US2531792A

US2531792A - Shipping container

Info

Publication number: US2531792A
Application number: US715246A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roscoe B Smith
Original assignee: Hercules Powder Co
Current assignee: Hercules Powder Co
Priority date: 1946-12-10
Filing date: 1946-12-10
Publication date: 1950-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 1967-11-28

Description

Filed Dec. 10, 1946 R- B. SMITH SHIPPING CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGS fir 1 f 1 I ROSCOE B. SMITH INVENTOR.

We. PM

AGENT Patented Nov. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

SHIPPING CONTAINER Roscoe B. Smith, Wilmington, Del., assignor to Hercules Powder Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application December 10, 1948, Serial No. 715,246

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a container and, more particularly, to a shipping container for explosive cartridges.

Large size explosive cartridges, of dimensional magnitude of 5 to 9 inches in diameter and 16 to 30 inches in length or more, have heretofore been shipped to their destination in rigidly constructed boxes of fiberboard or wood. A plurality of cartridges is usually packed in a rectangular box and the entire package made to conform with strict I. C. C. shipping regulations. The use of these rectangular boxes seriously increases the weight and volume occupied by a shipment of a given number of cartridges. When a shipment of explosive cartridges arrives at its destination, the cartridges must be removed from the box, which now no longer has utility, before being used for such purposes as rock quarrying, seismographic work, and deep or oil well blasting. The disposal of the boxes becomes a sizeable problem to a large consumer of explosives of this type.

It is an object of this invention to provide a shipping container for dynamite which will occupy the minimum amount of shipping space.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an integral shipping container which can be used in the shipment of dynamite.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a shipping container whose weight for a given volume of explosives may be kept extremely low.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a shipping container for explosives in which the container and the explosive may be lowered directly into a borehole without the necessity of removal of the explosive from the container.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

Generally described, the present invention comprises a tubular receptacle adapted to receive an explosive cartridge, said receptacle having one end portion open and the other end portion inwardly crimped to form a fluted end wall, an exterior disc and an interior disc stapled together with the fluted end wall therebetween, and a cover of like structure as the receptacle. An important feature of the invention resides in the end structure of the receptacle.

A preferred embodiment oi this invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification wherein like numbers refer to like parts wherever they occur.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the component parts of the invention before assembly with an explosive cartridge.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the assembled container.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an end portion of the invention taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2 with the cartridge removed.

Fi 4 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment employing a cylinder with caps made in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment employing a cylinder having one end portion and cap for the open end thereof made in accordance with the invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, the tubular receptacle ll, made of a laminated paper, flber or like material, is adapted to receive an explosive cartridge H. The cartridge I I may be of the conventional convolutely or spirally wound type with a suitable end closure. The receptacle III is adapted to receive at least one-half of the total length of the explosive cartridge II. A cover It is adapted to enclose the portion of the explosive cartridge which remains exposed after insertion of said cartridge into the receptacle ID. The length of the interior of the receptacle and its cover should preferably be equal to the total length of the explosive cartridge I'l, so that said cartridge will be in abutment with the interior discs ll of the cover and receptacle when assembled as shown in F18. 2.

As shown in cross section in Fig. 3, the end structure or closure of the container and cover consists of an interior disc l3 and an exterior disc l8 made of laminated paper, heavy cardboard, flber, or the like, and secured together by a plurality of stitching staples l8 with a fluted end wall It therebetween. The fluted end wall is is formed by crimping the tubular body portion of the receptacle Ill or the cover I2 inwardly to form the symmetrically fluted end wall I, preferably having at least 8 flutes. Each flute produces a crease or fold which is substantially a chord to the periphery of the tubular body portion of the receptacle and consequently the number of flutes used without undue distortion of the periphery of the receptacle is commensurate with the diameter of the receptacle. Securing the interior and exterior discs together with staples arranged in a circle near the periphery of the exterior disc compresses the flutes immediately surrounding the staples to give the, exterior end portion an indented contour which aids materially in the cushioning effect aiforded to the contents of the fluted container.

After the explosive cartridge II is inserted in the receptacle Ill and the lower end surface ll of the cover It is brought into abutment with the upper end surface II of the receptacle II, an adhesive-coated tape 22 is applied to the joint thus formed.

