GB2275501A

GB2275501A - A closure device

Info

Publication number: GB2275501A
Application number: GB9403345A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael St John Dilks
Original assignee: DRUM CLOSURES Ltd
Current assignee: DRUM CLOSURES Ltd
Priority date: 1993-02-23
Filing date: 1994-02-22
Publication date: 1994-08-31
Also published as: GB9303598D0; GB9403345D0

Abstract

A closure device for a band (25) having ends (30, 32) typically used to securely clamp a lid to an open top drum, the device comprising first and second members (36, 42) pivotally connected to the band (25) wherein pivotal movement of said first and second members (36, 42) draws said ends (30, 36) together, and wherein said pivotal movement of the first member (36) is in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane in which a resulting clamping force is exerted by said band onto the lid and parallel to a tangent at the rim of the band. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: A Closure Device DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a closure device.

Closure devices are used in many applications and take various forms and although the example described hereinbelow relates specifically to a closure device for a drum closure ring it will be appreciated that the present invention is not intended to be so limited, The use of drums to store materials such as, for example, oils, paints and chemicals is common place throughout industry and the drums take two forms, the so-called tight head drum and the open top drum. The open top drum has a lid with a downwardly extending flange formed on its circumference such that when the lid is in position, the flange overlaps the top edge of the drum and can be clamped to the drum using a-ring and closure device in order to obtain a seal.

An example of a known ring and closure device is illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

The illustrated ring has two opposing ends and pivotally connected to one end is a latch having two parallel fingers. A loop is press formed from a side edge of the other end of the ring to receive one of the fingers of the latch. In order to clamp the lid of a drum to the drum itself, it is necessary to pass the open ring around the downwardly extending flange of the lid and pull the ends of the ring together such that the latch may be pivotally moved such that said finger enters the loop. With a finger of the latch cooperating with the loop, the ends of the ring are held together and in this position, the ring clamps the lid to the drum.

The advantage of the above described closure device is that it is relatively simple in construction since the latch is directly pivoted to the side edge of the ring. However, the disadvantage of the device is that it largely serves to hold the ends of the ring together and does not perform any significant ring tightening operation.

Another example of a known closure device for a ring comprises a first member pivotally connected to a link member. An end of said first member is pivotally connected to an intermediate member which is itself connected to an end of the ring. Similarly, an end of the link member is pivotally connected to an intermediate member which is connected to the other end of the ring. The pivoted connection of the first member to the link member enables a lever action to be utilised in order to draw the two ends together. In use with the closure device closed, the ring exerts a clamping force onto the encircled flange of a lid in order to securely clamp the lid to a drum. The exerted clamping force is in a plane parallel to a plane in which the first and link members pivot.

Although this closure device enables the ring to be tightened it is rather complicated since it requires the use of intermediate members, such as brackets, to connect the first member and link member to respective ends of the ring.

One aim of the present invention is to provide an advantageous combination of closure device with ring tightening means.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a closure device for a clamping means having two spaced apart pivot positions, the device comprising a first member pivotally connected to a second member, said first and second members pivotally connect to respective first and pivot positions wherein pivotal movement of said first and second members in one direction pulls said pivot positions together, and wherein said pivotal movement of the first member is in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane in which a resulting clamping force is exerted by said clamping means.

Preferably, said first member is pivotally connected to the second member at a position intermediate opposing ends of the second member.

It is preferred that said clamping means is a ring for clamping a lid to an open top drum and that said ring has two ends. Preferably said pivot positions are located one near to each end of the ring. The first and second members are preferably directly pivotally connected to the ring at respective pivot positions. At each pivot position there is conveniently provided an aperture engaged by a pivot pin. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the pivot pin comprises a rivet received in aligned holes of each of the two parts which form said respective pivotal connection, ie. the ring and the first or second member.

The ring may be provided with means for securely locating said first member with respect to the ring.

Preferably, said means is provided by a loop located on a surface of the ring which receives cooperating means provided on the first member. Said cooperating means may be provided by a finger. Preferably two parallel fingers are provided. Said pivotal connections have axes which preferably lie in the same plane when the first member is securely connected with respect to the ring in use, with the lid securely clamped to the drum.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a circumferential clamping band comprising pivot positions drawn together by connecting means to generate a clamping action in a plane of the band, the connecting means comprising a first member having a first pivotal connection with the band at one of said pivot positions, and a connecting link having a pivotal connection with the band at the other of said pivot positions and another pivotal connection with the first member spaced from said first pivotal connection, each of said pivotal connections having their axes substantially parallel to said plane whereby the first member and the connecting link move in planes substantially perpendicular to the plane of said clamping action.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a known ring closure device and ring; Figure 2 is a plan view of a ring; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ring illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a side view of a ring and closure device in its open position and in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5 is a plan view of the closure device shown in Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a side view of the closure device in its closed position.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 a known ring closure for a ring is illustrated and indicated by numeral 10. Ring closure 10 comprises a member 12 having first and second fingers 14, 16 and pivotally connected to one end of ring 18 by rivet 20. A pressed loop 22 is formed at the other end of the ring In use, the two ends of the ring are pulled together and the first member pivoted such that first finger passes through the loop and the second finger is in frictional contact with an outer surface of the loop.

In this position, the ring closure holds the two ends of the ring together. If the ring is positioned around a lid of a drum then the action of clamping the ends of the ring together would also result in a radially directed clamping force.

