GB2173766A - Beer barrels - Google Patents

Abstract

A beer barrel 1 designed for the dispensing of keg beer has a side fitting 15 incorporating a side opening 17 adapted to receive a dispensing combination fitting. The side wall of the barrel 1 is outwardly deformed, e.g. by the provision of a dimple, at a position which is diametrically opposite to the side opening 17, to provide a recess or sump 20 to receive the end of a dispensing tube which projects from the combination fitting. The side opening, which is preferably screw threaded, projects outwardly and is received in a rolling ring 16. The barrel may also be provided with an offset end tapping opening 14 disposed within an end ring. The barrel whether used for dispensing keg beer through side opening 17 or cask beer through end opening 14 is placed on its side with the side opening uppermost. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Beer barrels The invention relates to beer barrels, and in particular to barrels of fabricated metal construction and designed for use with pressure dispensed or socalled "keg" beer. Such barrels are usualiy referred to as kegs and conventionally have a central screw-threaded pressure neck at one end. This neck, commonly referred to as a "Barnes"pressure neck, receives a screw-in combination fitting or unit through which the barrel is pressurized and through which the keg beer leaves the barrel.

Beer barrels are frequently constructed as dualpurpose containers, for use either as kegs or as casks for conventionally dispensed beer. Use as a cask requires that the barrel should have an offset end or keystone opening, to receive a tapping bung, and a central side or shive opening to receive a racking bung. Thus such a barrel requires three separate openings, one being used in keg mode and the other two being used in cask mode.

The need for three openings increases the production cost and complicates the design of present dual-purpose containers.

A further disadvantage of the dual-purpose containers at present in use is that they are differently positioned according to whether keg or cask beer is being dispensed. They are stood upright when used as kegs and laid on their sides, in the socalled "racking"position with the racking bung outlet at the top, when used as casks. Thus the beer celiar has to be correspondingly adapted, and with each beer delivery the publican has to select carefully which barrels are to be placed in one position and which in the other.

The object of the invention is to provide a barrel which is usable as a keg and has the advantage that the beer can be dispensed with the barrel in the racking position, and further advantages which will be described. A further object is to provide such a barrel which can be constructed as a dualpurpose container with only two openings, thus simplifying and cheapening manufacture.

According to the invention a barrel designed for the dispensing of keg beer has a side opening adapted to receive a dispensing combination fitting or unit and has its side wall outwardly deformed, at a position which is diametrically opposite to the side opening, to provide a recess adapted to receive the end of a dispensing tube which projects from the combination unit. Such a tube is sometimes referred to as a "spear"or "dip tube" The recess, which is conveniently provided by a dimple pressed into the side wall, provides a sump to ensure that the barrel contents are fully dispensed. The side opening and recess are preferably positioned centrally of the barrel.

An advantage provided by the invention is that the dip tube is considerably shorter than is at present the case, having a length corresponding to the diameter of the barrel rather than the length thereof. This makes the combination unit including the tube more compact and somewhat cheaper, and less likely to be damaged during handling, and also less subject to vibration during handling, and also less subject to vibration during transport of a barrel to which it is fitted due to its shorter length and lower inertia. Such vibration can be considerable with present barrels and result in damage, and with the present invention not only is the tendency to vibration lessened but the side recess in which the end of the tube is received can be small enough to provide a positive limitation of the maximum possible vibratory movement of the end of the tube.

A barrel in accordance with the invention is conveniently manufactured as a dual-purpose container with said side opening providing the opening which receives a racking bung for cask use. It is then necessary to provide an offset end tapping opening, resulting in a dual-purpose container which has only two openings. As will be appreciated the barrel is placed in the same racking position in the beer cellar irrespective of whether keg beer or cask beer is to be dispensed. The side opening will normally be screw threaded to receive a screw-in combination unit, and this enables an adaptor to be fitted which is bored to receive a conventional form of racking bung. However, the screw-threaded fitting enables any desired form of adaptor to be fitted so that a hammered-in bung is not necessary, and it is envisaged that an automatic valve closure adaptor may be fitted.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, a fabricated metal beer barrel providing a dual-purpose container representing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top end view of the barrel; and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken on the line ll-ll in Figure 1.

The barrel illustrated in the drawings has a central stainless steel container portion 1 fabricated from two generally frusto/ conical end pressings 2 and 3 and a cylindrical centre section 4. The container portion has similar domed end walls 5 with flattened crowns, and at each end four equi-spaced support legs 6 are welded to the container portion.

These are also of stainless steel and of rectangularsection hollow stub-like form fabricated from sheet material.

