US3764035A

US3764035A - Safety storage structure

Info

Publication number: US3764035A
Application number: US00088676A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Silverman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-11-12
Filing date: 1970-11-12
Publication date: 1973-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-09

Abstract

A container assembly for storing dangerous liquids has an inner container made wholly or in part of relatively brittle material, containing dangerous liquid, and an outer container made of relatively elastic material and containing a neutralizing liquid or fluid. Elastic members inside the outer container support the inner container in spaced relationship. Rigid members carried between the walls of the containers are arranged to shatter the inner container in the event an excessive impact is applied to the outer container. The dangerous and neutralizing liquids will interact before the outer container ruptures. Positions of the dangerous and neutralizing liquids can be reversed.

Description

iUnited States Patent [1 1 V 3,764,035 Silverman [45] O t, 9, 1973 [5 SAFETY STORAGE STRUCTURE 447,302 10/1912 France 220/63 A 852 I33 lO/1939 France 220/63 A [76] Inventor: Ralph Silv rn n, 5326 Larchw0od 126087 5 1919 G t B 220 63 A Ave. e phia Pa. 19104 rea r1 am -[22] Filed: Nov. 12, 1970- Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-James R. Garrett [211 App] 88676 Attorney -Polachek & Saulsbury [52] US. Cl 220/15, 220/63 A, 220/88 R [51] Int. Cl. B65d 25/00 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 220/15, 63 A, 88 R, A container assembly for Storing dangerous liquids has 220/83 13 39 A, 13; 20 4 2; 215 12 R an inner container made wholly or in part of relatively brittle material, containing dangerous liquid, and an [5 Ref r Cited outer container made of relatively elastic material and UNITED STATES PATENTS containing a neutralizing liquid or fluid. Elastic mem- 1 07 828 l 1 19 H bers inside the outer container support the inner con- '3 s'gso 3x913 tainer in spaced relationship. Rigid members carried 1 616 116 2/1927 between the walls of the containers are arranged to 1:779:786 10,1930 shatter the inner container in the event an excessive 2,103,673 12/1937 impact is applied to the outer container. The danger- 3,l57,l47 11/1964 ous and neutralizing liquids will interact before the 3,403,714 10/1968 outer container ruptures. Positions of the dangerous FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS and neutralizing liquids can be reversed. 584,660 10/1959 Canada 220/15 10 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures Patented ()cl. 9, 1973 I N VENT OR Bali/2 Ji/verm an 37? AT TERA/6Y5 Patented Oct. 9, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 m m w wm M M 0 This invention concerns containers adapted for storing dangerous fluids in such a way as to minimize damage if the containers are ruptured.

It has been proposed heretofore to fabricate containers with double walls for storing dangerous fluids. A typical container of this type is described in U. S. Pat. No. 2,410,179 where a flask is supported by resilient pads inside a box. This structure has the disadvantage that in the event of breakage of the flask the liquid it contains seeps or runs out through holes in the box. No protection is thereby afforded from damage such as which may be caused by the escaping liquid. Another protective type of container is shown in U. S. Pat. No. 2,800,243. In such a container double walls spaced apart are provided. The space between the walls is filled with solid foam plastic. Here again no real protection is afforded from damage which can be caused if the inner wall is broken or if the inner and outer walls and filling are broken. In either case the dangerous liquid contained by the inner wall escapes by flowing or seeping through the broken foam filling.

The present invention is directed at overcoming the above and other difficulties and disadvantages of prior multiple wall containers used to store dangerous fluids. According to the invention an inner container or shell is formed at least in part of relatively brittle material which will shatter when at least a predetermined force is applied thereto, but which is otherwise rigid, strong and resistant to rupture. A dangerous liquid is disposed in the inner container. The inner container is supported by elements capable of elastically yielding inside an outer container or shell. The outer container is made of tough, relatively elastic material which will tear if sufficient force is applied but which will not shatter on impact. The space between the inner and outer containers is filled with a substance in liquid, powder or granular form which serves a neutralizing or damage limiting function when exposed to the dangerous liquid. Struts, studs, bars or other projecting members are mounted between the containers. These members will break the inner container before the outer container is ruptured in the event an excessively strong impact is applied to the container assembly. This will cause mixture or contact of the dangerous and neutralizing sub stances, so that if theexternal container breaks, the neutralized diluted liquid which escapes will cause minimal damage. The dangerous liquid may be explosive, flammable, volatile, toxic, corrosive or have other qualities which could cause a dangerous condition if the liquid escapes in unrestrained fashion. The neutralizing substance as anexample, will be alkaline in liquid or powder form if the dangerous fluid is acid, and vice versa. If the dangerous liquid is toxic or poisonous, the neutralizing fluid will be a specific antidote. If the dange'rous fluid is flammablesuch as gasoline, benzene or the like, the neutralizing fluid will be a substance which releases carbon dioxide or other fire inhibitor when exposed to air. Such substances are well known and are used generally in fire extinguishers. In any case the neu- For further comprehension, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

