US2079818A

US2079818A - Keeper ring

Info

Publication number: US2079818A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles H Schnorr
Original assignee: CORNELL SECURITIES CORP
Current assignee: CORNELL SECURITIES Corp
Priority date: 1934-12-29
Filing date: 1934-12-29
Publication date: 1937-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 1954-05-11

Description

May 11, 1937.

C, H. SCHNORR KEEPER RING Filed Dec. 29, 1934 INVEN'I'DR 011444 1 Jebou/ Patented May 11,;1937

. Charles H. Sclmorr, New Remington, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Cornell Securities Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application December 29, 1934, Serial No. 759,674

12 Claims.

My invention relates in general to receptacles or containers having removable covers, and relates particularly to a metal drum or barrel of the well-known type that includes a keeper ring for securing its cover in place. A keeper ring ordinarily comprises a metal annulus of interrupted continuity; the annulus is expansibleand contractible and at the interruption in its continuity means are provided for adjusting its circular extent. More specifically the invention is directed to a keeper ring embodying in particularly effective organization an improved ringadjusting device. While myimprovements are applicable to keeper bands and locking rings in general, they are especially directed to keeper rings for metal drums of the sort mentioned, and in such specific adaptation I shall describe them.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. I is a fragmentary view, showing in side elevation a metal drum equipped with a keeper ring embodying the invention. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view, showing the rim of the drum in cross section, and to larger scale. Fig. 111 is a view to still larger scale, showing the keeper ring in cross section, on

the plane III-III, Fig. V. Fig. IV is a sectional view of the keeper ring, taken on the plane IV--IV of Fig. V, and showing one of two particular detents embodied in the ring structure; Fig. IV illustrates how the detent serves in one capacity,

and Fig. IVa illustrates its use in an alternate capacity. Fig. V is a fragmentary view of the ring in plan from below, as seen in Fig. I. And Figs. VI to IX inclusive are diagrammatic views. severally comparable with Fig. V, and illustrating the ring-adjusting device in successive stages. of

operation.

The reference numeral [indicates a steel drum or barrel of thetype commonly used for the shipment of tar, oil, paint, and other bulk materials.

4 The drum is closed by a cover 2. A keeper ring 3, cooperating with the periphery of the cover and the rim of the drum, serves 'to secure the cover in drum-closing position.

The rim-of the drum is provided with a bead l,

and the cover 2 comprises a peripheral flange 5 of arcuate cross section. In service the body of the cover lies within the rim of the drum; the flange 5 overlies the bead 4; and between such flange and bead a gasket 6 (conveniently formed of hollow rubber tubing) is effective hermetically to seal the drum when the cover is locked in place.

In this case the keeper ring 3 is hollow, and is open at its radially inward side. It is formed of sheet steel having an appreciable degree of reslliency and substantial resistance to distortion.

In cross section the rim comprises twooutwardly converging

portions

3a, and 3b, and an intermediate portion 30 (Fig. 11); the inner surface of portion 3a engages the cover flange 5 from above, while the inner surface of portion 3b engages the bead 4 from below, and the divergence of these two portions (3a,3b) is such that radial contraction of the ring (that is, diminution in the circular extent of the ring) is eiIective to press,

efiect the tight seating of the cover, it maybe considered V-shaped in cross section.

The keeper ring is parted, providing

end portions

3d and 3e, as shown in Fig. V. In accordance with my invention, I so organize two levers l and 8 with these end portions that, by swinging the levers in opposite directions of rotation, the ring readily and with great force may be contracted to cover-securing position upon the drum I, and, alternately, may be expanded for ready removal therefrom. On the lower side of the ring (Fig. I)-, the level 'I is pivotally secured to the end portion 3d by means of a pin 9 and a link in is pivotally secured at its one end to the end portion 3e by means of a pin ll (Fig. V). And the link it! is pivotally secured at its opposite end to the lever l by means of a pin l2. On

the upper side of the ring, the lever 8 is pivotaliy secured to the end portion 3e by means of a pin l3, and, in such manner as the link l0 connects the end portion 3e 01 the ring with the lever 1, a link ll pivotally connects the end portion 3d with the lever 8.

In plan the levers land 8 are shaped to the curvature of the keeper ring, and, as indicated in Fig. V, they extend in opposite directions from the parting in the ring. The levers, lying on opposite sides of the ring, extend in parallelism, and in such relation they are swingabie in opposite directions of rotation.

As mentioned above, Fig. I showsthe keeper ring in fully assembled, cover-securing position; it is important to note (of. Fig. V) that in such position the levers lie wholly within the breadth of the ring. Inasmuch as the levers thus lie within the radial extent of the ring, the drum I may be rolled in tilted position on its top rim, as well as on its bottom rim, in the well-known manner -in which barrels'are' usually rolled in moving them from place to place. Furthermore, the ring structure does not interfere with stacking-a plurality of the drums may be stacked end on end in the usual way for storage or shipment.

