A DEVICE FOR USE IN STORING A MATERIAL, SUCH AS A LIQUID, IN METAL BARRELS

Abstract: A device to be used in storing and transport of a material such as a liquid in standard type barrels having a threaded bunghole (4). The device comprises an impermeable flexible bag (6), normally made of a plastic material, of a shape and volume substantially similar to that of the barrel (2) and intended to be inserted into the barrel through the bunghole (4). The flexible bag (6) has a relatively rigid, cylindrical neck portion (8) formed with external threads corresponding to the internal threads of the barrel bunghole (4). After having inserted the bag body portion (7) into the barrel (2) its neck portion (8) is tightly threaded into the barrel bunghole (4), the bag is filled through its neck portion (8) and the latter closed by a lid or plug (10) threaded onto or into the bag neck portion (8). The device also comprises a tubular case (30) facilitating insertion of the flexible bag (6) through the barrel bunghole (4) while also serving as a package for the bag before use.

Description: A DEVICE FOR USE IN STORING A MATERIAL, SUCH AS A LIQUID, IN METAL BARRELS The present invention relates to a device for use in storing a material, such as a liquid, in metal barrels of the type having a threaded end opening or "bunghole" , particularly standard barrels of the type used in the oil industry. Liquid waste material of a noxious or contaminant nature, such as waste oil, chemicals etc, is normally stored in metal barrels or drums until it can be disposed of, by combustion or otherwise. Barrels used for such purpose are usually well- worn, having more or less severe damages and corrosion attacks that may lead to cracks. Consequently such barrels will tend to leak and cause contamination, particularly during transport, when the barrels are often subject to rough treatment. Finnish patent publication No. 55 814_ proposes introducing a plastic bag to serve as a lining in such metal barrels. According to the paten , after the bag has been inserted in the metal barrel, its mouth portion is secured to the barrel bunghole by clamping it between the latter and a deformable plastic ring that is hammered into the threaded barrel bunghole. Then an internally threaded tubular sleeve is forced into the plastic ring and its opening closed by a plug or the like after the bag has been filled. From various reasons this prior device has not found any widespread use with barrels of the above standard type. The filled bag is apt to rupture near its clamped mouth portion and the rather complex, multipart clamping and closing device is cumbersome in use. Also, from GB patent No. 1 392 603 it is known to furnish an apertured drum with an internal plastic liner having a self- supporting neck passage through the drum aperture. However, such liners are for drums having detachable ends which must be removed before the liner can be inserted into the drum. The bag device according to the present invention, as defined in the appending patent claims does not suffer from the above discussed shortcomings of the prior devices. When using a device according to the invention the risk of leakage will be practically eliminated, even with roughly treated wellworn SUBSTITUTESHEET barrels. In addition the device according to the invention is suprisingly simple in use and cheap in production. The invention is primarily developed with a view to safe storing of waste liquids as discussed above, but it is also very useful and beneficial for use in storing other forms of liquid, e.g. paint, in barrels or drums. Furthermore it may be used for other materials than liquids, e.g. pulverulent, particulate or other bulk materials. In all cases the quality of the contents of a bag device according to the invention, installed in a barrel, is protected against condensation water and contamination from the barrel walls. The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view somewhat schematically illustrating the intended use of the device according to the invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are partial sectional views, on an enlarged scale, showing details of two alternative embodiments of the device according to the invention; Fig. 4 shows the device in a convenient condition ready for use; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a tubular two-piece case facilitating insertion of the flexible bag through the barrel spunghole while also serving as a package for the bag; Fig. 6 is a cross-section through to the tubular case along lines VI-VI in fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a partial elevational view showing the inside of one of the case halves. Parts having same denomination and function are given same reference numerals in the various figures. In fig. 1 the numeral 2 designates a standard metal (steel) barrel of e.g. 100 or 200 1 capacity, having an internally threaded normally 2" filling/emptying opening or "bunghole" 4 formed in the top wall thereof and surrounded by an upstanding rim 5. An impermeable, flexible bag 6, indicated with broken lines in fig. 1, has been inserted through the barrel bunghole 4. "Impermeable" as used herein means imperme¬ able to the material which the bag is to contain. Bag 6 has a relatively rigid, cylindric neck portion 8 integral witlj the bag body portion 7 and adapted to be threaded into the bunghole 4. The bag body portion 7 has a shape and volume generally conforming to the internal cavity of the barrel, so that the walls of the bag in its expanded or filled condition in the barrel substantially contacts the internal wall surface of the barrel, at least the bottom wall and the major part of the side wall. Since the bunghole 4 of such standard barrels is excentrically located or offset near the peripheral side edge of the barrel the neck portion 8 of the bag 6, when the latter is intended for such standard barrels, will be correspondingly excentrically located near the circular circumference of the bag in its filled condition, i.e. offset relative to the longitudal axis of the bag 6. Fig. 2 and 3 show alternative embodiments of the neck portion 8 of the bag 6 threaded into the bunghole 4 and provided with an associated, threaded lid or plug 10. In the embodiment according to fig. 2 the flexible bag 6 has a somewhat thickened (relative to the bag body portion 7) cylindrical neck portion 8 formed with external threads 12 mating with the internal threads of the bunghole 4 of the standard barrel 2. However, the neck portion 8 of the bag is higher than the protruding bunghole rim 5 and thus, with the bag neck portion 8 threaded completely into the barrel opening 4 as shown, a part of the neck portion 8 having further threads 12' as an extension of the threads 12 engaged in the barrel opening will protrude above the latter. When installed in the barrel 2 as explained above, the bag 6 can be filled with the material to be stored therein through the bag neck portion 8. Owing to its particular shape (excentric neck portion) and flexibility the bag will substantially fill the void in the barrel, while the barrel walls form a protective casing around the filled bag. After filling of the bag the lid 10, which preferably is made of plastics and in this embodiment has internal threads similar to those of the barrel opening 4 , is threaded onto the protruding part of the bag neck portion 8 into sealing engagement with the upper rim 5 of the bunghole 4. A seal ring 14, e.g. an O-ring, may be inserted between the lid SUBSTITUTE SHEET and bunghole, if desired and, as an additional safety means, a seal-coating 16 as indicated with broken lines,'•may be applied over the lid 10 and the external circumference of the barrel opening or bunghole 4. According to the fig. 3 embodiment the thickened neck portion 8 of the bag 6 has a substantially smaller extension or height than that of the embodiment according to fig. * 2, the external threads 12 thereof extending about the same length as that of the internal threads of the bunghole 4. Also, the bag neck portion 8 is formed with an upper flange 18 having an outer diameter equal to that of the bunghole rim 5. Further, the neck portion 8 according to fig. 3 is different from that shown in fig. 2, in that it also comprises a set of internal threads 20. This permits closing of the bag neck portion 8- by an externally threaded lid or plug 10 having a shape substantially similar to that-of the plug of the standard barrel 1 and, like the latter, having a hexagonal recess 22 for a wrench. When thus threaded into its bunghole 4 the plug 10 will clamp the neck portion flange 18 of the bag 6 sealingly against the bunghole rim 5 as shown in the figure. Also in this embodiment the bunghole 4 with plug 10 may be provided with a seal-coating 16. The neck portion 8 according to fig. 3 has the advantage, among others, over the fig. 2 version, that owing to its lower height above the barrel top it is less exposed to mechanical damage. In both embodiments, when the neck portion is completely threaded into its bunghole as shown in the drawing, the bag will be properly angularly oriented in the barrel, i.e. such that the major lateral extension thereof substantially conincide with the diameter through the bunghole 4 of the barrel 1. In addition the bag neck portion 8 could be provided with a marking (not-shown) which, when the bag is correctly oriented, is located opposite a corresponding marking on the barrel top. Normally the bag 6 will be made from a relatively strong plastics