US2413280A - Rigging for handling drums and barrels - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 31, 1946. E. w. ASHE NDEN 2,413,280

RIGGING FOR HANDLING DRWS AND BARRELS 4 4- Sheec-Sheet 1 Filed July 10, 1944 I V Alva/roe Eemssr WAs ENDEN A 7'T KNEY-5 Dec. 31, 1946. l E. W. ASHENDEN RIGGING'FOR HANDLING DRUMS AND BARRELS Filed July 10, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 //vvs-rox' EENESTmflSHENDEN ATT E'NEYs- E. w. ASHENDEN 2,413,280 RIGGIFNG' FOR HANDLING DRUMS AND BARRELS Filed Jui 1p, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 31, 1946.

Dec. 31, 1946.

E. w. ASHE NDEN v RIGGING FOR HANDLING DRUMS, AND BARRELS r Filed July 10, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 31, 1946 STAT TENT 'FFICE RIGGING FOR HANDLING DRUMS AND BARRELS Application July 10, 1944, Serial No. 544,283

4 Claims.

Various commodities are now shipped in sealed containers such as cylindrical drums or barrels, and when such drums or barrels are unloaded from ships or vessels at points where no docks or staging is available, it frequently becomes necessary to unload them in the water in soft sand and mud, after which they must be transported from the point of unloading to storage places remote therefrom. This is particularly true during war time when supplies for the armed forces must be shipped to various points or places where no docks are available, as, for example newly established beach heads. In such cases, the ships or vessels transporting supplies usually delay making landings for unloading until the tide comes in which may cause the surface of the ocean to rise several feet whereby loaded ships, vessels and other landing craft may frequently advance much farther inland before unloading.

When it becomes necessary to unload at points where no unloading clocks are available, filled containers, such as barrels, drums, and the like, are frequently dumped overboard directlyinto the water, and when the tide recedes, the containers are transported from the shore to available storage places or shelters on the beach head. If the terrain upon which the containers have been dumped from the vessels is rough or soft and muddy, it may be extremely diificult to manually transport them inland onto dry ground, particularly if the containers are cylindrical drums or barrels, as many such barrels or drums when filled or loaded may be very heavy. Heretofcre it has been more or less common practice to manually roll the sealed drums or barrels over the rough ground surface by a pushing effort, the individuals or persons walking behind the barrel and rolling it before him. This may frequently be a difficult task and, as a result, may require considerable labor. I

The present invention pertains more particularly to a novel rigging to facilitate manually moving or transporting cylindrical. barrels or drums from one place to another by a rolling action, and has been found particularly useful to roll heavy barrels or drums along a platform or runway, or over relatively rough terrain, such as may be encountered when transporting containers from a waterfront, which containers may previously have been unloaded ordumped therefrom a ship or vessel during high tide.

An important object of the present invention therefore is to provide a simple, inexpensive rigging for transporting loaded barrels or drums by a rolling action, and whereby "one or more such drums may readily and conveniently be transported from one place to another, over rough or soft ground, with a minimum of effort and labor. A further object of the present invention is to provide a rigging for transporting one or more drums or barrels from one place to another by rolling the barrels along the ground or other surface, each barrel being provided at each end with an axially located stud to which the novel rigging hereindisclosed is attached, after which the filled drums or barrels may readily be rolled along a relatively soft or rough surface by one or more individuals grasping the handles of the rigging. A further object is to provide a rigging for handling drums or barrels whereby a single drum may readily and conveniently be rolled along the ground from one place to another and if desired, two or more such drums' may be coupled together in tandem whereby several such drums or bar rels may readily be transported from one p1aceto another at the same time With a minimum 'of effort and manpower.

, A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a. rigging of the class described comprising an elongated handle having a suitable draft element connected to each end thereof and each draft element being provided at its free end with an attachment member adapted to detachably engage suitable studs secured to the end walls of the drum, whereby an individual may grasp the handle and readily roll the drum or barre-l along the ground by a pulling effort.

Other objects of the invention reside in the particular arrangement of the studs at the ends of the barrel or drum, each of which is provided with an enlarged head, and the heads of said studs being located in planes disposed within the planes of the annular rings or flanges provided at the ends of the drum, whereby the drums may be placed on end, and if desired, may be stacked one on top of another in endwise relation; in the provision of the attachment members provided at the free ends of the draft elements for detachably connecting the draft elements to the studs of the drum; in the means provided whereby aplurality of drums may be quickly connected together for movement in tandem; in the provision of such a rigging which may be used for rolling drums or barrels along a shore-line or floor and which is also so arranged that it may readily be connected to a hoisting apparatus, when such equipment is available, for lifting the drums or barrels from a floor onto a dock or platform; and in the simple and inexpensive construction of the rigging whereby it may be manufactured alt-small 3 cost and whereby it is relatively light in weight and capable of being stored in a relatively small space when not in use.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my invention in its simplified form attached to a drum or barrel;

