Device for closing a barrel by a single person

Abstract

The invention relates to a closing device (1) for a barrel (90) comprising a bottom (92), an opening (94) opposite the bottom (92) and a cover (95) which closes this opening (94) by snap-fastening. The device (1) comprises a rigid upper base (20) which has on its periphery at least four upper support members (29) and is such that in a closing position where the cover (95) closes the opening (94) the upper base (20) is placed against the cover (95) with the upper support members (29) located on the circumference of the cover (95), two of which are diametrically opposed, the closing device (1) being able to receive a strap (70) which passes along the bottom (92) and through the diametrically opposed upper support members (29) so that a single operator can close the opening (94) with the cover (95) by tightening the strap (70) around the barrel (90). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Device for closing a barrel by a single person

[0001] Drums are known which are intended to contain various materials, for example radioactive materials. These drums are closed by snapping a deformable cover onto the side wall at the opening of the drum. In general, these drums are too large and / or the force required to perform the snapping is too great for the drum to be closed by a single operator. Thus, the force required to perform the clipping may be too great because the material of the cover is too rigid and / or the deformation of the rim of the cover required to perform the clipping is too great. For example, these drums have a diameter greater than fifty centimeters and a height greater than seventy centimeters.

[0002] The present invention relates to a device for closing a barrel comprising a body with a bottom and a side wall with an opening located opposite the bottom, and comprising a cover capable of closing this opening by snap-fastening onto the side wall.

[0003] The purpose of this type of lid is to close the drum without it being possible to open it without specific tools and / or without risking damage to the lid or the drum. It is possible to close the drum by compression in a press which presses on the lid. However, this process is not practical and is a waste of time because it requires moving the drum to the press. In addition, a press is not necessarily available on the industrial site where the drums are located.

[0004] The only known manual solution for closing a drum therefore requires the simultaneous work of two operators. A first operator blocks one side of the lid in position on the drum with his hands, a second operator applies strong pressure on the opposite side of the lid. This operation is delicate and can become a source of MSD (Musculoskeletal Disorders) type accidents. For example, for a lid with a rim with six side closing tabs, this operation must be carried out at least four times to clip the six tabs onto the rim of the drum, which is a waste of time. In addition, this operation is painful for the operator when he has to close several drums in a row. Description of the invention

[0005] The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks.

[0006] The invention aims to propose a closing device which allows a single operator to close the barrel in a single operation and which makes it possible to minimize the efforts likely to cause musculoskeletal disorders during this operation. This The device must also be easy and quick to use, and on drums of any size.

[0007] This object is achieved by the fact that the device is portable and that it comprises on the one hand a rigid upper base which has on its periphery at least four upper support members and on the other hand a strap, the closing device being such that in a closing position where the cover closes the opening the upper base is able to be placed against the cover with the at least four upper support members located on the circumference of the cover and with two of the upper support members diametrically opposed, the strap passing along the bottom and passing over the diametrically opposed upper support members so that a single operator is able to close said opening with the cover by tightening the strap around the barrel.

[0008] Thanks to these provisions, a single operator, by a single and simple action of tightening a strap, is able to close a drum with a cover initially positioned on this drum. This action requires minimum force, and makes it possible to avoid musculoskeletal disorders for the operator as much as possible.

[0009] For example, the closing device further comprises a rigid lower base which has on its periphery two lower support members, and is such that in the closed position the lower base is placed against the bottom with the lower support members located on the circumference of the bottom at two diametrically opposite points and the strap passing over the lower support members.

[0010] For example, the upper base includes a mechanism for centering the upper base on the cover.

[0011] For example, the centering mechanism comprises at least one relief which is capable of matching a complementary relief on the cover.

[0012] For example, the upper base comprises a first bar with two ends and a second bar with two ends which is orthogonal to the first bar, the ends of the first bar carrying one of the upper support members.

[0013] For example, the upper base has a continuous peripheral crown which carries the upper support members.

