EP3551543B1 - Stopper closure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a bung plug closure for bung containers with a bung plug for arrangement in a bung socket of the bung container and with a sealing cap for closing a plug trough formed in the bung plug, the plug trough having a receiving space for receiving a form-elastic engaging body formed on the sealing cap, and the bung Spaces spaced apart, arranged on an inner wall of the stopper trough key lugs which delimit the receiving space with inner surfaces which at least partially form guide surfaces for the axial guidance of an annular locking projection of the engaging body when the engaging body is inserted into the stopper trough, with counter-locking elements in the stopper trough for locking the annular locking projection of the engagement body with the bung plug are provided, which radially the annular locking projection of the engagement body after locking tower above.

A stopper closure of the type mentioned is from the EP 2 144 821 B1 and the DE 10 2009 022 800 B3 known. For locking the annular locking projection of the Mating body with the bung plug are provided on the key lugs of the bung plug on the inner surface of the key lugs formed counter-locking elements which protrude radially inwardly beyond the annular latching projection of the engaging body after latching. In the area of the intermediate spaces formed between the key lugs, the annular locking projection of the engaging body protrudes into an engaging space accessible from above, so that it is possible, with a suitably designed manipulation tool, to reach under a sealing cap arranged on the bung stopper and the annular locking projection of the engaging body in the area of the intermediate spaces radially to deform inwards in order to release the annular locking projection from the elastic engagement with the counter-locking elements formed on the inner surface of the key lugs and to remove the sealing cap from the bung plug without damaging a predetermined breaking device formed in a cap lid.

It is thus possible to manipulate the bung stopper without these being externally recognizable on the sealing cap, so that the desired manipulation security is not achieved by the sealing cap.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of proposing a bung plug closure with increased security against manipulation.

To achieve this object, the bung plug closure according to the invention has the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, the counter-locking elements are arranged in the area of the interspaces above an annular enclosure formed outside the interspaces by lower sections of the inner surfaces of the key lugs, in such a way that the annular detent projection is received by the annular enclosure.

The inventive design of the bung with counter-locking elements in the area of the interspaces above an annular rim receiving the annular detent projection prevents access to the detent projection of the engagement body in the area of the interspaces. In addition, the ring surrounding the ring-shaped locking projection of the engagement body forms an obstacle to deformation, especially in the area of the intermediate spaces, since when a radial force is applied to the locking projection, it is supported at least in sections on the enclosure, so that even if the counter-locking elements are destroyed in the area of the intermediate spaces a deformation of the annular locking projection of the engaging body is made considerably more difficult as a result of tool engagement during a manipulation attempt.

This advantageous effect does not always require that the edging is continuously circumferential, but also occurs when an edging is formed at least in sections in the gaps, so that deformation of the annular locking projection is made more difficult in any case when attempting to manipulate it . This effect therefore also occurs when gaps are formed in the enclosure in sections. In addition, it is not necessary for the advantageous effect of the enclosure that the annular enclosure for receiving the latching projection of the engagement body has a constant diameter. As long as the deformation of the engaging body is achieved, the enclosure can also have segments protruding or receding into the receiving space.

In particular, the ring-shaped border, like the ring-shaped latching projection of the engagement body, while maintaining the basic ring shape, can be composed of segments which are arranged in a ring.

How large any gaps in the enclosure formed in the area of the intermediate spaces can be without significantly restricting the deformation-preventing effect of the enclosure depends, among other things, on the deformation stiffness of the annular locking projection of the engagement body.

Preferably, the ring-shaped enclosure is delimited downward by a peripheral edge of a trough bottom of the plug trough, so that the enclosure not only makes radial deformation of the annular locking projection of the engaging body more difficult, but also reaching under the annular locking projection, in particular when the annular locking projection rests against the peripheral edge of the trough bottom, is made more difficult.

Preferably, the circumferential edge of the trough bottom is raised to form a recess in relation to a ground so that the plug trough extends downward beyond the circumferential edge and the base recess formed in the bung plug provides an expanded engagement or guide space for a bung wrench, which is used to remove the bung plug after removing the The sealing cap is used, designed to accommodate, for example, a guide pin of the bung wrench.

In a particular embodiment, the ring-shaped enclosure is bounded upwards in the area of the interspaces by radially outwardly extending platform surfaces, such that the annular enclosure in the area of the interspaces is formed by front surfaces of support platforms formed in the interspaces. The support platforms ensure a particular rigidity of the border in the area of the gaps.

A particularly rigid design of the support platforms is possible if the platform surfaces are formed in the area of the intermediate spaces Support platforms are formed by a radially inwardly extending support collar formed on the inner wall of the bung plug.

