^" IMPROVED SEAL RING FOR OPEN HEAD DRUM Techical Field

The present invention relates to the field of reusable containers and more specifically to reusable drums commonly known as open head drums. More particularly the present invention relates to an improvement in sealing open head drums and in even greater particularity relates to an improvement in the closure ring used to secure a lid to an open head drum. Background Art

Open head drums are commonly used as storage and transportation containers in many industries in the U.S. and Europe. Such drums are relatively easy to clean or recondition and thus are generally reusable. One problem that open head drums have is the difficulty in forming a proper seal about the top of the drum. Typically, open head drums have an outwardly rolled upper edge which is engaged by a lid which has an annular seat formed thereon. The seat rests atop a gasket intermediate the drum and the lid. A closure ring is placed over the lid and drum rim and tightened to maintain the sealing pressure on the gasket. The closure ring is a split ring which is secured on the drum head by one of various means for urging the ends of the ring toward each other. The weakness in the seal lies at the junction of the split ring. Open head drums must undergo drop tests wherein the drums are dropped from a height of four feet. The internal and external forces

generated by the sudden deceleration upon impact typically cause leakage at the junction. Prior attempts to alleviate the problem have been to reinforce the lid at the junction as in U.S. Patent 4,646,931 or to place a protective cover over the junction as in U.S. Patent 3,587,700. Neither attempt has been successful, thus there remains a need for a closure ring which reduces the vulnerability of the seal at the ring junction.

Summary of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to reduce the vulnerability of open head drums to leaks in the seal formed between the drums and the lids thereof.

A further object of the invention is to prevent leakage of a sealed open head drum subjected to a standard drop test.

Each of the foregoing objects is to further the principal object of improving the reliability and usefulness of open head drums as sealed containers.

Each of the foregoing objects and other advantages are accomplished in my invention which applies greater pressure to the lid and gasket at the end of the split ring thereby improving the seal in the region of the junction. The mechanism used to accomplish this improved seal is a reduced diameter region at each of the split ends. As the ends are urged together greater radial pressure must be applied to the lid to reduce the separation between the ends, therefore the force applied to the lid and gasket is increased.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A sealing ring embodying the features of my invention is depicted in the accompanying drawing which form a portion of this disclosure and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of an open head, drum, lid, gasket, and closure ring;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the closure ring taken through the end portion;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the closure ring taken along the split of the ring; and

FIG. 4 is a partial top view of the closure ring. Description of the Best Mode

Referring to the drawings for a clearer understanding of my invention it may be seen from FIG. 1 that an open head drum 11 has an upper peripheral edge 12 which may be formed into an outwardly rolled rim. A compressible gasket 13 is typically placed between the upper edge 12 and a downwardly opening annular seat 14 formed in a lid 16. When a drum 11 is to be sealed, normally the lid 16 will be urged into position by a fluid activated ram which compresses the gasket 13 as it seats the lid 16 on the drum. The lid 16 is then secured by a closure ring 17.

My improved closure ring 17 is a split ring having a first end 18 and a second end 19, the ends are normally connected by a threaded bolt 21 which engages a threaded eye 22 on one end and passes through an unthreaded eye 23 on the other and such that rotation of the threaded bolt 21 draws the two ends toward abutment. It will be understood by

those familiar with the art that various other means may be used to draw the ends together.

My ring forms an inwardly opening receptacle into which the upper edge 12, seat 14, and gasket 13 may be received.

Typically the receptacle forms a concave surface 24, the inner diameter of which is equal to or substantially equal to the outer diameter of the lid 16, except in my invention, a reduced diameter portion 26 is formed proximal each end of the split ring. The reduced diameter portion is a radially inwardly extending protrusion which forms a shoulder 27 transverse to the concave surface such that the protrusions formed on each end form a pair of paralleled shoulders 28 where the ends abut. Each reduced diameter portion 26 also has a conical surface 29 extending from the shoulder 27 to the terminal end of the ring, thus forming a minimum diameter at the adjacent ends of the split ring.

It will be appreciated by those familiar with the art that, when a conventional ring is drawn tightly about the drum and lid, substantially uniform forces are applied to the lid except at the adjacent ends of the ring, where the force is somewhat less than at other points about the ring. With my invention, as the ring is urged into a closed position the inward projection at each end must be overcome to tighten the ring, thus applying greater pressure at the adjacent ends of the ring than at other points about the ring. This pressure serves to hold the lid more firmly against the gasket in the region thus insuring the

compression of the gasket and hence its resistance to leak.

Therefore, when the drum is subjected to stresses, such as during the drop test, the path of least resistance to fluid escape through the junction of the ring is eliminated by the compressed gasket beneath the reduced diameter portion of the ring.

While I have shown my invention in one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.