Abstract:
A transport and storage container for fluids having a check valve that allows the contents of the storage container to be substantially completely emptied. A valve housing of the check valve has a valve face against which a valve flap rests against in its closed state.

Description:
[0001]    The embodiments of the invention relate to a check valve for transport and storage containers for fluids comprising a closable filler neck and a draining neck for connecting a tapping valve having a closing device, which is in particular embodied as a ball or flap valve, and a coupling flange for connecting the tapping valve to a draining neck of the fluid container, in particular of an inner container made of plastic of the transport and storage container, which is equipped with an outer jacket made of lattice or metal sheet. 
         [0002]    Periodically, transport and storage containers of the afore-mentioned type are used as so-called “circulatory containers”, which are accordingly filled repeatedly. So as to provide for the highest possible sales volume of the fluids filled into the containers, it is important to provide for the most complete draining of the containers, so that the entire container volume is available for the new filling for the next filling operation. To some extent, it is also important to attain the most complete draining of the containers, so as not to have to carry out extensive rinsing and cleaning operations, or to at least limit these operations to a corresponding minimum. The filling of circulatory containers with pesticides or similar substances can be cited as an example for this, wherein not only a rinsing and cleaning of the containers is required in such cases, but furthermore additional problems also occur with the disposal of the rinsing fluids, which are contaminated by the pesticides or the like. 
         [0003]    The embodiments of the invention are now based on the object of providing for a transport and storage container for fluids, which can substantially be emptied completely. 
         [0004]    To solve this object, a check valve comprising the features of claim  1  is proposed. 
         [0005]    According to the embodiments of the invention, the check valve encompasses a valve housing, which is provided with a connecting part for connection to a valve housing of the tapping valve and/or to the draining neck of the fluid container and comprising a valve neck, which extends at least from the connecting part through the draining neck into an inflow area of the draining neck, wherein the valve neck encompasses a valve body, which closes against a valve face contrary to the outflow direction and the valve face is arranged in the inflow area or in an area, which is arranged upstream of the inflow area in outflow direction. 
         [0006]    Typically, the fluid volume, which can return back into the fluid container after an actuation of the closing device, is determined by the distance of the closing device from the outflow opening of the inner container. In the case of inner containers, which are provided with a draining neck, the outflow opening of the inner container is substantially defined by the inflow cross section of the draining neck. Due to the arrangement of the valve face of the check valve according to the invention in the inflow area of the draining neck or in an area, which is arranged upstream of the inflow area in outflow direction, it is possible to minimize a return volume, which is possible after closing the closing device, independent on the distance of the closing device relative to the outflow opening. 
         [0007]    The valve housing can be connected to the tapping valve or the valve housing, respectively, of the tapping valve in one piece or integrally, preferably in such a manner that the connecting part of the valve housing of the check valve is embodied as an integral component of the valve housing of the tapping valve. 
         [0008]    However, it is also particularly advantageous when the valve housing of the check valve is embodied as an assembly unit, which is embodied so as to be independent on the tapping valve and so as to be manageable, as it is thus possible to equip a conventional transport and storage container, the inner container of which is provided with a removal fitting, in a simple manner with a check valve. 
         [0009]    In the event that the connecting part of the valve housing is embodied as a housing flange, which can be arranged between a coupling flange of the tapping valve and a coupling flange of the draining neck, the check valve can simply be inserted with the housing neck into the draining neck of the inner container prior to the assembly of the tapping valve with a defined relative positioning. 
         [0010]    In the event that the connecting part of the valve housing is furthermore embodied as a stop collar for attaching against a stop surface of the draining neck, which is embodied as a bore ledge in a coupling flange of the draining neck in such a manner that the stop collar of the valve housing can be arranged in the coupling flange of the draining neck, a fastening of the housing of the check valve to the draining neck can be carried out simultaneously to the fastening of the tapping valve at the draining neck. 
         [0011]    Due to the arrangement of the stop collar of the valve housing in the coupling flange of the draining neck, so as to be flush with the adjacent areas in particular, a welded connection can on principle be made between the stop collar of the valve housing and the draining neck on the other hand and the stop collar of the valve housing and the coupling flange of the tapping valve on the other hand, at the same time as a welded connection of the draining neck with the tapping valve. As a result, the draining neck of the inner container and the coupling flange of the tapping valve as well as the stop collar of the valve housing are thus connected to one another by means of a material connection in a single welding operation. 
