Patent Application
20240132337
The field of the invention is liquid transfer, and more particularly, transfer of liquid from a first barrel or drum into a second barrel or drum by connecting the barrels with a hinge assembly to allow the first barrel to be tipped upwardly to drain liquid from the first barrel to the second barrel.
Liquid is often stored in 55-gallon drums or barrels, or similar large containers. The liquid is typically pumped from such a barrel or container for use in various applications. However, the pump usually cannot remove all the liquid from the drum or barrel, such that there is a residual amount of liquid remaining in the drum or barrel after pumping is complete. This residual liquid goes to waste unless it can be poured or otherwise drained from the drum. The size of the standard 55-gallon drum makes it awkward and difficult to handle, even when nearly empty. Different types of devices have been designed to be positioned under the drum and then lift the drum so that the residual content can be poured out. However, such lifting devices may be large, heavy, and expensive.
Therefore, there is a need in the liquid containment industry for a simple device which can be attached to a 55 gallon drum or similar large container to allow the drum or container to be tipped up to drain residual liquids therefrom.
Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of a hinge connected to the tops of a pair of adjacent liquid containers to allow the near-empty container to be lifted to pour the contents into the other container.
A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a hinge device which quickly and easily attaches to the upper rims of adjacent 55-gallon drums to allow liquid from one drum to be poured into the other drum.
Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a hinge which clamps to the upper edges of adjacent first and second barrels to allow the first barrel to be tipped above the second barrel to empty liquid in the first barrel into the second barrel.
Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of a hinge attachable to liquid containing drums and a handle on the hinge to facilitate lifting of one drum above the other drum to pour the liquid contents from the lifted drum into the stationary drum.
Yet another objective is the provision of a method of transferring residual liquid in a nearly empty barrel into another barrel so as to eliminate waste of the residual liquid.
These and/or other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The present invention is not to be limited to or by these objects, features and advantages. No single embodiment need provide each and every object, feature, or advantage.
A hinge assembly has mirror image sides clamped to first and second drums or barrels. Each side of the hinge assembly includes an inner plate adapted to engage the inside of an upper rim of one drum and an outer plate adapted to engage the exterior of the respective drum immediately below the rim. The first drum can then be tilted upwardly to drain liquid or fluid into the second drum. A hose and/or a funnel can be used to facilitate or direct drainage from the first drum to the second drum.
In a first embodiment, the inner and outer plates are not adjustable. In a second embodiment, both of the inner and outer plates on each side of the hinge assembly are adjustable to accommodate different rim configurations on the upper perimeter of the drums or barrels.
These and/or other objects, features, advantages, aspects, and/or embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art after reviewing the following brief and detailed descriptions of the drawings. Furthermore, the present disclosure encompasses aspects and/or embodiments not expressly disclosed but which can be understood from a reading of the present disclosure, including at least: (a) combinations of disclosed aspects and/or embodiments and/or (b) reasonable modifications not shown or described.
The hinge device or assembly of the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 in the drawings. The assembly 10 is intended for use on large liquid containers, such as 55 gallon drums or barrels 12 and 14. The hinge assembly 10 can be quickly and easily mounted to the drums 12, 14 to allow the first drum 12 to be manually lifted to pour, drain or consolidate the liquid in the first drum 12 into the second drum 14, which sits stationary.
