GB2274088A

GB2274088A - Barrel handling trolley

Info

Publication number: GB2274088A
Application number: GB9225670A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Birks
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-12-09
Filing date: 1992-12-09
Publication date: 1994-07-13
Also published as: GB9225670D0

Abstract

An elongate chassis 20 for carrying a liquid container, eg. a beer barrel, includes a bracket 32 for holding an upper end of the beer barrel, and another bracket 26 for supporting the body of the beer barrel on the chassis, such that the handling apparatus can be used to manoeuvre the beer barrel in a plurality of upright or laid down attitudes, by tilting the handling apparatus about a foot member 27, and about a central wheel axis 22. A tilt stop member 30 is positioned to determine the angle of tilt of the barrel in the laid down position, and this member and the foot member 27 may be adjustably positioned for use of the trolley with barrels of different shapes. Another embodiment is described which has an additional tilt stop member (50, Figs 4 and 5). <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO BARREL HANDLING The present invention relates to the field of handling of liquid containers, and particularly although not exclusively, to the handling of beer barrels.

Conventionally, beer for consumption in pubs and restaurants is delivered from a brewery in metal beer barrels as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

The metal barrels have a peripheral rim 2 at an upper end of the barrel and runners 3, 4 around a body of the barrel.

Generally a number of barrels are delivered in one load to a pub or restaurant on a lorry. The barrels are unloaded by a drayman, who usually rolls or drops the barrels into an underground cellar, such that the barrels arrive in the cellar on their sides, resting on the runners 3, 4, as shown in Figure 1.

The barrels are then manoeuvred for storage on a gantry (otherwise called a stillage) as shown in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings. The gantry comprises first and second rails 5 and 6 respectively, held apart by cross members 7. The rails of the gantry are often 20cm to 40cm above ground level, and the barrel must be lifted onto the gantry manually. This is conventionally done by rolling the barrel to stand upright on an end 10, leaning the barrel over against the first rail 5 such that the first rail 5 catches underneath the runner 3 and lowering the other end 11 of the barrel onto the second rail 6.

However, since the barrels weigh upwards of 200 kilos when full, manoeuvring the barrels onto the gantry is a difficult task and dangerous, particularly in damp cellars where the floor may be slippery. Since five or six barrels can be kept on a single gantry, when one empty barrel needs to be replaced, removing the empty barrel and inserting a new full barrel may disturb existing barrels, in which the beer has already settled.

The barrel sits on the gantry at a slight angle to allow emptying through an outlet 12. Nost of the beer is drawn off through the outlet 12 until around 6 gallons are left in the barrel, at which point the pub landlord lifts the rear end 11 of the barrel off the second rail 6 and places a chock underneath the end, altering the angle of tilt of the barrel and allowing the final 6 gallons to be drawn off. The empty barrel is then replaced with a full barrel in the manner described hereinabove.

However, placing the chock under the rear of the gantry is difficult, since space is often limited in a beer cellar and the gantry may contain adjacent barrels which must not be disturbed. At this stage, the barrel is also still quite heavy since it contains six or more gallons of beer.

The present invention aims to overcome some of the abovementioned problems.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a handling apparatus for a liquid container, the apparatus comprising: an elongate chassis for carrying the liquid container; means for engaging an upper end portion of the liquid container; and means for supporting the body of the liquid container on the chassis, wherein, the apparatus may be used to manoeuvre the liquid container in a plurality of upright and/or laid down attitudes.

Preferably, the handling apparatus further comprises a plurality of wheels, one wheel being disposed each side of the chassis, and arranged such that the liquid container can be wheeled along on the chassis when the container is in a laid down attitude. This may aid in manoeuvering the liquid container in a confined space.

Preferably, the liquid container is capable of standing in a first laid down position in which a centre of gravity of the container and the contents thereof lies between the wheels and a first end of the chassis and of standing in a second laid down position in which a centre of gravity of the container and the contents thereof lies between the wheels and a second end of the chassis. This feature may aid in tilting the container without the need to manually lift the container, or without disturbing adjacent containers.

Preferably, the handling apparatus has a first tilt stop portion at the first end of the chassis for defining a first position of tilt of the liquid container when the liquid container is in the first laid down position, and a second tilt stop portion at the second end of the chassis for defining a second attitude of tilt when the liquid container is in the second laid down position.

