GB2098518A - Repair of beer kegs and containers - Google Patents

Abstract

In the repair of an overblown beer keg the end chime rings (9 and 10) are first removed and, if damaged, subsequently repaired or replaced as may be necessary. The remaining container portion of the keg is cut centrally into two equal parts (1 and 2). Each part (1 or 2) is fitted on an expander which is operative to apply a substantially even and radially outward pressure (in direction of arrows 5) to an end region of the side wall (6) of the part (1 or 2) where that wall joins the domed end (3) of the part. This pulls in the outwardly deformed domed end (3) to a position beyond that corresponding to its original shape, and thus over compensates for the overblown condition. The end (3) is then embossed on its inner face with a star-shaped embossing tool, the depth of embossing compensating for the over compensation of the pulling-in procedure and thus restoring the container volume to its correct volume. After any necessary reshaping, the expanded and reformed end parts (1 and 2) are welded back together to provide a repaired and strengthened container. The chime rings (9 and 10) are then replaced to complete the keg repair. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Repair of kegs and containers This invention relates to the repair of metal beer kegs and containers or the like, which have domes ends provided by end pressings integral with or welded to the container side wall.

With beer kegs the contained beer is dispensed by the application of internal gas pressure, and a frequent cause of damage is excessive pressure within the container which results in permanent outward deformation of the domed ends. This form of damage is commonly referred to in the trade as "overblowing", and can be serious enough to render the overblown container unusable, largely because of the resultant increased internal volume.

The repair of overblown containers has up until now presented very considerable problems and the principal object of the invention is to provide a repair method which overcomes these problems and results in a repaired container of restored internal volume in a relatively simple and far less expensive manner than hitherto. A subsidiary object is to provide such a method which can easily be developed to provide a repaired container which is stronger, in the sense of being more resistant to internal pressure, than was the original container.

According to the invention a method of repairing an overblown beer keg or container comprises the steps of cutting the container transversely into two parts and separately subjecting these parts to an expansion procedure in which each part is mounted on an expanding mandrel or the like (hereinafter referred to as "an expander"), which is operative to apply a radially outward pressure in the region of the junction between the side wall and the domed end of the part, whereby to "pull-in" the domed end and remove the outward deformation thereof. After any necessary other repairs have been effected, the two parts are welded back together to provide a repaired container of restored internal volume.

The expander can be of any suitable form, such as to be operative to apply a reasonably uniform expansion pressure to said region around the periphery of the side wall of the part being expanded. The method may be developed to provide a strengthened container, and to this end the applied expansion pressure may be sufficient to pull-in the domed end to a position beyond that corresponding to the original shape (with attendant slight radial expansion), thus over compensating for the damage, the over compensation then being corrected in a pressing or embossing operation which provides a rigidifying deformation of the domed end. This may be achieved by the use of a cruciform or starshaped embossing tool, the depth of embossing being such that in conjunction with the overcompensating pulling-in produce by the expansion step the correct container volume is obtained.

The container is preferably cut into two halves, although if desired it could be cut into two unequal parts. The usual end "chime" rings are preferably removed before the expansion step, but if they are not so seriously damaged as to require substantial reshaping or replacement they can be left in position although this normally means that more complex embossing tooling is required.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying sketch drawings which diagrammatically illustrate, by way of example, one way of applying the invention to the repair of a beer keg. In the drawings: Figure 1 illustrates an upper "part" of the damaged keg at an early stage in the repair procedure; Figure 2 illustrates the same part at an intermediate stage of the procedure; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the part at a subsequent stage; Figure 4 is a view in the direction of the arrow IV in Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a similar cross-sectional view of the fully repaired beer keg.

At the commencement of the repair the usual end chime rings are preferably removed and, if damaged, subsequently reshaped or replaced as necessary. The container portion of the keg which then remains is cut centrally into two equal parts 1 and 2, the upper part 1 of which has. a domed end pressing 3 in which is fitted the usual central pressure neck 4. This part is illustrated in process of repair in Figures 1 to 4. Figure 1 shows the part 1 at an early stage in the repair procedure, depicting the overblown condition which requires correction. In this figure the original position of the domed end 3 is illustrated in broken lines.

The part 1 is fitted on an expander (not illustrated) which is operative to apply a substantially even and radially outward pressure, in the direction of arrows 5 in Figure 1, to an end region of the side wall 6 of the part where that wall joins the domed end 3. A sufficient radial pressure is applied to pull-in the end 3 to the position shown in Figure 2, in which figure the original position is again shown in broken lines.

As can be seen from Figure 2 the end 3 is pulledin by the expansion step to a position beyond that of the original shape, with attendant slight radial expansion, thus providing over compensation for the overblown condition.

The end 3 is then embossed on its inner face using a star-shaped embossing tool (not illustrated) to provide the embossed formation illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. As can be seen from these figures the depth of embossing tapers from the periphery of the end 3 to a maximum depth at the centre - in the case of the part 1 this is the depth of the embossing immediately surrounding the pressure neck 4. This embossing provides, for the end 3, a rigidifying deformation such that the repaired container is considerably strengthened and better able to withstand internal pressure than was originally the case. The depth of embossing is selected to compensate for the over compensating pulling-in illustrated in Figure 2, thereby restoring the internal volume to its correct value.