         [0012]    A particularly fail-safe embodiment of the check valve becomes possible when the valve body is embodied as a valve flap, which is arranged on the side of the valve face facing away from the interior of the container and when its outer edge is supported so as to be pivotable in a pendulum bearing relative to the valve face. It goes without saying that valve bodies, which are embodied in different manners, for example as molds in spherical or cone shape or in other embodiments, are furthermore also possible. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the valve face defines a valve plane, which is inclined at an angle to the vertical and the pendulum bearing is arranged above the valve face. In particular the vertically inclined orientation of the valve plane or of the valve face, respectively, in cooperation with the valve flap, which closes contrary to the outflow direction, ensures that in the event of a return of the fluid, which previously drained from the inner container, a gravity-related closing force is added to the dynamic closing force caused by the fluid return, due to the inclined valve plane, so that the gravity component of the valve closing force still provides for a defined closing position of the valve, even in the event of a fluid in the tapping valve, for example. 
         [0014]    To prevent a canting or jamming of the valve flap in the valve neck and thus a blocking of the valve flap in opening position in response to a high outflow from the inner container and in response to a valve flap, which is open to an extremely wide extent, it is advantageous when the valve flap is provided with a stop device, which defines the opening angle. 
         [0015]    It is particularly advantageous when, for this purpose, the valve flap encompasses at its outer edge and opposite to the pendulum bearing a stop device, which is embodied as a stop rod and which, due to its positioning, must encompass only a comparatively small length as a condition for its efficiency. 
         [0016]    To further increase the gravity component of the valve closing force, which has already been explained above, it is advantageous when the valve flap is provided with a connecting device for connecting to a ballast weight. 
         [0017]    To prevent the ballast weight, which possibly consists of metal, to be in constant contact with the fluid accommodated in the interior of the container, it is advantageous to arrange the connecting device on the side of the valve flap facing away from the interior of the container. 
         [0018]    A reliable function of the check valve—even in case of the smallest residual amount of fluid, which is still present in the interior of the container—becomes possible when the valve neck encompasses an inflow bend, which is inclined with its inflow opening to a bottom sump of the inner container as compared to the outflow direction, on the side of the valve plane facing the interior of the container, because the most holohedral application of pressure of the valve flap from the interior of the container thus becomes possible for completely emptying the container. 
         [0019]    Preferred embodiments of the invention will be defined below in more detail by means of the drawing. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a transport and storage container for fluids. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a sectional view of a first embodiment of a check valve arranged in a draining neck of the inner container of the transport and storage container. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  shows the check valve illustrated in closed position in  FIG. 2  in open position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the check valve viewed from the interior of the container. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the check valve in an exterior view of the inner container. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  shows a view of the check valve in the case of a closed valve flap. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  shows a longitudinal sectional view of the check valve according to the course of intersecting line VII-VII in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  shows a view of the check valve in the case of an open valve flap. 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  shows a sectional view of the check valve illustrated in  FIG. 8  according to the course of intersecting line IX-IX. 
           [0029]      FIG. 10  shows a second embodiment of a check valve comprising a valve housing, which is integrated into the tapping valve. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]      FIG. 1  shows a transport and storage container  1  for fluids, which can be used as a disposable and reusable container, which encompasses as main components a replaceable rectangular inner container  2  made of plastic, comprising an end wall  3 , a rear wall  4  and two side walls  5 ,  6 , a lower bottom  7  embodied as drain bottom and an upper bottom  8 , a filler neck  9  molded thereon and being capable of being closed by means of a lid  10  and a draining neck  12 , which is molded to a curvature  11  in the lower section of the end wall  3  of the inner container  2  and which is produced in one piece with the inner container  2  by means of blow molding, for attaching a tapping valve  13 , in particular of a ball or flap valve, further an outer jacket  14 , which is embodied as a grid cover and comprising intersecting horizontal and vertical lattice bars  15 ,  16  made of metal for accommodating an inner container  2  as well as a pallet-like base frame  17  comprising length and width dimensions for supporting the inner container  2 , which correspond to Eurocode. 
         [0031]    As is shown in  FIG. 2 , a valve housing  18 , which is injection molded in one piece from a polyethylene of a high density (PE-HD) of the tapping valve  13 , which is embodied with a ball valve as closing device  45 , has an inflow neck  19  and an outflow neck  20  and is equipped with a closing ball  21 . 
         [0032]    In the instant case, the valve housing  18  is screwed with the inflow neck  19 , which is embodied as a screw nut, onto the coupling flange  22 , which is embodied as a threaded flange and which is injection molded from plastic. Said coupling flange  22  is welded to the draining neck  12  of the inner plastic container  2  of the transport and storage container  1  by means of mirror-imaged welding.  FIG. 2  shows a weld deposit ring  25 , which is arranged between a welding surface of a coupling flange  23  of the draining neck  12  and a welding surface  24  of the coupling flange  22  for carrying out the welding operation. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  further shows a check valve  26 , which is accommodated together with the tapping valve  13  or the coupling flange  22  of the tapping valve  13 , respectively, and the draining neck  12  of the inner container  2 . To explain the design of the check valve  26 , reference is initially made below to  FIGS. 6 to 9 . 
