Safety drum with lid assembly
The drum assembly comprises a drum and a lid assembly removably mounted to the drum. The drum can include a rim defining an opening for access to an interior storage area of the drum. The lid assembly can include a band for mounting the lid assembly to the drum, a cover pivotally mounted to the band via a hinge, and a rotary latch mechanism for securing the cover in a closed position. The cover is movable between the closed position wherein the lid covers the opening and an open position in which the lid is pivoted away from the opening to allow access to the interior storage area. The rotary latch mechanism can include a retention bar mounted to one of the band and the cover and a rotary latch mounted to the other of the band and the cover. The rotary latch is configured to receive the retention bar when the cover is closed to thereby secure the cover closed over the opening of the drum. The latch includes a trigger that is moveable between a locked position in which the latch is locked and a released position in which the latch is unlocked.
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The present invention relates generally to drums, and more particularly to a drum with a lid and a rotary latch.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDrums with lids have been used for many years. A typical drum with a lid has operated in two states, attached to the rim of the drum or fully removed from the drum. The lids are therefore often lost or not readily at hand when the user wishes to close the drum. Accordingly, utilizing drums with such lids can be a time-consuming activity for a user. The lid can not be opened and securely closed quickly.
Another limitation of previous drum covers is their failure to comply with particular federal regulations involving emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Specifically, drums used in the U.S. aerospace industry are required to comply with 60 Fed. Reg. 45956, which sets limits for VOCs from chemical solvents and waste produced in aerospace facilities.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe drum assembly can comprise a drum and a lid assembly removably mounted thereto. The drum can include a generally cylindrical sidewall and a rim defining an opening accessible to an internal storage area. The lid assembly can include a band encircling the sidewall of the drum to mount the lid assembly to the drum, a cover pivotally mounted to the band via a hinge. The lid is movable between a first position wherein the lid covers the opening of the drum and a second position wherein the cover is pivoted away from the opening to allow access to the internal storage area of the drum. The lid assembly can include a latch mechanism to secure the cover relative to the band. The latch mechanism can include a retention bar mounted to the band and a rotary latch attached to the cover. The rotary latch is configured to receive the retention bar when the cover is closed to thereby secure the cover closed over the opening of the drum. The rotary latch can include a trigger that is moveable between a locked position in which the latch is locked and a released position in which the latch is unlocked.
In another embodiment, a lid assembly for a drum can include a band configured to wrap around an external surface of a sidewall of a drum proximate an opening of the drum through which an internal storage area is accessible. A cover is provided that can be pivotally attached to the band via a hinge. The lid is movable between a first position wherein the lid covers the opening of the drum and a second position wherein the cover is pivoted away from the opening to allow access to the internal storage area of the drum. The lid assembly can include a latch mechanism to secure the cover relative to the band. The latch mechanism can include a retention bar mounted to the band and a rotary latch attached to the cover. The rotary latch is configured to receive the retention bar when the cover is closed to thereby secure the cover closed over the opening of the drum. The rotary latch can include a trigger that is moveable between a locked position in which the latch is locked and a released position in which the latch is unlocked.
In yet another embodiment, the cover can have a gasket disposed around a perimeter of an inner surface of the cover. The gasket can be configured to compressibly engage the rim of the drum to form a seal therebetween to thereby substantially prevent vapor release from the drum. A pressure relief valve can be provided in the cover to allow pressure buildup in the drum to be released once the pressure reaches a predetermined level at a predetermined temperature.
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The gasket 180 can be made from any suitable material, such as a material that is compressible relative to the rim of the drum. In some embodiments the gasket can be made from rubber while the lid assembly 120 and the drum 102 can be steel. In yet other embodiments, the gasket can be L-200 charcoal Minicel, die cut with slm-360 pressure-sensitive adhesive having mylar on one side. The gasket can be secured to the cover via the pressure-sensitive adhesive, for example. Accordingly, the gasket 180 can be deformed between the cover 126 and drum 102 to create a particularly effective seal. Because the cover 126 is secured to the drum 102 by a press fit via the gasket 180, the cover 126 can securely close on any rim that the gasket 180 can be pressed against to create a seal. Accordingly, the lid assembly 120 is extremely versatile.
When the drum assembly 102 is used in an aerospace facility to contain chemical solvents and waste products, a seal created between the lid assembly 102 and the drum 102 by the gasket 180 can allow the drum assembly to meet the requirements set by 60 Fed. Reg. 45956 in regards to VOCs emissions. The gasket 180 can form a seal between the cover 126 and the drum 102 that substantially prevents vapor from being released from the interior storage area of the drum 102.
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Once the cotter pin 158 is removed from the hinge pin 154, the hinge pin 154 can be pulled out of the hinge pin channel 168 by pulling the first distal end 170 away from the hinge plates such that the second distal end 172 travels through the channel 168. Once the hinge pin 154 is removed, the upper portion 150 and the lower piece 152 of the hinge 124 can disengage.
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All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments can become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
Claims
1. A drum assembly comprising;
- a drum, the drum including a sidewall and a bottom, the sidewall with a rim defining an opening to an interior storage area;
- a band removably mounted to the drum;
- a lid movably attached to the band, the lid being movable between a closed position wherein the lid covers the opening of the drum and an open position wherein the lid is disposed away from the opening such that the interior storage area of the drum is at least partially accessible;
- a retention bar mounted to one of the band and the lid; and
- a rotary latch attached to the other of the band and the lid, the rotary latch configured to receive the retention bar when the lid is in the closed position, the rotary latch movable between a locked position wherein the rotary latch is retentively engaged with the retention bar and a released position wherein the rotary latch is movable with respect to the retention bar.
2. The drum of claim 1 wherein the band comprises a split ring having a pair of ends, a nut and a screw, the nut and the screw threadedly engaged with each other to connect the ends of the split ring.
3. The drum assembly of claim 1, wherein the lid is movably mounted to the band via a hinge.
4. The drum assembly of claim 1, further comprising a gasket attached to an inner surface the lid, the gasket providing a seal between the rim of the drum and the lid when the lid is in the closed position.
5. The drum of claim 4, wherein the lid includes a pressure relief valve configured to open when the pressure in the storage area of the drum reaches a predetermined level and to close when the pressure in the storage area of the drum falls below the predetermined level.
6. The drum assembly of claim 1, wherein the rotary latch includes a rotatable trigger that is moveable between a locked position in which the latch is locked and a released position in which the latch is unlocked.
7. The drum assembly of claim 6, wherein the rotary latch automatically engages the retention bar when the cover is moved to the closed position without manual operation of the trigger.
8. A lid assembly for a drum, the lid assembly comprising;
- a band;
- a lid movably attached to the band, the lid being movable between a first position and a second position;
- a retention bar mounted to one of the band and the lid; and
- a rotary latch attached to the other of the band and the lid, the rotary latch configured to receive the retention bar when the lid is in the first position, the rotary latch movable between a locked position wherein the rotary latch is retentively engaged with the retention bar and a released position wherein the rotary latch is movable with respect to the retention bar.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 6, 2006
Publication Date: May 8, 2008
Applicant: Justrite Manufacturing Company (Des Plaines, IL)
Inventor: Mark T. Goddard (Charleston, IL)
Application Number: 11/593,340
International Classification: B65D 45/32 (20060101);