MULTI-FUNCTION CONTAINER

Abstract: A container for fluids comprising a rigid outer casing (1) and an internal flexible membrane (6) dividing the interior into two compartments (7 and 8). Each compartment (7, 8) has an inlet (2, 4) and an outlet (3, 5).

Description: MULTI-FUNCTION CONTAINER There are many different types and shapes of container used for the storage and dispensing of fluids, gases or solids. Such containers commonly consist of a casing with one or more openings for the input of the 5. required substance and possibly one or more other openings for the escape or extraction of this substance. Some containers are used at different times for the storage of incompatible substances; these require cleansing between the storage of each type of substance which takes 10. time, and ay also be expensive. Other containers are used for one substance only, but in varying quantities; therefore at times the container may only be partly full. This, if the container is rigid, is wasteful of space which may be both expensive and scarce. To overcome the 15. problems of space wastage by partly full rigid containers, a flexible expanding/contracting container could be utilised. This will only occupy the amount of space actually required by its contents at any given time but is sometimes impractical to use because it does not afford 20. the same strength, safety, convenience and ease of mounting or transportation provided by a rigid container. In some cases a substance may need to be stored before it is processed in some way, after which it needs to be re-stored separate from the unprocessed material. In 25. such an instance, where flexible containers would present handling problems, it would be necessary to employ rigid containers, in which case either all of the substance would have to be processed at once so that the container could be cleansed before re-storage of the processed 30. substance, or two containers would have to be employed thereby taking up twice the amount of space required by the substance. By the use of flexible barriers or liners within a rigid container in such a way as to separate the interior 5. into two or more compartments this invention enables a single rigid container to be used in turn for more than one substance without the need to cleanse the container between uses for incompatible substances. Therefore in the above mentioned case it would not be necessary to cleanse the 10. container, whilst the substance that it contained was being processed, before the processed substance could be stored. The invention also enables the simultaneous storage of one or more substances in different compartments of a single rigid container no matter how incompatible 15. they may be. Hence in the above mentioned case it would be possible to extract a portion of the substance from one compartment of the container, process it and re-store it in another compartment of the container, thereby only using the space absolutely necessary to accommodate the 20. substance. According to one aspect of the invention a multi¬ function container system comprises an outer rigid container divided into two internal compartments by a flexible wall which permits each compartment to expand and 25. contract as the other compartment respectively contracts and expands, each compartment having an inlet and/or an outlet. According to another aspect of the invention a multi¬ function container system comprises an outer container having two inlets for different liquids, each inlet communicating with a different compartment within the 5. outer container, the compartments each being at least partially defined by one or more walls which is (are) capable of flexing to permit one compartment to expand into the space occupied by the other as it simultaneously contracts during the respective introduction into and 10. extraction of material from the compartments. According to a further aspect of the invention a multi-function container system comprises an outer rigid container interiorly divided by a flexible wall which can move during the introduction into and removal of liquid 15. from either side of the wall thereby to provide on each side of the wall a compartment of a volume which varies between virtually nil to a maximum which is substantially equal to the volume of the rigid container. According to another aspect of the invention a 20. multi-function container comprises an outer rigid casing having at least two internal compartments each formed by a flexible bag, and each having an opening thereof located in a corresponding opening in the outer rigid container, and a closure member being provided for each flexible bag, 25. the arrangement being such that one flexible bag is capable of expanding to permit entry of liquid therein as the other bag contracts as liquid is removed therefrom. According to another aspect of the invention a multi-function container system comprises an outer rigid 30. container having at least two internal compartments, each being formed by a flexible bag, the bags being situated side by side and being capable one at a time to occupy, when full, substantially the entire volume of the interior of the rigid container with the other bag at that time collapsed, each flexible bag having an inlet and/or an outlet through which different liquids can be