Introduction
[0001] The present invention relates to a keg hoist of the type comprising a lifting platform
movable up and down within a substantially vertically arranged lift shaft and having
vertically spaced apart keg receiving openings.
[0002] In this specification the term "keg" encompasses generally all forms of kegs, barrels
and drums in other words any essentially cylindrical article of relatively substantial
size as well as other non cylindrical articles with which it may be used. In this
specification, because the keg hoist can operate in reverse, the term "entrance opening"
and "exit opening" refer simply to the function of that opening when it is having
a keg delivered into it and similarly delivered out of it. However, in other circumstances,
the operation could be delivery from the exit opening rather than the entrance opening
of, for example, a hoist in a cellar. Similarly "feed" and "discharge" are terms used
in the same way.
[0003] The handling of beer kegs is not usually a problem within for example breweries because
the breweries have extensive mechanical handling equipment whether stationary or movable
such as forklift trucks which mechanical handling equipment is usually provided with
keg- embracing or engaging clamps which allow the kegs to be safely moved from place
to place. Thus moving of such kegs around, a brewery or warehouse, does not usually
involve substantial physical labour or more importantly, manhandling of the kegs by
the workers. Substantially the same considerations apply for example, with oil drums,
which are transported often from one industrial premises to another.
[0004] However, the use of mechanical handling equipment is not prevalent within the premises
of most customers of breweries, that is to say hotels, public houses and the like
establishment which very often have cellars connected by some form of chute or entrance
in a wall of the building to the exterior pavement. The placing of kegs in such cellars
leads to a considerable amount of manhandling by the staff, not alone of the particular
establishment receiving the beer kegs, but also of the driver of the lorry delivering
the beer kegs from the brewery. Indeed in many instances the driver is accompanied
by a helper and will often have some form of mechanical handling equipment which may
be quite useful in transporting the kegs from the back of a lorry trailer or container
in which they are transported to the entrance to the cellar. Thereafter the amount
of mechanical handling equipment available is slight, if not non-existent.
[0005] It is known to provide in such establishments keg hoists which are essentially lifting
platforms movable up and down within some form of substantially vertically arranged
lift shaft. They very often are not mounted within a lift-shaft, but are simply lifting
platforms such as a scissors-lift actuated platform which are movable from a position
adjacent the floor of the cellar to a position adjacent the entrance to the cellar
which as stated already, is usually on the exterior of the building such as a wall
thereof communicating with the pavement or possibly portion of the premises such as
a car park attached to the public house or hotel. The barrels are then manhandled
and rolled onto the platform and as inevitably happens accidents occur. The incidence
of back strain and accidents generally which occur in the manhandling of relatively
heavy beer kegs is substantial and has led to considerable insurance claims which
insurance claims of their nature increase the insurance premiums for the protection
of the staff of such establishments. Further, staff are becoming more and more reluctant
to carry out work where there is a likelihood of such back strain or injury occurring.
Health and Safety considerations are of the utmost importance to both employer and
employee.
[0006] There is thus a need for an improved construction of keg hoist and the present invention
is directed for providing such an improved construction of keg hoist.
Statements of Invention
[0007] According to the invention, there is provided a keg hoist of the type comprising
a lifting platform movable up and down within a substantially vertically arranged
keg retaining shaft and having vertically spaced-apart keg receiving openings characterised
in that the lifting platform comprises a pair of spaced-apart endless flexible connectors
bridged by spaced-apart support bars movable between one entrance opening and an exit
opening through the keg retaining shaft and then outside the shaft on the return.
[0008] Ideally, the shaft is formed from an open framework. The advantage of this construction
is that it is an inexpensive and relatively efficient hoist which does not have any
elaborate machinery. Indeed, it is envisaged that the hoist would not require any
electric motor or the like to operate it but could simply operate by gravity and the
use of some form of brake for delivery into a cellar while the lifting of empty kegs
out of the cellar could be carried out by any mechanically operated mechanism.
[0009] Ideally, the flexible connector comprises a drive chain led around sprocket wheels,
each support bar being connected to the drive chain by a further length of chain wrapped
around it and connected to the drive chain. It will be appreciated that the vertically
spaced-apart openings comprise a horizontal opening adjacent the uppermost part of
the shaft and a vertical opening adjacent the bottom of the shaft.
[0010] In one embodiment of the invention, adjacent the horizontal opening, there is provided
a lead-in ramp having an opening to permit the passage of a bar therethrough, across
it and down through the shaft whereby movement of the bar into and across the ramp
moves a keg towards the horizontal opening. Ideally, there is also provided a discharge
ramp adjacent the vertical opening. In this way, an efficient lead-in and lead-out
of the keg hoist will be provided.
