IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF METAL CASKS, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF METAL CASKS, AND
IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF."-A com-
munication from abroad by Samuel Jefferson Seely, of Brooklyn, and
Edmund Brown Bulkley, of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 14th July 1863, and dated the 6th March 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 6th March 1863.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF METAL CASKS,
AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF," to be as
follows:-
This Invention of improvements in the construction of metal casks consists
in the manufacture of such casks of sheet iron, and of cylindrical form, having
their external convex surfaces formed with circumferential corrugations
extending in a continuous series from one chime thereof to the other, in
such a manner that the salient corrugations of one cask shall fit the re-entering
corrugations of another of the same pattern arranged side by side with and
close to it, so that a rank or tier of such casks shall interlock firmly with each

page_text: Otic and pack closely toge, and so faciat en stage on board
or elsewhere.
Also in the insertion within a cask having its exterior formed of sheet
metal, corrugated, as above specified, of a plain internal or lining cylinder
made to fit snugly and tightly to the external cylinder, and secured thereto at
the chime. Also in the manufacture of a cask of sheet metal with its heads
sufficiently concave externally and convex internally to prevent them from
being bent outward by the internal pressure of the fluid that may be contained
therein, and with flanges bent at nearly right angles to their respective
surfaces, and so shaped as to be readily fitted and rivetted, or otherwise
secured to the chimes of the cask.
Also in the construction of the head of a sheet metal cask of the flanged,
concavo-convex form above specified of a diameter larger than the interior
of the chime of the cask, and in combination with this a groove or corrugation
is made in the chime, so that when the head is sprung into the cask it shall
find a firm shoulder, and make a closer joint when any pressure is brought
against its interior.
Also in strengthening the chimes of sheet metal casks by shrinking metal
hoops upon their exteriors, such hoop by being rivetted through the chimes also
aiding to secure the heads in place.
Also in the use of a double hoop, so constructed and applied as to lap over
the chime of a sheet metal cask, and surround the exterior of the chime, as
well as to line the flange of the head. These metal hoops are rivetted through
the chime and flange, thus serving both to strengthen the chime and to aid in
securing the head.
Also in the construction of the bung-hole of a cylindrical corrugated cask
with inside and outside supporting rings or cheeks fitted to the corrugations of
the body of the cask, and attached together by bolts, or otherwise. Also
in constructing the bung of a cylindrical sheet metal cask, having its bung-
hole in its peripherical surface, so that it will be somewhat depressed beneath
the outside supporting ring or cheeks surrounding the hole, and thereby
protected by such ring or cheeks when the cask is rolled over an even surface.
That part of the Invention relating to improvements in machinery employed
in the manufacture of metallic casks consists of various mechanical arrange-
ments whereby the corrugated sheets of metal may be bent into the form of
cylinders to form the bodies of the casks. This part of the Invention consists
in the combination of four circumferentially corrugated rollers, arranged in
such manner that their corrugations will fit into each other. These rollers
are driven from a central shaft, so as to bend simultaneously but separately

page_text: into the form of circumferentially corrugated cylinders two corrugated sheets
of metal which are passed between them. Two of the rollers upon which the
cylinders are formed are with their bearings movable, in such manner as to
permit of the removal of the cylinders from the machine when they have been
formed or bent up into the required shape. Portions of the several rollers are
also adjustable upon their shafts, for the
different lengths. The ends of the rollers are also made of suitable shape or
figure to form the chimes of the casks.
purpose of forming cylinders of
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 5th September 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Edward Newton, Her special license that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an.
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF METAL CASKS, AND IN.
THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF," being a com-
munication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the

