Improvements in Metallic Drums or Cans for Oil and Similar Substances.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 19th Sept., 1900-Accepted, 20th Oct.,
1900
BORCRA DEPORTIVATION.
Improvements in Metallic Drums or Cans for Oil and Similar
Substances.
We, WILLIAM WALKER, FRANK WALKER, and RICHARD WALKER, Manu-
facturers, and JOSEPHI TIIOMAS FREESTONE, Chemist, all of African House, Water
Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention has reference to vessels generally called iron drums, for holding
oil, (or similar material), namely, to drums made of iron or steel, such as are
used by oil manufacturers or merchants for holding and delivering oil in con-
siderable quantities, but it also has reference to metal cans generally.
At the present time, oil drums of this character consist of a body of cylindrical
form, with dished heads or ends which are let into the ends of the cylinders and
sweated or soldered thereto; while outside each of these ends of the cylinders,
is a hoop or ring which strengthens the ends, and on which the drums run when
rolled. And it has also been proposed to fold the edge of the lid and bottom over
the ends of the cylinder.
The general experience with oil drums of this kind is that they become
defective in the use to which they are put: the joints become leaky, resulting
in the loss of oil: besides being generally objectionable. And where it has been
attempted to fold the edge of the lid and bottom, over the ends of the cylinder
or body, this has not proved to be practical, as hitherto proposed.
Now the chief object and effects of the present invention are to obviate these
defects and losses, and generally to make the drums strong and serviceable; and
according to this invention they are attained by the construction or mode of
manufacture of drum as follows:
The head and bottom of the drum are of dish shape, and the edges are folded
over the edges or ends of the drum, the bend of the folded over portion being
made in the form of a bead or roll, to form a tubular edge, the outer part of
which would project beyond the flat portions which are folded down, up against
the bottom of the drum. Or, the roll or bead may come on the inside or partly
inside and partly outside. By this construction, the metal at the bend is pre-
vented from being strained or cracked, and at the same time common plate sheet
metal of usual quality may be used and it has the further effect and advantage
of reinfercing or strengthening of these parts; besides also forming a finish to
the ends and surface, on which they can be readily rolled along.
With regard to the inner portions of the folded over parts, these may be
rolled down close against the body of the drum in which case, the natural
corrugations or irregularities which exist in the parts by the operations per-
formed upon them, will be rolled or flattened out. Or, these corrugations or
irregularities may be left by not pressing the fold down to such a degree: in
which case the solder used for making the joint enters well into the corruga-
tions, and insures a good and very strong joint being effected.

page_text: In the manufacture of the ends, that is, tops and bottoms of the drums, a
flat sheet is taken and then a central part is pressed down by suitable machinery
in dish form, the upper and also the lower bends or angles being rounded.
This dished article is then taken, and the outer edge is bent or rolled down
at an angle, or partially closed, by a suitable pressing machine, the upper head
or roll being maintained at the curve or radius required. The article in this
form is then ready to fit over the ends of the drum; and when this is done, they
are pressed down so that the edges of the drum goes up to the end of the bend,
whereupon the lower part of the outer metal is rolled up against the body of the
drum, leaving the bead or roll at the upper end, i.e. the tubular formation, as
above described. This action may be effected by revolving the drum, with
the ends in place, on mandrils, and pressing on the parts of the metal to be
folded over by a suitable roller tool.
In some cases, to ensure of the tubular formation at the ends being preserved
and not distorted, or actually trued up, the tool has a groove of the form of
the roll" required (or a special tool is employed), which fits and works over
and on this roll.
In some cases, when the drum is put together, as described, circular inden-
tations may be formed in the edges of the drum where the covers and body are
joined, so as to key the two parts together and prevent them moving. This
may be effected by a suitable rolling tool; or, in lieu of the circular indentations,
annular indentations may be rolled into the outer portion, forming the groove
or grooves by which the same ends will be effected."
101
T
1000
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.
Improvements in Metallic Drums or Cans for Oil and Similar
Substances.
We, WILLIAM WALKER, FRANK WALKER, and RICHARD WALKER, Manu-
facturers, and JOSEPHI THOMAS FREESTONE. Chemist, all of African House, Water
Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference to vessels generally called iron drums, for holding
oil, (or similar material), namely, to drums made of iron or steel, such as are
used by oil manufacturers or merchants for holding and delivering oil in con-
siderable quantities, but it also has reference to metal cans generally.
At the present time, oil drums of this character consist of a body of cylindrical
form, with dished heads or ends which are let into the ends of the cylinders and
sweated or soldered thereto: while outside each of these ends of the cylinders,
is a hoop or ring which strengthens the ends, and on which the drums run when
rolled. And it has also been proposed to fold the edge of the lid and bottom over
the ends of the cylinder.
The general experience with oil drums of this kind is that they become
defective in the use to which they are put: the joints become leaky, resulting
in the loss of oil besides being generally objectionable. And where it has been
attempted to fold the edge of the lid and bottom, over the ends of the cylinder
or body, this has not proved to be practical, as hitherto proposed.