material resistant to oil and chemicals, about 0,2 mm thick, typically various types of TPV, plasticized PVC or other thermoplastic elastomers could be used. The walls of the plastic bag may be reinforced, if desired, e.g. by fibre glass. SUBSTITUTE SHEET ISA/EP 4a — __, In order to facilitate insertion of the__»empty bcfg 6 through the bunghole 4 of the barrel such bags may advantageousl be stored and distributed in a condition in which t5>eir body portion is relatively tightly folded or rolled up in the longitudinal direction under the neck portion 8 as indicated in SUBSTITUTE SHEET ISA/EP portion is relatively tightly folded or rolled up in the longitudinal direction under the neck portion 8 am indicated in fig. 4, and releasably retained in a such folded or rolled up condition by means of suitable retaining means such as tape, rubber bands or the like (not shown) . Such means may be removed immediately prior to or when inserting the bag into its barrel, since the bag, owing to a certain "slowness" σf the plastic material, still sticks to its compact condition for a time sufficient to allow its insertion through the bunghole. However, the retaining means need not always be removed prior to insertion of the bag, since they may be caused to release or rupture after having inserted the bag into the barrel, for example by applying a pressure fluid such as air in the bag via an appropriate nipple (not shown) threaded into the bag neck opening. This also results in a complete unfolding of the bag "into contact with the surrounding walls of the barrel, such that the material to.be stored can easily be filled into the thus plastic lined barrel. However, according to an advantageous aspect of the device according to the invention the retaining means consists of a tubular, longitudinally split cover or case 30 as shown in figs. 5 through 7. Each preferably identical case half 30', along at least part of their two longitudinal edges, iε provided with means for releasable interconnection of the two halves, while permitting relative longitudinal displacement thereof. In the shown embodiment the interconnecting means are in the form of a lip 31 and slit 32 respectively. Advantageously one end portion (the upper one in use) of the case halves 30' may be without the interconnecting means and formed with two molded chamber halves 33, 34 adapted to receive the threaded neck portion 8 of the bag 6 and the plug 10 respectively, while the remaining (lower) case portion receive the bag body portion 7. Above and below the chamber halves 33, 34 each case half 30' is formed with a radially protruding shoulder or stop 35 and a longitudinally extending pulling flap 36 respectively. Preferably the case 30 is made from a transparent plastics material, such as a PET, PS or PVC thermoformable material with SUBSTITUTE SHEET a wall thickness imparting an adequate rigidity to the case while also permitting a certain lateral flexibility normal to the plane of interconnection of the two case halves. When using the above described case 30 the bag 6 in its folded or rolled up condition is placed in one of the two case halves 30' with its rigid neck portion 8 in the chamber half 33 while a lid or plug 10 is placed in the case upper chamber half 34. Then the other, empty case half 30' is placed over the filled one and the two halves 30', 30' joined by inserting the edge lips 31 thereof in their respective edge slits 32. The thus assembled case 30 will then form an effective package for the bag 1 with plug 10 during storing and transport. When bag 6 in case 30 is to be placed in a barrel 2 , the tubular case 30 is inserted into the barrel through b ' unghole 4 until the case stop 35 abuts the upper surface of bunghole rim 5. Then the upper portion of the two casing halves 30', 30' are bent laterally apart separating their respective pull flaps 36 sufficiently to admit removal of plug 10 from its chamber 34 wherupon one of the case halves 30 ' are pulled vertically up from the barrel while the other half 30' is left in the barrel together with the bag 1. Now also the other case half 30' can be withdrawn whilέ the bag remains in the barrel and its neck portion 8 can be threaded into the barrel bunghole 4 and possibly inflated as previously explained. Thus, the case 30 serves both as a package for the bag 1 and plug 10 and as an aid facilitating insertion of the bag into its barrel. Bags 6 according to the invention may be of different materials depending on the kind of material to be contained therein and advantageously they may be given correspondingly different colours. By having a transparent case as noted above it is an easy matter to select the appropriate bag for each application. In addition to the filling/emptying opening or bunghole 