         [0034]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show the check valve  26  in closed position, whereas  FIGS. 8 and 9  show the check valve in open position. The check valve  26  encompasses a valve housing  27 , which encompasses a coupling part, which is embodied as stop collar  29  on the face side of a housing neck  28 . A rear housing wall  30 , which defines a valve plane  31 , is located opposite to the stop collar  29 . A valve face  32 , which is defined herein by means of a circular faceplate opening and which cooperates with a valve flap  33  arranged in a pendulum bearing  34  above the valve face  32  for the purpose of attaining the valve function, is embodied in the rear housing wall  30 . A stop rod  44  arranged at the outer edge of the valve flap  33  prevents a jamming of the open valve flap  33  in the valve neck  28 . 
         [0035]    In the case of the instant exemplary embodiment, the valve face  32  of the check valve  26  is arranged in an inflow area  46  of the draining neck  12 , which results in response to a removal of fluid from the inner container  2 , and is located in outflow direction upstream of the outflow opening of the inner container  2 , thus upstream of a inflow cross section  57  of the draining neck  12  in this exemplary embodiment. 
         [0036]    On its side facing away from the valve face  32  or from an interior of the container  35  ( FIG. 3 ), respectively, the valve flap  33  encompasses a connecting device  36 , which serves to connect to a ballast weight  37 . In cooperation with the arrangement of the valve plane  31 , which is inclined relative to a longitudinal axis  43  of the check valve  26 , the ballast weight  37  thus supports the formation of a valve closing force. 
         [0037]    As is furthermore shown in  FIG. 7 , a valve bend  38 , which defines an inflow opening  39  arranged at right angles relative to the longitudinal valve axis  43 , connects to the rear housing wall  30 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  shows the check valve  26 , which is inserted with the valve neck  28  into the draining neck  12 , wherein the relative positioning of the check valve  26  in the draining neck  12  or in the inner container  2 , respectively, is defined by the stop of the stop collar  29  of the check valve  26  against a stop surface of the draining neck  12 , which is formed by means of a bore ledge  40  in the coupling flange  23  of the draining neck  12 . As further results from a combined view of  FIGS. 3 and 9 , a fixing of this relative positioning of the check valve  26  in the draining neck  12  is made possible in that bars  41  embodied in the area of the stop collar  29  of the valve neck  28  cause the valve neck  28  to be fixed in the draining neck  12 . 
         [0039]    A combined view of  FIGS. 3 and 4  makes it clear that an inlet opening  39  of the check valve  26  defined by the valve bend  38  is located in the direct proximity to a bottom sump  42 , which is embodied in the lower bottom  7  of the inner container  2  and which forms the lowest point of the container bottom  7 . 
         [0040]    The particularly simple equipment of the inner container  2  with the check valve  26  becomes clear based on a combined view of  FIGS. 2 and 5 , which show that the check valve  26  with its stop collar  29  is arranged so as to be flush in the coupling flange  23  of the draining neck  12  after it was inserted into the draining neck  12  of the inner container  2 , so that the compound arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 2  between the tapping valve  13  or the coupling flange  22  of the tapping valve  13 , respectively, the check valve  26  and the draining neck  12  of the inner container  2  becomes possible. The check valve  26  can thus be used at an existing transport and storage container, without having to make changes to the tapping valve  13  or the coupling flange  22 , respectively, of the tapping valve  13  or the draining neck  12  of the inner container  2 . 
         [0041]    In a further exemplary embodiment,  FIG. 10  shows a check valve  47 , the valve housing  51  of which encompasses a connecting part, which is embodied in one piece as a ring flange  56  on a valve housing  48  of a tapping valve  49  and which, in the case of the instant exemplary embodiment, at the same time forms the coupling flange for connecting the tapping valve  49  to the draining neck  12 . Apart from the valve housing  48 , the tapping valve  49  encompasses components, which correspond to the tapping valve  13  illustrated in  FIG. 2  and reference numerals, which correspond thereto. 
         [0042]    The check valve  47  encompasses a valve housing  51 , which is embodied by a feed neck  50  of the valve body  48 , comprising a valve body, which is embodied herein as a valve flap  52  and which is accommodated in a valve face  54  embodied in a rear housing wall  53  of the valve housing  51  in the closed position of the check valve  47  illustrated in  FIG. 10 . In the case of the instant exemplary embodiment, the valve face  54  is located in the area of the inflow cross section  57  of the draining neck  12 . The valve flap  52  is connected to the rear housing wall via a hinged joint for the purpose of embodying a pendulum bearing  55 . The hinged joint can be embodied directly in the valve flap  52 , which is preferably self-sealing, or also in a seal, which is connected to the valve flap  52 .