[0011] It will be appreciated that, depending on its use, it will be appreciated that the
discharge ramp can be a lead-in ramp and vice versa.
[0012] In another embodiment of the invention, the keg hoist comprises a drive motor for
the flexible connectors, a controller for operating the drive motor and keg presence
sensors adjacent both openings. The use of a motor will save additional work.
[0013] Ideally, the controller comprises means on sensing the presence of a keg at the entrance
opening and the absence of a keg at the entrance opening indexes the drive motor to
move the keg a predetermined distance. In this latter embodiment, the controller is
preferably adapted to continue to move the keg until the presence of a keg is sensed
at the exit opening.
[0014] The invention further provides a keg hoist for mounting adjacent an opening in a
vertical wall of a cellar comprising:-
an open framework having front, rear and end sides including a plurality of uprights
interconnected by cross-members to form a substantially vertical keg retaining shaft
having an upper horizontal opening and a lower vertical opening;
a lead-in ramp adjacent the horizontal opening;
a return shaft behind the keg retaining shaft and below the lead-in ramp;
a pair of spaced-apart chains mounted on sprocket wheels, one on each end side of
the framework, and carrying substantially horizontally and transversely arranged support
bars across the end sides within the shafts;
a drive motor connected to one of the sprocket wheels;
a keg presence sensor adjacent the lead-in ramp, operatively connected to the drive
motor; and
a keg presence sensor adjacent the lower vertical opening and operatively connected
to the drive motor.
[0015] In this latter embodiment, ideally there is provided a discharge ramp adjacent the
vertical opening comprising a stationary floor engaging portion inclined downwardly
across the vertical opening to the floor and a pivotal portion spaced-apart from the
stationary portion for the passage of a bar therebetween, the pivotal portion being
movable from one inclined position substantially in line with the stationary floor
engaging portion for discharge of a keg to a vertical position for reception of a
keg.
[0016] Preferably, a releasable keg retaining door is mounted in the vertical opening.
[0017] What the invention provides is a relatively simply constructed hoist which will be
efficient in use and will obviate all the problems heretofore experienced in the handling
of kegs, for example, in public house cellars.
Detailed Description
[0018] The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an
embodiment thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a side view of a beer keg hoist according to the invention mounted against
the wall of a cellar;
Fig. 2 is a front view of the keg hoist;
Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of the keg hoist;
Fig. 4 is a side view of portion of a chain mounting a support bar according to the
invention;
Fig. 5 is a side diagrammatic view showing operation of the beer keg hoist to deliver
a keg into a cellar;
Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the hoist in use to raise a keg out of
the cellar;
Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 5 and 6 of an alternative construction of keg hoist
according to the invention;
Fig. 8 is a side view of the beer keg hoist of Fig. 1 mounted in a different type
of cellar; and
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a guide used with the beer keg hoist of Fig. 8.
[0019] Referring to the drawings, and initially to Figs. 1 to 6 thereof, there is illustrated
a keg hoist, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, mounted on a cellar floor
2 which cellar has an exterior wall 3 and an entrance hatch 4 at ground level 5. The
keg hoist 1 comprises an open framework comprising a keg retaining shaft 10 and a
return shaft 11. The keg retaining shaft 10 has vertically spaced-apart keg receiving
openings, namely, an entrance opening provided by a horizontal opening 12 and an exit
opening provided by a vertical opening 13. The framework comprises a plurality of
fixed uprights 14, 15 and horizontal cross members 16, together with a pivotal upright
17 mounted by a pivot joint 18 from a horizontal strut 19. The upright 17 is connected
at its lower end to the upright 15 by an adjustment screw 20. The uprights 15 and
17 carry sprocket wheels 21 around which are led endless flexible connectors formed
by chains 22, which chains 22 carry by a further length of chain 23, spaced-apart
support bars 25 (see Fig. 4). Drive for the endless chains 22 is by a motor 30 having
a controller 31 formed from a conventional microprocessor. Keg presence sensors 32,
33 respectively, at the horizontal opening 12 and the vertical opening 13 are provided.
A chain and an indexing sensor 34 is also provided and the sensors 32, 33, 34 are
connected to the controller 31.
