Chemical container

Disclosed is a chemical container capable of discharging gas generated from a chemical by stably securing a discharge passage of the gas even when the posture or tilt of the chemical container is variously changed, i.e. when the chemical container is turned over or falls sideways, whereby it is possible to prevent an excessive increase in internal pressure of the chemical container due to generation of the gas. The chemical container includes a container body having a storage compartment configured to store a chemical, an exhaust port disposed at one side of the container body, the exhaust port being configured to connect the storage compartment and the outside of the container body to each other in such a manner that fluid movement therebetween is possible, an exhaust tube disposed in the storage compartment so as to be connected to the exhaust port in such a manner that fluid movement therebetween is possible, and an exhaust buoyancy unit. The exhaust buoyancy unit has a buoyancy body disposed in the storage compartment in the state of being connected to the exhaust tube so as to float on the chemical stored in the storage compartment, an exhaust channel provided inside the buoyancy body, the exhaust channel being configured to connect the storage compartment and the exhaust tube to each other in such a manner that fluid movement therebetween is possible, and a filter membrane coupled to the buoyancy body, the filter membrane being configured to transmit gas through the exhaust channel and to block the chemical, thereby preventing the chemical from passing therethrough.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a chemical container, and more particularly to a chemical container capable of stably storing and transporting a liquid chemical while smoothly exhausting gas generated from the chemical.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a liquid chemical is stored or is transported to a place at which the liquid chemical is required in the state of being contained in a container after manufacture thereof.

Representative examples of a chemical container include a glass container and a synthetic resin container. The glass container exhibits excellent chemical resistance and barrier properties; however, the glass container is easily broken due to pressure in the container, collision between containers, or drop of the container. On the other hand, the synthetic resin container has big advantages due to light weight and durability thereof and in an economic aspect of manufacture and distribution thereof. At present, therefore, the synthetic resin container is being used more widely than the glass container.

When a chemical stored in the chemical container leaks, a safety-related accident may occur. Basically, therefore, it is necessary for the chemical container to exhibit airtightness in order to prevent leakage of the chemical and to exhibit durability in order to withstand external impact so as not to be easily broken. In addition, it is necessary for a chemical container configured to store a chemical, from which a large amount of gas is generated in a liquid state, to have a structure capable of preventing overpressure due to generation of gas in a hermetically sealed state.

As an example, oxygenated water used in a sterilizer is naturally decomposed in a state of being stored in a container, whereby gas is generated. Consequently, internal pressure of a container having oxygenated water stored therein increases due to generation of gas from the oxygenated water during storage or transportation. When the internal pressure excessively increases, the chemical may leak through the portion of the container having low airtightness. In a severe case, the container may be broken or may explode. In order to prevent these problems, a container configured to store oxygenated water has a structure capable of exhausting gas.

A conventional chemical container has a structure in which a through-hole configured to discharge gas is formed at an appropriate position of the container in order to prevent overpressure due to generation of gas and the through-hole is covered by a filter membrane. The filter membrane blocks a liquid chemical and transmits only gas, whereby it is possible to prevent an excessive increase in internal pressure of the chemical container. In general, the through-hole and the filter membrane are disposed at the upper surface of the chemical container.

When the conventional chemical container falls sideways, however, the chemical may easily come into contact with the filter membrane. In this case, a gas discharge passage is clogged, whereby gas generated in the chemical container cannot be discharged. As a result, internal pressure of the chemical container may excessively increase, and therefore the above problems may occur.

In order to reduce such problems, a method of disposing through-holes and filter membranes at various positions of the chemical container may be considered. In this case, however, manufacture of the chemical container is troublesome and manufacturing time increases, whereby manufacturing cost increases. In addition, an increase in number of the through-holes to be formed may lead to a decrease in durability of the chemical container.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a chemical container capable of discharging gas generated from a chemical by stably securing a discharge passage of the gas even when the posture or tilt of the chemical container is variously changed, i.e. when the chemical container is turned over or falls sideways, whereby it is possible to prevent an excessive increase in internal pressure of the chemical container due to generation of the gas.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and other unmentioned objects of the present invention will be clearly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art from the following description.