introduced and/or removed from the respective bags without contaminating 5. one another. According to another aspect of the invention a camping water cart comprises a wheeled trolley supporting a rigid outer container which is divided internally, by at least one flexible wall or bag, into a clean-water 10. compartment and a dirty-water compartment, the dirty-water compartment being capable of expanding, by movement of the flexible wall or bag, as the clean-water compartment contracts during emptying. Preferably the camping water cart trolley is 15. capable of being maintained in either a generally upright position during a traversing movement of the trolley over the ground, or of lying on its side with a normally upper end of the container on the ground, at least one of the compartments being filled/emptied via .a capped entry 20. positioned on the side of the container which faces upwardly when the container is lying on its side. According to another aspect of the invention a multi-function container system comprises an outer container formed in two parts each of which has an 25. annular open end, the annular open ends being capable in one configuration, of securement with the two parts extending away from one another to form a unitary rigid compartment, or in a second configuration of nesting one within the other, one or more flexible walls being provided 30. which, in the said one configuration, divide the compartment into two sections each to contain a different liquid. The invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but particular embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- 5. Figure 1 shows a two section container less than half full containing equal amounts of waste and fresh water ? Figure 2 shows the container of Figure 1 approximately half full containing a greater amount of waste than fresh 10. water; Figure 3 shows the container of Figure 1 more than half full containing a lesser amount of waste than fresh water; Figure 4 shows the front elevation of a storage/ 15. transport vehicle suitable for the simultaneous storage of fresh and waste water in a transporting position; Figure 5 shows a side elevation of the vehicle of Figure 4 in a storage position; Figure 6 shows in detail a suitable coupling for 20. connecting the fresh water side to a pipe network; Figures 7 to 13 show various methods of converting existing rigid containers into multi-function containers; and Figures 14 to 18 show various positions of a multi- 25. function container which is collapsible for ease of storage. The two-section container shown in Figures 1 to 3 has an outer rigid casing 1 divided into two inner compart¬ ments 7 and 8 by a flexible, impermeable membrane 6 with each compartment having its own inlet 2 and 4 and its own 30. outlet 3 and 5. If compartment 7 is filled via inlet 2 the membrane will flex to the right as shown in Figure 2. If compartment 7 were then drained via outlet 3, compartment 8 could be filled via inlet 4, as shown in Figure 3, thus obviating 5. the need for cleansing between uses. By using this type of container, simultaneous separate storage facilities for a substance both before and after processing could be provided. For example, fresh water could be stored in compartment 8 before use in a 10, washing process and the waste water from the process could be returned and stored in compartment 7. The container would also permit the drawing off and topping-up process of either or both compartments to continue independently so long as the combined volume of the substance in both 15. compartments did not exceed the total volume of the container at any one time. The simultaneous storage of fresh and waste water would be particularly convenient for camping and caravanning, where a container such as the one shown in Figures 4 and 5 20. could be filled with fresh water and emptied of waste water at a washing station, transported to the caravan, cabin, or tent and perhaps connected to a water system there. The outer structure 10 of the container shown in 25. Figures 4 and 5 is a large rigid container with wheels 14 at one end and an integral handle 9 at the other for ease of transporting when full. A flexible membrane 16 divides, the interior into two compartments 17 and 18. The fresh water compartment 18 would be filled through 30. a cap 19 on a port 20 and extracted via a pipe 11 passing through the cap 19. For example, a supply pipe 13 (see Figure 6) could be connected to the freshwater pump in a caravan and to the pipe 11 by a screw-connector 12. The waste water compartment 17 of the container would be filled and emptied through a tap 15 which would, for example, be connected to the sink waste outlet on the caravan. 5, The layout would be such that, when in use, pipe 11 would reach the lowest point of the compartment 18. In addition, a cage arrangement or ribs, over the near the inlets and outlets, may be necessary to prevent the membrane blocking the flow of water. 10. Such a container would initially be filled to its maximum capacity with fresh water, then be wheeled to the caravan (or tent) and be located in, on, or adjacent to it and then be coupled into the water system as already described. 