In a further preferred embodiment, the ring-shaped border is formed in the area of the interspaces by webs connecting the key lugs to one another, with material recesses being provided between the webs and the inner wall of the plug trough, so that the webs form an effective deformation barrier in the area of the interspaces, while at the same time Minimizing the use of material to create the deformation obstacle.

If webs protruding radially inward from the inner wall of the stopper trough are formed in the interstices, the webs form insertion obstacles when an attempt is made to insert a manipulation tool into the interstices from above. In addition, a centered arrangement of the plug wrench in the plug trough can be achieved, so that an optimal transmission of a key torque to the wrench attachments of the bung plug is made possible in order to make it easier to screw in or unscrew the bung plug.

If the bung stopper has a step-like step from the counter-locking element over the border, the circumferential edge of the trough bottom and a sleeve-shaped shoulder formed in the transition to the base of the bung in the area of the intermediate spaces, a plug cross-section that slopes radially inward, with minimal use of material for the production of the bung plug in a shaping process, such as Injection molding, allows a high degree of rigidity of the bung plug.

If the key approaches of the bung plug have a raised edge on the upper edge of the inner surfaces, such that a recess is formed between the raised edge and an upper peripheral edge of the inner wall of the plug trough, on the one hand the raised edge web creates a further obstacle to insertion during an attempt Manipulation tool is designed to be introduced into the plug trough; on the other hand, the recess enables a lower edge of a second bung plug arranged on a first bung plug to be received, so that a stacking aid is formed which has a defined stacking arrangement of a plurality of bung plugs to simplify the storage of the bung plugs in magazines when the bung plugs are automatically fed in to a bung socket for a subsequent automatic screw connection.

Preferred embodiments of the bung plug closure are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing.

Fig. 1:

ein Spundstopfenverschluss gemäß dem Stand der Technik in einer isometrischen Teilschnittdarstellung;

Fig. 2:

eine Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Spundstopfenverschlusses in einer isometrischen Teilschnittdarstellung mit einem Spundstopfen in einer ersten Ausführungsform;

Fig. 3:

den in Fig. 2 gezeigten Spundstopfen in Einzeldarstellung;

Fig. 4:

eine Draufsicht auf den in Fig. 3 dargestellten Spundstopfen;

Fig. 5:

eine Schnittdarstellung des in Fig. 3 dargestellten Spundstopfens gemäß Schnittlinienverlauf V - V in Fig. 4 ;

Fig. 6:

einen Spundstopfen gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform;

Fig. 7:

eine Draufsicht des in Fig. 6 dargestellten Spundstopfens;

Fig. 8:

eine Schnittdarstellung des in Fig. 6 dargestellten Spundstopfens gemäß Schnittlinienverlauf VIII - VIII in Fig. 7 ;

Fig. 9:

eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Spundstopfens;

Fig. 10:

eine Draufsicht des in Fig. 9 dargestellten Spundstopfens;

Fig. 11:

eine Schnittdarstellung des in Fig. 9 dargestellten Spundstopfens gemäß Schnittlinienverlauf IX - IX in Fig. 10 .

Show it:

Fig. 1:

a bung plug closure according to the prior art in an isometric partial sectional view;

Fig. 2:

an embodiment of a bung plug closure according to the invention in an isometric partial sectional view with a bung plug in a first embodiment;

Fig. 3:

the in Fig. 2 shown bung plug in individual representation;

Fig. 4:

a top view of the in Fig. 3 bung plug shown;

Fig. 5:

a sectional view of the in Fig. 3 bung plug shown according to the section line V - V in Fig. 4 ;

Fig. 6:

a bung plug according to a further embodiment;

Fig. 7:

a top view of the in Fig. 6 bung plug shown;

Fig. 8:

a sectional view of the in Fig. 6 bung plug shown according to section line VIII - VIII in Fig. 7 ;

Fig. 9:

another embodiment of a bung plug;

Fig. 10:

a top view of the in Fig. 9 bung plug shown;

Fig. 11:

a sectional view of the in Fig. 9 bung plug shown according to the section line IX - IX in Fig. 10 .

Fig. 1 shows a bung plug closure according to the prior art with a sealing cap 11 arranged on a bung plug 10. The bung plug 10 is provided with an external thread 12 for screwing into a bung socket not shown here. The bung plug 10 has a plug trough 13 with key lugs 15 which are formed on an inner wall 14 of the plug trough 13 and are separated from one another by spaces 16. The spaces 16 are delimited in the circumferential direction of the bung plug 10 by driver surfaces 17, which are used to contact radial drivers of a bung plug wrench (not shown here) introduced into the plug trough 13 in order to transmit a screwing torque to the bung plug 10 for screwing in or unscrewing the bung plug 10 .

How out Fig. 1 As can be seen, the key lugs 15 also delimit, with concave inner surfaces 18, a receiving space 19 formed within the plug trough 13 for receiving an engaging body 20 arranged on the sealing cap 11, which is provided with an annular locking projection 21 at its lower end. To latch the annular latching projection 21 with the bung plug 10, the Bung plugs 10 corresponding to the prior art on the inner surfaces 18 below a guide surface 22, which serves for the axial guidance of the annular locking projection 21 when inserting the engagement body 20 into the plug cavity 13, counter-locking elements 23. As Fig. 1 clearly shows, after locking with the annular locking projection 21 of the engaging body 20, the counter-locking elements 23 project radially inward over the annular locking projection 21, so that the locking counteracts the removal of the sealing cap 11 from the bung 10.

As shown in the sectional view Fig. 1 becomes clear, the in Fig. 1 The embodiment of the bung plug 10 shown here provides a radial support or abutment of the annular locking projection 21 of the engagement body 20 only on the inner surfaces 18 of the key extensions 15 below the counter locking elements 23, whereas the annular locking projection 21 is not supported in the area of the spaces 16 and is also free from the radial outside accessible, as through an in Fig. 1 Access path 24 indicated by dash-dotted lines is shown.

A suitably designed manipulation tool can thus reach under a lower edge 25 of the sealing cap 11 via the access path 24 and insert it into the space 16 between a cap base 26 and a peripheral edge 27 of the plug 10 and to deform the annular locking projection 21 of the engagement body 20 radially inward against the locking projection 21 are pressed, so that the latching between the engagement body 20 of the sealing cap 11 and the bung plug 10 can be canceled at least in a circumferential section and the sealing cap 11 can then be removed from the bung plug 10 without an in the cap base 26 in a connection area between the cap base 26 and the engagement body 20 formed predetermined breaking device 28, which is intended to indicate manipulation by damage.

Under certain circumstances, even a pressure F acting in the plane of the cap base 26 and acting radially from the outside on the cap base 26 is sufficient to sufficiently release the locking between the annular locking projection 21 and the counter locking elements 23, since the spaces 16 form evasive spaces into which the annular locking projection 21 can be deformed.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a bung plug closure 30 according to the invention, which differs from the in Fig. 1 The bung plug closure shown according to the state of the art differs by a different configuration of a bung plug 31. The bung plug 31 is shown in detail in the Figures 3 to 5 shown.

As in particular from a synopsis of the Figures 3 and 5 It becomes clear that the bung plug 31 has counter-locking elements 32. The counter-locking elements 32 are arranged above an annular rim 35, which is formed outside of key lugs 33 separating spaces 34 by lower sections 36 of inner surfaces 37 of the key lugs 33, the inner surfaces 37 preferably being concave. The enclosure 35 therefore has both the sections 36 of the inner surfaces 37 and further sections in the area of the spaces 34, which in the case of the in the Figures 3 to 5 The illustrated embodiment of the bung plug 31 is formed by front surfaces 38 of support platforms 39 formed in the spaces 34. As in particular from the Figures 4 and 5 As can be seen, in the case of the exemplary embodiment shown, the enclosure 35 is designed as a continuously circumferential cylindrical jacket surface with a constant radius of curvature r in relation to a central axis M of the bung plug 31.

How now Fig. 2 shows, due to the annular rim 35 formed in the present case by the lower sections 36 of the inner surfaces 37 and the front surfaces 38 of the support platforms 39, an obstacle to deformation, that of a deformation acting radially outward, results of the annular locking projection 21 counteracts. In addition, the arrangement of the counter-locking elements 32 in the spaces 34 formed between the key lugs 33 prevents manipulation access to the annular locking projection 21 of the engagement body 20 of the sealing cap 11 via the spaces 34.

As if from a synopsis of the Figures 3 and 5 As can be seen, the ring-shaped border 35 is delimited at the top in the area of the spaces 34 by radially outwardly extending platform surfaces 40, the platform surfaces 40 forming a radially inwardly extending support collar 42 formed in sections on the inner wall 41 of the bung plug 31 ( Fig. 4 ).

The annular enclosure 35 is delimited at the bottom by a circumferential edge 43 of a trough bottom 44, the circumferential edge 43 being raised in relation to a base 46 to form a base depression 45. Like in particular from Fig. 5 As can be seen, the bung plug 31 in the area of the intermediate spaces 34 has a step-like plug cross-section 48 that slopes radially inwards from the counter-locking element 32, over the border 35, the circumferential edge 43 of the trough bottom 44 and a sleeve-shaped shoulder 47 formed in the transition to the substrate 46.

How further from a synopsis of the Figures 3 and 5 As can be seen, the key projections 33 have an edge elevation 49 on the upper edge of the inner surfaces 37, which are also preferably concave here, such that a recess 52 is formed between the edge elevation 49 and an upper peripheral edge 50 of a plug trough 51 of the bung plug 31.

