Single-person barrel closure device

Abstract

The invention relates to a closure device (1) for a drum (90) comprising a bottom (92), an opening (94) opposite the bottom (92) and a lid (95) which closes this opening (94) by snapping. The device (1) comprises a rigid upper base (20) having at least four upper support members (29) on its periphery and is such that, in a closed 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) is adapted to receive a strap (70) that passes along the bottom (92) and through the diametrically opposed upper support members (29) such 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 drum by a single person

[0001] Drums designed to contain various materials, for example radioactive materials, are known. These drums are closed by snapping a deformable lid onto the side wall at the drum opening. Generally, these drums are too large and / or the force required to snap the lid is too great for the drum to be closed by a single operator. Thus, the force required to snap the lid into place may be too great because the lid material is too rigid and / or the deformation of the lid rim required to snap the lid into place 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 drum closure device comprising a body with a bottom and a side wall with an opening located opposite the bottom, and comprising a lid capable of closing this opening by snapping onto the side wall.

[0003] The purpose of this type of lid is to seal the drum so that it cannot be opened without specific tools and / or without risking damage to the lid or the drum. It is possible to seal the drum by compression in a press that applies pressure to the lid. However, this method is impractical and time-consuming because it requires moving the drum to the press. Furthermore, a press is not necessarily available at the industrial site where the drums are located.

[0004] The only known manual method for closing a drum therefore requires the simultaneous work of two operators. One operator holds one side of the lid in position on the drum with their hands, while a second operator applies strong pressure to the opposite side of the lid. This operation is delicate and can become a source of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). For example, for a lid with a rim and six lateral locking tabs, this operation must be performed at least four times to clip the six tabs onto the rim of the drum, which is a waste of time. Furthermore, this operation is painful for the operator when they have to close several drums in succession. Description of the invention

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

[0006] The invention aims to provide a closing device that allows a single operator to close the drum in a single operation and that minimizes the effort likely to cause musculoskeletal disorders during this operation. The device must also be easy and quick to use, and on drums of any size.

[0007] This goal is achieved thanks to 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 closed 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 in such a way that a single operator is able to close said opening with the cover by tightening the strap around the barrel.

[0008] Thanks to these arrangements, a single operator, by a single and simple action of tightening a strap, is able to close a drum with a lid initially positioned on that drum. This action requires minimal force, and helps 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 two lower support members on its periphery, 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 opposed 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 lid.

[0011] For example, the centering mechanism includes at least one relief which is able to fit a complementary relief on the lid.

[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 ring which carries the upper support members.

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

[0015] For example, the closing device includes a clamping mechanism for the strap with a ratchet locking mechanism that is fixed to the upper base.

[0016] The invention also relates to a method for closing a drum comprising a body with a bottom and a side wall with an opening located opposite the bottom, and comprising on the one hand a lid 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 locking device is provided which includes a rigid upper base which has at least four upper support members on its periphery; (b) the opening is closed with the lid; (c) the upper base is positioned against the cover so 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 belonging to the fastening device is provided and the strap is positioned along the bottom; (e) the strap is positioned on the diametrically opposed 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 two lower support members on its periphery, and at 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 opposed points, and at step (d) the strap is positioned on the lower support members.

[0019] The invention will be better understood and its advantages will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description of embodiments shown by way of non-limiting examples. The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0020] [Fig-1] The [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 shaft and device closure according to the second embodiment of the closure device according to the invention.

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

[0024] [Fig. 5] [Fig. 5] is an exploded perspective view of the lower part of the shaft and the closing device in a variant of a second embodiment 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, the term "rigid part" means 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 drum lid that is deformable by an operator to... clip onto the walls of the drum. The invention is described below in the case of a cylindrical drum with a circular cross-section; however, the invention applies to drums of other cross-sections and geometries.

[0027] Consider drums which are closed by snapping a lid onto the side wall at the opening of the drum.

[0028] Consider a drum 90 extending along a longitudinal axis X. The drum 90 comprises a body 91 with a base 92 and a side wall 93 with an opening 94 located opposite the base 92, as shown in [Fig. 1]. The side wall 93 terminates in an edge 931 that defines the opening 94. This drum 90 includes a lid 95 that closes the drum 90 in a closed position by closing this opening 94. This closure is achieved by snapping the lid 95 onto the side wall 93. The edge 931 is not visible in [Fig. 1] because the lid 95 is shown in the closed position, but it is visible in [Fig. 3] described below.

[0029] To close the barrel 90, the lid 95 is placed against the opening 94 so as to seal the opening 94. The lid 95 and the body 91 are thus aligned along the longitudinal axis X. This position is called the "sealing position". The lid 95 includes a rim 951 which deforms elastically to clip onto the edge 931. For example, as illustrated in [Fig. 1], the rim 951 includes a plurality of tabs 952 and the edge 931 includes a groove 932. When the lid 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 lid 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 at least four upper support members 29 on its periphery. The closing device 1 is shaped such that in the closed position at least four of the upper support members 29 are located on the circumference of the cover 95, i.e. 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 drum 90 closure device 1 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 closure 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 Figures 1 and 2. [Fig.1] is a perspective view of the barrel 90 in the closed position. Figure 2 is a top view of the shaft of Figure 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 and integral with the first bar 21. Each end (211, 212) of the first bar 21 carries one of the upper support members 29. For example, as illustrated in Figures 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 end (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 includes a strap 70. In the closed position, the strap 70 passes along the bottom 92 of the barrel 90 and over the two diametrically opposed upper support members 29. The strap 70 thus encircles 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, i.e., to move the barrel 90 from the closed position to the closed position. The first bar 21 includes a groove 17 through 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 ring which carries the upper support members 29.