[0014] For example, the upper base is a flat or domed disc

[0015] For example, the closing device comprises a mechanism for tightening the strap with a non-return ratchet which is fixed on the upper base.

[0016] The invention also relates to a method for closing a barrel comprising a body with a bottom and a side wall with an opening located opposite the bottom, and comprising on the one hand a cover capable of closing this opening by snapping onto the side wall.

[0017] According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps: (a) a portable closure device is provided which comprises a rigid upper base which has on its periphery at least four upper support members; (b) the opening is closed with the cover; (c) positioning the upper base against the cover such that the at least four upper support members are located on the circumference of the cover with two of the upper support members diametrically opposed; (d) a strap is provided which belongs to the closure device and the strap is positioned along the bottom; (e) the strap is positioned on the diametrically opposite upper support members; (f) the opening is closed with the cover by tightening the strap around the barrel.

[0018] For example, the closing device further comprises a rigid lower base which has on its periphery two lower support members, and in a step (c') the lower base is positioned against the bottom with the lower support members located on the circumference of the bottom at two diametrically opposite points, and in step (d) the strap is positioned on the lower support members.

[0019] The invention will be better understood and its advantages will appear better on reading the detailed description which follows, of embodiments shown as non-limiting examples. The description refers to the appended drawings in which:

[0020] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of the barrel and the closing device according to the first embodiment of the closing device according to the invention, in the closed position.

[0021] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a top view of the barrel and the closing device of the [Fig.l].

[0022] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is an exploded perspective view of the barrel and the device of closure according to the second embodiment of the closing device according to the invention.

[0023] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a view of the lower part of the barrel and the device of closing of [Fig.3].

[0024] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is an exploded perspective view of the lower part of the barrel and of the closing device in a second embodiment variant of the closing device according to the invention.

[0025] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a bottom view of the barrel and the closing device of the [Fig.5]. Detailed description of the invention

[0026] In the text below, by rigid part, we mean that the part is not deformable to the naked eye by human force alone. In particular, this part is more rigid than the portion of the lid of the barrel which is deformable by an operator to clip onto the walls of the barrel. The invention is described below in the case of a cylindrical barrel of circular section, however the invention applies to a barrel of other sections and other geometries.

[0027] We consider drums which close by snapping a lid onto the side wall at the opening of the drum.

[0028] Consider a barrel 90 which extends along a longitudinal axis X. The barrel 90 comprises a body 91 with a bottom 92 and a side wall 93 with an opening 94 located opposite the bottom 92, as shown in [Fig.l]. The side wall 93 ends with an edge 931 which delimits the opening 94. This barrel 90 comprises a cover 95 which closes the barrel 90 in a closed position by closing this opening 94. This closing is carried out by snapping the cover 95 onto the side wall 93. The edge 931 is not visible in [Fig.l] because the cover 95 is shown in the closed position, but it is visible in [Fig.3] described below.

[0029] To close the barrel 90, the cover 95 is placed against the opening 94 so as to close the opening 94. The cover 95 and the body 91 are thus aligned along the longitudinal axis X. This position is called the “closed position”. The cover 95 comprises a rim 951 which deforms elastically to clip onto the edge 931. For example, as illustrated in [Fig.l], the rim 951 comprises a plurality of tabs 952 and the edge 931 comprises a groove 932. When the cover 95 is pressed against the barrel 90 in the direction of the longitudinal axis X, the tabs 952 move radially outwards under the action of the edge 931 and then come together to fit into the groove 932, returning to their initial position (undeformed position). The cover 95 is thus secured to the body 91. The barrel 90 is then in its closed position.

[0030] The closing device 1 comprises a rigid upper base 20 which has on its periphery at least four upper support members 29. The closing device 1 is shaped in such a way that in the closed position at least four of the upper support members 29 are located on the circumference of the cover 95, that is to say that the upper support members 29 extend to the edge of the cover 95 or almost to the edge of the cover 95 or beyond the edge of the cover 95. Two of the upper support members 29 are diametrically opposed with respect to the geometric center of the upper base 20. In the closed position, this geometric center is located on the longitudinal axis X.

