Tube for a Withdrawal System and Method for Withdrawing a Fluid from a Container via a Withdrawal System

Abstract

A removal system (1) with an interface 5a for releasable connection to an extraction head (2) of the removal system (1), such that the tube (5) can be used as a single-use part for removing fluid from a container.

Claims

1. A tube (5) for a removal system (1) with an interface (5a) for releasable connection to an extraction head (2) of the removal system (1), such that the tube (5) can be used as a single-use part for removing fluid (4) from a container.

2. The tube (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that the interface (5a) is designed for connection (11) to different extraction heads.

3. The tube (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that the interface (5a) is formed by a plastic part fastened to the tube (5).

4. A method for removing fluid (4) from a container by means of a removal system (1), characterized in that an extraction head (2) is fastened to the container by means of a closing means (8), wherein a tube (5) is provided by means of an interface (5a), by means of which the tube (5) is releasably fastened to the extraction head (2), and the tube (5) is used as a single-use part for removing fluid (4) from the container.

5. The removal system (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the extraction head (2) has locking means that secure the tube (5) in the extraction head (2) in a locking position.

6. The removal system (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the locking means are moved into a release position by means of an actuation mechanism, in which they release the tube (5).

7. The removal system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the locking means are formed by balls (19) that are displaceably mounted in bore holes (20) of a guide channel (14), the tube (5) being guided inside the guide channel (14).

8. The removal system (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that, in the locking position, the balls (19) are pressed against the tube (5) with a pressing force, by means of which the tube (5) is secured in place, and in that, in the release position, the balls (19) are released from the tube (5).

9. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the tube (5) is releasably fastened to the extraction head (2) by means of the closing means (8), whereby the tube (5) is automatically released from the extraction head (2) when the closing means (8) is opened.

10. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the closing means (8) has two parts that can be moved relative to one another into a locking position, in which the tube (5) is fastened on the extraction head (2), and that can be moved relative to one another into a releasing position, in which the tube (5) is released from the extraction head (2).

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, upon opening the closing means (8) in order to release the extraction head (2) from the container, the parts of the closing means (8) are automatically moved into the releasing position.

12. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the closing means (8) is inside the screw top.

13. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the parts of the closing means (8) are moved into the releasing position when the screw top is screwed off.

14. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the first part (22) of the closing means (8) has engagement elements with respective first guide surfaces (25) projecting beyond one of its faces, and in that the second part (23) of the closing means (8) has recesses (27) with second guide surfaces (28) opening out on one of its faces, whereby upon moving between the releasing position and the locking position, the first part (22) is moved against the second part (23), by the first guide surfaces (25) being moved along the second guide surfaces (28).

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the faces of the parts tightly abut one another in the locking position and the parts are separated from one another in the releasing position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] The invention is explained below in reference to the drawings. The following is shown:

[0059] FIG. 1: Schematic representation of a removal system.

[0060] FIG. 1A: Individual representation of the tube according to the invention for the removal system according to FIG. 1.

[0061] FIG. 2: First example of an extraction head of the removal system according to FIG. 1 with a tube locked therein.

[0062] FIG. 3: Extraction head of the removal system according to FIG. 2 with the unlocked tube arranged therein.

[0063] FIG. 4: Extraction head of the removal system according to FIG. 2 with the tube falling out of the extraction head.

[0064] FIG. 5: Second example of an extraction head of the removal system according to FIG. 1.

[0065] FIG. 6: Individual representation of the components of the closing means of the extraction head according to FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0066] FIG. 1 shows schematically an exemplary embodiment of a removal system 1.

[0067] The removal system 1 comprises an extraction head 2, that may be placed onto an opening of a bottle 3, which contains a fluid 4. On the extraction head 2, a tube 5 is mounted that runs from the extraction head 2 into the interior cavity of the bottle 3.

[0068] The extraction head 2 is further connected to a pump 7 via a line 6. Fluid 4 is pumped out of the bottle 3 by means of the pump 7. The fluid 4 is removed from the bottle 3 via the tube 5 and then fed into the line 6.

