Pressurized liner

Abstract

A pressurized liner ( 10 ) is disclosed for use with a bulk container. The pressurized liner has a central band ( 12 ), two inner caps ( 13 ), and two outer caps ( 14 ). Each inner cap has an end wall ( 20 ) and four peripheral side walls ( 21 ). Each outer cap has an end wall ( 22 ) and four peripheral side walls ( 23 ). The central band and inner caps define a central compartment ( 33 ) which has an inlet port ( 34 ) and an outlet port ( 36 ). Each adjoining pair of inner caps and outer caps define inflatable side compartments ( 39 ) coupled to opposite sides of the central compartment. Each inflatable side compartment has a pressurized air port ( 40 ) to allow inflation and deflation of the side compartment. The inner caps have a lateral depth (d 1 ) generally equal to or greater than a lateral depth (d 2 ) of the outer caps.

1 . A pressurized liner for use with an intermediate bulk material container, said pressurized liner comprising,
 a tubular central band having at least one content port and at least one open end defined by a peripheral edge;   at least one inner cap sealed to said tubular central band open end, said inner cap having an inner cap end wall and peripheral inner cap side walls extending from said inner cap end wall, and   at least one outer cap sealed to said tubular central band open end, said outer cap having an outer cap end wall and peripheral outer cap side walls extending from said outer cap end wall, said outer cap having an air inlet port extending therethrough;   said inner cap and said outer cap defining an expandable pressure compartment therebetween in fluid communication with said outer cap air inlet port,   whereby the inflation of the expandable pressure compartment moves the inner cap to a position within the central band.   
     
     
         2 . The pressurized liner of  claim 1  wherein said inner cap has a select first depth extending from said inner cap end wall and wherein said outer cap has a second select depth extending from said outer cap end wall, and wherein said first depth is generally the same as or greater than said second depth. 
     
     
         3 . The pressurized liner of  claim 1  wherein said central band has a second open end defined by a second peripheral edge, and wherein said liner further comprises a second inner cap sealed to said tubular central band second open end, said second inner cap having a second inner cap end wall and peripheral second inner cap side walls extending from said second inner cap end wall, and a second outer cap sealed to said tubular central band second open end, said second outer cap having a second outer cap end wall and peripheral second outer cap side walls extending from said second outer cap end wall. 
     
     
         4 . The pressurized liner of  claim 3  wherein said second outer cap has a second air inlet port extending therethrough. 
     
     
         5 . The pressurized liner of  claim 3  wherein said second inner cap has a select third depth extending from said second inner cap end wall and wherein said second outer cap has a fourth select depth extending from said second outer cap end wall, and wherein said third depth is generally the same as or greater than said fourth depth. 
     
     
         6 . The pressurized liner of  claim 1  wherein said inner cap and said outer cap are sealed to said central band along a common seal. 
     
     
         7 . A pressurized liner for use in conjunction with an intermediate bulk container comprising,
 a central compartment having at least one content port, and   a side compartment coupled to said central compartment, said side compartment having an open box shaped inner cap and an open box shaped outer cap coupled to said open box shaped inner cap about a peripheral rim of said box shaped outer cap, said open box shaped inner cap being moveable between a first position generally flush against an interior surface of said box shaped outer cap and a second position positioned within said central compartment, said open box shaped outer cap having an air inlet therethrough.   
     
     
         8 . The pressurized liner of  claim 7  wherein said box shaped inner cap and said box shaped outer cap are shaped generally as rectangular prisms. 
     
     
         9 . The pressurized liner of  claim 7  wherein said box shaped inner cap has a select first depth and wherein said box shaped outer cap has a second select depth, and wherein said first depth is generally the same as or greater than said second depth. 
     
     
         10 . The pressurized liner of  claim 7  further comprising a second side compartment coupled to said central compartment, said second side compartment having a second open box shaped inner cap and a second open box shaped outer cap coupled to said second open box shaped inner cap about a second peripheral rim of said second box shaped outer cap, said second open box shaped inner cap being moveable between a first position generally flush against an interior surface of said second box shaped outer cap and a second position positioned within said central compartment. 
     
     
         11 . The pressurized liner of  claim 10  wherein said second open box shaped outer cap has a second air inlet port extending therethrough. 
     
     
         12 . The pressurized liner of  claim 10  wherein said second open box shaped inner cap has a select third depth and wherein said second open box shaped outer cap has a fourth select depth, and wherein said third depth is generally the same as or greater than said fourth depth. 
     
     
         13 . The pressurized liner of  claim 7  wherein said open box shaped inner cap and said open box shaped outer cap are coupled to said central compartment along a common seal. 
     
     
         14 . The pressurized liner of  claim 10  wherein said second open box shaped inner cap and said second open box shaped outer cap are coupled to said central compartment along a common seal. 
     
     
         15 . A pressurized liner for use with an intermediate bulk container comprising,
 a central portion having a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, and a rear wall which in combination define two oppositely disposed open sides along two oppositely disposed peripheral edges which are laterally spaced from each other, said central portion having at least one content port;   a first inner end wall coupled to said central portion about one said peripheral edge;   a first outer end wall coupled to said central portion about said one peripheral edge;   a second inner end wall coupled to said central portion about the other said peripheral edge;   a second outer end wall coupled to said central portion about the other said peripheral edge, and   said first inner end wall and said first outer end wall defining a first side compartment therebetween having a first air inlet;   said second inner end wall and said second outer end wall defining a second side compartment therebetween having a second air inlet,   whereby the flow of air through the first and second air inlets inflate the first and second side compartments so as to squeeze the contents within the central portion through the content port.   
     
     
         16 . The pressurized liner of  claim 15  wherein said first inner end wall, said first outer end wall, said second inner end wall, and said second outer end wall are all box shaped caps. 
     
     
         17 . The pressurized liner of  claim 16  wherein said first inner end wall, said first outer end wall, said second inner end wall, and said second outer end wall are all box shaped caps of a generally rectangular prism shape. 
     
     
         18 . The pressurized liner of  claim 16  wherein said box shaped first inner cap has a select first depth and wherein said box shaped first outer cap has a second select depth, and wherein said first depth is generally the same as or greater than said second depth. 
     
     
         19 . The pressurized liner of  claim 18  wherein said box shaped second inner cap has a select third depth and wherein said box shaped second outer cap has a fourth select depth, and wherein said third depth is generally the same as or greater than said fourth depth. 
     
     
         20 . The pressurized liner of  claim 15  wherein said first inner end wall and said first outer end wall are coupled to said central portion along a common seal. 
     
     
         21 . The pressurized liner of  claim 20  wherein said second inner end wall and said second outer end wall are coupled to said central portion along a common seal.