Tamper-indicating device having robotic application features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12325567-B2
Application number	US-202117524035-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 11, 2021
Priority date	Nov 11, 2021
Publication date	Jun 10, 2025
Grant date	Jun 10, 2025

Abstract

A tamper-indicating assembly for a drum enclosure assembly is provided. The tamper-indicating assembly includes a tamper-indicating device that defines a cavity sized to receive and surround at least a portion of the closure bolt, the first flanged end, and the second flanged end to prevent movement of the closure bolt. A tab extends radially outward from the tamper-indicating device with respect to an axial centerline of the tamper-indicating assembly. The tamper-indicating assembly further includes a pin non-removably coupled to the tamper-indicating device. The pin extends through the tamper-indicating device and across the cavity such that the tamper-indicating device and the pin collectively surround the closure bolt. The exemplary tamper-indicating device described herein includes features that facilitate the robotic application of the tamper-indicating device to a drum enclosure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tamper-indicating system comprising:
a drum enclosure assembly including a drum body, a lid, a lid ring extending from a first flanged end to a second flanged end, the lid ring securing the lid to the drum body, a closure bolt having a head and a body extending through the first flanged end and the second flanged end; and
a tamper-indicating assembly comprising:
a tamper-indicating device defining a cavity sized to receive and surround at least a portion of the closure bolt, the first flanged end, and the second flanged end to prevent movement of the closure bolt, wherein the tamper-indicating device includes a mid-body portion, a first arm extending from the mid-body portion and partially surrounding the first flanged end, and second arm extending from the mid-body portion opposite the first arm and partially surrounding the second flanged end, wherein the mid-body portion includes a first side wall, a second side wall extending generally parallel to the first side wall, and an end wall extending between the first side wall and the second side wall, and wherein a tab extends radially outward from the mid-body portion of the tamper-indicating device with respect to an axial centerline of the tamper-indicating assembly; and
a pin non-removably coupled to the tamper-indicating device, the pin including a pin head and a pin body, the pin head extending into first side wall and the pin body extending across the cavity and into the second side wall such that the first side wall, the second side wall, the end wall, and the pin body collectively surround the body of the closure bolt.

2. The tamper-indicating system as in claim 1 , wherein the pin is oriented generally perpendicular to the tab.

3. The tamper-indicating system as in claim 1 , wherein the tab defines a recessed surface.

4. The tamper-indicating system as in claim 1 , wherein the first arm at least partially surrounds the first flanged end and the head of the closure bolt.

5. The tamper-indicating system as in claim 1 , wherein the first arm includes an axial portion and a radial wall, the radial wall preventing axial movement of the closure bolt.

6. The tamper-indicating system as in claim 5 , wherein the second arm includes a radial portion that at least partially surrounds the second flanged end and the body of the closure bolt, wherein the radial wall of the first arm and the radial portion of the second arm are axially spaced apart such that the first flanged end, the second flanged end, and the head of the closure bolt are disposed between the radial wall and the radial portion to prevent movement of the closure bolt when the tamper-indicating assembly is coupled to the drum enclosure assembly.

7. The tamper-indicating system as in claim 1 , wherein the mid-body portion is generally U-shaped.

8. The tamper-indicating system as in claim 1 , wherein the tab extends from the end wall and away from the drum enclosure assembly.

9. The tamper-indicating system as in claim 1 , wherein the tamper-indicating device defines a bore having an annular retention wall, the pin extending through the bore.

10. The tamper-indicating system as in claim 9 , wherein the pin includes a fin extending towards the retention wall and configured to engage the annular retention wall upon removal of the pin.

11. The tamper-indicating system as in claim 10 , wherein the fin extends from the pin head.

12. The tamper-indicating system as in claim 11 , wherein the pin head defines an aperture extending at least partially along an axial centerline of the pin.

13. The tamper-indicating system as in claim 1 , wherein the first arm includes a first axial portion and a radial wall, the first axial portion extending from the end wall and the first side wall of the mid-body portion to the radial wall, and wherein the second arm includes a second axial portion and a radial portion, and wherein the second radial portion extends from the end wall of the mid-body portion to the radial portion.

14. A method of applying a tamper-indicating device to a drum enclosure using a robotic system, the drum enclosure including a drum body, a lid, a lid ring extending from a first flanged end to a second flanged end, the lid ring securing the lid to the drum body, a closure bolt having a head and a body extending through the first flanged end and the second flanged end, the method comprising:
gripping a tab of the tamper-indicating device with a gripping assembly of the robotic system;
positioning the tamper-indicating device such that it at least partially surrounds the closure bolt by moving the gripping assembly with the robotic system, the tamper-indicating device defining a cavity sized to receive at least a portion of the closure bolt and a bore, wherein the tamper-indicating device includes a mid-body portion, a first arm extending from the mid-body portion and partially surrounding the first flanged end, and second arm extending from the mid-body portion opposite the first arm and partially surrounding the second flanged end, wherein the mid-body portion includes a first side wall, a second side wall extending generally parallel to the first side wall, and an end wall extending between the first side wall and the second side wall, and wherein the tab extends from the mid-body portion of the tamper-indicating device; and
inserting a pin with an actuator of the robotic system into the bore, the pin including a pin head and a pin body, the pin head extending into first side wall and the pin body extending across the cavity and into the second side wall such that the first side wall, the second side wall, the end wall, and the pin body collectively surround the body of the closure bolt.

15. The method as in claim 14 , wherein the bore further includes an annular retention wall, wherein the pin includes a fin, and wherein the inserting step further comprises inserting the pin with an actuator of the robotic system until the fin engages the annular retention wall.

16. The method as in claim 14 , wherein the positioning step further comprises:
positioning the first arm of the tamper indicting device such that it at least partially surrounds the first flanged end and the head of the closure bolt; and
positioning the second arm of the tamper-indicating device such that the second arm at least partially surrounds the second flanged end and the body of the closure bolt.

17. A tamper-indicating assembly for a drum enclosure assembly, the tamper indicating assembly comprising:
a tamper-indicating device defining a cavity, the tamper-indicating device comprising a mid-body portion, a first arm extending from the mid-body portion and configured to partially surround a first flanged end of the drum enclosure assembly, a second arm extending from the mid-body portion opposite the first arm and configured to partially surround a second flanged end of the drum enclosure assembly, and a tab extending radially outward from the mid-body portion of the tamper-indicating device with respect to an axial centerline of the tamper-indicating device, wherein the mid-body portion includes a first side wall, a second side wall extending generally parallel to the first side wall, and an end wall extending between the first side wall and the second side wall; and
a pin non-removably coupled to the tamper-indicating device, the pin including a pin head and a pin body, the pin head extending into first side wall and the pin body extending across the cavity and into the second side wall.

Assignees

• Battelle Savannah River Alliance Llc

Inventors

• Dalmaso Michael J
• Krementz Daniel
• Koenig Ii Richard E

Classifications

• B65D45/322

  the clamping device being an annular member moved axially to clamp the closure by using radial pressure (B65D55/0863, B65D55/0872 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65B7/2842

  Securing closures on containers (in general B65B51/00) · CPC title

• G21F5/12 Primary

  Closures for containers; Sealing arrangements · CPC title

• B65D7/045

  Casks, barrels, or drums in their entirety, e.g. beer barrels, i.e. presenting most of the following features like rolling beads, double walls, reinforcing and supporting beads for end walls (thermally insulated barrels, B65D81/3802) · CPC title

• G21F5/06

  Details of, or accessories to, the containers · CPC title