Patent Application
20210292057
The present invention is related to storing apparatus and method of storage. More particularly, the present invention is related to a valve device, a lid assembly and a container. Moreover, the present invention also relates to the usage of the valve device and lid assembly, as well as a process for preparing a liquid container system.
It is known in the prior art that jerricans or drum-like containers are applied to store variety of items. However, some stored items tend to generate gas as time goes by. For example, during the storing of some chemical industrial material, the stored items tend to generate gases such as carbon dioxide or others. If these gases were not properly exhausted to the outside of the container, these gases will lead the container to swell to an undesired extent. Several solutions have been developed to deal with this problem. For example, one or more valve bodies may be applied on the container or the lid. These valve bodies may be dual way valves and they are designed to exhaust the accumulated gas inside the container to the ambient atmosphere, so as to mitigate the swelling problems in the container. However, the dual-way valve bodies in the prior art may also introduce some gases in the ambient atmosphere into the container, such as the water vapor or carbon dioxide.
The permeation of ambient gases is generally undesired, since some stored items tend to crystallize in the ambient atmosphere. The typical crystallized areas include the inner edges of the lid, the exterior and interior of the valve body opening, etc. These crystallized bodies may block the valve or the venting passage, and thus lead to undesired valve body failure. Additionally, the crystallized materials are generally discarded and unable to use again. During lone-term storing, all stored items in the container may spoil due to such a valve leakage.
Thus, there is a continuing need to develop an improved apparatus which can enhance the safety, performance and cost-effectiveness of item storing. One purpose of this invention is to provide a valve device, a lid assembly and a container that may exhaust the inner gas while stop the undesired ambient atmosphere from entering the interior. Other purposes refer to the usage of the valve device and lid assembly, as well as a process for preparing a liquid container system.
The present invention may be characterized as a valve device that comprises: a valve component which comprises a bottom cover with one or more first apertures; a top cover with one or more second apertures, wherein the bottom cover and the top cover enclosing a venting chamber; a plate accommodated inside the venting chamber and being pressed by one or more projections attaching to the top cover against the one or more second apertures on the bottom cover; and wherein silicon oil is provided between the bottom cover and the plate; and wherein the plate has a diameter between 5 mm and 20 mm; and a membrane component which comprises a membrane made from hydrophobic material,
Preferably, the plate is made from silicon or rubber.
Preferably, the plate has a diameter between 7 mm and 12 mm.
Preferably, the hydrophobic material is expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.
The present invention may also be characterized as a lid assembly that it comprises the valve device.
The present invention may also be characterized as a container in that it comprises: a container body for storing items; a port access to the interior of the container body; and a lid assembly, wherein the lid assembly is configured to mate and seal the port.
The present invention may also be characterized as a method for preparing a liquid container system
The present invention may also be characterized as usage of the valve device in the package of liquid.
The present invention may also be characterized as usage of the lid assembly in the package of liquid.
The valve device, lid assembly, the container in the present invention may provide better solutions for item storage by eliminating the container swelling due to interior gas generation and stopping the water vapor in the ambient atmosphere from entering the container. The solutions in the present invention may also benefit from simple configuration and ease of manufacturing.
The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following, more detailed description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
For the sake of avoiding repetition, some of the common elements in the various Figs utilize the same numbers where the explanation of such elements would not change from Fig. to Fig.
Detailed descriptions of specific embodiments of the lid assembly, container and method of storage are disclosed herein. It will be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the way in which certain aspects of the invention can be implemented and do not represent an exhaustive list of all of the ways the invention may be embodied, Indeed, it will be understood that the lid assembly, container and method of storage described herein may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are nor necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Well-known components, materials or methods are not necessarily described in great detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Any specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the Claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the invention in a variety of ways.
Specifically, the valve device comprises: a valve component 200 attached to the inner surface of the passage portion and configured to provide one-way ventilation from the second opening 141 to the first opening 111; and a membrane component 300 attached to the inner surface of the passage portion and configured to prevent liquid stored items from getting through. The details of the valve component 200 and the membrane component 300 will be mentioned in the following disclosure.
The passage portion comprises: a first housing portion 130 extending from the first opening 111 in the direction towards the internal chamber 121; and a second housing portion 140 extending from the bottom of the first housing portion 130 and providing the second opening 141 towards the internal chamber 121.
In the illustrated embodiment, the first housing portion 130 forms a step-shaped configuration and is configured to accommodate the valve component 200, while the second housing portion 140 is configured in bushing shape to accommodate the membrane component 300. The valve component 200 may fit into the first housing portion 130 through the first opening 111, while the membrane component 300 may fit into the second housing portion 140 through the second opening 141.
In another embodiment of this invention, the valve component 200 and the membrane component 300 may both fit into the passage portion through the first opening 111 or the second opening 141.
In another embodiment of this invention, a multiple of valve components and/or a multiple of membrane components may be provided to fit into the passage portion.
In another embodiment of this invention, the inner surface of the peripheral wall 120 may provide with a screw.
In another embodiment of this invention, the outer surface of the peripheral wall 120 may provide with a multiple of projections to assist the rotation of the lid assembly 10.
