 338. Thebottom head 317 has a central opening fitted with a hingeddoor 317a, although a sliding plate may also be advantageously employed. Thehead 316 has a central opening adapted to receive aflexible bag 328 in collapsed condition, the bag being longer than the shell and having an upper end defining an opening which is sealed to an upstanding collar on thehead 316 by aclamping band 329. Adapted to fit over the sealed edge of the bag is acap plate 320, shown in FIG. 15. This plate is provided with suitable means for retaining it in sealed and mechanically firm relation to the bag while being rapidly releasable, such means being represented byradial screws 323. The plate has welded thereto ashort tube 333 which is open at the bottom and has its upper end connected to aflexible hose 359. The plate further has avent tube 324 connected to a secondflexible hose 360. Thetubes 324 and 333, together with theplate 320, collectively form the conduit means. Thebag 328 is open also at the bottom, but is tied to close the bottom by a cord 361.

In assembling the composite container the bag is inserted into the shell from the top in collapsed condition and secured by theband 329, the bottom end being closed as shown in FIG. 12. The bottom end is then pushed up into the shell and thedoor 317a is closed and latched, as appears in FIG. 13. Theclosure plate 320 is then attached to the top of the shell and sealed to the bag. A blast of inflation gas is then admitted through thehose 360 to inflate the bag and bring it into engagement with the inner surface of theshell 315. The bag is thereby supported by the shell on all sides. Air initially present in the space between the bag and the shell wall escaped through thenipple 338, which may then be closed with a cap.Plate 320 can be removed, and the bag will be held in place against the shell, if it is imperforate, due to the vacuum resulting from evacuation of the air from between the shell and the bag. The container may then be directly filled through the top opening. Alternatively and when an inert atmosphere is desired or the shell is perforated, the material is admitted via thehose 359 andtube 333 into the dilated bag, displaced inflation air being exhausted through thetube 324 andhose 360. Theplate 320 can then be removed and, if desired, acover 362 attached, as appears in FIG. 14. The vessel is now ready for storage or movement.

To empty the bag thedoor 317a is opened and the cord 36] is removed (or the bag can be cut) while over a receiver, permitting the material to fall out by gravity.

The embodiment of FIGS. 12 through 15 is especially suited to confining solid material. However, it can also be used when the fluent material is liquid.

FIGS. 16 and 17 show an embodiment wherein theshell 415 has an opening in its side near thebottom head 417 through which thebag 428 is inserted in collapsed condition, wrapped about aguide rod 425, and the upper head 416 has an opening provided with aclosure plate 462 which seals the top. Theplate 462 has an internally threaded vent opening that can be closed by a plug 438. The conduit means which extends through the bottom opening is constituted by aplug 420 having a boltingflange 463 and a pair of parallel bores which receiveshort tubes 424a and 433a in sealed relation; the bag being sealed to this plug by aband 429. The outer ends of these short tubes provide coupling means for attaching hoses leading respectively to a source of inflation gas and a source of fluent material or a receiver therefor.

. The bag contains aflexible tube 424 of sufficient stiffness to remain open which is connected at one end by a cord or top 464 to a part of the bag which is near the top when distended. This is attached during construction of the bag. The other end of this tube is fitted to the inner end of thetube 424a. The inner end oftube 433a is connected to one end of atube 433 which extends through a small horizontal distance and is open toward the bottom. Thebar 425 is rigidly carried by the tube 433 (or attached directly to the plug 420).

In assembling the container of FIGS. 16 and 17, the collapsed bag is inserted with theplug 420 at the bottom of the shell and the plug is secured 'to the shell by itsbolting flange 463. Theguide rod 425 guides the bag into the shell and maintains it in position during subsequent inflation. The plug 438 being removed, a blast of inflation gas is introduced through thetubes 424 and 424a to inflate the bag to the position shown. The plug 438 may then be replaced and the bag is filled with fluent material through thetubes 433a and 433, while displaced gas is discharged through thetubes 424 and 4240. The bag is emptied through thetubes 433 and 433a after removing the plug 438. The charging and emptying operations may follow any of the techniques previously described, and pressure-responsive valves may be provided in lieu of the plug 438 and/or at the outside of theplug 420 as previously described.

It is, of course, possible to introduce the collapsed bag through an opening in the shell other than that through which the conduit means extends. For example, in the last embodiment the bag can be introduced through the opening at the top of the shell, which can further be used to inspect the position of the bag.

It will be noted that in the several views the last two digits of the reference number when alike, denote corresponding parts or parts performing corresponding functions.

It may be noted that the flexible bag can be inserted into the rigid shell at the factory and inflated either there or at the site of filling, or that the bag and conduit means sealed thereto can be shipped from the factory outside of the shell.

lclaim:

1. The method of handling fluent, nongaseous material which comprises the steps of:

sealing a flexible bag to a multipassage conduit means,

inserting said flexible bag in collapsed condition into a rigid shell through an opening therein,

said multipassage conduit means extending through said opening,

injecting inflation gas into said bag through said conduit means while exhausting gas from between said bag and said shell and thereby distending the bag into engagement with the interior of said shell, and

thereafter introducing said material into the distended bag through one passage of the conduit means while exhausting from an upper part of the bag and through another passage of the conduit means gas which is displaced by the entering material.

2. In combination with the steps defined in claim 1, the step of subsequently effecting movement in said fluent material within the bag.

3. In combination with the steps defined in claim I, the step of subsequently discharging said fluent material from the bag by exhausting the material from the lower part of the bag.

4. Method as defined in claim 3 wherein said bag is collapsed as said material is discharged.

5. Method as defined in claim 4 wherein said bag is collapsed by forcing a gas under pressure into the space within the shell and outside of the bag.

