Patent Description:
<CIT> (<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>), relates to an anti-extraction retaining device for a member inserted inside a receiving body.

<CIT> (<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>), relates to a spring clip to connect tubular component.

<CIT> (<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>), relates to a securing clip for fixing position of a bolt bearing via a groove in a bolt end.

<CIT> (<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>), relates to a coupled assembly and coupling ring.

Nowadays, large containers are often used for the transport of bulk liquids. The container has a bottom and four side plates. A liner for containing liquid is placed inside the container. The liner placed inside the container are not easily damaged.

Generally, a passage is provided in the side portion at the bottom of the container so as to facilitate the discharge of the liquid in the container. The lower portion of the liner is provided with a discharge outlet. The flange of the discharge outlet and the liner are welded together. The discharge outlet is aligned with the passage in the container when the liner is placed in the container. Most of these discharge outlets do not have their own valves, and the film between the discharge outlet and the interior of the liner is retained. The film is punctured only when the discharge outlet is connected to a pipe equipped with a valve. Some of the discharge outlets are provided with a valve, wherein the discharge channel of the discharge outlet is directly connected to the inside of the liner and the liquid inside of the liner can be discharged simply when the discharge outlet is connected with a tube. Alternatively, when the valve is connected to a tube and opened, the liquid can be discharged.

These discharge outlets have a specific shape, such as a square or hexagonal shape, near the root of the flange which is intended to be connected to a fixing clamp. When the liner is placed in the container, the fixing clamp will firstly snap around the discharge outlet and then snap in the passage at the bottom of the container such that the discharge outlet is secured on the container and the liner is protected from damage in use. However, the existing method of assembling the clamps is that after the welding of the flange, the worker manually twists and fixes the clamp from the mouth of the valve to be mounted on the flange, which is difficult to operate and low in assembling efficiency.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fixing clamp which is simple in construction and can be transversely pushed in to be assembled with the discharge outlet, wherein the fixing clamp has low requirements for assembly accuracy, and is favorable for saving cost and increasing efficiency.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a fixing clamp according to claim <NUM> for discharge outlet of intermediate bulk container, wherein the intermediate bulk container is provided with a discharge passage, and the fixing clamp is used to fix the discharge outlet in the discharge passage, wherein the discharge outlet comprises a flange edge, a discharge connecting port and a discharge outlet clamping part, wherein the discharge outlet clamping part is a polygonal structure, and the fixing clamp comprises:.

Preferably, the anti-release portions are integrally formed with the elastic guiding ribs, and the anti-release portions are provided with anti-release surfaces, wherein when the assembled, the anti-release surfaces abut against the side surfaces of the discharge outlet clamping part to prevent the fixing clamp from being detached from the discharge outlet.

Preferably, the discharge passage of the intermediate bulk container is square in cross-section, and the shape and size of the fixing clamp body are matched to the shape and size of the interior perimeter of the discharge passage.

Preferably, the distal end of the anti-release portion is provided with a position-limiting rib, and the opening end of the clamping portion is provided with a position-limiting step, and the position-limiting step being capable of preventing movement of the anti-release portion in a direction away from said discharge outlet when the position-limiting rib is engaged with the position-limiting step.

Preferably, the anti-release portion is an anti-return hook provided at the distal end of the elastic guiding rib, and an anti-return part is provided on the discharge outlet clamping part correspondingly, wherein when the fixing clamp and the discharge outlet are assembled, the anti-return hook is engaged with the anti-return part so that the fixing clamp will be prevented from being released from the discharge outlet.

Preferably, the clamp body is further provided with an elastic connecting buckle for engaging with the discharge passage of the intermediate bulk container when the fixing clamp is assembled to the discharge outlet, thereby fix the discharge outlet with respect to the discharge passage of the intermediate bulk container.

Preferably, the passage of the fixing clamp is shaped and sized to mate with the discharge outlet clamping part such that the clamping portion engages with the side surfaces of the discharge outlet clamping part tightly.

Preferably, the fixing clamp is made of elastic plastic.

Preferably, the cross-sectional shape of the discharge outlet clamping part of the fixing clamp is quadrilateral or hexagonal.

Preferably, a plurality of said fixing clamps are capable of being stacked on top of each other.

The fixing clamp of present invention can be transversely pushed in to be assembled with the discharge outlet. The fixing clamp has low requirements for assembly accuracy, and is favorable for saving cost and increasing efficiency.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, so that the purposes, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood.

