Refillable material transfer system

• US 20050232072A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CH & I Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CH & I Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Thibodeau, Robert D., Williams, Eric A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,997,445 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 366/154.100
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0227 by an ejection plunger B67D7/0238 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0238 utilising compressed air or other gas acting directly or indirectly on liquids in storage containers for dispensing beverages on draught B67D1/04

Abstract

A material transfer system for storing, transferring and dispensing viscous material, such as fluids and liquids, includes a material containment vessel with an upper region incorporating a motive force and a bottom region with a material ingress and egress opening. A diconical or other shaped force transfer device is located in the material containment area. The force transfer device is an energy transducer when the material containment is filled with highly viscous materials, such as adhesives, sealants, mastics or lubricating greases. The force transfer device serves as an integral part of a level indicator for both viscous fluids and lower viscosity liquids. The viscous material itself forms a seal between the interface region of the force transfer device and the inside wall of the fluid vessel. Vertical stabilizing elements may extend outward from the force transfer device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transferring material from a vessel, the apparatus comprising:

a crown;

a tangential member attached to the crown and having a longitudinal axis, wherein the tangential member is configured with an outer surface substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; and

a thruster attached to the tangential member, wherein the thruster is configured with a portion for penetrating a material.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thruster is cone shaped.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the thruster has a vertex directed away from the tangential member, the crown is cone shaped with a vertex directed away from the tangential member, and the tangential member is cylindrical shaped.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thruster is configured with a protuberance.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the thruster is configured as a frustum and the protuberance is configured with a cone shape.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein thruster is hollow, the crown is cone shaped and the tangential member is cylindrical shaped.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the tangential member includes a plurality of cylindrical plates.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the thruster is configured with a semi-elliptical shape and the protuberance is configured with a cylindrical shape.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the thruster is hollow, the crown is configured with a semi-elliptical shape and is hollow, and the tangential member is formed from the crown and the thruster.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of stabilizing fins.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the stabilizing fins are connected to the outer surface of the tangential member.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the stabilizing fins are connected to an outer surface of the crown.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the tangential member includes a plurality of cylindrical plates.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tangential member includes a plurality of cylindrical plates.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the crown is configured to receive a driving force.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the crown, tangential member and thruster are configured to receive ballast.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a level indicating device.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the level indicating device includes a stem having a plurality of magnetic reed switches, wherein the stem is slidably disposed within the crown, tangential member and thruster, and a magnetic actuator is disposed within a bottom portion of the thruster.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving an applied force;

means for defining an annulus; and

means for penetrating a material.

20. A refillable system for transferring material, the system comprising:

a vessel having a first end having a material inlet manifold, a second end having a material exit manifold and a wall disposed between the first end and the second end, the vessel further having a longitudinal axis and a transverse width;

a force transfer device disposed within the vessel, the force transfer device including,

(a) a crown;

(b) a tangential member attached to the crown and having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vessel, wherein the tangential member is configured with an outer area substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the crown, wherein the tangential member has a transverse width substantially less than the transverse width of the vessel, and

(c) a thruster attached to the tangential member, wherein the thruster is configured to penetrate a material in a vessel;

a retainer positioned at the first end of the vessel and configured to conform to the shape of the crown; and

an arrestor positioned at the second end of the vessel and configured to conform to the shape of the thruster.

21. The system of claim 20, further including a level indicating device having a display disposed at the first end of the vessel, the display being attached to a stem having a plurality of magnetic reed switches, wherein the stem is slidably disposed within the crown, tangential member and thruster, and wherein a magnetic actuator is disposed within a bottom portion of the thruster.