Patent Publication Number: US-9422092-B2

Title: Inner container made of plastic as well as transport and storage container for liquids having such an inner container

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the benefit of German Patent Application No. 10 2013 205 688.5 filed Mar. 28, 2013, which is fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an inner container made of plastic for transporting and storing liquids, said inner container comprising, at a front side, an outlet neck for connecting an outlet armature and a bottom wall, which connects two side walls, one rear wall and one front wall of the inner container to one another, and which bottom wall is for supporting the inner container on a pallet bottom of a transport pallet that is provided with an outer jacket for accommodating the inner container. Moreover, the invention relates to a transport and storage container having such an inner container. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Inner containers of the afore-mentioned type are used as a replaceable component of transport and storage containers, which serve to transport and to store liquids and which are habitually used as so-called “circulatory containers”, which are filled repeatedly. So as to allow the highest possible turnover of the fluids filled into the containers, it is important to ensure the most complete draining of the containers, such that the entire container volume is available for the new filling in the next filling operation. In some cases, it is also important to attain the most complete draining of the containers, so as not to have to carry out complicated rinsing and cleaning operations, or to at least limit these operations to a corresponding minimum. 
     In particular with highly viscous filling materials, which have good wetting properties relative to the inner walls of the inner container, a substantially complete draining of the known inner containers can turn out to be very complicated and time-consuming, since the container shape is substantially oriented toward making a container available having a maximized container volume, which container additionally, in respect of its outer dimensions or its embodiment, is substantially adapted to the accommodating space, which is defined on the transport pallet within the outer jacket. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is based on the task of proposing an inner container made of plastic for transporting and storing liquids as well as a transport and storage container having such an inner container, which allows the most complete draining of the residual liquid from the container with the smallest possible effort, even with highly viscous filling materials. 
     In accordance with the invention, the outlet neck is arranged in a funnel bottom of an outlet funnel which is embodied in the bottom wall, and which comprises four triangular funnel walls, comprising one front funnel wall, two lateral funnel walls and one rear funnel wall, wherein the lateral funnel walls are inclined from a lower edge of a side wall towards the funnel bottom in each case, embodying a truncated pyramid above the funnel bottom together with the rear funnel wall and the front funnel wall. 
     Due to the embodiment in accordance with the invention, the bottom wall is utilized for embodying an outlet funnel, which is defined by four triangular funnel walls that are preferably flat and which comprises a funnel bottom, in which the outlet neck is arranged. Due to the triangular embodiment of the funnel walls, the outlet funnel has the shape of a truncated pyramid above the funnel bottom, such that the funnel walls provide for a flow profile in the bottom wall of the inner container, which profile continually becomes smaller towards the outlet neck, without liquid pockets being able to be formed when a liquid is drained, which pockets would prevent a complete draining of residual liquid. 
     Preferably, the front funnel wall is inclined from a lower edge of a front wall towards the funnel ground, such that an arrangement of the outlet neck results, which is recessed with respect to the front wall of the inner container, an arrangement of an outlet armature thus resulting, which is correspondingly recessed and in this way protected, said outlet armature being mounted onto the outlet neck. In addition, the inclined front funnel wall allows an adaptation of the inclination angle of the front funnel wall to the inclination angles of the remaining funnel walls, which means in particular the embodiment of the same inclination angle with all funnel walls. 
     For a proper functioning of the outlet funnel, it is, however, sufficient if, in accordance with a possible embodiment, the front funnel wall is formed by a triangular extension of the front wall, said extension extending in the plane of the front wall. 
     If the lower edge of the rear wall, the lower edges of the side walls and the lower edge of the front wall are arranged in a horizontal plane of the inner container, an inner container having a funnel-shaped bottom wall results, with which inner container the front wall, the side walls and the rear wall can be implemented with the same size. 
     If the lower edge of the rear wall, the lower edges of the side walls and/or the lower edge of the front wall are arranged in different horizontal planes of the inner container, any number of variants of the funnel embodiment is possible, so as to be able to vary the inclination of the funnel walls and the relative position of the funnel ground or of the outlet neck at the inner container. 
     If the lower edge of the rear wall is arranged above the lower edges of the side walls of the inner container and the lower edges of the side walls are arranged in a horizontal plane together with the lower edge of the front wall, an inner container results, having a relatively small inclination of the rear funnel wall and a large usable holding capacity. 
     If the lower edge of the rear wall is arranged above the lower edges of the side walls of the inner container and the lower edge of the front wall is arranged between the lower edge of the rear wall and the lower edges of the side walls, an inner container results, having a relatively larger inclination of the rear funnel wall and a comparatively smaller usable holding capacity, wherein said inner container is particularly suitable for liquids having a higher viscosity. 