The disadvantage of the above described ring closure is that it is unable to perform the ring tightening operation although it does have the advantage of a simple construction.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, a ring is indicated by numeral 25 and is dimensioned to fit around a lid of a drum (not illustrated). The ring 25 has a substantially uniform cross section and is formed with a vertical wall 26 having an outer surface 27.

Extending radially inward from wall 26 are horizontal walls 28, 29. The ring has two opposing ends 30, 32. A hole 33 spaced from end 30 is provided in the vertical wall 26 and similarly, a hole 37 is provided in wall 21 spaced from end 32 for reasons which will become apparent hereinbelow.

Referring to Figures 4 to 6, a loop 34 is press formed from wall 26 near to end 30 and loop 34 extends outwardly from surface 27 so as to define a space 35 therebetween as can be seen with particular reference to Figure 5. The loop 34 has a side edge 34a.

A closure device comprises a first member 36 having two parallel fingers 38r 40 extending from an arm 43, and a link member 42. A hole (not shown) is provided at the end of each of the first member and link member and they are of the same diameter as holes 33, 37.

The hole provided in the first member is aligned with hole 33 provided in the ring and a rivet pin is inserted in the aligned holes. The first member is then rivetted to the ring using said rivet pin in order to provide a simple pivotal connection. In a similar manner the link member is provided with a pivotal connection to the ring. Said first and link members 36, 42 pivot about respective axes 44, 46 which lie in a plane parallel to side walls 28, 29 of ring 25. The other end of link 42 is provided with a hole which aligns with a hole provided intermediate the length of the first member and the members are rivetted together in a similar manner as described above in order to obtain a pivotal connection. The axis of pivot 48, of the pivotal connection between the two members is parallel to axes 44, 46.

In use, the ring closure is firstly in its open position, as illustrated in Figure 4, with the ends of the rings spaced apart. In this position, the ring is fitted around a downwardly extending flange of a lid of a drum (not shown) and then the closure device may be closed in order to clamp the lid to the drum.

A closure force is exerted on the first member in an anti-clockwise direction as illustrated by arrow A such that the members pivot about their axes 44, 46 and 48 and the ends of the ring are pulled towards one another. Movement of the first member in the direction indicated results in a force being exerted along link member 42. Part of that force will be in the direction indicated by arrow B and hence end 32 of the ring will be pulled towards the other end. The fact that the link member is pivotally connected to a point spaced from the pivot connection along the length of the first member results in the utilisation of a lever action and hence eases the task of pulling the ends of the ring together.

As the ring ends are being pulled toward each other, the ring is being tightened around the lid of the drum and results in a radially inward clamping force 49 being exerted by the ring onto the lid and drum as illustrated in Figure 5.

The closure force is continued to be applied to the first member, in the direction indicated, until the first finger passes into space 35 of the loop and an inner edge of finger 40 comes into frictional contact with side edge 34a of the loop, as illustrated in Figure 6. With the fingers of the member located in such a manner, the ends of the ring are held in position. With the ends of the ring held in that position, the pivotal connections are in a line with loop 4, arm 43 of first member 36 and link member 42.

It will be appreciated that the planes in which the first member and link member move are perpendicular to side walls 28, 29 and the plane in which the clamping force is exerted.

In the embodiment described above, the first member and link member are pivotally connected to the vertical wall 27 and it will be seen that said members may alternatively, be connected to a side wall 28 or 29.

The ring may also be formed with a curved outer surface rather than the square surface illustrated and described in this embodiment.

Claims

1. A closure device for a clamping means having two spaced apart pivot positions, the device comprising a first member pivotally connected to a second member, said first and second members pivotally connect to respective first and second pivot positions wherein pivotal movement of said first and second members in one direction pulls said pivot positions together, and wherein said pivotal movement of the first member is in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane in which a resulting clamping force is exerted by said clamping means.

2. A clamping device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first member is pivotably connected to said second position at a postilion intermediate opposing ends of the second member.

3. A clamping device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clamping means is a ring for clamping a lid to an open top drum and that said ring has two ends.

4. A clamping device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said pivot positions are located one near to each end of the ring.

5. A clamping device as claimed in claims 3 or 4 wherein said first and second members are directly pivotally connected to the ring at respective pivot positions.

6. A clamping device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said pivot connections are provided by rivets.

7. A clamping device as claimed in claims 3, 4 or 5 wherein said ring is provided with means for securely locating said first member with respect to the ring.

8. A clamping device according to claim 7 wherein said means is provided by a loop located on a surface of the ring which receives cooperating means provided on a first member.

9. A clamping device according to claim 8 wherein said cooperating means is provided by a finger.

10. A clamping device according to claim 8 wherein said cooperating means is provided by two spaced apart parallel fingers.

11. A clamping device according to claims 7, 8 9, or 10 wherein said pivotal connections have axes which lie in the same plane when the first member is securely located with respect to the ring.

12. A circumferential clamping band comprising pivot positions drawn together by connecting means to generate a clamping action in a plane of the band, the connecting means comprising a first member having a first pivotal connection with the band at one of said pivot positions and a connecting link having a pivoted connection with the band at the other of said pivot positions and another pivotal connection with the first member spaced from said first pivotal connection, each of said pivotal connections having their axes substantially parallel to said plane wherein the first member and the connecting link move in planes substantially perpendicular to the plane of said clamping action.

13. A clamping device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

14. A circumferential clamping band substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings