Receptacles – Freight containers – Including inner bag liner
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-14
2003-09-30
Newhouse, Nathan J. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Freight containers
Including inner bag liner
C220S495010, C220S495060, C383S109000, C383S113000, C428S035300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06626312
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The claimed invention relates to a storage device. In particular, the invention relates to a bag for use in storage and bulk transport of liquids by commercial transport vehicles.
BACKGROUND
Metallic tanks have previously been used to transport substantial quantities of liquid in bulk. These tanks are handled similarly to traditional containers and mounted over trucks, vessels and other air, maritime and land vehicles. Other materials have also been used in the manufacture of storage tanks, such as reinforced plastic or composites.
Non-rigid, collapsible bags have also been utilized for the storage and transport of liquids. The bags are reusable and cleanable through one end which is open, but sealed with multiple clamps. One such bag is the Multibulk, manufactured by Trans-Ocean Distribution. This bag is a double bag that is partially disposable. The external bag is reusable and the internal bag is disposable.
SUMMARY
The claimed invention is a storage bag for carrying a storage material. The storage bag includes an internal layer, an external layer, an intermediate layer, and an inlet. The internal layer is configured as a bag to define an interior space for storing the storage material. The internal layer bag has an opening for entrance of the storage material into the interior space. The external layer is perforation resistant, configured as a bag with an opening, and positioned around the internal layer bag. The intermediate layer is configured as a bag with an opening and is positioned between the internal layer and the external layer. The inlet is for loading and discharge of the storage material into and from the interior space. The internal, intermediate, and external layer bag openings are coupled to the inlet.
The storage bag may also include a metallized layer configured as a bag with an opening and positioned between the internal layer and the intermediate layer. The metallized layer opening is coupled to the inlet and may be a triple layer laminated material having a central layer of metallized polyester sandwiched between outer layers of polyethylene film.
The internal layer may be a sheet of triple layer co-extruded polyethylene that is resistant to interaction with the storage material. In a preferred embodiment, the internal layer is four sheets of triple layer co-extruded polyethylene. Each sheet of the internal layer may have a thickness ranging between about 80 and about 150 microns. A preferred thickness for each sheet is 115 microns.
The external and intermediate layers are preferably non-woven geotextile layers. More preferably, the intermediate geotextile layer is a fabric of fine polypropylene multidirectional fibers that are bound with each other, and the external layer is high density polyethylene.
In one embodiment, the internal, internal, intermediate, and external layer bags are coupled to one another only at the inlet. In a more preferred embodiment, the inlet includes two inlets and the internal, intermediate, and external layer bags each have two openings. The two inlets are spaced apart from one another and coupled to the respective openings in the internal, intermediate, and external layer bags. The location of the inlets may vary. They may be positioned on top of the container, as depicted in the figures, or positioned on the ends, such as in the front, bottom, right side corner of the container.
The inlet includes an opening to the interior space with a mounting portion for mounting a valve in the mounting portion and a flange portion configured opposite the mounting portion on the inlet. The flange portion is for coupling with the internal, external, and intermediate layer bags. The opening defines an longitudinal axis in the inlet and the flange portion is preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the opening.
A valve may be positioned in the mounting portion of the inlet, and a valve protecting collar may be coupled to the valve. The collar is configured to maintain the valve perpendicular to a face of the storage bag.
The storage bag may also include a weld extending through the internal layer, the metallized layer, and the flange portion to couple the respective bags to the flange portion.
In another embodiment, the internal layer is a sheet material with edges. The edges are joined together by a plurality of welds to form the internal layer bag. The metallized layer is a sheet material with edges, and the edges are joined together by a plurality of welds to form the metallized layer bag. The internal layer may include four sheets of material, with each sheet having edges. The edges of the four sheets of material are connected by a weld to define a single bag shape having four layers.
The intermediate layer is preferably a sheet material with edges. The edges are joined together by an adhesive to form the intermediate layer bag. The external layer is also preferably a sheet material with edges. The edges of the external layer sheet material are joined together by an adhesive to form the external layer bag. The adhesive may be a double-sided contact tape.
In the vicinity of the inlet, the intermediate layer may be coupled to the external layer on one side and to the metallized layer on the other side by an adhesive. A weld may connect the internal and metallized layers in the vicinity of, but spaced from, the flange portion of the inlet. A partial external layer may be coupled to the external layer by an adhesive. In addition, a first partial intermediate layer may be coupled to the external layer and the intermediate layer by an adhesive, and a second partial intermediate layer may be coupled to the intermediate layer and metallized layer by an adhesive.
In a preferred embodiment, the intermediate layer bag and external layer bag are dimensionally smaller than the internal layer bag. In another embodiment, the intermediate layer bag and external layer bag are dimensionally smaller than the internal layer bag and the metallized layer bag. In yet another embodiment, the metallized layer bag is dimensionally larger than the internal layer bag.
The storage bag is preferably disposable.
The claimed invention also relates to a system for storing and transporting liquids including a storage bag and a storage container. The storage container is an intermodal container having a footprint, and the storage bag has dimensions similar to the footprint of the intermodal container.
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Merek Joseph C.
Newhouse Nathan J.
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