[0069] FIG. 1a shows the tube according to FIG. 1. On a longitudinal-side end of the tube 5, an interface 5a is actuated for connection 11 to the extraction head 2. The interface 5a is designed as a plastic part and has a bore hole 20 extending in the longitudinal direction, with which the interface 5a is stuck onto the tube 5. The plastic part forming the interface 5a has, at its outer sleeve surface, suitable moldings 5b through which adaption to the geometry of the extraction head 2 is achieved. The interface 5a is designed for connection 11 to different extraction heads, i.e. removal systems 1.

[0070] FIGS. 2-4 show a first exemplary embodiment of the extraction head 2 according to the invention. The extraction head 2 has a closing means 8 in the form of a screw top, by means of which the extraction head 2 may be secured on the opening of a bottle 3. The screw top has an internal thread 9 that may be screwed onto a thread 9a on the opening of the bottle 3. Due to the screw top of the extraction head 2, a leak-tight seal of the opening of the bottle 3 results.

[0071] Furthermore, the extraction head 2 has a head piece 10. At the upper end of the head piece 10, a connection 11 is provided at which the line 6 leading to the pump 7 may be connected. The connection 11 is secured by a check valve 12. The check valve 12 prevents fluid 4 from escaping from the line 6. Furthermore, in the head piece 10, a ball valve 13 is provided, by means of which an air and pressure equalization is effected in the bottle 3.

[0072] A guide channel 14 opens out at the bottom of the head piece 10, which guide channel 14 projects into a central recess 27 in the closing means 8, wherein the lower end of the guide channel 14 is secured with fastening means 15 within the closing means 8. The guide channel 14 is hollow and cylindrical in form.

[0073] The head piece 10 is movable relative to the screw top forming the closing means 8, an actuation mechanism being formed thereby.

[0074] A spring 16 is arranged between the head piece 10 and the screw top. The head piece 10 is held at a distance from the top of the locking means 8 by the spring force of the spring 16 (FIG. 2). If a user actuates the actuation mechanism formed in this manner, he presses on the upper end of the head piece 10 and presses it down, until the bottom of the head piece 10 lies on the top of the closing means 8 (FIGS. 3 and 4).

[0075] FIG. 2 shows the extraction head 2 with a non-actuated actuation mechanism. The tube 5 is mounted in the inner cavity of the guide channel 14 and held in position there with locking means.

[0076] As is evident from FIGS. 2-4, the upper end of the tube 5, which end is insertable into the guide channel 14, is provided with a sleeve 17 forming the interface 5a, which sleeve 17 has a molding 5b in the shape of a circumferential groove 18 extending in the circumferential direction.

[0077] The locking means are formed by balls 19 that are guided in bore holes 20 within the guide channel 14. In the present case, three identical bore holes 20 are provided in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guide channel 14, which bore holes 20 are respectively arranged offset by 120° to one another in circumferential direction. The bore holes 20 extend in radial direction within the guide channel 14. A ball 19 is guided in each bore hole 20, wherein all balls 19 are identical in form. The balls 19 are guided in the respective bore holes 20 with little play.

[0078] The diameters of the bore holes 20 are somewhat constricted in the region of the opening out into the guide channel 14, i.e. are somewhat smaller than the ball diameter, such that the balls 19 are prevented from falling out into the empty guide channel 14.

[0079] As is evident from FIGS. 2-4, a projection 21 is provided at the upper edge of the wall element of the closing means 8 that delimits the recess 27, which projection 21 runs circumferentially in circumferential direction and represents a narrowing of the recess 27 into which the guide channel 14 projects. This projection 21 forms a positioning means, FIG. 2 showing the closing means 8 and the positioning means in a locking position. This locking position is adopted when the actuation mechanism is not actuated and the spring 16 holds the head piece 10 at a distance from the closing means 8. The projection 21 forming the positioning means then lies, as shown in FIG. 2, in the region of the bore holes 20. The projection therefore pushes the balls in the bore holes in the direction of the interior cavity of the guide channel 14, such that in a locking position, the balls 19 are pressed against the groove 18 in the sleeve 17 of the tube 5 with a pressing force, by means of which the tube 5 is secured within the guide channel 14.

[0080] When the actuation mechanism is actuated as shown in FIG. 3, the head piece 10 is pressed against the screw top forming the closing means 8 and the guide channel 14 is pushed further into the recess 27 of the screw top. Thereby, the closing means 8 and with it, the projection 21, are moved from the locking position into a release position. In this release position, the projection 21 lies above the bore holes 20. The balls 19 are therefore in a released position and are therefore no longer pressed against the tube 5 by means of the projection 21, i.e. the tube 5 is no longer held securely inside the guide channel 14. Therefore, due to gravity, the tube 5 falls out of the guide channel 14 (FIG. 4) and falls into the bottle 3.

