Bore Hole

Abstract

A retrieval system for a container having a dip tube and designed to hold a liquid, with a retrieval head which can be fastened to the dip tube, so that liquid can be retrieved from or supplied to the container via the dip tube and the retrieval head. The retrieval head has a liquid channel in which the liquid retrieved from or supplied to the container is conducted. An opening is provided in the wall bounding the liquid channel, wherein when the retrieval head is fastened to the dip tube the opening is closed in such a way that it is secured against the entering of gas, and wherein when the retrieval head is unfastened from the dip tube the opening is no longer closed, so that gas enters the liquid channel via the borehole.

Claims

1. A retrieval system (1) for a container (2) having a dip tube (5) and designed to hold a liquid (3), with a retrieval head (4) which is fastenable to the dip tube (5), so that liquid (3) is retrievable from the container (2) via the dip tube (5) and the retrieval head (4) or liquid (3) is suppliable to the container (2), wherein the retrieval head (4) has a liquid channel (10) in which the liquid (3) retrieved from or supplied to the container (2) is conducted, characterized in that an opening is provided in the wall (11) bounding the liquid channel (10), wherein, when the retrieval head (4) is fastened to the dip tube (5), the opening is closed in such a way that it is secured against the entering of gas, and wherein, when the retrieval head (4) is unfastened from the dip tube (5), the opening is no longer closed, so that gas passes into the liquid channel (10) via the opening.

2. The retrieval system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one ventilation opening (20) is provided in a wall of the dip tube (5), wherein, when the retrieval head (4) is fastened to the dip tube (5), the closed opening is uncoupled from the ventilation opening (20), and wherein, when the retrieval head (4) is unfastened from the dip tube (5), gas passes from the ventilation opening (20) via the opening into the liquid channel (10).

3. The retrieval system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a seal (16) is provided on the outside of the wall (11) of the retrieval head (4) bounding the liquid channel (10), by means of which seal (16) the opening is closed when the retrieval head (4) is fastened to the dip tube (5).

4. The retrieval system (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that when the retrieval head (4) is fastened to the dip tube (5), the seal (16) is located between the opening and the ventilation opening (20).

5. The retrieval system (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the seal (16) is arranged closely above the opening.

6. The retrieval system (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the seal (16) is arranged in circumferential direction around the outside of the wall (11).

7. The retrieval system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that when the retrieval head (4) is unfastened from the dip tube (5), the retrieval head (4) is displaced in the axial direction relative to the dip tube (5), wherein this displacement movement releases the closure of the opening.

8. The retrieval system (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that when the retrieval head (4) is unfastened from the dip tube (5), due to the displacement movement of the retrieval head (4) relative to the dip tube (5), the seal (16) is moved out of the area between the opening and the ventilation opening (20).

9. The retrieval system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the retrieval head (4) has a base body (4b), wherein an upper section of the liquid channel (10) extends in the base body (4b) and wherein a lower section protrudes downward beyond the lower edge of the base body (4b).

10. The retrieval system (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that at least a part of the upper section of the liquid channel (10) is surrounded by a ventilation channel (12), and in that, when the dip tube (5) is fastened to the retrieval head (4), the upper end of the dip tube (5) surrounds the lower section of the liquid channel (10).

11. The retrieval system (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the opening and the seal (16) are arranged in the lower section of the liquid channel (10).

12. The retrieval system (1) according to claim 19, characterized in that the ventilation channel (12) is arranged concentrically to the liquid channel (10).

13. The retrieval system (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that, when the retrieval head (4) is fastened to the dip tube (5), gas introduced into the ventilation channel (12) via a ventilation port (13) is conducted to the outside via the ventilation opening (20).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] The invention is explained below on the basis of the drawings. The drawings show:

[0041] FIG. 1: A schematic representation of the retrieval system according to the invention;

[0042] FIG. 2: An individual representation of the retrieval head of the retrieval system according to FIG. 1;

[0043] FIG. 3: An individual representation of the dip tube of the retrieval system according to FIG. 1;

[0044] FIG. 4A: An overall representation of the retrieval head on the dip tube in its fastened position;

[0045] FIG. 4B: An enlarged partial representation of the retrieval head on the dip tube in its fastened position;

[0046] FIG. 5A: An overall representation of the retrieval head on the dip tube when released from the fastened position in a first phase;

[0047] FIG. 5B: An enlarged partial representation of the retrieval head on the dip tube when released from the fastened position in a first phase;

[0048] FIG. 6A: An overall representation of the retrieval head on the dip tube when released from the fastened position in a second phase;

[0049] FIG. 6B: An enlarged partial representation of the retrieval head on the dip tube when released from the fastened position in a second phase.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0050] FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of the retrieval system 1 according to the invention for transportable containers 2, which in particular can be formed as barrels or the like. A liquid 3 is stored in the respective container 2. Liquids 3 stored in such containers 2 are in particular liquid specialty chemicals.

[0051] The retrieval system 1 comprises a retrieval head 4 which can be fastened to a dip tube 5. The dip tube 5 is supported in a bung head 6, which is seated in a container opening of the container 2, and is thus firmly connected to the container 2. The longitudinal axis of the dip tube 5 runs in a vertical direction.

[0052] The retrieval head 4 is used to retrieve liquid 3 from the container 2. Likewise, this can be used for filling containers 2. For this purpose, the retrieval head 4 has a liquid port 4a at its upper end. To this liquid port 4a a line 7 is connected, which leads to a pump 8. The line 7 can be formed as a hose. The pump 8 is controlled by a control unit not shown.