The alternative embodiment shown in Fig. 4 illustrates a container 23 consisting of a tube 24 of laminated paper, flber, or like material, each end of said tube being adapted to being closed by an end covering element or a cap 25. The cap 25 is in close fitting relationship'to the exterior of the tube and rigidly attached thereto by a layer of glue 26 between the cap and tube. The cap is constructed in accordance with the end structure of the invention described with reference to Fig. 3.

In practice, one exterior end portion of the tube 24 may be coated with a suitable glue and covered by cap 25 retained in place by said glue and with the end of the tube in firm abutment with the interior disc [3. After being filled through the open end with the material to be contained therein, the tube is similarly closed at said open end by a cap constructed in accordance with the invention. The resultant container unit with its shock absorbing caps affords excellent protection to the contents from the destructive forces encountered in handling relatively heavy materials.

The alternative embodiment shown in Fig. 5 illustrates a container 21 consisting of a receptacle In such as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, whose open end is closed by means of a cap 25 constructed and glued in place as described hereinabove after insertion of the contents either in bulk or package form.

Containers for shipping cartridges approximately 7% inches in diameter by 24 inches long were constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention and subjected to exhaustive tests to determine the ability of the containers to meet the requirements of the Interstate Commerce Commission. More specifically, these tests were conducted in accordance with Specification 23G of the Interstate Commerce Commission as prescribed in its publication known as Title 49-Transportation and Railroads, Chapter I-Interstate Commerce Commission, Parts 71-85, Transportation of Explosives. The paper tubes for the body portion of the receptacles and covers were 1.90 inches inside diameter and were manufactured by spirally wrapping on a fixed mandrel one ply of 0.016 inch kraft paper, a second ply of 0.025 inch chipboard, a third ply of 0.025 inch chipboard, a fourth ply of 0.008 inch asphaltic laminated krait paper, and a fifth and outside ply of 0.008 inch asphaltic laminated kraft paper. The laminated paper was wound so that it overlapped itself at the joint.

The manufacture of the tubes was performed on a spiral-tube wrapping machine. The various plies were glued together with glue applied to the paper before wrapping. The completed tubes in suitable lengths for the receptacles and covers were then closed at one end with fluted crimps formed by a mechanical crimper. When the glue dried a snug fitting cardboard interior disc approximately 7.90 inches in diameter and 0.080 inch thick was inserted through the open end of the tube and placed in juxtaposition to the flutes. an exterior disc approximately 4.90 inches outside diameter and 0.04 inch thick was placed on the outside across the fiuted end wall in juxtaposition to the flutes, and both discs were stapled together through the fluted crimp using a minimum of 8 staples. The exterior disc was coated with clear lacquer for moisture protection.

In conducting the hereinafter described tests in accordance with I. C. C. Specification 23G, the explosive cartridge, made of 4-ply, 104-pound base paper, was approximately 7% inches in di- 10 proof gum linen tape.

ameter, 24 inches long and filled with a dummy powder weighing 50 pounds. After the explosive cartridge was inserted in the receptacle and in abutment with the interior disc thereof, the cover 5 was placed over the exposed end of the cartridge,

the interior disc of the cover being in firm abutment with the end of the cartridge. The abutting ends of each receptacle and its cover formed a joint which was sealed with 3-inch wide water- The tare weight of the containers was 2% pounds each.

Before testing, the containers were conditioned for two weeks at 90% relative humidity and at 75 F. In the test made in accordance with the above-mentioned I. C. C. requirements, the Cady test showed that the containers had a dry strength of 300 pounds or better. The puncture strength as determined by the prescribed use of a General Electric puncture tester was found to be 231 units or 31 units above the I. C. C. re-

the 500 pounds pressure at 0.5 inch deflection specified for the side to side loading. In drop tests, the containers satisfactorily met the requirement of four 4-foot drops diagonally on end of the container and the requirement of one 3" drop fiat on the side of another container.

The above-mentioned tests indicated conclusively that the containers made in accordance with the preferred embodiment of this invention fully meet the I. C. C. requirements for containers used in the shipment of explosive materials.

Numerous combinations of plies of chipboard, manila paper, kraft paper, and waterproof lamihated stock, are possible in the construction of the tubular container or cap in accordance with this invention but the preferable structure is formed of 4 to 8 plies. Of these plies, the outer plies are preferably of a waterproof laminated paper over one or more plies of chipboard with 4 the laminant being a waterproof adhesive binder such as fiberboard, cardboard, chipboard, etc.,

are numerous but cardboard approximately 0.04 to 0.080 inch thick has been found preferable.

