Drainage system for draining viscous liquids from containers
AssigneeChevron U.S.A. Inc.
InventorsMark Harmon Wilson, Jesus Missael Cervantes Rodriguez, Jeffery Hayes Webber, Thomas Edward Chapman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A drainage apparatus for draining viscous liquids from containers includes a collection tote and a rack. The rack includes at least one horizontal support bar with a plurality of tabs extending from the horizontal support bar. The plurality of tabs are configured at an acute angle relative to the horizontal support bar to optimize the draining of viscous fluids from a plurality of containers that are placed on the rack. The drainage apparatus is beneficial for draining fluids such as lubricants and coolants from containers so that the fluids can be repurposed and the containers can be recycled.
Claims18
An apparatus comprising:
- a collection tote into which viscous liquid is drained, the collection tote comprising a base, at least one wall, and a top opening;
- a funnel placed on the top opening of the collection tote;
- and
- a rack disposed on the funnel, the rack comprising a support bar extending horizontally across at least a portion of the funnel, the support bar comprising a plurality of tabs attached to and extending from the support bar,
- wherein each of the plurality of tabs comprises a tab longitudinal axis and is joined to the support bar at a base, and wherein each of the plurality of tabs has a tab protrusion located at a displacement distance from the base, the displacement distance being parallel to the tab longitudinal axis.
A method for simultaneously draining a plurality of containers, the method comprising:
- placing a funnel onto a collection tote;
- placing a rack onto the funnel, the rack comprising a support bar extending horizontally across at least a portion of the funnel, the support bar comprising a plurality of tabs attached to and extending from the support bar, wherein each of the plurality of tabs comprises a tab longitudinal axis and is joined to the support bar at a base, and wherein each of the plurality of tabs has a tab protrusion located at a displacement distance from the base, the displacement distance being parallel to the tab longitudinal axis;
- using a cap removal tool to remove caps from the plurality of containers;
- placing the plurality of containers in an inverted position onto the rack, wherein an opening of each container of the plurality of containers is placed onto a tab of the plurality of tabs;
- draining viscous fluid from the plurality of containers into the collection tote;
- and
- recycling the plurality of containers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.