US2905496A

US2905496A - Lever closing ring for containers

Info

Publication number: US2905496A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vivian D Hornsby
Original assignee: F C THORNTON Co
Current assignee: F C THORNTON Co
Priority date: 1957-11-20
Filing date: 1957-11-20
Publication date: 1959-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 1976-09-22

Description

Sept. 22, 1959 v, HORNSBY 2,905,496

LEVER CLOSING RING FOR CONTAINERS Filed Nov. 20, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Vv'viamDHOmsbg ATTORNEYS P 22, 1959 v. D. HORNSBY 2,905,496

LEVER CLOSING RING FOR CONTAINERS Filed Nov. 20, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ML I @iijjjjij: 1: Q 1 W H nuuullluullnIllllllllw 5 IIIIIII INVENTOR Vivian D. Homsly ATTORNEYS 2,905,496 Ii'EV'ER fiEOSlNG RING FOR CNTA1NERS Vivian D. HornsbygshakerHeights, Ohio; assignmto- The F. C; Thornton -Company,-Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation :of Ohio Application November- 20, 1'95-7;Srial N0i697g690 sclaimsr (Cl. 292-25659 This inVentiomsreIates'tO container sealing devices and more particularly :it pertains to a lever closing ring for clamping inplace the cover of acontainer such' -a's a metal t fiher shippingdr'um;

Generally; shipping drumsare open at onevend' and are provided with a" peripheral bead removable cover-for the" open end "is provided with a-- complementary peripheral flange for fitting over" the head in*- a substantially airtight manner. The cover flange is secured 'oir the head b'y'a split ring ofchannel sh apedcross se'ct'iori that clamps the'fl'ange and b'ead tog'ethe'r.

Priorcl-amping rings have included various means for contractingand' expanding-theringi Most of' the prior rihgs' have'been subject to several disadvantageshaving both structural and economic aspects. In some lever lock'rings' the'lever'movesin' the plane of the ring either insideor outside ofthe ring'circumfere'nce One disadvantagefof such construction has been that the levers prevent compact stackingjo-f the shippingdrums.- Also: wherethe lver movable 'within thecircumference of the ring, it usually covers a" portion of the surface-of the cover and therebyjreduces the was available for d'cora: tionjadvertising; and the like.

Other priorlo'cl'rings have lever' mechanisms movahle in a pl aneperpendicular to that "of the Siich magne nisms'aa'eusually complicated in nature 'with' a consider able numherof partswhieh' are unduly costly. I

Another disadvantage inherent'inmost lever "loch rings isth'e tendency of'the-ends'of tlie-to' gapopen. one 0r"-hoth ends" tend to spring-out radial-1y "front alignment each other and away from a desirahl'e' close fit on the eoverand di umassembl y. Such-tendency ultimately may-resale incompletefailureof thering'to locl the cover to the drum flange.

The device of*thepreserit'inventionincludes'a closing leverfora' split lock ring having two end portions which are bronght'into' closelyalignedpositions 'with respect to each otherfduri'ngQ-thelocking. movement ofth'e lever from the open position in a plane perpendicular to that of the ring to. the closed position in the plane ofthe riiig'; Onetendv of. the-lever is. pivoted: to. one end .ofithe ring and the other end. of :the ring. is pivotally connected to t a connecting; link; the'othe-r end of'whic-h is pivotallyr at- \tached to the lever; In the-closed posit-ion" all pivotal conneetionsxbetween the ring, the lever; and the link are in aligiimentrwith eachother. In addition,- the lever: and link fit snu'gly agai nstthe outer periphery o-ffthe ningr'and the lever" includesan oflFs'et intermediate portion enclosing the connecting lir'ile One end of the oifset intermediate portion ofthe lever is-aninelti-ned end wall which serves aswaicam-tor'directin'g one endof the ring intoe'nd-tioend alignment with the other endof thering where it is retained by one end portion of the lever which h ts snugly. against the outer periphery of the ring.

Accordingly; it is. anohject of invention torprovide alever closing ring for containers havingthe. economic Patented Sept. 22, 1959 advantages of minimum number of ane-andm assembly costs."

