US2365178A - Closure means for container openings - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 19, 1944. H. W. DODSON 2,365,178

CLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINER OPENINGS Filed Sept. 18, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 1 TTORN E Y.

0" INVENTOR.

Dec. 19, 1944.

H. W. DODSON CLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINER OPENING-S Filed Sept. 18, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 06060 1114100 656::

A RNEY.

1944. H w. DODSON 2,365,178

CLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINER OPENINGS Dec. 1

Filed ,Sept. 18, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. v DacZsoz-z Patented Dec. 19,1944

cLosUnE MEANS roneconmmsn.

- OPENINGS.- I p Hciward'WiDodongAldan, Rmgassifgnorg by mesne assignments; tmUnited Steel 'Barrel Company, Philadelphia, Bag. a corporation ofl-Pennsyle vanish.

' Application September is, I 9.4",",SerialNo:" a'mzzce a claims... (o1; ass-49):

. The; present invention relates tocertainlnew and usefulclosure means for the; openings ofimetallic. containers, such. as steel drums, barrels, tanks or the like. i

For. the purposeof. illustrating the. invention, there is. shown. in the accompanying drawings forms thereof which are at presentpreferred', since the same have been. found in practice. to give. satisfactory and. reliable results, although it is to. beunderstood that the variousinstrumentalities of. which the. invention consists can. be

variously arranged and organized. 'andthati the invention. is notv limited tothe precise arrangement. and. organization of the'instrumentalities as herein shown and described. p

In. the accompanying drawings. wherein. like reference charactersindicate like parts,

Figure 1 represents an enlarged. fragmentary sectional perspective view showing. the flanged body metal. portion. of one. illustrativeembodi ment of the present inventionfisurrounding a con.- tainer opening, shown. prior to. the casting. of a bushing. therearound;

Figure Z'represents-a view showing. the ffl'an'ged body metalportion enveloped by abushing which has been cast in situ therearoundl' Figure 3 represents a view similar 7 to that shown in Figure 2'; but showing the bushing with its.v upper outer corner portion flanged radially outwardly to provide a securement' shoulder for retaininga seal cap; v

Figure 4 represents an enlarged-fragmentary sectional perspective view showing theassembled closure means, withthe' plug portion 1 being both wire-sealed and cap-sealed for tamper indicating purposes.

Figure 5 represents anenlarged fragmentary perspective View of'a modified bodvmetal-const'ruction around a containeropening;

Figure 6 represents an enlarged-view; partly in section and partly in elevation, showing as sembled closure-means in'whichhas been incorporated the modification illustrated. in Fig ure' 5;

In the accompanying drawingsthe' panel.- in- In the particular embodimentsioithe present invention illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, the body metal of container wall 20 inthe vicinity of the opening. I 9 is outwardlyfiangedto provide a. generally cylindrical outwardly extending flange portion 2 l., integral with the. wallmetal, surrounding the container opening [9. A series of anti-rotational, preferably well defined} pm jections or. lugs I 2 2,. integral with the, flange" if: may: be. ,provid'ed'i,at' suitable intervals? along: the outermostledge' ofithe. flange 21 fofthe purpos'e of" providing keying or" gripping surfaces which will prevent rotation. or loosening of die-cast bushing 2'6;vv which is subsequently ca'st inysitu around. the body, metalfiangfe. 21. These keying projections 2i21may' each be tran'sverselybenfti either at" their. basal" portions or at" some inter:- mediate point therealong; into a planeintersect ingthe axis ofthe opening, as for example radially inwardly as illustrated" in Figure'l; thereby further to prevent amal mov'e'ment o'ff'tl'ie sub sequently; castin situ' bushing ztrelative to the body metal flange 21'; As illustrated inFigur'e" 1*; where" these projections 22 are transversely" bent at some: intermediate point" 23; their basalpor; ti'ons 2'4'm'ay extend generally in thesamepl'ane as the flange metal 21, and. their end portions 25 may extend radiallyinwardly, andtmaybeco' planar'if desired.

The flange portion 2"!'andassociatedfanthro tational projections 2 27may' be formed fromtlle bod y metal of the container. wall in any'suita-b'l'e.

manner; as'for' example by being' drawmpressed or. bent into their desired'ultimate shapei b'y multi step diemean'sorthelike.

The .cast bushing 26; which is" toenvelop the outwardly extendingbodymetal" element'sZI" and 22; maythen b'e'die-ca'stin'situofffmolten metal I preferably differing flDlflTit'he" body of the" con tainer and preferabl having'ya' lower melting point:than saidbodymetal:;

This maybe don'ein' any 'suitablemanner, as

byemploying' a' sectional mold having a metal:

receiving concavity corresponding. to: the desired shape andisize of the bushingZG; This'js ectional the opening l9; with the body metal elements 21' and' 22 extending into the" metalreceiving space oftheimol'di Themoltenm'etal, at'a temperature completely fill' all the unoccupied" space 'in" the mold. Themolten metal isth en caused'pr DB1; mitted'to harden, andithe sectionalmoldwithdrawn; whereupon the" cast bushing. 26" isi'left.

outlining the container opening saidfbushi'ng 'b'ein'gjin continuou'sintimate contact" with. the

body metali flange 2i and'proje'ctions" 22,,",and

securely fixed againstmovernent relative thereto.