Technical Solution

A chemical container according the present invention to accomplish the above object includes a container body having a storage compartment configured to store a chemical, an exhaust port disposed at one side of the container body, the exhaust port being configured to connect the storage compartment and the outside of the container body to each other in such a manner that fluid movement therebetween is possible, an exhaust tube disposed in the storage compartment so as to be connected to the exhaust port in such a manner that fluid movement therebetween is possible, and an exhaust buoyancy unit having a buoyancy body disposed in the storage compartment in the state of being connected to the exhaust tube so as to float on the chemical stored in the storage compartment, an exhaust channel provided inside the buoyancy body, the exhaust channel being configured to connect the storage compartment and the exhaust tube to each other in such a manner that fluid movement therebetween is possible, and a filter membrane coupled to the buoyancy body, the filter membrane being configured to transmit gas through the exhaust channel and to block the chemical, thereby preventing the chemical from passing therethrough.

The distance from the center of gravity of the buoyancy body to the filter membrane may be greater than the distance from the center of the buoyancy body to the filter membrane such that the filter membrane remains located higher than the chemical in the state in which the buoyancy body floats on the chemical.

The exhaust buoyancy unit may include a weight coupled to the buoyancy body, the weight being configured to deviate the center of gravity of the buoyancy body from the center of the buoyancy body.

The weight may be disposed in the buoyancy body.

The exhaust buoyancy unit may include an inlet provided at one side of the buoyancy body so as to be open to the storage compartment, a chamber provided in the buoyancy body so as to be connected to the inlet, and a passage provided at the other side of buoyancy body so as to be connected to the chamber, the passage constituting the exhaust channel together with the inlet and the chamber, and the filter membrane may be disposed so as to cover the inlet.

The buoyancy body may include an upper body having the inlet provided at one side thereof and a lower body having the passage provided at one side thereof, the lower body being coupled to the upper body so as to define the chamber together with the upper body, a tube connection portion, to which the exhaust tube is connected, may be provided at the outer surface of the lower body so as to protrude therefrom, and the passage extends from the lower body to the interior of the tube connection portion.

The exhaust buoyancy unit may include a weight disposed adjacent to the tube connection portion, the weight being configured to deviate the center of gravity of the buoyancy body from the center of the buoyancy body such that the filter membrane remains located higher than the chemical in the state in which the buoyancy body floats on the chemical.

The exhaust buoyancy unit may have a weight coupling portion protruding from the inner surface of the lower body so as to be disposed on an identical straight line to the tube connection portion, the weight may be coupled to the weight coupling portion so as to wrap the circumference of the weight coupling portion, and the passage may extend into the weight coupling portion.

Each of the upper body and the lower body may be made of a synthetic resin material, the upper body and the lower body may be coupled to each other by fusion, and the lower body and the weight may be integrally coupled to each other by insert injection molding.

The chemical container according to the present invention may include a cap made of an elastic material, the cap being coupled to the container body in an assembly manner so as to close a through-hole formed at one side of the container body so as to be open outside, wherein the exhaust portion may be provided at the cap, and the exhaust tube may be coupled to the cap.

Advantageous Effects

A chemical container according to the present invention is configured such that an exhaust buoyancy unit having an exhaust channel is connected to an exhaust port provided at one side of a container body in such a manner that fluid movement therebetween is possible, the exhaust buoyancy unit is disposed in the container body so as to float on a chemical, and a filter membrane configured to transmit only gas is disposed so as to cover the exhaust channel. Even when the posture or tilt of the container body is variously changed, therefore, only gas generated in the container body may pass through the filter membrane of the exhaust buoyancy unit and may then be discharged to the outside through the exhaust channel in the exhaust buoyancy unit and the exhaust port of the container body.

In addition, since the chemical container according to the present invention is capable of discharging gas generated in the container body out of the container body through the exhaust buoyancy unit at any posture thereof, an excessive increase in internal pressure thereof due to generation of gas is prevented. Consequently, a danger of chemical leakage or explosion is very low, and it is possible to safely store and transport various chemicals.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art from the following description.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

113: Chemical supply port115,212: Container body lids

124: Opening and closing valve unit125: Valve unit body

126: Outlet127: Opening and closing member

139: Coupling groove140: Tube connection portion

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to such an extent that a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can easily embody the present invention. The present invention may be realized in various different forms, and is not limited to embodiments described herein.

In order to clearly describe the present disclosure, parts having no relation to the description are omitted. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the specification to refer to the same or like parts.

Also, in the case in which several embodiments have the same components, the same components will be described using the same reference numerals only when describing a representative embodiment and components different from those of the representative embodiment will be described when describing the other embodiments.

In the case in which one part is said to be “connected” to another part in the entire specification, not only may the one part be “directly connected” to the other part, but also, the one part may be “indirectly connected” to the other part via a further part. In addition, that a certain element is “included” does not mean that other elements are excluded, but means that such elements may be further included unless mentioned otherwise.

