Container having a lubricant and method for the production thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a container (10, 20) having a lubricant, in particular engine oil or transmission oil, comprising a canister (11, 21), which has a connection piece (13), onto which a cover (1) is screwed, wherein the cover (1) is welded to the canister (11, 21) at the connection piece (13) and a closure element (30) to be opened is provided on the canister (11, 21) or the cover (1), via which the lubricant can be poured out of the container (10, 20). As a result, the cover (1) can be reliably sealed on the canister (11, 21). The invention also relates to a method for producing a container (10, 20) filled with a fluid.

Description

[0001] Container containing a lubricant and method for its production

[0002] The present invention relates to a container with a lubricant, in particular engine or transmission oil, comprising a canister which has a nozzle onto which a lid is screwed.

[0003] German patent DE 298 12013 U1 discloses an oil canister that can be closed at a spout via a screw-on canister lid. The canister lid is screwed onto the thread of a connector, which is itself screwed into a spout of the oil canister. This allows the connector to be rotated to secure a protruding, smaller-diameter oil tube to the spout for pouring. Handling the connector before pouring is relatively cumbersome. Furthermore, screw connections are often not leak-proof. Pouring oil from the large-diameter spout without an oil tube cannot be done with the required accuracy.

[0004] DE 2356222 A1 discloses a canister with a multi-part closure device in which a sleeve is screwed onto a spout and sealed by a protective cap. The closure device is sealed by several sealing rings.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a container with a lubricant and a method for manufacturing a container filled with a lubricant that has improved sealing properties. Furthermore, the materially bonded canister, with a lid that can only be opened by destruction, is to be protected from refilling.

[0006] This problem is solved with a container having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 10.

[0007] The container according to the invention, containing a lubricant, in particular engine or transmission oil, comprises a canister with a spout onto which a lid is screwed. The lid is welded to the spout of the canister, and an openable closure element is provided on the canister or the lid, through which the liquid can be poured from the container. This allows the spout to be used for filling the canister, which, due to its relatively large cross-section, enables efficient filling. By screwing on the lid and subsequently welding it, a reliable seal between the lid and the canister is achieved, whereby the lid cannot be removed from the canister without damage due to the bonded connection. For pouring the liquid, an additional closure element is provided on the canister or the lid, which is optimized for the requirements of pouring.

[0008] Preferably, a continuous weld seam, for example in the form of a ring or frame, is formed between the lid and the canister. The weld seam is preferably located on an end face of the spout to ensure a reliable seal. For efficient manufacturing, the lid can be fixed to the spout via a weld seam produced using a laser welding process.

[0009] The cover preferably includes an annular recess between an outer wall and an annular web, into which one end of the nozzle is inserted. If the end of the nozzle is fixed, in particular by a weld at the axial end of the nozzle, the materials of the cover and the nozzle can fuse together in this area.

[0010] The canister and the lid are preferably made of plastic, although several different plastics may be used on the lid and / or the canister.

[0011] The sealing element preferably comprises a plug screwed into the lid. The sealing element thus closes an opening smaller than the lid, preferably at least 30% smaller, so that pouring after removing the sealing element is simplified via the smaller opening or an oil tube with a smaller diameter than the spout. The sealing element can optionally be connected to the rest of the lid via one or more predetermined breaking points. Furthermore, the lid can optionally have handles or tabs to facilitate opening the sealing element. The sealing element can also be connected to a pouring spout or other guide element.

[0012] For efficient manufacturing, the lid can be at least partially transparent or translucent. The lid can then be welded to the canister's spout using a laser welding process. Preferably, the canister has a filling volume between 0.5 l and 20 l, particularly 0.8 l to 10 l, and is filled with motor oil.

[0013] In the inventive method for manufacturing a container filled with a lubricant, in particular motor oil, a canister is filled with the lubricant. A nozzle on the canister can be used for this purpose. A lid is then screwed onto the nozzle of the canister to seal the container filled with lubricant. The lid is then welded to the nozzle of the sealed container. This creates a metallurgical bond between the lid and the nozzle, reliably sealing the container. An additional closure element on the canister or the lid can be opened for pouring the lubricant, thus achieving improved handling in efficient manufacturing.

[0014] Preferably, the lid is fixed to an axial end face of the nozzle by means of a circumferential weld seam produced by laser welding. This circumferential, particularly annular, weld seam is obtained by fusing the contact surfaces of the nozzle with the lid. Welding the lid can preferably be carried out during a conveying movement of the container, so that the manufacturing costs are only minimally affected by the welding process. The welding process can, for example, be completed within a time period of between 2 and 6 seconds.

[0015] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to two exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. These show:

[0016] Figures 1A and 1B show two views of a canister for a container according to the invention;

[0017] Figures 2A and 2B show two views of a modified canister for a container according to the invention;

[0018] Figures 3A to 3C show several views of a lid for a container according to the invention, and

[0019] Figure 4 shows a cutaway detail view of the lid on a

[0020] Spigot. Figures 1A and 1B show a container 10 without a lid, comprising a canister 11 that can be placed on a base 12 against a surface. A spigot 13 is provided on the side opposite the base 12, having an external thread 14. Adjacent to the external thread 14, the spigot 13 includes a tubular end 15 with an axial end face 16. The spigot 13 can, for example, have a diameter between 30 mm and 60 mm, particularly 35 mm and 50 mm, so that the canister 11 can be effectively filled with a lubricant, in particular engine oil or gear oil. The canister 11 is preferably made of plastic and can have locking projections 17 on the spigot 13 to secure a lid, allowing the lid to be actuated in only one direction. Furthermore, markings 18 can be provided on the canister 11.

