Multilevel sheet metal container with outwardly beaded end faces
A multilevel container is disclosed which comprises circumferentially continuous wall or bottom elements of sheet metal with radially outwardly beaded end faces. The wall and bottom elements are placed on top of each other on butt joints so as to seal the end faces and are detachably braced with a minimum of one neighboring container level. The multilevel container also comprises one or more sealing rings and bracing components that act on neighboring end faces. In order to provide a readily manufacturable and form a stable multilevel container without multiple beads in alternating directions or weldings in the butt joint portions, a separate and independent shape retaining ring is provided. This ring reinforces the container and has shape retaining surfaces on its two end faces. In the region of their end faces, the neighboring wall and bottom elements are set on and tightly braced against the shape retaining surfaces of the reinforcing shape retaining ring. Radially inside or radially outside the reinforcing shape retaining ring, a separate sealing ring is inserted between the radially outwardly beaded sheet metal end faces of the neighboring bottom or wall elements of the multilevel container or between these end faces and the reinforcing shape retaining ring.
The subject matter of the present invention relates to a multilevel sheet metal container with outwardly beaded end faces. The container utilizes a unique sealing configuration and sealing ring between container levels or regions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONTo meet the requirements of different container sizes or the requirements of containers with changeable bottom or wall elements, it is customary in the case of multilevel containers to ensure the stability of the container in the butt joint region by means of an appropriately robustly designed bracing ring (German Patent DE U1 88 10 118). Between the bracing ring and the outwardly beaded end faces of the container wall or bottom elements, elastic sealing rings are inserted into the butt joints. An elastic sealing ring or one of the lips of a multisegmented elastic sealing ring is inserted in the area between the facing end faces of the outwardly beaded sheet metal of which the bottom and wall elements are made. While the bracing ring and the radially outwardly beaded end faces can be in direct contact with each other, the sealing ring between the radially outwardly beaded end faces facing each other, however, cannot be omitted.
To increase the stability along the butt joint, a supporting ring which is located on the inside and which partially straddles the two neighboring container walls can be used (German Patent DE A1 40 09 659).
Multilevel containers made of sheet metal are known in which the butt joints are reinforced with massive flanges. These flanges are welded to the circumference of the container wall. Compared to these known containers, the generic multilevel containers with beaded end faces have the advantage that they can be produced much less expensively.
To provide the butt joints of this design with sufficient stability, however, the conventionally known beaded areas are reinforced in a bridge-like manner by means of multiple beads in alternating directions. Among other things, these reinforcements have the disadvantage that they form grooves in which the material stored in the container can be trapped. For reasons of hygiene, this is undesirable, especially in food and pharmaceutical applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONBased on these considerations, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a generic multilevel container so as to be robust, but without flanges that need to be welded onto the butt joints, so that no beading folds or grooves can form in which the material stored in the container can be trapped or accumulated.
To solve this problem, a multilevel container having certain features is provided. Specifically, the present invention provides a separate and independent shape retaining ring which reinforces the container. The shape retaining ring has on both of its end faces, shape-retaining surfaces with which the neighboring wall and bottom elements that are made of container sheet metal are reinforced directly in the area of their radially outwardly beaded end faces. One or a plurality of additionally disposed sealing ring(s) is (are) separately braced radially inside or radially outside of the reinforcing shape-retaining ring between the outwardly beaded end faces (made of sheet metal) of the neighboring bottom or wall elements of the multilevel container or (individually) between these end faces and the reinforcing shape-retaining ring.
The present invention provides a readily producible and simply constructed multilevel container in which the neighboring bottom and wall elements are connected to each other by means of a direct, in particular metal, contact. While ensuring high stiffness, the invention also provides for a lightweight construction and modular design. In the container surface area which comes into contact with the product contained therein, in particular along the butt joints, dead spaces can be eliminated or avoided. This ensures that relatively high and in many instances, the highest, hygiene requirements are met. In addition, this configuration promotes easy cleaning of the container and its interior surfaces. Furthermore, the present invention avoids the broader problems arising with the known multilevel, i.e., modularly designed, containers, such as electrostatic charges and shear deformation of seals during operation under a vacuum, as well as shape-retaining problems caused by an uneven distribution of the load on the collets and centering problems. Since in the stacking joint design according to the present invention the end faces of the neighboring container wall and bottom elements are made of the same sheet metal, of which the container jacket and container bottom are made, i.e., of sheet metal with a wall thickness of less than about 10 mm, and especially less than 4 mm, it is easy and efficient to manufacture the modules. Due to the use of a separate and independent shape-retaining ring with shape-retaining surfaces on the end faces which reinforces the container, the unavoidably present tolerances during sheet metal forming (beading) are not critical, and a precise stacking height can be maintained. This stacking height does not alter even when excess and reduced pressure is applied. Accordingly, the container is stable in height and length.
The separate and independent shape-retaining ring provides shape-retaining end faces which reinforce the container. The shape retaining ring exerts its supporting function especially along the radially outwardly beaded flanges on the end faces of the preferably circumferentially continuous bottom or wall elements of the multilevel container. The shape retaining ring can be manufactured by either metal cutting from solid or tubular material or by any molding or casting technique or die-casting technique with or without a mechanical aftertreatment. Materials to be considered, in addition to metal and metal alloys, are synthetics with or without reinforcements. On the shape-retaining ring which reinforces the container, especially radially along the inside, it is possible to attach built-in components, such as funnels, filter plates, closing or separating elements and many others.
In the region running radially on the outside, the radially outwardly beaded flange region on the end faces of neighboring bottom or wall elements can be fitted with collar-like reinforcement bridges which surround the wall or bottom element and which are also formed by beading the sheet metal of the container.
With respect to size, shape, material selection and technical design, the previously mentioned components to be used according to the present invention are described in the practical examples below. These aspects are not subject to any particular conditions so that the selection criteria conventionally used in the field in which components are applied can be used without restriction.
Additional details, features and advantages of the subject matter of the present invention follow from the claims and from the description below of the associated drawings which, by way of an example, show preferred practical examples of the multilevel container of sheet metal that is outwardly beaded on the end face in accordance with the present invention.
In the drawings,
The five level container 10 with container levels 10A through 10E shown in
As
It can be seen from
As an alternative, vacuum pump 30 can be disposed in a conventional manner directly on the upper bottom element 12B. Filter element 28 can be so called filter candles which can be attached to and suspended in a conventional manner from filter plate 28.
As can be seen from
A separate and independent solid circumferentially continuous shape retaining ring 20 which reinforces the container and which is a metal ring manufactured by means of metal cutting is inserted on the butt joint between the end faces so that in the region of flanges 14C, the upper and lower beaded end faces 14A and 14B of the neighboring container walls are supported across the entire surface by the associated shape retaining surfaces 20A, 20B on the end faces of shape retaining ring 20. In bent region 10G, shape retaining ring 20 here shown is designed so as to curve into the opposite direction, thus ensuring that minor variations in the dimensions potentially present in bent region 10G do not have a negative impact. The inside diameter of shape retaining ring 20 is selected to ensure that it conforms to the inside diameter of the container. On its radial outer surface, shape retaining ring 20 has upper and lower seal mounts 20C for mounting a symmetrically designed circumferential sealing ring 16, with sealing ring 16 comprising upper and lower sealing ridges 16A and 16B as well as a connecting bridge 16C (
The shape retaining ring 20 and end faces 14A and 14B of the neighboring container elements, which end faces are adjacent to the shape retaining surfaces of the shape retaining ring, are preferably in direct contact and tightly braced against each other. This is preferably achieved by using a bracing ring 18. Although a bracing ring 18 is generally described herein, the various sealing embodiments can employ any similar type of bracing component. In the practical examples shown in
Thus, shape retaining ring 20, with its shape retaining surfaces 20A and 20B, exerts functions that reinforce the container elements, without the necessity to reinforce the end faces of the container elements as such by means of multiple forming, which is necessary in conventional containers. As a result, the container is both radially and axially extremely well reinforced and, in addition, protected against torsion, and the manufacture and assembly of the wall and bottom elements is very simple and efficient. At the same time, the shape retaining ring 20 safeguards the radially externally and internally located circumferential seal which utilizes the bracing forces of the bracing ring to exclusively generate the sealing function but not to transmit retaining forces between the neighboring container elements. Because of the simply designed shape and the insertion of the shape retaining ring between the beaded areas, undesirable zones in which material contained in the container can be trapped are avoided in a simple fashion.
Unless already otherwise stated in the brief description of the figures, practical examples 3A through 11B below differ from the practical example shown in
The dovetailed, radially internal designs of the shape retaining rings according to
The deposition of contaminants in the seal or joint region is consistently avoided especially since the shape retaining ring has a profile that also conforms to the beading curvature, as seen in
According to
-
- 10 Multilevel container
- 10A Container level
- 10B Container level
- 10C Container level
- 10D Container level
- 10E Container level
- 10F Wall of container
- 10G Bent region
- 12A Wall element
- 12B Bottom element
- 14 Beaded end face
- 14A End face
- 14B End face
- 14C Flange
- 14D Bent region
- 14E Reinforcement bridge
- 15 Crimp
- 16 Sealing ring
- 16A Sealing ridge
- 16B Sealing ridge
- 16C Connecting bridge
- 18 Bracing ring
- 18A Bracing surface
- 20 Shape retaining ring
- 20′ Shape retaining ring
- 20″ Shape retaining ring
- 20A Shape retaining surface
- 20B Shape retaining surface
- 20C Seal mount
- 22 Bottom
- 24 Funnel
- 24′ Cyclone element
- 24″ Discharge funnel
- 24A Funnel reinforcement
- 25 Intake stub
- 25A Outlet opening
- 26 Throttle valve
- 26A Pivot bearing
- 26B Valve edge seal
- 28 Filter element
- 28A Filter plate
- 30 Vacuum pump
- 30A Suction chamber
- 30B Suction opening
- 30C Suction line
- 30D Intermediate storage chamber
The foregoing description is, at present, considered to be the preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, it is contemplated that various changes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art, may be made without departing from the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing description is intended to cover all such changes and modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the present invention, including all equivalent aspects.
