Patent ID: 6675984
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: B08B,C23C,C23G,C25D

Abstract:
A finishing barrel assembly including a finishing barrel having a side wall with through openings allowing solutions to freely enter the barrel to reach parts loaded therein, said finishing, barrel having a lengthwise extending generally rectangular access opening in said side wall thereof, and at least one generally rectangular cover configured to be fit into said access opening, said barrel side wall having a lengthwise series of tabs formed along but spaced above said opening and projecting towards said access opening, said cover having a respective series of spaced apart outwardly projecting tabs formed along the length of each of two lengthwise sides of said cover, said respective series of tabs configured to allow said cover tabs to be pushed into spaces between said barrel tabs in a first lengthwise relative position of said cover over said access opening, said cover tabs thereby positioned below the level of said barrel tabs and against a portion of said barrel defining said barrel opening, said cover able to be shifted lengthwise to cause movement of said cover tabs beneath said barrel tabs to capture said cover tabs and to secure said cover over said barrel access opening, the improvement comprising:at least one locking handle assembly secured to said cover enabling positioning of said cover on said barrel overlying said access opening therein and lifting of said cover from said barrel access opening, said locking handle assembly including a graspable handle mounted on said cover by a spring blade affixed at one end to said cover and to said handle at the other end to mount said handle to be deflectable away from said cover to a limited extent, a locking feature fixed to said barrel side wall positioned opposite said handle when said cover series of tabs are aligned with spaces between said barrel tabs in said first lengthwise relative position of said cover over said access opening, said deflectability of said spring blade causing said locking feature to push said handle away from said cover when said cover tabs are pushed in the spaces between said barrel tabs, allowing said cover to be slid to move said cover tabs past and beneath said barrel tabs with said handle contacting said locking feature, said locking feature configured so that when said handle moves past said locking feature upon shifting of said cover so as to bring said cover tabs beneath said barrel tabs, and said handle is released, and said handle is pulled back towards said cover by the action of said spring blade, a side of said locking feature blocks a portion of said handle assembly to positively prevent shifting endwise movement of said cover in the opposite direction, whereby said cover is locked in position over said barrel side wall access opening.