Title of Invention

A TRANSPORT AND STORAGE CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS

Abstract The transport and storage container (1) for liquids includes as principal components a pallet-like under frame (12), an exchangeable inner container (2) of synthetic material with four side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall (3, 4), an inlet connection (5) and an outlet connection (7) with a draining device as well as an outer casing (9) surrounding the inner container (2) and composed of vertical and horizontal grate rods (la, 11). A support insert (18) composed of an electrically conductive material, preferably metal, is arranged between the inner container (2) and the outer casing (3). Electric charges which occur due to liquid friction at the surfaces of the inner container (2) of synthetic material when the container (1) is filled with a liquid and when liquid is removed from the container are discharged into the ground through the support insert (18), the outer casing (9), the bottom basin (13), the corner and middle legs (15, 16) and the bottom frame (17). The support insert (18) improves the fire resistance of the container (1).
Full Text The invention relates to transport and storage containers for liquids with a pallet-like underframe, an exchangeable inner container of synthetic material with four side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall, a closeable inlet opening at the top and a lower outlet opening with a draining device, and with an outer casing surrounding the inner container, wherein the outer casing is formed of vertically and horizontally extending grate rods of metal.
When liquid containers of this type known from DE 195 11 723 Cl are filled and emptied and when liquids are stirred in this type of containers, for example, for mixing purposes, electric charges may occur at the container surfaces as a result of liquid friction. The principal danger of electrostatic charging is the fact that ignition sources come into contact with explodable mixtures of gases and vapors.
Because the electrostatic charging capability of the inner container of synthetic material, transport and storage containers of the aforementioned type cannot be used in explosion-endangered rooms and cannot be filled with explosive liquids.

Another disadvantage of the aforementioned type of pallet container is the fact that they are insufficiently fire resistant in the case of fire, because of the outer casing of vertical and horizontal grate rods. The insufficient fire resistance of the known container results in higher storage costs as compared to fire resistant containers, wherein the higher costs are due to increased insurance premiums.
The invention is based on the object of improving the construction of the aforementioned type of transport and storage container for liquids in such a way that an electrostatic charging of the inner container of synthetic material is avoided when filling the containers with liquids and when draining the liquids from the containers, and to achieve a higher fire resistance of the container.
In accordance with the invention, this object is met by a transport and storage container for liquids with the features of claim 1.
The subclaims contain useful further developments of the invention.
In a transport and storage container for liquids which is equipped with an inner container of synthetic material, an outer

casing formed by vertical and horizontal grate rods of metal, and a pallet-like underframe, the invention is based on arranging between the inner container of synthetic material and the outer casing a support insert with four side walls of an electrically conductive material, preferably metal, so that electric charges which may be formed on the surfaces of the inner container of synthetic material when filling and emptying the transport and storage container can be discharged to the ground through the support insert, the outer casing and the pallet-like underframe which also is composed of an electrically conductive material. The electric grounding of the inner container of synthetic material makes it possible to use the transport and storage container as a dangerous material container for combustible liquids, such as paints, varnishes and solvents, with a flash point of
against UV radiation for light-sensitive liquid filling materials.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a transport and storage container for liquids with a pallet-like underframe, an exchangeable inner container of synthetic material with four side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall, an upper closeable inlet opening and a lower outlet opening with a draining device and an outer casing surrounding the inner container, wherein the outer casing is formed of vertical and horizontal grate rods of metal, characterized by a support insert with four side walls arranged between the inner container and the outer casing, wherein the support insert is of an electrically conductive material.
In the following, the invention is explained with the aid of drawings which individually show:
Fig. 1 a perspective view of a transport and storage container;
Fig. 2 an enlarged partial sectional view of the bottom area, and
Fig. 3 an enlarged partial sectional view of the cover area of the container; and
Fig. 4 an enlarged partial sectional view of the draining fitting of the container protected by a slide mender.
The transport and storage container 1 for liquids which can be used as an
disposable container and a reusable container includes the principal structural
components a replaceable parallelepiped inner container 2 of polyethylene with four
side walls 2a-2d, a bottom wall 3 constructed as a draining bottom, an upper wall 4
with an inlet connection 5 and an outlet connection 7 with a drain cock 8, an outer
casing 9 of intersecting vertical and horizontal grate rods 10, 11 of metal, a pallet-like
underframe 12 with a bottom