[0081] To empty the bottle 3, the extraction head 2 is fastened to the bottle 3. The actuation mechanism is not actuated and the tube 5 is held securely inside the guide channel 14 (FIG. 2). The bottle 3 is then emptied by means of the pump 7. Once the bottle 3 is empty, the actuation mechanism is actuated and the tube 5 inside the guide channel 14 is released (FIG. 3), such that the tube 5 falls into the empty bottle 3 and may be disposed of.

[0082] If the extraction head 2 is to be used for removing fluid 4 from another bottle 3, first a new tube 5 is fastened inside the guide channel 14 of the extraction head 2. To do so, a user actuates the actuation mechanism and then slides the tube 5 into the guide channel 14. Then the user releases the head piece 10, such that the head piece 10 is raised up from the closing means 8 by the spring force of the spring 16. The closing means 8, with its projection 21, is thereby moved into the locking position, by means of which the tube 5 is held securely inside the guide channel 14.

[0083] The assembly formed in this manner may then be placed onto the other bottle 3 for removing fluid 4.

[0084] FIG. 5 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the extraction head 2 of the removal system 1. In this case as well, for removing fluid 4, the tube 5 with the sleeve 17 for removing fluid 4 is used as a single-use part, i.e. a disposable part.

[0085] In this case, the tube 5 is coupled to the screw top forming the closing means 8, such that with the screw top, the tube 5 can be releasably fastened to the extraction head 2. In particular, the tube 5 is released automatically from the extraction head 2 when the screw top is screwed open.

[0086] As shown in FIG. 5 and especially the individual representation of the closing means 8 in FIG. 6, the latter has two parts 22, 23 that are movable relative to one another.

[0087] Both parts have main bodies that essentially have rotational symmetry.

[0088] The first part 22 is essentially designed as a hollow cylinder. Multiple identically formed engagement elements 24, that respectively have a curved shape forming a first guide surface 25, project from the edge on one face.

[0089] The second part 23 has projections 26 that open out on its outer jacket surface, which projections 26 serve the manual actuation of the screw top. Within the main body of the first part 22, recesses 27 opening out on a face are provided, wherein each recess 27 has a second guide surface 28 corresponding, i.e., designed with a complementary shape, to the respective first guide surface 25 of an engagement element 24.

[0090] The first and second part 22, 23 are rotated on top of one another to form the closing means 8, such that the first guide surfaces 25 of the engagement elements 24 are in contact with the second guide surfaces 28 of the recess 27. In this way, the parts of the closing means 8 can be moved between a locking position and a releasing position.

[0091] In the locking position, the first guide surfaces 25 of the engagement elements 24 lie with their full area on top of the second guide surfaces 28 of the recesses 27, such that the faces of the first and second part 22, 23 tightly abut one another, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0092] In this locking position, the tube 5 abutting the inner side of the thread 9a is fastened with a sleeve 17 on the extraction head 2.

[0093] When the screw top is screwed open, the parts 22, 23 are separated from one another by the first guide surfaces 25 sliding along the second guide surface 28. Once the screw top is screwed open to such an extent that the parts 22, 23 are in their releasing position, the tube 5 is released and it falls into the bottle 3.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0094] (1) Removal system [0095] (2) Extraction head [0096] (3) Bottle [0097] (4) Fluid [0098] (5) Tube [0099] (5a) Interface [0100] (5b) Molding [0101] (6) Line [0102] (7) Pump [0103] (8) Closing means [0104] (9) Internal thread [0105] (9a) Threads [0106] (10) Head piece [0107] (11) Connector [0108] (12) Check valve [0109] (13) Ball valve [0110] (14) Guide channel [0111] (15) Fastening means [0112] (16) Spring [0113] (17) Sleeve [0114] (18) Groove [0115] (19) Ball [0116] (20) Bore hole [0117] (21) Projection [0118] (22) First part [0119] (23) Second part [0120] (24) Engagement element [0121] (25) First guide surface [0122] (26) Projection [0123] (27) Recess [0124] (28) Second guide surface