15. Some of the fresh water drawn off will be consumed but, typically, a substantial proportion will be used for washing of one sort or another and will be returned to the compartment 17 of the same container as waste. As a result, when the fresh water supply is exhausted 20. the container is likely to contain a substantial quantity of waste water. The container is then de-coupled, wheeled to a suitable drain, the water is emptied and the container refilled with fresh water. 25. A version of this design could also be used for the ώnboard storage of water in boats. The combination of generally restricted stowage space and increasingly stringent controls over the emptying of waste products of all types in marinas and ports may well make this 30. application particularly attractive. As an alternative to the purpose-built container as so far described it is possible to convert existing rigid containers by inserting one or more flexible bags, each with a maximum capacity equal to or slightly greater than that of the rigid container. These separate inner 5. compartments would have to be inserted through the existing openings and held by specially constructed or converted caps. Figures 7 to 9 illustrate a layout where the rigid container has individual inlet and outlet openings for 10. each inserted bag. In this layout a rigid container 31 is fitted with two flexible bags, 32 for fresh water, and 33 for waste water in the particular application exemplified above. The waste water bag 33 has two openings, one of which is secured at a cap 35 of the rigid container 31 and 15, through which waste water is fed into the bag via pipe 34. The other opening is secured at a cap 37 (see Figure 8) of the rigid container and is for emptying the waste water bag 33. The fresh water bag 32 has a single opening secured at cap 36 through which it can be filled and 20. emptied. The rigid container to be converted need not necessarily have several openings; a container with one opening could just as readily be converted as shown in Figure 10. It may be desirable to have the openings 25. to each compartment kept completely separate from another, in which case a cap arrangement such as that illustrated in Figure 11 could be employed. In this arrangement, a cap 61 holds the fresh water bag 63 and the waste bag 64, the fresh water being extracted via a tube 62 held in place 30. by a cap 65 which is removed to allow the fresh water bag 63 to be filled. Cap 69 covers the fresh water inlet and outlets while the waste water is discharged. The waste water enters the container 64 via a cap 66 and sealed pipe 60, thus eliminating contamination of the fresh water. Breather facilities to the rigid container may be 5, required, to accommodate changes in the volume occupied within it. However, there may well be no requirement for such facilities .as the waste water bag 64 takes up the space vacated by the fresh water bag 63. It may not be necessary to insert as many flexible 10. bags as compartments required, since it is possible to utilise the space between the rigid container and a flexible insert as a compartment in itself. Figure 12 illustrates such an arrangement using a rigid container with two openings 45, 46 and only one 15. flexible inner container 42. The rigid outer container 41 is in direct contact with one of the stored substances and is filled and emptied through the opening 46. Consider¬ ing once again the water storage example, fresh water would be stored in the flexible bag 42 and waste water in the 20. container 41. A configuration of this type could be suitable for fuel storage where two alternative fuels are equally suitable but should not be mixed and where either may have to be used from time to time as a result of the 25. unavailability or cost of the other. Figure 13 illustrates a similar approach but using a rigid container 51 with a single opening cap 58. This cap 58 is secured to a single flexible insert 52 with a pipe 54 for filling and drawing off and a pipe 57 for 30. feeding the other material to be stored into the rigid container 51. This would be emptied by undoing cap 58 and either removing it completely with its attachments or at least swinging it out of the way. Another construction method which retains the advantages and safety of a rigid outer container when in use, while offering reduced volume while stored or 5. in transit, is illustrated in Figures 14 to 18. This method utilises two rigid containers 75 and 76, each with one end sealed with a flexible and impermeable membrane 77, 78 respectively of approximately the same capacity as the associated rigid container. 10. The membrane material and its attachment to the rigid container must permit the membrane to flex to its fullest extent, in either direction, i.e. both away from the rigid container, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, and into the rigid container, as shown in. the assembled mode in 15. Figures 16 and 17. In the assembled mode the two rigid containers 75 and 76 could be clamped together by known quick-release clamping systems. Figure 16 shows the unit with the bottom section container 75 full whilst Figure 17 shows the membranes 20. 