' suitable low melting point. metal. composi' tion, from which the. bushing. 26. may. be cast,

may; c'omprisean, alloy, including approidmately .90; to percent oii zinc,,.about. .-.5. pei'centrof- I aluminum. about-.- 1'. to. 4 percentflof; copper and about" .01 to .05 percent or magnesilu'n. These the molten metal will subsequently contact, is

preferably cleaned of all scale and dirt that may be present, to improve the union or bond or ad-;

hesion between the die-cast metal and the body metal. If desired, this union or bond or adhesion may be further augmented or increased by preliminarily coating or plating the body metal in the zones to which the molten metal is subsequently to be applied, with cadmium or zinc.

In the illustrated embodiments of the present invention the annular bushing 26 is cast with a generally fiat annular gasket seating end surface 28. 'If a tamper indicating seal cap 42 is to be superimposed over the assembled closure means, then the cast bushin 26 may bear a securement shoulder 29 over which the lower peripheral edge portion of said seal cap may be operatively crimped, thereby to secure said cap in position. This shoulder 29 may be formed in any suitable manner, as for example by casting the bushing 26 with an outwardly extending annular rib 30 disposed at its upper outer corner, as illustrated in Figure 2, and then turning or spinning tlns rib downwardly and outwardly to provide the securement shoulder 29 illustrated in Figure 3, or by originally casting the laterally extending rib 30 shown in Figure 3 directly into the bushing 26.

The bushing 26 is preferably cast with a sharply defined internal screw thread 21 therein, for holding a threaded closure plug. If desired, however, the bushing may have its internal screw thread 21 cut therein after the bushing has been cast.

The lowermost or innermost end of the bushin 26 preferably does not extend inwardly into the container beyond the plane of the adjoining wall metal- 20, so as not to obstruct complete drainage of the container contents through the container opening when the container is inverted. If desired, this innermost end surface of the bushing 26 may be formed in direct continuation of and coplanar with the innermost surface of the wall metal 20.

A screw threaded metal closure plug or bung 31, having an external screw thread 32 engageable with the internal bushing thread 21, may be screw threadedly engaged with the bushing 26 securely to close the opening outlined by the bushing. This closure plug 3! may be formed in any suitable manner, as for example by being die-cast, or pressed into shape. The closure plug thread 32 may be cast into the plug, or it may be cut into'the wall thereof after the plug has been formed.

The closure plug 31 is preferably provided with a laterally extending annular flange 33 having a. lower surface in juxtaposition to the bushing gasket seat 28. An annular sealing gasket or washer 34, which may be formed of natural or synthetic rubber or of any other suitable gasket material, encircles the shank 'of the closure plug, and is adapted to be pressed down tightly against the gasket seat 28 by the plug flange 33 when closure plug 3| is screwed tightly into the bushing 26, thus establishing and maintaining an effective fluid-tight seal.

off the closure plug and becoming lost when the closure plug has been unscrewed.

Closure plug 3| may be recessed as illustrated, and inside its recess may be disposed a diametrically-extendin web of metal 35, preferably integral with the plug metal, to provide seizure means whereby the closure plug 3i may be for.- cibly tightened or loosened as desired. Thus,

7 the end of any complementary-shaped implement or tool, or the end of a wrench or the jaws of a pair of pliers, may be operatively inserted into the plug recess and engaged with the transversely extending metal web 35, and then turned in the desired direction to loosen or tighten the closure plug, as the case may be. The provision of a recess in the closure plug enables the seizure means 35 to be disposed inside the recess in the body of the plug thereby reducing the extent to which the closure plug must project beyond the bushing 26.

If desired, other bungs or closure plugs may be employed in lieu of the illustrated plug 3|.

After the container has been filled and the closure plug engaged with the bushing, it may be desirable to apply tamper indicating sealing means which will prevent the closure means from being opened without detection. For this purpose, the closure plug 3| may be wire-sealed as illustrated in Figure 4, with the sealing wire 31 being looped through a hole 36 extending through the wall of the closure plug, and through an aperture 38 in a lug 39 spot welded or otherwise permanently secured to the container wall 26. The end portions of the sealing wire 31 may be permanently gripped by a lead or other metallic seal 40, thereby making it impossible to rotate the closure plug 31 without breaking the sealing wire 31.

