GB2498168A

GB2498168A - Barrel stacking device

Info

Publication number: GB2498168A
Application number: GB1116621.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Marshall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-09-27
Filing date: 2011-09-27
Publication date: 2013-07-10
Also published as: GB201116621D0

Abstract

A device for stacking barrels comprises an inner flange which sits inside the inner diameter of the upper and lower barrels and an outer flange which has the outer diameter of the barrel resting on it. The device also includes a portion, preferably a conical protrusion, at its centre which locates the device by engaging the valve of the lower barrel. The device also includes air vents which allows air circulation to prevent condensation and corrosion. The device may be moulded from plastics which may comprise glass fibres, or may alternatively be manufactured from wood or metal. If made from metal, the construction may be a welded fabricated or CNC machined.

Description

Title: Safe Stacking Barrel System. "S.B.S.S"

Field of Invention:

1. The present invention relates to handling and safe stacking of barrels in general but in particular the pub trade and the stacking of keg's (Barrels for the drink industry).

2. This invention will allow for the improvement in health & safety in the way barrels are handled and stacked in stores, providing a safe working environment for all employees.

Backround: 3. The development of this invention came about because of my own experiences working in the pub trade. On a daily basis I am working in a storage room lifting and stacking kegs. I realised that I had a major problem with the utilisation of space and more importantly the health & safety of the people working in and around the keg barrels attaching lines, cleaning lines, lifting and loading bat-rels, stacking barrels on top of one another. On more than one occasion, I have witnessed barrels falling off one another. The safe stacking of the barrels with the systems that are on the market did not solve the above problems for many reasons but mostly the barrels could not be stacked on top of one another with anything that was on the market safely enough or efficiently enough utilising the space available in cellars, What is currently on the market such as cradles or racks are very bulky, as are frames that you lay the barrels into. Pallets, shelves and crates are the other options but again these are very costly and very bulky, you would need a lot of space for these systems most cellars or storage facilities in pubs or hotels will not have the space for these systems or the equipment to run these systems such as forklifls and lifting equipment.

4. One of the biggest problems that faced me was how do I stacked barrels that are damaged all around their edges. It's this damage that prevents them sitting snugly on top of one another.

I found that the barrels that were fine did sit on top of one another but the slightest push or shove would slide them off one another. It was all these factors that brought me to my invention I realised that I would have to support the barrels from the centre out and my design grew from this theory. The health and safety of people stacking theses barrels (kegs) was the driving force behind my invention.

5. This invention will help increase and improve the health & safety of people that work in and around stacked barrels on a daily basis and in particular inthe bar trade and the stacking of keg barrels. 2.

Statement of Invention:

The safe barrel stacking system is made from plastic. It has vents cut into the main body and is shaped like a disc. There is a cone shaped design cut into the centre point of the disc.

3 The advantages of the safe barrel stacking system over what is cttrrently on the market are that it is the only one of its kind that will do this job. It is designed to stack the barrels from the centre cone out. It is this design feature that secures the barrels that are stacked onto of one another.

4 The safe barrel stacking system is a single plastic disc that the barrels sits on, the cone shape sits securely over the valve on the bottom keg barrel and centres the S.B.S.S (SAFE BARREL STACK[NG SYSTEM) into the centre point of the barrel on the boftom. The top barrel can then sit over the inner flange of the S.B.S.S and rest on the outer flange, thus securing the barrel into position. Because the design of the S.B.S.S allows air to flow in and around the barrels stacked on top of one another through the vents in the disc this prevents condensation and corrosion taking place between the barrels.

The S.B,S.S is also designed to allow one to inspect the valve on the barrels with the S.B.S.S fitted onto the barrel. I.

I 3.

Brief description of the drawings: Pages ito 3

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following drawings: I Page 1 Fig i: Shown the main body side view and elevation you can clearly see the cone detail and the inner and outer flanges that the barrels will be sitting on. The cone secures itself to the valve on the barrel on the bottom thus keeping the barrels centred and safe.

2 Page i Fig 2: Shows the top plan here you can clearly see the vent system.

3 Page 2 Fig 3: Shows a cut section view. Here you can see the inner and outer flanges.

4 Page 2 Fig 4: Shows a bottom plan.

Page 3 Fig 5: Shows a 3-D view of what the S.B.S.S. will look like when moulded.

I 4.

Detailed description:

1 Page 1 Fig 1: Shown the main body side view and elevation you can clearly see the cone detail and the inner and outer flanges that the barrels will be sitting on. The cone secures itself to the valve on the barrel on the bottom thus keeping the barrels centred and safe. The inner flange of the S.B.S.S will fit inside the internal diameter of the barrels top and bottom the outer flange will have the outside diameter of the barrel resting on it. This will firstly centre the barrels with the cone and secondly secure the barrels into position with the inner and outer flanges holding the barrels into place on the top and the bottom, preventing the barrels from sliding or slipping off one another.

