Housing for a flexible container

Abstract

An arrangement includes a housing and a flexible container. The flexible container is arranged in the housing and filled with a medicine or another liquid which occurs in a pharmaceutical production process. The housing is at least partially lined with an elastic foam configured to compensate for an increase in volume of the flexible container that occurs upon freezing.

Claims

1. An arrangement comprising: a housing; and a flexible container, wherein: the flexible container is arranged in the housing and filled with a liquid which occurs in a pharmaceutical production process; the housing is at least partially lined with an elastic foam configured to completely compensate for an increase in volume of the flexible container that occurs upon freezing; and the housing comprises cover layers made of metal.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the elastic foam has decreasing elasticity with decreasing temperature below a freezing point.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein a hardening of the elastic foam occurs at a temperature between 0 degrees Celsius to −30 degrees Celsius.

4. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein the hardening is reversible.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein a hardening of the elastic foam occurs at a temperature between −5 degrees Celsius and −25 degrees Celsius.

6. The arrangement of claim 5, wherein the hardening is reversible.

7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein a hardening of the elastic foam occurs at a temperature between −10 degrees Celsius and −20 degrees Celsius.

8. The arrangement of claim 7, wherein the hardening is reversible.

9. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the flexible container is completely surrounded by the elastic foam.

10. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising: at least one attachment for the flexible container, wherein the flexible container and the at least one attachment are completely surrounded by the elastic foam.

11. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising: at least one attachment for the flexible container; and a foam block in the housing for receiving the at least one attachment.

12. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the housing is cuboidal.

13. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the liquid is a medicine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages and details of the invention will be apparent from the Figures and the associated specific description. In the Figures:

(2) FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a housing according to the invention with flexible container disposed therein, and

(3) FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(4) As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2 the flexible container 2 is arranged within the housing 1. In this case the housing 1 is lined with foam 3 and a foam block 5. When the liquid within the container 2 freezes the container 2 expands. That increase in volume is absorbed by the foam 3 and the foam block 5 so that no stress—or at least not a significant one—arises between the container 2 and the housing 1. Attachments 4, for example hoses and valves and the like, are arranged above or within the foam block 5 which by virtue of its elasticity or flexibility can accommodate same.

(5) In the present embodiment the housing 1 is of a completely enclosing design. The housing 1 may comprise plastics and/or metal. In the present embodiment the cover layers are each made from stainless steel and the side walls are made of a polyethylene (specifically: high density polyethylene, HDPE).

(6) The completely closed design of the housing 1 ensures access protection for the container 2. Theoretically it would also be possible fit a closure or a seal whereby manipulation during the transport process or in the warehouse can be excluded or at least rendered visible.

(7) The foam 3 may preferably be such that it is relatively yielding and flexible at room temperature (and slight negative temperatures) and hardens at lower temperatures (−15° C. and colder) and encloses the container 2 arranged in the housing 1 and protects it from relative movement. The container 2 protected in that way can accordingly not be bent or compressed because relative movement with respect to the housing 1 is indeed prevented. As a result cracks and leaks can be prevented on the container 2 which for example is made of plastic.

(8) The foam used for example can be so-called visco-elastic foam which hardens at certain negative temperatures.

(9) Freezing of the arrangement of housing 1 and filled container 2 can be effected for example by contact cooling or circulatory air cooling systems or in some other way. In contact cooling systems the cover surfaces of the housing 1 (also referred to as “shell”) lie against cooled surfaces. In circulatory air cooling systems cooled air flows around the housing 1.

(10) The individual sides of the housing 1, in particular the cover surfaces (that is to say top and bottom), can be made of relatively thin material, in particular steel, in order to achieve fast heat conduction (or cold conduction).

(11) The housing 1 according to the invention—as already mentioned—can be reused, in particular if the foam 3 is such that hardening at low temperatures is reversible. It will be appreciated that one-off use of the housing 1 is also conceivable. For that purpose the housing 1 can be easy to strip down for simple recycling measures.