[0021] Figures 2A and 2B show a modified canister 21 for a container 20, which has a base 22. A nozzle 13 is provided in an upper area, designed like that of the canister 11. The nozzle 13 is formed on a lateral section 24 of the canister 21 and is adjacent to a handle section 23.

[0022] The two canisters 11 and 21 are preferably made of plastic.

[0023] Figures 3A to 3C show a cover 1 that can be screwed onto a nozzle 13. The cover 1 is hood-shaped and includes an annular side wall 2, which is provided with an internal thread 4 on its inner circumference. The side wall 2 is closed at a top 3 and includes a releasable locking element 30. The outer circumference of the side wall 2 can be profiled, for example, with ribbing, or made of materials with different elasticities.

[0024] As can be seen from the sectional view in Figure 3C, the lid 1 has an annular recess 25, which is formed by an outer wall 5 as part of the side wall 2, as well as an annular web 6 and a connecting web 7 between the outer wall 5 and the annular web 6. A free end of the nozzle 13 can be inserted into this U-shaped recess.

[0025] The cover 1 further comprises an annular holder 8 with an internal thread 9 into which an external thread 32 of the closure element 30 is screwed. The external thread 32 is formed on a ring 31, which is connected to a cover of the closure element 30 via several reinforcing ribs 33.

[0026] To open the closure element 30, one or more lugs 34 on an upper surface of the closure element can be lifted and grasped to rotate the closure element 30 relative to the lid 1, thus unscrewing the external thread 32 of the closure element 30 from the internal thread 9 of the lid 1. The pouring opening in the lid 1 covered by the closure element 30 is preferably at least 30% smaller than the opening in the spout 13 of the canister 11 or 21.

[0027] To manufacture a container for a lubricant, the canister 11 or 21 is filled with a lubricant, in particular motor oil. The filling volume can be between 0.5 l and 20 l, in particular 0.8 l and 10 l. After filling the canister 11 or 21, the lid 1 is screwed on, with the internal thread 4 being screwed onto the external thread 14 of the nozzle 13, until one end 15 of the nozzle is arranged in the receptacle 25 and in particular the end face 16 of the end 15 rests against the connecting rib 7, as shown in Figure 4.

[0028] With the container 10 or 20 filled and closed, the lid 1 is welded to tightly connect the end 15 of the nozzle 13 to the lid 1. A laser welding machine with a laser between 200 W and 400 W can be used for this purpose. The welding can optionally be performed while the filled container 10 or 20 is being conveyed. The welding takes place through the lid 1, which can be transparent or translucent at the relevant points. During welding, the end 15 of the nozzle fuses in an annular weld seam with the connecting web 7 and optionally also with the web 6 and the outer wall 5.

[0029] To open the container 10 or 20, the sealing element 30 is removed from the lid 1, and the lubricant, in particular the engine oil, can thus be poured out of the container or 20.

[0030] In the illustrated embodiment, the lid 1 is provided with an opening closure element 30. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible to provide an opening closure element 30 on the canister 11 or 21, through which the lubricant can be poured from the container 10 or 20. Reference numeral list

[0031] 1 lid

[0032] 2 side wall

[0033] 3 Top

[0034] 4 internal threads

[0035] 5 Exterior wall

[0036] 6 Bridge

[0037] 7 Connecting bridge

[0038] 8 holders

[0039] 9 internal threads

[0040] 10 containers

[0041] 11 canisters

[0042] 12 Floor

[0043] 13 stubs

[0044] 14 external threads

[0045] 15 End

[0046] 16 Front

[0047] 17 Rastvorsprung

[0048] 18 Marking

[0049] 20 containers

[0050] 21 canisters

[0051] 22 Floor

[0052] 23 Handle section

[0053] Section 24

[0054] 25 recording

[0055] 30 locking element

[0056] 31 Ring

[0057] 32 external threads

[0058] 33 Reinforcement bridge

[0059] 34 Bridge

Claims

- 8 - Claims 1. Container (10, 20) containing a lubricant, in particular engine oil or gear oil, comprising a canister (11, 21) having a nozzle (13) onto which a lid (1) is screwed, characterized in that the lid (1) is welded to the nozzle (13) of the canister (11, 21) and an opening closure element (30) is provided on the canister (11, 21) or the lid (1) through which the lubricant can be poured out of the container (10, 20).

2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that a circumferential weld seam is formed between the lid (1) and the canister (11, 21).

3. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the weld seam is provided on an end face (16) of the nozzle (13).

4. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid (1) is fixed to the nozzle (13) via a weld seam produced by a laser welding process.

5. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an annular receptacle (25) is formed on the lid (1) between an outer wall (5) and an annular web (6), into which an end (15) of the nozzle (13) is inserted.

6. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the canister (11, 21) and the lid (1) are made of plastic.

7. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure element (30) comprises a plug screwed into the lid (1).

8. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid (1) is at least partially transparent or translucent. - 9 - 9. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the canister (11, 21) has a filling volume between 0.5 I to 20 I, in particular 0.8 I to 10 I.

10. Method for producing a container filled with a lubricant (10, 20) comprising the following steps: - Filling a canister (11 , 21 ) with a lubricant; - Screwing a lid (1 ) onto a nozzle (13) of the canister (11 , 21 ) to close the container (10, 20) filled with the lubricant, and - Welding the cover (1) to the nozzle (13).

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the cover (1) is fixed to an axial end face (16) of the nozzle (13) via a circumferential weld seam produced in a laser welding process.

12. Method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the welding of the lid takes place during a conveying movement of the container (10, 20).

13. Method according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the welding takes place within a time period of between 2 s and 6 s.

14. Method according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that motor oil is filled into the canister (11, 21) as a lubricant.

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