GB2296701A

GB2296701A - Titling Apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2296701A
Application number: GB9525469A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Harold Walker
Original assignee: INN PROFIT SYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: INN PROFIT SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 1994-12-20
Filing date: 1995-12-13
Publication date: 1996-07-10
Also published as: GB9525469D0; GB9425717D0

Abstract

A support frame 11 for a beer barrel or like container is pivotally secured to a base 1, and a spring 24 acts between the base and the support frameto tiltthe barrel as it is drained. In order to assist loading of the barrel a transverse loading member 28 is pivotally mounted at the front end of the support frame. The loading member has forwardly projecting loading hooks 38 and a rearwardly projecting support finger 41 for contact with the underside of the barrel when loaded on the support frame by tilting the container rearwardly. The finger 41 provides an intermediate support for the container and wheels 26, 27 form a back support. Preferably the frame has a castor 8 to enable it to be moved. <IMAGE>

Description

TILTING APPARATUS TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for tilting a container such as a beer barrel, cask, drum or the like.

The apparatus comprises a generally horizontal base having a front end, a support frame mounted on the base for receiving and supporting the container and having a front end which is pivotally connected to the front end of the base to provide for angular movement of the support frame above the base, and spring means acting between the base and the support frame such that, as the weight of the container is progressively reduced upon emptying, the inclination of the support frame increases to tilt the container.

Such apparatus will be referred to below as "apparatus of the kind set forth".

BACKGROUND Apparatus of the kind set forth is often used in public houses for tilting a beer barrel in order to increase the flow rate as the barrel empties. The tilting also ensures that all the useable contents are drawn off from the barrel, but the tilting must be gradual to ensure that any sediment in the bottom of the barrel is not stirred up.

Generally, the full barrel must be manually manoeuvred onto the apparatus, but in the case of larger barrels this is usually a job for two or more people.

It has been proposed in GB 220 816 and GB 2 203 719-A to arrange for the support frame to be tilted to a vertical position relative to the base, enabling the barrel to be directly engaged with the support frame whilst in an upright position. The barrel can then be tilted with the support frame to a generally horizontal position. This simplifies the task of loading the barrel onto the apparatus, but on the other hand, the weight of the support frame is added to the weight of the barrel which must be controlled during tipping. This same objection applies to the apparatus disclosed in GB 2 272 878-A, wherein the whole apparatus must be tipped in addition to the weight of the barrel.

An aim of the present invention may be viewed as being to provide a form of tilting apparatus which is patentably different from known forms of tilting apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention proposes apparatus of the kind set forth, comprising a loading member which is pivotally mounted at the forward end of the apparatus and which includes means for engagement with the bottom of a container such that the container can be supported thereon and tipped with pivotal movement of the loading member to rest in its loaded position on the support frame.

The projections may be hook-like for engagement with a bottom flange of the container.

The apparatus preferably includes front support means for supporting part of the weight of the container when the container is loaded onto the support frame. The front support means may be provided by the base, the support frame, or preferably, for smooth loading of the container, the loading member. The support frame preferably has rear support means for supporting a rear portion of the container. In addition, intermediate support means is preferably included, between the front and rear support means, for supporting an intermediate section of the container. The intermediate support means is preferably secured to the loading member, although it could also be secured to the support frame. In one form, the intermediate support member is in the form of a rearwardly projecting finger.

The loading member may be pivotally mounted on the base but is preferably mounted on the support frame. The loading member may conveniently extend transversely between a pair of parallel side members of the support frame.

The base preferably includes upwardly projecting arms which carry adjustable stops which determine the maximum inclination of the support frame. The support frame may conveniently be pivotally coupled to the said arms.

The base preferably is preferably supported on at least one wheel, which is preferably a castor wheel. In a preferred arrangement there is a single castor wheel at the rear of the base and two fixed feet at the front of the base.

The invention further provides apparatus of the kind set forth, in which the support frame includes a pair of side members and a loading member is pivotally coupled to the support frame at the forward end thereof, the loading member extending transversely between the side members and having projections for engagement with the lower end of a container such that the container can be supported thereon and tipped with pivotal movement of the loading member to rest in its loaded position on the support frame, the support frame having, for supporting the barrel thereon, rear support means for supporting a rear portion of the container, and the loading member comprising front support means for supporting a front portion of the container and intermediate support means for supporting an intermediate portion of the container between the front and rear support means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a general view of barrel tilting apparatus of the invention, Figure 2 is a vertical front-rear sectional view of the front part of the apparatus with the loading member in its loading position, and Figure 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2 but showing the loading member in the position which it adopts when a container is loaded onto the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The apparatus comprises a rectangular base frame 1 formed of two side members 2 and 3 joined by front and rear transverse members 4 and 5. The base is supported on a floor or other substantially level surface by a pair of adjustable feet 6 and 7 at the front end of the side members 2 and 3, and by a single castor wheel 8 mounted on a short arm 9 which extends rearwardly from the middle of the rear member 5. The apparatus can thus be easily moved by manually lifting the front of the apparatus so that it rests solely on the castor wheel 8.

At the front of the base 1 there are two spaced upstanding pivot arms 9 and 10 which receive the front end of a support frame 11. The frame 11 is again formed by a pair of parallel side members 12 and 13 connected by a rear transverse member 15. The front ends of the side members 12 and 13 are pivotally coupled to the arms 9 and 10 to permit the support frame to move angularly between a horizontal position and a position of maximum inclination determined by adjustable screw stops 17 and 18 inserted through inturned flanges at the upper ends of the pivot arms 9 and 10. A dual coil spring 24 acts between the base frame 1 and the support frame 11 to urge the support frame to an upwardly inclined position as shown in Fig. 1.The spring 24 is coupled between the two rear transverse bars 5 and 15 and may be removably connected to one or both of the transverse bars to permit the support frame to rest on the base 1 for storage purposes.

The rear bar 15 is provided with a fixed rear support for a beer barrel or like container, in the form of a pair of rotatably mounted, transversely spaced wheels 26 and 27, which project above the bar 15. A second, front barrel support is provided at the front of the support frame 11 by a transversely extending loading member 28, which will now be described in more detail.

The form of the loading member 28 is shown in Fig.s 2 and 3. The member is formed of angle bar having perpendicular first and second walls 29 and 30, with end walls 31 coupled by pivot pins 32 to the side members 12 and 13.

A pair of divergent cradle bars 33 project from the free edge of the first wall 29 to form the front barrel support, and a post 34 projects from the free edge of the second wall 30 to form a stop which contacts the front bar 4 of the base to limit rotation of the loading member, as in Fig. 2. The post 34 also carries a pair of divergent hook members 38, projecting in the same general direction as the cradle bars 33. The hook members may, for convenience of storage and transport, be mounted on a sleeve 35 which is removably secured on the post 34 by means of a locking screw (not shown). The hook members can also easily be replaced to change their size and spacing for use with different size barrels.

An intermediate barrel support is provided by a finger 41 which projects from the middle of the loading member 28, in the opposite direction to the post 34.

With the loading member in the position shown in Fig. 2, with post 34 abutting the front bar 4, the hooks 38 project forwardly and upwardly so that the bottom flange F of a beer barrel B can be placed over them with the side of the barrel against, or near to, the cradle bars 33. Using minimal effort the barrel can then be tipped rearwardly to cause the loading member to pivot anticlockwise (as viewed in the drawings) and carry the barrel rearwardly until it comes to rest on the rear supports 26 and 27 and the cradle bars 33, with the loading member in the position shown in Fig. 3. In this position, the finger 41 makes contact with the side wall of the barrel B.

Initially the combined wight of the barrel and its contents will cause the support frame to rest at or close to horizontal, but as the barrel is emptied the reducing weight allows the spring 24 to urge the support frame 11 away from the base 1 to an upwardly inclined position. The support finger 41 ensures that the barrel remains firmly seated on the support frame as it is tipped and prevents the barrel from slipping downwards due to the weight of the barrel causing the loading member 28 to pivot.

The apparatus could be used with any barrel-like cask, drum or other similar container.

Claims

1. Apparatus of the kind set forth, comprising a loading member which is pivotally mounted at the forward end of the apparatus and which includes means for engagement with the bottom of a container such that the container can be supported thereon and tipped with pivotal movement of the loading member to rest in its loaded position on the support frame.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, in which said means for engagement with the bottom of a container is of hook-like form.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the support frame includes rear support means for supporting a portion of the container when the container is loaded onto the apparatus.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, including front support means for supporting a portion of the container when the container is loaded onto the apparatus.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4 as appended to Claim 3, comprising intermediate support means, between the front and rear support means, for supporting an intermediate portion of the container.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, in which the intermediate support means is secured to the loading member.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, in which the intermediate support means projects rearwardly from the loading member.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the loading member is pivotally mounted on the support frame.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, in which the loading member extends transversely between a pair of parallel side members of the support frame.

10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the base includes upwardly projecting arms provided with adjustable stops which determine the maximum inclination of the support frame.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 10, in which the support frame is pivotally coupled to the said arms.

1 2. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the base is supported on at least one wheel.

13. Apparatus according to Claim 12, in which the or each wheel comprises a castor wheel.

14. Apparatus according to Claim 13, in which there is a single castor wheel at the rear of the base and two fixed feet at the front of the base.

15. Apparatus of the kind set forth, in which the support frame includes a pair of side members and a loading member is pivotally coupled to the support frame at the forward end thereof, the loading member extending transversely between the side members and having projections for engagement with the lower end of a container such that the container can be supported thereon and tipped with pivotal movement of the loading member to rest in its loaded position on the support frame, the support frame having, for supporting the barrel thereon, rear support means for supporting a rear portion of the container, and the loading member comprising front support means for supporting a front portion of the container and intermediate support means for supporting an intermediate portion of the container between the front and rear support means.

16. Apparatus of the kind set forth which is substantially as described with reference to the drawings.