Claims
1. A multilevel container comprising circumferentially continuous wall or bottom elements of sheet metal with radially outwardly beaded end faces being directed towards each other, which wall and bottom elements are disposed on top of each other on butt joints so as to seal the end faces, the multilevel container also comprising a sealing ring and a bracing component that act on neighboring end faces, and a separate and independent shape retaining ring which reinforces the container, wherein the shape retaining ring has shape retaining surfaces, the shape retaining ring being disposed between said radially outwardly beaded end faces of the neighboring wall and bottom elements, said outwardly beaded end faces of said elements being abutted directly on and tightly braced against the shape retaining surfaces of the shape retaining ring from opposite sides thereof, and that radially inside or radially outside the shape retaining ring, the sealing ring being disposed between the radially outwardly beaded end faces of the neighboring bottom or wall elements or between these end faces and the shape retaining ring.
2. The multilevel container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shape retaining ring has at least one recessed region for a seal mount.
3. The multilevel container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the seal mount defines at least one undercutting.
4. The multilevel container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the undercuttings define a dovetail profile.
5. The multilevel container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shape retaining ring includes container components selected from the group consisting of funnel elements, bottoms, filter elements, throttle elements, closing elements, reinforcement elements, and combinations thereof.
6. The multilevel container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shape-retaining ring is divided into two parts.
7. The multilevel container of claim 6, wherein the divided shape-retaining ring is adapted for mounting a component within the ring.
8. The multilevel container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the divided shape retaining ring defines at least one recess for receiving a built in component.
9. The multilevel container as claimed in claim 8 wherein the built in component is a pivot bearing.
10. A multilevel container comprising circumferentially continuous wall or bottom elements of sheet metal with radially outwardly beaded end faces being directed towards each other, which wall and bottom elements are disposed on top of each other on butt joints so as to seal the end faces, the multilevel container also comprising a sealing ring and a bracing component that act on neighboring end faces, and a separate and independent shape retaining ring which reinforces the container, wherein the shape retaining ring has shape retaining surfaces, the shape retaining ring being disposed between said radially outwardly beaded end faces of the neighboring wall and bottom elements, the elements being disposed on and tightly braced against the shape retaining surfaces of the shape retaining ring from opposite sides thereof, and that radially inside or radially outside the shape retaining ring, the sealing ring being disposed between the radially outwardly beaded end faces of the neighboring bottom or wall elements or between these end faces and the shape retaining ring wherein a minimum of one wall or bottom element has a radially externally disposed reinforcement bridge which extends approximately parallel to the wall of the container and which is disposed in one piece with the beaded end face on the radial outside of said beaded end face.
11. A multilevel container comprising:
- a first cylindrical section defining a first end and a second end, and a circumferential wall extending between the first and the second end of the first section, the first end defining a radially outwardly extending first beaded end face;
- a second cylindrical section defining a first end and a second end, and a circumferential wall at least partially extending between the first and the second end of the second section, the second end defining a radially outwardly extending second beaded end face the first and second end faces being directed towards each other;
- a shape retaining ring directly abutted between the first beaded end face and the second beaded end face, the ring defining an upper sloped face, an oppositely lower sloped face, an inner face extending between the upper and lower sloped faces, and an outer face opposite the inner face and extending between the upper and lower sloped faces;
- a sealing ring disposed along the outer face of the shape retaining ring and between the first beaded end face and the second beaded end face;
- wherein the inner face of the shape retaining ring is adapted such that accumulation of material in the container in the region of the ring is reduced.
12. The multilevel container of claim 11 further comprising:
- a bracing ring disposed around the first section and the second section and contacting the first beaded end face and the second beaded end face.
13. A multilevel container comprising:
- a first cylindrical section defining a first end and a second end, and a circumferential wall extending between the first and the second end of the first section, the first end defining a radially outwardly extending first beaded end face;
- a second cylindrical section defining a first end and a second end, and a circumferential wall at least partially extending between the first and the second end of the second section, the second end defining a radially outwardly extending second beaded end face;
- a shape retaining ring disposed between the first beaded end face and the second beaded end face, the ring defining an upper sloped face, an oppositely lower sloped face, an inner face extending between the upper and lower sloped faces, and an outer face opposite the inner face and extending between the upper and lower sloped faces;
- a sealing ring disposed along the outer face of the shape retaining ring and between the first beaded end face and the second beaded end face;
- wherein the inner face of the shape retaining ring is adapted such that accumulation of material in the container in the region of the ring is reduced and the shape retaining ring defines at least one indentation configured to receive and contact a region of the sealing ring.
