US3116001A - Top and bottom chine construction for - Google Patents

Description

De@ 31, 1953 H. L. CARPENTER er1-Al. 3,116,001

TOP AND BOTTOM CHIME CNSTRUCTION FORI PLASTIC-LINED FIBER CONTAINERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 2'7, 1961 Dec. 3l, 1963 H. l.. CARPENTER ETAL TOP AND BOTTOM CHIME CONSTRUCTION FOR PLASTIC-LINED FIBER CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Got. 27. 1961 FIG. 6

Dec. 31, 1963 H. l.. CARPENTER ETAI.

TOP AND BOTTOM CHIME CONSTRUCTION FOR PLASTIC-LINED FIBER CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet f5 Filed Oct. 27, 1961 rllfff,

n L l. MM5 r WMM W 1.,.. .wd mr L m f n m a United States Patent O 3 116 001 TOP AND BOTTOM CI-IIME CONSTRUCTION FOR PLASTIC-UNED FIBER CONTAINERS Herbert L. Carpenter, Amityville, and Herbert L. Carpenter, Jr., Babylon, N.Y., assignors to The Greif Bros. Cooperage Corporation, Delaware, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 148,247 7 Caims. (Cl. 229-55) This invention relates to plastic-lined containers and more particularly to plastic-lined fiber containers as well as their method of manufacture whereby liquids and semiliquids are most effectively stored and shipped therein.

At the present time it is common practice to ship and store bulk material of liquid or semi-liquid form in plasticlined liber drums ranging in size up to and beyond 55 gallons in capacity. These drums are relatively speaking inexpensive and light in weight ibut must be off such a nature to adequately withstand the expected use and abuse. Leakage or contamination of the drum contents should not occur under the contemplated conditions.

However, plastic liners now in use are usually associated with a disk-type of plastic base forming part of the bottom closure wherein a seam is inevitably created at the juncture of the plastic parts. The presence of this seam produces a point of weakness at which rupturing will occur, if the lining is to fail, thereby rendering it pervious.

A number of lined liber drums additionally enclose a metallic chime strip at the drum upper end. In the case of corrosive liquids, chemicals and other products, in the drum, the metal chime strip would oftentimes be attacked or degraded. Similarly, the metallic chime strip would be obnoxious to or incompatible with the contained substance but nevertheless vbe exposed `thereto because of faulty drum construction or seam failure at or near the top closure.

An important object of our present invention is to correct the disadvantages of prior art lined drums by providing a superior liquid tight seam between the bottom closure and shell by effectively sealing the junction between the lining of the bottom and shell and extending it into the lower bead of the drum so that during handling, shipping and storage. and the use and abuse incident thereto, the lining at the bottom chime will remain impervious.

Another object is to provide a plastic-lined iber drum utilizing a preformed lining strip for protecting the metallic chime usually appearing at the upper end of such drums, from Contact with the contained material and simultaneously cooperates in providing a superior seal with a top closure.

A further object is to provide an economically constructed plastic-lined ber drum which may be readily manufactured and at the same time meet the standards and speciiications of the various rules and regulations governing the shipment of liquids and semi-liquid materials in fiber drums which are substantially liquid-tight, impervious to contaminating surroundings, and which possesses substantially no weak spots or zones that would increase the danger of rupture of the hermetic seal thus provided by the liner.

In accordance with the present invention, plastic-lined drums arc manufactured by initially providing a tubular shell made from laminated layers of fibrous material open at both of its ends, Reinforcing metal chime strips are exteriorally mounted at both ends of the shell and as is usual practice, external grooves and internal shoulders are then formed at both ends to extend completely around the circumference of the shell a short distance from the respective peripheral edges. A predetermined length of liner sheet material is inserted within the connes of the shell and, because of the inherent flexibility and elasticity, is made to conform and follow the contours of the shell ICC interior. The longitudinally extending seam of the liner side walls is secured by application of length of tape suitable for such purposes. In the event, trimming of the top and bottom of the liner side walls is necessary or desirable, such can be accomplished at this time. In forming the bottom closure, a plastic head is employed having a substantially disk shaped body portion from the periphery of which extends a depending apron. The bottom closure is placed across the lower open end of the shell such that the plastic head rests upon the internal shoulder at this end and the apron is against the liner side Walls. The bottom bead construction is then fabricated, wherein an inturncd bead is formed that interlocks the lower peripheral associated edges of the plastic apron and liner, and is protected by the reinforcing lower metallic chime strip. The associated lower peripheral sectors of the depending apron and liner are heat sealed to one another to strengthen and unite the juncture therebetween. Accordingly, a substantially leakproof and impervious bottom chime construction is thus created that effectively resists severe handling and the contemplated forces and pressures.