[0020] A lead-in ramp 40 is provided by the framework at the hatch 4 for the horizontal
opening 12 and includes an opening to permit the passage of a support bar 25 therethrough,
across it and down through the keg retaining shaft 10. Adjacent the vertical opening
13, there is provided a discharge ramp 45 having an arcuate stationary floor engaging
portion 46 inclined downwardly across the vertical opening 13 to the cellar floor
2 and a pivotal portion 47 mounted by a pivot bar 48 on the upright 17, the pivot
bar 48 being movable by a handle 49.
[0021] Kegs are identified by the reference numeral 50 and various subscript letters in
the drawings are used to illustrate the position of the keg 50 as it travels through
the hoist and thus in the description, the reference numerals and the various subscripts
refer equally to keg position and are so referred to. The kegs 50 are not shown in
each drawing and therefore reference has to be made specifically to Figs. 1, 3 and
5. Initially, and presuming there are no other kegs in the keg hoist 1, although other
kegs are illustrated, a keg 50, identified as 50a (Fig. 5), is rolled towards the
hatch 4 to the position 50b (Fig. 3) above the keg sensor 32 and the presence of the
keg 50b then causes the controller 31 to operate the motor 30 to move the chain 22
and thus the support bar 25 against the keg 50b so as to move the keg to the position
50c (Fig. 5). The keg 50 is then moved further across the horizontal opening 12 into
it and the keg 50d now rests at the top of the keg retaining shaft (Fig. 1) where
further indexing of the motor 30 causes the keg 50 to achieve the position at 50e
(Fig. 1) and then is delivered to the position 50f in the discharge ramp 45 where
the keg 50f impinges against the pivotal portion 47 to be delivered into the floor
engaging portion 46 and then out through the vertical opening 13 onto the cellar floor
2.
[0022] It will be appreciated that the various sensors will operate to ensure that a keg
is not indexed to the next position unless it is free to do so. For example, if there
is a keg at the vertical opening 13 which has not yet been removed, then further indexing
cannot take place.
[0023] Pivoting of the upright 17 by the adjustment screw 20 allows the chains 22 to be
maintained at the correct tension.
[0024] Referring now to Fig. 6, when it is desired to lift a keg from the cellar floor 2
and deliver it out the door, the reverse operation takes place. In this case, the
keg is rolled up the discharge ramp 45 with the pivotal portion 47 lying vertical
and the keg 50g is lifted up the keg retaining shaft 10 to the position 50h, then
the keg 50h is moved across towards the hatch 4.
[0025] Referring to Fig. 7, there is illustrated an alternative construction of keg hoist,
again identified by the reference numeral 1 and similar parts are identified by the
same reference numerals. In this embodiment, there are provided two sets of chains
22 and support bars 25. In this particular construction, a barrel or keg, for example,
will be maintained not simply against the sides or vertical uprights 14, 15 of the
keg retaining shaft 10, but can be slotted between the two support bars 25. Further,
they will be particularly useful for carrying other articles such as, for example,
crates 51, as illustrated. There is also provided a gate 71 for the vertical opening
to prevent kegs 50 rolling across the cellar floor 2.
[0026] It has been found that even with crates for bottled beers, mineral waters, wines
and spirits, such as the crate 51, the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 6 operates quite easily
for the lifting of them once they are of a sufficient size to slide in the keg retaining
shaft 10.
[0027] It is envisaged that various other sensors may be positioned about the keg hoist
to prevent the jamming of the keg hoist. Ideally, the motor 31 operates to index chains
a distance sufficient to allow the keg to be moved across and through the keg retaining
shaft in an orderly manner.
[0028] In many instances, cellars project from buildings below pavements and the entrance
to the cellar is thus in the pavement. In other cases, the beer keg hoist according
to the invention might be accessible from an interior room and thus the entrance to
the beer keg hoist would be from the floor.
[0029] Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9, parts similar to those described with reference to
the previous drawings are identified by the same reference numerals, in this embodiment,
the beer keg hoist 1 is mounted again on the cellar floor 2 except that now the cellar
wall 3 extends below the pavement 80 outside an exterior wall 81 of the building in
which the cellar is housed. There is an opening 82 in the pavement 80 which opening
may be closed by a sliding hatch or as is often the case, by pivotally mounted doors
which are not illustrated. A guide frame formed from guide rails 85 having depending
spigots 86 for engagement with holes in the pavement 80 is provided to guide the kegs
50 through and into the keg hoist 1. The keg hoist 1 operates in substantially the
same way as heretofore. It will be appreciated that the keg hoist when full will present
a keg 50 at the opening in the pavement, often referred to as the cellar door, protruding
about three quarter height above pavement or street level. The keg has to be removed
before a further keg will be indexed up. The guide rail 85 can be stored within the
keg hoist 1 when not in use.
