Residual gas removal method
AssigneeAsiaworld Shipping Services Pty Ltd
InventorKenneth Brash
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of removing a residual gas from inside a conventional shipping container is disclosed. The method first involves the step of accessing the container by opening a door of the container and fitting a panel to the open door space. Next the method involves extracting at least some of the residual gas present in the container via an outlet valve located at the panel using an external suction pump. Finally the method involves providing a flow of a flushing gas into the container via an inlet valve located at the panel to flush residual gas from the container. The total pressure of gases in the container can be monitored and controlled by adjusting the flow of gases in the inlet and outlet holes or valves.
Claims28
A method of removing a residual gas from inside a conventional shipping container, the method comprising the steps of:
- accessing the container;
- extracting at least some of the residual gas present in the container;
- and
- providing a flow of a flushing gas into the container to flush residual gas from the container.
A method of removing a residual gas from inside a conventional shipping container, the method comprising the steps of:
- accessing the container;
- providing a flow of a flushing gas into the container to flush the residual gas from the container;
- and
- extracting a flow of the flushing gas and the residual gas until at least some of the residual gas present in the container is removed.
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the total pressure of gases within the container is monitored and controlled.
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a majority of the residual gas present in the container is extracted.
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising the step of absorbing/adsorbing at least part of the residual gas extracted from the container into/onto an absorption/adsorption means.
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the step of accessing the container involves:
- opening a door of the container;
- and
- operatively coupling a gas inlet means and a gas extraction means to the container at the open door so that the container is sealed during the extraction and flushing of gases.
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the flushing gas is atmospheric air.
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the container is provided with means for monitoring and controlling the pressure of gas in the container.
A method of removing a residual gas that is present in an enclosure, the method comprising the steps of:
- accessing the enclosure to operatively couple a gas inlet means and a gas extraction means thereto;
- extracting a flow of the residual gas via the gas extraction means until at least some of the residual gas present is removed;
- and
- providing a flow of a flushing gas into the enclosure via the gas inlet means to flush the residual gas from the enclosure.
A method of removing a residual gas that is present in an enclosure, the method comprising the steps of:
- accessing the enclosure to operatively couple a gas inlet means and a gas extraction means thereto;
- providing a flow of a flushing gas into the enclosure via the gas inlet means to flush the residual gas from the enclosure;
- and
- extracting a flow of the flushing gas and the residual gas via the gas extraction means until at least some of the residual gas present in the enclosure is removed.
Residual gas removal apparatus arranged to be operatively coupled to an enclosure for removing residual gas from inside the enclosure, the apparatus comprising:
- gas inlet means for introducing a flushing gas into the enclosure;
- gas extraction means for extracting gas from the enclosure;
- pressure monitoring means for monitoring the total pressure of gases within the enclosure;
- and
- controlling means for controlling the flow of gases through at least one of the gas inlet and gas extraction means in response to the monitored pressure within the enclosure.
Apparatus arranged to be operatively coupled to an enclosure for removing residual gas from inside the enclosure, the apparatus comprising:
- a framework mountable onto a surface and locatable adjacent to the enclosure in use;
- and
- a member mounted to the framework and comprising gas inlet means for introducing a flushing gas into the enclosure, gas extraction means for extracting gas from the enclosure and coupling means for coupling the member to the enclosure;
- wherein the member is moveable between an in use coupled position in which the coupling means couples the member to the enclosure and a de-coupled position in which the member is spaced from the enclosure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.