WO2008085141A1

WO2008085141A1 - A flexible tank for liquids or liquid-based materials

Info

Publication number: WO2008085141A1
Application number: PCT/TR2008/000005
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yusuf Kohen
Original assignee: Yusuf Kohen
Priority date: 2007-01-10
Filing date: 2008-01-08
Publication date: 2008-07-17

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flexible tank, having a closed form, in which liquid is stored and transported from one location to the other by means of a container (1) equipped with a door (12), wherein more than one partitions (2, 3) are formed so as to allow for liquid transfer between at least two of such tanks.

Description

A FLEXIBLE TANK FOR LIQUIDS OR LIQUID-BASED MATERIALS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a flexible tank used for transportation and/or storage of liquid fluids of any kind, and more particularly to a flexible tank that provides the elimination of the components supporting the tank (i.e. bulkhead) at the region corresponding to the door of a vehicle transporting said tank, and the reduction of the liquid wave within the tank due to forces resulting from the vehicle's transportation conditions.

Background of Invention

Solutions provided by flexible containers particularly in transporting granular type non-fluidal materials have been in use for many years. Transportation of liquids or liquid-based materials became gradually significant in line with the developments in international transportation, together with the increasing demand towards raw materials or end products and the commercial requirements.

With respect to transporting or storing liquids or liquid-based materials, the feature that the flexible transportation tank shows an adequate resistance against the internal liquid pressure and against external strains is one of the significant design criteria that should be considered. In practice, transportation tanks made from flexible materials are placed into containers which have rigid walls and are typically positioned on the rear part of vehicles such as trucks, TIRs, etc. for transportation purposes. As all surfaces of the containers are closed, and since the flexible tank is supported externally by means of the rigid container walls, liquid material within the tank can freely move to any direction so that once the door of the container is opened, the liquid tends to flow towards this free direction, this fact resulting in accumulation of stresses on connection points or surfaces of the flexible tank and forces the structural strength of the same. In order to prevent the liquid material in the flexible tank from flowing towards the door to be opened, a set (i.e. bulkhead) is provided between the container's door and the flexible tank, and connected to the container's body.

The presence of such a set (i.e. bulkhead) gives rise to several disadvantages. For instance, in order to physically access the flexible tank, this bulkhead must be disassembled from the container, resulting in an extra labor force. Additionally, the use of such a set material is a substantial material item in itself.

Abundant of information with respect to bulkheads placed between flexible tanks and container doors may be obtained from numerous of patent applications (see e.g. US 6,041 ,955; US 5,706,964; US 5,244,332).

Another drawback in the relevant background art is that there is not provided any efficient solution to minimize the wave propagation in the tank due to forces formed by acceleration or vibration of a vehicle transporting the flexible tanks with a liquid material content.

It is known that the vehicles which transport liquid material-containing flexible tanks between two locations are typically the truck land vehicles in practice. In land vehicles transporting a flexible tank, both the road conditions (speed bumps, uneven road surface, etc.) and the acceleration of the vehicle by the driver indispensably cause the liquid material produce waves within the flexible tank. The hydrodynamic pressure occurring as a result of such waves becomes so increased that the stitches of components making up the flexible tank undergo severe stresses, leading to detachments of stitches and the transported liquid material to pour off and become unusable.

Description of Invention

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the use of bulkheads which are placed so as to correspond to the door section in vehicles (or containers) transporting (or storing) flexible tanks with a content of liquid or liquid based material. Another object of the present invention is to make the flexible tank more firm by minimizing the hydrodynamic pressures originating from wave formation of liquids in flexible tanks.

The present invention provides a flexible tank, having a closed form, and in which liquid is stored and transported from one location to the other by means of a vehicle, characterized in that the tank is separated to include plurality of partitions allowing liquid transfer between at least two partitions.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, one entrance partition is formed close to the door of the container carrying the flexible tank, and an main partition is provided in connection with said entrance partition. According to this embodiment, a large surface having holes on itself of varying sizes is provided between the main partition and the entrance partition to ensure a controlled liquid transfer. According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, this transfer area can also be formed as a baffle element.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the valve hole region whereby liquid is inlet into (or outlet from) the tank is closed by means of a protective cover in order to provide tank's hygiene.

Description of Figures

The present invention is to be evaluated together with annexed figures briefly described hereunder to make clear the subject embodiment and the advantages thereof.

Figure 1 illustrates a side view of the flexible tank in a container.

Figure 2 illustrates a front view of the flexible tank in a container.

Figure 3 illustrates a front view of the transfer surface of the flexible tank in a container.

Figure 4 illustrates a view of the cross-section A-A indicated in Figure 3. Figure 5 illustrates a view of the cross-section B-B indicated in Figure 3.

