CA1156025A - Package and method of packaging for flat elongated material - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT
PACKAGE AND METHOD OF PACKAGING
FOR FLAT ELONGATED MATERIAL

A method and a package are described for the takeup, shipment, storage and individual dispensing of a plurality of rolls of flat elongated material, for example, conveyor belting. The package includes a plurality of side-by-side rolls of flat elongated material, each roll being wound on its own shell. Between each pair of shells there is provided a pair of divider plates. The divider plates are joined at their radially outermost ends to an upper frame member. The upper frame member is joined to a pair of side members which are joined to the outer ends of the assembled shells and to a central member which extends axially through the assembled shells. At least two U-shaped tie members are provided which extend axially across the rolls and are joined at their radially inner ends to the outer ends of the assembled shells. Methods assembling and dissembling the package are also described.

Description

~ 156V2S

PACKAGE AND METHOD OF PACKAGING
FOR FLAT ELONGATED MATERIAL

The abstract is not to be taken as limiting the in-vention of this application and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application reference must be made to the accom-panying drawings and the following cletailed description.
This application pertains to a package for a plurality of side-by-side rolls of ~lat, elongated material and particularly to a package for the winding, shipment, storage and individual dispensing of at least two side-by-side lengths o~ flat belting.
While flat belting is used herein to describe the in-vention, it is to be understood that the invention is also applicable to conveyor belting, elastomeric sheet material such as is used for gaskets and tank linings and general trade use, and films and other sheet material.
At times it is desired to transport large diameter rolls of flat belting, the belting being of relatively narrow width. As an example, a roll of conveyor belting may be ten or more feet in diameter and only two ~eet in width. Such a roll is typically prepared for shipment by winding the roll on a central shell of wood or metal and building a crate around the roll in the config~ration of the roll, The crate has two circular end plates o~
wood with the end plates at their outer periphery belng Joined to one another by boards extending parallel to the axis of rotation o~ the central shell about which the roll has been wound. This known packaging method is expensive in terms o~ man hours to assemble it and the amount o~ lumber re~uired.
3~ A~er thc roll o~ bel-ting ha~ been crated as describ~d it is typically place~ with its axi~ o~ rotation exte~ding ~ri~ontally upon a low-b4y -truck or a rail car and blooked to preVent rclling and tied down to pr~vent ~ ~ S60~ ~

tipping over onto one of its sides. The radius of the roll of fla-t belting which can be accommodated in one roll is usually limited by the maximum clearances avail-able on the proposed transportation route ~or the belting from lts point of manufacture to its point of use. The wooden crating method just described adds somewhat to the overall height o~ the package and thus reduces the maximum amount of belting which cou:ld be supplied in a single roll if -the belting itself were resting on the transporter and exposed at its highest point above the transporter. When the crated bel-t rolls are transported by rail car and these are sorted out in a railway ~reight yard the cars are caused tocollide with one another to lock their couplings. The resulting impact has on occasion destroyed the wooden crate surrounding the roll of belting causing loss of time and/or damage to the belting, A tall roll of relatively narrow belting, for example, a roll of about ten feet diameter and two to three feet in width, when positioned with its axis of ro-tation horizontal is relatively unstable and because of its great mass can pose a considerable threat to the safety of personnel. Packaging two or more of such tall narrow rolls slde by side to one another provides a more stable package. The package of this invention can be used to wind, transport and dispense a plurality o~ side~by-side rolls of flat belting or other sheet material.
It is an object of an aspe¢t of this invention to pro~
vide a package ~or the winding, shipment, storage and ~0 individual dispensing o~ at least -two side--by-sid~ rolls oP ~la-t belting, The package is comprised o~ two cylindrical shells, each of the shells having a central bore extending axially therethrough, and a dlvider plate ri~idly Joi~ed to one end of the shell. The divider plate extends radially ~5~

