Liquid chemical dispensing and recirculating system

• US 5,957,328 A
• Filed: 04/07/1997
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc. (Entegris Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Now Technologies Incorporated (Entegris Incorporated)
• Inventors: Osgar, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bomberg, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US08/835,313
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222/83, 222/83.5, 222/88, 222/91, 222/95, 222/105, 222/107, 222/318, 222/400.7, 222/464.1, 222/424
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0294 Combined with valves
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/344 by checking a correct coupling or coded information

Abstract

A container system for high purity fluids includes an outer container having a mouth and a coupling member for insertion into the mouth. The coupling member defines a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage. The first fluid passage terminates within the outer container at a first location while the second fluid passage terminates within the outer container at a second location. The second fluid passage comprises at least one fluid channel circumferentially extending along the first fluid passage so that high purity fluids may be drawn out of the outer container through the first fluid passage and filled into the outer container through the second fluid passage.

Claims

1. A method of handling high purity liquids, the method comprising;

providing a container having a first end and a second end and having a mouth which communicates with an interior of the container;

inserting a retainer in the mouth of the container, the retainer defining a vent;

inserting a fitment in the retainer such that it is supported thereby and such that it defines a port;

filling the interior of the container through the port;

inserting a coupling member into the port, wherein the coupling member defines a first fluid passage terminating within the interior of the container at a first location proximate to the first end and a second fluid passage terminating within the container at a second location proximate to the second end;

attaching a cap over the port which seals the first and second fluid passages and the vent;

removing the cap to allow gas within the container to escape through the second fluid passage;

positioning a probe having a first flow passage and a second flow passage with respect to the coupling member so that the first flow passage is in fluid communication with the first fluid passage and so that the second flow passage is in fluid communication with the second fluid passage;

dispensing liquid from the container through the first fluid passage and through the first flow passage; and

refilling liquid into the container through the second flow passage and through the second fluid passage.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of dispensing liquid from the container and refilling liquid into the container are performed simultaneously.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of refilling liquid into container comprises:

recirculating the dispensed liquid back into the container through the second flow passage and through the second fluid passage.

4. The method of claim 3 further including:

filtering the dispensed liquid from the container to remove impurities before recirculating the dispensed liquid back into the fluid container.

5. A method of handling high purity liquids, the method comprising:

providing a container having a first end and a second end and having an outer container and a flexible bag supported within the outer container, the flexible bag having a port which communicates with an interior of the flexible bag;

inserting a retainer in the container, the retainer defining a vent;

inserting a fitment in the retainer such that it is supported thereby and such that flexible bag is supported on the fitment;

filling the interior of the flexible bag with liquid through the port;

inserting a coupling member into the port, whereby the coupling member defines a first fluid passage terminating within the interior of the flexible bag at a first location proximate to the first end and a second fluid passage terminating within the flexible bag at a second location proximate to the second end;

attaching a cap over the port which seals the first and second fluid passages and the vent;

removing the cap to allow gas within the flexible bag to escape through the second fluid passage;

positioning a probe having a first flow passage and a second flow passage with respect to the coupling member so that the first flow passage is in fluid communication with the first fluid passage and so that the second flow passage is in fluid communication with the second fluid passage;

dispensing liquid from the flexible bag through the first fluid passage and through the first flow passage; and

refilling liquid into the flexible bag through the second flow passage and through the second fluid passage.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the steps of dispensing liquid from the container and refilling liquid into the flexible bag are performed simultaneously.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of refilling liquid into container comprises:

recirculating the dispensed liquid back into the flexible bag through the second flow passage and through the second fluid passage.

8. The method of claim 7 further including:

filtering the dispensed liquid from the flexible bag to remove impurities before recirculating the dispensed liquid back into the flexible bag.

9. The method of claim 5 including:

venting a gas between the outer container and the flexible bag.

10. The method of claim 5 including:

supplying fluid under pressure between the outer container and the flexible bag to dispense liquid from the flexible bag through the first fluid passage and through the first flow passage.

11. A method of handling high purity liquids, the method comprising:

providing a container having a first end and a second end and having an outer container and a flexible bag supported within the outer container, the flexible bag having a port which communicates with an interior of the flexible bag;

inserting a retainer in the container, the retainer defining a vent;

inserting a fitment in the retainer such that it is supported thereby and such that flexible bag is supported on the fitment;

filling the interior of the flexible bag with a liquid through the port;

inserting a coupling member into the port, whereby the coupling member defines a first fluid passage terminating within the interior of the flexible bag at a first location proximate to the first end and a second fluid passage terminating within the flexible bag at a second location proximate to the second end;

attaching a cap over the port which seals the first and second fluid passages and the vent;

removing the cap to allow gas within the flexible bag to escape through the second fluid passage;

positioning a probe having a first flow passage and a second flow passage with respect to the coupling member so that the first flow passage is in fluid communication with the first fluid passage and so that the second flow passage is in fluid communication with the second fluid passage;

dispensing the liquid from the flexible bag through the first fluid passage and through the first flow passage; and

recirculating the liquid back into the flexible bag through the second flow passage and through the second fluid passage.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the steps of dispensing liquid from the flexible bag and recirculating liquid into the flexible bag are performed simultaneously.

