DRAIN PLUG CLOSURE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a bung plug closure for bung containers, comprising a bung plug for arrangement in a bung spout of the bung container and a sealing cap for closing a plug recess formed in the bung plug, wherein the plug recess has a receiving space for receiving a form-elastic engagement element formed on the sealing cap, and the bung plug has key lugs arranged on an inner wall of the plug recess, spaced apart from one another by intermediate gaps, which define the receiving space with inner surfaces that form at least partial guide surfaces for the axial guidance of an annular locking projection of the engagement element when the engagement element is inserted into the plug recess, wherein counter-locking elements are provided in the plug recess for locking the annular locking projection of the engagement element with the bung plug.which extend radially beyond the ring-shaped detent projection of the engagement body after detent.

[0002] A plug closure of the type mentioned above is known from EP 2 144 821 B1 and DE 10 2009 022 800 B3. For locking the annular locking projection of the engagement body with the bung plug, counter-locking elements are provided on the inner surface of the key lugs of the bung plug, which project radially inwards beyond the annular locking projection of the engagement body after locking.In the area of ​​the spaces formed between the key points, the annular locking projection of the engagement body protrudes into an engagement space accessible from above, making it possible to use a suitably designed manipulation tool to grip a sealing cap arranged on the bung plug and to deform the annular locking projection of the engagement body radially inwards in the area of ​​the spaces, in order to release the annular locking projection from the elastic engagement with the counter-locking elements formed on the inner surface of the key points and to remove the sealing cap from the bung plug without damaging a predetermined breaking device formed in a cap cover.

[0003] This means that it is possible to tamper with the bung plug without this being externally visible on the sealing cap, so the desired tamper protection provided by the sealing cap is not achieved.

[0004] The present invention is therefore based on the objective of proposing a bung plug closure with increased security against tampering.

[0005] To solve this problem, the bung plug closure according to the invention has the features of claim 1.

[0006] According to the invention, the counter-locking elements are arranged in the area of ​​the gaps above an annular enclosure formed outside the gaps by lower sections of the inner surfaces of the key attachments, such that the annular locking projection is received by the annular enclosure.

[0007] The inventive design of the bung plug with counter-locking elements in the area of ​​the spaces above an annular enclosing that receives the annular locking projection hinders access to the locking projection of the engagement body in the area of ​​the spaces. Furthermore, the enclosing surrounding the annular locking projection of the engagement body forms a deformation barrier, particularly in the area of ​​the spaces, since, when a radial force is applied to the locking projection, it is supported at least partially by the enclosing. Thus, even if the counter-locking elements in the area of ​​the spaces are destroyed as a result of tool intervention during a manipulation attempt, deformation of the annular locking projection of the engagement body is considerably impeded.

[0008] This advantageous effect does not necessarily require a continuous, circumferential edging, but also occurs when an edging is formed at least partially within the gaps, thus making deformation of the annular locking projection more difficult during a manipulation attempt. This effect therefore also occurs when gaps are formed in the edging in sections. Furthermore, for the advantageous effect of the edging, it is not necessary for the annular edging to have a constant diameter to accommodate the locking projection of the engagement body. As long as the edging effectively prevents deformation of the engagement body, it can also have segments that project into or are recessed within the receiving space.

[0009] In particular, the ring-shaped edging, as well as the ring-shaped locking projection of the engagement body, can be composed of segments arranged in a ring shape while maintaining the basic ring shape.

[0010] The size of any gaps in the edging that may form in the area of ​​the spaces between the edging can be without significantly restricting the deformation-preventing effect of the edging depends, among other things, on the deformation stiffness of the annular locking projection of the engagement body.

[0011] Preferably, the annular edging is limited downwards by a circumferential edge of a trough bottom of the plug trough, so that the edging not only makes radial deformation of the annular locking projection of the engagement body more difficult, but also makes it more difficult for the annular locking projection to engage underneath, especially when the annular locking projection is in contact with the circumferential edge of the trough bottom.

[0012] Preferably, the circumferential edge of the trough bottom is raised above the ground to form a depression, so that the plug depression extends downwards beyond the circumferential edge and the depression formed in the bung plug provides an extended engagement or guide space for a bung plug wrench, which serves to remove the bung plug after removing the sealing cap, in order to accommodate, for example, a guide pin of the bung plug wrench.

