Abstract:
Aerosol spray cans are positioned one at a time at a workstation by inserting the bottom wall of each can through an appropriately sized centering ring to center the bottom wall relative to an annular seal that engages peripheral portions of the bottom wall to support the can at the workstation. The bottom wall is clamped into sealing engagement with the annular seal by using a lever operated clamping mechanism that is adjustable to accommodate all known standard sizes of aerosol spray cans. The bottom wall is punctured by using a lever operated, rack and pinion driven piercing mechanism that extends a piercing pin through the center opening of the annular seal. Contents that discharge from a pierced can are ducted into a receiving container, a lower portion of which is used to collect liquid contents for environmentally safe disposal. Gaseous contents are drawn out of the upper region of the receiving container and pass through a series of filters to remove environmentally objectionable constituents therefrom before the filtered gas is ducted to a plenum that is maintained at less than atmospheric pressure by a blower that discharges gaseous contents from the plenum for venting to the atmosphere. A flow of ambient air is drawn from the vicinity of the workstation and is ducted into the plenum for discharge so that, if gaseous emissions inadvertently emanate from the vicinity of the workstation, they are quickly entrained in the flow of ambient air and are ducted to the reduced pressure plenum for discharge.
Abstract:
A method and assembly for treating hazardous and/or unknown fluids either liquids or compressed gases contained in a gas cylinder (12) having a cylinder body (14) and a removable fixture (16). The assembly (10) includes a tubular housing (18) having an open end (20). An adjustable carriage assembly (34, 38, 40) is included for supporting the cylinder body (14) in the center of the housing (18). A clamping assembly (30) secures the cylinder body (14) to the carriage assembly (34, 38, 42). An end cap (70) seals the open end (20) of the housing (18). A shaft (72) is rotatably disposed through the end cap (70). The shaft (72) includes a fixture engagement assembly (78) on one end (76) thereof for engaging a portion of the fixture (16) and imparting a rotational force thereto. A motor driven gear box (86) imparts the rotational force to another end (74) of the shaft (72 ). Gas or fluid removed from the cylinder body (14) exits the housing (18) through an opening (94) and is treated in a scrubber assembly (96) comprising a treatment tank (104) and a packed column (106).
Abstract:
The present invention comprises an apparatus and method for removing and otherwise managing the contents of compressed gas cylinders and other hazardous containers. The invention includes a selectively sealable chamber that receives a container to be serviced. A shearing device such as a saw or cutter is provided within the chamber. Once the chamber is sealed, the shearing device engages the cylinder and shears off a portion thereof. Such an operation permits the entire contents of the cylinder to be released into the chamber. A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a device for manipulating the position of the chamber to facilitate gravitational drainage of the contents. The present invention further includes a decontamination system that delivers decontamination or cleansing fluids to both the interior of the opened cylinder and the chamber. The present invention further includes an evacuation system that removes all gases from the chamber and the cylinder in a environmentally safe manner. All of these operations may be conducted remotely.
Abstract:
An attachment for a syrup container for a post-mix beverage apparatus permits syrup to be dispensed while the container is in an upright condition. Conduits are provided in the attachment for supplying carbon dioxide gas under pressure into the container to propel the syrup therefrom.
Abstract:
A blowing device for the elimination of compactions in bulk material storage silos by using air blasts, includes a compressed air storage container, a compressed air supply duct, a compressed air outflow duct and an interposed rapid exit valve. The rapid exit valve has a conduit in which a valve closure is guided whereby the conduit turns into the compressed air supply duct forming an afflux cross-section for the valve piston over a miter cut or tube turn. The afflux cross-section is selected to be significantly greater than the outflow cross-section in the compressed air outflow duct. In this way, the flow losses, and pressure losses, otherwise customary are considerably reduced, so that extremely high flow velocities can be achieved in the compressed air outflow duct until the velocity of sound is reached. The result is a rapid impulse-like discharge of the compressed air storage container and, consequently, faultless elimination of possible compactions.
