US3352591A

US3352591A - Clamp for grasping storage drums

Info

Publication number: US3352591A
Application number: US507785A
Authority: US
Inventors: James C Casey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-11-15
Filing date: 1965-11-15
Publication date: 1967-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 1984-11-14

Description

Nov. 14, 1967 J. c. CASEY CLAMP FOR GRASPING STORAGE DRUMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15, 1965 A R 05 m Ms W 1! H WC.%A 2 0 B z a: M 1 W M F 1 m M N 0 m 0 2 6 m m, E

NOV. 14, Q CASEY CLAMP FOR GRASPING STORAGE DRUMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 15, 1965 III!IIIIIIII/IIIIIII/IIIII A TTYS.

Nov. 14, 1967 J. c. CASEY 3,352,591

CLAMP FOR GRASPING STORAGE DRUMS Filed Nov. 15, 1965 40 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 4/ F/g 9 '1 INVENTOR.

JAMES c CASEY ATTYS United States Patent 3,352,591 CLAMP FOR GRASPING STORAGE DRUMS James C. Casey, Hayden Lake, Idaho 83835 Filed Nov. 15, E65, Ser. No. 507,785 2 Claims. (Cl. 294-81) This invention relates to a clamp for grasping and lifting conventional metal storage drums.

Storage drums used to store and handle various commodities, such as liquid and dry chemicals, petroleum products, paints and other commodities, are often both heavy and bulky. It is most difiicult for one man alone to lift such drums or to carry them from one location to another. Therefore, the present invention is designed to provide a simple clamp to handle such drums in an upright position, using a standard winch or block and tackle to perform lifting and moving operations.

It is a first object of this invention to provide a positive clamp for grasping the drum which insures that the mechanical pressure used to grasp the drum will not deform or collapse the drum itself. The device provides pinching action at both sides of the drum, or completely about its periphery, in both cases equalizing the forces on the drum so that it will not collapse.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a clamp which is mechanically simple and which can be trusted to provide a positive gripping action for lifting purposes. The gripping force is provided by the same force used to lift the drum, so that the drum cannot be released accidentally while it is suspended by the lifting device.

These and further objects will be evident from the following disclosure, which illustrates four embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that these specific forms of the invention are not intended to limit the scope thereof, which is set out in the claims appended to the description.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows a side elevation view of a first embodiment of the clamp;

FIGURE 2 shows a top in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view through the clamp and a drum grasped thereby;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the clamp shown in position at the top of a drum;

FIGURE 5 is an elevation view of a second form of the invention in place on a drum shown in section, a portion of the clamp apparatus being sectioned;

FIGURE 6 is a top view of the clamp shown in FIG- URE 5 in place on a drum end surface;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 5, showing another form of the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a top view of another form of the invention; and

FIGURE 10 is a side elevation view of the clamp as seen from the bottom of FIGURE 9.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 through 4, the storage drum with which this invention is concerned is a typical metal drum 10 having side walls 11 and an end wall 12. The end wall 12 can be the bottom wall of the drum or the removable top cover. In either instance, end wall -12 view of the clamp illustrated is surrounded by an upstanding rim 13 and an outwardly protruding bead 14.

The first form of the invention (FIGURES 1 through 4) uses a rigid bar 15 which is made of channel iron. Bar 15 rests on the end wall 12 of drum 10. The outer ends of bar 15 are provided with abutments 21 which rest on the upper end wall surface and which are in contact with the rim 13 of drum -10 at diametrically opposed positions.

At each end of bar 15 is a slide 16 mounted on bar 15 for reciprocating movement parallel to the longitudinal bar axis. Each slide 16 terminates in a downwardly bent hook 17 having an inner surface 18. The surfaces 18 face toward one another in directly opposed positions. The upper surface of each slide 16 is engaged by a roller 20 on bar 15 to lessen the frictional resistance to the sliding movement of the slide 16 guided thereby.

The inner end of each slide 16 is fastened to the respective ends of a lifting chain 22. When an upwardly directed force is exerted at the center of chain 22, the slides 16 will be drawn toward one another. When this force has been released, the slides 16 can be pulled outward from the center of bar 15.

The use of this form of the clamp is illustrated in FIG- URES 3 and 4. The bar 15 is first placed on the upper end wall 12 of the storage drum 10. The hooks 17 will respectively protrude outwardly and downwardly with the inner surfaces 18 located beneath the bead 14 of the drum rim. The abutments 21 on bar 15 will be in contact with the inner surface of the rim 13 in direct opposition to the respective surfaces 18. Therefore, when a lifting force is exerted on chain 22 and the inner surfaces 18 are brought into contact with the side walls 11 of the drum beneath the head 14, the movement of slides 16 and hooks 17 will be limited by the resistance of the abutments 21, which will prevent the drum 10 from being deformed. A positive clamping action is provided beneath the bead '14, which cannot be released during the time in which the drum 10 is suspended by the chain 22. This provides a safe and very simple clamp for grasping and lifting the drum 10, whether it be empty or filled.

