US2046953A - Beverage shipping and storage container - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet l J. L. KELLOGG Filed Oct. 1, 1954 6% Zn?! 5i-JMQ w w A7 /7 i w Q Ma WW .6 17w W f W\ 2 u m 1 I iwv WW i BEVERAGE SHIPPING AND STORAGE CONTAINER July 7, 1936. .1. L. KELLOGG BEVERAGE SHIPPING AND STORAGE CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 1, 1934 v zi 0 Z 8 1 ZQWMQQZ July 7, 1936.; J KELLQGG 2,046,953

BEVERAGE SHIPPING AND STORAGE CONTAINER Filed Oct. 1, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I so- BEVERAGE SHIPPING w comma s'roimes .liohn ll. Kellogg, Chicago, llll., assignor to Helen L. Kellog Chicago, Ill.

Application October 1, 1934, Serial No. 746,301

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction and design of containers which are vparticularly adapted for use in the handling of beer and other carbonated beverages which, when handled in bulk, must be maintained at a comparatively low temperature to avoid danger of fermentation and also to prevent separation of the carbonating gas from the beverage.

An important object of the invention is to out of contact with. each other by an intervening layer of insulating material, whereby to reduce to an absolute minimum the tendency for transfer of heat to the walls of the inner receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to provide in combination with a double walled refrigerating container of the type specified, a cabinet which is designed to enclose the container and to serve as an additional means for preventing transmission of heat to the beverage during the period when the latter is being stored and dispensed at the retailing establishment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a beverage shipping and storage container having a refrigerant storage compartment formed therein and adapted to hold a supply of a solidifled gaseous refrigerant, such as carbon dioxide, said compartment having valve means arranged to permit passage of gaseous refrigerant to the interior of the container, and additional valve means for permitting escape of gaseous refrigerant directly from said compartment into the atmosphere.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shipping and storage container having valve means for the purpose specified which is operable to maintain a pressure differential between the storage compartment and the interior of the container sufficient to expand the gas within the container at a rate which will prevent any extended drop in pressure therein after withdrawal of a portion of the beverage through a tap faucet.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a container having cooling means of the character set forth which is adapted to be used either as a complete and independent unit for the storage of the beverage or, if desired, in combination with an outer receptacle which is arranged to be completely isolated therefrom by means of an intervening layer of insulating material.

Other objects and advantages of the invention willbe apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanylng drawings, wherein I have shown the preferred form in which I have thus far contemplated applying the principles of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

,Fig. 1 is a broken elevational view showing the inner and outer receptacles arranged in assembled position, with the inner receptacle charged with a supply of refrigerant, the view also showing the assembled unit positioned in a storage cabinet which is designed for use with the unit at the retailing establishment;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the container and associated storage cabinet, the view being taken substantially on line 2--2 of 'Fig. 1, portions of the top cover plate of the'outer receptacle being broken away to show the construction of the top wall of the inner receptacle;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a blanket of insulating material which is wrapped around the walls of the inner receptacle;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the inner receptacle;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the outer receptacle;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the layer or sheet of insulating material which is placed at the bottom of the inner receptacle; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a similar sheet of insulating material which is placed between the top or upper end walls of the inner and outer receptacles.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the numeral 8 designates generally a barrel-shaped sheet metal receptacle which is adapted to serve as a shipping and storage container for a body of liquid such as beer, or the like, the receptacle consisting of a bottom head wall 1 I, a top head wall l2, and a cylindrical side wall l3 which are suitably welded together to form a liquid tight container. The side wall I3 is provided with a filling bung ring II, which is closed by a bung I5, and the top head wall I! is provided with a tap bushing i6 which is closed by a tap bung I1, said bushing being provided with.an elongated tube or neck portion la, the lower end of which is welded into head wall H.

In accordance with one phase of my invention, I provide a refrigerant storage compartment for the container 8. which is arranged as an integral part thereof, and which is adapted to hold a supply of a solidified gaseous refrigerant such as carbon dioxide, more commonly referred to as dry ice. To this end I provide adjacent the top head wall i2, an outer head wall l9, which is arranged in spaced relation to the wall l2, the perimetrical portion of the wall IS being turned downwardly to lap side wall [3, as indicated at 2|, the overlapping portion being welded to wall l3 to form a gas tight joint. The space I8 intervening between walls I2 and 19 serves asa refrigerant storage compartment in which blocks or cakes 22 of dry ice may be placed to provide for cooling of the interior of the receptacle 8 by a direct transfer of heat through the metallic walls thereof. As shown in Fig. 1 the outer head wall I9 is provided with an exteriorly threaded sleeve 23 which is closed by a cap 24, the latter being provided with an interiorly threaded flange portion 25, which is received on the outer end of sleeve 23. The central or web portion of cap 24 is provided with an outlet opening 26 which is closed by an escape valve, indicated generally by the numeral 21. The details of construction of this valve are not shown inasmuch as any desired type of gas valve may be used to control the escape of gas from the cooling compartment Ill through open- .ing 26. A second valve means, indicated generally by the numeral 28, is provided in the wall of tube 18 for controlling the passage of gaseous refrigerant from the cooling compartment l through opening 29 in the wall of said tube into the interior of the container. Any preferred form of gas operated valve may be employed for controlling this passage of gas from the cooling chamber into the interior of the receptacle. The supply of dry ice is introduced into the chamber In through sleeve 23, the latter being made sufileiently large to permit introduction of the blocks or cakes 22.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the receptacle 8 is barrel-shaped, being intended for use as a shipping and storage container for a carbonated beverage, such as beer, the supply of dry ice being introduced into the cooling chamber In as soon as the beer is kegged and made ready for shipment. After a container reaches the retailer it is placed in the vertical position shown in Fig. 1 and tapped through bushing I8, the draw-off or tap pipe (not shown) extending downwardly through sleeve l8 into the body of liquid 9. In accordance with one of the important features of the invention, the supply of dry ice is arranged to serve both as a cooling means and also as a means for providing gas pressure to force the beverage through the tap pipe which is inserted in the container. To this end valves 21 and 28 are arranged to automatically operate at such pressures as will maintain a pressure differential between the cooling compartment and the interior of receptacle 8 sufllcient to force the beverage from said receptacle as soon as the draw-oil! tap faucet is opened. For example, valve 21 would be adjusted to permit escape of gaseous refrigerant directly into the atmosphere as soon as the pressure reaches, say 40 pounds per square inch. With this setting of valve 21 it may be assumed that valve 28 would be adjusted to operate at say a pressure of pounds per square inch.

Valve 21, of course, serves as an escape valve when the pressure in the cooling chamber Ill becomes excessively high, and valve 28 provides the 1 pressure adjustment between the said chamber i0 and the interior of the receptacle 8. Ordinarily, therefore, valve 28 would be arranged to operate at a pressure somewhat above atmospheric pressure so as to insure effective forcing of the beverage from the container through the take-oil pipe.

The relative adjustment of valves 21 and 28 will depend upon the sizeof the cooling chamber ID as compared to the capacity of the container. In the embodiment shown the cooling chamber constitutes approximately one-twelfth of the volume of the complete receptacle,and for most commercial uses this would be about the relative size which would be most useful for the shipping of beer. It will be apparent that when the container 8 is practically full of beer the withdrawal of a small quantity of beer would produce a considerable drop in pressure in the space 3| above the liquid surface. However, as the space 3| increases the relative pressure drop therein upon the drawing of! of a given amount of beer becomes less. Therefore, valves 21 and 28 should be ad- Justed to provide sufiicient pressure difference between the cooling chamber 10 and the interior of the container to insure a rapid expansion of gas in the space 3| during the initial draw-off period when the container is substantially full. This will prevent anything more than a momentary drop in pressure within the container upon opening of the tap faucet, and avoids any need of waiting for the pressure to build up between successive draw-oiis even when the container is practically full. This result, I find, is effectively accomplished with the arrangement of valves shown.