FIGS. 1 and 2are perspective views showing a chemical container according to an embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 3is a sectional view showing the chemical container according to the embodiment of the present invention, andFIGS. 4 and 5are exploded perspective views showing the chemical container according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figures, the chemical container100according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a container body110configured to store a liquid chemical L, an opening and closing valve unit124coupled to the container body110so as to discharge the chemical L stored in the container body110, and an exhaust buoyancy unit130disposed in the container body110so as to exhaust gas generated in the container body110. The chemical container100is configured such that the exhaust buoyancy unit130floats on the chemical L in the container body110so as to exhaust gas, whereby it is possible to stably exhaust gas generated in the container body110even when the container body110falls.

The container body110includes a container body base111having an opening112provided at one end thereof and a container body lid115coupled to the container body base111so as to cover the opening112. The container body base111and the container body lid115are coupled to each other to define a storage compartment118configured to store the chemical L. A chemical supply port113is provided at one side of the container body base111. The chemical L stored in the storage compartment118may be discharged from the storage compartment118through the chemical supply port113so as to be supplied to the outside. An exhaust port116configured to exhaust gas from the storage compartment118is provided at the center of the container body lid115.

In the storage compartment118, the chemical L may be naturally decomposed or evaporated, whereby gas may be generated. The gas generated in the storage compartment118may be exhausted out of the container body110through the exhaust port116. A connection pipe117is provided inside the container body lid115. An exhaust tube154, a description of which will follow, is connected to the connection pipe117.

A sealing member120is interposed between the container body base111and the container body lid115. The sealing member120blocks the gap between the container body base111and the container body lid115to improve airtightness between the container body base111and the container body lid115. As a result, the chemical L stored in the storage compartment118is prevented from leaking through the gap between the container body base111and the container body lid115.

The opening and closing valve unit124is coupled to the container body110to control discharge of the chemical L through the chemical supply port113. The opening and closing valve unit124includes a valve unit body125coupled to the container body110, an outlet126provided at the end of the valve unit body125so as to communicate with the chemical supply port113, an opening and closing member127movably disposed inside the valve unit body125so as to open and close the outlet126, and a spring128configured to elastically support the opening and closing member127. The opening and closing member127may maintain the state in which the outlet125is blocked due to elastic force of the spring128. When the opening and closing member127is pushed inwardly of the valve unit body125, the outlet126may be opened, whereby the chemical L stored in the storage compartment118may pass through the chemical supply port113and may then be discharged to the outside through the outlet126.

In addition to the shown structure, the opening and closing valve unit124may be changed so as to have any of various other structures capable of controlling discharge of the chemical L through the chemical supply port113.

The exhaust buoyancy unit130is disposed inside the container body110so as to float on the chemical L, and serves to exhaust gas generated in the storage compartment118to the outside. The exhaust buoyancy unit130includes a buoyancy body131, a filter membrane150, and a weight152.

The buoyancy body131is configured to have a structure capable of floating on the chemical L, and provides a discharge passage configured to allow gas to pass therethrough. The buoyancy body131includes an upper body132and a lower body138coupled to the upper body132so as to define a chamber146together with the upper body132.

The upper body132is configured to have an approximately hemispherical shape, a portion of which is cut. The end of the upper body132is open, and the upper body132is provided at one side thereof with an inlet133open outside. The inlet133may be connected to the chamber146so as to allow gas in the storage compartment118to be introduced into the chamber146therethrough. A seating portion134configured to support the filter membrane150is provided at the circumference of the inlet133. A coupling protrusion135is provided at the end of the upper body132. The coupling protrusion135is configured to have the shape of a ring that protrudes along the end of the upper body132.

The lower body138is configured to have an approximately hemispherical shape, which corresponds to the shape of the upper body132. The end of the lower body138is open in a shape corresponding to the open end shape of the upper body132. The lower body138is provided at the end thereof with a coupling groove139, into which the coupling protrusion135of the upper body132is inserted. The coupling groove139is formed along the end of the lower body138in a ring shape. Since the coupling protrusion135is inserted into the coupling groove139, it is possible to maintain the gapless secure coupling state between the lower body138and the upper body132. In addition, each of the upper body132and the lower body138may be made of a synthetic resin material, whereby the upper body and the lower body may be securely coupled to each other by fusion.

A tube connection portion140and a weight coupling portion142are provided at the lower body138. The tube connection portion140protrudes from the outer surface of the lower body138. An exhaust tube154, a description of which will follow, is connected to the tube connection portion140. A catching projection141is provided at one side of the tube connection portion140. The catching projection141prevents the exhaust tube154from being easily separated from the tube connection portion140after being connected to the tube connection portion140.

