GB2161132A

GB2161132A - Beer kegs and casks

Info

Publication number: GB2161132A
Application number: GB08417060A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Frederick John Johnson
Original assignee: Keg Services Ltd
Current assignee: Keg Services Ltd
Priority date: 1984-07-04
Filing date: 1984-07-04
Publication date: 1986-01-08
Also published as: GB8417060D0

Abstract

A beer barrel, for example a beer keg, has a central container portion 1 with a cylindrical side wall 2 and domed end parts 3 and 4. Annular end chime rings 5 and 6 are fitted to the respective ends of the container portion 1. Two spaced rolling rings 7 and 8, of annular shape and generally arcuate convex cross-section, are fitted around the container side wall 2. The end rings 5 and 6 fit over plain annular mounting rings 9 and 10, respectively, to which they are secured by peripheral welds 11 and 12. The separately formed mounting rings 11 and 12 are secured to the container portion 1 by peripheral welds 13,14, and 15,16. The rolling rings 7 and 8 are similarly mounted on separately attached mounting rings 17 and 18. The rolling rings 7,8 have edge flanges 19,20, 25,26 secured by peripheral welds 21,22, 27,28 to the rings 17,18 which are secured by peripheral welds 23,24, 29,30 to the container portion 1. The inner edge of each ring 5,6,7,8 is inset away from the inner edge of the corresponding mounting ring so that the welds 11,12,19,20,25,26 can be cut away for repair purposes without danger of damaging the container portion 1. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Beer kegs and casks The invention relates to beer kegs and casks, hereinafter referred to generally as "barrels", and in particular to barrels of fabricated metal construction having a container portion on to which two end "chime" rings are fitted.

Such fabricated barrels normally have the end rings directly attached to the container portion by complete peripheral welds, and rolling rings integrally formed in the side wall of the container portion. As a result of the rough handling to which the barrels are invariably subjected they often suffer accidental damage so that repair of a damaged barrel is frequently necessary. The end rings and the rolling rings are the parts of a barrel most at risk and hence most often damaged, and damage to the rolling rings in particular tends to render a barrel unserviseable. Flattening of the rolling rings lengthens the container portion so that the volume thereof increases beyond tolerance limits, and rolling ring damage can apply damagingly high localised stresses to the wall of the container portion.

The repair of a damaged barrel usually involves cutting the barrel into two parts to allow internal access for reshaping and reforming of the rolling rings, and the cutting off of damaged end rings which are then either reshaped and refitted or replaced by new components which with present constructions is frequently necessary. This repair procedure is beset by serious problems.

The cutting out of the old welds of the end rings is a skilled operation which has to be performed carefully to avoid cutting into the metal of the container portion. This cannot be done by a simple machining process as the damaged barrels are normally distorted from their original circular cross-sectional shape and hand grinding is commonly employed. It frequently happens that the operator cuts too deeply and thus cuts into the container portion, so that unnecessary and undesirable repair of the latter is then necessary. Furthermore, the welding-on of replacement or reshaped end rings introduces the problem that this welding can adversely affect the metallurgical structure of the container portion. The number of times that a barrel can be repaired before corrective action, such as heat treatment, is required is limited due to this problem.Metallurgical changes resulting from the forces necessary to reform the rolling rings can also limit the number of repairs.

The object of the invention is to provide a barrel which when damaged is more easily and cheaply repaired than existing barrels, and in particular with which the foregoing problems are overcome.

To this end a barrel has end rings and/or rolling rings which are not directly welded to the container portion of the barrel, each of these rings being welded to a mounting ring which is separately formed and attached by welding to the container portion.

Thus the usual problems attendant on the repair of a damaged barrel and which have been mentioned are completely overcome.

Less skill is required in cutting out the old welds as cutting into the mounting rings is of little consequence, in particular not damaging the wall of the container portion, and the welding on of reshaped or replacement end rings or rolling rings does not affect the metallurgical structure of the container portion due to the heat spread within the mounting rings which occurs. Thus the repair requires less skill and care, and there is no normal limit to the number of repairs which can be effected.

