An elliptical shaped metal drum component and an apparatus for making the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to an elliptical shaped metal drum component (100). The present invention also relates to an apparatus (200) for manufacturing an elliptical shaped metal drum component (100) and a method for manufacturing an elliptical shaped metal drum component (100). The said shell metal drum component (100) enables shipping of drum parts in dis-assembled condition and reassembling them at a location required, whereby solving the problem of shipping empty drums or barrels in bulk while saving huge shipping costs by optimizing effective use of transport space.

Description

[0001] TITLE OF THE INVENTION: “AN ELLIPTICAL SHAPED METAL DRUM COMPONENT AND AN APPARATUS FOR MAKING THE SAME”

[0002] DESCRIPTION FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention relates to an elliptical shaped metal drum component (100). The present invention also relates to an apparatus (200) for manufacturing an elliptical shaped metal drum component (100) and a method for manufacturing an elliptical shaped metal drum component (100). The said shell metal drum component (100) enables shipping of drum parts in dis-assembled condition and reassembling them at a location required, whereby solving the problem of shipping empty drums or barrels in bulk while saving huge shipping costs by optimizing effective use of transport space. BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Metal or steel drums or containers in the volume size of 150L to 280L are used for the storage and transportation of semi-solid or liquid. In most of the cases, the transportation of Containers, such as steel / metal drums, is regularly done on a large scale through sea-shipping or through road transport. There are mainly three components used in the manufacturing of closed empty drum or container. First is the middle drum component which is a circular or round body hollow shell; the second component is a lid to close the top portion of the middle drum component; and the third component is a bottom portion which is affixed tightly to the bottom of the middle drum component and ensures leakage proof fixation. Containers such as metal or steel drums are generally manufactured by affixing or seaming top and bottom components to a drum shell component or body with the resulting assembled drum and shipped as an empty container to user location. Empty containers such as metal or steel drums are expensive to transport because of the space which they consume. Thus, the cost of metal or steel drums can be high if they are manufactured and shipped empty from a remote site to be filled. Further, the transportation of assembled drums involves substantial freight charges due to the void volume of the empty containers and thus involves huge shipping costs in transportation. There are several references available who have attempted in providing the solution for metal or steel drum transportation by changing the shape of the cylindrical or tubular shell component. US4413400A has disclosed a novel apparatus and process for nesting a plurality of drum bodies or shells of deformable material wherein a cylindrically-shaped drum body is subjected to a force in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the drum body to deform the drum body to the extent necessary to permit the positioning of a second drum body about the initially deformed drum body whereupon the deforming procedure is repeated for the nested first and second drum bodies, and is thereafter again repeated until a desired number of drum shells are contained in the resulting nested assembled of drum bodies or shells. The invention allows easy reassembly of the components unlike in the earlier system where either shell is de-nested manually which creates safety hazards and also risks coating scratches or with complicated de- nesting automation. The invention also incorporates use of multiple types of paints namely Polyurethane, Polyester, clear top coat topcoat lacquer and combination of others linings inside of a drum body for a single drum body to address the issue of paint peeling while seaming (Joining top and bottom lids to a drum body) as well as rusting while being as high seas for prolonged amount of time subject to high moisture added with salt alkali. US2006277742A1 has disclosed a method of manufacturing the body of drum kit, the said method includes the steps of rolling a flat, unpainted metal sheet (10) to a cylindrical form (12) and welding free edges (14) of the form to produce a cylindrical body (18). This body is temporarily stiffened and paint is applied to the exterior of the temporarily stiffened body. Thereafter the body is de-stiffened before it is deformed to a suitable shape for nesting with other such bodies. In the prior art technologies, sirco drum technology is used for producing metal or steel drums. In case of the so-called Sirco drum, to produce drum kits having three separate components, namely a tubular body, a top end and a bottom end. The kits are supplied to the customer who then assembles the drums as required. A problem which arises in the use of the Sirco system is that the weld is unsightly and destroys the continuity of the originally applied paintwork, often necessitating a localized touch-up of the paint. This is particularly problematical in situations where the body is painted different colours in different regions along its length, for instance where a central region of the body is to be one colour or carries screen-printed markings and end regions are to be another colour. The end result is invariably unsightly. In situations where one surface of the initial flat sheet is precoated with a rust inhibitor or other treatment, the further problem which arises is that the protection provided by the internal coat is discontinuous at the weld, leading to the possibility of localized internal corrosion in this region if a subsequent step to coat the weld line is not undertaken. As the demand of metal or steel drums in the volume size of 150L to 280L is very high and due to multiple disadvantages and problems in nesting / stacking and transporting metal or steel drums, it is need of an hour to provide a solution that will overcome the issues regarding nesting / stacking of multiple drums at a time and transporting metal or steel drums in a safer and convenient manner which further helps in saving time, labor and money associated in stacking and transporting metal or steel drums from one location to another location. OBJECTIVES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The principal objective of the present invention is to obviate the problems faced by the prior art technologies. There is an objective to provide an elliptical shaped metal drum component. It is an objective to provide an apparatus for manufacturing an elliptical shaped metal drum component. It is also an objective to provide a method for manufacturing an elliptical shaped metal drum component. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the annexed drawings, in which Figure 1 to 7 are described as follows. The drawing provided here should not be construed as final and detailed embodiments along with the required drawings have been provided in the detailed description of the said patent application. Figure-1: Perspective view of an elliptical shaped metal drum component as per the present invention. Figure-2: Front view of elliptical shaped shell metal drum component as per the present invention. Figure-3: Top view of elliptical shaped shell metal drum component as per the present invention. Figure-4: Perspective view of an apparatus for making elliptical shaped shell metal drum component as per the present invention. Figure-5: Front view of an apparatus for making elliptical shaped shell metal drum component as per the present invention. Figure-6: Top view of an apparatus for making elliptical shaped shell metal drum component as per the present invention. Figure-7: Bottom view of an apparatus for making elliptical shaped shell metal drum component as per the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention relates to an elliptical shaped metal drum component. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for manufacturing an elliptical shaped metal drum component and a method for manufacturing an elliptical shaped metal drum component. For the purpose of making an elliptical shaped metal drum component, round shell as a middle drum component is selected from the metal or steel drum having a volume capacity of a drum shell between 150L to 280L. As per the prior art technologies, there are mainly three components used in the manufacturing of closed empty drum having a volume capacity between 150L to 280L. First is the middle drum component which is a circular or round body hollow shell; the second component is a lid to close the top portion of the middle drum component; and the third component is a bottom portion which is affixed tightly to the bottom of the middle drum component and ensures leakage proof fixation. Prior art technologies have provided several solutions for transporting empty drums through sea-route or via road transportation. One is providing closed empty drums with all three components for transportation purpose. Second solution is to separately transporting middle drum component in either round or circular shape or knock-down shape along with top and bottom components and all three components may be affixed after it reaches to a final destination. In both the cases, transporting empty drums requires lot of spaces and involves higher expenses that makes the above solutions commercially not viable options while transporting the drums from one place to another. Further, there are higher chances of deterioration or damage of painting or coating of inner or outer portion of the painted drums if painted drum components are transported from one place to another. The present invention is an attempt for providing a concrete solution for above problems in stacking and transporting the drum components wherein round or circular shaped middle drum component selected from the metal or steel drum having the volume capacity between 150L to 280L is converted into an elliptical shaped metal drum component, the said elliptical shaped metal drum component makes possible of stacking a plurality of drums, one on another or next to each other laying vertically or horizontally. In the first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an elliptical shaped metal drum component (100). Figure-1 shows a schematic drawing of and perspective view of an elliptical shaped metal drum component (100) as per the present invention. The size of a middle component i.e. round shell of a metal or steel drum for the purpose of converting it into a flat shaped shell metal drum component having elliptical shaped edges is selected from: Vertical length: between 800mm to 1090mm Figure-2 shows top view of an elliptical shaped metal drum component (100), figure-3 shows front view of an elliptical shaped metal drum component (100) as per the present invention. Referring figure-1 to 3, an elliptical shaped metal drum component (100) comprises middle portion (102) combined with both the edges (101a & 101b) forming elliptical shaped flat shell metal drum component. The said elliptical shaped shell metal drum component is looked like a flat shaped shell metal drum component. According to another aspect of the present invention, middle portion (102) of drum component (100) is flattened together with minimum possible gap on opposite sides (102a & 102b) of middle portion (102) to avoid abrasion facilitating peeling of internal lining along with storing of maximum possible numbers of drum components in a specified space. This can include nesting or stacking of flat shaped metal drum components (100) adjacent to each other to optimize the space while transportation. An elliptical shaped shell metal drum component (100) is having following parameters: Vertical length: between 800mm to 1090mm Width: 850mm to 920mm Diameter of elliptical shaped edges on each side: 21mm to 35mm. Gap between opposite sides (102a & 102b) of middle portion (102) of elliptical shaped shell metal drum component: 25mm to 55mm. In the second embodiment, there is provided an apparatus (200) for manufacturing an elliptical shaped metal drum component (100). Figure-4: Perspective view of an apparatus for making an elliptical shaped metal drum component as per the present invention. Figure-5: Front view of an apparatus for making an elliptical shaped metal drum component as per the present invention. Figure-6: Top view of an apparatus for making an elliptical shaped edges of shell metal drum component as per the present invention. Figure-7: Bottom view of an apparatus for making an elliptical shaped edges of shell metal drum component as per the present invention. Accordingly, An apparatus (200) for making an elliptical shaped metal drum component (100) from round shell metal drum component comprises: a frame (201) with an arrangement for accommodating means of force (204 & (205) on to top (201x) and bottom (201y) portion of the frame (201), a space (206 & 207) on top and bottom portion of a frame (201) for extending both means of force (204 & 205) in horizontal direction from one end (201a) of a frame (201) to another end (201b) of a frame (201) at a time; means of force (204 & 205) affixed onto the top (201x) and bottom (201y) portion of a frame (201) having 2 holes (204H1, 204H2 & 205H1, 205H2) on each sides of it to accommodate removable round shaped metal rods (208 & 209) on both the sides enabling both round shaped metal rods (208 & 209) moving from one end (201a) of a frame (201) to another end (201b) of a frame (201) at a time; 2 removable round shaped metal rods (208 & 209), each rod containing wide head on top portion of it forming a bolt type structure (208B & 209B) of a rod (208 & 209), vertically placeable on to each means of force (204 & 205) through the holes (204H1, 204H2 & 205H1, 205H2) provided on each sides of means of force (204 &205). Referring figure 4 to 7, a square or rectangular shaped frame (201) is provided with an arrangement for accommodating means of force (204 & 205) on to top (201x) and bottom (201y) portion of a frame (201). The vertical length (L1) and width (W1) of the inner side of the frame (201) is kept between 1050mm to 1150mm. As shown in figure-7 & 8, each means of force (204 & 205) is fixed on to top (201x) and bottom (201y) portion of a frame (201) using nuts and bolts. The diameter of each means of force (204 & 205) is dependent on the outer width of top (201x) and bottom (201y) portion of a frame (201), preferably the diameter of each means of force is kept between 40mm to 120mm. A means of force (204 & 205) is selected from pneumatic or hydraulic actuator, electric actuator or a mechanism of providing mechanical force. In the present invention, for the simplicity of description and explanation of the present invention, hydraulic cylinder (204 & 205) is considered as means of force as an example which should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. There is a space (206 & 207) having horizontal length of 430mm to 500mm is provided on to top (201x) and bottom (201y) portion of a frame (201) for the purpose of extending both means of force (204 & 205) in horizontal direction from one end (201a) of a frame (201) to another end (201b) of a frame (201) at a time. Further as shown in figure-7 & 8, there is provided 2 means of force, for example 2 (Two) hydraulic cylinders (204 & 205) with an arrangement of holes [(204H1, 204H2) & (205H1, 205H2)] on each side of the hydraulic cylinder (204 & 205). Accordingly, hydraulic cylinder (204) comprises 2 holes (204H1 & 204H2) while hydraulic cylinder (205) comprises 2 holes (205H1 & 205H2). The present invention has provided 2 (two) removable round shaped metal rods (208 & 209). Each metal or steel rod (208 & 209) is having wide head on one end forming bolt type structure enabling the other end of each rod passing through the holes [(204H1, 204H2) & (205H1, 205H2)] provided on each means of force (204 & 205). The diameter of each hole [(204H1, 204H2) & (205H1, 205H2)] provided with the means of force (204 & 205) is kept slightly bigger than the diameter of the round shaped rods (208 & 209), preferably the diameter of each hole is kept between 15mm to 32mm while the diameter of each round shaped rod is kept between 18mm to 30mm. Thus, as shown in figure-4 & 5, each metal rod vertically connects each hole of means of force affixed on to top (201x) and bottom (201y) portion of the frame (201). It means round shaped metal rod (208) is able to pass through vertically from holes (204H1 to 204H2) of means of force (204) while the second metal rod (209) is able to passed through vertically from holes (205H1 to 205H2) of means of force (205). Further, the vertical length of both metal rod (208 & 209) kept same, preferably between 1050mm to 1150mm. A flat shaped shell drum component having elliptical shaped edges (100) is made as per the user requirement which is dependent on the volume, size and diameter of the round shell drum component. Round shell drum having volume capacity between 150L to 280L and vertical Length between 800mm to 1090mm is used for elliptical shaped shell manufacture purpose. Similarly, an apparatus (200) for making a shell drum component having elliptical shaped edges is also be made as per the user requirement which is dependent on the volume, size and diameter of the round shell drum component. All the important parameters, criteria related to an elliptical shaped shell drum component (100) and an apparatus (200) for making an elliptical shaped shell drum component (100) have already been defined and described in the aforementioned paragraphs. According to the third embodiment, there is also provided a method for manufacturing an elliptical shaped metal drum component using the disclosed apparatus (200). Without limiting the scope of the present invention, a general method is provided as under: Referring the figures, the said apparatus (200) is useful in making or converting round shell metal drum component to an elliptical shaped metal drum component (100). The round shell is placed in the inner side of a frame (201). Two removable rods are then vertically passed through the holes of each hydraulic cylinder in such a manner so that rods can be kept at a distance and touch the inner side of round shaped drum component. Once the round shaped rods are kept in the inner side of the round shell and locked in the top and bottom holes of the hydraulic cylinders, a force is provided with the help of hydraulic cylinder by switching on the hydraulic cylinders. Both hydraulic cylinders start working on same time and extending horizontally from one end to another end of the space on a frame. Extending one end of both the hydraulic cylinders enable round shaped metal rod (209) moving from one end of a frame to another end of a frame at a time and converting it into a shell metal drum component having elliptical shaped edges on both the sides. The present invention makes it possible for nesting / stacking of multiple drums at a time and transporting metal or steel drums in a safer and convenient manner which further helps in saving time, labor and money associated in stacking and transporting metal or steel drums from one location to another location. ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention enables nesting / stacking of multiple drums at a time and transporting metal or steel drums in a safer and convenient manner which further helps in saving time, labor and money associated in stacking and transporting metal or steel drums from one location to another location. The present invention enables shipping of drum parts in dis- assembled condition and reassembling them at a location required, whereby solving the problem of shipping empty drums or barrels in bulk while saving huge shipping costs by optimizing effective use of transport space.