2 Page 1 Fig 2: Shows the top plan. Here you can clearly see the vent system that is moulded into each unit of the S.B.S.S. These vents are used to allow air to pass through and around the barrels that are stacked on top of each other. This helps prevent condensation and corrosion between the barrels.

3 Page 2 Fig 3: Shows a cut section view. Here you can see the inner and outer flanges. The inner flange of the S.B.S.S will fit inside the internal diameter of the barrels top and bottom the outer flange will have the outside diameter of the barrel resting on it. This will firstly centre the barrels with the cone and secondly secure the barrels into position with the inner and outer flanges holding the barrels into place on the top and the bottom, preventing the barrels from sliding or slipping off one another. You can also see the position of the cone in the centre which will fit down over the valve on the top of each barrel as they are stacked.

Page 2 Fig 4: Shows a bottom plan. This view shows the way the cone will sit down over the valve on the bottom barrel. You can see the details with the inner and outer flanges are the same below as they are above.

4 Page 3 Fig 5: Shows a 3-D view of what the S.B.S.S. will look like when moulded. w 5.

Claims

<claim-text>Claims: The product called safe barrel stacking system is made of moulded plastic it is used for stacking barrels safcly particularly keg barrels for the bar trade but could be utilised on all types of barrels, it has a cone feature in the centre and an inner and outer flange along with air vents in its main body these features allow for the barrels to be centred and stacked safely preventing the barrels falling off one another, the vents allow air to pass through and around the barrels preventing corrosion and condensation, the cone secures itself to the valve on the keg barrel on the bottom thus keeping the barrels centred and safe. The inner flange of the S.B.S.S will fit inside the internal diameter of the barrels top and bottom the outer flange will have the outside diameter of the barrel resting on it, This will firstly centre the barrels with the cone and secondly secure the barrels into position with the inner and outer flanges holding the barrels into place on the top and the bottom.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The method of producing this product is as follows, each S.B.S.S SAFE BARREL STACKING SYSTEM is moulded in a plastic moulding machine, this gives the finished unit in one process it will be natural in colour but maybe coloured if required, [looked at other designs for catching the centre of the Keg barrels such as a "X" shape in the centre or a square shape or a claw grip around the valve, the essence of my design is the centre stabilisation feature which is in the centre of the main body of my S.B.S.S this and the inner and outer design is the concept that is important to my design, I could put other shapes in place however I had to chose one and the cone was it.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The product called the safe barrel stacking system can also so be made from timber using any type of manufactured or machined or natural wood, cutting the parts required i.e.: the cone, inner and outer flanges and gluing or nailing them together, I have looked at making it from all type of metal soft and hard metal light and strong metal that could be welded together or CNC machined to the shape, I have also looked at other materials such as fibreglass moulding or rubber, nylon and plaster but the plastic moulding was the best option, it is one unit one mould, it is light yet very durable and load resistance, it is hard wearing a long life investment for the health and safety of people working around barrels. 4. 5.II Amendments to the claims have been tiled as follows: Claims: 1. The product called safe barrel stacking system is made of moulded plastic it is used for stacking I barrels safely particularly keg barrels for the bar trade but could be utilised on all types of barrels, it has a cone feature in the centre and an inter and outer flange along with air vents in its I main body these features allow for the barrels to be centred and stacked safely preventing the barrels falling off one another, the vents allow air to pass through and around the barrels I preventing corrosion and condensation, the cone secures itself to the valve on the keg barrel on the bottom thus keeping the barrels centred and safe. The inner flange of the safe barrel stacking I system will fit inside the internal diameter of the barrels top and bottom the outer flange will kavetheoutsidediarneter ôfthe bartel resting on it, This-wiThfirstly centre the barrels with the --cone and secondly secure the barrels into position with the inner and outer flanges holding the barrels into place on the top and the bottom.
2. The method of producing this product is as follows, each SAFE BARREL STACKING SYSTEM is moulded in a plastic moulding machine, this gives the finished unit in one process it will be natural in colour but maybe coloured if required, I looked at other designs for catching the centre of the Keg barrels such as a "X" shape in the centre or a square shape or a claw grip I around the valve, the essence of my design is the centre stabilisation feature which is in the centre of the main body of my safe barrel stacking system this and the inner and outer design is the concept that is important to my design, I could put other shapes in place however I had to chose one and the cone was it.*
3. The product called the safe barrel stacking system can also so be made from timber using any type of manufactured or machined or natural wood, cutting the parts required i.e.: the cone, inner and outer flanges and gluing or nailing them together, I have looked at making it from all type of metal soft and hard metal light and strong metal that could be welded together or CNC machined to the shape, I have also looked at other materials such as fibreglass moulding or rubber, nylon and plaster but the plastic moulding was the best option, it is one unit one mould, it is light yet Ii very durable and load resistance, it is hard wearing a long life investment for the health and a safety of people working around barrels.------II</claim-text>