Drum lock device

• US 5,199,286 A
• Filed: 12/16/1991
• Issued: 04/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Taurus Precision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taurus Precision, Inc.
• Inventors: Jakubas, Gary P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Richard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boucher, D.
• Application Number:
  US07/808,230
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 70/232, 70/230, 70/164, 70/229, 70/231, 70/165, 70/175-177, 70/180, 277/112, 137/539, 137/454.5
• US Class Current: 70/230
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 39/08 Threaded or like closure members secured by rotation; Bushes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 39/088 Bungs with special means facilitating handling thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/06 Deformable or tearable wires, strings, or strips containers specially constructed to be opened by tear-strips, strings or the like B65D17/00; caps or cap-like closures with tear-strips B65D41/32; Use of seals , e.g. destructible locking pins B65D55/022 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/14 Applications of locks, e.g. of permutation or key-controlled locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7613 Threaded into valve casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7927 Ball valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5566 External locking devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5858 Locked stationary

Abstract

A locking device for a drum for chemical- and hazardous-waste containment is described. The locking devices are of drums, usually 30- or 55-gallon sizes, of the closed-end type having a head with two openings or bung holes therethrough. Each drum opening has a flanged or internal portion with interior threads. The locking device has three basic elements, namely, a pair of caps and a slip wrench/locking bar. In one embodiment, one of the caps includes an overpressure relief valve and an flame arrester. Each cap has a threaded base and a larger apertured cylindrical portion mounted thereon. Each cap has a closure gasket mounted at the shoulder formed between the base and the apertured cylinder which gasket permits partial rotation without unsealing the drum. The cylindrical portion of the outer wall has at least two pairs of elongated apertures with 180-degree spacing between the apertures of each pair. The apertures extend, with the cap installed, in the corresponding opening, beyond and external to the drum head with the elongation of the aperture substantially axial to the drum. In operation, the slip wrench looking bar extends through the elongated apertures of both caps and has provision for a padlock installation at one end.

Claims

1. A locking device for a drum having a head with two openings therethrough, each opening having a flanged portion with interior threads thereabout, said locking device comprising, in combination:

a pair of caps, each having at one end an exteriorly threaded portion for cooperative functional relationship with a corresponding one of said flanged portions and at the other end a wall, in turn, comprising;

shoulder means for receiving a closure gasket, said shoulder means being dimensioned to fit within a corresponding one of said drum openings;

an open ended cylindrical member with a plurality of pairs of apertures therethrough having 180-degree spacing between the apertures of each pair, said apertures extending, with the cap installed in the corresponding opening, beyond and external to the drum head;

a locking bar with an elongated body dimensioned to extend, with both caps installed in the corresponding openings therefor, through the apertures of both caps, said locking bar having means for retention at one end and means for locking at the other end;

a closure gasket on said shoulder means, said closure gasket structured of a resilient material so as to permit alignment of the apertures without unsealing the drum; and

,

whereby, during installation of the locking bar, when the caps are rotated to align the apertures, the drum is maintained in a sealed condition; and

, when the locking bar is locked, the rotation of the caps is precluded.

2. A locking device as described in claim 1 wherein said apertures in said walls are elongated with the elongation of said apertures are substantially axial and whereby, upon the drum head becoming slightly domed the locking bar is readily installed.

3. A locking device as described in claim 1 wherein said locking bar is usable as a slip wrench when disengaged from one of the two said caps and is slidable to and fro through the apertures thereof to facilitate sealing and unsealing of the drum.

4. A locking device as described in claim 1 wherein said wall includes two pairs of apertures.

5. A locking device as described in claim 4 wherein said pairs of apertures are disposed so as to space the apertures thereof 90 degrees apart.

6. A locking device for a drum having a head with two opening therethrough, each opening having a flanged portion with interior threads thereabout, said locking device comprising, in combination:

a first cap having at one end an exteriorly threaded portion for cooperative functional relationship with a corresponding one of said flanged portions and at the other end a wall with an open ended cylindrical member with at least one pair of apertures therethrough having 180-degree spacing between the apertures of each pair, said apertures extending, with the cap installed in the corresponding opening, beyond and external to the drum head;

shoulder means for receiving a closure gasket, said shoulder means being dimensioned to fit within a corresponding one of said drum openings;

a closure gasket mounted on said shoulder means, said closure gasket structured of resilient material so as to permit alignment of the apertures without unsealing the drum;

a second cap having at one end an exteriorly threaded portion for cooperative functional relationship with a corresponding one of said flanged portions and at the other end a wall with an open ended cylindrical member with at least one pair of apertures therethrough having 180-degree spacing between the apertures of each pair, said apertrues extending, with the cap installed in the corresponding opening, beyond and external to the drum head, said second cap including valve means for relieving a drum overpressure condition, said valve means, in turn, further comprising;

relief channel means for communicating between the drum interior and the atmosphere, said relief channel means extending from an inlet port lying within the threaded portion of the cap and exiting through an outlet port in the wall;

valve seat and valve assembly in aid relief channel operable between an open position with the valve lifted off the valve seat and a closed position with the valve urged against the seat;

controls spring means for urging the valve against the valve seat and, upon the occurrence of an overpressure condition, yielding thereto, said control spring means mounted in said relief channel with one portion thereof connected to the valve; and

,

a locking bar with an elongated body dimensioned to extend, with both caps installed in the corresponding openings therefor, through the apertures of both caps, said locking bar having means for retention at one end and means fro locking at the other end.

7. A locking device as described in claim 6 wherein said apertures in said walls are elongated with the elongation of said apertures, when viewed with the cap installed in the corresponding opening, are substantially axial to the drum.

8. A locking device as described in claim 6 wherein said locking bar is usable as a slip wrench when disengaged from one of the two said caps and is slidable to and fro through the apertures thereof to facilitate sealing and unsealing of the drum.

9. A locking device as described in claim 6 wherein each said wall includes two pairs of apertures.

10. A locking device as described in claim 9 wherein said pairs of apertures are disposed so as to space the apertures thereof 90 degrees apart.

11. A locking device as described in claim 6 wherein said wall further includes second shoulder means for receiving a closure gasket, said second shoulder means being dimensioned to fit within a the remainder one of said drum openings.

12. A locking device as described in claim 6 wherein said device further comprises a second closure gasket mounted on said second shoulder means, said second closure gasket structured of a resilient material so as to permit alignment of the apertures without unsealing the drum.

13. A locking device as described in claim 6 wherein said second cap further comprises a flame arrester interposed between the inlet port of said relief channel means lying within the threaded portion of the cap and, with the cap installed in the corresponding opening, the interior of said drum, said flame arrester attached to the outer surface of said threaded portion.

14. A locking device as described in claim 6 wherein said means for locking of said locking bar further comprises a plurality of apertures for installing two or more padlocks whereby security is enhanced by increasing the number of persons required for access.