GB2299567A - Metal cask, chime and keystone, and shive hole/rib construction - Google Patents

Abstract

A metal cask (10) has an end wall (30, 32) provided with keystone means (33) located adjacent a chime wall (42) that extends from the cask's side wall. The chime wall is deformed inwardly to form a lip or rim (40) comprising a substantially flat, radially extending portion terminating in a rolled under portion (44) located adjacent said flat portion and between it and said end wall (30, 32). A welded-on metal reinforcing part (38) extends (preferably radially) between, and substantially coplanar with, the top of the keystone means (33) and the flat, radially extending part of said lip (40). The cask also has a pair of annular rib formations (15) around its side and, between the rib formations, shive hole means (17). The cask's annular rib formations (15) are constituted by: (a) a pair of external ribs (25) applied to the cask exterior, one to each side of the shive hole means (17), and extending across a zone (18) subtending less than approximately 80 of the cask's perimeter; and (b) protrusions (15) pressed out from the wall of the cask and extending over substantially the remainder of the cask's perimeter. The shive hole means does not protrude above the level of the ribs. The ribs may also be formed around the whole periphery of the cask and then flattened in the region where the shive hole is to be.

Description

IMPROVEKENTS IN OR RELATING TO CONTAINERS DESCRIPTION Background to the Invention This invention relates to containers and in particular to barrel-shaped containers for beer - known as casks. These are of generally frusto-ovoid form and differ from kegs which are of generally cylindrical form.

Traditionally, casks were made of wood and had metal hoops to hold the shaves together. More recently, casks have been made of metal - usually aluminium or stainless steel - and the separate hoops replaced by annular rib formations consisting of integral protruding ribs pressed out from the wall of the cask and of constant cross-section throughout the 360 periphery of the cask. Heretofore such a construction required the fitting of an internal cover plate over the interior channels defining the rib formations at least in the region where they lie alongside an aperture called a "shive hole". (During beverage dispensing this aperture is located at the top of the cask and the cask is vented to atmosphere therethrough. The cask is positioned with this same aperture located at the bottom of the cask for emptying therefrom the cask's ullage (i.e.

the residue and sediment) and for injecting cleaning fluids via a spray head inserted upwardly through the aperture).

Such an internal cover plate prevented the collection of the ullage and the cleaning fluid in the interior channels defining the rib formations, and ensured that all such materials could be emptied through the shive hole (when the latter was at the bottom of the cask).

The need for such internal cover plates has added to the costs of metal cask production and has made it difficult for the casks to be formed of just two main parts.

Furthermore, the so-called "chimes" of conventional metal casks, i.e. the side wall extension members projecting beyond the disk-like end walls of the cask's interior, have had their free edges strengthened by being formed with a rolled-over lip of wholly curved cross-section, upon which the cask can stand upright (e.g. during storage and transportation). Usually this curved cross-section lip has projected beyond the top of the keystone and rendered it difficult to access the recessed keystone when setting up the cask for dispensing of its beverage content. If the keystone were to be brought outwards towards the plane of the chime edge or lip, it would become more liable to damage and there would be a possibility that a person rolling or handling the cask might catch his finger or thumb between the keystone and the rolled-over chime lip.

In addition, it has been found that, during transportation, casks with chimes having a plain free edge or a rolled-over lip of curved cross-section tend to slip and slide and can pose a hazard.

It is therefore considered desirable to provide a form of cask whereby one or more of the above-mentioned and/or other disadvantages of the prior art may be avoided.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a metal cask having an end wall to the cask's interior provided with keystone means located adjacent a chime wall that extends from the cask's side wall, said chime wall being deformed inwardly to form a rim or lip, characterised in that the keystone means is spaced from the chime wall as it extends from the cask's side wall and is connected to the rim or lip by a metal reinforcing part.

Preferably, the keystone means approaches the level of the chime wall's rim or lip.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a metal cask having an end wall to the cask's interior provided with keystone means located adjacent a chime wall that extends from the cask's side wall, said chime wall being deformed inwardly to form a rim or lip, characterised in that a metal reinforcing part interconnects the top of the keystone means and an adjacent part of said lip.

Preferably the metal reinforcing part is welded to the said lip and/or to the keystone means.

The metal reinforcing part may be of generally, planar, strip-like form and be disposed in or approaching the radial plane containing the said lip.

Advantageously the lip comprises a substantially flat, radially extending portion terminating in a rolled under portion located adjacent said flat portion and between it and said end wall. Conveniently, the opposite chime wall may have a lip formed similarly with a radially extending, substantially flat portion and a rolled under portion.

