Apparatus for refurbishing thermoplastic drum
AssigneeDowling & Son, Inc.
InventorsVirgil E. Dowling, Ray P. Richard, Samuel G. Dowling, Johnny M. Seago
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Abstract
The present invention comprises an apparatus for repairing or refurbishing thermoplastic drums, by which a damaged drum, or at least a damaged portion thereof, is heated until it reaches a softened state and is then drawn over a template, or mold, having the substantially the same shape and size of an undamaged barrel. The drum is allowed to cool sufficiently to return to its hardened state, whereby it substantially assumes the shape of the template. The refurbished drum is then removed from the template and is essentially ready to be used again.
Claims7
An apparatus for refurbishing a thermoplastic drum comprising:
- a template for said drum, said template comprising
- a body having substantially the same shape and size as the desired refurbished shape and size of said drum;
- and
- an upper surface comprising an ejection cap separable from said body;
- and
- an ejector positioned within said template and in engagement with said ejection cap, said ejector operational to cause said ejection cap to separate from the body in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said template.
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said ejector comprises
- a pneumatic cylinder and piston, the piston comprising an upper end attached to the ejection cap, said cylinder capable of driving said piston and ejection cap in an upward direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said template.
An apparatus for refurbishing a damaged thermoplastic drum comprising:
- means for heating said drum until it reaches a softened state;
- a template having exterior dimensions substantially matching the desired interior dimensions of the refurbished drum;
- means for drawing said drum over said template;
- means for removing said drum from said template.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.