The other part 2 is similarly expanded and embossed. In this case the domed end 7 is of plain form without the pressure neck 4, and the embossing provides a dished central concavity.

The expanded and embossed parts 1 and 2 are welded together at 8 (Figure 5) to complete the container repair. As shown in Figure 5, after the parts 1 and 2 have been joined back together the end rings 9 and 10 are refitted, after any necessary reshaping, or are replaced.

While the parts 1 and 2 are still separate, any other necessary repair can be effected, for example reshaping of the side wall 6 which, in the illustrative example, is of generally cylindrical form. The invention can also be utilised to repair barrel-shaped containers and indeed is usable with beer barrels generally, for example whether of stainless steel or aluminium alloy construction.

While the parts 1 and 2 are separate the reshaping of the side wall 6 to restore its cylindrical, or other, shape may be effected on an expanding mandrel. This could be effected simultaneously with the described expansion step, the reshaping mandrel being incorporated in the expander which is used to pull-in the overblown end.

Claims (Filed on 10 May, 1982).

1. A method of repairing an overblown beer keg or container, comprising the steps of cutting the container transversely into two parts and separately subjecting these parts to an expansion procedure in which each part is mounted on an expander, which is operative to apply a radially outward pressure in the region of the junction between a side wall and a domed end of the part, whereby to "pull'in" the domed end and remove the outward deformation thereof, and subsequently welding the two parts back together to provide a repaired container.

2. A repair method according to claim 1, wherein said expansion procedure is effected simultaneously with a reshaping of said side wall of the container.

3. A repair method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the radially outward pressure is applied to said region by means of an expanding mandrel.

4. A repair method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the applied expansion pressure is sufficient to pull-in the domed end of each part to a position beyond that corresponding to the original shape (with attendant slight radial expansion) and thus over compensates for the overblown condition, this over compensation then being corrected in a pressing or embossing operation which provides a rigidifying deformation of the domed end.

5. A repair method according to claim 4, wherein the over compensation is corrected by the use of a cruciform of star-shaped embossing tool.

6. A repair method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is cut transversely into two halves.

7. A repair method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the container is cut transversely into two unequal parts.

8. A repair method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein end chime rings of the container are removed before the separated parts thereof are subjected to said expansion procedure.

9. A repair method according to claim 8, wherein said end chime rings are removed before the container is cut into said two parts.

9. A beer keg or container which has been repaired by a method in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.

10. A method of repairing an overblown beer keg or container, substantially as herein particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. compensating pulling-in illustrated in Figure 2, thereby restoring the internal volume to its correct value. The other part 2 is similarly expanded and embossed. In this case the domed end 7 is of plain form without the pressure neck 4, and the embossing provides a dished central concavity. The expanded and embossed parts 1 and 2 are welded together at 8 (Figure 5) to complete the container repair. As shown in Figure 5, after the parts 1 and 2 have been joined back together the end rings 9 and 10 are refitted, after any necessary reshaping, or are replaced. While the parts 1 and 2 are still separate, any other necessary repair can be effected, for example reshaping of the side wall 6 which, in the illustrative example, is of generally cylindrical form. The invention can also be utilised to repair barrel-shaped containers and indeed is usable with beer barrels generally, for example whether of stainless steel or aluminium alloy construction. While the parts 1 and 2 are separate the reshaping of the side wall 6 to restore its cylindrical, or other, shape may be effected on an expanding mandrel. This could be effected simultaneously with the described expansion step, the reshaping mandrel being incorporated in the expander which is used to pull-in the overblown end. Claims (Filed on 10 May, 1982).

1. A method of repairing an overblown beer keg or container, comprising the steps of cutting the container transversely into two parts and separately subjecting these parts to an expansion procedure in which each part is mounted on an expander, which is operative to apply a radially outward pressure in the region of the junction between a side wall and a domed end of the part, whereby to "pull'in" the domed end and remove the outward deformation thereof, and subsequently welding the two parts back together to provide a repaired container.

2. A repair method according to claim 1, wherein said expansion procedure is effected simultaneously with a reshaping of said side wall of the container.

3. A repair method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the radially outward pressure is applied to said region by means of an expanding mandrel.

4. A repair method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the applied expansion pressure is sufficient to pull-in the domed end of each part to a position beyond that corresponding to the original shape (with attendant slight radial expansion) and thus over compensates for the overblown condition, this over compensation then being corrected in a pressing or embossing operation which provides a rigidifying deformation of the domed end.

5. A repair method according to claim 4, wherein the over compensation is corrected by the use of a cruciform of star-shaped embossing tool.

6. A repair method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is cut transversely into two halves.

7. A repair method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the container is cut transversely into two unequal parts.

8. A repair method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein end chime rings of the container are removed before the separated parts thereof are subjected to said expansion procedure.

9. A repair method according to claim 8, wherein said end chime rings are removed before the container is cut into said two parts.

9. A beer keg or container which has been repaired by a method in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.

10. A method of repairing an overblown beer keg or container, substantially as herein particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings.