Flexible intermediate bulk container with induction control
AssigneeTexene LLC
InventorsPaul Holdstock, Carlos Echeverria
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Abstract
A method, apparatus and system is provided for both (1) decreasing electrostatic discharges to reduce the potential for incendiary discharges caused by electrostatic charges in flexible containers such as flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs) and (2) decreasing the induction on isolated conductors nearby the container to reduce the potential for incendiary discharges from the isolated conductors.
Claims36
A controlled-conductive flexible fabric container with a reduced energy of electrostatic discharge for use in a combustible environment, comprising:
- a woven fabric configured to form the flexible fabric container that while grounded has sufficient charge dissipation within the container in order for the residual charge to be maintained below that required to cause potentials to be induced on nearby isolated conductors, said potentials sufficient to cause an incendiary discharge in the combustible environment.
A method for reducing the energy of electrostatic discharge in an ungrounded type flexible fabric container system suitable for use in a combustible environment, comprising the steps of:
- providing a woven fabric configured to form the flexible fabric container;
- and
- wherein the electrical resistivity of said woven fabric allows the flow of electricity through the fabric at a rate to discharge of below about one-hundred nanocoulombs per individual discharge whenever the fabric is charged at greater than about negative ten thousand volts, and
- including a coating with an anti-static agent on the fabric so that, while grounded, there is sufficient charge dissipation within the container in order for the residual charge to be maintained below that required to cause potentials to be induced on nearby isolated conductors, said potentials sufficient to cause an incendiary discharge in the combustible environment.
A woven fabric for use in a controlled-conductive flexible container, the fabric comprising:
- interwoven warp and weft fibers;
- a coating of an antistatic or static dissipative material additive applied to cover a surface of said fabric, wherein said fabric is configured such that the container, while grounded, has sufficient charge dissipation within the container in order for the residual charge to be maintained below that required to cause potentials to be induced on nearby isolated conductors, said potentials sufficient to cause an incendiary discharge in a combustible environment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.