Sanitary drum fitting and method of installing same

Abstract

A closure for drums and containers accommodating sanitary fittings is contemplated. The closure is attached in a manner that avoids any recesses along the interior of the contain

Having thus described the invention, I claim: 
     
         1 . A sanitary closure bushing received in an aperture of a container, the bushing comprising:
 a hollow cylinder having sidewalls along a top portion and a lower portion;   a flange extending radially outward from a terminal edge of the top portion;   wherein an annular transition is as created as a thickness of the sidewall in the top portion is reduced to a lesser thickness of the sidewall in the lower portion; and   wherein an outer diameter of the annular transition seals to an inner diameter of the aperture in the container.   
     
     
         2 . The bushing of  claim 1  further comprising a collar positioned circumferentially around an outer surface of the sidewall in the lower portion. 
     
     
         3 . The bushing of  claim 2  wherein the sidewall of the lower portion is at least partially curled around the collar. 
     
     
         4 . The bushing of  claim 3  wherein the annular transition and one of the gasket and the curled sidewall cooperate to secure the bushing to the container. 
     
     
         5 . The bushing of  claim 4  wherein the curled sidewall completely captures the collar between the curled sidewall and the container. 
     
     
         6 . The bushing of  claim 4  wherein the collar is a resilient gasket. 
     
     
         7 . The bushing of  claim 4  where the container includes at least one angled wall portion immediately proximate to the aperture. 
     
     
         8 . The bushing of  claim 4  wherein the flange includes an annular groove to receive a sanitary sealing member. 
     
     
         9 . The bushing of  claim 4  wherein the hollow cylinder includes a threaded portion along an inner facing. 
     
     
         10 . The bushing of  claim 9  further comprising a threaded plug engaging the threaded portion. 
     
     
         11 . The bushing of  claim 10  wherein the threaded plug captures a sealing member between the threaded plug and the flange when the threaded plug is screwed at least partially into the hollow cylinder. 
     
     
         12 . A method of creating a sanitary fitting in a container comprising:
 creating an aperture in a container;   positioning a tubular bushing a shoulder transitioning a thicker sidewall end to a thinner sidewall end so that the thinner sidewall end extends into the container and the thicker sidewall end protrudes out of the container; and   curling a terminal edge of the thinner sidewall end outwardly around a collar fitted an exterior circumference of the tubular bushing until the curled sidewall secures the tubular bushing by capturing an edge of the container proximate to the aperture between the shoulder and at least one of the collar and the curled terminal edge.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the collar comprises a resilient gasket. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the curled terminal edge of the thinner sidewall completely encases the collar. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein a sanitary fitting is provided on a radial flange positioned proximate to the thicker sidewall end. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein a thread is formed on an inner diameter of the tubular bushing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the creating the aperture and the curling the terminal edge occur simultaneously.