Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Assembling or joining
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-08
2002-07-16
Hughes, S. Thomas (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Assembling or joining
C029S429000, C029S509000, C029S512000, C029S038900, C029S787000, C029S773000, C198S836100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06418608
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to flange insertion machinery for the internally-threaded flanges which are installed into metal drum heads. More specifically the present invention relates to such flange insertion machinery which is “convertible” so as to be able to handle a Type I (octagonal base) flange in one machinery configuration and a Type II (serrated lip) flange in a second machinery configuration. The “convertible” nature of the machinery of the present invention also extends to its use as part of a one-step insertion procedure in one mode and as part of a two-step insertion procedure in another mode.
Large, metal, drum-like containers, which are used for the shipping and storage of liquid substances, are typically fabricated with a metal drum end or head which is attached to a substantially cylindrical drum body. The contents of such containers will at some point in their life cycle need to be dispensed or emptied from the container. In order to facilitate this dispensing or emptying function and in some instances to facilitating filling, internally-threaded flanges are installed into the drum head. Since the thickness of the metal used for the drum head will not support a sufficient number of threads for proper threaded engagement, flanges which have an increased axial height are inserted so that an externally-threaded closing plug can be used. Most drums or containers of the type described use a ¾ inch flange and cooperating plug for venting and a 2 inch outlet flange and cooperating plug for dispensing as well as for filling the container if the container is going to be recycled for reuse.
Over the years the metal drum industry has typically used two flange styles. What has become generally known as a Type I flange has an octagonal base and a raised cylindrical body which is internally threaded. The style of flange is illustrated herein by FIG.
4
. The other flange style which is frequently used is what has become generally known as a Type II flange. This style of flange has an upper serrated lip and depending therefrom a generally cylindrical body which is internally threaded. This style of flange is illustrated herein by FIG.
5
. The Type I style is basically the same whether in the ¾ inch vent configuration or in the 2 inch outlet configuration. Likewise, the Type II style of flange is basically the same whether in the ¾ inch vent configuration or in the 2 inch outlet configuration. Type I and Type II flanges including details of their insertion into drum heads are described more particularly in U.S. Pat. No. 5,943,757 to Magley, U.S. Pat. No. 3,791,021, to Bauman, U.S. Pat. No. 3,800,401 to Jesevich et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,058 to Jesevich et al., and application Ser. No. 09/444,198 entitled Tamper-Evident Drum Closure Overcap and assigned to the same assignee of the present invention, each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
Due in part to the size and weight of these drums, especially when filled with liquid, the installation of the flanges needs to be performed in a manner that results in a strong, durable connection and creates a connection that is leak-free. In order to achieve this type of connection, the drum head is pierced to create an opening and then formed with a drawn and contoured receiving pocket. Then, in cooperation with suitable insertion machinery and corresponding insertion dies which are designed for the specific flange size and style, the flanges are locked into position in the drum head.
The drum head must be initially pierced for the starting clearance hole for the ¾ inch vent flange and another starting hole for the 2 inch outlet flange. A receiving pocket is then formed (drawn) around each of the corresponding pierced holes. The drawn or formed pocket has a first style for a Type I flange and a second style for a Type II flange. It is also to be understood that the pierced holes and formed pockets for each flange can be provided as part of the drum heads before these drum heads are actually delivered to the insertion machine of the present invention. At the insertion machine, the flanges are inserted (i.e., installed and anchored in position). This procedure is what is referred to and will be referred to herein as a two-step procedure. The first step is the piercing and forming. The second step is the flange insertion (into the formed pocket) and then crimping the pocket in and around the flange so as to anchor the flange in position.
It is also an option to perform the flange insertion task as a one-step procedure. In the one-step procedure, the drum head is delivered to the insertion machine without any pierced holes and without any formed pockets. Each drum head is delivered to the insertion station of the machine at which point the tooling and dies perform all elements of the task in rapid succession and all at the same location with compound tooling. The requisite hole is pierced, the metal of the head around the pierced hole is formed into a receiving pocket, the flange is inserted, and the metal formed around the pierced hole is then crimped in and around the flange so as to lock the flange in position.
For the Type I style of flange, the drawn pocket receives the octagonal base and a raised cylindrical wall is drawn at the inner edge of the pocket. The drawn pocket is crimped around the octagonal base so as to anchor that base to the drum head and prevent relative motion between the two. The cylindrical body of the flange telescopes inside of the raised cylindrical wall and is formed over the upper edge of the raised cylindrical wall. This style of final assembly is illustrated herein in
FIGS. 6 and 7
. It will be noted that by inserting the flange into the pocket from a direction that coincides with the inside of the drum, the flange cannot pull out. The formed over (lip) of the cylindrical body onto the raised cylindrical wall prevents push out of the flange into the interior of the drum. The crimping of the formed metal pocket around the octagonal base prevents any rotational movement of the flange relative to the drum head.
For the Type II style of flange, the drawn pocket receives the serrated lip and the cylindrical body of the flange extends into what will become the interior of the drum. The drawn pocket is crimped into and beneath the various serrations. Since there is a portion of the drawn pocket which extends over the upper surface of the serrated lip, the flange is securely anchored against push in, pull out, or rotation. The final assembly of this Type II style of flange into the pocket of the drum head is illustrated in
FIGS. 8 and 9
.
In view of the differences in the two most common styles of drum head flanges, and in view of the different drum head configurations and tooling which are required, it is not surprising that the flange insertion machinery, in use before the present invention, was typically dedicated to one style of flange. Consequently, one option in order to run both styles of flanges is to have two separate insertion machines. Another option might be to run two parallel flange lines, each dedicated to a single flange style, as part of the same machine, but the cost and complexity of this approach could be prohibitive. With any automated and conveyorized design which would typically be used for high volume production, the cost of a single insertion machine is substantial. Drum manufacturers and drum head manufacturers need to have the capability of handling both styles of flanges so that they can compete for all jobs, regardless of the flange style which might be specified. If only one insertion machine is available, then that company can only compete for work for the corresponding one style of flange.
In view of the foregoing, it would be an improvement and a benefit to be able to run the two styles of flanges (Type I and Type II) on a single machine with only minimal component substitutions. While there would be some added cost for these part substitutions, this added cost is far less than t
Compton Eric B.
Hughes S. Thomas
Rieke Corporation
Woodard Emhardt Naughton Moriarty & McNett
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