In the Figures 6 to 8 In a further embodiment, a bung plug 60 is shown, which is in the same way as the one previously based on Figures 2 to 5 explained bung plug 31 with the in Fig. 2 illustrated sealing cap 11 can be combined to form a plug closure 30. In the case of an otherwise basically identical configuration and therefore with regard to the essentially identical features provided with identical reference numerals of the components of the bung plug 60, the bung plug 60 has an edging 61 that differs from the edging 35 of the bung plug 31, the webs 62 connecting the key lugs 33 to one another in the area of the gaps 34 having, wherein between the webs 62 and the inner wall 41 of a plug trough 64 material recesses 63 are provided. The enclosure 61 is accordingly composed of the sections 36 of the inner surfaces 37 of the key extensions 33 and the webs 62 formed between the key extensions 33, on the upper edge of which the counter-locking elements 32 are formed.

In the Figures 9 to 11 Finally, in a further embodiment, a bung plug 90 is shown which, in contrast to the one referring to FIG Figures 2 to 5 The bung plug 31 explained in detail has webs 91 projecting radially inward in the spaces 34 from the inner wall 41 of a plug trough 96. Furthermore, in contrast to the bung plug 31, the bung plug 90 is provided with an internal thread 95 above a base 94 on a sleeve-shaped shoulder 93 adjoining the peripheral edge 43 of a trough bottom 92.

Claims (9)

1. A bung plug closure (30) for bung containers having a bung plug (31, 60, 90) for being arranged in a bung neck of the bung container and having a seal cap (11) for sealing a plug depression (51, 64, 96) formed in the bung plug (31, 60, 90), said plug depression (51, 64, 96) comprising a receiving area for receiving a resilient engagement body (20) formed on the seal cap (11), and said bung plug (31, 60, 90) comprising tool engagements (33), which are arranged at an inner wall (41) of the plug depression (51, 64, 96) and which are distanced to each other via gaps (34) and which delimit the receiving area using inner surfaces (37) which at least in sections form guide surfaces for axially guiding an annular locking protrusion (21) of the engagement body (20) when inserting the engagement body (20) into the plug depression (51, 64, 96), counter-locking elements (32) for locking the annular locking protrusion (21) of the engagement body (20) to the bung plug (31, 60, 90) being provided in the plug depression (51, 64, 90), said counter-locking elements (32) radially inward protruding over the annular locking protrusion (21) of the engagement body (20) after locking,

   characterized in that

   the counter-locking elements (32) are arranged in the area of the gaps (34) above an annular frame (35, 61), which is formed outside of the gaps (34) via lower sections (36) of the inner surfaces (37), in such a manner that the locking protrusion (21) is received by the annular frame (35, 61).
2. The bung plug closure according to claim 1,

   characterized in that

   the annular frame (35, 61) is delimited downward via a peripheral edge (43) of a depression bottom (44, 92) of the plug depression (51, 64, 96).
3. The bung plug closure according to claim 2,

   characterized in that

   the peripheral edge (43) of the depression bottom (44, 92) is elevated for forming a bottom indentation (45) with respect to a bottom floor (46, 94).
4. The bung plug closure according to any one of the preceding claims,

   characterized in that

   the annular frame (35) is delimited upward in the area of the gaps (34) via platform surfaces (40), which extend radially outward, in such a manner that the annular frame (35) is formed in the area of the gaps (34) via front surfaces (38) of supporting platforms (39) formed in the gaps (34).
5. The bung plug closure according to claim 4,

   characterized in that

   the platform surfaces (40) of the supporting platforms (39) formed in the area of the gaps (34) are formed by a supporting collar (42) extending radially inward and formed on an inner wall (41) of the bung plug (31).
6. The bung plug closure according to any one of the claims 1 to 3,

   characterized in that

   the annular frame (61) is formed in the area of the gaps (34) via webs (62) which connect the tool engagements (33), material recesses (63) being provided between the webs (62) and the inner wall (41) of the plug depression (64).
7. The bung plug closure according to any one of the preceding claims,

   characterized in that

   webs (91) protruding radially inward are formed in the gaps (34) of the inner wall (41) of the plug depression (96).
8. The bung plug closure according to any one of the claims 3 to 7,

   characterized in that

   in the area of the gaps (34), the bung plug (31, 60, 90) comprises a plug cross section (48) sloping radially inward starting from the counter-locking element (32) towards the frame (35, 61), the peripheral edge (43) of the depression bottom (44, 92) and a sleeve-shaped shoulder (47, 93), which is formed in the transition to the bottom floor (46, 94), in a step-like manner.
9. The bung plug closure according to any one of the preceding claims,

   characterized in that

   the tool engagements (33) comprise an edge elevation (49) at the upper edge of the inner surfaces (37) in such a manner that an indentation (52) is formed between the edge elevation (49) and an upper peripheral edge (50) of the inner wall (41) of the plug depression (51).

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