Figure 2 is an end view of a drum showing the attachment member partially disengaged from the stud; Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional View substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1, showing the head of the stud positioned in a plane within the plane of the edge of the annular flange provided at each end of the drum;

Figure 4 is a View showing a slightly different construction wherein flexible cables are utilized as draft elements and also whereby the drums may be coupled together for tandem movement; 1 Figure 5 is a plan view of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view showing two individual barrel riggings coupled together for tandem operation;

Figure 7 is a view showing one of the coupling members detached from the rigging;

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 6, illustrating the simple manner of detaching the coupling member from the draft handles and also how the bridle may be quickly detached from the draft handle;

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view substantially on the line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a view showing a rigging adapted for handling four drums or barrels;

Figure 11 is a plan view of Figure 10;

Figure-l2 is a view on a reducedscale showing two drums stackedone on top of the other.

The invention, as shown in Figure 1, comprises a suitable elongated handle 2 provided at each end with a hand grip 3.; A pair of flexible draft elements, generally designated by the numeral 4, and here shown composed of suitable chains, each have one end secured'to the handle 2 adjacent the handle-portions 3 thereof. The opposite end of each chain 4 has an attachment member, generally designated by the numeral 5, attached thereto. Each attachment member 5 comprises an enlarged head portion 6 provided at one end with an elongated reduced extension 1 whose outer end or terminal is pierced to provide means whereby an end of one of the draft chains 4 may be connectedthereto.

- The enlarged head portion 6 of each attachmentmember 5 is shown provided with a key slot 8 which extends lengthwise of the head 6 and is adapted to receive a stud 9 whereby the attachment member may be detachably secured to the drum, as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.

he drum, generally designated by the numeral I. I, is shown provided with end walls I2 each having an opening I3 therein which normally is closed and sealed by a suitable cover plate l4, secured to their respective end walls 2 by Suitable cap screws l 5. The end walls I2 of the drum I I may be constructed of comparatively light metal, and suitable nuts I6 may therefore be welded to the inner-surfaces of the end walls to receive the threaded cap screws I5 which secure the cover plates I4 in position on the end walls.

Some drums or barrels now in commercial use have their closure plates I4 eccentrically disposed, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. When the cover plates are thus eccentrically located in the drum heads, the studs 9 are eccentrically mounted in the cover plates I4 so as to locate them in the axis of the drum which is important in order that the drum may roll freely when pulled along by the rigging, as shown in Figure 1.

Cover plates I4, such as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, are frequently provided with an annular reinforced rib I? which necessitates that the reduced extension I of each attachment member 5 be offset from the plane of the head 6, as shown in Figure 3. The offset I8 of each attachment member 5 is also sufficiently great to permit the extension I of each attachment member to readily clear the edges I9 of the end flanges 2| of the drum, as best shown in Figure 3. The offset I8'of each attachment member is so located with respect to the key slot 8, that when the attachment member 5 is positioned as shown in Figure 3, the offset portion I8 will not engage the reinforcing rib or bead I1.

Each stud 9 is shown provided with a head 22 which is of such size that it may readily pass through the enlarged opening 23 of each key slot 8, therebyto permit the draft elements 4 to be quickly coupled to or uncoupled from the drum studs 9, as will be understood by reference to the drawings.

One of the important features of the invention resides in the particular arrangement of the studs 9 at each end'of the drum. These studs, as best shown in Figure 3, are of such length with respect to the depth of the end flanges 26 of the drum or barrel ends that their heads 22 are spaced inwardly from the flange edges I9,

' whereby the drums or barrels may be placed on end upon a floor or platform, and also whereby they'may be stacked, one on top of another, as shown in Figure 12, I to conserve floor space. When so stacked, it may be deemed necessary to interpose suitable strips or pieces of board between drums, as shown in Figure 12. g

The structure illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, is extremely simple in construction and very simple to operate. The key slots 8 make it possible to quickly disengage the attachment members 5 from the studs 9 of the barrel ends, and they may be as readily coupled thereto. The draft elements or chains 4 are preferably permanently secured to the handle 2 whereby when the attachment members 5 are detached from the studs 9, the rigging, including the handle 2, draft elements 4 and attachment members 5, may readily be stored in a comparatively small, out of the way place, as will be understood.

The invention has been found extremely practical for transporting or moving drums, barrels and the like, over rough ground surfaces and through wet soft places where the filled drums may previously have been unloaded from a ship or vessel, by simply attaching the rigging to the studs 9 at the ends of each barrel, as shown in Figure 1. The drum may then be readilyrolled along by a pulling effort applied to the handle 2.

