STATIONARY OR MOBILE CONTAINER FOR CONTAINING OR SHIPPING SUBSTANCES THAT ARE TOXIC, DANGEROUS, CONTAMINATED OR, IN ANY CASE, HARMFUL TO HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Abstract: The stationary or mobile container makes possible containing or shipping of solid, liquid, powdery, granular or gaseous substances and in particular that are toxic, dangerous, polluted or, in any case, harmful to health and the environment. It comprises an outside wall (1), for example of metal, a protective inside wall in one or more layers (2, 3), unattackable or in any case inert with respect to the substances contained in it, self-­ sealing in case of perforation or tearing of outside wall (1) and elastically deformable to compensate for the change in volume caused by deformations of the container in case of impact so that the inside pressure remains almost constant and, an optional expanding additional container (4) connected by a check valve (5) to protective inside wall (2, 3).

Description: This invention has as its object a stationary or mobile container for containing or shipping of solid, liquid, powdery, granular or gaseous substances and in particular that are toxic, dangerous, polluted or in any case harmful to health and the environment. Containers are now in use which, in case of accidental impact or tearing, do not offer any protection from escaping of the substances contained in them, causing serious and at times irreparable damage to the environment, and seriously endangering the health of the inhabitants of the surrounding areas. From the following prior arts: G8-A-189 848 and DE-A-3 049 429 it is known a stationary or mobile container for containing or shipping of solid, liquid, powdery, granular or gaseous substances and in particular that are toxic, dangerous, polluted or in any case harmful to health and the environment, defined by a mechanical resistant outside wall of any shape, size and material, by a protective inside wall in one or more layers, unattackable or, in any case, inert with respect to the substances contained in it, nonconducting, self-sealing in case of perforation or tearing of outside wall and elastically deformable to compensate for the change in volume caused by deformations of outside wall in case of impact, so that the inside pressure remains almost constant. The stationary or mobile container according to the present invention differs from the cited prior art being characterized by an expandable additional container, connected by a check valve to protective inside wall. A further prior art: DE-C-703 201 discloses not an "expandable", but a "compressible inner container". According to this document, a pressure balance without a loss of liquid substances of the container, is achieved by the attachment of one or more inflated air-bags within said container, wherein the air bags can be automatically expelled to the exterior by means of a check valve. The accompanying drawings represent some preferred nonlimiting and nonbinding embodiments of the invention. Fig. 1 represents the longitudinal section of a container according to the invention, in the shape of a stationary or mobile tank. Fig. 2 represents its cross section in case of perforation of the outside and inside wall. Fig. 3 represents the partial longitudinal section of a variant in the shape of an expanding additional container. Fig. 4 represents the partial longitudinal section of another variant in the shape of an expanding additional container. With respect to fig. 1: the stationary or mobile container comprises outside wall 1, of sheet metal, synthetic resins or other material and protective inside wall 2, 3 unattackable or in any case chemically or physically inert with respect to the substances contained in the tank, for example consisting of an elastic synthetic resin formed by one or more layers 2, 3. Said layers are such that in case of perforation or tearing, for example by a pointed or tearing object 7 (fig. 2), they do not not allow the escape of the contents of the tank since the perforation or tear is automatically healed by the effect of the elasticity of the material of said covering 2, 3 and by the inside pressure. By application of another layer (not shown) of spongy or absorbent material on the inside of the container, in case it contains liquid substances, possible small lost residues of liquid through the tear or perforation of the self-sealing layer are prevented by the effect of absorption of the percolating liquid by said spongy layer, whose thickness can vary according to needs. In fig. 1 the volume of contents of the tank, compressed by deformation AB of outside wall 1, under the action of an impact (force F), has the possibility of being transferred, through escape valve (5) (fig. 3), suitably calibrated, to expanding additional container 4 by check valve 5 so that it, being expanded, balances the pressure. The filling cap of the tank is indicated by 6. Fig. 2 represents the deformation of outside wall 1 and protective inside wall 2, 3 by a pointed body 7. Removal of said body does not cause any loss of the contents of the tank because protective inside wall 2, 3 is healed automatically. Fig. 3 represents a variant in the shape of expanding additional container 4′ which in this case folds. In fig. 4 expanding additional container 4″ is spherical. The possible embodiments both of protective inside wall 2, 3 of the container and expanding additional container 4, 4′, 4″ are most varied and all are understood to come under the scope of protection of the patent. It is provided that the expandable additional container (4, 4′, 4″), in question can be applied to any type of tank or container, great or small, of any material and any shape, mobile or stationary, and that the substances contained can be at any admissible temperature.

Claims: Stationary or mobile container for containing or shipping of solid, liquid, powdery, granular or gaseous substances and in particular that are toxic, dangerous, polluted or in any case harmful to health and the environment defined by a mechanically resistant outside wall (1) of any shape, size and material, by a protective inside wall in one or more layers (2, 3), unattackable or, in any case, inert with respect to the substances contained in it, nonconducting, self-sealing in case of perforation or tearing of outside wall (1) and elastically deformable to compensate for a change in volume caused by deformations of the outside wall (1) in case of impact so that the inside pressure remains almost constant, characterized by an expandable additional container (4, 4′, 4″) connected by a check valve (5) to the protective inside wall (2, 3). Container according to claim 1, wherein said expandable additional container (4′, fig. 3) is made to fold. Container according to claim 1, wherein said expandable additional container (4″, fig. 4) expands in spherical shape.

Inventors: ROSSINI, ALBERTO
Applicants: ROSSINI, ALBERTO
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B65D25
IPC codes: B65D81