In removing the keeper ring from the drum, the distal ends of the levers l and 8 are first sprung from the embrace of two detents l5 presently to be described; then the levers are swung outward, in opposite directions of rotation (note arrows a) to the positions in which they are indicated in dotted lines in Fig. V. During such swinging ofthe levers, the links l0 and [4 are moved into the positions indicated at la and I 411.. The normal tendency of the links In and It is to pull the

end portions

3d and 3c of the ring outward, in the directions of the arrows b, but, due to the particular crossed relation of the levers and their organization with the ends of the ring; the end portions 311 and 39 actually move apart in the directions of the arrows 0. Thus, the ends of the ring are forced apart, and the ring is expanded in the desired manner for removal from the drum.

In looking the cover upon the drum, the operation is reversed; that is, the cover 2 and gasket 6 being assembled upon the drum, the keeper ring is expanded and positioned adjacent the rim of the drum; then, by swinging the levers i and 8 from their dotted line positions (Fig. V) and into a position of alignment with the ring, the links l0 and M (in cooperation with the levers) force the ends of the ring together. Thus, the ring is contracted, and the

convergent side portions

30, 3b thereof are drawn radially inward over the cover flange 5 and drum bead 4, whereby the cover is pressed into tightly seated position.

In installing a keeper ring of the usual type, I have found that the ring tends to rotate when appropriate force is applied to its ring-adjusting lever. This tendency of the ring to rotate makes installation diflicult.

It will be perceived that my twin-lever linkage acts upon the two ends 3d and 36 of the ring with substantially equal and opposite forces, whereby there is no tendency for the ring to rotate while the levers are being operated to contract the ring.

It is further noteworthy that my twin-lever linkage operates with relatively great mechanical advantage and that, in consequence, the length of the levers 1 and 8 may be less than usual. It is generally recognized that in a given lever mechanism, the greater the mechanical advantage is, the less is the effective movement obtainable therefrom. age, when operated in the manner described, normally provides a relatively small range of ring adjustment. While it is to be understood that in some cases this small range of adjustment is adequate, in other cases (particularly in the case of metal drums that are two feet or more in diameter) it is desirable, if not essential, that the range be greater-sufficient to afford a variation in the effective circumference of the ring of from three to five inches.

To such end my linkage is adapted to efi'ect a so-called secondary dilation of the ring, and it will be understood that such adaptation is not made at the expense of mechanical efllciency, or by sacrificing the high leverage coeflicient of the linkage. Turning to Figs. VI to IX this feature will be considered in detail.

In Fig. VI the levers I and 8 are shown each at the outer limit of its outward swing, and the

end portions

3d and 3e of the ring are shown spread a: wide as they normally can be, by effecting such movement of the levers. However, the proportions and organization of the members I, 8, l0, M are such that further spreading may be effected by axially shifting the outwardly swung It follows, therefore, that my linklevers toward the point of their crossing, that is, in the directions indicated by the arrows d. Such axial movement of the levers forces the

end portions

3d and 3e of the ring further apart, with the consequence and eiIect that the links Ill, it

are swung "over center into the positions indicated in Fig. VII. Thereupon, by swinging the levers inward (see the arrows e), the end portions of the ring may be moved still further apart. When, during such movement, the levers (1,8) and links (l0, l4) reach positions of alignment (Fig. VIII indicates the members approaching alignment) the dilation of the ring is maximum. Thus, extraordinary variation in the compass of the ring may be obtained.

In passing it may be remarked that the members l and I0 secured to the under side of the ring are shown in full lines, while, for the sake of ready distinction, the members 8 and It on the upper side of the ring are indicated in dotted lines in the diagrammatic figures of the drawing.

In securing a cover upon a drum, the operation is reversed; the ring is first fully dilated in the manner described immediately above, and then it is positioned over or around the rim of the drum. The levers I and 8 are swung outward, and, upon reaching the positions in which they are shown in Fig. VII, the elasticity or resiliency of the distended ring, in tending to restore the ring to its normal shape, efiects the movement of the end portions 3d and 36 toward one another, whereby the links l0, I4 swing under center into the positions in which they are shown in Fig. VI. The body of the ring enters engagement with the cover flange 5 and drum bead 4, but such engagement is initially light, and the ends of the ring stand apart approximately the interval indicated in Fig, IX. The levers are then pressed inward, urging the ends of the ring together with great force, whereby the ringis contracted in the manner already described for tightly seating ,the cover 2 in drum-sealing assembly.

An indicated by the

reference numerals

30 and 3| in Fig. III, the inclined

side wall portions

3a and 3b of the keeper ring are embossed in the When the ring is contracted into cover-securing positions, the distal ends of the levers I and 8 are each secured in a detent l5. Each detent comprises a U-shaped strip of resilient steel, as shown in Fig. IV; one leg of the U is of prolonged extent, and is secured upon the outer surface of the ring, say by spot-welding; and the opposite leg of the U includes at its upper end a latch element I50. In service, as each lever is swung into ring-closing position, its distal end portion is pressed inward; past the latch element lid, and into position between the legs of the detent. The resilient outer leg of the U yields, to admit of such passage of the lever, and once the lever-is lodged in the embrace of the detent, an intentional exertion of force is required to remove it. In further refinement of the structure, I provide an orifice IS!) in the bottom of each detent, and an orifice iii in the end of each lever, whereby a wire I! may be passed through the end of the lever and its associated detent. The wire is looped, and is closed by means of a lead disk I8 (Fig. V), thereby providing a tamper-proof seal of well-known type. Manifestly, any tampering with the levers l and 8, to effect an unauthorized entrance to the container I, may be detected. Of course, the sealing devices l1, I8 may be readily broken, to permit the drum to be opened by an authorized person, and obviously there is no damage to the keeper ring other than ordinary wear and tear. Accordingly, the keeper ring may be used in servicemany times over.