ou~wardly beyond the circumference of any of said shells.
The shells are positioned end-to-end with their bores aligned and the divider plates adjacent to and aligned ~ith one ano-ther to ~orm a pair of parallel pla-tes having axially adjacent and axially mos~ distant parallel surfaces. An elongated central member passes through the aligned central bores of said end-to-end shells and ex-tends axially beyond the outer ends of said assembled shells. An upper ~rame member extends axially and generally horizontally beyond the outer ends of said assembled shells. A side member of the frame is rigidly attached to and dependsfrom each end of -the upper member~. Each side member at its radially inner end is rigidly joined to the central member and to the outer end of the respec-tive outer shell to preyent relative axial movement of theshells and central member. At least two tie members are spaced substantially equally apart from one another and from the upper member of the frame in the circum~erential direction of the shells. Each of the tie members has a portion spaced a predetermined amount radially outwardly from the outer circumference of said shells. Each tie member extends axially beyond the assembled shells.
Each of said tie member~ also includes a portion extending radially inwardly from each end of the axial portion of each tie member which overlies a part of an outer end of one of the assembled shells. The radial portion of each tie member is rigidly joined to a respective one of the outer shell ends and o~ one of the axial portions o~ the tie member. A bifurcated member whose legs extend to right angles of one another is us~d -to join -the radially inwardly ~acing surface o:~ the upper ~emb~r to one of the axially most dis-tan-t surfaces o~ each pair o~ parallel divlder plates~ Preferably a plurality o~ tie bolts sxtend throu~h the a~sembled shells to bind the shells together along their common horizontal axis. The nuts 1~56~S

at the end of ~he tie bolts are preferably tack welded after tightenlng to prevent their becoming loose. To maximize rigidity of the joints between the various members of the package, these joints are preferably of welded construction.
An aspect of the invention is as follows:
A method for separating a package of at least two side-by-side lengths of flat elongated sheet material into a number of smaller units corresponding to the number of side-by-side lengths of sheet material, the package lncluding (a) two cylindrical outer shells each having-a central bore extending axially therethrough, inner and outer ends, and a divider plate being rigidly joined to the inner end thereof, said divider plate extending radially outwardly beyond the circumference of said shells, said shells being positioned end-to-end, with their central bores aligned and their divider plates adjacent to and aligned with one another to form a pair of parallel plates having axially adjacent and axially : most distant parallel surfaces;
(b) an elongated central member passing through the aligned central bores of said end to-end shells~ and extending axially beyond the outer ends of said end-to-end shells;
(c) a frame including an upper member extending axially and generally horizontally an amount about equal to the combined axial dimension of said end-to-end shells;
~d) a side ~ember ri~,idly joined with and depending rom each end oE said upper member, each side member ~aving i~s radially lnner end rigidly joined to sald central member and the outer end o the respective shell ~o preven~ axial movemen~ o~ said shells wi~h respec~ ~o 3$ said central member;

1~6~2.i (e) at least two tie members spaced substantially e~ually apar~ in the circumferential direction of said shells from one another and from said upper member, said tie members each having a portion spaced radially outwardly from the outer circumference of said shells and extending axially an amount about equal to the combined axial dimension of said end-to-end shells, said tie members each having a portion extending radially inwardly from each end of said axial portion and overlying part of an outer end of said end-to-end shells, each said radial portion being rigidl~ joined to a respective one of said axial portions and a respective outer end of said end-to-end shells; and (f) a plurality of bifurcated members whose legs extend at right angles to one another with one leg of each bifurcated member extending radially inwardly and being rigidly joined to a radially inwardly facing surface of said upper member and the other leg of each bifurcated member extending radially inwardly and being rigidly joined to one of the axially most distant surfaces of a pair of parallel plates; the method comprising:
(A) cutting and removing the axially extending portion of each tie-member;
(B~ cutting the upper member at planes which intersect the axis of rotation of the package between each pair of divider plates; and ~ C) cu~-~ing ~he side members parallel ~o the axls of rota~ion o~ the package at thei~ ~unc~ion with the 3~ central ~ember leavi~g the side members joined in ~heir respec~ive outer ends of the outer shells.

