Valve with a cutting mechanism to breach tank liner membranes

Abstract

The present disclosure provides valve assemblies arranged for penetrating a membrane on an outlet port of a container, such as an intermediate bulk container. In some aspects, the valve assembly comprises a moveable plunger with a membrane penetrating portion that, after the valve assembly has been coupled to the container, is selectively operable to penetrate the membrane of the container. Alternatively, the plunger may be configured to an extended configuration prior to attachment of the valve assembly to the container so that as the valve assembly is coupled to the container, the plunger penetrates the membrane of the container. Other arrangements and methods of using the same are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A valve assembly for dispensing material from a container having an outlet port sealed by a membrane, the assembly comprising:
 a valve body having an inlet end and an outlet end;   the inlet end defining an inlet opening, the outlet end defining an outlet opening, and the valve body defining a passageway extending from the inlet opening to the outlet opening;   a plunger positioned within the passageway and having a forward facing plunger face and a plunger side;   the plunger face having substantially the same size and shape as the inlet opening;   a tooth protruding in a forward direction from the forward facing plunger face and arranged to penetrate the membrane of the container; and   wherein the plunger is movable from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration;   wherein the valve assembly is configured to be coupled to the container and the teeth of the plunger are configured to penetrate the membrane so as to allow material within the container to travel through the inlet opening, into the passageway and towards the outlet opening.   
     
     
         2 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 when in the retracted configuration, the plunger side abuts an interior wall of the passageway so as to seal the inlet opening and prevent material from passing through the inlet opening and into the passageway.   
     
     
         3 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inlet end of the valve assembly comprises an externally threaded portion.   
     
     
         4 . The valve assembly of claim of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a valve stem having a rotational axis extending transverse to a rear section of the plunger; and   the valve stem having a crank portion that is laterally spaced from the rotational axis and is positioned within a slot defined by the rear section of the plunger;   wherein upon rotation of the valve stem around the rotational axis, the crank portion of the valve stem translates along a length of the passageway and moves the plunger between the retracted and extended configurations.   
     
     
         5 . The valve assembly of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the valve stem and slot are arrangeable to retain the plunger in the extended configuration.   
     
     
         6 . The valve assembly of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the valve assembly can be threadably coupled to the outlet port of the container with the plunger in the extended configuration so that the tooth penetrates the membrane of the container during rotation as the valve assembly is threaded to the outlet port.   
     
     
         7 . The valve assembly of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the valve assembly can be coupled to the outlet port of the container with the plunger in the retracted configuration such that after the valve assembly is coupled to the outlet port, the valve stem can be selectively operated to linearly translate the teeth along an axis towards the membrane to penetrate the membrane of the container.   
     
     
         8 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a plurality of teeth protruding in a forward direction from the forward facing plunger face and arranged along a periphery of the plunger face;   wherein the teeth are arranged in a circular pattern on the forward facing plunger face.   
     
     
         9 . The valve assembly of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the circular pattern defines a gap between certain teeth such that a membrane flap is formed when the teeth penetrate the membrane of the container.   
     
     
         10 . The valve assembly of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the teeth are inset from the periphery of the forward facing plunger face.   
     
     
         11 . A valve assembly for dispensing material from a container having an outlet port sealed by a membrane, the assembly comprising:
 a valve body having an inlet end and an outlet end;   the inlet end defining an inlet opening, the outlet end defining an outlet opening, and the valve body defining a passageway extending from the inlet opening to the outlet opening;   a plunger positioned within the passageway and having a substantially planer forward facing plunger face, a plunger side, and a rear section defining a slot;   the plunger face having substantially the same size and shape as the inlet opening;   a plurality of teeth protruding in a forward direction from the forward facing plunger face and inset from a periphery thereof;   a valve handle coupled to a valve stem having a rotational axis extending transverse to the rear section of the plunger; and   the valve stem having a crank portion that is positioned within the slot defined by the plunger and is laterally spaced from the rotational axis such that upon rotation of the valve stem around the rotational axis the crank portion of the valve stem translates along a length of the passageway and moves the plunger;   wherein the plunger, valve handle, and valve stem are configurable between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration; and   wherein the valve assembly is configured to be coupled to the container and the teeth of the plunger are configured to penetrate the membrane so as to allow material within the container to travel through the inlet opening, into the passageway and towards the outlet opening.   
     
     
         12 . The valve assembly of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the teeth are arranged in a circular pattern on the forward facing plunger face.   
     
     
         13 . The valve assembly of  claim 11 , wherein:
 in the retracted configuration, the teeth are positioned within the valve body and the plunger blocks material from the container from traveling through the inlet opening of the valve body and into the passageway defined by the valve body.   
     
     
         14 . The valve assembly of  claim 11 , wherein:
 in the extended configuration, the plunger extends through the inlet opening such that at least some of the teeth are positioned outside of the valve body and the inlet opening is in communication with the passageway such that material can travel through the inlet opening and into the passageway of the valve body.   
     
     
         15 . The valve assembly of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the valve stem and slot are arrangeable to retain the plunger in the extended configuration.   
     
     
         16 . The valve assembly of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the valve assembly can be coupled to an outlet port of the container with the plunger in the retracted configuration such that after the valve assembly is coupled to the outlet port, the valve stem can be selectively operated to linearly translate the teeth along an axis towards the membrane to penetrate the membrane of the container.   
     
     
         17 . The valve assembly of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the valve assembly is threadably coupled to an intermediate bulk container.   
     
     
         18 . The valve assembly of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the valve assembly is welded to an intermediate bulk container.   
     
     
         19 . A valve assembly for dispensing material from a container having an outlet port sealed by a membrane, the assembly comprising:
 a valve body having an inlet end and an outlet end;   the inlet end defining an inlet opening, the outlet end defining an outlet opening, and the valve body defining a passageway extending from the inlet opening to the outlet opening;   a plunger positioned within the passageway and having a forward facing plunger face and a plunger side;   the forward facing plunger face having substantially the same size and shape as the inlet opening;   a plurality of teeth protruding from the forward facing plunger face and arranged in a circular pattern;   the plunger movable from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration;   wherein when the valve assembly is coupled to the container and the plunger is moved from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration the teeth of the plunger penetrates the membrane and the plunger face and plunger side move out of the inlet opening so as to allow material within the container to travel through inlet opening, into the passageway and towards the outlet opening.   
     
     
         20 . A valve assembly of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the valve body is couplable to the outlet port of the container without penetrating the membrane.