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

[0036] Alternatively, the upper base 20 is a disc. A disc is understood to be a piece with a circular periphery, flat or convex. For example, the disc is convex 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. Figure 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 in both the first and second embodiments. In the second embodiment, the closure device 1 further comprises a rigid lower base 10 which has two lower support members 19 on its periphery. These lower support members 19 are diametrically opposed with respect 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 straight bar which includes a groove 17 through 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 includes a centering mechanism 30 for positioning the upper base 20 on the cover 95, which allows the upper base 20 to be positioned radially with respect to the longitudinal axis X. Thus, the centering mechanism 30 helps to fix the upper base 20 against the cover 95 in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X. The centering mechanism 30 includes at least one relief 31 that is adapted to fit 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 figures 1 and 3, each relief 31 is a groove located on the support members 29 of the first bar 21 and 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 fits into a central hollow in the lid 95.

[0042] Advantageously, the lower base 10 also includes a lower centering mechanism 50 of the lower base 10 on the bottom 92 which allows the lower base 10 to be positioned radially against the bottom 92 with respect to the longitudinal axis X. The lower centering mechanism 50 includes at least one relief which is capable of conforming to a complementary relief on the background 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 fits into a central recess 952 in the base 92. The lower base 10 includes a straight bar, similar to the one described previously, which is fixed to 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 shaft 90 with the base 92. [Fig. 6] is a bottom view of the base 92 with the disc 51 housed in the central recess 952 of the base 92. For clarity, the strap 70 is not shown.

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

[0045] Advantageously, the fastening device 1 includes a strap clamping mechanism 40 for the strap 70 with a ratchet anti-return 41 fixed to the upper base 20. This ratchet anti-return 41 allows the operator to tighten the strap gradually by applying successive forces, ensuring that the strap does not loosen between successive forces. The tightening operation is thus facilitated. This clamping mechanism 40 is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3. The fastening device 10 may include the clamping mechanism 40 in any embodiment.

[0046] Advantageously, the upper base 20 is equipped with a lifting mechanism. Thus, the drum 90, once fitted with the locking device 1, can be hung by this lifting mechanism on a handling machine and transported. For example, this lifting mechanism is a ring or a hook

[0047] Advantageously, the lower base 10 is equipped with a handling mechanism. Such a handling mechanism is designed to assist in transporting the drum 90 using a handling machine. For example, this handling machine is a trolley with forks, and the handling mechanism consists of a pair of grooves located on the underside of the lower base 10, each groove being able to receive a fork shank when the drum 90, equipped with the locking device 1, is placed on the ground. Thus, the drum 90 can be easily mounted on the trolley.

[0048] The closing device 1 is removable and is therefore suitable for use to close a first drum 90 and then for removal once the drum is closed and for use to close another drum 90.

[0049] The invention also relates to a method for closing a drum 90 as described above. First, the opening 94 is sealed with the lid 95. The lid 95 is then in the closed position (step (b)). Next, the upper base 20 is positioned against the lid 95 such that the four components The 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 diametrically opposed upper support members 29 (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 performed after step (b), and step (e) is performed after step (c). Step (d) is performed 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 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 one variant of the process, step (c') if applicable 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

Demands

1. A closure device (1) for a drum (90) comprising a body (91) with a base (92) and a side wall (93) with an opening (94) located opposite said base (92), and comprising a lid (95) adapted to close this opening (94) by snapping it 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) having at least four upper support members (29) on its periphery and, on the other hand, a strap (70), said closure device (1) being such that in a closed position where said lid (95) closes said opening (94), said upper base (20) is adapted to be placed against said lid (95) with said at least four upper support members (29) located on the circumference of said lid (95) and with two of said upper support members (29) diametrically opposed,said strap (70) passing along said bottom (92) and over said diametrically opposed upper support members (29) in such a way 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. A closure device (1) according to claim 1 further comprising a rigid lower base (10) having 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) situated on the circumference of said bottom (92) at two diametrically opposed points and said strap (70) passing over said lower support members (19).

3. Closure device (1) according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said upper base (20) comprises a centering mechanism (30) of said upper base (20) on said cover (95).

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

5. A locking device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein 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. Closure device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said upper base (20) has a continuous peripheral ring which carries said upper support members (29).

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

8. Closure device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein it comprises a clamping mechanism (40) for said strap (70) with a ratchet (41) which is fixed on said upper base (20).

9. A method for closing 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 lid (95) capable of closing this opening (94) by snapping it 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 at least four upper support members (29) on its periphery; (b) said opening (94) is closed with said lid (95); (c) said upper base (20) is positioned against said lid (95) such that said at least four upper support members (29) are located on the circumference of said lid (95) with two of said upper support members (29) diametrically opposite;(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 opposed upper support members (29); (f) said opening (94) is closed with said cover (95) by tightening said strap (70) around said barrel (90).

10. A method for closing a drum (90) according to claim 9, wherein said closing device (1) further comprises a rigid lower base (10) having two lower support members (19) on its periphery, and wherein at 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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