In order to facilitate the threading of sealing wire 3? through the closure plug hole 36, the mouth of said hole may be enlarged as at 4 l, with the wall of said mouth serving to guide the end of the sealing wire 31 into the hole 36.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the sealing wire 31 is looped through the apertured end 46 of a transversely extending lug 5 formed from the body metal of the container integrally with the flange portion 2i. Thus, in this particular embodiment of the present invention, the cylindrical flange portion 2i is formed not only with the projections 22 extending there from, but also with a relatively elongated anchorage lug portion 35 extending therefrom. This anchorage lug 45 may be initially bent radially inwardly coplanar with the lugs or projections 22 by the same die means which bend these latter projections inwardly, but before bushing 26 is cast in situ, this anchorage lug s5 is turned outwardly into the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 5, and shown in full lines in Figure 6. When the bushing 26 is then cast in situaround the body metal bordering the container opening. the bushing metal will also envelop the basal portion of this anchorage lug 45, whereby the latter serves as additional keying means preventing loosening or rotation of the bushing 26. The apertured outer end :36 of this anchorage lug 45 extends transversely beyond the outer surface of the bushing 26, and provides a fixed anchorage element for the sealing wire 31, thus avoiding the thereafter be removed from the closure means without either destroying or visibly damaging the seal cap, thus providing efiective tamper indicating means. i

If desired,- the closure plug 3| may be both wire-sealed and cap sealed as illustrated in Figures 4 and 6, in which case the seal cap may be provided with an aperture through which the sealing wire 31 may extend.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is hereby claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sheet metal container having a relatively small opening formed in a wall thereof, an outwardly extending generally cylindrical flange portion at said opening integral with the wall metal and bearing along its outermost edgef'a series of well-defined, keying projections integral therewith, each of-said keying projections being bent transversely. at someintermediate portion thereof, and having their basal portions extending generally in continuation of the adjacent flange metal, and having generally coplanar radially-inwardly-extending outer end portions, and a bushing, pressure-cast in situ, enveloping said flange portion and said projections and outlining the container opening.

2. In a sheet metal container having a relatively small opening formed in a wall thereof, an

outwardly extending generally cylindrical flange portion at said opening integral with the Wall metal, a series of generally coplanar radiallyinwardly-extending keying projections extending from the outermost edge of said cylindrical flange portion, and a bushing, pressure-cast in situ, enveloping said flange portion and saidkeying projections and outlining the container opening, said bushing bearing an internal screw thread adapted screw-threadedly to receive a closure plug.

3. In a sheet metal container having a relatively small opening formed in a wall thereof, an

outwardly extending flange portion at said opening integral with the wall body metal, said flange portion bearing along its outermost edge ase'ries of transversely bent projections, integral "therewith the wall metal and bearing along an edge thereof a series of well-defined transversely bent projections integral therewith, said flange portion and said projections being formed from the container wall metal around said container openi g 5. In a sheet metal container having a relatively small opening formed in a wall thereof, an annular flange at said opening integral with the wall body metal, keying means associated with said flange, a bushing, pressure-cast in situ, enveloping said flange and said keying means and outlining said container opening, an anchorage element integral with the flange metal, extending from within said bushing to a point exteriorly thereof, the exposed portion of said anchorage element having a hole therethrough, a closure member removably associated with said bushing and closing the opening defined thereby, said closure member having an outer exposed annular shoulder and an opening extending generally radially through the shoulder, and a wire seal looped through the opening in said closure memher and through the hole in the exposed portion of said anchorage element said wire being generally flush with the closure member. 7

6. In a sheet metal container having a relatively small opening formed in a wall thereof, an annular flange at said opening integral with the wall body metal, said flange having a series of transversely extending keying projections formed integrally therewith, a bushing, pressure-cast in situ, enveloping said flange and said keying means and outlining said container opening, an anchorage element integral with the flange metal, ex tending from within said bushing to apoint exteriorly thereof, the exposed portion of said an chorage element having a hole therethrough, a closure member removably associated with said bushing and closing the opening defined thereby,

I said closure member having an outer exposed annular shoulder and an opening extending gensaid flange, a bushing, pressure-cast in situ, en- I veloping said flange and said keying means and outlining said container opening, and an anchorage element integral with the flange metal, extending from within said bushing to a point exteriorly thereof, the exposed portion of said anchorage element having a hole therethrough,

said anchorage element being adapted to receive a wire seal connected to a closure member removably associated with said bushing.

8. In a sheet metal container having a relatively small opening formed in a wall thereof, an

annular flange at said opening integral with the wall body metal, said flange having transversely extending keying projections formed integrally therewith, a bushing, pressure-cast in situ, enveloping-said flange and said keyingprojections and outlining said container opening, and an anchorage element integral with the flange metal, said anchorage elementextending fromwithin said bushing to a point exteriorly thereof.

HOWARD W. DODSON.

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