It is another objeeto'fthis invention to-providea lever closing ring'for'shippiiigdrums-havinga' lever movable in a plane perpendicular to the plane'- ofthe ring, It anotherobject of th'is-invention' to provide a lever closing ring for metal or fiber shipping drums which provides aninclined camming surface for directing and holding opposite ends of the ring in close'alignment in the-locked position? It is still another object of this inventionto providea lever closing ring forshipping d'r'ums which the lever during the closing operation not only brings the split ring" together into smallerclamping-diameter while moving the ends into closely spaced alimed positions in the-sarne' plane; but-alsd-b-rihgs and holds' oneend ofthering-in the same radial zone as that of' th'e other'end of the ring.

Finally; it is an objecf ofthis invention to provide an improved lever locking ring'tor oontainerswh-ichsubstantialIy' eliminates thedifliculties enumerated and which obrains-the foregoing d'esid'erata-ina" simple and-effective mannerl- Theseand" other ol'afects and advantages apparent to those skilled in the" art'I-from the following descriptionand claims nr'iy be "obtained, the statedresults achieved andthedeserioed diffieultie's overcome by the discoveries; principles, apparatus; parts; combinations, suboombina= tions aird"- elements which comprise" the present invention', thenathre ofwhich is set for-thin the following statement; preferred embodimentsof whichillustrative ofithe' bestrnode's" in which applicant, has contemplated applying the principles;are" set' forth" .inthe following description; arid which are particularly-and distinctly pointed' outand s'etforth in the appended claims form= ingpartfhereoff p The improved lever-closing ring construction of the; prsenfinvention maybe statedin general terms as in cluding in .acylindrical; open headshipping drum having a: closed "bottohi and anopen top-with a peripheral v bead there'arou'n'd, ,HTCQVGI for'the open tophaving a peripheral flangeengageahle with'the" head, a metal split ring sun rounding the engaged flange and bead, the ring being substantially U s'haped in cross section; the ring having first and seoond en'd. portions alignable in'spacedrel'atipn'iwhen theringqisisurroundingthe engaged flange and I beatija'l ockirr'g lever havirig opposite end portions and an intermediate ofi'setpor tion, one end portion, of the lever befrrg=pivotally at-tachedit o one end portion of, the. ring with the intermediate offset-portionoutwardly spaced from th'e" periphery 0t the=ring; 1a connecting link having one end pivotal'lyattachedtothe other end portion of'the ring; thetotherendr'ofthe-linlebeingpivotally attached to tlr intermediate portion of the'lever; the intermediateotfsetpor-tiorrofthe' lever having znconnecting inclined cam mingportiorrat an angle-to the plane ofithe end portion pivoted tothefirsfportion of "the ring, the intermediate portion ofthe. lever being substantially longer than the connecting lihk and-forming ailink" receiving space with theriii-g; the'l'everbeing movable in.a plane perpendicular'to theplane of the ring 'hetween an open position and a closed position, the-latter position being. in the plane ofi the -ring, the i-nclinedportion'ofthe lever providing a carnming' surface" means-:for directing saidother end portion of" the ring snugly-against the assembled flange and' beaidand in" alignmentwith saidiother endportion whenrthe lever is in the closed position, and the ring having anoffset loop means for receiving the hookedend of the leverr I,

The preferred emhodimentssoffthe invention are illustrated, by. way ofexaniple,,.in the accompanying drawiiigs', .whereiii:

Figure l is a fragmentary elevational view of a lever closing ring in the closed position on a shipping drum;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the device in the open position; 7

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view ofthe device in an intermediately closed position;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the device in the intermediate position as shown in Fig. 3;

'Fig. is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5; g V

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5; p I

Fig. 9 is a fragmentaiy elevational view of another embodiment of the drum and lever closing ring; and

Fig. is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 9.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 6, an open head barrel, container, or drum 1 includes a necked-in portion 2 and a rolled or curled head 3 at the upper end thereof. A recessed cover or closure 4 fits into the necked-in portion 2 of the drum 1 and is provided at the upper end with a rounded flange 5 in which is seated an annular compressed gasket or sealing ring 6 for engagement with the upper side of the head 3 of the drum 1.

