ISOLATION CONTAINER CONNECTOR

Abstract

A container includes a hollow container body and a container connector including a central outlet, an annular groove, and an annular rib. The container and container connector are formed of a molded thermoplastic material or any other suitable material. The annular groove allows the container connector to bend outwardly due to internal pressure of the container without the central outlet warping outwardly.

Description

BACKGROUND

Containers often include one or more connectors for connecting plugs, vents, diptubes, hoses, valves, nozzles, gauges, and other service components. The internal pressure of a container often causes its connector to warp outwardly, which often results in leaks between the connector and the connected component. This is especially undesirable for containers used in the transportation of hazardous materials.

Certain container connectors require the use of bunghole adaptors for connecting service components having incompatible connection features. For example, some bunghole adaptors are used for the shipment of high purity liquid hazardous materials. The containers and bunghole adaptors are typically tested to a pressure of approximately 428 kPa (62.3 psi). Bunghole adaptors increase the complexity of the connection, increase the number of components in contact with the material (especially undesirable for high purity materials), and increase manufacturing costs. Bunghole adaptors may also increase the difficulty of connecting hoses or other components to the containers and increase the number of possible leakage points. As such, bunghole adaptors reduce performance and compromise consumer perception of the containers and the container connectors.

SUMMARY

The present invention solves the above-described problems and provides a distinct advance in the art of containers by providing a container with a connector that resists outward warping and other deformities that contribute to leaks.

An embodiment of the container connector includes a central outlet, an annular groove, and an annular rib.

The central outlet receives a male connector of a hose or other component and includes a helical thread bore for receiving threads of the hose or other component.

The annular groove isolates the central outlet and extends inwardly from an outermost edge of the central outlet. The annular groove is a relatively thin portion of the container connector and exhibits relatively high deformation when the container is pressurized so that the central outlet retains its shape and moves as a unit rather than deforms.

The annular rib provides structural rigidity to the container connector and extends longitudinally outwardly from the annular groove. The annular rib also absorbs bending stresses caused by the internal pressure of the container.

In another embodiment, the container also includes an outer flange that allows the container connector to be sealed against or welded to the container. The outer flange extends radially from the annular rib.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container having a number of container connectors constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section view of two of the container connectors of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container connector having an outer flange;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a prior art container connector and bunghole adaptor; and

FIG. 5 is a section view of the prior art container connector and bunghole adaptor of FIG. 4.

The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description of the invention references the accompanying drawings that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the present technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

Turning now to FIGS. 1-3, a container 10 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The container 10 may be formed of a rotational molded or injection molded thermoplastic material or any other suitable material and broadly comprises a conventional hollow container body 12 for receiving and holding a liquid or other substance and one or more container connectors 14 for connecting a service component (such as a plug, vent, diptube, hose, valve, nozzle, gauge, or other component) to the container body 12. The container body 12 is conventional and can be formed in any shape or size. In one embodiment, the container body 12 is cylindrical and holds up to approximately 330 gallons of liquid or other substance. The container 10 may be used for transporting liquid hazardous materials that may build up pressure in the container body 12 during transit.

An embodiment of the one or more container connectors 14 includes a central outlet 16, an annular groove 18, and an annular rib 20.

The central outlet 16 receives a male connector of a hose, pipe, valve, regulator, gauge, or other component and includes a helical thread bore 22 for receiving threads of the hose or other component. The helical thread bore 22 may be a buttress thread bore for receiving buttress threads or may be any other suitable type of thread bore. The helical thread bore 22 may extend completely through the central outlet 16 or may extend only a portion of the way through the central outlet 16 to prevent the hose or other component from being inserted too far into the central outlet 16.

The annular groove 18 isolates the central outlet 16 from outward warping stresses induced by internal pressure of the container 10. The annular groove 18 is concentric with the central outlet 16 and extends inwardly from an outermost edge of the central outlet 16. Material forming the annular groove 18 is substantially thinner than the central outlet 16 and the annular rib 20, and may be the thinnest portion of the container connector 14. As such, deformation induced by the internal pressure is greatest at the annular groove 18. The annular groove 18 absorbs the stress buildup by deforming outwardly. This deformation isolates the central outlet 16 and prevents the central outlet 16 from warping.

The annular rib 20 provides structural rigidity to the container connector 14 and is concentric with the central outlet 16 and the annular groove 18. The annular rib 20 is a thick mass of material extending longitudinally outwardly around the outer portion of the annular groove 18. The annular rib 20 may be wider at its base and narrower at its distal end so as to form a tapered rib and may extend longitudinally beyond the front edge of the central outlet 16 when no pressure is exerted on the container connector 14. The annular rib 20 may also exhibit a smooth and/or continuous contour with the annular groove 18 to optimize stress distribution and to minimize crack or fracture points. The annular rib 20 absorbs enough stress so that the container connector 14 does not crack or tear at the annular groove 18.