page_text: following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention of improvements in the construction of metal casks consists
in the manufacture of such casks of sheet iron, and of cylindrical form,
having their external convex surfaces formed with circumferential corrugations
extending in a continuous series from one chine thereof to the other, in such
a manner that the salient corrugations of one cask shall fit the re-entering
corrugations of another of the same pattern arranged side by side with and
close to it, so that a rank or tier of such casks shall interlock firmly with each
other, and pack closely together, and so facilitate their stowage on board ship
or elsewhere.
The Invention further consists in the insertion within a cask, having its
exterior formed of sheet metal corrugated as above specified, of a plain internal
or lining cylinder, made to fit snugly and tightly to the external cylinder, and
secured thereto at the chine. Also in the manufacture of a cask of sheet
metal with its head sufficiently concave externally, and convex internally to
prevent them from being bent outward by the internal pressure of the fluid
that may be contained therein, and with flanges bent at nearly right angles to
their respective surfaces, and so shaped as to be readily fitted and rivetted, or
otherwise secured to the chines of the cask.
The Invention further consists in the construction of the head of a sheet
metal cask of the flanged concavo-convex form above specified, of a diameter
larger than the interior of the chine of the cask, and in combination with this
a groove or corrugation is made in the chine so that when the head is sprung
into the cask it shall find a firm shoulder, and make a closer joint when any
pressure is brought against its interior.
Another improvement consists in strengthening the chines of sheet metal
casks by shrinking metal hoops upon their exteriors, such hoops (by being
rivetted through the chines) also aiding to secure the heads in place.
Another improvement consists in the use of a double hoop so constructed
and applied as to lap over the cbine of a sheet metal cask, and surround the
exterior of the chine as well as to line the flange of the head. These metal
boops are rivetted through the chine and flange, thus serving both to strengthen
the chine, and to aid in securing the head.
.
The construction of the bung-hole constitutes the next improvement as
applied to a cylindrical corrugated cask, with inside and outside supporting
rings or cheeks fitted to the corrugations of the body of the cask, and attached
together by bolts or otherwise. The bung of the cylindrical sheet metal cask
having its bung-hole in its peripherical surface is so constructed that it will be

page_text: somewhat depressed beneath the outside supporting ring or cheeks surrounding
the hole, and be thereby protected by such ring or cheeks when the cask is
rolled over an even surface.
.
The several improvements herein-above mentioned are all illustrated in
Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top view of a
corrugated cylindrical cask; Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section
of the same; Fig. 3 is an end view of the same; Figs. 4, 5, and 6, are sec-
tional views of the ends of casks exhibiting modifications of the Invention;
Figs. 7 and 8 are central sections through the bung and bung-hole drawn on
a larger scale than the other figures; and Fig. 9 is a side view of a cask
illustrating a modification of the system of corrugation.
The casks are manufactured as follows:-The external cylindrical portion a
or body of the cask is formed of sheet metal corrugated transversely, the cor-
rugations extending in a continued series from one chine of the cask to the
other as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet I. This metal sheet a is bent into a
cylindrical form of the proper dimensions by the machine herein-after described,
the ends being firmly fastened together by being soldered or rivetted, and
cemented, or in any other way that shall render the connection perfectly tight
and strong. The corrugations are so shaped that the salient corrugations of
one cask shall fit the re-entering corrugations of another cask of the same
pattern when placed side by side, or when the one is placed above the other,
and the head of one cask will project beyond that of the one contiguous to it
by half the breadth of one corrugation, but with this slight variation the casks
will firmly interlock with each other, and stand ranged in regular ranks either
longitudinally or vertically, and the irregularities of one rank or tier can be
made to fit into those of the contiguous rank or tier, so that all the space will
be occupied, and this very irregularity will form a kind of breaking of joints
between the different ranks or tiers of casks so as to add to their compact-
ness, and to bind them more firmly together, thus avoiding the shifting of the
cargo aboard ship in a storm. The cylindrical form of the cask avoids the
necessity of dunnage which is always necessary where casks are constructed in
the ordinary way with a bilge. It also gives much more space in stowage as
there is less waste space when the casks are made cylindrical or of equal size
from end to end. An internal cylinder b of plain sheet metal is then formed,
which is bent into shape, and soldered or cemented as above mentioned, and
made of such diameter that it shall fit snug and tight into the external cor-
rugated cylinder as aforesaid. This internal lining cylinder b may sometimes
be dispensed with as represented in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, though in most cases
it is better to retain it, as the cask is thereby greatly strengthened, and is