With further reference to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the cakes of dry ice 22 are wrapped in paper cartons or containers 32. These cartons are formed of porous paper of a soft, fibrous texture which will readily permit passage of carbon dioxide gas from the solidified mass. I find that the rate of evaporation of the dry ice may be effectively controlled by varying the amount or extent of wrapping of the blocks 22. If comparatively rapid evaporation is desired I employ a comparatively thin covering of paper, and by increasing the thickness of the wrapper, I am able to correspondingly decrease the rate of evaporation. The successful use of dry ice as a refrigerant depends largely upon employing a type of container which will conserve the supply of refrigerant without at the same time incurring the danger of freezing the contents of the container by the very low temperature obtainable with a refrigerant of this type. I find that both of these objectives are accomplished by employing a receptacle construction of the type shown and by wrapping the cakes of the ice before introducing them into the cooling chamber.

Although the inner receptacle 8 may be used as an independent unit, I prefer, in accordance with my invention to provide an outer receptacle which is designed to receive the receptacle 8, with provision of means between the two receptacles for completely insulating them from one another. The outer receptacle, which is designated generally by the numeral 33, consists of a cylindrical side wall 34 which is closed at its lower end by a bottom plate or head wall 35. The upper end is closed by a removable cover plate 38 which is provided with openings 31 and 38 which register with tap bushing l8 and cap 24, respectively.

The walls 34, 35 and 38 are made of sheet metal, and the side wall 34 is preferably reinforced with a pair of annular ribs 33. The upper and lower edges of wall 34 are curled outwardly to provide tube shaped reinforcing ribs 4| and 42.

shown in Fig. 1 the brim portion of top wall it is curved upwardly to provide a curved flange M which rests upon rib M. Flange M, however, extends only partially around rib M, thereby permitting wall it to be lifted from the container.

As shown in Fig. 1, the outer receptacle M is shaped to conform substantially to the contour of the inner receptacle t'for the purpose of permitting insertion of an intervening layer of insulating material, the parts being so designed that this layer of material prevents any metallic contact between the two receptacles. To this end I provide around the lower portion of receptacle t a sheet metal sleeve M which may be welded at the point M to the side wall it. A similar sleeve M is welded to the upper portion of wall if. The lower edge of sleeve M is turned inwardly to provide a reinforcing rib till and a similar reinforcing rib M is provided around the upper edge of sleeve M. If desired, the inner edge portions of these sleeves may be struck outwardly to provide reinforcing ribs M. A reinforcing head wall or plate 5i is provided at the upper end of receptacle ii adjacent the wall it, the marginal portion of said plate ti being welded to sleeve M.

An intervening sheet of insulating material M is preferably inserted between walls is and hi to prevent excessive transmission of heat to wall til. I

The space between the side walls of receptacles d and it is filled with a body of insulating material. M, such as dry zero, or the like, which, as shown in Fig. 3, is made in the form of a blanket which may be wrapped around sleeves M and M, being secured in position by straps to. The space between the lower head walls ii and M is similarly filled with a packing of dry zero M which, as shown in-Fig. 6, may be made in the form of a circular blanket of padding, which may be easily placed in position in the bottom of container M. Another pad of insulating material t'll is employed to fill the space between the upper head walls ti and tilt, this pad, as shown in Fig. '7, being provided with suitable openings which register with cap M and tap bushing it. It will be apparent from Fig. 1 that with the upper and lower edge portions of blanket 54 extending well beyond the adjacent edges of sleeves M and M,

all metallic contact is avoided between the walls of receptacle d and the adjacent walls of the outer receptacle it. This arrangement efiectively prevents transmission of heat to the inner receptacle and particularly to the refrigerant storage compartment it containing the blocks of dry ice ft. The insulating material, being in the form of a fabric lining, is easily arranged in position around the inner receptacle t when it is desired to use the latter in conjunction with receptacle M.