In forming the top chime construction of the contemplated leakproof plastic-lined fiber drum. a preformed lining strip is mounted on the upper end of the shell subsequent to the formation of the top inturned bead. This lining strip will rest upon the liner side walls over the upper internal shoulder and extend over the inner and upper zones of the metallic chime strip as well as a section of the upper and outer zones of the metallic chime strip short of the external groove therein. The lower peripheral edge portion of the lining strip is then heat sealed to the associated surfaces of the liner side wall to seal the juncture therebetween.

In addition, when employing a top cover or closure, having a plastic lining seal, the outer peripheral head section of the lining strip is then heat sealed to the lining seal of the cover to effectively seal this seam and thereby provide a substantially hermetically sealed and leakproof' lined fiber drum of superior construction.

Other obi-:cts and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention which is to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing a somewhat preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view with certain parts broken away and removed of a plastic-lined fiber drum fabricated in accordance with the present invention and having a rover with `a central filler and emptying aperture and oap therefor secure-d in place by means of a locking rim assembly;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the drum taken along the line Z--Z of FlG. l;

FlG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view particularly showing the taped seam of the liner side walls together with the layer of adhesive interposed between the liner and liber shell;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a liber shell on the one hand and the contained plastic liner for the side Walls on the other, with the liber shell having top and bottom metallic chime strips and the shell and chime strips being contoured so as to provide an external groove and internal shoulder;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinally extending sectional view of the assembled fiber shell and liner of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the upper lining strip employed to complete the drum top closure;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the plastic head incorporated into the bottom closure in forming the bottom chime construction and rendering it substantially lealtproof;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the top bead construction of the drum having associated therewith the upper lining strip;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragnientary sectional View of the bottom of the fiber shell at such time as it receives the parts constituting the bottom closure, including the plastic head, prior to the bottom bead formation and chime construction;

FIG. l() is a similar fragmentary sectional view following the formation of the bottom bead and chime construction;

FIG. ll is an enlarged sectional view of the upper end of the finished ber drum having associated therewith a top closure or cover having a plastic seal, heat sealed, to the upper lining strip.

In the accompanying drawings, we have shown a liber drum 20, fabricated in accorda with the present iuvention, having a tubular shell n.2, which may be of any cross-sectional shape and which is preferably made from convolutely wound laminated layers of fibrous material such as ltraftboard, fiberboard. or the like. The fiber shell 22, is usually made by winding a sheet oi kraltboard around a mandrel with suitable adhesives coating the surfaces of the board and permeating the pores and bers thereof. The bottom end of the shell 2.?. is provided with a permanently attached closure 2li and the upper end with a removable cover 26 constituting one of the number of upper closures that may be incorporated along with our drum. The illustrated cover may be of the conventional steel variety which is ordinarily relcasably locked in place by means of a locking rim assembly 23, which may be of the type disclosed in our commonly assigned U.S. Patent No. 2,884,l76, granted April E3, 1959, and U.S. Patent No. 2,966,378, granted December 27, i960. As illustrated, a centrali located filling and emptying screw fitting and Cap may project from the top closure 26. A lling fitting and vent fitting in most cases will be somewhat recessed in the top closure 26.

The interior of the shell 22 is lined with a plastic liner 30, fabricated from sheet material and constituting the side walls of the lining. At the base of the drum 2i), a plastic head 32 forms part of the bottom closure 24 and forms an impervious seam with the side Walls of liner 3l). ln order to complete the seal for the interior of the drum 20 in accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the cover 26 may be provided with a preformed cover seal 34 also fabricated from a suitable resinous material and which cooperates in providing a substantially leakproof top closure by cooperating with a lining strip 80. This lining strip is preferably preformed for intimate association with the upper end of the drum 20 as shown- The end portions of the drum 20 may be strengthened in the usual manner by providing upper and lower metal reinforcing chimes 33 and 49 around both the upper and lower ends respectively of the shell 22;.