[0030] A motorised version may not always be necessary and a simple mechanical actuator
with a brake will be sufficient particularly where the delivery of heavy filled kegs
is downwards, for example, into an underground cellar or store.
[0031] It will be appreciated that the keg hoist according to the invention may be used
to store kegs, further optimising cellar space.
[0032] In the specification the terms "comprise, comprises, comprised and comprising" or
any variation thereof and the terms "include, includes, included and including" or
any variation thereof are considered to be totally interchangeable and they should
all be afforded the widest possible interpretation and vice versa.
[0033] The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described, but may be
varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the appended claims.
1. A keg hoist (1) of the type comprising a lifting platform movable up and down within
a substantially vertically arranged keg retaining shaft and having vertically spaced-apart
keg receiving openings characterised in that the lifting platform comprises a pair
of spaced-apart endless flexible connectors bridged by spaced-apart support bars (25)
movable between one entrance opening (12) and an exit opening (13) through the keg
retaining shaft (10) and then outside the shaft (10) on the return.
2. A keg hoist (1) as claimed in claim 1 in which the shaft (10) is formed from an open
framework.
3. A keg hoist (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the flexible connector comprises
a drive chain (22) led around sprocket wheels (21), each support bar being connected
to the drive chain (22) by a further length of chain (23) wrapped around it and connected
to the drive chain (22).
4. A keg hoist (1) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the vertically spaced-apart
openings comprise a horizontal opening (12) adjacent the uppermost part of the shaft
and a vertical opening (13) adjacent the bottom of the shaft.
5. A keg hoist (1) as claimed in claim 4, in which, adjacent the horizontal opening (12),
there is provided a lead-in ramp having an opening to permit the passage of a bar
therethrough, across it and down through the shaft whereby movement of the bar into
and across the ramp moves a keg towards the horizontal opening.
6. A keg hoist (1) as claimed in claims 4 or 5, in which there is provided a discharge
ramp adjacent the vertical opening.
7. A keg hoist (1) as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a drive motor (30) for
the flexible connectors, a controller (31) for operating the drive motor (30) and
keg presence sensors (32, 33) adjacent both openings (12, 13).
8. A keg hoist (1) as claimed in claim 7, in which the controller (31) includes means
on sensing the presence of a keg (30) at the entrance opening (12) and in the absence
of a keg at the entrance opening (12) indexes the drive motor (30) to move the keg
(50) a predetermined distance.
9. A keg hoist (1) as claimed in claim 8, in which the controller (31) is adapted to
continue to move the keg (50) until the presence of a keg (50) is sensed at the exit
opening (13).
10. A keg hoist (1) as claimed in any preceding claim for mounting adjacent an opening
(4) in a vertical wall (3) of a cellar comprising:-
an open framework having front, rear and end sides including a plurality of uprights
(14, 15, 17) interconnected by cross-members (16) to form a substantially vertical
keg retaining shaft (10) having an upper horizontal opening (12) and a lower vertical
opening (13);
a lead-in ramp adjacent the horizontal opening;
a return shaft (11) behind the keg retaining shaft (10) and below the lead-in ramp;
a pair of spaced-apart chains (22) mounted on sprocket wheels (21), one on each end
side of the framework, and carrying substantially horizontally and transversely arranged
support bars (25) across the end sides within the shafts (10, 11);
a drive motor (30) connected to one of the sprocket wheels (21);
a keg presence sensor (32) adjacent the lead-in ramp, operatively connected to the
drive motor (30); and
a keg presence sensor (32) adjacent the lower vertical opening (13) and operatively
connected to the drive motor (30).
11. A keg hoist (1) as claimed in claim 10, in which there is provided a discharge ramp
adjacent the vertical opening (13) comprising a stationary floor engaging portion
(45) inclined downwardly across the vertical opening (13) to the floor (2) and a pivotal
portion (47) spaced-apart from the stationary portion (45) for the passage of a bar
(25) therebetween, the pivotal portion (47) being movable from one inclined position
substantially in line with the stationary floor engaging portion (45) for discharge
of a keg (50) to a vertical position for reception of a keg (50).
12. A keg hoist (1) as claimed in claim 11, in which a releasable keg retaining gate (71)
is provided for the vertical opening (13).
13. A keg hoist (1) as claimed in any preceding claim, in which there are two sets of
flexible connectors each carrying support bars (25) and forming pairs of support bars
(25), one attached to each flexible connectors each pair of support bars (25) lying
in a substantially horizontal plane with the support bars laterally spaced-apart when
moving through the keg retaining shaft (10).