Damage to the rolling rings when they are in accordance with the invention also does not increase the container volume, and because of this a barrel will often remain serviceable with rolling ring damage not acceptable with existing integral rolling rings. It is also easier to reshape a damaged rolling ring, after removal, than to reform an integral rolling ring. Apart from the relative simplicity of the tooling required, the rolling rings can be removed and reshaped without cutting the barrel into two parts.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates, by way of example and in axial section, a beer keg which represents a preferred embodiment of the invention. The keg is of stainless steel construction and conventional general shape, having a central container portion 1 with a cylindrical side wall 2 and domed end parts 3 and 4. The top end part 3 has the usual welded-in pressure neck 3a.

Annular upper and lower end or so-called "chime" rings 5 and 6 are fitted to the respective ends of the container portion 1, these as usual protecting the ends of the latter and also facilitating handling and stacking of the keg. Two spaced rolling rings 7 and 8, of annular shape and generally arcuate convex cross-section, are fitted around the container side wall 2, providing protection and reinforcement for the latter and being utilised when rolling the keg along the ground.

Instead of the end rings 5 and 6 being directly attached to the container portion 1, as is the present general practice, they fit over plain annular mounting rings 9 and 10, respectively, to which they are secured by continuous peripheral welds 11 and 1 2. The separately formed mounting ring 11 is secured to the container portion 1 by continuous peripheral welds 1 3 and 14; the mounting ring 1 2 is similarly secured by continuous peripheral welds 1 5 and 1 6.

The rolling rings 7 and 8 are similarly mounted on separately attached mounting rings 1 7 and 18. Thus the ring 7 has edge flanges 19 and 20 secured by continuous peripheral welds 21 and 22 to the ring 1 7 which is itself secured by continuous peripheral welds 23 and 24 to the container portion 1. Similarly, edge flanges 25 and 26 of the rolling ring 8 are secured by continuous peripheral welds 27 and 28 to the mounting ring 18, which is itself secured by continuous peripheral welds 29 and 30 to the container portion 1.

As clearly shown in the drawing, the inner edge of each end ring 5 or 6 is inset away from the inner edge of the corresponding mounting ring 9 to 10. Thus the welds 11 and 1 2 can easily be cut away without danger of damaging the container portion 1. Similarly, the edges of the flanges 19,20 and 25,26 are respectively inset away from the corresponding edges of the mounting rings 17 and 18. Thus the welds 21,22 and 27,28 can also be cut away without any danger of damaging the container portion 1 during a repair of the keg. Thus removal, reshaping and welding back of damaged end rings and rolling rings can be effected without detriment to the container portion 1, and without the necessity of cutting the keg into two parts for internal access.

Claims

1. A fabricated metal beer barrel comprising a container portion and end rings and/or rolling rings which are not directly welded to the container portion, each such ring being welded to a corresponding mounting ring which is separately formed and attached by welding to the container portion.

2. A beer barrel according to claim 1, wherein said mounting ring is of plain annular form.

3. A beer barrel according to claim 2, wherein said mounting ring is of cylindrical shape and rectangular cross-section.

4. A beer barrel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each said end ring and/or rolling ring at least partially overlaps the corresponding mounting ring.

5. A beer barrel according to claim 4, wherein each end ring of the barrel partially overlaps the corresponding mounting ring so that its inner edge is inset away from the inner edge of that mounting ring to which it is welded by a substantially continuous peripheral weld.

6. A beer barrel according to claim 4, wherein each rolling ring of the barrel is narrower in the axial direction than the corresponding mounting ring and its inner edges are inset away from the adjacent edges of that mounting ring to which it is welded by a substantially continuous peripheral weld at each edge.

7. A beer barrel substantially as herein particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing.