Multilevel sheet metal container with outwardly beaded end faces

Abstract

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.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A multilevel container comprising circumferentially continuous wall or bottom elements of sheet metal with radially outwardly beaded end faces, 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 in the region 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, 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 . The multilevel container as claimed in  claim 1 , 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;    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.    
     
     
         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 . The multilevel container of  claim 11  wherein 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 . The multilevel container of  claim 11  wherein 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 . The multilevel container of  claim 11  wherein 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 . The multilevel container of  claim 11  wherein the upper sloped face of the shape retaining ring and the first beaded end face are parallel with each other.  
     
     
         18 . The multilevel container of  claim 11  wherein 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.