Reference Numbers of Parts in Figures

1 Container

2 Main partition

3 Entrance partition

4 Outer layer

5 Inner layer

6 Transfer hole

7 Valve

8 Support element

9 Protective cover

10 Transfer surface

11 Welding

12 Container lid

Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Present Invention

As given above, Figure 1 provides a side view of the flexible tank in a container (1). Throughout this description, the term "container" (1) will refer to a carrier means adaptable to any kind of land, air, and marine vehicles, or to an embodiment functioning as the carrier body of such vehicles. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flexible tank comprises an entrance partition (3) positioned close to the doors (12) of a container, and a main partition (2) that is in connection with this entrance partition (3).

The entrance partition (3) is preferably smaller than the main partition (2) with respect to its volume and with respect to its height. In this preferred embodiment, no bulkhead is used in connection to the container on the surfaces of the entrance partition (3) being close to the container doors (12). According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flexible tank is formed from four inner layers (5) each with an approximate 125 micron thickness and an outer layer (4). The inner layers (5) are preferably made from a plastic- based material and particularly from a thermoplastic material (such as PP, PE, PVC, nylon^®), whereas the outer layer (4) is made from those materials used in producing big bags. Alternatively, the flexible tank can also be formed with more or less than four layers, and if a single layer is to be used, a material with a thickness of around 1000 microns may be utilized.

As illustrated in more detail in Figure 3, a transfer surface (10) is provided between the entrance partition (3) and the main partition (2). The transfer surface (10) contains various numbers of holes of different sizes along its thickness. The transfer surface (10) is preferably obtained by interconnecting/welding together the entrance partition (3) and the main partition (2) (preferably interconnecting the inner layers thereof) and by producing holes (6) on said interconnection/welding surface (10). It is hereby aimed to control the rate of liquid transfer from the entrance partition (3) to the main partition (2) (or vice versa) and any liquid pressures to form. For instance, when the container doors (12) are opened as the tank is filled; the reaction force of the transfer surface (10) shall avoid the instant liquid flow tendency from the main partition (2) into the entrance partition (3). In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the transfer partition (3) can also be positioned between the entrance partition (3) and the main partition in the form of a baffle element, as an external element, containing holes in itself.

As seen in Figure 3, preferably stripe-like support elements (8) can be provided, which extend vertically and are fastened by their ends to the outer layer (4) in order to enhance the strength of the transfer surface (10) that becomes stressed due to the liquid moving in the flexible tank. Said support elements (8) are preferably welded to the layers on the transfer partition (10) or are interconnected by any other convenient method known in the relevant art. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the edges of holes (6) at the transfer surface (10) are also interconnected by means of welding (11). The entrance partition (3) contains a valve (7) for liquid inlet into the flexible tank. Once the tank is filled, the valve (7) is covered by a protective cover (9) that is preferably connected to the inner layer (5) for providing isolation from the exterior. The protective cover (9) is fastened as illustrated in Figure 5.

Claims

1. A flexible tank having a closed form, in which liquid is stored and transported from one location to the other by means of a container (1) equipped with a door (12), characterized in that the tank is separated to include plurality of partitions (2, 3) allowing liquid transfer between at least the two partitions

(2,3).

2. A flexible tank according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the plurality of partitions comprises an entrance partition (3) positioned close to the door (12) of said container (1) and a main partition (2) in connection with said entrance partition (3).

3. A flexible tank according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said entrance partition (3) is preferably smaller in volume than the main partition (2).

4. A flexible tank according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising at least one layer.

5. A flexible tank according to Claim 4, characterized by comprising one inner layer (5) and one outer layer (4).

6. A flexible tank according to Claim 5, characterized in that said inner layer (5) comprises preferably four layers, each having a thickness of approximately 125 microns.

7. A flexible tank according to any of claim 4 to 6, characterized in that said inner layer (5) is made preferably of a thermoplastic polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) or PVC material, and in that said outer layer (4) is made of a material used for big bags.

8. A flexible tank according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one transfer surface (10) is provided between the partitions (2, 3), said surface (10) having various number of holes (6) thereon. δ

9. A flexible tank according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transfer surface (10) is preferably made by interconnecting the inner layers (5).

10. A flexible tank according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one support element (8) is provided, the support element connecting from its ends to the outer layer (4) and to transfer surface (10)

11. A flexible tank according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said transfer surfaces (10) comprises welding regions (11) which provide the interconnection of the holes (6) along their edges.

12. A flexible tank according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said partitions (2, 3) comprises a valve (7) for allowing liquid inlet into the flexible tank, and in that a protective cover (9) is provided for covering the valve (7) and is preferably connected to the inner layer (5).