GB2269374A

GB2269374A - Tilting storage rack for beer barrels

Info

Publication number: GB2269374A
Application number: GB9216881A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Perry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-08-08
Filing date: 1992-08-08
Publication date: 1994-02-09
Also published as: GB9216881D0

Abstract

A storage rack for beer barrels comprises a main frame 10 having a sub frame 18 for receiving a barrel pivotally connected thereto and tilt means for automatically tilting the sub frame relative to the main frame in response to weight reduction of the barrel as beer is drawn off. The tilt means may comprise springs 38 releasably mounted in tubes 40 and sub frame 18 may be connected to main frame 10 on the other side of the centre of gravity of the sub frame/barrel combination to the tilt means. Springs 38 of different compression rates may be inserted in tubes 40. The sub frame 18 has an extendable portion 26 slidably moveable when the barrel is located thereon to facilitate movement of the sub frame 18 and barrel into the loaded position (see Figs 3 and 4). Retaining means 34 may lock the extendable portion 26 in the non-extended position. Hooks 28 may be provided which engage the edge of a barrel when loading. <IMAGE>

Description

"An Improved Storage Rack for Beer Barrels" This invention relates to a storage rack and more particularly, but not exclusively, to an improved storage rack for beer barrels.

It is necessary in the cellars of public houses to provide storage racks on which the beer barrels are located in a substantially horizontal disposition. The taps on the ends of the barrels from which the beer in the barrel is drawn are located at a point spaced-apart above the lowest point of the barrel. As the level of beer in a barrel approaches the level of the tap in the barrel's end, it is necessary for end of the barrel remote from the tap to be raised to tilt the barrel to enable substantially all of the beer in the barrel to be drawn therefrom.

Conventional storage racks suffer from the disadvantage that this tilting of the barrels has to be carried out manually by for example inserting wedges between the rack and the end of the barrel remote from the tap which is a time consuming operation requiring considerable physical effort on the part of a cellerman.

In addition, the loading of full barrels onto a conventional storage rack requires considerable physical effort often making it necessary to provide-an additional pulley-block or crane to enable barrels to be lifted from ground level onto the rack.

The object of this Invention is to provide a storage rack in which one or more of the above disadvantages is alleviated.

According to this invention1 a storage rack for beer barrels comprises a main frame, a sub-frame connected thereto on which a barrel is located and tilt means for tilting the sub-frame and the barrel located thereon relatively to the main frame as the weight of the barrel is reduced when the beer therein is drawn-off.

Preferably, the sub-frame is pivotally connected to the main frame at a point on one side of the centre of gravity of the sub-frame and barrel combination.

Preferably, also, the tilt means is disposed between the sub-frame and the main frame on the other side of the centre of gravity of the sub-frame and barrel combination from the pivotal connection between the sub-frame and the main frame.

The tilt means, preferably, comprises resilient means which is compressed by the weight of the sub-frame and barrel combination.

Preferably, the resilient means comprises one or more springs mounted on the main frame which are engaged by the sub-frame and are compressed by the weight of the sub-frame and barrel combination but which extend and tilt the sub-frame and the barrel thereon relatively to the main frame as the weight of the sub-frame and barrel combination reduces when the beer in the barrel is drawn-off Preferably, also, the springs are mounted in tubes on the main frame, said tubes being arranged so that when the springs are fully compressed therein, the sub-frame and the barrel disposed thereon are substantially parallel to the main frame.

The springs are, preferably, releasably mounted in the tubes to enable springs of different compression rates to be inserted in the tubes to accommodate different sizes and weights of barrels.

Preferably, the sub-frame comprises a slidable front portion adapted to extend from the front of the sub-frame to facilitate the loading of a barrel thereon.

Preferably, also, the front portion is provided with loading hooks for engaging the front edge of the barrel to be loaded thereon.

The slidable front portion of the sub-frame is, preferably, adapted to extend to a position in which the centre of gravity of a barrel engaged by the loading hooks is substantially aligned with the axis of the pivotal connect ion of the sub-frame with the main frame to facilitate pivotal movement of the sub-frame and barrel combination from an inclined loading position to a horizontal position whereupon the front portion with the barrel thereon is moved slidably into the non-extended position.

Preferably, retaining means is provided for locking the front portion of the sub-frame in the non-etended position.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a storage rack in a position for loading; Figure 2 is a side view of the storage rack shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the storage rack in the position for loading with a barrel thereon; and Figure 4 is a side view of the storage rack with a barrel loaded thereon.