When the valve component is fit in place, the surrounding of the bottom cover 210 or top cover 220 may attach to the inner surface of the first housing portion 130, while the at least one first aperture 211 is facing the membrane component 300 and the at least one second aperture 221 is facing the first opening 111.
Preferably, the plate 240 is made from silicon or rubber.
Preferably, the diameter of the plate 240 is from 5 mm to 20 mm, preferably from 7 mm to 12 mm. The diameter of the plate is longer than that in normal single way valve, which allows more gas release. In one embodiment of this invention, the plate 240 has a diameter of 9 mm and a thickness of 0.95 mm.
Preferably, the bottom cover 210 and the top cover 220 are made from plastic.
In operation, when the pressures of gases generated from the stored items accumulate in the container, a higher pressure will be applied to the bottom cover 210 of the valve component. When the pressure level in the container rises to a predetermined level, the portion between the first apertures 211 will deform and the inner gases will vent through the silicon oil 250 into the venting chamber 230, then the gases will exhaust into the ambient atmosphere through the second aperture 221. During this process, the pressure level in the container will drop down and the plate 240 will press against the first apertures to seal them against. Thus, the valve component will provide one-way ventilation for the container without allowing reversed ventilation. That is, it is possible for the vaporized stored items and gases to exhaust into the ambient atmosphere through the valve. At the same time, the water vapor in the ambient atmosphere is prevented from squeezing through the valve.
Preferably, the membrane 320 is provided inside the membrane passage 313 to cover the entire cross section of the membrane passage 313.
Preferably, the other end 312 of the sleeve 310 is expanding in size to form a coned portion, so as to provide a better collection of inner gas. However, the other end 312 of the sleeve 310 may also be provided with other shapes.
Preferably, the membrane 320 is made from hydrophobic material such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. The hydrophobic membrane has roll-off properties. Liquid can easily drain off the membrane, allowing continuous airflow. If desired, other suitable materials may also be provided to manufacture the membrane 320.
Preferably, the membrane is a Gore membrane.
In another embodiment of the membrane component, the bottom of the sleeve is sealed by a removable cover, and several openings are provided on the peripheral of the sleeve between the membrane and the bottom of the sleeve.
In operation, the membrane 320 may prevent the liquid stored items from squeezing through. At the same time, the membrane 320 may allow the vaporized store items to get through.
As disclosed in
The container according to this invention may be jerrican, drum, barrel or other suitable containers.
This invention also relates to a process for the preparation of a liquid container system, wherein a lid assembly as disclosed above is used.
This invention also relates to the usage of the valve device as disclosed above in the package of liquid, as well as the usage of the lid assembly as disclosed above in the package of liquid.
In operation, the container as described above may be used in the following steps:
A) Removing the lid assembly from the container, so as to expose the port leading to the interior of the container body;
B) Supplying the items to be stored through the port into the interior of the container body, wherein the items may be liquid or solid product;
C) Fitting the lid assembly into the port to seal the container body; and
D) Transporting and storing the container to the desired location.
In one comparing test of known lid assembly, a lid assembly with a dual-way valve and a venting membrane is provided to seal a container. The container then is placed inside an oven to endure a temperature of 45 Celsius Degree and a relative humidity of 70%-90%. After a time period of 28 days, it has been found that although there is no crystallization in the lid assembly and the stored materials are in good condition, an unacceptable swelling has been developed in the container.
In another comparing test of known lid assembly, a lid assembly with a coffee bag valve alone is provided to seal a container. The container is shaken for 20 minutes and then is placed inside an oven to endure a temperature of 45 Celsius Degree and a relative humidity of 70%-90%. After a time period of 30 days, it has been found that the container has suffered from unacceptable swelling. The swelling is generally produced since the liquid gets into the lid assembly during the test and thus blocks the inner side of the lid assembly.
In yet another comparing test of known lid assembly, a lid assembly with a venting membrane alone is provided to seal a container, The container then is placed inside an oven to endure a temperature of 60 Celsius Degree and a relative humidity of nearly 100%. After a time period of 3 days, it has been found that the crystallization of stored items appears in the opening of the lid assembly. At the same time, the container has been swollen. Thus, it is concluded that the crystallized stored items will eventually block the entire membrane and thus stop the lid assembly from venting.
In the testing for the method of storage according to this invention, some gas generating materials are placed into a container and a lid assembly according to the disclosure above is provided to seal the container. Then the container is shaken for 20 minutes and then is placed inside an oven to endure a temperature of 45 Celsius Degree and a relative humidity of 70%-90% for 30 days, so as to estimate a storing period of one to two months under 20-30 Celsius Degree. After a time period of 30 days, it has been found that there is no swelling in the container and no crystallized material inside or outside the lid assembly.
As a result, it has been found that the lid assembly and the container according to this invention may effectively exhaust the gas generated by the stored items in the container and prevent the water vapor in the ambient atmosphere from entering the container, so as to prevent the container from swelling and keep the passage portion unblocked.
While the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, numerous additions and omissions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN2017/079653 | 4/7/2017 | WO | 00 |