The cover 4 is retained on the drum 1 by a closing ring 7 which is substantially U-shaped in transverse cross section and has an upper lip 8 and a lower lip 9. As shown in Fig. 6, the upper lip 8 engages the rounded flange 5 and the lower lip 9 engages the under portion of the bead 3 and the lips extend at an angle to each other so that upon tightening of the closing ring 7, the flange 5 is pressed against the bead 3 and the gasket 6 is compressed therebetween. As shown in Figs. l-4, the closing ring 7 is split and includes ring end portions 10 and 11 which are separated to permit expansion of the ring to enable the lower lip 9 to clear the outer peripheries of the rounded flange 5 and head 3, and which are broughttogether when the ring is closed in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

The closing ring 7 has means for opening and closing including a handle lever 12 and a connecting link 13. The lever 12 is an elongated slightly arcuate member having

opposite end portions

14 and 15 and intermediate portion 16, the latter of which is offset from the end portions 14 and 1 5 and outwardly from the closing ring 7. The intermediate portion 16 is connected to the end portions 14 and '15, respectively, by portions or

segments

17 and 18 of the lever inclined at an angle to the end portion 15. The intermediate portion 16 forms a clearance 19 with the outer periphery of the ring 7 in which is disposed the connecting link 13 as shown in Fig. 5.

The lever 12 is pivotally connected to the end portion 11 of the ring 7 by a rivet 20 extending through the end portion 15 of the lever. The connecting link 13 is pivotally attached to the opposite end portion 10 of the ring 7 at one end by a rivet 21. The other end of the connecting link 13 is pivotally connected to the lever 12 at the intermediate portion thereof by a rivet 22.

Thus the closing ring 7 is provided with a closing device having only two operating parts including the handle lever 12 and the connecting link 13, and three

rivets

20, 21, and 22. Moreover, minimum assembly costs are involved in that only sixholes (two for each rivet) are punched in the parts and one loop is embossed in-the ring.

The end portion '14 of the handle lever 12 is notche at 23 to provide a hook 24 at the end of the lever for engagement with a loop 25 embossed at the outer periphery of the ring 7. When the lever is rotated to the closed position (Fig. l), the hook 24 engages the loop 25 where it is retained against easy dislodgment by a boss 26 in the lower part of the hook as shown in Fig. 6. Moreover, a hole 27 is provided in the end portion 14 of the lever so that a sealing wire (not shown) may be attached to the loop. 7

The ring 7 is opened and closed by moving the handle lever 12 about the pivotal rivet 20 in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the ring. When the ring is closed by pushing down on the lever 12, the manual operation is relatively easy because the bottom of the drum is resting on a floor as compared with the type of lever that is moved for opening and closing in the plane of the ring.

When the lever 12 is fully raised or substantially so as shown in Fig. 2, the end portions 10 and ll of the ring 7 are horizontally and vertically spaced from each other.

' In the raised position of the lever '12 the connecting link 3. However, the ring 7 may be spread sufficiently to permit the inner end of the lower lip 9 to pass freely over the outer periphery of the rounded flange 5 of the cover 4. i

When the ring is in place and ready for closing, the lever 12 is lowered from the position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3. During that movement of the lever 12 the connecting link 13 moves the end portion 10 vertically and horizontally into closer alignment with the end portion 11 (Fig. 3). The downward rotational movement of the lever 12 moves the end portion 10 through the link 13 into closer and closer alignment with the end portion 11. In the final closed position of Fig. l the end portions 10 and 11 are in complete alignment with each other. The rivets 2t 21, and 22 are aligned, and the hook 24 engages the loop 25 as shown.

During the final movement of the lever handle 12 from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 1, the inclined portion 18 of the lever handle functions as a cam to move the end portion 10 of the ring 7 radially inward against the drum and cover assembly whereby it is brought into and retained in alignment with the end portion 11 in the closed position of the lever as shown in Fig. 5. In the closed position the end portions 10 and 11 of the closing ring 7 are preferably slightly spaced from each other and the outer surfaces of both end portions are in abutment with the inner surface of end portion 15 of the lever. The ends 10 and 11 of the ring are retained snugly in place against the assembly of the flange 5 and head 3. So long as the lever 12 is maintained in the closed position of Figs. 1 and 5, there is no possibility of the end portions 10 and 11 of the ring moving outward from their tight contact with the flange 5 and head 3. Accordingly, the ring 7 is held in place until the lever is again opened.