In Figures 4 to 9, inclusive, I have shown an apparatus which is particularly suitable for transporting a'plurality of drums'at one time. In these figures twodrums'are shown coupledtogether-in tandem, but it is to be understood that any number of drums may-be socoupled together,--'depending upon power available for transporting them. As shown in Figures-4 and 5, two riggings are employed which will hereinafterbe referred to as IA andB. Each-rigging, as hereinbefore stated, includes a handle 24 and draft elements 25 corresponding respectively to the handle Zand draft elements 4 shown inFigure 1. The riggings A and B are coupled together for operation asa unitby suitable couplingrmembers, generally designated by the numeral- 26.

1 Each coupling-member. 2t is shown comprising a sectionofcable 21 having asuitable coupling plate 28 connected toeach end thereof, each having a'key slot. 8 therein corresponding to'thekey slotshown in theattachment elements -5 of Figure 1. The key slots 8 ofthecoupling plate-28 are adapted to receive the ends of the handles 24, as shown in Figure6. To retain the coupling plates 28 in their proper-positions on the handle, annular collars 29 and. 3! are shown secured to each handle adjacent each end thereof, as best illustrated in Figure 5.

The flanges 29 and 3| are suitably'secured to the handle 24' in spaced relation-by suchmeans as welding, thehandlepreferably being made of tubular stock such astubing or piping. --By referring to Figure 8, it will be noted thatthe flanges 29 are relatively larger in diameter than-the enlarged openings 23 in the coupling plates 28 whereby they limit the inward movement of the coupling plateson the ends of the handle 24, as will be understood. 'The flanges aresl-ightly smaller in diameter than the enlarged openings 23 of the key slots '8, whereby the coupling plates 28 may readily be passed overthe flanges 3 i ,when attaching the coupling members ZEto the handles 24 or uncoupling them therefrom.

Each individual rigging, as hereinbefore stated, comprises a handle'24 provided at each end with a draft element 25 which, in Figures 4 to-9, in-

clusive, are showneach having one end-connected to the handle 24 by suitable eyes or staples -32. The opposite end of each draftelement 25-is-provided with an attachment memberi, similar to the one shown in' Figures 1 and3, inclusive, which are adapted to engage the studs Eisecuredto the I end walls of the drums.

When two or more drums or barrels are to be transported at one time, a draft bridle, generally designated by the numeral 33, is coupled to the leading rigging A,ias shown in Figures and 5 5. Each bridle is composed of a pair of cables 34 having their forward ends suitably secured together at 35 and provided with an eye 36, whereby the bridle may be coupled to the usual hitch or draw bar of a truck or tractor, partially indicated at 3? in Figures and 11. The bridle cables 34 are provided at their rear ends with suitable attachment members 38, each provided with a key slot 8 similar to the one provided in the attachment elements 5, shown in Figures 1 and 2. Each attachment element 38 is preferably bent, as best shown in Figures 6 and 8, whereby when the bridle is coupled to handle 24 of the leading rigging A, as shown in Figure 6, the cables 34 will be positioned substantially coincident with the direct lines of pull between the ends of the handle 24 and the eye 35 to which the forward ends of the bridle cables 34 are connected, when the truck is moved forwardly to propel the drums, as shown in Figure 10.

6 "The bridle'33 may be quickly detachedfromthe handle 24 of I the "leadingrigging' A by first detaching-thecoupling membersZo from the'han- 'dl'es, after which the attachment elements 38 of thebridle-Gt-may readily be detached from the ends-of the handle, as will be understood by reference to Figure 8.

:In 'Figures 4" and 5 I have shown two drums 'coupled'together in'tandemand the bridle 33 coupled to the handle 24"of the 'leading'rigging A.

reference to Figures-4, 5 and 6.

'The form of rigging illustrated in Figures 4to 9, inclusive, has considerable utility in that it makes itpos'sible to transport one or'moredr'ums at the same time by means of the coupling members-26. In'othe'r words, if the available power is such that a pluralityof drums may be propelled at the same time, several barrels or drums may be coupled together bythe coupling members 25,'itbeing understood that a complete rigging such as A or "B must be provided for'each drum.

In Figures 10 and 11 I have shown another form of rigging adapted for'transporting four drums or barrels at one time. In th form here shown, four handles 4| are provided, one for each drum. The forward'handle 4| has abriclle 42 preferably permanently secured thereto, which comprises a, pair of cables 43 'having their rear ends connectedto the forwardhandle 4| by suitable means such as indicated at 44. The forward ends of the cables 43 are coupled together as shown at 45, and are connected to an eye 46 which in turn may be" coupled to the usual hitch or drawbar-of a truck or tractor 3?, as indicated. A suitable spring-41 may be provided between the bridle 42 and tractor hitch or truck hitch to absorb-shocks and the'like.