[0031] The closing device 1 of the barrel 90 according to the invention is portable. This means that it can be handled and transported by a single operator without fatigue. For example, the weight of the closing device 1 is less than 20 kg, for example less than 15 kg, for example less than 10 kg.

[0032] A first embodiment of the closing device 1 is described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of the barrel 90 in the closed position. [Fig. 2] is a top view of the barrel of [Fig. 1], i.e. perpendicular to the X axis. The upper base 20 comprises a first bar 21 with two opposite ends (211, 212) and a second bar 22 with two opposite ends (221, 222) which is orthogonal to the first bar 21 and integral with the first bar 21. Each of the ends (211, 212) of the first bar 21 carries one of the upper support members 29. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first bar 21 extends slightly beyond the edge of the cover 95 and the second bar 22 extends to near the edge of the cover 95. Each of the ends (221, 222) of the second bar 22 carries one of the upper support members 29.In the closed position, each of the bars (21, 22) is positioned against the cover 95. Four of the upper support members 29 are located on the circumference of the cover 95.

[0033] The closing device 1 further comprises a strap 70. In the closing position, the strap 70 passes along the bottom 92 of the barrel 90 and passes over the two diametrically opposite upper support members 29. The strap 70 therefore surrounds the barrel 90 and extends in a plane passing through the longitudinal axis X. This plane is defined by the axis X and a transverse axis Y perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X. The strap 70 extends along the transverse axis Y along the upper cover 20. Thus, a single operator is able to close the opening 94 with the cover 95 by tightening the strap 70 around the barrel 90, that is to say to move from the closing position to the closing position of the barrel 90. The first bar 21 comprises a groove 17 in which the strap 70 passes.When the strap 70 is tightened, all the upper support members 29 simultaneously exert a force along the longitudinal axis X on the circumference of the cover 95 so that the cover 95 clips onto the side wall 93 of the barrel 90 as described above.

[0034] Alternatively, the upper base 20 has a continuous peripheral crown which carries the upper support members 29.

[0035] For example, the upper base 20 is a wheel having a hub, a crown and a plurality of spokes connecting the hub to this crown. For example, this wheel has four orthogonal spokes, each of the four upper support members 29 being located on this crown at the end of one of the spokes.

[0036] Alternatively, the upper base 20 is a disc. A disc is understood to mean a piece with a circular, flat or curved periphery. For example, the disc is curved outwards to form a convex disc. For example, the disc is conical or hemispherical in shape. Each of the four upper support members 29 is located on the periphery of the disc.

[0037] A second embodiment of the invention is described below, with reference to Figures 3 and 4. [Fig. 3] is an exploded perspective view of the barrel 90 and the closure device 1. For clarity, the strap 70 is omitted. The upper base 20 is identical between the first and second embodiments. In the second embodiment, the closure device 1 further comprises a rigid lower base 10 which has on its periphery two lower support members 19. These lower support members 19 are diametrically opposed relative to the geometric center of the lower base 10. In the closed position, the lower base 10 is placed against the bottom 92 and the lower support members 19 are located on the circumference of the bottom 92 at two diametrically opposed points. The strap 70 passes over the lower support members 19. The strap 70 extends along the transverse axis Y along the lower cover 10.For example, as shown in [Fig.3], the lower base 10 is a rectilinear bar which includes a groove 17 in which the strap 70 passes, and which therefore extends along the transverse axis Y. [Fig.4] is a view of the lower part of the barrel 90 in a plane perpendicular to the transverse axis Y with the strap 70, which shows the bottom 92 of the barrel 90 and the lower base 10.

[0038] The lower base 10 helps to pass the strap under the barrel 90, to keep it centered on the bottom 91, and to facilitate the sliding of the strap 70 along the bottom 91 during the tightening of the strap 70.