In practice it is sometimes desirable that the keeper ring shall be used only once, and that thereafter it shall be incapable of use. In such case the outer leg of each detent I5 is peened or hammered into the position shown in Fig. 'IVa, whereby the lever is secured in locked embrace. While the metal, of which the detent is formed, is oi sufiicient resiliency to admit of the practice indicated in Fig. IV, such metal is sufliciently ductile to permit the detent to be hammered into the lever-locking position illustrated in Fig. IVa.

It is further to be remarked that the metal is of a semifrangible nature, so that, once the detent has been peened into lever-locking position, any attempt to pry it open will produce a fracture, breaking away the outer leg of the U and permanently destroying the detent. Thus, the detent is serviceable in either of two capacities, to

. meet alternate conditions in the field.

. interruptedv continuity, said keeper ring being of V-shaped cross section and adapted to engage said cover flange from above and said bead from below, the combination of means organized with the ends of the ring provided by the interruption in itscontinuity, said means comprising a cooperating pair of levers severally swingable in opposite directions for adjusting said ring and thereby, by the action of said ring on said cover flange and said bead, securing said cover in position in the opening of said container body, said levers being connected to said ring ends and extending outwardlyin opposite directions from the region of the interruption.

2. A keeper for securing a cover upon a metal drum, said keeper comprising a metal ring of interrupted continuity, and ring-expanding and contracting means organized with the ends of the ring provided by the interruption in its continuity, said means including two levers severally connected to said ends of the ring and extending outward in opposite directions from the region of said interruption, and said two levers being swingable in opposite directions for efiecting relative movement of said ends of the ring.

3. A keeper for securing a cover upon a metal drum, said keeper comprising a metal ring of interi'upted continuity, and ring-expanding. and

contracting means organized with the ends of the ring provided by the interruption in its continuity, said means including two levers arranged in crossed relation and severally connected to said ,means for varying the compass of the ring, -said means including two levers pivotally connected to the ring, one on each side of the parting therein, and extending in opposite directions outward from such parting, and means cooperating with said levers, whereby said variation in the. compass of the ring may be effected by swinging said levers in opposite directions of rotation.

5. A parted ring of variable compass, and means for powerfully varying the compass of the ring, said means comprising two levers severally crossing the parting in the ring and severally connected to the ring on opposite sides of the parting, a link pivotally connected to each lever at a point removed from the point of connection of the lever to the ring, and the link associated with each lever being connected to the ring on the side of the parting opposite to that at which the lever is connected, whereby, by swingingsaid levers in opposite directions of rotation, said levers and links cooperate in effecting said variation in the compass of the ring.

6. The structure of claim 5, in which said links comprise over center elements operable in effecting relatively great variation in the compass oi the ring, as described.

'7. The structure oi claim 5, in which one lever I and its link are secured to one-side of the ring,

and the other lever-and link are secured to the opposite side of the ring, and, when said ring is adjusted to minimum compass, said links and levers extending in substantial alignment with thecircular extent of thering.

8. A keeper ring for the cover of a steel drum,

' said keeper ring being of interrupted continuity and including two levers swingable outwardly of the ring in opposite directions for varying the compass of the ring, and two detents secured to the ring on opposite sides of theinterruption in its continuity for severally staying said levers in positions against the opposite sides of the ring, said detents and levers including orifices for the passage of sealing means, as described.

9. In a clamping device for a metallic receptacle having a bead formed about its open end and a cover having a flange fitting over the bead, a contractible channeled clamping ring to a means for varying the compass of the ring, said means including two levers pivotally connected to the ring, one on each side of the parting therei in, and extending in opposite directions outward from such parting, and means cooperating with said levers, whereby said variation in the compass of the ring may be effected by swinging said levers in opposite directions of rotation, one of said levers operating above the plane of said ring and the other of said levers operating below the said plane.

11. In a clamping ring for a container having a bead formed about its open'end, a cover having a flange fitting over the bead, and a packing between the bead and the flange, a split contractible channelled clamping ring having portions engaging the bead and cover flange to press the same together when the ring is contracted, and means for contracting the ring including a pair of levers pivotally connected to the ring, one at each side of the split therein,and extending in opposite directions away from the ring-walls,

and means cooperating with said levers whereby 10 means for contracting the ring including a pair of levers pivotally connected to the ring, one at each side of the split therein, and extending in opposite directions away from the ring walls, and means cooperating with said levers whereby the ring may be contracted when the levers are swung in opposite directions of rotation, one of said levers operating above the plane of the ring and one below the said plane.

CHARLES H. SCI-INORR.