Each handle 4| is further provided-with a pair of draftelements or cables 48 whoseforward ends are suitably'connected to their respective handles ll by means of eye bolts or plates 49 fixed to their respective handles. Attachment members 5,similar to the one'shown in --Figure 1, are connected to the rear ends of the draft elements or cables 48 to provide means for detachably connecting said cables to the studs 9 of th drums.

The four handles 4| are coupled together in spaced relation by suitable flexible coupling members '5| which maybe-in the form of stranded cables having means at their ends for connecting them to adjacent handles as shown in Figure 11. In such a'riggingthe coupling member 5| may be permanently secured to the handles, as shown, but not necessarily.

In the rigging shown in Figures 10 and 11 all of the handles 4| are permanently connected to gether by the coupling members 5|. Therefore in a rigging such as shown in Figures 10 and 11, if less than four barrels are to be transported at one time, a portion of the rigging will be unused as Will be understood. For average use the cables and drums may be made of comparatively light weight material, stranded steel cables having great strength in proportion to their size, and the handles 4| may be made of fairly light gauge stock such as steel tubing.

The rigging hereindisclosed, is very simple and inexpensive in construction, as the draft elements 4 and 26 may be made of stock material such as conventional chain or stranded cables. The attachment members 5 and coupling plates 28 may readily be made of sheet metal in a punch press, and all of the other fittings are of such material and design that they may be made very inexpensively in quantity production, as will be understood.

The apparatus has been found to be extremely useful intransporting drums, barrels and other items which are capable of being rolled along Irough surfaces such as are very common at the "water fronts of newly established beach heads, and other places where it may become necessary to unload such materials at times. It also provides an efilcient and practical rigging for use in the oil industry for transporting oil drums and "the like from one plac to another, as will be understood.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal objects of my invention, and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim as my invention:

1. A rigging for handling drums and the like, each provided at each end with an axially disposed stud, each having an enlarged head spaced outwardly from its respective end wall, an elongated handle, flexible draft elements each having one end connected to the handle, one adjacent to each end thereof, an attachment member for each draft element each formed with a head having an elongated extension at one end, the ends of which are secured to said draft elements, the head of each attachment member having a key slot therein whose longitudinal axis is aligned with said extension and the enlarged opening of which is located adjacent to said extension, whereby when the attachment members are engaged with their respective studs on the drum, said studs will be received in, the restricted ends of said slots whereby said attachment members cannot accidently become disengaged from the studs when the draft elements are taut, and the overall length of the extension of each of said members from the enlarged portion of the slot of each member to the ends of said extensions being relatively less than one-half the diameter of the drums to be propelled by the rigging, whereby when the draft elements are slack and said extensions hang loosely from their respective studs, the enlarged portions of said slots are not aligned with the studs, whereby said attachment members are not likely to become disengaged from their respective studs, should the ends of the extensions engage the floor or ground.

A rigging for transporting drums and the like by rolling said drums along a. floor or other surface, each drum being provided at each end with a concentrically located stud, said rigging constituted of a plurality of independent units each comprising an elongated handle having flexible draft elements connected thereto in spaced relation, each draft element having an attachment member at its free end for detaohably connecting them to the studs of a drum, and coupling members provided at each end with an attachment device engageable with the handles of adjacent units, thereby to detachably couple together a plurality of such units in spaced relation for simultaneously transporting a plurality of drums in tandem formation.

3. A rigging for transporting drums and the like by rolling said drums along a floor or other surface, each drum being provided at each end with a centrally located stud, said rigging constituted of a plurality of like units each comprising an elongated handle having flexible draft elements connected thereto in spaced relation, each draft element having an attachment member at its free end for detachably connecting them to thestuds of a drum, and a plurality of separable coupling members provided at each end with attachment devices engageable with means on the handles of adjacent units, thereby to detachably couple together a, plurality of such units in spaced relation for simultaneously transporting a plurality of drums in tandem formation, said units when uncoupled from one another, being readily usable as single units.

4. A rigging for transporting a plurality of drums and the like by rolling said drums along a floor or other surface, each drum being provided at each end with a centrally located stud, said rigging comprising a plurality of elongated cross members, flexible coupling members permanently connecting together said cross members in spaced parallel relation in the direction of travel, a pair of draft elements connected to each cross members and having means at their free ends for detachably connecting them to the studs of a drum, and the terminals of each cross member providing hand grips each adapted to be grasped by an operators hand, and whereby a plurality of drums may be conveniently simultaneously transported in tandem formation.

ERNEST W. ASHENDEN.

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