In use, the substantially flat portion of the lip aids in the stability of the cask standing thereon and tends to minimise slipping and/or sliding of the cask, and the strap-like metal reinforcing part prevents a cask handler trapping a finger or thumb between the keystone means and the adjacent rolled lip of the chime wall.

According to a third aspect of this invention there is provided a metal cask having a pair of annular rib formations around its side and, between the rib formations, shive hole means that during beverage dispensing provides a top vent to the cask's contents and during cleaning operations provides a bottom outlet for the cask's contents, said cask being characterised in that said annular rib formations are constituted by: a pair of external ribs applied to the cask exterior, one to each side of the shive hole means, and extending across a zone subtending less than approximately 80 of the cask's perimeter; and by: protrusions pressed out from the wall of the cask and extending over substantially the remainder of the cask's perimeter.

The pressed out protrusions may be dervived from formations formed initially to extend through 360 of the cask's perimeter and subsequently deformed back inwards over said zone prior to attachment of said external ribs to the cask exterior.

Alternatively - and as is preferred - the pressed out protrusions are formed at into to extend only partially around the cask's perimeter, the external ribs being subsequently attached to the cask exterior across the said zone.

In either case, the external ribs preferably extend between the ends of the pressed out protrusions. Advantageously the two pressed out protrusions and the two external ribs lie in two mutually parallel planes normal to the cask's longitudinal axis, and preferably have their outer surfaces of corresponding shape so as to extend contiguously with one another around the cask.

The two external ribs may be separate formations attached to a plate that is attached to the cask exterior or may be supported or inter-connected by the plate. Preferably the two external ribs are formed integrally with the plate as a pressing. The metal plate is preferably welded to the cask's exterior to attach the two external ribs thereto.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a metal cask having a pair of annular rib formations around its generally oviform side and, between the rib formations, shive hole means to provide a top vent during beverage dispensing and a bottom outlet during cleaning operations, wherein said shive hole means comprises an aperture through the cask's side wall and a shive or closure member therefor, said shive comprises a bung portion to sit within the aperture and a head portion to extend radially beyond the aperture dimension, and wherein the height of the head portion above the aperture is less than the height of the rib formations above the aperture.

Such an arrangement minimises the risk of soiling of the shive as the cask is rolled over the ground on its rib formations.

Metal casks according to the present invention are preferably formed of stainless steel.

By way of example, one embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a partly-sectioned schematic side view of a cask according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a partial side view in the direction of arrow II of Fig.l, Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of part of the cask in the direction of arrow III of Fig. 2, and Figure 4 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of part of the cask shown in Fig. 1.

The illustrated cask 10 is for containing beer. It has a main body 11 (see Figs 1 and 2) formed of two similar deep drawn stainless steel halves 12,13 that, after formation, are welded together about a transverse median line 14.

During formation, each of the main body halves 12,13 has the side wall adjacent its mouth press-deformed radially outwards to form a channel-shaped depression 15. The two channel-shaped depressions 15 - are mutually spaced logitudinally of the cask, - extend in two mutually parallel radial planes, - protrude outwardly further than the width of the cask measured along the median line 14 extending midway between them, and - extend co-extensively with one another approximately 300 to 320 about the perimeter of the generally oviform side wall 16 of the cask.

The channel-shaped depression 15 on each half may be pressdeformed by a press wheel rotatably mounted on one end of an arm that is rotated about an axis through the opposite arm end and coaxial with the axis of the deep-drawn cask half.

In one formation method, the press wheel may be rotated continuously through 360 and, to achieve the stated feature of extension for approximately 300 to 320 about the perimeter of the generally oviform side wall 16 of the cask, some 60 to 40 of the continuous 360 depression thus formed may be beaten back or "flattened" into substantially contiguous relation with the remainder of the cask's generally oviform side wall 16.

However in another, preferred, formation method the press wheel is moved arcuately to and fro through a predetermined angle (in the range between approximately 300 to 320"), this reciprocating arcuate motion resulting directly in the formation of the channel-shaped depression 15 with an arcuate extension of approximately 300 to 320 about the perimeter of the generally oviform side wall 16 of the cask and leaving the remaining 60 to 40 of the cask's side wall 16 perimeter without such depression 15 and left contiguous with the remainder of the cask's generally oviform side wall 16.

With either formation arrangement, the non-depressed zone 18 between the ends of the two 300 to 320 depressions 15 is provided centrally with a shive hole 17 that is located at the top of the cask during beverage dispensing to vent the cask to atmosphere, and is located at the bottom of the cask for emptying therefrom the cask's ullage and cleaning fluids.It will be appreciated that the said preferred formation method allows for the non-depressed zone 18 between the ends of the two C-shaped (i.e. 300 to 320 extending) depressions 15 to be very smooth and contiguous with the remainder of the cask and the depressions 15 so that the ullage and cleaning fluids can drain out fully from the cask without leaving residual puddles as may occur where fully-circular (i.e. 360 extending) depressions 15 have been beaten back in or "flattened" over some 40 to 60 as per the first-mentioned formation method.

The non-depressed zone 18 is covered on the cask's exterior by a somewhat H-shaped separate formation 20 that is welded or otherwise attached to zone 18 of the outer surface of the cask's side wall 16. The generally H-shaped formation 20 is a separately produced pressing formed from a plate 22 of stainless steel to have two parallel channel-shaped protrusions 25 conforming in shape and mutual spacing to the depressions 15 formed internally of the cask's main body 11. A boss 21 having a tapered bore 19 is welded at 29a to the plate 22 and also at 29k to the cask side wall 16 around its aperture 17. With the plate 22 in position, the externally provided protrusions 25 extend across the zone 18 in contiguity with the internally formed depressions 15 so as to form therewith substantially continuous rolling rims extending around the full 360 perimeter of the cask.

After filling of the cask, the shive hole 17,19 is closed by a wood or plastics material shive 27 of T-shaped crosssection that is firmly seated within the tapered bore 19 of boss 21. The shive 27 has a bore 23 therethrough and the inwardly directed stem of the T-shaped cross-section shive 27 is stoppered at its inner end by a bung 26 of rubber or plastics material (a so-called "tut") fitting in the lower end of bore 23. When the cask is installed on its so-called "stillage" - a concave rack restraining the cask against rolling - and is set up for beer dispensing (see also below), the tut 26 is pushed inwardly of the bore to vent the cask's interior to atmosphere, and a porous dust filter (a so-called "porous spile") 28a is inserted as a tight fit into the upper end of bore 23.The T-shaped cross-section of shive 27 permits it to be located below the level of the protrusions 25. When beer dispensing is ended, the porous venting spile 28a is replaced by a non-porous sealing spile 28b so as to constrain within the cask the non-usable beer residues (the so-called "ullage") whilst the cask is manhandled and transported back to the brewery for emptying, cleaning, sterilising and re-filling.

It will be appreciated that during such manhandling and transportation, the non-porous spile 28k is fully below the level of the rolling ribs 15,25. This minimises the risk of soiling of the spile and its environs as the cask is rolled over the ground on ribs 15,25.

For emptying, cleaning and sterilising the cask, the whole shive 27 is removed and the cask is positioned with its shive hole 17,19 (and zone 18) lowermost. All the ullage can then drain through shive hole 17,19 since there are no internal channels (formed by depressions 25) in this nowlowermost zone to retain such ullage. Similarly all the cleaning and sterilising fluids that are subsequently sprayed into the cask - via a spray head or spray ball inserted through shive hole 17,19 - can likewise drain out of the shive hole 17,19 without being retained in the channels formed by the only-partially-encompassing depressions 25.

The upper deep-drawn "half" 12 of the cask's main body 11 has a stainless steel chime wall 42 welded to the exterior of side wall 16 of upper body "half" 12 so that chime wall 42 projects upwardly beyond the cask's slightly bowed base wall 30. The "base" wall 30 is formed with a flattened, substantially radial wall portion 32 adjacent the side wall 16 and in the plane of but diametrically distal from the shive hole 17. As apparent from Fig 4, the radial portion 32 is apertured and a stainless steel, hollow keystone 33 is welded therein to be radially adjacent but spaced from the chime wall 42 and to project away from wall 30,32 into proximity with, i.e. to approach the level of, the radial plane across the lip or rim 40 that is formed at the distal free end of the chime wall 42.

To facilitate welding of the lower end of the keystone 33 to cask wall portion 32, the lower end of the keystone is provided with a radial flange 34, the body of the keystone being formed with a nose-shaped undercut 36 immediately above the flange 34. The hollow keystone 33 has a stepped and tapered interior bore 37 which is sealed by a bung (not shown) that is hammered through into the cask interior when the cask is tapped for beer dispensing. The distal end of keystone 33 is provided with an external shoulder 35 which fits into an aperture in a surmounting stainless steel reinforcing strap 38. The strap 38, which is apertured to sit upon the shoulder 35, is welded to the top of the keystone 33 and also to the adjacent portion of rim 40 of the chime wall 42.

By providing for the stainless steel keystone 33 to extend away from the cask's base wall 30 to - or at least approach - the level of the chime wall's rim 40, it is considerably easier than heretofore to access the stainless steel keystone 33 for straight-line hammering through of the keystone's sealing bung, for straight-line fitting of the dispensing tap in the keystone 33, and for straight-line removal of the dispensing tap when the cask is empty.

Furthermore, by interconnecting the top of the keystone 33 to the adjacent portion of the rim 40 of the chime wall by the welded-on stainless steel strap 38, the strength and rigidity of the keystone is reinforced such as to enable it satisfactorily to withstand the forces applied to the keystone during these manouevres.

The rim 40 is formed as a radially extending, substantially flat portion bent over inwardly from the chime wall 42, and this rim leads on into rolled under lip portion 44 (located adjacent flat portion 40 and between it and the portion 32 of cask end wall 30. It is considered that the substantially flat portion 40 aids stability of casks standing thereon and tends to minimise slipping and/or sliding of the cask. The strap-like metal part 38 not only has a reinforcing effect, but also prevents a cask handler trapping a finger or thumb between the keystone 33 and the adjacent rolled rim 40 of the chime wall.

The chime wall 42 is also formed with two or more radially spaced elongate apertures 46 that serve as handles for the cask.

A similar, non-apertured chime wall 48 is welded to the exterior of side wall 16 of the lower "half" 13 of main body 11, and (for similar purposes) this chime wall 48 likewise has its rim 50 formed as a radially extending, substantially flat portion bent over inwardly from the chime wall 48, which flat portion leads on into a rolled under lip portion 54 (located adjacent flat portion 50 and between it and the slightly bowed "base" wall 30 of the lower "half" 13). For uniformity of manufacture, this lower "half" 13 may have a flattened, radial portion 32 (like that of upper "half" 12) but this is redundant and is neither apertured nor provided with a keystone.

Although the above-mentioned and illustrated embodiment of this invention is formed of stainless steel it could equally well be formed of aluminium or some other suitable metal or metal alloy. Additional or alternative modifications can be made. For example, the end wall 30 of the lower "half" 13 of the cask's main body need not have the flattened portion 32 (such as that of the upper "half" 12), and/or the lower chime 48 may also have apertures forming handles 46 (such as that of the upper chime 42).In another example, the channel-like depressions 25 may be initially pressed out of each main body "half" so as to extend around it for fully 360 , the channel portions subtending a zone of arcuate extent less than 80 (preferably 40 to 60") being then depressed back inwards into substantial contiguity with the oviform side wall 16 of the cask's main body 11 prior to the welding or other attachment of the separately fabricated H-like formation 20 to the exterior surface of said zone.

Other modifications and embodiments of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art. All such modifications and embodiments are to be deemed within the ambit and scope of the invention, and the invention is not to be deemed limited to the particular embodiment(s) hereinbefore described which may be varied in construction and detail without departing from the scope of the patent monopoly hereby sought.

Claims (27)

1. A metal cask having an end wall to the cask's interior provided with keystone means located adjacent a chime wall that extends from the cask's side wall, said chime wall being deformed inwardly to form a rim or lip, characterised in that the keystone means is spaced from the chime wall as it extends from the cask's side wall and is connected to the rim or lip by a metal reinforcing part.

2. A metal cask according to Claim 1, characterised in that the keystone means approaches the level of the chime wall's rim or lip.

3. A metal cask having an end wall to the cask's interior provided with keystone means located adjacent a chime wall that extends from the cask's side wall, said chime wall being deformed inwardly to form a rim or lip, characterised in that a metal reinforcing part interconnects the top of the keystone means and an adjacent part of said lip.

4. A metal cask according to any preceding Claim, wherein the metal reinforcing part is welded to the said lip.

5. A metal cask according to any preceding Claim, wherein the metal reinforcing part is welded to the keystone means.

6. A metal cask according to any preceding claim wherein the metal reinforcing part is of generally, planar, striplike form and is disposed in or approaching the radial plane containing the said lip.

7. A metal cask according to any preceding claim, wherein the lip comprises a substantially flat, radially extending portion terminating in a rolled under portion located adjacent said flat portion and between it and said end wall.