<FIG> is a schematic perspective view of a fixing clamp according to a first embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a schematic perspective view of a hexagonal discharge outlet. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the fixing clamp <NUM> includes a fixing clamp body, an elastic connecting buckle <NUM>, a clamping portion <NUM>, an elastic guiding rib <NUM>, and an anti-release portion <NUM>. A position-limiting rib <NUM> is provided at the distal end of the anti-release portion <NUM>. A position-limiting step <NUM> is provided at the top end of the clamping portion <NUM>. The hexagonal discharge outlet comprises a flange edge <NUM>, a discharge outlet clamping part <NUM>, and a discharge connecting port <NUM>.

The clamp is generally made of a plastic material, and the clamp is constructed so that a plurality of fixing clamps can be stacked together.

The elastic connecting buckle <NUM> is adapted to cooperate with the discharge passage at the bottom of the intermediate bulk container so that the discharge outlet is fixed relative to the container. The discharge passage of the intermediate bulk container is generally square. Therefore, the shape of the fixing clamp body is also square so as to match the discharge passage. The elastic connecting buckle <NUM> is a plastic elastic member. It will be deformed due to elasticity and contact with a corresponding portion of the discharge passage so as to be installed.

The fixing clamp <NUM> of the present invention can be pushed laterally to be assembled with the discharge outlet. The elastic guiding rib is made of an elastic plastic material. The elastic guiding rib <NUM> is pressed to be deformed and rotated into a groove <NUM> during pushing in. When assembled, the clamping portion <NUM> can clamp the hexagonal clamping part <NUM> tightly, thereby fixing the discharge outlet <NUM> so that it can not move up, down, left or right with respect to the fixing clamp <NUM>.

The distal end of the elastic guiding rib <NUM> is connected to the anti-release portion <NUM>. When the fixing clamp <NUM> is assembled to the discharge outlet <NUM>, the anti-release portion <NUM> can be positioned against the discharge outlet clamping part to prevent the fixing clamp from being disengaged from the discharge outlet.

<FIG> are schematic views of a process of assembling the fixing clamp according to the first embodiment of the present invention and a hex-shaped discharge outlet. When assembling, the fixing clamp is moved in parallel with the discharge outlet. After the guiding surface of the elastic guiding rib <NUM> is brought into contact with the discharge outlet clamping part <NUM> (see <FIG>), the fixing clamp <NUM> is pushed further, and the elastic guiding rib <NUM> will be squeezed by the discharge outlet clamping part <NUM> to be deformed and be rotated into a groove <NUM> (See <FIG>). When the fixing clamp <NUM> and the discharge outlet <NUM> are assembled in place (see <FIG>), the elastic guiding ribs <NUM> of the fixing clamp <NUM> will be restored due to not being squeezed anymore. Then, the clamping portion <NUM> of the fixing clamp clamps the discharge outlet clamping part <NUM>, and the anti-release surfaces of the anti-release portions <NUM> connected to the distal ends of the elastic guiding rib <NUM> are engaged with the side surfaces of the discharge outlet clamping part to prevent the fixing clamp from being released from the discharge outlet.

<FIG> is a schematic perspective view of the fixing clamp according to the first embodiment of the present invention and the hexagonal discharge outlet when assembled. When the fixing clamp and the discharge outlet are assembled, the discharge outlet integrally assembled with the fixing clamp are fixed to the discharge passage at the bottom of the intermediate bulk container through the elastic connecting buckle <NUM> so that the discharge outlet does not shake with respect to the discharge passage. It helps to reduce damage to the discharge outlet.

It is to be noted that, as shown in the drawings, the fixing clamp of the present invention is provided with a position-limiting rib <NUM> at the distal end of the anti-release portion <NUM> and a position-limiting step <NUM> is provided at the top end of the clamping portion <NUM>. If the fixing clamp is subjected to a force in the direction away from the discharge outlet during installation and transportation, an interaction force generated between the side surface of the discharge outlet and the anti-release portion <NUM> may cause the elastic guiding rib <NUM> to be moved away from the groove <NUM> and damaged or cause the fixing clamp to be released from the discharge outlet. However, if the elastic guiding ribs <NUM> are strong enough, it is not necessary to provide the position-limiting rib <NUM> and the position-limiting steps <NUM>.