The weight coupling portion142protrudes from the inner surface of the lower body138so as to be disposed on the same straight line as the tube connection portion140. A passage144is provided in each of the tube connection portion140and the weight coupling portion142. The passage144extends from the end of the weight coupling portion142to the end of the tube connection portion140, and may move gas introduced into the chamber146to the exhaust tube154connected to the tube connection portion140.

The passage144constitutes an exhaust channel148of the buoyancy body131together with the inlet133of the upper body132and the chamber146. The exhaust channel148serves to connect the storage compartment118and the exhaust tube154to each other in such a manner that fluid movement therebetween is possible. Gas introduced into the storage compartment118through the inlet133may move to the exhaust tube154via the chamber146and the passage144in that order.

The filter membrane150is coupled to the buoyancy body131so as to cover the exhaust channel148. Specifically, the filter membrane150is seated on the seating portion134of the upper body132to cover the inlet133of the exhaust channel148. The filter membrane150transmits gas and blocks the chemical L. Consequently, only gas generated in the storage compartment118may pass through the filter membrane150and move to the exhaust tube154along the exhaust channel148, and the chemical L is blocked by the filter membrane150and thus may not move to the exhaust channel148. The filter membrane150may be made of any of various materials that transmit gas and do not transmit liquid, such as Gore-Tex.

The weight152is coupled to the buoyancy body131in order to deviate the center of gravity Cg of the buoyancy body131from the center C of the buoyancy body131. As shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the weight152is disposed inside the buoyancy body131in the state of being coupled to the weight coupling portion142so as to wrap the circumference of the weight coupling portion142provided on the same straight line as the tube connection portion140. In the case in which the weight152is disposed inside the buoyancy body131, the weight152is prevented from contacting the chemical L, whereby it is possible to prevent damage to the weight152due to the chemical L. The lower body138and the weight152may be integrally coupled to each other by insert injection molding.

The weight152is disposed adjacent to the tube connection portion140to deviate the center of gravity Cg of the buoyancy body131from the center C of the buoyancy body131. Since the weight152deviates the center of gravity Cg of the buoyancy body131from the center C of the buoyancy body131, the distance D2from the center of gravity Cg of the buoyancy body131to the filter membrane150is greater than the distance D1from the center C of the buoyancy body131to the filter membrane150.

As described above, the center of gravity Cg of the buoyancy body131is located so as to be spaced apart from the center C of the buoyancy body131in a direction away from the filter membrane150. When the buoyancy body131floats on the chemical L, therefore, the filter membrane150may be maintained higher than the center of gravity Cg of the buoyancy body131. Consequently, the filter membrane150may be maintained so as to always be located higher than the chemical L in the state in which the buoyancy body131floats on the chemical L.

For example, as shown inFIG. 3, the buoyancy body131may float on the chemical L such that the filter membrane150is located above the chemical L so as to face upwards in the state in which the container body110stands such that the exhaust port116faces upwards. In addition, even when the container body110falls sideways, as shown inFIG. 9, the buoyancy body131may float on the chemical L such that the filter membrane150is located above the chemical L so as to face upwards. Consequently, the filter membrane150may always be located higher than the chemical L irrespective of the posture or tilt of the container body110, and gas generated from the chemical L may pass through the filter membrane150and may then be discharged to the outside through the exhaust channel148of the buoyancy body131.

The exhaust buoyancy unit130is connected to the container body110through the exhaust tube154. One end of the exhaust tube154is connected to the connection pipe117of the container body lid115, and the other end of the exhaust tube154is connected to the tube connection portion140of the buoyancy body131, whereby the exhaust buoyancy unit130is connected to the exhaust port116of the container body110in such a manner that fluid movement therebetween is possible. Consequently, gas introduced into the buoyancy body131may move to the exhaust port116along the exhaust tube154and may then be discharged out of the container body110through the exhaust port116. The exhaust tube154is made of a soft material capable of being bent in various shapes such that the exhaust buoyancy unit130can move in the storage compartment118.

In the chemical container100according to the embodiment of the present invention, as described above, the exhaust buoyancy unit130having the exhaust channel148is connected to the exhaust port116provided at one side of the container body110in such a manner that fluid movement therebetween is possible and is disposed in the container body110so as to float on the chemical L, and the filter membrane150configured to transmit only gas is disposed so as to cover the exhaust channel148. Even in the case in which the posture or tilt of the container body110is variously changed, therefore, gas generated in the container body110may pass through the filter membrane150of the exhaust buoyancy unit130, may move along the exhaust channel148in the exhaust buoyancy unit130, and may be discharged to the outside through the exhaust port116.