13. The method of claim 12 further including:

filtering the dispensed liquid from the flexible bag to remove impurities before recirculating the dispensed liquid back into the flexible bag.

14. The method of claim 11 including:

venting a gas between the outer container and the flexible bag.

15. A method of handling high purity liquids, the method comprising:

providing a container having a first end and a second end and having a mouth which communicates with an interior of the container;

inserting a retainer in the mouth of the container, the retainer defining a vent;

inserting a fitment in the retainer such that it is supported thereby and such that it defines a port;

filling the interior of the container through the port;

inserting a coupling member into the port, wherein the coupling member defines a first fluid passage terminating within the interior of the container at a first location proximate to the first end and a second fluid passage terminating within the container at a second location proximate to the second end, the coupling member including a female portion;

positioning a probe having a male portion with a central first flow passage and a peripheral second flow passage with respect to the coupling member so that the male portion of the probe engages the female portion of the coupling member with the first flow passage in fluid communication with the first fluid passage and so that the second flow passage is in fluid communication with the second fluid passage;

dispensing liquid from the container through the first fluid passage and through the first flow passage; and

refilling liquid into the container through the second flow passage and through the second fluid passage.

16. A method of handling high purity liquids, the method comprising:

providing a container having a first end and a second end and having an outer container and a flexible bag supported within the outer container, the flexible bag having a port which communicates with an interior of the flexible bag;

inserting a retainer in the container, the retainer defining a vent;

inserting a fitment in the retainer such that it is supported thereby and such that flexible bag is supported on the fitment;

filling the interior of the flexible bag with liquid through the port;

inserting a coupling member into the port, whereby the coupling member defines a first fluid passage terminating within the interior of the flexible bag at a first location proximate to the first end and a second fluid passage terminating within the flexible bag at a second location proximate to the second end, the coupling member including a female portion;

inserting a probe having a first flow passage and a second flow passage into the female portion of the coupling member so that the first flow passage is in fluid communication with the first fluid passage and so that the second flow passage is in fluid communication with the second fluid passage;

dispensing liquid from the flexible bag through the first fluid passage and through the first flow passage; and

refilling liquid into the flexible bag through the second flow passage and through the second fluid passage.

17. A method of handling high purity liquids, the method comprising:

providing a container having an outer container and a flexible bag supported within the outer container, the flexible bag having a port which communicates with an interior of the flexible bag;

filling the interior of the flexible bag with liquid through the port;

inserting a coupling member into the port, whereby the coupling member defines a first fluid passage terminating within the interior of the flexible bag at a first location and a second fluid passage terminating within the flexible bag at a second location;

positioning a probe having a first flow passage and a second flow passage with respect to the coupling member so that the first flow passage is in fluid communication with the first fluid passage and so that the second flow passage is in fluid communication with the second fluid passage;

supplying fluid under pressure between the outer container and the flexible bag to dispense liquid from the flexible bag through the first fluid passage and through the first flow passage;

dispensing liquid from the flexible bag through the first fluid passage and through the first flow passage; and

refilling liquid into the flexible bag through the second flow passage and through the second fluid passage.

18. A method of handling high purity liquids, the method comprising:

providing a container having a first end and a second end and having a port which communicates with an interior of the container;

filling the interior of the container through the port;

inserting a coupling member into the port, wherein the coupling member defines a first fluid passage terminating within the interior of the container at a first location proximate to the first end and a second fluid passage terminating within the container at a second location proximate to the second end;

attaching a closure over the coupling member, the closure having cylindrical side walls defining a central opening to the first and second passages;

attaching a cap over the opening of the closure which seals the first and second fluid passages;

removing the cap to allow gas within the container to escape through the second fluid passage;

attaching a dispenser to the closure, the dispenser having a probe with a first flow passage and a second flow passage with respect to the coupling member so that the first flow passage is in fluid communication with the first fluid passage and so that the second flow passage is in fluid communication with the second fluid passage;

dispensing liquid from the container through the first fluid passage and through the first flow passage; and

refilling liquid into the container through the second flow passage and through the second fluid passage.