End structures 7 and 8 are detachably secured to the ends of the container portion 1. These are pressed from sheet metal material, for example being of galvanized mild steel. The end structure 8 comprises a central portion 9 which conforms closely to the shape of the corresponding end wall 5, for which it provides effective reinforcement, and an annular peripheral portion 10 of rectangular channel-like form which provides an end or chime ring for the barrel. This ring portion 10 fits closely over the corresponding end legs 6 to which it is attached by inner and outer rivets, which can easily be drilled out to remove the pressing 10, for reshaping and re-fixing, or replacement, in the event of damage to the end ring portion 10. Thus repair in the event of such damage can easily be carried out by the brewer on an in-house basis.

The upper end structure 7 has similar central and peripheral portions 11 and 12 and is similarly detachably secured to the corresponding end legs 6.

However, in this case the end ring portion is cut away to clear an end fitting 13 disposed within the end ring portion 12 and providing a tapping opening 14 corresponding to the keystone hole of a conventional cask which receives a tapping bung.

A central side fitting 15 on the container portion 1 provides an opening 17 corresponding to the side shive opening of a conventional cask which receives a racking bung. Thus the fittings 13 and 15 allow the illustrated barrel to be used as a cask for conventionally dispensed been The side opening 17 is screw threaded and a suitably bored adaptor can be fitted to take a racking bung of conventional form, should this be desired. However, the use of a screw-threaded opening enables alternative forms of adaptor and closure members to be fitted.

An external and detachable rolling ring 16 surrounds the container portion 1, closely fitting and spanning the axial length of the centre section 4 thereof. This ring 16 has a side aperture 18 which clears the welded-on fitting 15 which projects only on the outer side of the barrel and is recessed within the ring 16 so as to be protected thereby.

Diametrically opposite to the opening 17 the wall of the container portion 1 is outwardly deformed by way of a pressed-in dimple 19, thus providing an internal recess 20.

For keg use the side opening 17 can receive a screw-in combination unit (not shown) which can be of normal form except that the dip tube of the unit is much shorter than usual. The length of the tube corresponds to the diameter of the barrel and is such that the end of the tube reaches into the recess 20. Thus with the barrel in the normal racking position applicable to cask use, it can alternatively be used to dispense keg beer with the combination unit screwed into the side opening 17.

During such dispensing the recess 20 acts as a sump which ensures that the contained beer is fully dispensed.

The use of a screw-threaded and externally projecting fitting 15 to provide the side opening 17 of the invention is advantageous as compared with the usual shive assembly arrangement which requires an internal patch plate for strengthening and drainage purposes. Thus the manufacturing, damage and repair problems associated with such a patch plate are avoided and the diameter of the barrel is correspondingly reduced for the same internal volume. In fact, a smalier and lighter container can be produced which may be 1 to 2 inches (say 3.8 to 5.0 cm)smaller in diameter than the equivalent prior container. Use of a closure member for the side opening 17 other than a hammered-in bung, which is a facility provided by a screw-threaded opening, means that the strengthening provided by the usual patch plate is no longer required.

Claims (1)

1. A beer barrel for the dispensing of keg beer has a side opening adapted to receive a dispensing combination fitting or unit and has its side wall outwardly deformed, at a position which is diametrically opposite to the side opening, to provide a recess adapted to receive the end of a dispensing tube which projects from the combination unit.

2. A beer barrel accordingXo claim 1, wherein the side opening and the recess are positioned within an axially central region of the barrel.

3. A beer barrel according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the recess is provided by a dimple pressed into the side wall of the barrel.

4. A beer barrel according any of the preceding claims, wherein the side opening is screw threaded.

5. A beer barrel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an outwardly projecting side fitting provides said side opening.

6. A beer barrel according to claim 2, wherein an external rolling ring is provided around the axially central region of the barrel, said ring having a side aperture providing access to the side opening.

7. A beer barrel according to any one of the preceding claims, designed as a dual-purpose container for the dispensing of keg or cask beer, wherein the barrel is provided with an offset end tapping opening.

8. A beer barrel according to claim 7, wherein said end opening is provided by an end fitting disposed within an end ring of the barrel.

9. A beer barrel according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein said end opening is tapered to receive a conventional tapping bung.

10. A beer barrel according to any of claims 7 to 8, wherein said end opening is screw threaded.

11. A beer barrel constructed and arranged substantially as herein particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: (a) Claims 1, 4, 5 and 7 above have been deleted or textually amended.

(b) New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:

1. A beer barrel providing a dual-purpose container for the dispensing of keg or cask beer, wherein the barrel has only thus openings, namely a side opening adapted to receive a dispensing combination fitting or unit and an offset end tapping opening the barrel having its side wall outwardly deformed, at a position which is diametrically opposite to the side opening, to provide a recess adapted to receive the end of a dispensing tube which projects from the combination unit.

(c) Claims 2, 3, 6 and 8-11 above have been renumbered as 3, 4, 2 and 5 to 8 and their appendancies corrected.