FIG. 1 is a side view, partially in section of a safety storage container assembly embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a reduced vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of bar used in the container assembly for shattering the inner container or shell.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 5A show on a reduced scale the container assembly of FIG. 1, after an external shattering force is applied, at two successive stages of rupture.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 6A show on a reduced scale the con tainer assembly of FIG. 1, at two successive stages of rupture in the event the inner container or shell is ruptured by explosion of the liquid contained therein.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but on a smaller scale, showing another safety storage container assembly.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to a part of FIG. 1 showing still another safety storage container assembly.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-5, there is shown a first container assembly 10 comprising inner container or shell 12 and outer container or shell 14. The inner container has closed walls 18. The top wall 18 is preferably provided with-a threaded opening 20 in which is engaged a screw plug 22 in fluid-tight relationship. The inner container is generally rectangular parallelepipedic in configuration. Inside the inner container is a liquid 25 of dangerous type which as mentioned above may be explosive, flammable, volatile, toxic, corrosive, and the like.

Surrounding the inner container and spaced therefrom by spaced coil springs 24 on all sides is the outer container or shell 14. Shell 14 is made of an elastic material such as natural or artificial rubber. This can be a silicone, poly fluorethylene, or the like. The inner shell is made of a rigid but brittle material such as glass, ceramic, acetate or phenolic plastic or the like. The outer ends of springs 24 are embedded in the walls 26 of the outer container. A plurality of rigid bars 28 are secured to inner sides of walls 26 and extend toward the inner container but are spaced therefrom. As best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, each bar 28 is formed with a reentrant key or pedestal 30 which is embedded in the wall of the outer container. Each bar has a tapered head 32 which extends toward the adjacent wall of the inner container for at least the full length of this wall. The space between the inner and outer containers is filled with a neutralizing substance 34 generally referred to as fluid, but which may be liquid, powder or granules. In any case it is free flowing. The outer container is entirely closed. One side wall 26' may initially be detached to expose the interior of container 14 for insertion of inner container 12. Then wall 26' can be sealed at its periphery to the container base by a suitable cement, heat sealing or vulcanization or other suitable means which will provide a mechanically strong, liquid-tight seal 36.

FIG. 5 shows what happens when a foreign body 40 is forcefully applied to the container assembly. The contacted wall 26 bends inwardly until the adjacent wall of the inner container is fractured by adjacent bars 28 forced inwardly by the impact. The contacted wall at this stage remains intact. Mixture of the inner and

outer fluids

25, 34 takes place to effect dilution and neutralization of the inner fluid. FIG. 5A shows a subsequent stage which occurs if body 40 penetrates the outer wall of container 14. The fluid 50 which flows out is relatively harmless since it has been substantially neutralized and diluted during the mixing stage illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIGS. 6 and 6A show the effect of an explosion E occurring inside the inner container 12 of the container assembly 10. Initially the wall 18 of container 12 will shatter releasing liquid 25 to mix with fluid 34, as indicated in FIG. 6. Wall 26 of the outer container elastically yields. Thereafter the wall 26 of outer container 14 will break to release neutralized liquid 50', as indicated in FIG. 6A. Thus whether the walls of the containers are broken by external impact or internal explosion, the frangible inner container 12 will break first.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show another container assembly 10A which is generally similar to assembly 10 and corresponding parts are identically numbered. In assembly 10A resilient, springy fingers 24a are integrally formed with the walls 26a of outer container 14a. These fingers extend up to the walls 18a of inner container 12a and support it on all sides. Grooves 54 are formed in the outer sides of container 12a to weaken walls 18a somewhat so that the walls wil shatter more easily upon impact. When an impact of sufficient force is applied internally or externally the fingers 24a will yield elastically until bars 28 break the walls of container 120 to cause mixture of