1 ~S6025 Other features and advantages of the in~ention will become apparent as the description proceeds by having reference to the following drawings in which Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a package according to the invention for shipment of three rolls of flat belting in side-by-side relationship;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the package shown in Figure l;
Figure 3 is an end ~iew o~ a ~hell and di~ider plate ~or u~e in a package according to the invention;
~ igure 4 ~s a fragmentary schematic view i.llus-trating one method o~ starting a roll o~ flat belting material onto a shell of the package;
Figures 5a and 5b are enlarged front and top views obtained by sectioning Figure 1 along line 5-5;
Figure 6 is an enlarged frontal view taken along line 6-6 of ~igure 1; and Figure 7 is an enlarged frontal view taken along line 7-7 of Figure 1.
Referrlng to Figures 1 ar~d 2 there is shown an assembled pac~age 10 according to the in~ention suitable ~or ship-ment of three side-by-side rolls 60 o~ flat sheet material such as conveyor belting 11. The package includes three shells 12 including outer shells 12a and central shell 25 12b which are assembled end-to-end on a common axis of rotation 21 for the pac~age 10. Each of the shells 12a, 12b has a ccntral bore 14 extending axially therethrou~h w~ich pre~'erably i3 0~ square cro~s-s~ctional con~i3u ra~lon. An elongated centr~l ~ember 20 extands throug~
30 the align~d central bores 14 o~ the shells 12a a~d 12b.
Th~ elongated cen~ral member 20 :ls o~ su~icient le~gth ~56025 to extend axially beyond the outer ends 28 of the outer shells 12a. Preferably the central member 20 is a heavy walled steel tube o~ square cross section. The shells 12a and 12b are preferably ~ormed by taking heavy walled cylindrical portions and welding to the ends thereof heavy circular flat plate members. For example, to manufacture an 18 inch diameter shell the cylindrical portlon of the shell may be ~ormed of schedule 40 steel pipe and the end plates 15 of each shell may be ~ormed of one inch thic~ steel plate; the steel end plates being welded to the cylindrical por-tion of the shell 12a, 12b.
At one end of each outer shell 12a there is provided a di~ider plate 16 of steel which extends radially outwardly beyond the circumference of the shell an amount deter-mined by the radius of the belt roll to be formed on therespective shell. As seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3 the divider plate 16 is preferably an elongated member having a length much greater than its wi-dth and having a larger portion 44 which extends radially outwardly from the shell 12 very nearly to the upper horizontal member 23 o~ the ~rame. The smaller portion 45 o~ each divider plate 16 extends radially outwardly from its respective shell an amount slightly less than the predetermined roll diameter for which the pa~kage 10 is designed. Each divider plate 16 includes clearance holes or recesses 49 ~or acceptance o~ tie bolts 50 which are to be passed throu~h the assembled s~ells to draw them together along their co~mon longi-tudlnal axis and hole 47 ~or passage o~ the central ~ember 20 t~lereb~t~eon. 0~ course, the divider plates 16 could also 30 be disc~. ~he end plates 15 o~ the shells 12 include tle bolt holcs 48 ~or p~ssage oP the tie bolts 5Q axially t~ere-throu~h. Two close toler~nce holes 46 are provided ~1S~;~2~