The first and/or second tilt stop portions may be replaceable or substitutable for other tilt stops of differing dimension, or may incorporate an adjustability feature for changing an angle of tilt.

Preferably, the handling apparatus comprises a foot member at a first end of the chassis, arranged such that the liquid container can be held to the chassis and levered about the foot portion from an upright container position to a laid down container position. Preferably, the foot portion comprises an arcuate member. This may help in manoeuvering the liquid container from an upright position to a laid down position in an easily controlled manner.

Preferably, the handling apparatus comprises an elongate detachable handle connectable to a second end of the chassis. This may provide a mechanical advantage in manoeuvring the container, compared to manhandling the liquid container.

Preferably, the -apparatus is adapted for handling and/or carrying a barrel, eg. a beer barrel.

Where the apparatus is adapted for use with a barrel, preferably said means for holding comprises 1 or a plurality of lugs adapted to hook over a rim of the barrel.

The invention includes a method of handling a liquid container, the method comprising: attaching to an upright liquid container a handling apparatus comprising an elongate chassis, a means for holding an upper end of the liquid container, means for supporting the container on the chassis, and a pair of wheels; applying force to a second end of the chassis to manually lift the liquid container on to the chassis, such that the liquid container is held on the chassis between the second end and a first end of the chassis which is in contact with the ground, such that the liquid container is supported by the first end of the chassis; lowering the chassis such that the liquid container is lowered about the said first end from the upright position to a laid down position in which the liquid container rests on its side and the chassis and container are supported by the wheels; and manoeuvering the liquid container when supported by the wheels.

The invention further includes a method of drawing beer from a beer barrel, the method comprising: placing the barrel in a first laid down position on a barrel trolley comprising an elongate chassis, a means for holding an upper rim of the barrel, means for supporting the barrel on the chassis, and a pair of wheels, in which said first laid down position a first quantity of beer can be drawn from the barrel; and tilting the barrel and trolley to a second laid down position in which a further quantity of beer can be drawn off the barrel.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to Figures 3 to 7 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 3 shows a first barrel trolley according to a first specific embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 shows a second barrel trolley according to a second aspect of the present invention, and a method of attaching the second barrel trolley to a conventional beer barrel; Figure 5 shows a further stage of handling a beer barrel using the second barrel trolley; Figure 6 shows a barrel in place in a first tilt position on the second barrel trolley; and Figure 7 shows a barrel in place in a second tilt position on the second barrel trolley.

Referring to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, a first barrel trolley according to a first specific embodiment of the present invention comprises an elongate chassis 20, which may be of square or rectangular section tubular steel; a set of wheels 21, one wheel being disposed at each side of the chassis on a common axle 22; a rim-retaining hook 23, having first and second retaining lugs 24, 25 for holding a rim of a conventional beer barrel; a lower support 26 for supporting the body of the barrel on the chassis; a curved foot member 27 at a first end of the chassis and spaced apart from the chassis by a first spacer member 28 such that a lower part 29 of the foot member provides a first tilt stop which, in use, determines a first angle of tilt of a barrel held in the chassis in relation to a floor surface on which the trolley is placed; and a second tilt stop member 30 at a second end of the chassis member which, in use, determines a second angle of tilt of the barrel with respect to the ground; and a detachable handle 31.

Different breweries specify different angles of tilt for their particular barrels. An angle of tilt is defined as an angle of a main axis of a barrel (about which a barrel will rotate) in relation to a horizontal plane.

Angles of tilt between 0 degrees and 20 degrees are specified by various breweries.

The first and second angles of tilt are determined by the height of the spacer 28 and the second tilt stop 30 respectively. The barrel trolley can be manufactured with a spacer member 28 and second tilt stop 30 to give a particular angle of tilt as required by a particular brewery. In this case, a particular barrel trolley will only be used for barrels of one particular brewery since the angle of tilt will be set up to the requirements of that brewery.

However, in alternative embodiments, an adjustable tilt stop 30 and spacer member 28 may be provided, and a hinged fixing between the first end of the chassis 31 and the foot member 27 may be provided to allow adjustability of the tilt stop portion 29. The adjustability may be by means of replaceable tilt stops and spacer members 30, 28 which can be bolted to the chassis. These alternative embodiments are not necessarily restricted for use with barrels of one brewery, but may be adjustable for use with barrels of a range of breweries.

Preferred dimensions of the first embodiment are as follows. Preferably, a distance between a second end 32 of the chassis and the axis of rotation of the wheels 21 is around 38cm. The wheels are preferably spaced about 43cm apart. The second tilt stop 30 is preferably of height about 25mm, and preferably may be substituted by alternative tilt stops which vary in height by 5mm or so.

The height of the rim retaining lugs 24, 25 from the chassis is preferably around 24cm and an outer periphery of the rim of the barrel rests on a bar 32 of the rim retaining hook at a height of 20cm above the main chassis bar 20. The body of the barrel rests upon the lower support 26, which has a width of about 25cm, at a distance of around 20cm from the main axis of the wheels. The wheels are preferably of about 15cm diameter and have solid rubber tyres. A distance from the top of the support 26 to the first tilt stop 29 is around 27cm, and a distance from an upper end of the foot 27 to an upper end of the support 26 is around 23cm. Preferably the foot member is a 23cm by 23cm area steel plate.

At the first end of the chassis, a dog leg portion 35 of the chassis is provided, to locate on the foot member 27.

Referring to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings, a second embodiment of a barrel trolley is shown. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a separate first tilt stop member 50 is welded to the foot at the first end of the chassis. This allows the chassis to be a straight length of tubular steel, rather than having a dog leg portion 35 as in the first embodiment, and may be slightly cheaper to manufacture.

A handling operation of the barrel will now be described with reference to Figures 4 to 7 of the accompanying drawings. Although the second barrel trolley is shown, a handling operation using the first trolley is carried out in the same way and the operations described apply equally well to both embodiments.

A barrel is delivered into the cellar, rolled in on the runners 3, 4. The drayman then turns the barrel to an upright position as shown in Figure 4 with the beer outlets upper most. The drayman or pub landlord then attaches the barrel trolley 60 to the barrel, such that an upper rim-retaining hook 61 engages the upper rim 2 of the barrel, and a lower support member 62 rests underneath the lower runner 4 to support the body of the barrel. At this stage, the foot of the trolley 65 either rests on the floor, or within a few millimetres of the floor.

A handle 66 is then fixed to a second end of the chassis. The drayman then levers the barrel about the foot member 65 by pulling the handle 66 with one hand, and steadying the barrel with his other hand, or by pulling the lever 66 with both hands.

The barrel is levered over into a position as shown in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings, in which the barrel is supported at one end of the trolley by the drayman holding the handle 66 and at the other end of the trolley by the foot portion 65 in contact with the floor.

The barrel is lowered down until the wheels 67 contact the floor of the cellar.

Once the wheels have contacted the floor, the foot portion and tilt stop 50 can clear the floor, and the weight of the barrel is taken by the wheels, and by the drayman holding the handle 66. The drayman can then manoeuvre the barrel on the wheels with ease.

When the barrel and trolley have been manoeuvred into a desired position in the cellar, the handle 66 can then be detached to leave the barrel trolley and barrel in a first tilt position as shown in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings. The angle of tilt of the barrel is determined by the dimensions of the trolley, and in particular by a first tilt stop 50. In this position, most of the beer in the barrel may be drawn off, for example around 36 gallons, to leave only around 6 gallons remaining. When most of the beer has been drawn off, the drayman can then, by minimal force applied to the end 10 of the barrel, tilt the barrel on the trolley from the first tilt position shown in Figure 6, to a second tilt position as shown in Figure 7.The angle of tilt of the barrel in the second tilt position is determined by the height of a second tilt stop 51, and by the general layout of the trolley. In the second tilt position, the remaining 6 gallons of beer can be drawn off the barrel, filtered and stored for use.

In the first tilt position, the centre of gravity of the barrel and contents acts downwardly in a line which lies between the axle of the trolley and the first tilt stop 50, and thus the barrel is stable on the trolley since the centre of gravity acts between 3 support points, these being the two wheels and the first tilt stop 50.

In the second tilt position, because the beer shifts in the barrel, the centre of gravity moves forward and shown in Figures 5 and 6 towards the second end of the trolley, such that the centre of gravity then acts in line which lies between the axle 22 and the second tilt stop 51. Thus, the barrel is also stably supported in the second tilt position.

