GB2146307A - Container for liquids - Google Patents

Abstract

A container for the transport of liquids, comprises an outer sack (4), an inner bag (5), and a fill and discharge arrangement (3) for the liquids. The outer sack (4) is manufactured of an air-pervious weave so as to permit the escape of air and thus the evacuation of the space between the outer sack (4) and inner bag (5). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Flexible container for transport of liquids The present invention relates to flexible containers for the transport of liquids.

For the transport of liquids, such as juice, wine and oil, by vessels and trucks, it is common practice to load the liquid in large flexible containers having a capacity of about 5 to 20 cubic metres. Compared to rigid barrels, such containers have the advantage of occupying a very small space in the collapsed state during the return transport. Additionally, they are light in weight. The containers are of composite construction, comprising an outer container or sack and an inner container or bag, and for filling purposes the inner bag is pushed into the outer sack, whereafter a fill and discharge arrangement is connected to openings, directly opposite one another, in the inner bag and outer sack. After that, the inner bag is filled with air, and finally the air is replaced by the liquid to be transported.

The air filling can be omitted if desired.

In order for the thin inner bag not to be torn during filling owing to the relative movements of the outer sack and inner bag, the air in the space between the outer sack and inner bag must be very largely removed. This has hitherto been effected by means of small openings in the upper portion of the outer sack. I However, it has become apparent that the intervening space has not been evacuated to a sufficient degree by means of the air openings in the outer sack, in order to enable the use of sufficiently thin materials for the inner bag that the container would be economically advantageous.

The evacuation of the intervening space becomes particularly more difficult, if the container is of a type in which the inner bag is fastened to the outer sack over its entire circumference. As a result the intervening space consists of at least two separate compartments, both of which should be provided with openings in the outer sack.

The object of the present invention is to improve by simple means the evacuation of the space between the outer sack and inner bag when filling the inner bag with air. For this purpose, according to the invention the outer sack of such a composite construction consists substantially of an air-pervious weave. As a result, air can flow out from the intervening space at all points where an air pocket is formed between the outer sack and the airtight inner bag.

Despite its permeability to air, the weave can be made very durable, if it is manufactured, for example, of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester or polyamide threads.

A preferred embodiment of container according to the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a view of the container when filled; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the container of Fig. 1; and Figure 3 shows a detail of Fig. 2 to an enlarged scale.

The container shown in the drawing is cylindrical in shape and comprises an envelope surface 1 and two end surfaces 2, one of which is provided with a fill and discharge arrangement 3. A magnified detail above Fig.

1 shows how the container wali is constructed. An outer layer 4 consists of a relatively thick plastics layer having high strength, whilst the inner layer 5 consists of a thin, preferably flexible plastics film. As shown in the drawing, both the containers forming the outer sack 4 and the inner bag 5 comprise two parts having the form of a half cylinder and being joined together to make a full cylinder.

The marginal zones of the inner bag 5 are welded together e.g. by heat or ultrasound to form a projecting flap 6 extending about the entire inner bag. The marginal zones 7 of the outer sack 4 are folded outwards in a corresponding manner, so that they enclose the flap 6, see Fig. 3, and are sewn to one another by means of a seam 8 which extends through the flap 6 so that the inner bag is secured to the outer sack simultaneously with the joining together of the parts of the outer sack.

According to the invention, the outer sack comprises an air-impervious weave of manmade fibre threads of e.g. polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester or polyamide. Owing to this fact, the container need not be provided with any means for evacuating the space between the outer sack and inner bag, such as holes in the outer sack. This involves a considerable saving in work, as the intervening space in the illustrated embodiment consists of two parts and might comprise a larger number of parts, e.g. three, or more, all of which would otherwise need to be provided with holes.

1. A composite flexible container for the transport of liquids, comprising an outer container, a separate inner container contained in the outer container, and a fill and discharge arrangement for the liquid, attached at least to the inner container and wherein the outer container is formed substantially of an airimpervious weave.

2. A composite container according to Claim 1, wherein the weave is manufactured of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester or polyamide threads.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (2)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Flexible container for transport of liquids The present invention relates to flexible containers for the transport of liquids. For the transport of liquids, such as juice, wine and oil, by vessels and trucks, it is common practice to load the liquid in large flexible containers having a capacity of about 5 to 20 cubic metres. Compared to rigid barrels, such containers have the advantage of occupying a very small space in the collapsed state during the return transport. Additionally, they are light in weight. The containers are of composite construction, comprising an outer container or sack and an inner container or bag, and for filling purposes the inner bag is pushed into the outer sack, whereafter a fill and discharge arrangement is connected to openings, directly opposite one another, in the inner bag and outer sack. After that, the inner bag is filled with air, and finally the air is replaced by the liquid to be transported. The air filling can be omitted if desired. In order for the thin inner bag not to be torn during filling owing to the relative movements of the outer sack and inner bag, the air in the space between the outer sack and inner bag must be very largely removed. This has hitherto been effected by means of small openings in the upper portion of the outer sack. I However, it has become apparent that the intervening space has not been evacuated to a sufficient degree by means of the air openings in the outer sack, in order to enable the use of sufficiently thin materials for the inner bag that the container would be economically advantageous. The evacuation of the intervening space becomes particularly more difficult, if the container is of a type in which the inner bag is fastened to the outer sack over its entire circumference. As a result the intervening space consists of at least two separate compartments, both of which should be provided with openings in the outer sack. The object of the present invention is to improve by simple means the evacuation of the space between the outer sack and inner bag when filling the inner bag with air. For this purpose, according to the invention the outer sack of such a composite construction consists substantially of an air-pervious weave. As a result, air can flow out from the intervening space at all points where an air pocket is formed between the outer sack and the airtight inner bag. Despite its permeability to air, the weave can be made very durable, if it is manufactured, for example, of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester or polyamide threads. A preferred embodiment of container according to the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a view of the container when filled; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the container of Fig. 1; and Figure 3 shows a detail of Fig. 2 to an enlarged scale. The container shown in the drawing is cylindrical in shape and comprises an envelope surface 1 and two end surfaces 2, one of which is provided with a fill and discharge arrangement 3. A magnified detail above Fig. 1 shows how the container wali is constructed. An outer layer 4 consists of a relatively thick plastics layer having high strength, whilst the inner layer 5 consists of a thin, preferably flexible plastics film. As shown in the drawing, both the containers forming the outer sack 4 and the inner bag 5 comprise two parts having the form of a half cylinder and being joined together to make a full cylinder. The marginal zones of the inner bag 5 are welded together e.g. by heat or ultrasound to form a projecting flap 6 extending about the entire inner bag. The marginal zones 7 of the outer sack 4 are folded outwards in a corresponding manner, so that they enclose the flap 6, see Fig. 3, and are sewn to one another by means of a seam 8 which extends through the flap 6 so that the inner bag is secured to the outer sack simultaneously with the joining together of the parts of the outer sack. According to the invention, the outer sack comprises an air-impervious weave of manmade fibre threads of e.g. polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester or polyamide. Owing to this fact, the container need not be provided with any means for evacuating the space between the outer sack and inner bag, such as holes in the outer sack. This involves a considerable saving in work, as the intervening space in the illustrated embodiment consists of two parts and might comprise a larger number of parts, e.g. three, or more, all of which would otherwise need to be provided with holes. CLAIMS

1. A composite flexible container for the transport of liquids, comprising an outer container, a separate inner container contained in the outer container, and a fill and discharge arrangement for the liquid, attached at least to the inner container and wherein the outer container is formed substantially of an airimpervious weave.

2. A composite container according to Claim 1, wherein the weave is manufactured of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester or polyamide threads.