Referring now to the drawings, a storage rack for beer barrels or the like comprises a main frame 10 indicated generally at 10 which is adapted to rest on the floor of a beer cellar 12. The main frame 10 is formed of two spaced-apart parallel rails 14 interconnected at their ends by support feet 16.

A sub-frame indicated generally at 18 which is substantially U-shaped in plan view comprises two spaced-apart side rails 20 interconnected at one end by a cross-member 22. The free ends of the rails 20 are pivotally connected at 24 to one rail 14 of the main frame 10. The sub-frame 18 includes a front portion 26; which is slidably mounted in the rails 20 for movement between an extended position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings and a retracted position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

The front portion 26 of the sub-frame 18 is provided with loading hooks 28 for engaging the rm of a barrel 30 which is to be loaded thereon and is also provided with support chocks 32 on which the side of the barrel 30 is supported. A spring-loaded retaining catch 34 is provided on the cross-member 22 of the sub-frame 18 for retaining the front portion 26 in the retracted position and a stop 36 is provided on each side rail 20 to limit the extension of the front portion 26 of the sub-frame 18.

Two helical coil compression springs 38 are releasably mounted in tubes 40 mounted on the main frame 10 so as to be engaged and compressed by the sub-frame 18 when the barrel 30 has been loaded as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. Springs having different compression rates can be provided to accommodate different sizes and weights of barrel.

In operation, when the barrel 30 is to be loaded, the front portion 26 of the sub-frame 18 is extended and the sub-frame 18 tilted to the position shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The rim of the barrel 30 is engaged on the loading hooks 28 and the barrel 30 is tilted so that the side thereof rests upon the choc-ks 32.The extension of the front portion 96 and the tilted position of te sub-frame 18 are arranged to bring the centre of gravity of the barrel 30 to position which iS substantially aligned which the pivotal connection 4 of the sub-frame 18 to the main frame 10 thereby reducing the effort required to move the barrel 30 frori the position shown in Figure 3 of the drawings to the loaded position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings by szmultaneously tilting and sliding the front portion 26 of the sub-frame 18 in the direction of the arrow A.

Once the barrel 30 has been loaded and beer is being drawn therefrom, the springs 38 which have been compressed into the tubes 40 by the weight of the full barrel 30 begin to extend and tilt the sub-frame 18 and the barrel 30 about the pivotal connection 24 so that the major portion of the contents of the barrel 80 can be drawn therefrom.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. A storage rack for beer barrels comprising a main frame, a sub-frame connected thereto on which a barrel is located and tilt means for tilting the sub-frame and the barrel located thereon relatively to the main frame as the weight of the barrel is reduced when the beer therein is drawn-off,

2. A storage rack according to Claim 1, wherein the sub-frame is pivotally connected to the main frame at a point on one side of the centre of gravity of the sub-frame and barrel combination.

3. A storage rack according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the tilt means is disposed between the sub-frame and the main frame on the other side of the centre of gravity of the sub-frame and barrel combination from the pivotal connection between the sub-frame and the main frame.

4. A storage rack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tilt means comprises resilient means which is compressed by the weight of the sub-frame and barrel combination.

5. A storage rack according to Claim 4, wherein the resilient means comprises one or more springs mounted on the main frame which are engaged by the sub-frame and are compressed by the weight of the sub-frame and barrel combination but which extend and tilt the sub-frame and the barrel thereon relatively to the main frame as the weight of the sub-frame and barrel combination reduces when the beer in the barrel is drawn-off.

6. A storage rack according to Claim 5, wherein the springs are mounted in tubes on the main frame, said tubes being arranged so that when the springs are fully compressed therein, the sub-frame and the barrel disposed thereon are substantially parallel to the main frame.

7. A storage rack according to Claim 6, wherein the springs are releasably mounted in the tubes to enable springs of different compression rates to be inserted in the tubes to accommodate different sizes and weights of barrels.

8. A storage rack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sub-frame comprises a slidable front portion adapted to extend from the front of the sub-frame to facilitate the loading of a barrel thereon.

9. A storage rack according to Claim 8, wherein the front portion is provided with loading hooks for engaging the front edge of the barrel to be loaded thereon.

10. A storage rack according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein the slidable front portion of the sub-frame is adapted to extend to a position in which the centre of gravity of a barrel engaged by the loading hooks is substantially aligned with the axis of the pivotal connection of the sub-frame with the main frame to facilitate pivotal movement of the sub-frame and barrel combination from an inclined loading position to a horizontal position whereupon the front portion with the barrel thereon is moved slidably into the non-extended position.

11. A storage rack according to any one of Claims 8 to 10, wherein retaining means is provided for locking the front portion of the sub-frame in the non-extended position.

12. A storage rack constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.