     If the lower edge of the rear wall and the lower edge of the front wall are arranged in a horizontal plane and above the lower edges of the side walls, an inner container results, having an even larger inclination of the rear funnel wall and a comparatively even smaller usable holding capacity, wherein said inner container is particularly suitable for liquids having a particularly high viscosity. 
     Comparable specifics apply to an inner container with which the lower edge of the rear wall is arranged between the lower edge of the front wall and the lower edges of the side walls. 
     A particularly small flow resistance in the inlet area of the outlet neck is attained if the funnel bottom is embodied to be cup-shaped and comprises a connecting face for the outlet neck, said connecting face being embodied at a lower edge of the front funnel wall and being arranged parallel to the front wall of the inner container. 
     The transport and storage container for liquids in accordance with the invention comprises an inner container made of plastic having the features described herein, wherein the inner container is arranged, for support, with its bottom wall on a pallet bottom of a transport pallet that is provided with an outer jacket for accommodating the inner container, and wherein a supporting means is arranged between the bottom wall of the inner container and the pallet bottom, said supporting means comprising a supporting surface that is adapted to the bottom wall in respect of its inclination. 
     The transport and storage container in accordance with the invention, due to a simple combination of a conventional transport pallet, which comprises an outer jacket, with a supporting means, thus makes it possible to use an inner container that has the advantages which are described herein. 
     The transport and storage container in accordance with the invention makes it possible to use an inner container that allows an improved draining of the residual liquid, without there being the need to deviate from the transport pallet that is usually used with a transport and storage container, or from the outer jacket that is embodied in the usual manner so as to be able to utilize the advantageous effects of the inner container. 
     It has a particularly advantageous effect with regard to the total height of the transport and storage container if the supporting means, for embodying the supporting surface for the bottom wall, comprises a supporting frame having a recess for the outlet funnel and having a recess for passing through an outlet armature that is arranged at the outlet neck, such that the outlet funnel can be accommodated in the supporting means in a manner being retracted. 
     Preferably, the supporting frame comprises a supporting brace for supporting the inner container, said supporting brace bridging the recess for passing through the outlet armature that is arranged at the outlet neck. 
     If, in accordance with an advantageous embodiment, the supporting means, for embodying the supporting surface for the bottom wall, comprises a supporting ramp in a rear section of the supporting frame, a particularly safe support of an inner container is possible, said inner container comprising a bottom wall that is inclined from the lower edge of the rear wall towards the funnel bottom. 
     If the supporting ramp is formed, at least partly, from a supporting top that is arranged on a supporting base of the supporting frame, the best possible adaptation of the supporting means to inner containers having different bottom walls can be attained with a small effort, based on a ready-to-use embodiment of an elementary form of the supporting means, by adding an individual supporting superstructure. 
     For reducing the number of components of a transport and storage container, the supporting frame can be embodied to be linked to the pallet bottom in one piece, which means, for example, as a molded part. 
     It is particularly advantageous if the supporting means is embodied, at least partly, as a blow molded part, such that the same technology can be used for producing the supporting body and for producing the inner container. 
     It is in particular advantageous if the supporting frame is embodied as a blow molded part, thus allowing to be easily adapted, in respect of its shaping, to the bottom wall or to the outlet funnel of the bottom wall. 
     If the supporting frame and the supporting top are embodied as blow molded parts, the two components can be produced in a common production process. 
     It is alternatively possible to embody the supporting means, at least partly, as an injection molded part. 
     If the supporting means is embodied at least partly as an injection molded part, there is the advantage that the supporting means can be implemented, due to an optimized design, with the smallest amount of material used possible and, nevertheless, having a high dynamic load capacity. 
     If the supporting frame is embodied as an injection molded part, the same cannot only be easily adapted to the bottom wall or to the outlet funnel of the bottom wall in respect of its shaping, but also has a particularly high stability. 
     If the supporting frame and the supporting top are embodied as injection molded parts, the two components can be produced in a common production process. 
     In particular for producing a supporting means, which is composed of simple flat parts, nevertheless allowing an adaptation to the surface of the pallet bottom as well as to the bottom wall as well as to the outlet funnel of the inner container, it is advantageous if the supporting means is embodied as a framework having a plurality of supporting ribs which are arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the inner container, and which are connected to one another via horizontal connection elements. 
     If the supporting means is embodied as a bar framework having a plurality of bars that are connected to one another, it is, for example, possible to implement the supporting means as a welded construction, wherein it turns out to be advantageous in particular to use tubes due to their high bending resistance as compared to the amount of material used. 
     If the bar framework is formed, at least partially, by bars of the outer jacket, the amount of material used for producing the bar framework can be minimized by using bars of the outer jacket which already exist. 