In addition, since the chemical container100according to the embodiment of the present invention is capable of discharging gas generated in the container body110out of the container body110through the exhaust buoyancy unit130at any posture thereof, an excessive increase in internal pressure thereof due to gas generation is prevented. Consequently, it is possible to safely store and transport the chemical L.

FIG. 10is an exploded perspective view showing a chemical container according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The chemical container200shown inFIG. 10includes a container body210configured to store a liquid chemical L, an opening and closing valve unit124(seeFIG. 3) coupled to the container body210so as to discharge the chemical L stored in the container body210, an exhaust buoyancy unit130disposed in the container body210so as to exhaust gas generated in the container body210, and a cap215coupled to the container body210and connected to the exhaust buoyancy unit130. Here, some components, such as the opening and closing valve unit124and the exhaust buoyancy unit130, are identical to those described above.

The container body210includes a container body base111and a container body lid212coupled to the container body base111so as to define a storage compartment118configured to store the chemical L together with the container body base111. The container body base111is identical to that described above. A through-hole213is provided at the center of the container body lid212.

The cap215may be coupled to the container body lid212in an assembly manner so as to close the through-hole213. The cap215is made of an elastic material, such as rubber. An exhaust port216configured to allow gas generated in the container body210to be exhausted therethrough is provided at the center of the cap215, and an insertion groove217is provided at the edge of the cap215. When the cap215is inserted into the through-hole213, the circumferential portion of the through-hole213of the container body lid212is inserted into the insertion groove217of the cap215, whereby the cap215may be securely coupled to the container body lid212without any gap therebetween.

One end of an exhaust tube154connected to the exhaust buoyancy unit130is connected to the cap215. The exhaust tube154is connected to the exhaust port216of the cap215in such a manner that fluid movement therebetween is possible. Consequently, gas generated in the container body210may be introduced into the exhaust buoyancy unit130and may then be discharged to the outside through the exhaust tube154and the exhaust port216.

In the chemical container200described above, the exhaust buoyancy unit130configured to exhaust gas generated in the container body210may be connected to the cap215and may be coupled to the container body210via the cap215in an assembly manner. Consequently, an assembly of the cap215and the exhaust buoyancy unit130may be manufactured as a single product so as to be coupled to container bodies having various sizes and various shapes for use thereof, which is advantageous in manufacture and supply.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the configurations described and shown above.

For example, the drawings show that the container body110or210having the storage compartment118provided therein includes the container body base111and the container body lid115or212separably coupled to the container body base111; however, the container body may be changed so as to have any of various structures capable of storing the chemical L.

In addition, the drawings show that the exhaust port116or216configured to exhaust gas generated in the container body110or210is disposed at the upper surface of the container body lid115or212; however, the position of the exhaust port116or216may be variously changed.

In addition, the drawings show that the buoyancy body131of the exhaust buoyancy unit130includes the hemispherical lower body138and the upper body132coupled to the lower body138; however, the shape of the buoyancy body131may be variously changed. In addition, the exhaust channel148provided in the buoyancy body131may be changed so as to have any of various other structures in addition to the structure including the inlet133, the chamber146, and the passage144, as shown.

In addition, the drawings show that the weight152is disposed inside the buoyancy body131so as to be adjacent to the tube connection portion140; however, the weight152may be installed at any of various other positions. In the case in which the weight is made of a material that does not react with the chemical L, the weight may be coupled to the outside of the buoyancy body131.

Also, in the case in which the structure of the buoyancy body is appropriately changed such that the center of gravity of the buoyancy body is located spaced apart from the center of the buoyancy body in a direction away from the filter membrane150, the weight152, which is separate from the buoyancy body, may be omitted.

Also, in the above description, the upper body132and the lower body138, each of which is made of a synthetic resin material, are coupled to each other by fusion; however, the upper body132and the lower body13may be made of various materials other than the synthetic resin and may be coupled to each other using various coupling methods other than fusion.

Furthermore, the lower body138and the weight may be coupled to each other using various methods other than insert injection molding.

Although the present invention has been shown and described above in connection with the preferred embodiments for illustrating the principle of the present invention above, the present invention is not limited to the constructions and operations shown and described above. Rather, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will well understand that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the idea and scope of the appended claims.