in divider plate 16 for allgnmen-t purposes prior -to welding of said divider plate -to end plate 15 o~ shell.
Alignment of divider plate 16 is achieved by bolting said plate to ~hell end plate 15 which has correspondingly located tapped holes within. After welding the two tem-porary aligning bolts are removed.
When used in this speci~ication "axially" and its re-lated forms means in the direction of or parallel to the axis of rotation of the shells o~ the package. In Figure 1 numeral 21 indicates the axis of rotation of the shells 12 and/or package 10 and/or rolls 60.
"Radial" and related ~orms when used herein means in a direction that is perpendicular to and intersecting with the axis o~ rotation of the shells and/or package.
"Horizontal" and related forms as used herein means substantially perpendicular to the direction o~ gravi-tational pull and parallel to the plane o~ the horizon of the earth.
"Circum~erentially" and related forms as used herein ls to be taken with respect to the axis o~ rotation of any cylindrical shell of the package.
Each outer shell 12a has a divider plate 16 welded to one end 15 thereof. Each inner or central shell 12b has a divider plate 16 welded to each end 15 thereo~.
The bores 14 and 48 of each shell 12a, 12b are such that they may be aligned and when they are aligned the divider plates 16 are also aligned. The shells 12a, 12b :including divider plates 16 are assembled with the divider plates 16 and the bores 14, and ~8, and holes 46 aligned.
~0 To ~acilitate star~ a roll 60 o~ ~lat belting 11 on a shell 12a or 12b, the shell may be provided with a ~lot 13 extendlng axiall~ acro~ its ou-ter circumfere~tial sur~aGe 19. A tab i~ ~ormed on -the ~n~ o~ the belt or sheot materi~l 11 and the ta4 is inserted into the slo-t 13 in the ~hell 12 and -the shell i~ rotated to 1QCk -the ~ab 1~5~02~
g into the shell 910t. This is shown schematically in Figure 4.
The package 10 includes a ~rame 22 including an upper member 23 which extends axially and generally horizontally an amount at least equal to the extent of the assemb~ed end-to end shells 12a, 12b. The upper member 23 is pre~erably made of tubular steel of square cross-section.
Depending radially inwardly from each end 24 of the upper member 23 is a side member 25 which extends to the central member 20. The radially outer end 27 of each side member 25 i8 rlgidly joined, preferably by welding, -to the upper member 23 or ~usset 53 which extends there-between, A prei~erred manner o~ attachment is shown~in Figures 5a and b where a short length of angular steel is used to form right angle gusset 53 with one leg of the gusset abutting and joined by weldment to an end 24 of the upper member 23 and the other leg of the right angle gusset 53 abutting and joined by weldment to the r~dially outer end 27 of side member 25. The right angle gusset 53 is further rein~orced by a planar gusset 54 which is welded to both legs of the right angle gusset.
Planar gusset 54 preferably includes an aperture 55 which is used in hoisting the assembled package 10, The radially inner end 26 of each side member 25 is rigidly joined to central member 20 and to the outer end 28 of an outer shell 12a, preferably by welding. The pre~erred manner of extent o~ the weld 51 which joins side member 25 to central member 20 is shown in Figure 7.
It is to be noted that weld 51 does not extend axially inwardl~ the entire axial dimension or thickne~s of side membor 25, that corner o~ side member 25 closest to -the sh~ll end 2~ being ~ree o~ weld. Also, weld 52 which ~oi~9 9ide member 25 to the outer end 28 o~ the outer ~hell 12a does not ex-te~d radially inwardly ~rom the outer circum~ere~cc o~ the shell -~o the cen-tral member 20.