     For preventing an undesirable surface pressure at the contact points between the bars of the bar framework and the inner container, it is advantageous if the bar framework, for embodying supporting surfaces, is provided with load-bearing surfaces, which are preferably formed from pieces of sheet metal, such that welding to the bars of the bar framework is easily possible. 
     Preferred embodiments of the inner container in accordance with the invention and of the transport and storage container in accordance with the invention will be defined in more detail below by means of the drawing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the figures: 
         FIG. 1  shows a transport and storage container having an inner container which is arranged on a supporting means; 
         FIG. 2  shows the supporting means which is arranged on a transport pallet of the transport and storage container that is illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows the inner container that is illustrated in  FIG. 1  in an individual illustration; 
         FIG. 4  shows the supporting means that is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  in an individual illustration; 
         FIG. 5  shows the inner container that is illustrated in  FIG. 3  in a side view; 
         FIG. 6  shows the inner container that is illustrated in  FIG. 3  in a front view; 
         FIG. 7  shows the inner container that is illustrated in  FIG. 3  in a view from below; 
         FIG. 8  shows a supporting means which is embodied as an injection molded part; 
         FIG. 9  shows a supporting means which is produced as a blow molded part, and which is embodied in two parts, in an exploded view; 
         FIG. 10  shows the supporting means that is illustrated in  FIG. 9  in a mounted state; 
         FIG. 11  shows a supporting means having a pallet bottom, which is integrally embodied, in a side view; 
         FIG. 12  shows the supporting means that is illustrated in  FIG. 11  in an isometric illustration; 
         FIG. 13  shows an inner container which is arranged on a supporting means that is embodied as a bar framework; 
         FIG. 14  shows an isometric illustration of the supporting means that is illustrated in  FIG. 13 ; and 
         FIG. 15  shows an isometric illustration of a further embodiment of a supporting means. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows a transport and storage container  10  that accommodates an inner container  15  made of plastic on a transport pallet  11  in an outer jacket  14 , which is herein embodied as a grid jacket having vertical bars  12  and horizontal bars  13 . A supporting means  17  is arranged between the inner container  15  and a pallet bottom  16  of the transport pallet  11 , on which supporting means the inner container  15  is supported with a bottom wall  18 . The inner container  15  comprises, at a front wall  19 , an outlet neck  20  for connecting an outlet armature  21  that makes it possible to tap a filling material from the inner container  15 , said filling material previously having been filled in through a filling opening  22  at an upper side  23  of the inner container  15 . 
     The transport pallet  11  of the transport and storage container  10  that is illustrated in  FIG. 1  is implemented as a frame pallet having a base frame  24  which is formed from a tube material, and on which supporting feet  25  are arranged, which support the pallet bottom  16  on which the outer jacket  14  is arranged. 
     Deviating from the transport pallet  11  that is illustrated in  FIG. 1  and is implemented as a frame pallet, the transport pallet can also be implemented as a skid pallet, wherein deviating materials can also be used for the individual components of the pallet, in particular with the skid pallets. It is in particular also conceivable, deviating from the transport pallet  11  which is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and which comprises a pallet bottom  16  that is implemented as a molded part of sheet metal, to implement the pallet bottom as a plastic part. 
     The supporting means  17  which is arranged on the pallet bottom  16 , as can in particular be seen from the  FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 , comprises a supporting ramp  26  in a rear section of a supporting frame  51 . The supporting frame  51 , in a front section, is provided with a recess  52  for the outlet funnel  29  and with a recess for the outlet armature  21 . 
     As it becomes clear in particular from a combined view of the  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a surface of the supporting means  17 , which faces the bottom wall  18  of the inner container  15 , forms a supporting surface  28  which serves for resting, in a supporting manner, against the bottom wall  18  of the inner container  15  as well as for resting against an outlet funnel  29 , which is arranged below a lower edge  44  of the front wall  19 . 
     As is shown in particular by the  FIGS. 5 to 7 , the inner container  15  comprises side walls  30 ,  31  which comprise, in a manner adjoining the front wall  19  of the inner container  15 , lower edges  32 ,  33  which preferably run horizontally. Triangular lateral funnel walls  35 ,  36  extend from the lower edges  32 ,  33 , having an inclination angle α relative to a funnel bottom  34  of the outlet funnel  29  which is embodied in the bottom wall  18 . In addition, a bottom section  45  of the bottom wall  18 , said bottom section preferably being flat, extends from a lower edge  37  of a rear wall  38  of the inner container  15  at an inclination angle β towards the funnel bottom  34 , wherein the bottom section  45  merges into a rear funnel wall  39 , in a manner adjoining the lateral funnel walls. A further funnel wall  40 , which comprises an inclination angle γ in the case of the illustrated exemplary embodiment, extends from the lower edge  44  of the front wall  19  towards the funnel bottom  34 , complementing the two lateral funnel walls  35 ,  36  and the rear funnel wall  39  above the funnel bottom  34 , in which the outlet neck  20  is located, so as to form a truncated pyramid  46 . 