[0013] In a particular embodiment, the annular frame in the area of ​​the gaps is bounded upwards by radially outwardly extending platform surfaces, such that the annular frame in the area of ​​the gaps is formed by front surfaces of support platforms formed in the gaps. The support platforms ensure particular rigidity of the frame in the area of ​​the gaps.

[0014] A particularly rigid design of the support platforms is possible if the platform surfaces of the support platforms formed in the area of ​​the gaps are formed by a support collar formed on the inner wall of the tongue plug, extending radially inwards.

[0015] In a further preferred embodiment, the ring-shaped edging in the area of ​​the gaps is formed by webs connecting the key joints, wherein material recesses are provided between the webs and the inner wall of the plug recess, so that the webs form an effective deformation barrier in the area of ​​the gaps, while simultaneously minimizing the material used to form the deformation barrier.

[0016] If radially inwardly projecting ridges are formed in the spaces between the inner wall of the bung recess, these ridges create an obstacle when attempting to insert a manipulation tool from above. Furthermore, a centered position of the bung wrench within the bung recess can be achieved, thus enabling optimal transmission of the wrench's torque to the wrench's points, facilitating the insertion or removal of the bung.

[0017] If the bung plug has a step-like cross-section in the area of ​​the gaps, extending from the counter-locking element over the edging, the circumferential edge of the trough bottom and a sleeve-shaped shoulder formed in the transition to the bottom, sloping radially inwards, a high degree of rigidity of the bung plug is achieved with minimal material usage in a forming process such as injection molding.

[0018] If the key points of the bung plug have a raised edge at the upper edge of the inner surfaces, such that a recess is formed between the raised edge and an upper circumferential edge of the inner wall of the plug recess, the raised edge rib creates a further obstacle to inserting a manipulation tool into the plug recess. Furthermore, the recess allows the lower edge of a second bung plug arranged on top of a first bung plug to be received, thus forming a stacking aid. This enables a defined stacking arrangement of multiple bung plugs to simplify storage during automatic feeding of the bung plugs to a bung socket for subsequent automatic screwing.

[0019] Preferred embodiments of the bung plug closure are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing.

[0020] They show: Fig. 1: a bung plug closure according to the prior art in an isometric partial section view; Fig. 2: an embodiment of a bung plug closure according to the invention in an isometric partial sectional view with a bung plug in a first embodiment; Fig. 3: the in Fig. 2 shown bung plug in individual representation; Fig. 4: a top view of the in Fig. 3 illustrated bung plug; Fig. 5: a sectional view of the in Fig. 3 depicted bung plug according to section line V - V in Fig. 4 ; Fig. 6: a bung plug according to a further embodiment; Fig. 7: a top view of the in Fig. 6 depicted bung plug; Fig. 8: a sectional view of the in Fig. 6 depicted bung plug according to section line VIII - VIII in Fig. 7 ; Fig. 9:another embodiment of a bung plug; Fig. 10: a top view of the in Fig. 9 depicted bung plug; Fig. 11: a sectional view of the in Fig. 9 depicted bung plug according to section line IX - IX in Fig. 10 .

[0021] Fig. 1Figure 1 shows a bung plug closure according to the prior art with a sealing cap 11 arranged on a bung plug 10. The bung plug 10 is provided with an external thread 12 for screwing into a bung socket (not shown in detail here). The bung plug 10 has a plug recess 13 with wrench lugs 15 formed on an inner wall 14 of the plug recess 13, which are separated from each other by gaps 16. The gaps 16 are bounded circumferentially by drive surfaces 17, which serve to engage radial lugs of a bung plug wrench (not shown in detail here) inserted into the plug recess 13, in order to transmit a screw torque to the bung plug 10 for screwing it in or out.

[0022] As from Fig. 1As can be seen, the key projections 15 furthermore delimit, with concave inner surfaces 18, a receiving space 19 formed within the plug recess 13 for receiving an engagement body 20 arranged on the sealing cap 11, which is provided at its lower end with an annular locking projection 21. For locking the annular locking projection 21 with the bung plug 10, the bung plug 10, corresponding to the prior art, has counter-locking elements 23 on its inner surfaces 18 below a guide surface 22, which serves for the axial guidance of the annular locking projection 21 when the engagement body 20 is inserted into the plug recess 13. Fig. 1 As clearly shown, after locking with the annular locking projection 21 of the engagement body 20, the counter-locking elements 23 project radially inwards beyond the annular locking projection 21, so that the locking prevents the sealing cap 11 from being removed from the bung plug 10.

