GB2163416A - Cask fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

An aperture in the wall of a cask e.g. the keystone or shive fitting, has an upstanding collar (1). A metal insert (2) is located in the collar (1) with a sealing material (3) therebetween forming also an electrical insulation. The insert (2) has a top flange (2a) to seat on the collar and a lower portion (2b) which has been deformed by a swaging operating to form a clench on the internal surface of the collar and cask wall. The insert has threading (5) into which a plastic or wood bung-carrying bush (not shown) is engaged. The bush may thus be unscrewed for removal to provide a larger aperture for cleaning. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in casks and like containers This invention relates to casks and like containers primarily those for holding beverages such as beer.

The invention is concerned with the apertures in the container such as the bung hole outlet or shive construction and it an object of the invention to provide an improved arrangement for securing closures in the apertures in a container.

According to this invention there is provided a cask or container having an aperture forming a bung hole or shive for example with an assembly consisting of ring or collar provided on or in the wall of the cask, a metal insert fittingly engaged within the ring or collar and of which one end has a flange seating on the end face of the ring collar, the other end having a portion which has been deformed and flared outwardly to engage behind the rear internal face of the ring or collar, the insert having on its internally cylindrical surface threading, between the insert and ring or collar, closure structure located in the insert and having a threaded outer surface complementary to the threaded surface of the insert and adapted to receive a closure.

With such an arrangement a bung closure may be displaced into the cask by traditional means, e.g. by impact, during broaching of the cask, the bung structure can later be easily removed from the insert and replaced by means of the threading.

This enables any fragments which might have been shattered from striking the bung to be retrieved from the interior of the cask through removal of the threaded insert thus obviating a problem which occurred in the past wherein any such fragments have to be removed through a relatively small diameter aperture.

Preferably the insert has on the internal surface thereof a coarse pitch threading to engage the threading on the closure such as the bung, which is to receive the tap, or the shive, which is to receive the spile.

Embodiments according to the invention are shown by way of examples in the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows a partial cross section through a bung hole housing incorporating a shive-type bung receiving insert, Figure 2 shows a similar view of an arrangement applicable to a keystone housing, Figure 3 shows a further embodiment for a keystone aperture, Figure 4 shows a further embodiment for a bung hole outlet, and Figure 5 shows a further shive aperture.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings, this shows a bung hole housing 1 for fitment to a cask the housing having on the inner surface a stainless steel insert 2 with a top flange 2a seating against the upper surface of the bung housing and a lower flange 2b which has been swaged or rolled by a suitable tool to deform same and firmly embrace the internal facing surface of the housing. The insert liner 2 has a coarse pitch screw thread 5 and the interstices between this insert and bung housing are filled with an electrically insulating material 3 such as plastics.

The flange 2b is produced by an appropriate tool by an internal swaging operation which serves to forcibly deform the end into contact with the bung housing so as to form a permanent non-rotatable insert assembly.

The bung structure has a plastic or wooden tutt insert 4 having on its outer surface a complementary coarse screw threading and defining at the centre an orifice 7 into which a wood or plastic spile in inserted. With this arrangement, the bung or spile can be driven into the barrel during the normal broaching operation, if removal is required or if the barrel is to be internally cleaned to assist in remov ing fragments then the insert bung can be un screwed thus providing a larger size aperture. In a preferred embodiment the insert liner 2 will be of stainless steel and the insulating material 3 of rubber or plastics. The insert bung 4 can be plastics or wood.

In figure 2 the arrangement is shown as applied to a metal cask having an upper wall 20 to which is welded a bung hole outlet 21. A stainless steel insert 22 is provided in this embodiment also having an upper flange 23 to seat on the top of the bung hole housing and a lower flange 24 which as been swaged to deform same over the inner surface of the cask. A suitable insulating material 25 is provided between the insert 22 and the bung hole housing this forming an infill and electrical insulator. An insert 26 has complementary thread 27 to engage the insert 22 and the inner peripheral surface thereof is tapered inwardly and receives a plastic or wooden bung tutt 28. Suitable formations 29 may be provided on the insert 26 to engage the bung structure 28 which may include suitable formations 30 to engage the bung.

The embodiments describe an electricallyinsulating material between the insert and container which is necessary if aluminium is used but not necessary for stainless steel containers. However, both require a material to seal the interface between the insert and container against leakage of liquid and gases. The purpose of the insert is to enable a screwed bung to be used, hence enforcing unscrewing to remove and therefore ensuring no bits enter the container. The insert is not intended to be removed from the container and is a permanent attachment to the container.

The advantages of this construction and novel features relate to the use of a coarse threaded stainless steel insert preferably with the infill plastics material which has been inserted into the cask aperture and thereafter swaged at the lower end to form a permanent connection. This is a relatively simple way of providing the insert and in addition it can then threadably receive a further insert which forms the actual bung hole to receive the bung.

In the construction of shive it is intended that a wooded spile be inserted in the plastics insert 4 for venting the spile being driven into the container during broaching. In the keystone fitting a metal or wooden tap is to be hammered against a centre piece in the bung closure tutt which is then sheared off and driven into the container.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 3 to 5 the construction is similar and like reference numerals are used for like parts. Here, however, the insert 2,22 has a plain outer surface with threading formed on the inside to receive the inserts 4,24 (not shown in Figures 3 and 4).

Claims (5)

1. A cask or container having an aperture forming a bung hole or shive for example with an assembly consisting of a ring or collar provided on or in the wall of the cask, a metal insert fittingly engaged within the ring or collar and of which one end has a flange seating on the end face of the ring or collar, the other end having a portion which has been deformed and flared outwardly to engage behind the rear internal face of the ring or collar, the insert having on its internally cylindrical surface threading, between the insert and ring or collar, closure structure located in the insert and having a threaded outer surface complementary to the threaded surface of the insert and adapted to receive a closure.

2. A cask as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the insert has on the internal surface thereof a coarse pitch threading to engage the threading of the closure such as the bung, which is to receive the tap, or the shive, which is to receive the spile.

3. A cask as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the seal comprises an electrically insulating material covering a major portion of the engaging surfaces of the insert and collar.

4. A cask as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the seal fills the interstices between the insert and collar, the threading in the insert being formed by deformation.

5. A cask as described herein and exemplified by reference to any one of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.