Another embodiment of the ring is shown at 28 in Figs. 9 and 10. The ring 28 is a substantially channel member having an upper leg 29 and a lower leg 30. The cross section of the ring 28 including the upper and

lower legs

29 and 30 differs from that of the ring 7. The ring 7 is the usual type of ring used for steel drums like the drum 1. The closing ring 28, on the other hand, is the type of ring used for fiber drums 31 (Fig. 10), the upper end of which is necked-in at 32 and headed at 33, which configuration is encased Within a surrounding metal reinforcing member 34. The fiber drum 31 is provided with a cover or closure 35 having a flange 36 extending outwardly and downwardly around the bead 33 of the drum as shown in Fig. 10.

Moreover, the ring 28 is provided with a handle lever 37. and a connecting link 38 (similar to the handle 12 and link '13) which are attached to the ring 28 and to each other by

similar rivets

39, 40, and 41. A hooked end 42 The particularring 28 i" vi'ng the upper-nea lower legs 29 an'd* 30 is adapted t ret'airl thepm cover 35'on-th'e fiberdrum-32 For"that purposeng 28 includes a closing'rneans identieal with are 'clbsmgmean's for the-"ring 7 wlii'ch i aiaunny adapted dot-retaining the recessed" cover Or 'cIQsur e-4 on tll'e stel bpen head drum-1;

The device of the present inve'n over-previous-.-construction I tive mearls -for n'ot only opeiiltig 'arid elesing'tue angent also for holding the ends of the ring snugly againstthe periphery of the cover of the drum andin alignment with each other." For'tha't urpese the cresrfig'rrag-inuudes a two-piece handle-levers mechanismrwhich is raised and lowered in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the cover between open-and closed-positfins for expanding and-contracting thering; A" parts is' involved including a handle lever, a connecting link, and three rivets. Thus assembly costs are maintained at a minimum. Each of the ring, lever, link, and rivet parts are of simplest design.

More particularly, the ring closing mechanism is provided with an inclined cam surface. During the early stages of closing the ring the end portions thereof are moved in two directions horizontally and vertically into substantial alignment With each other. During the final closing stage of the lever, the inclined cam surface of the lever comes into contact with one of the open ends of the ring and moves it snugly against the periphery of the cover in precise alignment with the other end of the ring. In the final closing stage during said camming action the end portion of the ring is moved into the close fitting position in precise alignment with the other end of the ring against the normal outward thrust of the ring and away from the final closed position of the ring. Accordingly, the lever closing mechanism moves the ends of the split ring through three directions as compared to the prior constructions which move the ends through only two directions for closing. As a result, the problem of gappage between the ends of the ring is eliminated and thereby prevents the ring from causing slipping as in some prior constructions.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown.

Having now described the features, constructions, and principles of the invention, the characteristics of the lever closing ring, and the advantageous, new and useful results provided; the new and useful discoveries, principles, parts, elements, combinations, subcombinations, structures and arrangements, and mechanical equivalents obvious to those skilled in the art are set forth in the ap pended claims.

I claim:

1. A lever closing ring device for a drum of the open head type having a peripheral bead provided with a drum cover having a bead engaging flange, the device including a split clamping ring having spaced ends and having a U-shaped transverse cross section engageable with said flange and bead when the latter are assembled, means for expanding and contracting the ring including a lever pivotally connected to the ring near one of said ends, a connecting link pivoted to the ring near said other end, the connecting link also being pivoted to the lever, and the lever having inclined surface means radially facing the ring engaging and pressing said other end of the ring 6 radially-inwardly against said assembled flange arid b'ead during ring contracting movement of the l'ever,