[0003] NAME OF COMPONENTS AND REFERENCE NUMERALS Reference Name of Component(s) Numeral al m

Claims

We claim:

1. An elliptical shaped metal drum component (100) comprises middleportion (102) combined with both the edges (101a & 101b) forming elliptical shaped flat shell metal drum component.

2. The elliptical shaped metal drum component (100) as claimed inclaim-1 wherein a shell having vertical length between 800mm to 1090mm and width between 850mm to 920mm.

3. The elliptical shaped metal drum component (100) as claimed inclaim-1 wherein the diameter of elliptical shaped edges (101a & 101b) on each side of a shell metal drum component is between 21mm to 35mm.

4. The elliptical shaped metal drum component (100) as claimed inclaim-1 wherein the gap between opposite sides (102a & 102b) of middle portion (102) is between 25mm to 55mm.

5. An apparatus (200) for making an elliptical shaped metal drumcomponent (100) from round shell metal drum component comprises: a frame (201) with an arrangement for accommodating means of force (204 & (205) on to top (201x) and bottom (201y) portion of the frame (201), a space (206 & 207) on top and bottom portion of a frame (201) for extending both means of force (204 & 205) in horizontal direction from one end (201a) of a frame (201) to another end (201b) of a frame (201) at a time; 2 means of force (204 & 205) affixed onto the top (201x) and bottom (201y) portion of a frame (201) having 2 holes (204H1, 204H2 & 205H1, 205H2) on each sides of it to accommodate removable round shaped metal rods (208 & 209) on both the sides enabling both round shaped metal rods (208 & 209) moving from one end (201a) of a frame (201) to another end (201b) of a frame (201) at a time; 2 removable round shaped metal rods (208 & 209), each rod containing wide head on top portion of it forming a bolt type structure (208B & 209B) of a rod (208 & 209), vertically placeable on to eachmeans of force (204 & 205) through the holes (204H1, 204H2 & 205H1, 205H2) provided on each side of means of force (204 &205).

6. An apparatus for making an elliptical shaped metal drum component(100) as claimed in claim-5 wherein vertical length (L1) and width (W1) of inner side of a frame (201) is kept between 1050mm to 1150mm.

7. An apparatus for making an elliptical shaped metal drum component(100) as claimed in claim-5 wherein means of force (204 & 205) is selected from pneumatic or hydraulic actuator, electric actuator or a mechanism of providing mechanical force.

8. An apparatus for making an elliptical shaped metal drum component(100) as claimed in claim-5 wherein diameter of means of force (204 & 205) is between 40mm to 120mm.

9. An apparatus for making an elliptical shaped metal drum component(100) as claimed in claim-5 wherein diameter of each hole (204H1, 204H2 & 205H1, 205H2) of a means of force (204 & 205) is between 15mm to 32mm.

10. An apparatus for making an elliptical shaped metal drum component(100) as claimed in claim-5 wherein each round shaped rod (208 & 209) is having vertical length between 1050mm to 1150mm and diameter between 18mm to 30mm.

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