A second form of the invention is shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. In this case, bar 23, which rests on the end wall 12, is made in two sections. One section is provided with a slide 24 and the remaining section with a slot 25 complementary to the slide 24. By this structure, the two portions of bar 23 can adjust longitudinally relative to one another parallel to the longitudinal axis of bar 23.

At each end of bar 23 is a hook 26 which is the clamping element for engaging portions of the outside surface of the drum side wall 11. Each hook 26 is pivoted to bar 23 about a pivot axis designated by the numeral 27. A connecting cable 28 has its respective ends fixed to the inner ends of the hooks 26.

In this instance, the two outer ends of the bar 23 engage the inner surfaces of the drum rim 13 to prevent it from being collapsed by the pressure of hooks 26. When the cable 28 is lifted at its center, the two sections of bar 23 will be moved outwardly and the inwardly directed lower surfaces of the two hooks 26 will be moved inwardly, thus grasping the drum positively at two diametrically opposite positions. Again, this force cannot be released while drum 10 is suspended by the cable 28.

Another embodyment of the invention is shown in FIG- URES 7 and 8. In this instance, bar 30 is rigid, having one end (shown to the right) adapted to directly abut the inner surface of the drum rim 13. The opposite end of bar 30 is directed upwardly and is designated by numeral 31. Two outwardly protruding hooks 32 are pivoted to bar 30 about parallel axes 29, which are horizontal and also perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of bar 30. The upwardly directed end 31 of bar 30 also is provided with a lever 33 pivoted at 29 coaxially with the hook 32 associated therewith. Lever 33 has a lower portion adapted to abut the inner surface of rim 13 at a position diametrically opposite to the contact of rim 13 by the opposite end of bar 30.

The upper end of lever 33 and the inner end of the right hand hook 32 are connected to the ends of a cable 34, which also passes beneath a pulley 35 rotatably carried at the inner end of the left hand hook 32 (FIGURE 7). Thus, when a lifting force is exerted at the center of cable 34, the two hooks 32 will be pivoted about their respective axes 29 to engage the side walls 11 of drum directly beneath the bead 14. At the same time, lever 33 and the opposite end of bar 30 will be forced against the inner surface of rim 13. Again, the inwardly directed force exerted on the side walls 11 will be resisted by the outwardly directed force exerted by bar 30 and lever 33.

Another form of the invention is shown in FIGURES 9 and 10. In this instance, semi-circular elements 36 are used to contact the side walls of the storage drum beneath the protruding upper bead. The configuration of elements 36 is closely approximate to the outer surface configuration of the drum side walls. The central portion of each element 36 is provided with an upwardly and inwardly directed support 39 adapted to rest on the top surface of the drum rim so as to properly locate the elements 36 relative to the rim and end wall. Again, the proper position of the elements 36 is directly beneath the rim bead.

The ends of elements 36 are pivotally connected to a long pivot link 37 and a short pivot link 38 respectively. The two

links

37, 38 are pivotally connected about the axis of an inwardly protruding shaft 43, also adapted to rest on the upper surface of rim 13. Therefore, supports 39 and shafts 43 locate the elements 36 at four angularly spaced positions about the periphery of the drum rim, so that elements 36 are carried directly beneath the bead 14 about the entire periphery of the drum 10.

The ends of elements 36 are provided with slides 40 and complementary collars '41 which receive the respective slides 40 at each side of the clamp. The elements 36 are thus guided for movement in a horizontal plane in response to a lifting force exerted at the upper end of the pivot link 37 at each side of the clamp. The upper ends of the pivot links 37 are pivotally connected to a lifting bar 42.

When the element 36 are placed in proper position on a drum with pivot shafts 43 and supports 39 resting on the upper rim surfaces, the elements 36 will be located directly beneath the bead 14 of the rim 13. A lifting force at the center of the lifting bar 42 will therefore cause the elements 36 to be moved inwardly toward one another, being guided in a horizontal plane by the slides 4i! and collars 41 as well as by the contact of the rim 13 by supports 39 and shafts 43. Collapsing of the drum walls is resisted by the fact that the semi-circular elements 36 contact the drum substantially about its entire periphery, so that the equalized force exerted toward the center of the drum in almost every angular direction prevents the side walls 11 from deforming at any particular location. Again, the clamp cannot be released accidentally while a lifting force is exerted on bar 42.

