Flask

Flask, a vessel of the type of a small bottle for temporary storage and carrying of an individual supply of water or other beverages (tea, milk, wine, etc.). It is widely used in tourist practice, hunting, etc.; it is one of the items of equipment in the army. For convenience of carrying, flasks usually have a flat-oval shape. The material from which flasks are made should be as light as possible and at the same time strong; it should not enter into phys.-chem. interaction with water and other beverages; it should not change from the action of beverages and spoil their taste. For flasks supplied to the army, an important requirement is: their resistance to solutions of certain chem. agents used for water disinfection (e.g., chlorine tablets), as well as the ability to withstand the action of hot water-boiling water-for glass flasks. For making flasks, glass (best meeting san. requirements, but little practical-in strength-in conditions of army field life), enameled iron (not resistant to shocks and blows), aluminum, tinplate, brass are used. Due to their resistance, strength, and what is important, special lightness, aluminum flasks find the widest application, particularly in the army. Tinplate flasks inside must be covered with can lacquer, brass ones-tinned inside with tin containing impurities not exceeding 1%, including lead not exceeding 0.5% (OST 4731). The capacity of flasks is large-1 liter, small-³/4 liter. Glass flasks are made only in ³/₄ liter. The weight of an empty aluminum flask (together with a screw-on cap) with a capacity of 1 liter is not more than 225 g, with a capacity of ³/4 liter-not more than 183 g. The weight of tinplate and brass flasks is not standardized by the standard (OST 4731). Flasks are carried in a woolen or cloth case over the shoulder or (by commanding officers of the Red Army) on a belt. When using flasks, attention is paid to their clean content and preliminary rinsing before filling. ?81 j:<*'