basin of sheet metal for receiving with frictional engagement the inner container 2 of synthetic material, and a cover 14 of sheet metal for protecting the inner container 2.
The bottom basin 13 rests with a certain bottom clearance on corner and middle legs 15, 16 and a bottom frame 17 or skids, so that the gripping arms of a transport device, for example, a fork lift, can be moved from four sides under the bottom basin 13 for transporting the transport and storage container 1. The legs 15, 16 and the bottom frame 17 or the skids are of metal or an electrically conductive synthetic material, for example, polyethylene with a conductive soot portion. The pallet-like underframe 12 of the transport and storage container 1 has length and width dimensions conforming to European standards.
A support insert 18 with four side walls 18a-18d is arranged between the inner container 4 of synthetic material and the outer casing 9 of the transport container 1. The single-piece support insert 18 is manufactured by stretching a pipe element of metal on a stretching press.
In a modified embodiment, the support insert 18 is composed of two U-shaped elements of metal.

It is also possible to manufacture the support insert 18 of electrically conductive plates of synthetic material.
The side walls 18a - 18d of the support insert 18 are clamped between the bottom basin 13 and the lower inwardlybent ends 10a of the vertical grate rods 10 of the outer casing 9.
It is also possible to screw the side walls 18a - 18d of the support insert 18 to the lower ends 10a of the vertical grate rods 10 and/or to the lower grate rod 19 of the outer casing 9.
The slightly outwardly angled upper rim 20 of the support insert 18 facilitates insertion of the inner container 2 into the support insert and prevents damage of the inner container when it is inserted.
Electric charges which may possibly occur when filling the transport and storage container with a liquid and when removing liquid from the container 1 due to liquid friction at the surfaces of the inner container 2 of synthetic material are discharged into the ground through the support insert 18, the outer casing 9, the bottom basin 13, the corner and middle legs 15, 18 and the bottom frame 17.

The cover 14 of the transport and storage container 1 has a central entry opening 21 to the inlet connection 2 of the inner container 2 which can be closed by the screw cap 6 and a groove 23 with water discharge holes 24 extending circumferentially on the inner side of the cover rim 22.
The cover 14 placed with its rim 22 in the upper rim 20 of the support insert 18 is screwed together with the support insert 18 to the upper ends 10b of the vertical grate rods 10 of the outer casing "9.
The outlet connection 7 with the drain cock 8, which is arranged in an indented portion 25 of the front wall 2a of the inner container 2 in the area of the lower wall 3, and the discharge area underneath the drain cock 8 formed by the middle leg 16 can be covered by a slide member 2 6 of metal which is placed between the front wall 18a of the support insert 18 which is cut out in the lower portion, the lower horizontal grate rod 19 and the horizontal grate rod 11 above the grate rod 19 of the outer casing 9. The slide member 26 has a guide surface 27 which is slightly outwardly inclined from the lower border area 2 6a and has in the upper portion thereof a groove 2 8 for engaging in the second to lowermost horizontal grate rod 11 of the outer casing 9 in the closed position of the slide member 26. For removing liquid from the container 1, the slide member 26, which has a gripping

indentation 29 in the upper border area 26b, is pulled up and is engaged by means of the groove 28 on a horizontal grate rod 11.
In case of fire, the inner container 2 of synthetic material is protected against the external influence of fire by the bottom basin 13, the support insert 18 with the slide member 2 6 and the cover 14, wherein elements 13, 18, 14 are made of metal. The inner container 2 is cooled against the heat influence of a fire by water emerging from a fire fighting plant which impinges on the cover 14 of the container 1 and flows through the water discharge holes 24 of the circumferential groove 23 of the cover 14 between the side walls 2a - 2d of the inner container 2 and the side walls 18a - 18d of the support insert 18 and further through the water discharge holes in the bottom basin 13 to the ground.
In an embodiment with reduced fire resistance, the transport and storage container may be equipped with a protective flap of metal or synthetic material for the outlet connection and the drain cock hinged to the second to lowermost horizontal grate rod of the outer casing, and the support insert may have observation holes.
The support insert 18 and the pallet-like underframe 12 of the transport and storage container 1 are preferably made of metal. In a container 1 with reduced fire resistance, the support insert and the underframe may be manufactured of an electrically conductive

synthetic material, for example, polyethylene with a portion of conductive soot.