Abstract:
An air cannon which includes a pressure tank with an inlet opening and an outlet opening for air, whereby the outlet opening is composed of a tube which is airtightly fastened in the wall of the pressure tank and the one open end terminates inside the pressure tank and the other open end extends out of the pressure tank. A cylindrical shaped second tube is fixed in the pressure tank with an open end and a closed end, generally concentric to the mentioned first tube, of which the cross section is larger than the cross section of the first tube. The first tube extends through the open end into the inside of the second tube, and is generally concentric to it. In the bottom of the second tube there is provided an in and outlet opening for the in and outflow of air. On the bottom of the second tube generally concentric to the aforementioned tubes, a third tube is provided having a smaller diameter and a shorter length than the second tube with the one end airtightly fastened to a wall of the pressure tank and being of such a length that between the end of the first tube and the third tube in the interior of the second tube there is provided a space. A disk is placed in the space, which near the circumference is provided with two collars which engage the interior wall of the second tube to guide the disk for movement back and forth between the ends of the first and the third tube.
Abstract:
A covered pitcher for form-filled flexible plastic bags is provided. The flexible plastic bag is normally filled with a potable liquid such as milk, but fruit juices or wine may also be possible. The pitcher has a bottom portion of dimensions so as to substantially accommodate the flexible plastic bag when filled and sealed. The cover fits the bottom in co-operating manner. An opening is formed in the front upper corner of the cover, and the opening has a cutter head mounted therein for upward and downward movement within the opening. The cutter head is associated with a pair of curved and rockable arms which have closer faces that are curved away from each other at least in the upper portions thereof, and are mounted so as to be in close proximity to each other in the lower portions and over a substantial portion of the length of each closer face when the cutter head is moved to the lower end of the opening. A cutting edge is carried by the cutter head. When the bag is first placed in the pitcher, the cutter head is moved downwardly so as to cut off the front upper corner of the bag from which the potable liquid may then be dispensed; thereafter, when the cutter head is moved downwardly in the opening the bag is substantially sealed by the material of the bag immediately below the cut corner being captured between the closer faces.
Abstract:
A system for the metered delivery of liquids from a storage vessel having a metering valve releasably attached to an outlet of the storage vessel which, upon being mounted on the outlet, renders unfit for further use a part which is integrated into this outlet and is necessary for the proper operation of the metering valve.
Abstract:
A container is provided which has a meniscus shape. A convex part is received in the pale of a user's hand, and a lid is forced into a concave region to dispense material stored in the concave region. An opening which is easily opened and closed for dispensing material is made by using a dispensing aperture and a projection. When the projection is forced into the aperture, the container is closed, and when the projection is removed, the aperture is opened to allow material to be dispensed. Manipulation of the projection is simplified by the use of a lever easily engaged by a user's thumb. Dispensing is accomplished by holding the device in a user's palm so that the convex part lies across the palm and the fingers engage the lid. Normal action of the user's fingers causes the lid to be squeezed inwardly from the bottom to the top to efficiently expel the stored material. The container may be manufactured as a single unit in an unfolded condition, and it is then only necessary to place material in the concave region and to fold the lid over the concave region to complete assembly.
Abstract:
An automatic inflator which inflates gas-inflatable articles by the release of compressed gas from a gas-containing capsule by the piercing of a seal on the capsule. The inflator has an elongated housing having first and second end portions, the housing receiving a compressed gas-containing capsule for longitudinal movement with respect thereto and with the seal on the capsule disposed adjacent the second end portion of the housing. A piercing pin is mounted on the second end portion of the housing to confront the seal of a capsule mounted therein, there being a spring at the first end portion of the housing for constantly urging the capsule longitudinally of the housing toward the second end portion thereof. A releasable blocking device is disposed adjacent the second end portion of the housing and interposed between the seal containing end of the capsule and said second end portion of the housing to hold the seal of the capsule spaced from the piercing pin, the blocking device including a water-sensitive member which when wet releases the blocking device so that the spring moves the capsule toward the piercing pin so that the seal of the capsule is pierced thereby. The inflator is also provided with a selectively withdrawable abutment for the blocking device, whereby the capsule seal may be pierced manually.