14. The multilevel container of claim 11 further comprising:
- a second sealing ring disposed along the outer face of the shape retaining ring and between the first beaded end face and the second beaded end face.
15. A multilevel container comprising:
- a first cylindrical section defining a first end and a second end, and a circumferential wall extending between the first and the second end of the first section, the first end defining a radially outwardly extending first beaded end face;
- a second cylindrical section defining a first end and a second end, and a circumferential wall at least partially extending between the first and the second end of the second section, the second end defining a radially outwardly extending second beaded end face;
- a shape retaining ring disposed between the first beaded end face and the second beaded end face, the ring defining an upper sloped face, an oppositely lower sloped face, an inner face extending between the upper and lower sloped faces, and an outer face opposite the inner face and extending between the upper and lower sloped faces;
- a sealing ring disposed along the outer face of the shape retaining ring and between the first beaded end face and the second beaded end face;
- wherein the inner face of the shape retaining ring is adapted such that accumulation of material in the container in the region of the ring is reduced and the shape retaining ring includes an extension extending radially inward of at least one of the first and second cylindrical sections, the extension extending from the inner face of the shape retaining ring.
16. A multilevel container comprising:
- a first cylindrical section defining a first end and a second end, and a circumferential wall extending between the first and the second end of the first section, the first end defining a radially outwardly extending first beaded end face;
- a second cylindrical section defining a first end and a second end, and a circumferential wall at least partially extending between the first and the second end of the second section, the second end defining a radially outwardly extending second beaded end face;
- a shape retaining ring disposed between the first beaded end face and the second beaded end face, the ring defining an upper sloped face, an oppositely lower sloped face, an inner face extending between the upper and lower sloped faces, and an outer face opposite the inner face and extending between the upper and lower sloped faces;
- a sealing ring disposed along the outer face of the shape retaining ring and between the first beaded end face and the second beaded end face;
- wherein the inner face of the shape retaining ring is adapted such that accumulation of material in the container in the region of the ring is reduced and the shape retaining ring defines an undercut recess and the sealing ring includes a member extending radially inward and received by the undercut recess.
17. A multilevel container comprising:
- a first cylindrical section defining a first end and a second end, and a circumferential wall extending between the first and the second end of the first section, the first end defining a radially outwardly extending first beaded end face;
- a second cylindrical section defining a first end and a second end, and a circumferential wall at least partially extending between the first and the second end of the second section, the second end defining a radially outwardly extending second beaded end face;
- a shape retaining ring disposed between the first beaded end face and the second beaded end face, the ring defining an upper sloped face, an oppositely lower sloped face, an inner face extending between the upper and lower sloped faces, and an outer face opposite the inner face and extending between the upper and lower sloped faces;
- a sealing ring disposed along the outer face of the shape retaining ring and between the first beaded end face and the second beaded end face;
- wherein the inner face of the shape retaining ring is adapted such that accumulation of material in the container in the region of the ring is reduced and the upper sloped face of the shape retaining ring and the first beaded end face are parallel with each other.
18. A multilevel container comprising:
- a first cylindrical section defining a first end and a second end, and a circumferential wall extending between the first and the second end of the first section, the first end defining a radially outwardly extending first beaded end face;
- a second cylindrical section defining a first end and a second end, and a circumferential wall at least partially extending between the first and the second end of the second section, the second end defining a radially outwardly extending second beaded end face;
- a shape retaining ring disposed between the first beaded end face and the second beaded end face, the ring defining an upper sloped face, an oppositely lower sloped face, an inner face extending between the upper and lower sloped faces, and an outer face opposite the inner face and extending between the upper and lower sloped faces;
- a sealing ring disposed along the outer face of the shape retaining ring and between the first beaded end face and the second beaded end face;
- wherein the inner face of the shape retaining ring is adapted such that accumulation of material in the container in the region of the ring is reduced and the inner face of the shape retaining ring is substantially flush with an inner face of the circumferential wall of the first section and an inner face of the circumferential wall of the second section.
19. The multilevel container of claim 11 wherein a portion of the first beaded end face overlaps a portion of the second beaded end face.
20. The multilevel container of claim 11 wherein a gap is defined between a distal end of the first beaded end face and a distal end of the second beaded end face.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 18, 2008
Publication Date: Aug 21, 2008
Inventor: Thilo Volkmann (Soest)
Application Number: 12/148,429
International Classification: B65D 6/28 (20060101);