Whilst a method of manoeuvring and storing a beer barrel has been shown with reference to a second specific embodiment, operation of the first specific embodiment does not significantly differ from the operation described with reference to the second specific embodiment.

Specific embodiments of the present invention may thus have an advantage that a lifting operation of a full beer barrel, weighing upwards of 200 kilos, onto a conventional gantry is avoided, reducing the risk of personal injury to a drayman or landlord.

Furthermore, specific embodiments may have an advantage that a beer barrel is securely held in a trolley according to a specific embodiment of the present invention, which may reduce the risk of slippage of the beer barrel and consequently may reduce the risk of injury to the drayman or landlord. The risk of disturbing adjacent beer barrels, which could lead to ruining of already settled beer, may also be avoided.

Whilst specific embodiments aimed at the handling of beer barrels have been shown herein, the invention is not merely restricted to such embodiments, but encompasses apparatus for handling wine casks, oil barrels, gas bottles and like liquid containers.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incor porated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A handling apparatus for a liquid container, the apparatus comprising: an elongate chassis for carrying the liquid container; means for engaging an upper end portion of the liquid container; and means for supporting a body of the liquid container on the chassis, wherein, the apparatus is adapted for manoeuvring the liquid container in a plurality of upright and/or laid down attitudes.

2. A handling apparatus according to claim 1, having a first tilt stop portion at a first end of the chassis for defining a first attitude of tilt of the liquid container when the liquid container is in a first laid down position, and a second tilt stop portion at the second end of the chassis for defining a second attitude of tilt when the liquid container is in a second laid down position.

3. A handling apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims, having a curved foot member.

4. A handling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a foot member at the first end of the chassis, wherein the liquid container can be held to the chassis and levered about the foot portion from an upright container position to a laid down container position.

5. A handling apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims, having a tubular steel chassis.

6. A handling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an elongate detachable handle connectable to the second end of the chassis.

7. A handling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, adapted for handling or carrying a barrel.

8. A handling apparatus according to Claim 7, in which said means for holding comprises one or a plurality of lugs adapted to hook over a rim of the barrel.

9. A handling apparatus according to Claim 7 or 8, for a beer barrel, wherein the beer barrel can be tilted from a first tilt position in which most of the beer can be drawn off the barrel, to a second tilt position, in which a remaining amount of the beer can be drawn off the barrel.

10. A handling apparatus as appendant to Claim 2, for a beer barrel, in which in a first tilt position the centre of gravity of the barrel and contents acts between at least three support points, at least one of which comprises the first tilt stop portion.

11. A handling apparatus according to Claim 10, in which, in a second tilt position, the centre of gravity of the barrel and contents acts downwardly in a line between an axis of the handling apparatus and the second tilt stop portion.

12. A method of handling a liquid container the method comprising: attaching to an upright liquid container a handling apparatus comprising an elongate chassis having a first end and a second end, a means for holding an upper end of the liquid container, and a means for supporting the container on the chassis; applying force to the second end of the chassis to manually lift the liquid container on to the chassis, such that the liquid container is held on the chassis between the second end and the first end of the chassis which is in contact with the ground such that the liquid container is supported by the first end of the chassis; lowering the chassis such that the liquid container is lowered about the said first end from the upright position to a laid down position in which the liquid container rests on its side.

13. A method of drawing beer from a beer barrel, the method comprising: placing the barrel in a first laid down position on a barrel trolley comprising an elongate chassis, a means for holding an upper rim of the barrel, and means for supporting the barrel on the chassis, wherein in said first laid down position a first quantity of beer can be drawn from the barrel; and tilting the barrel and trolley to a second laid down position in which a further quantity of beer can be drawn off the barrel.

14. A handling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a plurality of wheels, one wheel being disposed each side of the chassis, and arranged such that the liquid container can be wheeled along on the chassis when the container is in a laid down attitude.

15. A handling apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the liquid container can be held in a first laid down position in which a centre of gravity of the container and the contents thereof lies between the wheels and a first end of the chassis and of standing in a second laid down position in which a centre of gravity of the container and the contents thereof lies between the wheels and a second end of the chassis.