4 in standard barrels 2 of the type for which the device according to the present invention is primarily intended, such barrels are also provided with a threaded 1" vent 24 (fig. 1) which in ordinary use of such barrels normally will be open during filling and emptying of the barrel. Barrels of the type in SUCSTITUTΞ SHEET question are conventionally emptied by progressively tilting the barrel - which is a relatively cumbersome operation often causing spillage. Alternatively special pump means may be used. According to an advantageous aspect of the invention the vent 24 in combination with the plastic bag 6 may be utilized to implement an extremely simple, effective and controlled mode of emptying the material contained in the barrel 2 lined with the plastic bag 6. Thus, the vent 24 may be provided with a suitable connecting means or nipple for a pressure medium such as pressurized air, as indicated at 26 in fig. 1. Then, by pressurizing the barrel through vent 24 the liquid contents of a filled bag therein will be forced out through the bag neck portion 8 located in the barrel bunghole 4. The rate of discharge may be controlled simply by controlling the pressure applied to the barrel 2 through vent 24, resulting in a complete emptying of the barrel. Any convenient means may be used as the connection means 26, but a connection means that has been found particularly suitable is a conventional, manually controlled 3/2 directional valve, such as Martonair 03040302 with appropriate adapters etc. Alternatively the bags may be emptied by connecting a vacuum directly to the internal threads 20 of the bag neck portion 8 of the fig. 4 embodiment, with vent 24 open.

Claims: __. P A T E N T C L A I M S.: - " 1. A device for use in storing a material, such _Ets a liquid, in a metal barrel (2) having a threaded bunghole (4) , comprisin an impervious bag (6) of a shape and volume adapted to that of the barrel and having a relatively rigid, cylindrical neck portion (8) fitting in the barrel bunghole (4) , c h a r a c t e r i z e d by said cylindrical neck portion (8) of the bag (6) having external threads (12) mating with corres¬ ponding internal threads in the barrel bunghole (4) , and by a lid or plug (10) having threads mating with additional threads (12', 20) of the bag (6) neck portion (8). 2. The device of claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by said additional threads (12') of the bag neck portion (8) being and upper extension of its external threads (12) . 3. The device of claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by said additional threads (20) being internal threads formed in the bag neck portion (8) . 4. The device of claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by said plug (10) having substantially the shape of a standard barrel plug and formed with an hexagonal recess (22) for a wrench. 5. The device of any one preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by said bag neck portion (8) being excentrically located relative to the longitudinal axis of the bag (6) , corresponding to the excentric location of the bunghole of the barrel in which the bag is to be used. 6. The device on any one preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by said bag (6) being made of a thermoplastic elastomer with a wall thickness of about 0,2 mm. 7. The device of any one preceding claim, SUBSTITUTE SH »=r_: 9 c h a r a c t e r i z e d by said bag (6) having reinforced walls. ^ 8. The device of any one preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the bag cylindrical neck portion (8) having a flange (18) adapted to be clamped between the barrel rim (5) and plug (10) . 9. The device of any one preceding claim in which the barrel (2) is formed with a vent (24) , c h a r a c t e r i z e d by further comprising a connecting means (26) adapted to be mounted in the vent (24) for applying a pressure medium into the barrel in order to empty it. 10. The device of any one preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by further comprising a tubular, longitudinally split, two-piece case (30) , adapted to contain a_ longitudinally folded or rolled up bag (6) with plug (10) , the two case halves (30') being relatively longitudinally displacabl in interconnected condition, said case (30) serving as a package for the bag and plug and also as a means for inserting the bag (6) into the barrel (2) through the barrel bunghole (4). 11. The device of claim 10, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by said case 30 being made of a transparent plastic material.

Inventors: HAUK TORE W, HAUK, TORE, W.
Applicants: MILJOE & VEISERVICE AS, MILJOE OG VEISERVICE A/S
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B65D25
IPC codes: B65D25, B65D43, B65D77