2. A -lever 'cl'osin'g ring device 'for a drum of the e en head-type having a peripher'a'l bead provided with a dr 1'1 rr'1' cover having a bead engaging flange, the-device includ in'g a split clampingrin'ghaving" spaced ends andfhavingf a U-shaped transverse cross section engageablewi'th said flange and bead when the latter are assembled, means for expanding and contracting the ring including a levermovable ina plane perpendicular to-the' plane 'of tl'ie ring between open and cl'osed positions correspondin'gLto' expanded-andcontracted positions of the ring, tl-le erased positiomofthe lever being in' theplane ofthe r-i'n'g' e lev'e'r 'b'eingpivotally; connected-to the ring n'ear or'ie'of said"e'nd's',- a-c'onnecting'link pivoted' to said ot-hei end of the ring, the" connecting link alsobeing pivoted' at-dts" other end-'"to the lever; andthe lever having'inclined'sur facemeans radi'ztllyfacingicthe ring engaging 'and press' ing sai'd ot-her end of the ring'radially inwardly against said assembled- Y flange" andbead during ring contracting movement of the lever,

3. A lever closing ring device for a drum of the open head type having a peripheral bead provided with a drum cover having a bead engaging flange, the device including a split clamping ring having spaced first and Second ends and having a U-shaped transverse cross section engageable with said flange and bead when the latter are assembled, means for expanding and contracting the ring including a lever movable in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the ring between open and closed positions corresponding to expanded and contracted positions of the ring, the closed position of the lever being in the plane of the ring, the lever having lever end portions and an intermediate portion, the intermediate portion being offset from and connected to at least one end portion by an inclined lever portion radially engaging and pressing said first end of the ring radially inwardly against said assembled flange and bead during ring contracting movement of the lever, the lever being pivotally connected at the lever end portion adjacent the inclined lever portion to the ring near the second end of the ring, a connecting link pivoted to the ring near the first end of the ring, the connecting link also being pivoted to the intermediate portion of the lever, and the intermediate portion of the lever providing a clearance space adjacent the ring in which the connecting link is disposed when the lever is in closed position.

4. The construction as set forth in claim 3 in which the ring and lever are provided with complementary means for latching the lever in closed position.

5. A lever closing ring device for a drum of the open head type having a peripheral bead provided with a drum cover having a bead engaging flange, the device including a split clamping ring having spaced first and second end portions and having a U-shaped transverse cross section engageable with said flange and bead when the latter are assembled, means for expanding and contracting the ring including a lever movable in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the ring between open and closed positions corresponding to expanded and contracted positions of the ring, the closed position of the lever being in the plane of the ring, complementary means including a hook on the lever and an integral hook engaging loop in the ring for latching the lever in closed position, the lever having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion therebetween, the intermediate portion being offset from said lever end portions, the first lever end portion being pivotally connected to the first ring end portion, a connecting link pivotally connected at one end to the second end portion of the ring, the connecting link being pivotally connected at its other end to the intermediate portion of the lever, the lever having an inclined camming portion between the first end portion and the intermediate portion and radially facing the ring, the inclined camming portion of the lever being radially engageable with the second end portion of the ring during the movement of the lever from open to closed positions, the first end portion of the lever overlapping the spaced first and second end portions of the ring when the lever is in closed position, and the intermediate portion of the lever providing a clearance space for the connecting link when the lever is in closed position.

6. A lever closing ring device for a drum of the open head type having a peripheral bead provided with a drum cover having a bead engaging flange, the device including a split clamping ring having spaced ends and having circumferentially-extending spaced inturned flanges engageable with said cover flange and drum bead when the latter are assembled, means for expanding and contracting the ring including a lever movable in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the ring between open and closed positions corresponding to expanded and contracted positions of the ring, a connecting link, a pivotal connection between one end of the lever and one end of the ring, a pivotal connection between one end of the link and the other end of the ring, a pivotal connection between the other end of the link and an intermediate portion of the lever, the axes of said pivotal connections being in the same plane when the lever is in closed position, said plane containing said closed-position-pivotal-connections lying intermediate the circumferentially-extending spaced inturned ring flange and perpendicular to the plane in which the lever is movable, and the lever having inclined surface means radially facing the ring engaging and pressing the end of the ring opposite that to which the lever is pivotally connected radially inwardly against said assembled flange and head during ring contracting movement of the lever.

Fetter Aug. 13, 1935 Carpenter Aug. 14, 1945 3? a (than:- its