As previously stated, top wall M of the outer receptacle it is made removable to permit the inner receptacle d to be inserted and withdrawn as desired. In the embodiment shown, after the head wall It is placed in the position shown in Fig. 1, it is locked to the receptacle by means of an expansible clamp ring M which extends around the upper brim portion M of receptacle M and partially overlaps flange M which forms a part of top wall it. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, this clamp ring is split at hit, one end thereof being provided with a bolt ti which has pin and slot connection through a link of with the other end of the ring. A clamp lever M, pivoted at M to link if, and connected at one end to ring M by an arm M, which extends through the slot in link M, is provided for drawing together the adjacent ends of said ring M to lock the same over rib M and flange M. The position of the parts in the locked position is best shown in Fig. 2.

The receptacles d and it in the assembled position shown in Fig. 1 may be conveniently used as a shipping and storage container for malt beverages, the packing of insulating material which fills the space between the walls serving to effectively prevent undue evaporation of the dry ice. When the container has reached the retailing establishment, it may be tapped through bung ii and the contents of the container drawn off as desired. During the period when the beverage is being dispensed the gaseous refrigerant passes through the valve means it to the interior of the container in such regulated amounts as to insure a pressure on the interior of the container sufficient to force the beverage throughthe drawod pipe. If at any time, either during the period of shipment or storage at the retailing establishment, the gas pressure in the cooling chamber becomes excessive it will automatically be relieved through valve fl. If it is desired to replace or add to the supply of refrigerant it is merely necessary to remove cap M, and introduce additional cubes of refrigerant into the cooling chamber.

In some cases it may be desirable to provide at the retailing establishment a cabinet into which wall or cover if of the cabinet is made of wood, or other suitable insulating material, and is provided with openings it and lid which register with the corresponding openings in head wall M. In the embodiment shown head wall M is secured by screws l5 to the under face of cover if, and the latter, in turn, is locked in position by a lock it. The cabinet thus serves not only as a storage cabinet 'for the beverage container, but also tends to conserve the supply of dry ice used for cooling by preventing access of heat to the container M. It is, however, intended as an auxiliary unit for use at the retailing establishment and would not ordinarily be used as a shipping container inasmuch as the combined receptacles t and it in themselves serve as a complete shipping and cooling unit. If desired, casters or rollers lll may be provided on the base M to permit the unit to be easily moved.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. A beverage storage and dispensing container comprising a barrel-shaped receptacle having a double wall at one end thereof, providing a storage compartment for holding a supply of a solidified gaseous refrigerant, the outer wall thereof having an opening through which the refrigerant Z5 may be introduced, closure means for said opening, valve means in said compartment for automatically permitting escape of gaseous refrigerant to the atmosphere, and means comprising a tap bushing positioned in said outer wall and having an elongated tubular body extending through the compartment to the inner wall for receiving the draw-off member of a tap mechanism.

,2. A beverage storage and dispensing container comprising a barrel-shaped receptacle having a double wall at one end thereof, providing a storage compartment for holding a supply of a solidified gaseous refrigerant, the outer wall thereof having an opening through which the refrigerant may be introduced, closure means for said opening, valve means in said compartment arranged to automatically permit passage of gaseous refrigerant to the interior of the container upon falling of the pressure therein below a predetermined point, and means comprising a tap bushing positioned in said outer wall and having an elongated tubularbody extending through the compartment to the inner wall for receiving the draw-oft member of a tap mechanism.

3. A storage and dispensing unit for malt beverages and the like comprising an inner sheet metal receptacle having a double wall over a portion thereof providing a storage compartment for holding a supply of a solidified gaseous refrigerant, removable closure means positioned in the outer wall of said compartment permitting introduction of the refrigerant therein, an outer sheet metal receptacle independent of and separable from said inner receptacle, said outer receptacle having a removable wall adjacent the outer wall of said storage compartment, 9. body of insulating material disposed in the space between said receptacle walls, said receptacles being shaped to completely avoid metallic contact between said walls through the intervention of said body of insulating material, and an outer cabinet for enclosing said storage unit.v

JOHN L. KELLOGG.

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