The discharge outlet clamping part of the discharge outlet <NUM>' in <FIG> has a quadrangular shape. The clamping clamp according to the first embodiment of the present invention can also be used to fix the quadrilateral discharge outlet in <FIG>. <FIG> are schematic views of a process of assembling clamps in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention and quadrilateral discharge outlets. <FIG> is a schematic perspective view of the fixing clamp according to the first embodiment of the present invention and the quadrangular discharge outlet when assembled. The assembling process thereof is almost identical to the assembly of the hex-shaped discharge outlet and fixing clamp. The corners of the quadrangular clamping portion are rounded so as to better be engaged with the anti-release portion <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic structural view of a fixing clamp according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, the fixing clamp <NUM>' includes a fixing clamp body, an elastic connecting buckle <NUM>, a clamping portion <NUM>, and an elastic guiding rib <NUM>'. An anti-return hook <NUM> is provided at an end of the elastic guiding rib <NUM>'. The fixing clamp of the present embodiment is adapted to be used with a discharge outlet having an anti-return part (see <FIG>). As shown in <FIG>, the discharge outlet <NUM> " differs from the hexagonal discharge outlet in <FIG> in that an anti-return part <NUM> is provided at the discharge outlet clamping part <NUM> ". When the fixing clamp and the discharge outlet of the present embodiment are assembled, the anti-return hook <NUM> is engaged with the anti-return part <NUM>, so that the fixing clamp and the discharge outlet can be prevented from being released.

<FIG> are schematic views of a process of assembling the fixing clamp according to the second embodiment of the present invention and the discharge outlet provided with the anti-return part. <FIG> is a schematic perspective view of the fixing clamp according to the second embodiment of the present invention when assembled with a discharge outlet provided with an anti-return part. When assembling, the fixing clamp <NUM>' is moved in parallel with the discharge outlet <NUM>". After the elastic guiding rib <NUM>' is brought into contact with the discharge outlet clamping part <NUM>" (see <FIG>), the fixing clamp <NUM>' is pushed further, and the elastic guiding rib <NUM>' will be squeezed by the discharge outlet clamping part <NUM>" to be deformed. When the fixing clamp <NUM>' and the discharge outlet are assembled in place (see <FIG>), the elastic guiding ribs of the fixing clamp will be restored due to not being squeezed anymore. Then, the clamping portion <NUM> of the fixing clamp clamps the discharge outlet clamping part <NUM>, and the anti-return hook <NUM> is engaged with the anti-return part <NUM> to prevent the fixing clamp from being released from the discharge outlet.

Preferably, the clamping portion may be shaped to match the shape of the discharge outlet clamping part for better engagement of the clamping portion with the discharge outlet clamping part. However, a fixing clamp having a particular clamping portion may also be used for fixing discharge outlets having different shapes of the clamping part as long as the fixing clamp can keep the discharge outlet fixed.

When it is necessary to remove the fixing clamp from the discharge outlet, the elastic guiding ribs can be squeezed outward manually and deformed such that the anti-release portion disengages from the side structure of the claiming part. Then, the fixing clamp can be pulled away from the discharge out.

Claim 1:
A fixing clamp (<NUM>) for a discharge outlet of intermediate bulk container provided with a discharge passage, wherein the fixing clamp (<NUM>) is configured to be capable of fixing the discharge outlet in the discharge passage, wherein the discharge outlet comprises a discharge outlet clamping part having a polygonal structure, wherein the fixing clamp (<NUM>) comprises:
a fixing clamp body, wherein one end of the fixing clamp body is an opening end, and a passage is formed in the middle part of the fixing clamp body and is configured to accommodate the discharge outlet clamping part;
clamping portions (<NUM>), wherein the clamping portions (<NUM>) have profiles forming said passage of the fixing clamp body, and the clamping portions (<NUM>) are provided such that the clamping portions (<NUM>) are capable of clamping side surfaces of the discharge outlet when the fixing clamp (<NUM>) and the discharge outlet have been assembled; anti-release portions (<NUM>, <NUM>), wherein the anti-release portions (<NUM>, <NUM>) are provided at distal ends of guiding ribs (<NUM>) and are integrally formed with the guiding ribs, and the anti-release portions (<NUM>) are provided with anti-release surfaces, such that when assembled, the anti-release surfaces abut against the discharge outlet clamping part to prevent the fixing clamp (<NUM>) from being detached from the discharge outlet;
characterised in that the guiding ribs (<NUM>) are elastic, wherein the elastic guiding ribs (<NUM>) are provided at the opening end of the fixing clamp body and are connected fixedly to the clamping portions (<NUM>) with their proximal ends respectively, and grooves (<NUM>) are formed between the clamping portions (<NUM>) and the elastic guiding ribs respectively, wherein leading-in surfaces are provided on the elastic guiding ribs (<NUM>), and the elastic guiding ribs are provided such that the elastic guiding ribs (<NUM>) are configured to be deformed into the grooves (<NUM>) by the discharge outlet clamping part when the fixing clamp (<NUM>) is pushed in laterally with respect to the discharge outlet, and the elastic guiding ribs (<NUM>) are also provided such that the elastic guiding ribs (<NUM>) are configured to return elastically when the fixing clamp (<NUM>) and the discharge outlet (<NUM>) have been assembled.