Patent Publication Number: US-6988640-B2

Title: Drip pan for a liquid containing drum

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a pan for collecting liquids spilled while pumping such liquid from a drum. More specifically, it refers to a pan cover for a top of a liquid containing drum, the cover having channels for directing spilled liquid to a filter in a drain leading back to the drum. 
   U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,396; 129,141 and 623,345 describe liquid drums with a pump mounted at a top of the drum to pump liquid from the drum. Conduits in the drum lid return spilled liquids back inside the drum. Various other funnels and drip plates are known for placement over a drum to catch leaks and drips. These prior art lids, funnels and drip plates do not have easily installed filters to trap debris from falling into the drum. A pan cover for a fifty-five gallon standard liquid drum that has an efficient drain channel with an easily inserted filter at a drain hole aligned with an air hole in the drum is needed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a drip pan for a fifty-five gallon standard liquid containing drum, the drum having a first hole in a top surface for passage of a pump conduit and a second hole constituting an air hole. The drip pan has an annular shape to cover the top of the drum. A multiplicity of parallel walls increasing in height from the pump conduit to a drain hole, channels dripping liquid downwardly to the drain hole. The drain hole is axially aligned with the air hole on the drum. The drain hole has a threaded annular side wall which is engaged by complimentary external threads on a hollow stem of a plug for the drain hole. A top portion of the plug above the hollow stem constitutes a filter for preventing large solids from entering the drum. A fine filter is located in the hollow stem of the plug. By easily inserting and turning the plug, the drip pan is ready for receipt of any liquid dripping from the spout at the end of the pump conduit. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fifty-five gallon drum with an installed pump in its lid, the lid covered by the drain pan of this invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the drain pan of this invention with its filter plug ready for insertion in a drain hole. 
       FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view along line  3 A— 3 A in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional exploded view of the drain hole of  FIG. 2  and the filter plug. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a fifty-five gallon drum with an alternate filter in the drain hole of a drain pan covering the drum lid. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the drain pan of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6A  is a cross-sectional view along line  6 A— 6 A of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view of the drain hole in  FIG. 5  with a filter in the drain hole. 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the drain pan of  FIG. 2  with the addition of a magnetic ring around the drain hole. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the drain pan of  FIG. 2  with oppositely opposed side edge handles. 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded view of a drain plug having a central hollow column for receiving a dip stick. 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a cover over a drip pan of this invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the cover shown in  FIG. 10  hinged away from the drip pan. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a drip pan plug with a wing nut molded to its top. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a fifty-five gallon drum with a drip pan on its top and a hanging small bucket filling bracket. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the drip pan  10  of this invention has an annular external shape complimentary to the shape of a top surface  16  of a drum  12 , preferably a standard fifty-five gallon drum  12  containing a liquid. The drum  12  has a first hole  14  in top surface  16  through which a pump conduit  18  projects upwardly. A second hole  20  is an air hole through top surface  16 . 
   The drip pan  10  is positioned over top surface  16  so that an indentation  22  in a side wall  24  accommodates the pump conduit  18 . A top surface  26  of the drip pan  10  slants downwardly from a portion around indentation  22  to a drain hole  28  that is axially aligned to air hole  20  in drum  12 . Multiple parallel walls  30  increase in height from a portion  32  to a portion  34  as seen in  FIG. 3A . The parallel walls  30  form channels  36  which direct liquid, dripping from spout  40  at an end of pump conduit  18 , to the drain hole  28 . A rim  38  raises above top surface  26  to form the top edge of side wall  24 . 
   An easily inserted drain hole plug  42  is threadable engaged to drain hole  28 . Plug  42  has a downwardly depending threaded hollow stem  44  and an integral domed large particle filter  46  above the stem. The threaded stem  44  engages complimentary threads  48  in side wall  50  of drain hole  28 . As seen in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , a fine filter  52  is snapped into groove  56  in side wall  50  of plug  42 . A clockwise turning seats the plug  42  in drain hole  28 . If the filters  46  or  52 , become clogged with debris, the plug  42  can be unscrewed by turning in a counterclockwise direction, the filters cleared and the plug quickly replaced. 
   Alternatively, as seen in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 A AND  6 B, a drip pan  10   a  can substitute a fine particle filter  54   a  snapped into side groove  56   a  in drain hole  28 . The wall  50   a  of drain  28  contains the groove  56   a  to accommodate ring projection  58  around filter  54   a.    
   As seen in  FIG. 7 , a magnetized annular ring  60  surrounds stem  44  of plug  42  and is juxtaposed over the drip pan top surface  26 . Any iron metal particles passing through channels  36  towards the drain hole  28  will be captured on ring  60 . 
   Optimally, as seen in  FIG. 8  handles  62  can be fastened by glue, spot welding or by screws to sidewall  24 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 9 , plug  42   a  can have a hollow cylindrical channel  64  vertically centered in the domed large particle filter  46   a  so that a dip stick  66  can determine the amount of liquid remaining in drum  12 . 
   As seen in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the drip pan  10  can optionally have an annular cover plate  68  hinged  70  on the rim  38  of side wall  24 . The cover plate  68  has a filter  72  to prevent entry of large debris onto drip pan  10 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 12 , the plug  42   b  can have a wing nut  73  centered over the domed filter  46  to increase the ease of turning plug  42   b  in drain hole  28 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 13 , in order to accommodate small buckets or cans, a skirt  74  can be hung by U-tabs  76  on drum  12 . Integral with the skirt  74  is a filter grate  78  which allows dripped liquid to flow into drawer  80 . A support drawer  82  is substantially at a level parallel to the ground on which the drum  12  is placed. The skirt and grate  78  are supported in the parallel position to the ground by support arm  84 . 
   The drip pan  10  and its parts can be made from steel or aluminum or from a high strength polymer such as polycarbonate or polypropylene. 
   Other equivalent elements can be substituted for the elements of the inventive drip pan  10  to accomplish the same results in the same way.