liquids

25 and 34a. Thereafter the walls 26a of container 14a will break all in a manner similar to that described above in connection with FIGS. 5, 5A, 6 and 6A.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show another container assembly 108 which is generally similar to both

assemblies

10A and 10B. Corresponding parts are identically numbered. In this assembly the bars 28 previously used are eliminated. Instead springs 24b are engaged on rigid posts 60 screwed into holes in walls 26b of container 14b. The posts have sharp points facing toward and spaced from inner container 12a. In operation, initially springs 24b yield until the sharp points 61 of the posts contact the walls of inner container 12a, in the event of excessively severe external impact. Then the walls of container shatter to effect mixture of

liquids

25 and 34a as described above.

In all forms of the invention described, the breakage of the inner container is facilitated to occur before breakage of the outer container. Preferably a time lag should occur to allow time for mixing of the dangerous and neutralizing fluids. It is possible to reverse the positions of the dangerous and neutralizing fluids, by placing the neutralizing fluid inside

container

12 or 12a while the dangerous liquid 25 is located in the space between the inner and outer containers. For certain types of dangerous substances this arrangement will be preferred since the dangerous liquid can flow inwardly to be absorbed and neutralized inside the shattered inner container before the outer container ruptures. In such instances the neutralizing substance may be a porous or semi-solid substance. Instead of rectangular containers as shown in the drawing they can be made cylindrical or of other geometrical shape. They can also be conical or pyramidal and nested one within the other.

What is claimed is:

1. A container assembly for storing dangerous liquid, comprising a substantially or entirely closed first container having at least in some part relatively rigid, brittle walls; a substantially or entirely closed second container surrounding the first container, said second container having relatively elastic, flexible walls, so that in the event of an excessive impact occuring internally or externally of the containers, the walls of the first container will rupture before breakage occurs of the walls of the second container; elastically yielding means in the second container supporting said first container in spaced relationship from the second container; rigid members supported by the second container between the containers to rupture the first container when said impact occurs while the walls of the second container and said supportive means yield elastically; a dangerous liquid; and a neutralizing substance for the dangerous liquid, either one of the dangerous liquid and the neutralizing substance being disposed inside the first container while the other one of the dangerous liquid and the neutralizing substance is disposed in the space between the first and second containers, whereby neutralization of the dangerous liquid by contact with the neutralizing substance occurs when the walls of the inner first container rupture prior to rupture of the walls of the outer second container.

2. A container assembly, as defined in claim 1, wherein the walls of the inner container are grooved to facilitate shattering of the inner container on application of said impact.

3. A container assembly, as defined in claim 1, wherein said rigid members are bars secured to inner faces of the walls of the second container.

4. A container assembly, as defined in claim 3, wherein said elastic means comprises coil springs extending transversely of the space between the first and second containers.

5. A container assembly as defined in claim 4, I

wherein said rigid members are bars secured to inner sides of the walls of the second container and located between the coil springs.

6. A container assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said elastic means are springy fingers extending transversely between the walls of the first and second containers and integrally formed with the walls of the second container.

7. A container assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein the walls of the inner container are grooved to facilitate shattering of the inner container on application of said impact.

8. A container assembly, as defined in claim 7, wherein said rigid members are bars secured to inner faces of the walls of the second container and located between the springy fingers.

9. A container assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said elastic means comprise coil springs extending transversely of the space between the walls of the first and second container.

10. A container assembly as defined in claim. 9, wherein said rigid members are posts secured to the walls of the outer second container and extending transversely of the said space toward the walls of the inner first container, said coil springs being mounted around and engagedon said posts and extending beyond the free ends of said posts to contact the walls of the first container for resiliently supporting the same inside the second container.

Claims

5. A container assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said rigid members are bars secured to inner sides of the walls of the second container and located between the coil springs.

10. A container assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein said rigid members are posts secured to the walls of the outer second container and extending transversely of the said space toward the walls of the inner first container, said coil springs being mounted around and engaged on said posts and extending beyond the free ends of said posts to contact the walls of the first container for resiliently supporting the same inside the second container.