More particularly, the hinge assembly 10 includes opposite mirror image sides 16, 18. Each side 16, 18 includes a curved outer plate or bar member 20 to matingly engage an upper exterior portion of the drum 12, 14, such as the exterior of the drum upper rim 15. The rim 15 may extend outwardly from the sidewall of the drum, in the form of a bead. Each plate 20 includes a notch or recess 21 extending horizontally into which the rim bead 15 extends, such that the bar 20 engages the drum sidewall below the rim 15. Each of the hinge sides 16, 18 also includes a second curved inner plate or bar member 22 adapted to reside on the interior of the upper rim 15 of the drum. A spacer plate 21 on the outer plate 20 resides above the rim 15 and defines a space between the plates to receive the rim 15. A portion of each plate or bar member 20, 22 extends above the rim 15 so that the members 20, 22 can be connected or secured together, such as by bolts 24, so that the plate or bar members 20, 22 are clamped to the drum rim 15. The plates 20, 22 have aligned holes for receiving the bolts 24. Preferably, the holes in one of the plates 20, 22 is threaded for threaded receipt of the bolt 24. Alternatively, the bolts 24 may extend beyond the plates 20, 22 for receipt of a nut (not shown). In a preferred embodiment, the bolts holes in the inner plate 22 is elongated in the form of a slot to allow adjustability of the plate 22 relative to the plate 20, and the bolt hole in plate 20 is threaded. Thus, each pair of inner and outer plates 20, 22 form a clamp for mounting the hinge assembly 10 to one of the drums 12, 14, with the drum rims 15 sandwiched between the plates 20, 22.
Each hinge side 16, 18 also includes a pair of arms 26 extending from the outer plates 20 toward the opposite side. The ends of the opposing arms 26 are bolted or pinned together, such as with bolts 28, so as to define a pivot axis 30 for the hinge assembly 10. The pivot axis is located vertically above the drum and laterally between the drums.
In use, the drums 12, 14 are positioned adjacent one another, as shown in
Depending on the shape of the liquid container, the structure of the hinge assembly may be modified, without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the plate or bar members 20, 22 preferably match the shape of the container rim, whether curved or straight. Also, the bolts 28 may be replaced with a single elongated shaft, bolt or pin to define the pivot axis 30.
The hinge assembly 10 allows for controlled lifting and lowering of the drum 12 to empty liquid from the drum 12 into the drum 14. The hinge device 10 does not require modification of the liquid containers 12, 14, and does not penetrate or otherwise damage the drums. The simple design and small size of the hinge assembly 10 allows the assembly to be quickly and easily attached to the liquid containers, and easily stored and/or transported. The only tool needed for the device 10 is a wrench to tighten and loosen the bolts 24 for attaching and removing the device to the containers. As an alternative to the bolts 24, other clamping mechanisms can be utilized on the device 10 for mounting to the drums, barrels, or containers.
In use, the handle 40 is connected to the hinge assembly 10 by the fasteners 50, before or after the hinge assembly 10 is mounted to the drums 12, 14. The operator can then pull the grip 48 downwardly toward the second drum 14, with the handle 40 acting as a lever to raise the first drum 12 via the lower pads 52. A drain hose, shown in
The hinge assembly may include a rachet mechanism on the arms 26 to control movement of the arms. More particularly, the rachet mechanism will allow the arms to incrementally fold or move from the initial open position to the folded closed position with the first drum 12 raised. The rachet mechanism can be released to allow the arms 26 to fold back to the open to set the empty drum 12 down.
In a second embodiment shown in
Thus, each of the plates 20A and 22A on each side 16, 18 of the hinge assembly 10A is adjustable so that the hinge assembly is mountable on drums having different rims 15. The plates 20A and 22A are vertically and horizontally offset relative to one another on each left and right sides of the hinge assembly 10A, and define a space 74 therebetween for receiving the rim 15 of the respective drums or barrels 12, 14.
The adjustable hinge assembly 10A functions identically to the hinge assembly 10 after mounting on the drums/barrels 12, 14. After the nuts 66 and bolts 70 are tightened to secure the assembly 10A to the drums, one of the drums can be lifted or raised to pour liquid into the other drum. The handle 40 can also be used with the adjustable assembly 10A, if desired.
The hinges 10, 10A are clamped to the drums or barrels, without penetrating the barrels, or otherwise screwing or bolting the hinges to the barrels. Thus the barrels are not damaged or altered by the hinge assemblies.
The invention has been shown and described above with the preferred embodiments, and it is understood that many modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.