6. Method as defined in claim 3 wherein said material is discharged from the bottom of the bag upwardly and through the top of the bag and through one of said passageways.

7. Apparatus for handling nongaseous fluent material comprising:

a rigid shell formed with at least one opening in a wall thereof;

a bag having a flexible wall and insertable into said shell in collapsed condition through said opening and being shaped, when distended, to engage the internal surface of said shell for support thereby,

said bag being formed with an edge portion defining an inlet opening;

conduit means adapted to be mounted on the shell at an opening therein and having coupling means for connection through a source of inflation gas for distending the bag and, subsequently, for filling said bag, said conduit means providing at least two separate passageways of which one is adapted for connection to a source of said fluent material and the other passageway is in direct communication with an upper part of said bag when distended;

guide means fixed to said conduit means and shaped to engage and position the bottom of said bag within the shell;

means sealing said bag edge to said conduit means; and

means for discharging gas from the space between the shell and said bag.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 which includes means for admitting gas into the space between the shell and the bag while discharging the fluent material from the bag, whereby said bag can be collapsed during said discharge.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said conduit means includes a pair of tubes having different diameters, the larger diameter tube having lateral openings at axially spaced locations and the interior thereof being in communication with one of said passageways and the smaller diameter tube forming at least a part of the other passageway.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said conduit means includes a pair of tubes, one of said tubes being formed so as to be housed within the other, said other tube having axially spaced openings in communication with the interior of the bag.

11. In combination with apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said shell is gastight and in sealed relation to said conduit means: pressure-responsive means for flowing air between said shell and the ambient atmosphere in response to a pressure differential between said space and the atmosphere.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said conduit means is formed with a passageway shaped for insertion therethrough of a material conditioning device into the bag for contact with said material.

13. In combination with apparatus as defined in claim 7, means for injecting a gas into said material at a lower part of the bag from a source outside of the shell.

14. in combination with apparatus as defined in claim 7, a device for circulating said material, said device including means for continuously withdrawing some of said material from the bag to a point outside of the shell, and means for returning the withdrawn material into the bag.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein one of said passages includes a dip tube and said conduit means comprises a member extending transversely to said dip tube and in sealed relation to said bag edge portion, said dip tube having communication through said member, and the other passageway exwith or exhausted ofinflation gas.

Claims (15)

1. The method of handling fluent, nongaseous material which comprises the steps of: sealing a flexible bag to a multipassage conduit means, inserting said flexible bag in collapsed condition into a rigid shell through an opening therein, said multipassage conduit means extending through said opening, injecting inflation gas into said bag through said conduit means while exhausting gas from between said bag and said shell and thereby distending the bag into engagement with the interior of said shell, and thereafter introducing said material into the distended bag through one passage of the conduit means while exhausting from an upper part of the bag and through another passage of the conduit means gas which is displaced by the entering material.

2. In combination with the steps defined in claim 1, the step of subsequently effecting movement in said fluent material within the bag.

3. In combination with the steps defined in claim 1, the step of subsequently discharging said fluent material from the bag by exhausting the material from the lower part of the bag.

4. Method as defined in claim 3 wherein said bag is collapsed as said material is discharged.

5. Method as defined in claim 4 wherein said bag is collapsed by forcing a gas under pressure into the space within the shell and outside of the bag.

6. Method as defined in claim 3 wherein said material is discharged from the bottom of the bag upwardly and through the top of the bag and through one of said passageways.

7. Apparatus for handling nongaseous fluent material comprising: a rigid shell formed with at least one opening in a wall thereof; a bag having a flexible wall and insertable into said shell in collapsed condition through said opening and being shaped, when distended, to engage the internal surface of said shell for support thereby, said bag being formed with an edge portion defining an inlet opening; conduit means adapted to be mounted on the shell at an opening therein and having coupling means for connection through a source of inflation gas for distending the bag and, subsequently, for filling said bag, said conduit means providing at least two separate passageways of which one is adapted for connection to a source of said fluent material and the other passageway is in direct communication with an upper part of said bag when distended; guide means fixed to said conduit means and shaped to engage and position the bottom of said bag within the shell; means sealing said bag edge to said conduit means; and means for discharging gas from the space between the shell and said bag.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 which includes means for admitting gas into the space between the shell and the bag while discharging the fluent material from the bag, whereby said bag can be collapsed during said discharge.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said conduit means includes a pair of tubes having different diameters, the larger diameter tube having lateral openings at axially spaced locations and the interior thereof being in communication with one of said passageways and the smaller diameter tube forming at least a part of the other passageway.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said conduit means includes a pair of tubes, one of said tubes being formed so as to be housed within the other, said other tube having axially spaced openings in communication with the interior of the bag.

11. In combination with apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said shell is gastight and in sealed relation to said conduit means: pressure-responsive means for flowing air between said shell and the ambient atmosphere in response to a pressure differential between said space and the atmosphere.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said conduit means is formed with a passageway shaped for insertion therethrough of a material conditioning device into the bag for contact with said material.

13. In combination with apparatus as defined in claim 7, means for injecting a gas into said material at a lower part of the bag from a source outside of the shell.

14. In combination with apparatus as defined in claim 7, a device for circulating said material, said device including means for continuously withdrawing some of said material from the bag to a point outside of the shell, and means for returning the withdrawn material into the bag.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein one of said passages includes a dip tube and said conduit means comprises a member extending transversely to said dip tube and in sealed relation to said bag edge portion, said dip tube having communication through said member, and the other passageway extends through said member and is in direct communication with an upper part of said bag, whereby the bag may be filled with or exhausted of inflation gas.

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