[0039] Advantageously, the upper base 20 comprises a centering mechanism 30 for centering the upper base 20 on the cover 95 which makes it possible to position the upper base 20 radially relative to the longitudinal axis X. Thus, the centering mechanism 30 contributes to fixing the upper base 20 against the cover 95 in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X. The centering mechanism 30 comprises at least one relief 31 which is capable of matching a complementary relief on the cover 95. For example, the relief 31 is a male (respectively female) relief and the complementary relief is a female (respectively male) relief. Thus, the centering mechanism 30 depends on the geometry of the cover 95.

[0040] For example, the relief 31 is a plurality of reliefs 31 which are each located on one of said upper support members 29 and which fit a portion of the cover 95. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, each relief 31 is a groove located on the support members 29 of the first bar 21 and of the second bar 22 which cooperates with a circumferential rib 953 located on the cover 95.

[0041] Alternatively, or in addition, the relief 31 is a disc which is housed in a central hollow of the cover 95.

[0042] Advantageously, the lower base 10 also comprises a lower centering mechanism 50 for the lower base 10 on the bottom 92 which makes it possible to position the lower base 10 radially against the bottom 92 relative to the longitudinal axis X. lower centering mechanism 50 comprises at least one relief which is capable of matching a complementary relief on the bottom 92.

[0043] Figures 5 and 6 illustrate an example of such a lower centering mechanism 50. For example, this lower centering mechanism 50 comprises a disc 51 which is housed in a central hollow 952 of the bottom 92. The lower base 10 comprises a straight bar which is similar to that described previously and which is fixed on the disc 51. This bar extends along a diameter of the disc 51. [Fig. 5] is an exploded perspective view of the lower base 10 and the lower part of the barrel 90 with the bottom 92. [Fig. 6] is a bottom view of the bottom 92 with the disc 51 housed in the central hollow 952 of the bottom 92. For the sake of clarity, the strap 70 is not shown.

[0044] The closing device 10 may comprise the centering mechanism 30 and the lower centering mechanism 50 regardless of the embodiment.

[0045] Advantageously, the closing device 1 comprises a tightening mechanism 40 for the strap 70 with a non-return ratchet 41 which is fixed to the upper base 20. This non-return ratchet 41 allows the operator to carry out the tightening progressively by applying successive forces, and in such a way that between two successive forces the strap does not loosen. The tightening operation is thus facilitated. This tightening mechanism 40 is illustrated in figures 1 to 3. The closing device 10 can comprise the tightening mechanism 40 whatever the embodiment.

[0046] Advantageously, the upper base 20 is provided with a lifting mechanism. Thus, the barrel 90, once equipped with the closing device 1, can be hooked by this lifting mechanism to a handling machine and be transported. For example, this lifting mechanism is a ring or a hook.

[0047] Advantageously, the lower base 10 is provided with a handling mechanism. Such a handling mechanism is shaped to assist the transport of the barrel 90 using a handling machine. For example, this handling machine is a trolley with a fork and the handling mechanism is constituted by a pair of grooves which are located on the lower face of the lower base 10, each groove being able to receive a branch of the fork when the barrel 90 provided with the closing device 1 is placed on the ground. Thus, the barrel 90 is able to be easily mounted on the trolley.

[0048] The closing device 1 is removable and is therefore suitable for being used to close a first barrel 90 and then for being removed once the barrel is closed and for being used to close another barrel 90.

[0049] The invention also relates to a method for closing a barrel 90 as described above. First, the opening 94 is closed with the cover 95. The cover 95 is then in the closed position (step (b)). Then, the upper base 20 is positioned against the cover 95 so that the four members upper support members 29, or more, are located on the circumference of the cover 95 (step (c)). The strap 70 is positioned along the bottom 92 of the barrel 90 (step (d)) and the strap 70 is positioned on the two upper support members 29 which are diametrically opposed (step (e)). Then, the opening 94 is closed with the cover 95 by tightening the strap 70 around the barrel 90 until the cover 95 clips onto the edge 931 of the side wall 93 and is secured to the body 91 (step (f)). Step (c) is carried out after step (b), and step (e) is carried out after step (c). Step (d) is carried out after step (b), and before or after step (c).

