REUSABLE STAINLESS STEEL BOTTLE FOR TRANSPORTING AND STORING LIQUIDS AND A METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THEREOF

Abstract

A reusable stainless steel bottle for transporting and storing of liquids has a cylindrical shape and includes the following components: an upper cylindrical portion (1) and a neck (3) connected thereto, and a lower cylindrical portion (2), wherein all the components of the bottle are connected with each other with weld seams (4, 6), and at least one of the weld seams (4, 6) forms a reinforcing rib.

Claims

1. A reusable stainless steel bottle for transporting and storing liquids, which has a cylindrical shape and includes the following components: an upper cylindrical portion and a neck connected thereto, a lower cylindrical portion, characterized in that all the components of the bottle are connected with each other with weld seams, and at least one of the weld seams forms a reinforcing rib.

2. The bottle according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing rib is formed by the weld seam, which connects the upper cylindrical portion and the lower cylindrical portion.

3. The bottle according to claim 1, wherein the neck is intended to be used at the automated potable water filling line and subsequent closure of bottles with a standard plug, and the subsequent use of the bottle along with a water cooler or with pumps of various designs.

4. The bottle according to claim 1, wherein the neck is provided with a thread for screwing-on a cap or a threaded cover.

5. The bottle according to claim 1, wherein the internal surface of the bottle is smooth without substantial protrusions and depressions.

6. The bottle according to claim 1, wherein the bottle includes an additional reinforcing rib in the place of connection of the neck with the upper cylindrical portion.

7. The bottle according to claim 1, wherein the bottle is intended for transporting and storing liquids selected from the group including potable water, soft drinks, juices, wine, beer and milk,

8. The bottle according to claim 7, wherein the liquid is potable water.

9. A method for production of the reusable bottle according to claim 1, the method includes the following steps; forming round flat workpieces from thin sheet stainless steel; production from the round flat workpieces of the lower cylindrical portion and the upper cylindrical portion by die stamping (cold-drawing); forming shaped edges at the places of future connection of the upper cylindrical portion with the lower cylindrical portion; forming an opening for the neck in the upper cylindrical portion; forming a neck from a cylindrical tube; connection of the neck with the upper cylindrical portion by welding; polishing the upper cylindrical portion and the lower cylindrical portion bottle from inside, characterized in that the shaped edges in the upper cylindrical portion and the lower cylindrical portion of the bottle are connected by welding, thereby forming the reinforcing rib.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein an additional reinforcing rib is formed in the place of connection of the neck with the upper cylindrical portion.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the outer surface of the bottle is subjected to polishing.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the neck is made compatible for the use at the automated potable water filling line, with the subsequent closure of bottles, and the subsequent use in water coolers or with a pump.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein a thread is formed on the neck for screwing-on a cap or a cover.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein stainless steel of 0.2 mm to 2.0 mm in thickness is used for production of the bottle.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the welding type selected from the group consisting of MIG/MAG, TIG, laser-beam weld and MMA is used for welding the components of the bottle together.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein TIG argon arc welding is used for welding the components of the bottle together.

17. A reusable stainless steel bottle for transporting and storing liquids, which has a cylindrical shape and includes the following components: an upper portion and a neck connected thereto, a middle cylindrical portion, a lower portion, characterized in that all the components of the bottle are connected with each other with weld seams, and the vertical weld seam on the middle cylindrical portion forms a reinforcing rib.

18. The bottle according to claim 17, wherein the neck is intended to be used at the automated potable water filling line and subsequent closure of bottles with a standard plug, and the subsequent use of the bottle along with a water cooler or with pumps of various designs.

19. The bottle according to claim 17, wherein the neck is provided with a thread for screwing-on a cap or a threaded cover.

20. The bottle according to claim 17, wherein the internal surface of the bottle is smooth without substantial protrusions and depressions.

21. The bottle according to claim 17, wherein the bottle is intended for transporting and storing liquids selected from the group including potable water, soft drinks, juices, wine, beer and milk.

22. The bottle according to claim 21, wherein the liquid is potable water.

Description

[0043] For better understanding of the invention, the following drawings are provided.

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a general view of the reusable stainless steel bottle manufactured according to the invention.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a general view of the upper cylindrical portion with a formed shaped edge at the place of joint of the upper cylindrical portion with the lower cylindrical portion prior to the procedure of their welding.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a general view of the lower cylindrical portion with the formed shaped edge at the place of joint of the upper cylindrical portion with the lower cylindrical portion prior to the procedure of their welding.

[0047] FIG. 4 shows a general exploded view of elements of the reusable stainless steel bottle manufactured according to the second embodiment.

[0048] FIG. 1 shows the reusable stainless steel bottle composed of the upper cylindrical portion 1, which represents a hollow cylinder whose upper portion in this embodiment smoothly transitions into a truncated conical apex of the lower cylindrical portion 2 and the neck 3. In another embodiment, the surface of the upper portion may be flat. The upper cylindrical portion 1 and the lower cylindrical portion 2 are connected with each other by a weld seam at the place of joint of shaped edges of the upper cylindrical portion 1 and the lower cylindrical portion 2 with formation of a reinforcing rib 4. FIG. 2 shows the shaped edge 5a in the upper cylindrical portion 1. FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of the shaped edge 5b on the lower cylindrical portion 2.

