GB2086837A

GB2086837A - Jacketed metal containers

Info

Publication number: GB2086837A
Application number: GB8133443A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Grundy Teddington Ltd
Current assignee: Alumasc Grundy Ltd
Priority date: 1980-11-06
Filing date: 1981-11-05
Publication date: 1982-05-19

Abstract

A container comprises a thin- walled stainless steel vessel I formed from two halves and joined by a weld seam M and a cylindrical jacket of aluminium alloy formed from two halves 1, 2 applied to the vessel and welded at A. The jacket may be adhered to the vessel, with plastics infill X being provided between the vessel and jacket for sound- deadening. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to containers or casks This invention relates to an improved construction of container and is primarily but not essentially concerned with a container or cask for beverages. The invention is, however, also useful for containers for many other liquids or gases.

Various constructions of containers are known and with portable containers due account has to be taken of the strength in relation to abuses which might occur during handling and to the nature of the liquid or gas being transported. In taking into account these two factors, containers generally are constructed of materials and of weights designed to meet safety factors in so far as applied loads are concerned. In other words, a container which is designed purely from the point of view of the contained liquid would use a material which in all probability would have insufficient strength from a handling point of view, whereas a container constructed of material ideal for handling would not be compatible with the liquid being carried.

It is an object of this invention to provide a container having sufficient strength and which is also compatible with the contents.

According to this invention, there is provided a container comprising a thin wall vessel of a first material compatible with the intended contents, and which is connected to and positioned within a jacket of a second material having high strength to applied external loads.

Preferably the vessel is of stainless steel and may have domed end plates interconnected by an intermediate cylindrical portion. The second material preferably comprises a cylinder of which the end parts project beyond the domed ends of the inner container and this material may be of a high tensile strength aluminium alloy. With such a construction the vessel of stainless steel, as example, may be of minimal thickness and is used for its resistance to corrosion and hygienic properties in general. The aluminium alloy, as example, used for the outer container or jacket can be of a high tensile strength without being compatible with the liquid into which it does not come into contact, and the jacket may be integrally connected securely with the outer wall of the vessel to form effectively a one piece structure.

One embodiment of a container according to the invention is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawing which is a longitudinal sectional view. The configuration of the container and the materials used are typical of those useful in practice for beverages but are not to be considered as limiting the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, an inner container or vessel generally shown as I is constructed from stainless steel in two halves and may be formed by deep drawing, flow forming or by flow forming from circles of stainless steel which are thinned out along the side walls at S. The two halves of the container are joined by welding along a circumferential seam line M.

A suitable fitting F is provided on the top for filling and extracting liquid into and from the container. The inner container therefore comprises a stainless steel vessel which has domed end surfaces 4 with a reduced thickness side wall 3 joining same.

The inner container is provided with a jacket formed by two parts 1 and 2 of cylindrical form which are fabricated by rolling, welding and then curling the ends of a cylinder of a high tensile strength aluminium alloy to form an outer protective jacket. The two jacket portions 1 and 2 are forced over the inner container and thereafter welded along a circumferential seam A.

With this construction the inner container may be selected solely on the basis of the material to be carried and the outer jacket may be selected solely on the basis of strength.

The invention enables the most suitable stainless steels at a minimum thickness to be used effectively for a vessel and high strength aluminium alloys which are generally unsuitable for use as a container can be used for their strength properties alone.

The combination of the two materials permits the overall weight of the container to be minimised without loss of strength or capacity.

The strength of the domed ends of the vessel can be further increased by a cruciform patterned ribbing.

The design of the jackets will permit certain deviations to the construction to be made, for example a plastic infill at X may be used to reduce noise, and a coating or covering may be applied to the top and bottom of the outer ends of the jackets of a sound absorbing material to reduce noise during handling.

The strength of the side wall of the container may be increased by use of a suitable interface adhesive.

1. A container comprising a thin wall vessel of a first material compatible with the intended contents, and which is connected to and positioned within a jacket of a second material having high strength to applied external loads.

2. A container in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the vessel is of stainless steel and the jacket is of an aluminium alloy.

3. A container in accordance with Claim 1 or 2, wherein the vessel comprises a cylindrical portion having domed end plates connected therewith, the jacket comprising a cylinder of which the ends project beyond the domed end plates of the vessel.