page_text: also much more readily emptied of its contents. The external cylinder a may
be constructed of sheet iron about No. 20 in thickness for a cask, which
is to contain forty gallons, and heavier or lighter for casks of other sizes in
proportion to their dimensions. Galvanized iron is preferable, as the material
from which the internal or lining cylinder 6 is to be constructed, as it is less
likely to affect or be affected by the contents of the cask than most other
metals, except such as are too expensive for ordinary use. It may be made
of much lighter sheets than is requisite for the external cylinder, even tin
plate of the ordinary thickness answers a very good purpose in many cases.
The sides of the cask having now been formed, the heads c, c, are to be put
in. These are made of the concavo-convex form shown in Figs. 2, 4, 5,
and 6, and are inserted with the convex side inward to enable them to sustain
the pressure from within. They may also be corrugated, though it is not
thought necessary to corrugate them at all, as a plain concavo-convex form is
considered preferable, as being more convenient, less expensive, and suffi-
ciently strong. When an internal lining cylinder 6 is used for the body of the
cask, the head should be made of a similar material, or else it should have an
internal lining of such material, in order that the contents of the cask should
come in contact with the same metal at the ends as on the sides. These
heads care constructed with a flange d, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, 5, and 6,
which are to be rivetted and soldered, or cemented, or otherwise packed tightly
to the chines of the cylinders forming the sides of the cask. The angle of the
flange d may be enlarged so as to form a shoulder, as at e (Fig. 2), which
must not be so large as to prevent the head c from being sprung into the end
of the cylinder of the cask, and this enlargement is received with an inden-
tation or croze f, formed within the chine. Or, instead of the flange being
enlarged at the angle, it may be enlarged further out to produce a ridge, as
shown at g in Fig. 6, to be sprung into a corresponding groove or croze in the
chine, or the shoulder e and ridge g may both be used, and when great care
to prevent leakage is required a twine may be inserted in the croze which
receives the ridge g. The flange and chine may be rivetted together on each
side of the ridge g. The heads of the casks may be strengthened by lining
rings h, Figs. 2 and 6, having bevilled inner surfaces, and extending entirely
around the chines, to which they may be rivetted or otherwise attached. A
good way of securing the heads is to apply a band i outside of the chine, as
shown in Fig. 4, and rivet through the band the chine and the flange d of the
head by rivets j,j. This band is made with its interior slightly smaller than
the exterior of the chine, so that by heating it may be expanded sufficiently
to enable it to slip over the chine easily, and after being put on hot it shrinks

page_text: tight upon the chine in cooling. This band greatly stiffens and strengthens
the chine of the cask, as does the double band k, shown in Fig. 5, which
encircles the chine and lines the flange d of the head. The band k is rivetted
to the chine and head flange by rivets l, l.
The construction of the bung-hole when made in the body of the cask is
shown in Fig. 2, and on a larger scale in Figs. 7 and 8, which are central
sectional views. Fig. 7 represents the bung-hole of a corrugated cylindrical
cask, baving a lining 6, and Fig. 8 that of a similar cask without a lining. It
is composed of two metal rings m and n, one applied inside and the other
outside, and secured together by rivets or bolts p, p, the bung 9 being screwed
into the tapped interior of one of the rings. The rings are so constructed as
to fit the corrugations or the external and internal surfaces of the cask as far
they extend. The external ring m should be made almost flush with the
external surface of the cask, so that in rolling the cask there will be scarcely
any jar or jolt produced by rolling over the bung-hole. The bung itself is
depressed somewhat below the cheeks of this external ring, so as to be pro-
tected by the latter from coming in contact with the surface over which the
cask may be rolled. The bung and bung-hole are made slightly taper, so that
the bung can be more easily removed, and prevented from being made fast in
the bung-hole in consequence of an external blow, or of the gummy or gluey
nature of the contents of the cask. In some casks the bung-hole may be in
one of the heads; Fig. 4 represents this arrangement of the bung-hole. In
this arrangement the inner and outer rings m' and n¹ are screwed together,
and the bung q¹ screwed into the hole in the same manner as herein-above
described with reference to the bung-hole in the body of the cask. Fig. 4
also represents a vent plug r, applied in the head in the same way as the
bung 9. Instead of corrugating the sheet metal of which the body of the cask
is made with salient and re-entering corrugations of corresponding form, it
may be corrugated in such manner as to produce on the exterior salient cor-
rugations of half-round form with intermediate plain cylindrical surfaces, as
shown in Fig. 9.
That part of the Invention relating to improvements in machinery employed
in the manufacture of metallic casks relates to machinery by which the cor-
rugated sheets of metal are bent into the form of cylinders to form the bodies
of the casks.
The improvements consist in the combination in a machine of four circum-
ferentially corrugated rollers, arranged in such a manner that their corru-
gations will fit into each other. These rollers are driven from a central shaft
so as to bend simultaneously, but separately, into the form of circumferentially