77 and 78 flexing to the other extreme when the upper section container 76 is full. When not in use, the smaller container 76 is released, inverted and then placed inside the larger container 75 as shown in Figure 18. Thus the space 25. required for storage and/or transit when not in use would only be approximately half the capacity of the assembled container. The inlet and outlet ports and fittings must, of course, be designed so as to allow this method of packing. Each unit could also be 30. individually replaceable and if further compartments are required an intermediate cylinder with openings and flexible bag inserts could be incorporated between the two containers 75 and 76, each container then being clamped to one end of the cylinder. It will be appreciated that there is no specific 5, limit to the number of separate sections that can be incorporated within a single outer container. In all configurations, care in design and manufacture should be taken to avoid or reduce the possibility of the flexible members being damaged through being overstretched. 10. Typically this will be substantially achieved by ensuring that each flexible container or membrane is of sufficient size so that, when full,the flexible material is fully supported by the walls of the rigid container before reaching its elastic limit. 15. The basic principles of a multi-function container with variable-volume, self-contained compartments need not be restricted to fluid storage. It can be applied to gases and a variety of solids, particualrly those in powder or granular form, e.g. agricultural crops of various kinds.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A multi-function container system comprising an outer rigid container divided into two internal compartments by a flexible wall which permits each compartment to expand and contract as the other compartment respectively contracts and 5. expands, each compartment having an inlet and/or an outlet. 2. A multi-function container system comprising an outer container having two inlets for different liquids, each inlet communicating with a different compartment within 10. the outer container, the compartments each being at least partially defined by one or more walls which is (are) capable of flexing to permit one compartment to expand into the space occupied by the other as it simultaneously contract during the respective introduction into and extraction of 15. material from the compartments. 3. A multi-function container system comprising an outer rigid container interiorly divided by a flexible wall which can move during the introduction into and removal of liquid 20. from either side of the wall thereby to provide on each side of the wall a compartment of a volume which varies between virtually nil to a maximum which is substantially equal to the volume of the rigid container. 25. 4. A multi-functional container comprising an outer rigid casing having at least two internal compartments each formed by a flexible bag, and each having an opening thereof located in a corresponding opening in the outer rigid container, and a closure member being provided for 30. each flexible bag, the arrangement being such that one flexible bag is capable of expanding to permit entry of liquid therein as the other bag contracts as liquid is removed therefrom. 5. A multi-function container system comprising an outer rigid container having at least two internal compartments, each being formed by a flexible bag, the bags being situated side by side and being capable one at a time 5. to occupy, when full, substantially the entire volume of the interior of the rigid container with the other bag at that time collapsed, each flexible bag having an inlet and/or an outlet through which different liquids can be introduced and/or removed from the respective bags without contaminating 10. one another. 6. A camping water cart comprising a wheeled trolley supporting a rigid outer container which is divided internally, by at least one flexible wall or bag, into a 15. clean-water compartment and a dirty-water compartment, the dirty-water compartment being capable of expanding, by move¬ ment of the flexible wall or bag, as the clean-water compartment contracts during emptying. 20. 7. A camping water cart as claimed in claim 6 in which the trolley is capable of being maintained in either a generally upright position during a traversing movement of the trolley over the ground ^ or of lying on its side with a normally upper end of the container on the ground, at least 5, one of the compartments being filled/emptied via a capped entry positioned on the side of the container which faces upwardly when the container is lying on its side. 8. A multi-function container system comprising an 0, outer container formed in two parts each of which has an annular open end, the annular open ends being capable in one configuration, of securement with the two parts extending away from one another to form a unitary rigid compartment, or in a second configuration of nesting one within the other, one or more flexible walls being provided which, in the said one configuration, divide 5. the compartment into two sections each to contain a different liquid. 9. A multi-function container substantially as described herein with reference to any one of the embodiments shown 10. in the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: ANDREWS TREVOR CHARLES, ANDREWS, TREVOR, CHARLES
Applicants: ANDREWS TREVOR CHARLES, UTEC BV, ANDREWS, TREVOR, CHARLES, UTEC B.V.
Application year: 1985
Main classification: B65D83
IPC codes: A45F3, B65D83