[0050] In the case where the closing device 1 further comprises a rigid lower base 10 with two lower support members 19, then in a step (c') the lower base 10 is positioned against the bottom 92 such that the lower support members 19 are located on the circumference of the bottom 92 at two diametrically opposite points. Then in step (d) the strap 70 is positioned on the lower support members 19. Step (c') and step (d) are carried out after step (b).

[0051] In a variant of the method, step (c') where appropriate and step (d) are carried out before step (b).

[0052] After tightening (step (f)), the closing device 1 with the strap 70 can be removed from the barrel 90 and used if desired to close another barrel 90.

Claims

Claims

1. Closing device (1) for a drum (90) comprising a body (91) with a bottom (92) and a side wall (93) with an opening (94) located opposite said bottom (92), and comprising a cover (95) capable of closing this opening (94) by snap-fastening onto said side wall (93), said device (1) being characterized in that it is portable and in that it comprises on the one hand a rigid upper base (20) which has on its periphery at least four upper support members (29) and on the other hand a strap (70), said closing device (1) being such that in a closing position where said cover (95) closes said opening (94) said upper base (20) is capable of being placed against said cover (95) with said at least four upper support members (29) located on the circumference of said cover (95) and with two of said members diametrically opposed upper support (29),said strap (70) passing along said bottom (92) and passing over said diametrically opposed upper support members (29) such that a single operator is able to close said barrel (90) with said opening (94) by tightening said strap (70) around said barrel (90).,

2. Closing device (1) according to claim 1 such that it further comprises a rigid lower base (10) which has on its periphery two lower support members (19), and such that in said closed position said lower base (10) is placed against said bottom (92) with said lower support members (19) located on the circumference of said bottom (92) at two diametrically opposite points and said strap (70) passing over said lower support members (19).

3. Closing device (1) according to claim 1 or 2 such that said upper base (20) comprises a centering mechanism (30) for said upper base (20) on said cover (95).

4. Closing device (1) according to claim 3 such that said centering mechanism (30) comprises at least one relief (31) which is capable of matching a complementary relief on said cover (95).

5. Closing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 such that said upper base (20) comprises a first bar (21) with two ends (211, 212) and a second bar (22) with two ends (221, 222) which is orthogonal to said first bar (21), said ends (211, 212) of the first bar (21) carrying one of said upper support members (29).

6. Closing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 such that said upper base (20) has a continuous peripheral crown which carries said upper support members (29).

7. Closing device (1) according to claim 6 such that said upper base (20) is a flat or domed disc.

8. Closing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 such that it comprises a tightening mechanism (40) of said strap (70) with a non-return ratchet (41) which is fixed on said upper base (20).

9. A method of closing a barrel (90) comprising a body (91) with a bottom (92) and a side wall (93) with an opening (94) located opposite said bottom (92), and comprising a cover (95) capable of closing this opening (94) by snap-fastening onto said side wall (93), said method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: (a) a portable closing device (1) is provided which comprises a rigid upper base (20) which has on its periphery at least four upper support members (29); (b) said opening (94) is closed with said cover (95); (c) said upper base (20) is positioned against said cover (95) such that said at least four upper support members (29) are located on the circumference of said cover (95) with two of said upper support members (29) diametrically opposed;(d) a strap (70) belonging to the closing device (1) is provided and said strap (70) is positioned along said bottom (92); (e) said strap (70) is positioned on said diametrically opposite upper support members (29); (f) said opening (94) is closed with said cover (95) by tightening said strap (70) around said barrel (90).;

10. Method for closing a barrel (90) according to claim 9 such that said closing device (1) further comprises a rigid lower base (10) which has on its periphery two lower support members (19), and such that in a step (c') said lower base (10) is positioned against said bottom (92) with said support members lower (19) located on the circumference of said bottom (92) at two diametrically opposite points, and such that in step (d) said strap (70) is positioned on said lower support members (19).

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