page_text: corrugated cylinders two corrugated sheets of metal which are passed between
them. Two of the rollers upon which the cylinders are formed are, with
their bearings, moveable, so as to permit of the removal of the cylinders from
the machine when the sheets have been formed or bent up into the required
shape. Portions of the several rollers are also adjustable upon their shafts
for the purpose of forming cylinders of different lengths. The ends of
the rollers are also made of suitable shape or figure to form the chines of
the casks.
The machine herein-above mentioned is illustrated in Sheet II. of the
Drawings, in which Figs. 1 and 2 are elavations of the machine at right
angles to each other; Fig. 3 is a plan of the same, and Fig. 4 is a central
longitudinal section of one of the rollers.
A is the frame of the machine made of suitable form and strength to
sustain the working parts; M is the main shaft occupying a vertical position
in suitable bearings in the centre of the frame B, B'; E, E, are the four cor-
rugated rollers of similar size, arranged vertically around the central shaft M.
The series of corrugations on these rollers extend nearly their entire length,
but portions next their ends are of plain cylindrical form to correspond with
the chine portions of the cask. The rollers B, B', are arranged on opposite
sides of and at equal distances from the central shaft, and have their
journals fitted in fixed bearings in the upper and lower parts of the frame.
The rollers E, E, have their journals fitted to boxes in very strong levers
F, F, F, F, two at the top and two at the bottom of the machine, in such
positions that these rollers and the rollers B, B¹, may enclose a space around
the central shaft, bounded on each side by a segment of a circle formed by a
portion of the circumference of one of the rollers. The two levers F, F, one
at the top and the other at the bottom of the machine which carry one of the
rollers E, E, have for their common fulcrum one of two vertical shafts G, G,
and the other two levers F, F, which carry the other roller E, have for their
common fulcrum the other of the said shafts G, G. The lower levers may be
fast on the shafts, but the upper ones should be free to turn thereon. The
journal boxes in the levers support the weight of the rollers E, E, and those
in the upper ones, which are made to detach from the upper journals of the
rollers, as will be presently described, serve to keep thein in their proper
vertical positions. The rollers B, B³, are furnished at their upper ends with
spur gears C, C, of equal size to gear with a spur wheel N on the main
shaft M, and the rollers E, E, are furnished at their lower ends with spur
gears D, D, of equal size, gearing with a spur wheel P fast on the lower part
of the roller B', as shown in Fig. 1 in dotted outlines, so that the rollers B, B',

page_text: are both driven directly by the main shaft M, and the rollers E, E, by the
roller B. The rollers E, E, are thrown in and out of gear by the movement
of the levers F, F, upon and with the shafts G, G, and to enable these move-
ments to be effected easily the swinging ends of the levers F, F, are connected
by adjustable connecting rods R, R, with cranks I, I, which are fast on the
upper and lower ends of two vertical shafts J, J, and these shafts are fur-
nished at about the middle of their length with toothed segments K, K,
gearing with the threads of two horizontal square-threaded endless screws L, L,
the journals of which are fitted to boxes secured to the sides of the frame, and
upon the ends of which are hand cranks L', L', by which to form them. The
boxes H, H, which receive the upper journals of the rollers E, E, are so con-
structed and applied to the rollers F, F, that they can be easily opened on
drawing the pins p, p, which secure their caps, these pins being made with
handles for the purpose; and the joint pins q, q, which connect the rods R, R,
with the levers F, F, are also made with handles to provide for their being.
easily taken out, and thereby disconnecting the rods R from the levers F.
Below the rollers there is a stationary table S, upon which to place the sheets
of metal in an upright position to feed them between the rollers.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-Motion being communicated
to the main shaft, and through it to the rollers B, B¹, the rollers E, E, are.
brought into gear with B, B', and otherwise in proper relation therewith by
turning the cranks L', L', in the proper direction, and the sheets of corrugated
metal are fed to the machine one between each of the rollers B, B', and one
of the rollers E, E, with their lower edges resting upon the table S, and by
the act of each sheet being drawn between both rollers B, B¹, and one of the
rollers E, E, the required cylindrical form for the cask is given to it. When
this has been done the cranks L', L', are turned to give the shafts J, cranks I,
and levers F, F, the necessary movement to carry the rollers E, E, the required
distance outward from the rollers B, B', in order to permit the cylindrically
bent corrugated plates upon them to clear the upper cross beam of the
frame A. The pins p, p, are then removed from the boxes H, H, and the
boxes opened, and the pins q, q, which connect the upper rods R, R, with the
upper levers F, F, are taken out and the levers are swung aside off the rollers
E, E, far enough to enable the cylindrically bent plates to be removed over
the top of the rollers, the boxes in the lower levers F, F, forming a support
for the shafts of the rollers until after the removal of the plates; the upper
corresponding levers F, F, have been swung back over the rollers, and their
boxes H, H, bave been closed and secured.
In order to provide for making the bodies of barrels of different lengths in

