Aluminum Beverage Can Base Geometry for Lightweight Pressure Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing beverage can manufacturing technologies face challenges in reducing the thickness of aluminum alloy sheets while maintaining or improving resistance to internal pressure and vertical force, as well as ensuring stability and stackability.

Innovation Solution

A beverage can design featuring a reduced dome thickness, widened lower ring, and concave deformations on the lower ring, combined with specific dimensions and geometries, enhances internal pressure resistance and axial strength.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If the thickness of the aluminum alloy sheet is reduced to decrease weight, then the weight of the beverage can is reduced, but the resistance to internal pressure and vertical force deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight of beverage canVSAvoidresistance to internal pressure and vertical force
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating non-uniform thickness distribution in the base of the beverage can. The dome-shaped base has varying thickness with thicker regions at critical stress points (center and periphery) and thinner regions in between. This localized thickness variation optimizes strength where needed while minimizing weight overall, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and strength maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs spheroidality by forming the base of the beverage can as a dome-shaped structure with specific curvature characteristics. The curved geometry of the dome base provides structural rigidity and distributes internal pressure more effectively compared to a flat base. The specific dome shape with controlled curvature radius and height creates inherent structural strength that compensates for reduced material thickness, addressing the strength deterioration issue while enabling weight reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Weight of moving object

If the thickness of the aluminum alloy sheet is reduced to decrease weight, then the weight of the beverage can is reduced, but the stability and stackability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight of beverage canVSAvoidstability and stackability
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses local quality by strategically placing thicker material at specific locations in the base that are critical for stability and stackability. The enhanced thickness at the center and periphery of the dome base provides improved load-bearing capacity and resistance to deformation during stacking, while the overall weight is still reduced compared to conventional uniform thickness designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The dome-shaped base geometry with specific curvature characteristics enhances stability and stackability by distributing compressive loads more effectively during stacking operations. The curved structure provides inherent resistance to buckling and deformation, maintaining structural integrity under stacking conditions even with reduced overall material thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Weight of moving object

If the thickness of the aluminum alloy sheet is reduced to decrease weight, then the weight of the beverage can is reduced, but the shaping and mechanical strength deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight of beverage canVSAvoidshaping and mechanical strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a non-uniform thickness profile in the base during the shaping process. The varying thickness distribution is specifically designed to maintain mechanical strength at critical locations while enabling overall weight reduction. This localized thickness control allows the forming process to achieve the desired shape with improved mechanical properties despite using thinner material overall.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design maintains or improves resistance to internal pressure and vertical force, allowing for a 2-15% weight reduction while ensuring stability and stackability, achieving tipping pressures and axial resistances comparable to conventional cans.

Implementation Method 1

A first linear stage, called stage I on the curve of the Figure 2, corresponds to an elastic deformation characterized by a slight swelling of the dome and a rotation of the oblique edge

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

A second linear stage, called stage II on the curve of the Figure 2, corresponds to the beginning of plastic deformation of the dome

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3969380B1Lightweight beverage can made from aluminum alloy
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 CONSTELLIUM NEUF BRISACH SAS
  • EP3969380B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3969380B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3969380B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a beverage can on the basis of an aluminum alloy, preferably for a carbonated drink, comprising: - a body (6) having a cylindrical shape and an outer diameter D1; - a concave dome-shaped bottom (1) having a depth H1 at its center, an outer diameter D3 and a rectilinear part (2) having a height H3; - a convex lower ring (7) having a bearing diameter D2 and a flat surface with a width L2; - an outer shoulder (5) of radius R1; - a comb (4) connecting the outer shoulder (5) and the lower ring (7). The invention is characterized in that the thickness of the sheet of the dome is from 180 to 230 μm, preferably from 190 to 220 μm; and in that the outer diameter D3 of the concave dome (1) is from 36 to 44 mm, preferably from 37 to 43 mm; and in that the width of the lower ring L4 is from 3 to 4.5 mm, preferably from 3.3 to 4 mm; and in that the lower ring has concave deformations (8) which are distributed at regular intervals along the lower ring (7).