[0049] The claimed reusable stainless steel bottle is manufactured using the following process.

[0050] Two round workpieces are formed, for example, from flat sheet AISI 304 grade stainless steel 0.2-2.0 mm thick. It should be noted that, in order to decrease the bottle's weight, it is preferable to use stainless steel as thin as possible. From one round flat workpiece, the lower cylindrical portion 2 is formed by die stamping (cold-drawing). Using the subsequent stamping operation the shaped edge 5b for future welding is formed on the lower cylindrical portion 2. The inner surface of the lower cylindrical portion 2 is subjected to polishing. Using a trimmer die excess metal around the edge is removed. The lower cylindrical portion 2 is subjected to flushing out. The upper portion 1 is formed from the second round flat workpiece by die stamping, said portion having a cylindrical shape that transitions into a conical shape. Using the subsequent stamping operation at the bottom of the upper cylindrical portion 1, the shaped edge 5a for future welding is formed, which by its size and shape represents a mirror reflection of the edge on the lower cylindrical portion 2. Using a trimmer die, an opening corresponding to the size of the neck is cut out in the upper cylindrical portion 1 with a conical top. In order to connect the components of the bottle with one another, it is preferable to use welding, in particular, MIG/MAG, TIG, laser-beam weld and MMA, or any other type of welding suitable for welding of stainless steel components. T.I.G. (tungsten inert gas) is considered as the best type of welding. Welding units developed by the authors of the invention provide for: A. Precise centering the place of connection of the neck to the upper cylindrical portion and their welding together. B. Precise centering and welding the shaped edges of the upper cylindrical portion 1 and the lower cylindrical portion 2. In the process of welding the components of the bottle, the speed of rotational movement of connected and centered upper cylindrical 1 and lower cylindrical 2 portions about their axes, the current frequency and the welding arc power are adjusted experimentally. In the process, argon gas is supplied to the place of connection, both from the outside and from the inside. Such welding technique provides for a sufficient surface finish class of the inner seam. Welded shaped edges of the upper cylindrical 1 and the lower cylindrical 2 portions, along with the welding seam forming the reinforcing rib 4 of the claimed bottle. The inner surface of the upper cylindrical portion 1 and the place of welding are subjected to polishing from inside. Excess metal around edges is removed prior to welding.

[0051] The neck 3 is manufactured from a cylindrical tube by machine turning of the surface. The welded upper and lower portions, together with the neck, are subjected to flushing out. A semiautomated machine designed by the authors of the invention, and intended for tight pressing and ideal centering the upper cylindrical portion 1, together with the neck and the lower cylindrical portion 2, provides for their uniform rotation and welding with simultaneous formation of the reinforcing rib. Such design has no counterparts in the field of manufacture of articles from thin sheet stainless steel, therefore, the present method and the bottle manufactured using it have substantial features of novelty. According to one of the embodiments, an additional reinforcing rib 6 is formed in the place of connection of the neck 3 with the upper cylindrical portion 1 by means of a weld seam. Thereafter, polishing of the outer surface of the bottle is carried out.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a general view of the upper cylindrical portion with a formed shaped edge 5a at the place of joint of the upper cylindrical portion 1 with the lower cylindrical portion prior to the procedure of their welding.

[0053] FIG. 3 shows a general view of the lower cylindrical portion 2 with the formed shaped edge 5b at the place of joint of the upper cylindrical portion with the lower cylindrical portion prior to the procedure of their welding.

[0054] The reusable stainless steel bottle according to the second embodiment of the invention in exploded view is shown in FIG. 4. The bottle includes a neck 3, an upper portion 7, which in this embodiment has a conical shape, a middle cylindrical portion 8, and a lower portion 9, which in this embodiment has a cup shape. All elements of the bottle are connected with each other with weld seams. The upper portion 7 and the lower portion 9 are manufactured by die stamping, while the middle cylindrical portion 8 is manufactured by rolling workpieces from a rectangular sheet of stainless steel and welding with a vertical weld seam forming a reinforcing rib 10.

[0055] The bottle shown in FIG. 4 is manufactured as follows.

[0056] The upper 7 and the lower 9 portions are made from thin sheet stainless steel 0.2-2.0 mm thick by die stamping from round workpieces prepared with the use of a trimmer die. In the process, a round opening having dimensions that correspond to the external diameter of the neck is formed in the upper workpiece using the trimmer die. The middle cylindrical portion 8 is also manufactured from a rectangular sheet of stainless steel having appropriate dimensions by preliminary rolling and the subsequent welding using an argon arc welding device or a laser device with a vertical weld seam, which also functions as a reinforcing rib 10. The neck 3 is made from a tubular workpiece of stainless steel by machine turning of its surface, with formation of necessary grooves and the appropriate upper edge to be compatible with a cap for automated closure at the filling line for liquids, for example, water. To prepare all four components they are connected with each other by welding. So, the neck 3 is welded to the upper portion 7 and then the lower portion 9 and the upper portion 7 together with the neck 3 are welded to the middle cylindrical portion 8. Thereafter, the weld seams are thoroughly polished.