The liner 3i) constituting the side walls of the illustrated embodiment is fabricated from a thermoplastic material provided in sheet form. The material selected will have the desired characteristics proven by the intended use of the finished drum lll and the nature of the liquid or semiliquid substance to be contained therein. In this connection, consideration will be given to the materials substantial imperviousness, chemical inertness, tensile strength, non-toxicity and its potential detrimental effects on the contained substances which may include chemicals, combustibles, comestibles, or food products. Thermoplastic materials that may be utilized include polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, and the like, to mention a few. In this connection, similar material considerations must be given to the selection and employment of the cover seal 34 and bottom plastic head 32 as will become eventually apparent.

In forming the chime reinforced drum 20, the chime strips 38 and 40 are initially placed around the fiber shell 22. To this end, the upper chime strip is fitted tightly around the shell and extends from a short distance below the upper end upwardly, overlaping the top. At the same time, it projects downwardly for a short distance into the interior of the shell as shown most clearly in FIG. 5. A short distance from the upper end of the shell 22 the liber body and the metal reinforcing chime 38 is deformed inwardly so as to provide an external groove 42 and internal shoulder le.

Similarly, the bottom reinforcing chime 4t] is initially placed around the lower end of the shell 22, but merely overlaps the peripheral edge thereof. The bottom chime srip itl and liber body are then deformed to provide the external groove 46 and internal shoulder 4S. The foregoing association of the chime strips 33 and Ll() with the fiber shell 2E is more fully disclosed in our prior US. Patent No. 2,884J76, granted April 28, i959.

The liber shell 2.2, with its tightly fitting upper and lower reinforcir chimes Sil and di) is now prepared to receive the lining Under such circumstances, the sheet material trof-.i which the liner Pill is formed will be a sucient length depending upon the size of the iinishcd drum Ztl and shell 2?. to provide a butt joint, defining a longitudinally extending seam 50. In this connection, reference is made to FIG. 5 wherein it will be noted that clue to the flexibility and resiliency of the thermoplastic material employed, the liner Btl will conforni to the contours of the shell interior substantially as illustrated. The seam E@ is then sealed by means of an adequate length of tape 52 by heat sealing or suitable adhesive. The application of such tape over a seam of a plastic lining, of the type disclosed, is common-place in the art.

ln order to anchor the liner 3l) within the drum and to the inner walls of the shell 22, a compatible adhesive 54 is interposed between the liner 3i) and the shell 22, as clearly shown in FIG. 3. Adhesives of this nature are well known in the art.

The top chime construction may now be completed. Initially, the upper liner section 56 is removed by trimming along line 5S, either manually or automatically, radially inwardly from the inner peripheral end of the upper chime strip 38. In this connection, the downturned inner peripheral edge of the upper chime strip 38 is designated by numeral 6!) and in the embodiment disclosed is slightly spaced from associated surfaces of tfte upper end of the fiber shell 22. Accordingly, following the removal of the upper liner section 56, the upper peripheral edge of the liner 30 may be readily forced into the existing crevice between the chime and inner face of the shell. A rounded bead 62 is then formed and with the same operation the inner periphery 60 of the upper chime strip 38 is curved downwardly and inwardly so as to encase and pocket the bead. As will be clearly observed in FIG. 8, the upper end of the liner side Wall 3i) embraces the inner peripheral edge 60 of the chime strip 38 and at the same time is embedded in the bead to provide an effective seal to thereby prevent undesirable penetration of the contents of the ultimately formed fiber drum 20 through the fibrous side Walls at this juncture. For details and an acceptable technique of completing the top chime construction, reference is made to our U.S. Patent No. 2,884,176, granted April 28, 1959.