11$6025 The purpose and advantage of this arrangement will be-come apparent as -the description proceeds. The radially inner end 26 of side member 25 may be -truncated as shown by line 58 in Figure 7 to encourage desired weld pattern.
The frame 22 also includes at least two ~-shaped tie members 30 which are spaced substantially equally apart in the circumferential direction of the shells 12 ~rom one another and from the upper member 23. Each of the tie members 30 includes a cross portion 31 spaced radially from the axis 21 which extends axia:lly an a~ountabout equal to the combined axial dimension of the end-to-end assembled shells 12. Each tie member 30 also includes at each end thereof a slde portion 32 which extends radially inwardly from each end o~ the axial portion 31 and overlies a part of the outer end 2~ o~ an outer shell 12a. The radial portion 32 of each tie member 30 is rigidly joined to the bottom cross portion 31 of its respective tie member and is also rigidly joined to a respective one of the outer shell end 28, preferably by welding.
Referring to Figures 1 and 6, the frame 22 also includes a plurality of bi~urcated members 36 whose legs 38,42 extend at right angles to one another. One leg 38 of each bifurcated member 36 extends axially and is rigidly joined to the radially inwardly ~acing surface 40 of the upper member 23 preferably by welding. The other leg 42 of each b~furcated member 36 extends radlally inwardly and is rigidly joined to one of the axially most distant surfaces 18, 18a of a pair 17 of parallel divider plates 16, 16a.
3~ Tho package 1~ pre~erably ~ur-ther include~ a plurali-ty of tie bo].-ts 50 whi.ch ~xtend axially through the assembled shells 12~ 12b. These tie bolts 50 are used to draw the shells 12a, 12b tightly toward one another. The threaded ~uts whlch are u~qd to draw up ~he ~ie bolts 50 are pre~rably tack welded a~ter cinching, 1 ~56025 - lL -A method of packaging for shipment and individual letof~
of a plurality of side ~y side rolls 60 of flat bel-ting 11 i~ as follows:
A plurality of cylindrical shells 12a, 12b are assembled in end-to-end relation on a common horizontal axis of rotation 21. Each of the adjacent ends o~ di~ferin~
ones 12a, 12b of said shells has a separate divider plate 16 welded thereto. The divider plates are aligned with and parallel to one another as are the bores 48 and 14 which extend through each o~ the shells 12a, 12b. An elongated central member 20 is passed through the aligned central bores 14 of said end~to-end shells 12a, 12b. Tie-bolts 50 are used to draw the shells toward one another.
One or more flat belts 11 are started onto the assembled shells 12 which are rotated about their common horizontal axis 21 to wind the side-by-side lengths of flat belting into side-by-side rolls 60 of a predetermined radius.
After the rolls 60 are wound to their finished radius they may be banded or wrapped in known manner to secure them. The remainder o~ the package is then constructed.
A pair of side members 25 are welded to the outer ends 28 o~ the outer shells 12a and to the central member 20 as shown in Figures 1 and 7. The side members 25 lie in a single radial plane. The radially outer end 27 o~ each side member 25 is then joined to an axially extending upper member 23 whose length is at least equal to the combined axial dimension of said end-to-end assembled shells and divider plates, pre~erably by welding. ~he side members 25 and upper member 2~ are positioned cir-cumferentially of the package 10 ~uch that the upp~rmember 23 extends acro~s the divider plate~ 16 which wh~n ~ormed accordlng to pre~erred embodiment Qf the inven-tion include a larger portion ~4 over which the upper member 23 extends. At least two U-sh~ped tie ~ember~ 30 are formed with the bo-ttom or cros3 portion 31 of each ~-shaped tire member being o~ a leng-th at least equal -to the axial dimension of said assembled shells and wi-th the side portions 32 of each of said tie members being of a leng-th sligh-tly less than the predetermined radius of the belt rolls. The bottom or cross portion 31 and side portions 32 of each tie member 30 are then positioned at a predetermined radius ~rom the axis of rotation 21 of the package 10 with the side portions 32 of each tie member 30 extending radially in-wardly from the bottom portion 31 of' that tie member.The bottom portion 31 pre~erably is closely adjacent to or in contact with the rolls 60. Each side portion 32 of each tie member 30 overlies a respective outer end 28 of an outer shell 12a. The tie members 30 are pre~erably spaced substantially equally apart from one another and said upper member 23 when viewed in the circumferential direction of the shells 12~, 12b. In a preferred embodi-ment there is a single upper member 23 and two tie members 30 which are spaced 120 degrees apart from one another in the circumferential direction of the shells 12a, 12b.
Each side portion 32 of each tie member 30 is pre~erably welded at its radially inner end to the respective outer end 28 of an outer shell 12a. Re~erring to Figures 1 and

2, red~dant sharp corners o~ side portions 32 o~ tie member 30 at the juncture o~ said -tie member and t;ie member 31 are preferably eliminated by radiusing. A
plurality of bifurcated members 36 typically of angular steel are positioned such -that one leg 38 o~ each ~xtends axially alonga radially inwardly facing sur~ace 3Q 4Q of ~he upper member 23 and the o-ther leg 42 oP each respec-tive bi~urca-ted member 36 extends radially inwardly along one o~ the axially mos-t distan-t sur~aces o~ a pair 17 of ad~acen-t divider plates 16, 16a. Each leg of each bl~urcatod member 36 is preferabl~ welded -to the par-t it abut~, ~ 1~6~2~

'~hen the package 10 including a plurality o~ side-by~
side rolls 60 of conveyor bel-ting 11 reaches i-ts destin-ation and it is desired to let off the rolls of belting individually the package is disassembled, preferably by cutting with an oxy-ace-tylene torch. It is understood 9 of course, that other kno~n methods of severing such as sawing, grinding and chiseling may also be employed and the use o~ the term "cutting" is intended to contemplate these al-ternate methods. Because o~ the corlfiguration of the package 10 this is readily accomplished~ The tie-bolts 50, if present, are removed. The tie members 30 are burned apart and at least -the bottom axially extending portion 31 of each tie member 30 is entirely removed.
The upper horizontal member 23 o~ the frame 22 is burned apart at planes 56 as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 6.
The side members 25 are separated from the central member 20 by burning apart welds 51. It is readily appreciated at this time that the extent of and positioning o~ welds 51 and 52 are such that separation of side member 25 ~rom the central member 20 is readily accomplished since the weld 51 does not continue axially to the junction of the radially inner end 26 of the side member 25 with the outermost shell end 28. In like manner because divider plates 16 are assembled so as to ~orm pairs 17 the upper member 23 is easily severed at lines 56. The result of this procedure is to dismantle the package 10 of Figure 1 into ~hree smaller sub-packages each of which includes an upper member (a portion of member 23) to facilitate hoisting ancl movement o~ that sub-package and mounting on a le-tof~ unit. Because each shell 12a7 12b inclucles a cen-tral bore 14 therethrough a bar (not shown) may be inserted through bore 14 a~ter which the remainder o~
upper member 23 is c,ut away fro~ the sub-package~ ~he roll 60 of belting may then be let o~f ~or use or ln ~tallatlon.

The configuration of the package 10 allows the package to be rotated on a transporter such that the upper member 23 of frame 22 will be at an elevation equal to or less than that defined by the radius of the rolls 60 of belt m g.
Referring to Figure 2, it is readily apparent that the package 10 may be rotated either clockwise or counterclock-wise to result in member 23 being at an elevation not exceeding that defined by the radius of the rolls 60~of belting. One of tie-members 30 may ba used to help block the package 10 from rolling further. The configuration of ; the package lO thus permits shipment of maximum diameter rolls of flat elongated materiaI since the packa~e~10-, when properly positioned on the transporter, does not co~tribute to the overall height o~ the rolls 60.
15While certain representative embodiments and details `~
have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the in~
vention it will be apparent to those skill~ed ln ths~ art ;~
that various changes~and~modifications may be~made~thereln without departing from the spirit or scope~o~ the invention.

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Claims (2)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A method for separating a package of at least two side-by-side lengths of flat elongated sheet material into a number of smaller units corresponding to the number of side-by-side lengths of sheet material, the package including (a) two cylindrical outer shells each having a central bore extending axially therethrough, inner and outer ends, and a divider plate being rigidly joined to the inner end thereof, said divider plate extending radially outwardly beyond the circumference of said shells, said shells being positioned end-to-end, with their central bores aligned and their divider plates adjacent to and aligned with one another to form a pair of parallel plates having axially adjacent and axially most distant parallel surfaces;
(b) an elongated central member passing through the aligned central bores of said end-to-end shells, and extending axially beyond the outer ends of said end-to-end shells;
(c) a frame including an upper member extending axially and generally horizontally an amount about equal to the combined axial dimension of said end-to-end shells;
(d) a side member rigidly joined with and depending from each end of said upper member, each side member having its radially inner end rigidly joined to said central member and the outer end of the respective shell to prevent axial movement of said shells with respect to said central member;