[0023] As shown in the sectional view according to Fig. 1 As becomes clear, the in Fig. 1 The illustrated embodiment of the bung plug 10 provides radial support or contact for the annular locking projection 21 of the engagement body 20 only on the inner surfaces 18 of the key lugs 15 below the counter-locking elements 23, whereas the annular locking projection 21 receives no support in the area of ​​the gaps 16 and is also freely accessible from the radial outside, as indicated by a Fig. 1 The access route 24 is indicated by a dash.

[0024] Via the access path 24, a suitably designed manipulation tool can thus engage a lower edge 25 of the sealing cap 11 and be inserted into the space 16 between a cap base 26 and a circumferential edge 27 of the bung plug 10 and be pressed radially inwards against the deformation of the annular detent projection 21 of the engagement body 20, so that the detent between the engagement body 20 of the sealing cap 11 and the bung plug 10 is released at least in a circumferential section and subsequently the sealing cap 11 can be removed from the bung plug 10 without damaging a predetermined breaking device 28 formed in the cap base 26 in a connection area between the cap base 26 and the engagement body 20, which is intended to indicate manipulation by means of damage.

[0025] Under certain circumstances, even a compressive force F acting in the plane of the cap base 26 and acting radially from the outside onto the cap base 26 is sufficient to adequately release the locking between the annular locking projection 21 and the counter-locking elements 23, since the spaces 16 form escape spaces into which the annular locking projection 21 can be deformed.

[0026] Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a bung plug closure 30 according to the invention, which differs from the ones in Fig. 1 The depicted, state-of-the-art bung plug closure differs from the depicted one by a different design of the bung plug 31. The bung plug 31 is shown in detail in the Figs. 3 to 5 depicted.

[0027] As can be seen particularly from a synthesis of the Figs. 3 and 5As becomes clear, the bung plug 31 has counter-locking elements 32. The counter-locking elements 32 are arranged above an annular frame 35, which, outside of the gaps 34 separating the key lugs 33, is formed by lower sections 36 of inner surfaces 37 of the key lugs 33, wherein the inner surfaces 37 are preferably concave. The frame 35 therefore has both the sections 36 of the inner surfaces 37 and further sections in the area of ​​the gaps 34, which in the case of the Figs. 3 to 5 In the illustrated embodiment of the bung plug 31, the front surfaces 38 are formed by support platforms 39 located in the spaces 34. As can be seen in particular from the Figs. 4 and 5 As can be seen, in the illustrated embodiment, the edging 35 is designed as a continuously circumferential cylindrical surface with a constant radius of curvature r with respect to a central axis M of the bung plug 31.

[0028] What now? Fig. 2 As shown, the annular enclosure 35 formed in this case by the lower sections 36 of the inner surfaces 37 and the front surfaces 38 of the support platforms 39 creates a deformation barrier that counteracts radial outward deformation of the annular locking projection 21. Furthermore, the arrangement of the counter-locking elements 32 in the spaces 34 formed between the key lugs 33 prevents manipulation of the annular locking projection 21 of the engagement body 20 of the sealing cap 11 via these spaces 34.

[0029] As can be seen from a synthesis of the Figs. 3 and 5As can be seen, the ring-shaped edging 35 is bounded upwards in the area of ​​the gaps 34 by platform surfaces 40 extending radially outwards, wherein the platform surfaces 40 form a support collar 42 extending radially inwards, which is formed sectionally on the inner wall 41 of the tongue plug 31. ( Fig. 4 ).

[0030] The ring-shaped enclosure 35 is bounded at the bottom by a circumferential edge 43 of a depression bottom 44, the circumferential edge 43 being raised above the ground surface 46 to form a depression 45. As can be seen in particular from Fig. 5 As can be seen, the bung plug 31 has a step-like cross-section 48 in the area of ​​the gaps 34, extending from the counter-locking element 32, over the edging 35, the circumferential edge 43 of the trough bottom 44 and a sleeve-shaped shoulder 47 formed in the transition to the bottom 46, sloping radially inwards.

[0031] As further from a synthesis of the Figs. 3 and 5 As can be seen, the key projections 33 at the upper edge of the inner surfaces 37, which are also preferably concave here, have a raised edge 49 such that a recess 52 is formed between the raised edge 49 and an upper circumferential edge 50 of a plug recess 51 of the bung plug 31.