[0053] The retrieval head 4 is shown in an individual representation in FIG. 2. The retrieval head 4 has a base body 4b forming a housing, at the upper end of which the liquid port 4a is provided. Connected to the lower end is a check valve 9, which connects to the upper side of a liquid channel 10. The liquid channel 10 extends along the longitudinal axis of the retrieval head 4 and has a hollow cylindrical shape. The liquid channel 10 is bounded by a wall 11.

[0054] An upper section of the liquid channel 10 of the retrieval head 4 extends in the base body 4b, where it is separated from the rest of the base body 4b by a ventilation channel 12. The ventilation channel 12 encloses the wall 11 of the liquid channel 10. The ventilation channel 12 extends concentrically to the liquid channel 10. Air 14 is supplied to the ventilation channel 12 via a ventilation port 13 which opens out laterally on the base body 4b of the retrieval head 4, as can be seen in particular in FIGS. 4b, 5b, 6b. A lower section of the liquid channel 10 protrudes downward beyond the lower edge of the base body 4b.

[0055] In this lower section of the liquid channel 10, there is a borehole 15 which passes through the wall 11 of the liquid channel 10 in radial direction. A seal 16 is located closely above this borehole 15. The seal 16 runs circumferentially along the wall 11 of the liquid channel 10 and protrudes slightly beyond the outside of the wall 11.

[0056] A thread 17, with which the retrieval head 4 can be screwed to the dip tube 5, is provided at the lower end of the base body 4b of the retrieval head 4.

[0057] The dip tube 5 is shown in an individual representation in FIG. 3. The dip tube 5 has a hollow cylindrical tube body 18 and a head part 19 at the upper side of the tube body 18.

[0058] In the area of the lower end of the head part 19, there are ventilation openings 20 which are provided equidistantly in the circumferential direction of the head part 19 at a distance from each other. In the head part 19 there is furthermore an internal thread 21 for unscrewing to the thread 17 of the retrieval head 4. Instead of a screw connection between the retrieval head 4 and the dip tube 5, other fastening options are also possible, for example in such a way that the retrieval head 4 is fixed to the dip tube 5 by a mere displacement movement. On the outside of the head part 19 there is an external thread 22 for screwing into the bung head 6.

[0059] The function of the retrieval system 1 with the retrieval head 4 on the dip tube 5 is shown in FIGS. 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b.

[0060] FIGS. 4a, 4b show the retrieval head 4 screwed to the dip ring 5. The retrieval head 4 is then in a fastened position, which may be secured by locking means and/or monitored by a sensor system.

[0061] If the retrieval head 4 is in this fastened position, liquid 3 can be retrieved from or supplied to the container 2 via the dip tube 5 and the liquid channel 10 of the retrieval head 4, which extend coaxially and connect to each other to form a common channel. Accordingly, the channel is completely filled with liquid 3 for the dispensing or introducing of liquid 3.

[0062] As FIGS. 4a, 4b show, in the fastened position, the seal 16 is arranged between the ventilation openings 20 and the borehole 15. The borehole 15 is thus closed by the seal 16. Accordingly, air 14 supplied to the ventilation channel 12 via the ventilation port 13 is exhausted via the ventilation opening 20 without this air 14 reaching the borehole 15, so that no air 14 reaches the liquid channel 10 either.

[0063] FIGS. 5a, 5b show the situation when the retrieval head 4 is unfastened from the dip tube 5, in which the retrieval head 4 is unscrewed from the dip tube 5. In this case, the retrieval head 4 is only slightly unfastened from the fastened position, i.e., the retrieval head 4 is still supported on the dip tube 5 so that the liquid channel 10 still forms a continuous channel with the dip tube 5 to the line 7 for liquid 3.

[0064] Since the retrieval head 4 has been unscrewed somewhat from the dip tube 5, the retrieval head 4 has moved slightly in the axial direction relative to the dip tube 5. As a result of this axial movement, the seal 16 and the borehole 15 of the retrieval head 4 have moved in the axial direction relative to the ventilation openings 20 of the dip tube 5 in such a way that the seal 16 is now located in the area of the ventilation opening 20. The borehole 15 is thus no longer closed, so that air 14 now passes from the ventilation channel 12 via the area of the ventilation opening 20 to the borehole 15 and is thus conducted into the liquid channel 10. This is illustrated in FIGS. 5a, 5b by the entering of air bubbles 14a into the liquid 3 located in the liquid channel 10.

[0065] The entering of air bubbles 14a prevents liquid 3 from sticking to the wall 11 of the liquid channel 10 due to capillary action. The liquid 3 thus releases quickly and completely from the wall 11, so that after a short time, as shown in FIGS. 6a, 6b, all of the liquid 3 is discharged not only from the dip tube 5 but also completely from the liquid channel 10, before the retrieval head 4 is unfastened from the dip tube 5.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0066] (1) Retrieval system [0067] (2) Container [0068] (3) Liquid [0069] (4) Retrieval head [0070] (4a) Liquid port [0071] (4b) Base body [0072] (5) Dip tube [0073] (6) Bung head [0074] (7) Line [0075] (8) Pump [0076] (9) Check valve [0077] (10) Liquid channel [0078] (11) Wall [0079] (12) Ventilation channel [0080] (13) Ventilation port [0081] (14) Air [0082] (14a) Air bubbles [0083] (15) Borehole [0084] (16) Seal [0085] (17) Thread [0086] (18) Tube body [0087] (19) Head part [0088] (20) Ventilation opening [0089] (21) Internal thread [0090] (22) External thread