(e) at least two tie members spaced substantially equally apart in the circumferential direction of said shells from one another and from said upper member, said tie members each having a portion spaced radially outwardly from the outer circumference of said shells and extending axially an amount about equal to the combined axial dimension of said end-to-end shells, said tie members each having a portion extending radially inwardly from each end of said axial portion and overlying part of an outer end of said end-to-end shells, each said radial portion being rigidly joined to a respective one of said axial portions and a respective outer end of said end-to-end shells; and (f) a plurality of bifurcated members whose legs extend at right angles to one another with one leg of each bifurcated member extending radially inwardly and being rigidly joined to a radially inwardly facing surface of said upper member and the other leg of each bifurcated member extending radially inwardly and being rigidly joined to one of the axially most distant surfaces of a pair of parallel plates; the method comprising:
(A) cutting and removing the axially extending portion of each tie-member;
(B) cutting the upper member at planes which intersect the axis of rotation of the package between each pair of divider plates; and (C) cutting the side members parallel to the axis of rotation of the package at their junction with the central member leaving the side members joined in their respective outer ends of the outer shells.

2. A method for separating a package of at least two side-by-side lengths of flat elongated sheet material into a number of smaller units corresponding to the number of side-by-side lengths of sheet material, the package including (a) two cylindrical outer shells each having a central bore extending axially therethrough, inner and outer ends, and a divider plate being rigidly joined to the inner end thereof, said divider plate extending radially outwardly beyond the circumference of said shells, said shells being positioned end-to-end, with their central bores aligned and their divider plates adjacent to and aligned with one another to form a pair of parallel plates having axially adjacent and axially most distant parallel surfaces;
(b) an elongated central member passing through the aligned central bores of said end-to-end shells, and extending axially beyond the outer ends of said end-to-end shells;
(c) a frame including an upper member extending axially and generally horizontally an amount about equal to the combined axial dimension of said end-to-end shells;
(d) a side member rigidly joined with and depending from each end of said upper member, each side member having its radially inner end rigidly joined to said central member and the outer end of the respective shell to prevent axial movement of said shells with respect to said central member;
(e) at least two tie members spaced substantially equally apart in the circumferential direction of said shells from one another and from said upper member, said tie-members each having a portion spaced radially outwardly from the outer circumference of said shells and extending axially an amount about equal to -the combined axial dimension of said end-to-end shells, said tie-members each having a portion extending radially inwardly from each end of said axial portion and overlying part of an outer end of said end-to-end shells, each said radial portion being rigidly joined to a respective one of said axial portions and a respective outer end of said end-to-end shells;
(f) a plurality of bifurcated members whose legs extend at right angles to one another with one leg of each bifurcated member extending radially inwardly and being rigidly joined to a radially inwardly facing surface of said upper member and the other leg of each bifurcated member extending radially inwardly and being rigidly joined to one of the axially most distant surfaces of a pair of parallel plates; and a plurality of tie-bolts extending axially through tie-bolt holes provided in the shells; wherein each divider plate is welded to the respective shell end, the radially outer end of each side member is welded to the upper member and the radially inner end of each side member is welded to a radially outwardly facing surface of the central member and to the outer end of a respective outer shell, the axially extending portion of each tie-member is welded to the respective radially extending portion of that tie-member and the radially inner end of each radially extending portion is welded to the respective outer end of the outer shell, each leg of each bifurcated member is welded to the respective surface of said upper member of divider plate which it contacts, the method comprising:
(A) removing said tie bolts;
(B) cutting and removing the axially extending portion of each tie-member;
(C) cutting the upper member at planes which intersect the axis of rotation of the package between each pair of divider plates; and (D) cutting the side members parallel to the axis of rotation of the package at their junction with the central member, leaving the side members joined at their respective outer ends of the outer shells.