The tape used to seal the abutting joint of the container and its cover preferably is a cloth or paper tape coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

The stitching staples are preferably of steel rendered nonsparking by copper coating, approximately /16 inch wide and having a crosssectional area of at least 0.0017 square inch.

The fluted end wall of this invention is of particular importance in obtaining a structure having a high impact strength and a cushioning effect on the contents of the container. It is preferable to use at least 8 flutes in the end wall to prevent undue distortion of the periphery of the receptacle, the number of flutes used being commensurate with the diameter of the container.

A shipping container as disclosed herein has been found to be exceedingly strong and to comply with the I. C. C. shipping regulations for containers used in the transport of explosive materials. When received by the consumer of such materials, the container may be left on the explosive cartridge, thereby forming an integral, unitary explosive device for use in blasting operations without detrimental effect upon the efficiency of the explosive. If desired, the explosive cartridge may be readily removed by merely destroying the adhesive-coated tape and reversal of the assembly procedure.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An end seal for a tubular fiber container which comprises an inwardly and interiorly extending fluted end wall formed by inwardly crimping the end of the container body, said fluted end wall substantially completely closing the end of the container and defining a shallow concavity extending interiorly from the folded edge of the container body, said folded edge forming a rounded hollow cavity wherein the portion of the body folded inwardly is spaced from the unfolded portion thereof; an exterior fiber disc disposed within the concavity interiorly of the folded edge and in juxtaposition to the outer surface of the fluted end wall; an interior flber disc disposed in juxtaposition to the inner surface of the fluted end wall, said interior disc having a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the container; and a plurality of metallic stitching staples passing through and securing together the exterior disc, the fluted end wall and the interior disc, said staples being disposed near the periphery of the exterior disc and forming an annular indentation therein.

v2. An explosive device comprising a tubular fiber container having an explosive cartridge disposed therein, said tubular container having two tubular body sections, each of which is open at one end and closed at the opposite end, said open ends being in coaxial abutment and being secured together by a strip of adhesive coated tape disposed over the joint formed by said abutting open ends, and each of said closed ends of the two tubular body sections having an inwardly -and interiorly extending fluted end wall formed by inwardly crimping the end of the tubular body, said fluted end wall substantially completely closing the end of the tubular body and defining a shallow concavity extending interiorly from the folded edge of the tubular body, said folded edge forming a rounded hollow cavity wherein the portion of the body folded inwardly is spaced from the unfolded portion thereof an exterior fiber disc disposed within the concavity interiorly of the folded edge and in juxtaposition to the outer surface of the fluted end wall; an interior fiber disc disposed in juxtaposition to the inner surface of the fluted end wall, said interior disc having a diameter substantially equal sections of slightly different diameter, each of which is open at one end and clmd at the oppoliteenmtheopenendoithebodysoctlonhaw i ltbesmallerdiameterbeinginteleecopic ensaid fluted end wall substantially completely closing the end of the tubular body and defining a shallow concavity extending interiorly from the folded edge of the tubular body, said folded edge forming a rounded hollow cavity wherein the portion of the body folded inwardly is spaced from the unfolded portion thereof; an exterior fiber 15 disc disposed within the concavity interiorly of the folded edge and in juxtaposition to the outer surface of the fluted end wall; an interior fiber disc disposed in juxtaposition to the inner surface of the fluted end wall, said interiordisc having a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the container; and a plurality of metallic stitching staples passing through and securing together the exterior disc, the fluted end wall and the interior disc, said staples being disposed near the periphery of the exterior disc and forming an annular indentation therein.

4. An explosive device comprising a tubular fiber container containing explosive material, said tubular container having an elongated, tubular body section open at each end, and a tubular cap open at one end and closed at the opposite end for each end of the tubular body section, each of said caps having a diameter slightly greater than that of the body section and being telescopically fitted over and adhesively afiixed to the open end of the body section; the closed ends of each of said caps having an inwardly and interiorly extending fluted end wall formed by inwardly crimping the end of the tubular body. said fluted end wall substantially completely closing the end of the tubular body and defining a shallow concavity extending interiorly from the folded edge of the tubular body, said folded edge forming a rounded hollow cavity wherein the 45 portion of the body folded inwardly is spaced from the unfolded portion thereof; an exterior fiber REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

. UNITED STATES PA'I'ml'rs Number Name Date 1,923,428 Eggerss Aug. 22, 1923 1,987,191 John July 17, 1934 2,154,634 Mott Apr. 18, 1939 Carlson Dec. 7, 1948