US 4,257,527 AGranted

Plastic drum

AssigneeSnyder Industries, Inc.

InventorsLarry L. Snyder, LaVelle H. Hansen

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Abstract

A drum capable of being molded in 55 gallon size from high density, cross-linked polyethylene. The drum body or shell has substantially cylindrical walls closed at both ends, respectively, by top and bottom end pieces or heads integral with the sidewalls. The drum includes an integrally molded hollow arcuate chime located at the intersection of the top end piece or head and the cylindrical sidewall and extending circumferentially around the drum. A plurality of rolling hoops located between the top and bottom end pieces extend circumferentially around the drum and protrude sufficiently outward from the drum walls to permit sufficient engagement by the forks of a forklift to support a fully loaded drum thereon. The drum may be reinforced by a plurality of inwardly protruding vertical ribs which run continuously substantially from the top to the bottom of the drum. The top end piece or head includes at least one bunghole integrally formed therewith. The bunghole is threaded to receive a bung and, preferably, is elevated from the plane of the top end piece.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A drum molded of cross-linked, high density polyethylene, said drum comprising:

(a) a body having a continuous substantially cylindrical wall of cross-linked polyethylene closed at its top and bottom ends, respectively, by top and bottom end pieces of cross-linked polyethylene molded and formed integrally with said continuous wall;
(b) an arcuate, hollow load bearing chime of cross-linked polyethylene integrally molded and formed with and connecting the top of said wall with said top end piece, said chime extending above the surface of said top end piece, and comprising a substantially arcuate outer wall, integral with and connected to the top of said continuous wall by a short outwardly flared section of said continuous wall, and an inner wall connected between said outer wall and said top surface, said chime being capable of being lifted and supported by parrot-beak type drum handling equipment;
(c) at least one rolling hoop formed integrally with said continuous wall and located in the body of said drum between said chime and said bottom end piece, said hoop extending circumferentially around said continuous wall and capable of being engaged by the forks of a forklift regardless of the orientation of said cylinder relative to the forklift, said hoop further extending outwardly from said continuous wall a sufficient distance to support a fully loaded drum when said hoop is engaged by the forks of the forklift;
and
(d) a plurality of vertical ribs formed integrally with said continuous wall at spaced circumferential positions and extending inwardly therefrom.

2 more elements

A drum molded of cross-linked, high density polyethylene, said drum comprising:

(a) a body having a continuous substantially cylindrical wall of cross-linked polyethylene closed at its top and bottom ends, respectively, by top and bottom end pieces of cross-linked polyethylene molded and formed integrally with said continuous wall;
(b) an annular load-bearing chime of cross-linked polyethylene extending around the circumference of said cylinder and above the surface of said top end piece, said chime being integrally molded and formed with and connecting the top of said wall with said top end piece, said chime being capable of being lifted and supported by parrott-beak type drum handling equipment;
(c) at least one rolling hoop formed integrally with said continuous wall and located in the body of said drum between said annular chime and said bottom end piece, said hoop extending circumferentially around said continuous wall and capable of being engaged by the forks of a forklift regardless of the orientation of said cylinder relative to the forklift, said hoop further extending outwardly from said continuous wall a sufficient distance to support a fully loaded drum when said hoop is engaged by the forks of the forklift;
(d) a bunghole formed in said top end piece, said bunghole having a threaded opening therein and a top surface with a polygonal recess therein, said top surface of said bunghole being raised above the top surface of said end piece by a flange integrally molded with and connecting said bunghole and said top end piece, said flange being capable of absorbing expansion between said bunghole and said top surface when the pressure of the contents of said drum is increased;
and
(e) a threaded polygonal insert having a threaded opening therein, said polygonal insert being adapted to be screwed into said bunghole until said insert is locked in said recess, for receiving a bung to close said opening therein.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.