4. A container in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the vessel is formed by drawing, the side wall being of reduced thickness as compared with the end wall.

5. A container in accordance with Claim 4, wherein the vessel is formed from two half shells

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to containers or casks This invention relates to an improved construction of container and is primarily but not essentially concerned with a container or cask for beverages. The invention is, however, also useful for containers for many other liquids or gases. Various constructions of containers are known and with portable containers due account has to be taken of the strength in relation to abuses which might occur during handling and to the nature of the liquid or gas being transported. In taking into account these two factors, containers generally are constructed of materials and of weights designed to meet safety factors in so far as applied loads are concerned. In other words, a container which is designed purely from the point of view of the contained liquid would use a material which in all probability would have insufficient strength from a handling point of view, whereas a container constructed of material ideal for handling would not be compatible with the liquid being carried. It is an object of this invention to provide a container having sufficient strength and which is also compatible with the contents. According to this invention, there is provided a container comprising a thin wall vessel of a first material compatible with the intended contents, and which is connected to and positioned within a jacket of a second material having high strength to applied external loads. Preferably the vessel is of stainless steel and may have domed end plates interconnected by an intermediate cylindrical portion. The second material preferably comprises a cylinder of which the end parts project beyond the domed ends of the inner container and this material may be of a high tensile strength aluminium alloy. With such a construction the vessel of stainless steel, as example, may be of minimal thickness and is used for its resistance to corrosion and hygienic properties in general. The aluminium alloy, as example, used for the outer container or jacket can be of a high tensile strength without being compatible with the liquid into which it does not come into contact, and the jacket may be integrally connected securely with the outer wall of the vessel to form effectively a one piece structure. One embodiment of a container according to the invention is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawing which is a longitudinal sectional view. The configuration of the container and the materials used are typical of those useful in practice for beverages but are not to be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. Referring to the drawing, an inner container or vessel generally shown as I is constructed from stainless steel in two halves and may be formed by deep drawing, flow forming or by flow forming from circles of stainless steel which are thinned out along the side walls at S. The two halves of the container are joined by welding along a circumferential seam line M. A suitable fitting F is provided on the top for filling and extracting liquid into and from the container. The inner container therefore comprises a stainless steel vessel which has domed end surfaces 4 with a reduced thickness side wall 3 joining same. The inner container is provided with a jacket formed by two parts 1 and 2 of cylindrical form which are fabricated by rolling, welding and then curling the ends of a cylinder of a high tensile strength aluminium alloy to form an outer protective jacket. The two jacket portions 1 and 2 are forced over the inner container and thereafter welded along a circumferential seam A. With this construction the inner container may be selected solely on the basis of the material to be carried and the outer jacket may be selected solely on the basis of strength. The invention enables the most suitable stainless steels at a minimum thickness to be used effectively for a vessel and high strength aluminium alloys which are generally unsuitable for use as a container can be used for their strength properties alone. The combination of the two materials permits the overall weight of the container to be minimised without loss of strength or capacity. The strength of the domed ends of the vessel can be further increased by a cruciform patterned ribbing. The design of the jackets will permit certain deviations to the construction to be made, for example a plastic infill at X may be used to reduce noise, and a coating or covering may be applied to the top and bottom of the outer ends of the jackets of a sound absorbing material to reduce noise during handling. The strength of the side wall of the container may be increased by use of a suitable interface adhesive. CLAIMS

5. A container in accordance with Claim 4, wherein the vessel is formed from two half shells with a peripheral medial welded seam.

6. A container in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the jacket is formed from two half cylinders joined by an intermediate welded seam.

7. A container in accordance with Claim 6, wherein the two cylinders are force fitted over the vessel and thereafter joined by welding.

8. A container in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the ends of the vessel include ribbing reinforcement.

9. A container in accordance with Claim 3, wherein the projecting ends of the jacket have applied thereto a sound absorbing material.

10. A container in accordance with Claim 3 or 9, wherein the space defined by the projecting ends of the jacket includes an infill of plastics material.

11. A container in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein an adhesive is applied between adjacent surfaces of the vessel and jacket.

1 2. A container constructed as described herein and with reference to the accompanying drawing.