     In the case of the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the inclination angles α, β, γ are embodied with the same size, constituting an angle between 20 and 30°, preferably 26°. In addition, the lower edges  32 ,  33  of the side walls  30 ,  31  and the lower edge  27  of the front wall  28  are located in a common horizontal plane E, whereas the lower edge  37  of the rear wall  38  is arranged above the lower edges  32 ,  33  of the side walls  30 ,  31 . 
     The funnel bottom  34  is embodied to be cup-shaped, having a connecting face  43  for the outlet neck  20 , said connecting face being embodied in a lower edge area  42  of the front funnel wall  40  and being arranged parallel to the front wall  19  of the inner container  15 . 
     As it results from the above explanations referring to the  FIGS. 5 to 7 , the outlet funnel  29 , above the funnel bottom  34 , is embodied in the shape of a truncated pyramid  46  due to the four triangular funnel walls  35 ,  36 ,  39  and  40 , wherein the cup-shaped funnel bottom  41  embodies a pyramid top, which is shifted towards the front wall  19 . 
     Depending on whether the inclination angles of the funnel walls are embodied to correspond to or differ from one another, a regular truncated pyramid, which is straight or sloping, results as the shape of the outlet funnel. 
     Deviating from the embodiment of a supporting means  17 , which embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 4 , said supporting means being embodied in one piece as a blow molded part,  FIG. 8  shows a supporting means  50  which is embodied as an injection molded part, in particular as an injection molded part that is produced from an EPS foam. Consistently with the supporting means  17  ( FIG. 4 ), the supporting means  50  comprises a supporting frame  51  having a recess  52  for accommodating the outlet funnel  29  which is illustrated in  FIG. 3 , which recess being joined with a further recess  53  for passing through the outlet armature  21  that is arranged at the outlet neck  20  of the inner container  15  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In a rear section of the supporting means  50 , a supporting ramp  47  is embodied which is molded to the supporting frame  51  in one piece. 
     In  FIGS. 9 and 10 , a supporting means  54  is illustrated, which is embodied as a blow molded part and in two pieces, wherein a supporting frame  55 , in a front section, comprises a recess  56  for accommodating the outlet funnel  29  ( FIG. 3 ) and is provided with a supporting base  57  in its rear section, said supporting base embodying a supporting ramp  59 , being complemented by the second part of the supporting means  54 , which is embodied as a supporting top  58  forming part of a supporting superstructure. For supporting the inner container  15  above a recess  60  for passing through the outlet armature  21 , which recess is embodied in the supporting frame  55 , the recess  60  is bridged with a supporting brace  61 . 
     In  FIGS. 11 and 12 , a supporting means  62  is illustrated, which is embodied as a component of a transport and storage pallet  63 , having a supporting frame  64  which, as it can in particular be seen from the exploded illustration in  FIG. 12 , embodies a pallet bottom  65  of the transport and storage pallet  62  in a lower area which is molded thereto in one piece, said pallet bottom being connected to a base frame  67  via supporting feet  66 , thus forming the transport and storage pallet  63  which is realized as a frame pallet. 
     For embodying a supporting ramp  69 , the supporting frame  64  is provided with a supporting base  70 , in a manner comparable to the supporting frame  55  that is illustrated in  FIG. 10  and belongs to the supporting means  54 , on which supporting base a supporting top  71  forming part of a supporting superstructure is arranged as the second part of the supporting means  62 . 
     Deviating from the supporting means  50 ,  54  and  62  which are illustrated in the  FIGS. 8 to 12 , and which are produced as blow molded parts or as injection molded parts, the  FIGS. 13 to 15  show further possible embodiments by way of example. 
     For example,  FIGS. 13 and 14  show a supporting means  77 , which is formed as a bar framework having a closed frame  78  and bars  79 ,  80  which are connected to the frame  78  and bent in the shape of a U, and which bars  79 ,  80  consist of tube sections that are formed differently. 
     As is in particular shown by the  FIG. 13 , at the bars  80 , supporting bars  81 ,  82  are envisaged, which embody bar bridges for supporting the bottom wall of the inner container  15 , being implemented with different heights corresponding to the inclination of the bottom wall  18 . 
       FIG. 15  shows, as a further possible embodiment, a supporting means  83  which is embodied as a framework having a plurality of supporting ribs  84  to  89  which are arranged transversely to a longitudinal axis  49 , and which are connected among one another via horizontal connection elements  90 ,  91  and are secured in their relative arrangement. Here, the respective height or shaping of the supporting ribs  84  to  89  is selected such that an adaptation to the inclined bottom wall  18  of the inner container  15  ( FIG. 13 ) becomes possible.