A bottom reinforcing chime construction may be similarly completed in accordance with the teachings of this patent. The bottom closure, however, will include the preformed plastic head 32 having a central disk-shaped portion 64 and a laterally extending depending apron 66. As shown, the corner defined by the disk-shaped portion 64 and apron 66 is placed against the internal shoulder 48 through the interposed liner 30. The apron 66, on the other hand, is in direct surface-to-surface contact with the base of the liner 30 and may, at this time or at any point prior to the formation of thc bottom bead, be heat sealed to the liner along the zone 68 to hermetically close their juncture. ln this connection, the plastic head 32 should be of a compatible material for such purposes and when the liner 30 is formed from a thermoplastic material should itself be a compatible thermoplastic. To compicze the bottom closure 24, a cushioning bottom spacer is placed in engagement with the bottom face of the disk portion 64. An outer reinforcing lber layer 72, also cupped shaped and having an annular depending apron 74, covers the outer face of the spacer while its depending apron bears against the apron 66 of the plastic head 32.

The finished bottom chime construction is illustrated in FIG. and will include the bead 76 encased and protected by the inner peripheral edge 78 of the bottom chime strip 40 which is pressed so as to be curved upwardly and inwardly. As illustrated, the plastic head 32, spacer 70 and the outer brous cup 72 Will be firmly retained between the inner peripheral edge 78 of the bottom chime strip 40 and the internal shoulder 48 of the fiber shell 22. The aprons 66 and 74, together with the associated sectors of the base of the liner 30, will be interlocked within the bead 76 as shown in FIG. 10. Thus it should be apparent that a liquid-tight seal is provided at the bottom chime construction; and through the employment of the heat sealed zone 68, this seal will be maintained notwithstanding severe handling of a drum and applied pressures to the bottom chime strip 40.

In completing the top closure for the drum 20, we provide a preformed plastic lining strip 80 which will conform to the chime reinforced beaded upper end of the drum 20. Thus the lining strip 80 will follow the contours of the shoulder 44 through the underlying upper portion of the plastic liner 30 as shown and then the uppermost portion of the metallic chime strip 38 as well as its outer surface short of the external groove 42 thereof. The lining strip 80 will consequently protect those portions of the metallic chime strip 38 that may ultimately come in contact with the drum 20 to either corrode the metal or injuriously affect the contents. In order to further assure this end result, the lower periphery of the lining strip 80 is heat sealed to the associated sectors of the liner 30 along the zone 82. For this reason the material from which the lining strip 80 is fabricated should be compatible with that employed for the liner 30 and to this end may be of the thermoplastic variety.

Reference is now made to FIG. 11 wherein the top closure 26 having a preformed plastic cover seal 34 is shown as being employed to effectively close the top of the drum 20. The seal 34 is, however, extended to include the integral strip 84 extending downwardly beyond the peripheral edge 86 of the cover 26. Accordingly this strip 84 is adapted to be advantageously heat sealed to the associated surfaces of the sealing strip 80 along the zone 88. Thus, a further provision for a hermetically sealed plastic lined fiber drum is presented and when associated with a locking rim assembly 28 (see FIG. 1) optimum sealing of the top closure of the drum is possible.

An externally threaded central filling and emptying fitting may be provided on the top closure 26 for receiving a cap as is customarily done in the art to which our invention pertains. Where necessary a flexible and compressible gasket may be used where plastic elements are not ordinarily heat sealed together, as for example, at the juncture between the lining strip 80 and the cover seal 34.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, a plastic lined ber drum is provided with effectively sealed seams which are capable of withstanding the use and abuse contemplated during shipping and storage. It will also be realized that the foregoing objects and advantages are most effectively obtained. Although a speciiic embodiment of our invention has been described and illustrated, various changes therein will become evident to one skilled in the art. Therefore our invention is to be determined by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An improved drum for substantially dry, solid, semiliquid, liquid materials, and 171e like, comprising a tubular shell made from .vound laminated layers of brous material, a metal reinforcing chime disposed around said tubular shell at one cnd thereof, said shell and said chime being formed into an external groove and internal shoulder extending completely around the drum a short distance from the end thereof, a plastic liner disposed within said shell and being in substantially firm surface engagement therewith, a closure disposed in the reinforced end of said shell and abutting against said internal shoulder, said closure including a plastic head having a laterally extending apron the periphery of the free end of which being proximate to the periphery of the associated end of the liner with the head abutting said liner at said internal shoulder, said shell and said chime, beyond said shoulder, being curved inwardly and formed into an inturned bead, said closure having its peripheral edges interlocked with said inturned bead, with said apron and said liner along the associated periphery of both being fused integrally to one another and cooperating to provide a sealing means at the juncture of said closure and said liner for preventing penetration and leakage of said material therethrough.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sealing means is provided. by heat sealing the associated periphery of said apron and said liner.