page_text: the same machine, there may be combined (as shown in Fig. 4, Sheet 11.),
with a portion T of a corrugated cylinder, permanently secured to its shaft V,
one or more cylindrical hollow shells U, which are corrugated for a portion of
their length, and made of plain cylindrical form, as shown at b, for the
remaining portion. This shell is capable of being placed upon the shaft
either end upward. When the shell is placed on the shaft with its plain
cylindrical portion 6 upward the roller is in proper condition for making a cask
body of greater length, and when the shell is inverted the roller is in a con-
dition for making a shorter cask body, the portion 6 forming the chine of the
cask in either case.
Having now described this Invention of improvements in the construction
of metal casks, and in the machinery employed in the manufacture thereof,
and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, as com-
municated to me by my foreign correspondent, I claim as the Invention secured
to me by Letters Patent, as aforesaid,-
First, a cylindrically shaped cask, the external convex surface of which
is composed of sheet metal with transverse corrugations extending in a con-
tinued series from one chine thereof to the other, as herein set forth, so that
a rank of such casks shall interlock firmly with each other, and pack closely
together.
Second, I claim making casks the external convex surfaces of which are
composed of sheet metal transversely corrugated; I also claim the insertion of
a plain internal or lining cylinder made to fit snug and tight to the external
cylinder by which it is supported, the whole being firmly attached together at
the chine, as described.
Third, I claim adapting to casks constructed of sheet metal heads of sheet
metal made sufficiently concave externally and convex internally to prevent
them from being bent outwards by the internal pressure of the fluid which
may be contained in the cask, and having flanges bent down at nearly right
angles to their respective surfaces, and so shaped as to be readily fitted
and rivetted or otherwise connected to the chines of the cask, as described.
Fourth, in reference to a cylindrical cask in which the head is made concavo-
convex, and is constructed with a flange fitting the chine of the cask, as
above described, I claim making the diameter of the head proper larger than
the internal diameter of the cask, and combining therewith a groove or corru-
gation fitted to receive it, so that when the head is sprung into the cask it
shall find a firm shoulder, and make a closer joint when any internal pressure
is brought against the head.
Fifth, I claim strengthening the chines of metallic casks by means of hoops

page_text: shrunk upon their exteriors and rivetted through the chines and through the
flanges of the heads, as herein set forth.
Sixth, I claim the double hoops applied in combination with the chines and
the flanges of the heads, and rivetted thereto, as herein described.
Seventh, I claim in reference to cylindrical corrugated casks constructed as
herein-before described, and in which the bung-hole is placed upon the convex
side thereof, surrounding the bung-hole with metallic supports composed of two
parts attached together, and fitting the corrugations of the body of the cask.
Eighth, in reference to metallic cylindrical casks having the bung-hole
upon its cylindrical surface, and so constructed as to be nearly flush with that
surface, I claim so constructing the bung that it will be somewhat depressed
beneath the cheeks which surround the hole so as to be protected by those
cheeks when the cask is rolled over an even surface, as herein set forth.
Ninth, as regards the machine for bending corrugated sheet metal into
corrugated cylinders for the bodies of casks, I claim the combination of four
corrugated rollers.
Tenth, I claim the construction and arrangement of the parts of the
machine for bending the corrugated plates into corrugated cylinders in such a
manner that the corrugated rollers may be adjusted with respect to each other,
and that the corrugated cylinders may be removed endwise from the rollers, as
herein specified.
Eleventh, I claim the construction, arrangement, and combination of the
stationary frame A, the levers F, F, rollers B, B', E, E, shafts J, J, cranks
I, I, toothed segments K, K, and endless screws L, L, for the purpose herein
set forth.
Twelfth, in the machine for bending corrugated sheet metal into corrugated
cylinders for the bodies of casks, I claim the combination of one or more
moveable sections or shells U with the permanent portions T of the corrugated
rollers, for the purpose herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of August, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)

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