Improvements in the Method of Manufacturing Wooden Casks, Barrels, and other Vessels of a like nature, and in Machinery for Effecting the same.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1895
Improvements in the Method of Manufacturing Wooden Casks, Barrels,
and other Vessels of a like nature, and in Machinery for Effecting
the same.
I, JOHANN ANTHON, of Flensburg, in the German Empire, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the method of manu-
facturing wooden casks, barrels, and other vessels of a like nature, and machinery
for effecting the same.
According to my invention, I first steam or boil the wood, so as to render it soft
and pliable, and afterwards apply great pressure to the materials, in suitably formed
moulds, whereby the fibres of the wood are compressed and condensed, and rendered
hard and durable; and whereby soft and inferior kinds of wood may be substituted
for the more expensive kinds.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascer-
tained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a press suitable for making casks according to
my invention, the platform being shown down, and the material of the cask being
shown in position ready for being moulded into form.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation showing the material of the cask moulded under
pressure.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation showing other methods of forming the mould and
core, with the platform down.
Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the same with the platform raised and the cask
moulded under pressure.
Fig. 6 illustrates one method of preparing the wood for the press.
Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation and Fig. 8 a transverse section, illustrating another
method of constructing the core mould.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, t is the table carried by the piston y of a press
worked by hydraulic power. is a conical top to the press. pp are radial ribs,
the lower ends of which are capable of sliding radially in guide slots t' formed in
the table t.
The inner faces of these ribs, when close together form the mould to the outside
of the cask. The mould forming the core of the cask is shown formed of four
ribs kk, capable of being expanded by toggle levers 7 9, pivoted to the central
rod " which may be raised by hydraulic power or by a treadle, so as to forcibly
expand the core. f is the wooden cylinder, which may consist of one piece or
several pieces placed together, and of larger circumference than that of the
intended cask.
When formed of one piece and intended for a cask curved at each end, a number
of wedge pieces are cut out at each end, as shown in Fig. 6.
The wooden cylinder is placed in position, as shown in Fig. 1, with the
ribs pp moved outwards, radially. On the platform t being raised to the position
shown in Fig. 2, the cone acting upon the inclined backs of the ribs pp, forces
the ribs centripetally upon the wooden cylinder f, whereby the same is compressed

page_text: to the required form and dimensions. On lowering the rod a the toggle levers g
immediately collapse the core k, and, on lowering the platform t, the outer
mould pp can be expanded, and the shell of the cask removed.
Referring to Figs. 4 and 5 :-The pieces p p forming the external mould, have
elongated ends, pivoted to the platform of the press at c c, whereby the mould is
rendered capable of being opened and closed, as required.
Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, the pieces of the core mould k are shown so that they
may be expanded and contracted by means of eccentrics e e keyed to the vertical
bar a, the eccentric rods being pivoted to the core pieces kk at d, as shown. The
pieces may be expanded or contracted by turning the bar a.
In making conical vessels the material is tapered at one end only, if formed of
separate staves, or with wedge shaped openings as shown in Fig. 6 at one end if
cut from an entire cylinder. In making cylindrical vessels parallel staves or an
entire cylinder of wood may be used; the moulds and cores being so shaped as to
suit the required construction, and the cores being in one piece, as they do not
require to be reduced, when removing the compressed vessel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The improvements in the method of manufacturing wooden casks, barrels, and
other vessels of a like nature, and in machinery for effecting the same, substantially
as and for the purposes described.
2. In the manufacture of wooden casks, barrels, and other vessels of a like
rature, subjecting the wood to the action of steam or heated water, and afterwards
rcing the same into the required shape in suitable moulds, by means of hydraulic
other suitable power presses, substantially as herein before described and
ustrated by the drawings.
3. In the manufacture of wooden casks, barrels, and other vessels of a like
ture, the application and use of presses, worked by hydraulic or other suitable
wer, constructed arranged and operating substantially as herein before described
d illustrated by Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.
4. In the manufacture of wooden casks, barrels, and other vessels of a like
nature, the application and use of presses, worked by hydraulic or other suitable
power, constructed arranged and operating substantially as herein before described
and illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.
5. In the manufacture of wooden casks, barrels, and other vessels of a like
nature, the application and use of moulds pp, formed in sections and capable of
being separated and pressed together substantially as and for the purposes herein
before described and illustrated by the drawings.
6. In the manufacture of wooden casks, barrels, and other vessels of a like
nature, the application and use of cores k, constructed, arranged and operating
substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated 24th September 1895.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.