page_text: Now the chief object and effects of the present invention are to obviate these
defects and losses, and generally to make the drums strong and serviceable, and
according to this invention they are attained by the construction or mode of
manufacture of drum as follows:-
The head and bottom of the drum are of dish shape, and the edges are folded
over the edges or ends of the drum, the bend of the folded over portion being
made in the form of a bead or roll, to form a tubular edge, the outer part of
which would project beyond the flat portions which are folded down, up against
the bottom of the drum. Or, the roll or bead may come on the inside or partly
inside and partly outside. By this construction, the metal at the bend is pre-
vented from being strained or cracked, and it has the further effect and ad-
vantage of reinforcing or strengthening of these parts: besides also forming a
finish to the end and surface, on which they can be readily rolled along.
With regard to the inner portions of the folded over parts, these may be
rolled down close against the body of the drum; in which case, the natural
corrugations or irregularities which exist in the parts by the operations per-
formed upon them, will be rolled or flattened out. Or, these corrugations or
irregularities may be left by not pressing the fold down to such a degree; in
which case the solder used for making the joint enters well into the corruga-
tions, and insures a good and very strong joint being effected.
In the manufacture of the ends, that is, tops and bottoms of the drums, a
flat sheet is taken, and then a central part is pressed down by a suitable machinery
in dish form, the upper and also the lower bends or angles being rounded.
This dished article is then taken, and the outer edge is bent or rolled down
at an angle, or partially closed by a suitable pressing machine, the upper bead
or roll being maintained at the curve or radius required. The article in this
form is then ready to fit over the ends of the drum; and when this is done, they
are pressed down so that the edges of the drum goes up to the end of the bend,
whereupon the lower part of the outer metal is rolled up against the body of the
drum, leaving the head or roll at the upper end .e. the tubular formation, as
above described. This action may be effected by revolving the drum, with
the ends in place, on mandrils, and pressing on the parts of the metal to be
folded over by a suitable roller tool.
In some cases, to ensure of the tubular formation at the ends being preserved
and not distorted, or actually trued up, the tool has a groove of the form of
the "roll" required (or a special tool is employed), which fits and works over
and on this roll.
In some cases, when the drum is put together as described, circular inden-
tations may be formed in the edges of the drum where the covers and body are
joined, so as to key the two parts together and prevent them moving. This
may be effected by a suitable rolling tool: or, in lieu of the circular indentations,
annular indentations may be rolled into the outer portion, forming the groove
or grooves by which the same ends will be effected."
The invention will be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings in
which Figure 1 is a general view partly in section, of the drum; and Figure 2
shews the form of the head and bottom, after the first action of the press upon
the discs, of which they are formed; and Figure 3 shews, on an enlarged scale,
the final form of the head and bottom before the fastening flanges are bent
down into the position shewn in Figure 1.
Figure 4 shows a detail of the construction or form of the head and bottom,
when fastened in position on the body, to an enlarged scale.
Referring to the drawings, a is the body of the drum; and b are the head
and bottom. This head and bottom b, as shewn in the drawings, are the same.
and each is of dished form, as shewn; the central portion being depressed, and
the sides, b', of the depressed part fits inside the end of the body of the drum;
whilst the outer part 2 is in the form of a flange.
The angle of the flange b2 where it joins up with the part b¹ is, in its manu-

page_text: facture, curved at a considerable radius, as shewn in Figure 2. The flange is
then bent down, as shewn in Figure 3 with suitable known tools, forming a
large bend at 63, of comparatively large radius. The cover is in this form
ready to be placed on the end of the body and fastened down. In this fastening
drum, the outer part of the flange 62 is pressed down by revolving the drum
in any known suitable revolving machine, and pressing a tool up against this
part; and made to lie flat (see Figures 1 & 4) on the outside of the body a;
while the roll or tubular edge 63 remains in a truly tubular form, standing out
from the side of the body and covers.
After the flange 62 is pressed or rolled down firmly against the sides of the
body, it is soldered or sweated suitably thereto, in the usual way.
The depth of the cover plate b, from the end of the body, is such, and the
flat part 2 of the flange is so arranged in relation thereto, that the plane in
which the plate lies is between the ends of the soldered flat part 2 of the
flange. This is important, as it provides rigidity to the construction and pre-
vents the bending of the soldered and jointed parts.
When the head or bottom are placed in position in the body a, and ready for
fastening, the end upon which they fit is cylindrical, as shewn in Figure 3:
whilst when the flange b² is bent down, the upper edge of the body is generally,
but not necessarily, turned outwards, as shewn in Figure 1, this being effected
by the tools employed in the operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. The herein described improvement in metallic drums or cans, for oil and
similar substances, namely, a drum or can, having a head, or head and bottom
of dished form, fitting over the ends of the body, and having a hollow bead or
roll, or tubular edge, at the outer edge, and a Hange or part beyond this bead
or roll, bent down onto, and lying upon the outside of the body; substantially
as and for the purposes specified.
2. A drum or can for holding oil or similar substances, comprising a cylindrical
body a, with head and bottom b, each consisting of a dish shaped inside portion b¹
fitting in the inside of the end of the body, a hollow or tubular edge, ³, bent
over and round, and a flange portion 62, being an annular continuation of the
tubular edge, lying parallel with, and soldered upon the outside of the drum;
as set forth with reference to and shewn in the drawings.
Dated this 17th day of September 1900.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicants' Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.