While I have illustrated four particular forms of my invention, these obviously do not exhaust the many possibilities available. Basically, the invention comprises opposite clamping members located directly beneath the bead of the drum and a lifting member connected to these clamp members to bring them inwardly against the outer drum Walls in response to a lifting force. The drum is grasped beneath the outwardly protruding bead of the drum by a force that cannot be released while the weight of the drum is being supported by the lifting device. Many equivalent mechanical structures could be substituted in place of those shown. For this reason, the following claims are intended to be the only limiting definitions of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. A clamp for grasping and lifting an upright storage drum having cylindrical side walls and a recessed upwardly facing end surface bounded by a circular rim having an outwardly protruding bead, comprising:

first and second spaced elements opposed to one another having inwardly directed surfaces to respectively engage the drum side walls immediately below the bead;

support means movably carrying said first and second elements to locate said elements relative to the rim end surface and rim of the drum, said support means comprising a bar adapted to rest on the drum end surface, one end of said bar being in contact with the inner surface of the drum rim;

said first and second elements being pivotally connected to said bar at opposite longitudinal ends thereof for pivotal motion about horizontal axes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said bar;

lifting means operatively connected to said first and second elements to move the inwardly directed surfaces thereof toward one another to cause thereby the inwardly directed surfaces of said first and second elements to engage the side Walls of the drum when a lifting force is exerted on said lifting means; and a lever pivoted on said bar coaxially with the pivoted element at the end of said bar opposite to the end thereof in contact with the drum rim, said lever having a portion thereof adapted to engage the inner surface of the top rim, .said lever being operatively connected to said lifting means whereby said Portion of said lever is brought into engagement with the rim when a lifting force is exerted on said lifting means. 2. A clamp for grasping and lifting an upright storage drum having cylindrical side walls and a recessed upwardly facing end surface bounded by a circular rim having an outwardly protruding bead, comprising:

an elongated support adapted to rest on the drum end surface and including outwardly facing abutments at the respective longitudinal ends of the support adapted to abut the inner surface. of the drum rim at two diametrically opposed locations;

first and second elements movably mounted on said support in longitudinal alignment therewith adjacent the ends of the support, each element having an inwardly directed surface outwardly adjacent the respective support ends adapted to engage the drum side walls immediately below the bead in opposition to the respective ends of said support;

and a flexible member connected at its ends to said first and second elements respectively, said flexible member being adapted to urge the inwardly directed surfaces of said first and second elements toward one another to engage the drum side walls when a lifting force is applied to the flexible member intermediate its ends;

said support being in the form of a rigid bar adapted to rest on the drum end surface of one end of the bar abutting the inner surface of the drum rim;

said first and second element being pivotally connected to said bar about parallel horizontal axes respectively adjacent the ends of the bar;

and a lever pivoted on said bar coaxially with the pivoted element at the end of said bar opposite to the said one end thereof, said lever having an outwardly facing surface thereon adapted to engage the inner surface of the drum rim, said lever being operatively engaged by said flexible member intermediate the References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Patten 294106 Babcock 294-l06 Triestram 294-31 6 Renfroe 29490 X Bopp 29490 Luther 294-90 X Carlson 294106 X FOREIGN PATENTS 165,373 11/ 1958 Sweden.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner. Ryan 29440 10 GEORGE F. ABRAHAM, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A CLAMP FOR GRASPING AND LIFTING AN UPRIGHT STORAGE DRUM HAVING CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALLS AND A RECESSED UPWARDLY FACING END SURFACE BOUNDED BY A CIRCULAR RIM HAVING AN OUTWARLDY PROTRUDING BEAD, COMPRISING: FIRST AND SECOND SPACED ELEMENTS OPPOSED TO ONE ANOTHER HAVING INWARDLY DIRECTED SURFACES TO RESPECTIVELY ENGAGE THE DRUM SIDE WALLS IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE BEAD; SUPPORT MEANS MOVABLY CARRYING SAID FIRST AND SECOND ELEMENTS TO LOCATE SAID ELEMENTS RELATIVE TO THE RIM END SURFACE AND RIM OF THE DRUM, SAID SUPPORT MEANS COMPRISING A BAR ADAPTED TO REST ON THE DRUM END SURFACE, ONE END OF SAID BAR BEING IN CONTACT WITH THE INNER SURFACE OF THE DRUM RIM; SAID FIRST AND SECOND ELEMENTS BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID BAR AT OPPOSITE LONGITUDINAL ENDS THEREOF FOR PIVOTAL MOTION ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXES PERPENDICULAR TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID BAR; LIFTING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND ELEMENTS TO MOVE THE INWARDLY DIRECTED SURFACES THEREOF TOWARD ONE ANOTHER TO CAUSE THEREBY THE INWARDLY DIRECTED SURFACES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND ELEMENTS TO ENGAGE THE SIDE WALLS OF THE DRUM WHEN A LIFTING FORCE IS EXERTED ON SAID LIFTING MEANS; AND A LEVER PIVOTED ON SAID BAR COAXIALLY WITH THE PIVOTED ELEMENT AT THE END OF SAID BAR OPPOSITE TO THE END THEREOF IN CONTACT WITH THE DRUM RIM, SAID LEVER HAVING A PORTION THEREOF ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE INNER SURFACE OF THE TOP RIM, SAID LEVER BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID LIFTING MEANS WHEREBY SAID PORTION OF SAID LEVER IS BROUGHT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RIM WHEN A LIFTING FORCE IS EXERTED ON SAID LIFTING MEANS.