WE CLAIM:
1. A transport and storage container for liquids with a pallet-like underframe, an exchangeable inner container of synthetic material with four side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall, an upper closeable inlet Opening and a lower outlet opening with a draining device and an outer casing surrounding the inner container, the outer casing is formed of vertical and horizontal grate rods of metal, characterized by a support insert (18) with four side walls (18a) - (18d) arranged between the inner container (2) and the outer casing (9). wherein the support insert (18) is of an electrically conductive material.
2. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein a single-piece or multiple-piece construction of the support insert (18) is provided.
3. The container as claimed in claim 2, wherein a support insert (18) is manufactured by stretching a pipe element of metal on a stretching press.
4. The container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support insert (18) is composed of two U-shaped elements.
5. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the underframe (12) has a bottom basin (13) of metal or synthetic material for receiving the inner container (2), and that the side walls (18a - 18d) of the support insert (18) are clamped between the bottom basin (13) and the grate rods (10) of the outer casing (9).
6. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the side walls (18a - 18d) of the support insert (18) are screwed to the lower ends (lOa) of the vertical grate rods (10) and/or the lower grate rod (19) of the outer casing (9).

7. The container as claimed in any one of claims I to 6, wherein the side walls (18a - 18d) of the support insert (18) has a slightly outwardly angled upper rim (20) which is screwed to the upper ends (10b) of the vertical grate rods (10) of the outer casing (9).
8. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a cover (14) of metal or synthetic material with a central entry opening (21) to the inlet connection (5) of the inner container (2) closeable by a screw cap (6) and a circumferential groove (23) with water discharge holes (24) at the inner side of the cover rim (22) is provided.
9. The container as claimed in claim 8, wherein the cover (14) inserted with its rim (22) into the upper rim (20) of the support insert (18) is screwed together with the support insert (18) to the upper ends (I Ob) of the vertical grate rods (10) of the outer casing (9).
10. The container as claimed in any one of claims I to 9, wherein a slide member 26 of metal or synthetic material is provided for covering the outlet connection (7) with a drain cock (8) arranged in an indentation (25) in the area of the bottom wall (3) of the inner container (2).
11. The container as claimed in claim (10). wherein the slide member (26) inserted between the grate rods 11, 19 of the outer casing (a) and the support insert (18) has a guide surface (27) which is slightly outwardly inclined from the lower border area (26a) and is provided with a groove (28) in the upper area for engaging in a horizontal grate rod (11) and is provided with a gripping indentation (29) in the upper border area (26b).
12. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a protective flap of metal or synthetic material for outlet connection (7) with a drain cock (18) is arranged in an indentation (25) in the area of the bottom wall (3) of the inner container

(2), wherein the protective flap is hinged to the second to lowermost horizontal grate rod (11) of the outer casing (9).
13. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a support insert
(18) is with observation holes.
14. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the support insert (18) and the pallet-like underframe (12) are manufactured of metal or an electrically conductive synthetic material, for example, polyethylene with a portion of conductive soot.
15. A transport and storage container for liquids, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

1070-mas-98 abstract duplicate.pdf

1070-mas-98 abstract.pdf

1070-mas-98 claims duplicate.pdf

1070-mas-98 claims.pdf

1070-mas-98 correspondence others.pdf

1070-mas-98 correspondence po.pdf

1070-mas-98 description (complete) duplicate.pdf

1070-mas-98 description (complete).pdf

1070-mas-98 drawings duplicate.pdf

1070-mas-98 drawings.pdf

1070-mas-98 form-19.pdf

1070-mas-98 form-2.pdf

1070-mas-98 form-4.pdf

1070-mas-98 form-6.pdf

1070-mas-98 others.pdf


Patent Number 200826
Indian Patent Application Number 1070/MAS/1998
PG Journal Number 8/2007
Publication Date 23-Feb-2007
Grant Date 07-Jun-2006
Date of Filing 19-May-1998
Name of Patentee M/S. PORTECHNA S.A
Applicant Address RUE SAINT-PIERRE 8, CH-1701 FRIBOURG,
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 UDO SCHUTZ BAHNHOFSTRASSE 25, D-56242 SELTERS/WESTERWALD
PCT International Classification Number B65D 19/02
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 197 20 931.9 1997-05-20 Germany