[0032] In the Figs. 6 to 8 In a further embodiment, a bung plug 60 is shown, which is constructed in the same way as the one previously described above. Figs. 2 to 5 explained bung plug 31 with the in Fig. 2The illustrated sealing cap 11 can be combined to form a bung plug closure 30. While the design is otherwise fundamentally identical, and therefore the components of the bung plug 60 are designated with the same reference numeral with respect to their essentially identical features, the bung plug 60 has a rim 61 that differs from the rim 35 of the bung plug 31. This rim 61 has webs 62 connecting the key lugs 33 in the area of ​​the spaces 34, with material recesses 63 provided between the webs 62 and the inner wall 41 of a plug recess 64. The rim 61 thus comprises the sections 36 of the inner surfaces 37 of the key lugs 33 and the webs 62 formed between the key lugs 33, on the upper edge of which the counter-locking elements 32 are formed.

[0033] In the Figs. 9 to 11Finally, in a further embodiment, a bung plug 90 is shown, which, in contrast to the one referring to the Figs. 2 to 5 The bung plug 31, as explained in detail, has radially inwardly projecting webs 91 in the spaces 34 from the inner wall 41 of a plug recess 96. Furthermore, unlike the bung plug 31, the bung plug 90 is provided with an internal thread 95 on a sleeve-shaped shoulder 93 adjoining the circumferential edge 43 of a recess bottom 92 above a base 94.

Claims

1. A bung plug closure (30) for bung containers having a bung plug (31, 60, 90) for being arranged in a bung neck of the bung container and having a seal cap (11) for sealing a plug depression (51, 64, 96) formed in the bung plug (31, 60, 90), said plug depression (51, 64, 96) comprising a receiving area for receiving a resilient engagement body (20) formed on the seal cap (11), and said bung plug (31, 60, 90) comprising tool engagements (33), which are arranged at an inner wall (41) of the plug depression (51, 64, 96) and which are distanced to each other via gaps (34) and which delimit the receiving area using inner surfaces (37) which at least in sections form guide surfaces for axially guiding an annular locking protrusion (21) of the engagement body (20) when inserting the engagement body (20) into the plug depression (51, 64, 96), counter-locking elements (32) for locking the annular locking protrusion (21) of the engagement body (20) to the bung plug (31, 60, 90) being provided in the plug depression (51, 64, 90), said counter-locking elements (32) radially inward protruding over the annular locking protrusion (21) of the engagement body (20) after locking, characterized in that the counter-locking elements (32) are arranged in the area of the gaps (34) above an annular frame (35, 61), which is formed outside of the gaps (34) via lower sections (36) of the inner surfaces (37), in such a manner that the locking protrusion (21) is received by the annular frame (35, 61).

2. The bung plug closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the annular frame (35, 61) is delimited downward via a peripheral edge (43) of a depression bottom (44, 92) of the plug depression (51, 64, 96).

3. The bung plug closure according to claim 2, characterized in that the peripheral edge (43) of the depression bottom (44, 92) is elevated for forming a bottom indentation (45) with respect to a bottom floor (46, 94).

4. The bung plug closure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the annular frame (35) is delimited upward in the area of the gaps (34) via platform surfaces (40), which extend radially outward, in such a manner that the annular frame (35) is formed in the area of the gaps (34) via front surfaces (38) of supporting platforms (39) formed in the gaps (34).

5. The bung plug closure according to claim 4, characterized in that the platform surfaces (40) of the supporting platforms (39) formed in the area of the gaps (34) are formed by a supporting collar (42) extending radially inward and formed on an inner wall (41) of the bung plug (31).

6. The bung plug closure according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the annular frame (61) is formed in the area of the gaps (34) via webs (62) which connect the tool engagements (33), material recesses (63) being provided between the webs (62) and the inner wall (41) of the plug depression (64).

7. The bung plug closure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that webs (91) protruding radially inward are formed in the gaps (34) of the inner wall (41) of the plug depression (96).

8. The bung plug closure according to any one of the claims 3 to 7, characterized in that in the area of the gaps (34), the bung plug (31, 60, 90) comprises a plug cross section (48) sloping radially inward starting from the counter-locking element (32) towards the frame (35, 61), the peripheral edge (43) of the depression bottom (44, 92) and a sleeve-shaped shoulder (47, 93), which is formed in the transition to the bottom floor (46, 94), in a step-like manner.

9. The bung plug closure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tool engagements (33) comprise an edge elevation (49) at the upper edge of the inner surfaces (37) in such a manner that an indentation (52) is formed between the edge elevation (49) and an upper peripheral edge (50) of the inner wall (41) of the plug depression (51).