8. A metal cask according to Claim 7, wherein the opposite chime wall has a lip formed similarly with a radially extending, substantially flat portion and a rolled under portion.

9. A metal cask according to any preceding claim wherein the cask has a pair of annular rib formations around its side and, between the rib formations, shive hole means that during beverage dispensing provides a top vent to the cask's contents and during cleaning operations provides a bottom outlet for the cask's contents, said cask being characterised in that said annular rib formations are constituted by: a pair of external ribs applied to the cask exterior, one to each side of the shive hole means, and extending across a zone subtending less than approximately 80 of the cask's perimeter; and by: protrusions pressed out from the wall of the cask and extending over substantially the remainder of the cask's perimeter.

10. A metal cask according to Claim 9, wherein the pressed out protrusions are dervived from initial formations extending through 3600 of the cask's perimeter, and subsequently deformed back inwards over said zone prior to attachment of said external ribs to the cask exterior.

11. A metal cask according to Claim 9, wherein the pressed out protrusions are formed at into to extend only partially around the cask's perimeter, the external ribs being subsequently attached to the cask exterior across the said zone.

12. A metal cask according to any one of Claims 9 to 11, wherein the external ribs extend between the ends of the pressed out protrusions.

13. A metal cask according to any one of Claims 9 to 12, wherein the two pressed out protrusions and the two external ribs lie in two mutually parallel planes normal to the cask's longitudinal axis.

14. A metal cask according to any one of Claims 9 to 13, wherein the two pressed out protrusions and the two external ribs have their outer surfaces of corresponding shape so as to extend contiguously with one another around the cask.

15. A metal cask according to any one of Claims 9 to 14, wherein the two external ribs are supported or interconnected by a plate that is attached to the cask exterior.

16. A metal cask according to Claim 15, wherein the two external ribs are separate formations attached to the plate.

17. A metal cask according to Claim 15, wherein the two external ribs are formed integrally with the plate as a pressing.

18. A metal cask according to any one of Claims 15, 16 or 17, wherein the metal plate is welded to the cask's exterior to attach the two external ribs thereto.

19. A metal cask according to any one of Claims 9 to 18, wherein said shive hole means comprises an aperture through the cask's side wall and a shive or closure member therefor, said shive comprises a bung portion to sit within the aperture and a head portion to extend radially beyond the aperture dimension, and wherein the height of the head portion above the aperture is less than the height of the rib formations above the aperture.

20. A metal cask having a pair of annular rib formations around its side and, between the rib formations, shive hole means that during beverage dispensing provides a top vent to the cask's contents and during cleaning operations provides a bottom outlet for the cask's contents, said cask being characterised in that said annular rib formations are constituted by: a pair of external ribs applied to the cask exterior, one to each side of the shive hole means, and extending across a zone subtending less than approximately 80 of the cask's perimeter; and by: protrusions pressed out from the wall of the cask and extending over substantially the remainder of the cask's perimeter.

21. A metal cask according to Claim 20, wherein the pressed out protrusions are dervived from initial formations extending through 360 of the cask's perimeter, and subsequently deformed back inwards over said zone prior to attachment of said external ribs to the cask exterior.

22. A metal cask according to Claim 20, wherein the pressed out protrusions are formed ab initio to extend only partially around the cask's perimeter, the external ribs being subsequently attached to the cask exterior across the said zone.

23. A metal cask according to any one of Claims 20 to 22, wherein an end wall to the cask's interior is provided with keystone means located adjacent a chime wall that extends from the cask's side wall, said chime wall being deformed inwardly to form a lip, the top of the keystone means and an adjacent part of said lip being interconnected by a welded-on metal reinforcing part.

24. A metal cask according to Claim 23, wherein said lip comprises a substantially flat, radially extending portion terminating in a rolled under portion located adjacent said flat portion and between it and said end wall.

25. A metal cask having a pair of annular rib formations around its generally oviform side and, between the rib formations, shive hole means to provide a top vent during beverage dispensing and a bottom outlet during cleaning operations, wherein said shive hole means comprises an aperture through the cask's side wall and a shive or closure member therefor, said shive comprises a bung portion to sit within the aperture and a head portion to extend radially beyond the aperture dimension, and wherein the height of the head portion above the aperture is less than the height of the rib formations above the aperture.

26. A metal cask according to any preceding Claim and formed of stainless steel.

27. A metal cask substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.