The container connector 14 may form a concave contour 24 opposite the annular groove 18 and the annular rib 20 when the container 10 is pressurized. The concave contour 24 allows the container connector 14 to bend without warping the central outlet 16 and without creating stress points on the underside of the container connector 14.

The container connector 14 may be a molded part of the hollow container body 12 or may be sealed, pressed, or otherwise secured to the hollow container body 12 in an air-tight manner such as by welding or soldering so that pressurized fluid in the hollow container body 12 can only be released through the central outlet 16 of the container connector 14 or through another designated opening. In some embodiments, the container connector 14 may include an outer flange 26, as shown in FIG. 3. The outer flange 26 is concentric with and extending around the annular groove 18 for sealing the outer flange 26 to the hollow container body 12. The outer flange 26 may have a smooth or continuous contour with the annular rib 20 to minimize stress distribution and to minimize crack or fracture points.

The above-described container 10 provides several advantages over conventional containers. For example, the container connector 14 isolates the central outlet 16 by distributing stresses between the annular groove 18 and the annular rib 20. The annular groove 18 further isolates the central outlet 16 by deforming outwardly. This prevents the central outlet 16 from warping outwardly and allows the central outlet 16 to maintain a seal between the container connector 14 and a plug, vent, or other service component. The annular rib 20 increases structural rigidity and protects the central outlet 16 and the annular groove 18 from receiving damage. In addition, the threaded bore 22 of the central outlet 16 obviates the need for a buttress threaded bunghole adaptor, thus reducing manufacturing costs, reducing the number of components in contact with the substance in the container 10 (particularly beneficial for high purity substances) and improving consumer perception of the container 10. The container connector 14 allows the container 10 to be sealed during transport and to be filled or discharged without leaking material at the central outlet 16.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a hollow container body for receiving a substance; and

at least one container connector for connecting a hose or other component to the container body, the container connector including: a central outlet; an annular groove concentric with and extending around the central outlet; and an annular rib concentric with and extending around the annular groove, the container connector being configured to bend near the annular groove so that the central outlet does not warp from internal pressure of the container when the container is pressurized, the annular rib being configured to absorb outward bending stresses induced by the internal pressure.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the central outlet has a helical thread bore for receiving a helical threaded connector.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein the thread bore is a buttress thread bore.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the container connector is a molded part of the container.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the container connector includes an outer flange concentric with and extending around the annular rib, the outer flange being configured to be sealed to the hollow container body.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the annular rib is narrower at its distal end than at its base.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the container connector is thinnest near the middle of the annular groove.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the container connector has smooth contours near the annular groove and the annular rib to prevent local stress buildup.

8. The container of claim 1, wherein the annular rib extends longitudinally beyond a front edge of the central outlet when no pressure is exerted on the container connector.

9. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is formed of a rotational molded thermoplastic material.

10. The container of claim 1, wherein the container connector forms a concave contour opposite the annular groove and the annular rib when the container is pressurized.

11. A container comprising:

a hollow container body for receiving a substance; and

a number of container connectors for connecting hoses or other components to the container body, each container connector comprising: a central outlet; an annular groove concentric with and extending around the central outlet; and an annular rib concentric with and extending around the annular groove; the container connector being configured to bend near the annular groove so that the central outlet does not warp from internal pressure of the container when the container is pressurized, the annular rib being configured to absorb outward bending stresses induced by the internal pressure of the container.

12. The container of claim 11, wherein the central outlet has a helical thread bore for receiving a helical threaded connector.

13. The container of claim 12, wherein the thread bore is a buttress thread bore.

14. The container of claim 11, wherein each container connector is a molded part of the outer wall of the container.

15. The container of claim 11, wherein the annular rib is narrower at its distal end than at its base.

16. The container of claim 11, wherein each container connector is thinnest near the middle of the annular groove.

17. The container of claim 11, wherein each container connector has smooth contours near the annular groove and the annular rib to prevent local stress buildup.

18. The container of claim 11, wherein the annular rib extends longitudinally beyond a front edge of the central outlet when no pressure is exerted on the container connector.

19. The container of claim 11, wherein each container connector is formed of a rotational molded thermoplastic material.

20. A container formed of molded thermoplastic material and comprising:

a hollow container body for receiving a substance; and

a container connector for connecting a service component to the container body, the container connector comprising: a central outlet having a buttress thread bore extending at least partially into the central outlet; an annular groove concentric with and extending around the central outlet; and an annular rib concentric with and extending around the annular groove, the annular rib extending longitudinally beyond an outermost edge of the central outlet and being narrower at its distal end than at its base, the container connector having smooth contours near the annular groove and the annular rib to prevent local stress buildup and being configured to bend near the annular groove so that the central outlet does not warp from internal pressure of the container when the container is pressurized, and the annular rib being configured to absorb outward bending stresses induced by the internal pressure.