3. The invention in accordance with claim l wherein said head comprises a substantially flat disk-shaped portion, and said apron extending laterally from said dislishaped portion at the periphery thereof.

4. An improved drum for substantially dry, solid, semiliquid, liquid materials, and the like, comprising a tubular shell made from Wound laminated layers of fibrous material and having bottom and top ends, a bottom closure at the bottom end of said shell, a metal reinforcing chime disposed around said shell at the top end thereof, said shell and said chime being formed into an external groove and an internal shoulder extending completely around the drum a short distance from the upper peripheral edge of the top end thereof, said shell and said chime, beyond said shoulder being curved inwardly and formed into an inturned bead, a plastic liner disposed interiorly of said shell and being in substantial firm surface-to-surface engagement therewith, a lining strip disposed on said shell on the top end thereof and conforming to the contour of associated surfaces of said shell, and said strip and liner being fused integrally to one another and cooperating to provide sealing means for preventing penetration and leakage of said material therethrough.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein said lining strip is disposed over said liner on said internal shoulder and is further wrapped around said inturned bead.

6. An invention in accordance with claim 5 wherein said sealing means is provided by heat sealing the bottom section of said lining strip to said liner.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 6 wherein the upper end of said shell is open, a top closure disposed over the shell upper end, said top closure includes a plastic seal in substantial surface-to-surface engagement with said lining strip, and said seal and said lining strip being sealed to one another to seal the shell upper from unintentional loss of the contained material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,597,889 Hulbert Aug. 31, 1926 2,343,716 Josoano et al. Mar. 7, 1944 2,638,820 Barnes May 19, 1953 2,727,673 Bergstrom Dec. 20, 1955 2,794,584 Geist June 4, 1957 2,986,319 Bierman et al May 30, 1961 3,058,642 Hester Oct. 16, 1962

Claims (1)

1. AN IMPROVED DRUM FOR SUBSTANTIALLY DRY, SOLID, SEMILIQUID, LIQUID MATERIALS, AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING A TUBULAR SHELL MADE FROM WOUND LAMINATED LAYERS OF FIBROUS MATERIAL, A METAL REINFORCING CHIME DISPOSED AROUND SAID TUBULAR SHELL AT ONE END THEREOF, SAID SHELL AND SAID CHIME BEING FORMED INTO AN EXTERNAL GROOVE AND INTERNAL SHOULDER EXTENDING COMPLETELY AROUND THE DRUM A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE END THEREOF, A PLASTIC LINER DISPOSED WITHIN SAID SHELL AND BEING IN SUBSTANTIALLY FIRM SURFACE ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, A CLOSURE DISPOSED IN THE REINFORCED END OF SAID SHELL AND ABUTTING AGAINST SAID INTERNAL SHOULDER, SAID CLOSURE INCLUDING A PLASTIC HEAD HAVING A LATERALLY EXTENDING APRON THE PERIPHERY OF THE FREE END OF WHICH BEING PROXIMATE TO THE PERIPHERY OF THE ASSOCAITED END OF THE LINER WITH THE HEAD ABUTTING SAID LINER AT SAID INTERNAL SHOULDER, SAID SHELL AND SAID CHIME, BEYOND SAID SHOULDER, BEING CURVED INWARDLY AND FORMED INTO AN INTURNED BEAD, SAID CLOSURE HAVING ITS PERIPHERAL EDGES INTERLOCKED WITH SAID INTURNED BEAD, WITH SAID APRON AND SAID LINER ALONG THE ASSOCIATED PERIPHERY OF BOTH BEING FUSED INTEGRALLY TO ONE ANOTHER AND COOPERATING TO PROVIDE A SEALING MEANS AT THE JUNCTURE OF SAID CLOSURE AND SAID LINER FOR PREVENTING PENETRATION AND LEAKAGE OF SAID MATERIAL THERETHROUGH.

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