Improved Process of Manufacture of Barrels, Tubs, and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 26th Jan., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Process of Manufacture of Barrels, Tubs, and the like.
I, JOSEF POLKE, of V Koblgasse 26, Vienna, Austria, Machine 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 :—
My invention relates to the mechanical production of barrels and similar vessels
such as tubs etc., the body or mantle of which is formed of but one piece, or only
of few pieces, which have not been previously shaped in the manner of staves,
and has for its object a new process for the production of such bulged barrels,
and the apparatus for carrying this process into practice.
- Aside of the ordinary work of making and inserting the heads, hooping and
finishing the barrels, my improved process comprises three different parts or
stages viz. 1.) the production of the cylindrical bodies or blanks, 2.) the cylindrical
compression of these barrel blanks, 3.) the conical shaping of the ends of these
blanks by compression, eventually with the simultaneous pressing of the chims or
grooves for the heads.
In the annexed drawings the improved devices and apparatus for performing this
work are shown.
Figure 1 is a side view of the sawing and bending device for the cylindrical
barrel blanks.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same device.
Figures 3, 4 and 5 show in side view partly in section, in plan view and in end
view a machine for the cylindrical compression of the barrel blanks and for the
conical compression or finishing of the barrel bodies.
Figure 6 shows on a somewhat enlarged scale one of the conical forms with the
device for pressing the chims or grooves for the heads.
In all figures similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
In order to produce a barrel according to my invention, a log is cut off to the
length of the barrel to be produced, and is brought under the band saw B indicated
by dotted lines in Figure 1. By means of this saw, the cut of which must of
course be sufficiently long for the length of the barrel, the log is cut lengthwise
into a long spiral band or strip of equal thickness, the width of this band
corresponding to the length of the barrel to be produced. In making this spiral
cut the log may be turned or fed towards the saw either by hand, the line of the
cut being marked on the end of the log by a suitable pattern, or it may be revolved
gainst the saw by one of the known mechanical spiral-guiding devices.
The spiral band or strip of wood thus produced, may now be subjected to a
teaming and may in this soft state be bent into the cylinders of required diameter,
ither by hand or by bending-rolls.
In order, however, to prevent this separate bending, the device shown in
igures 1 and 2 may be employed. This device, which is to be attached to the
rame of the saw, consists of an upright stationary wedge a, the edge of which
tands behind and parallel to the back of the saw. Opposite the side of this
edge a an adjustable roll b of the same length as wedge a is journalled, which
ay be heated by a gas flame, as indicated in the drawing, or in any other suitable.
anner. Instead of only one heated roll b, two or more may be used. In the
LP 1

page_text: rear of wedge a and roll or rolls b a pair of rolls c, d is placed, which have the
same number of revolutions, but are of different diameters. When the saw has cut
far enough into the log, end f of the strip or band of wood is guided between
wedge a and roll band between the rolls c, d. The hot roll or rolls b being pressed
against the wood, the latter becomes heated and is thereby prepared for bending,
so that by the combined action of wedge a and roll or rolls b, and of the two
rolls c, d the strip or band of wood is rolled into a cylinder of desired diameter
in the measure as the cutting of the saw advances. When the length of circum-
ference of a cylinder has thus been produced, the piece is detached and the
cylinder removed, while the band saw may proceed in its spiral cut.
When
required, wedge a may be hollow and also heatable the same as roll b.
As some kinds of wood, when. bent in the manner described, incline to cracking
or breaking, an additional device may be employed for preventing this, as also
shown in Figures 1 and 2. This device consists of one, two or more metal
bands g, preferably of iron or steel, the stronger rebent ends g² of which are
hooked over the edge of the wood strip and between two brake-rolls, i,
situated beyond roll b. This device operates as follows: The metal bands g,
being attached to the front edge of the strip f, are carried along with said strip as
the cutting and bending proceeds, but, being at the same time held back between
the brake-rolls h, i, the bands g exert a pressure or pull upon the wood in proportion
to the retaining force exerted by the said brake-rolls, whereby a cracking or
breaking of the wood is prevented.
According to the kind, state and quality of the wood employed, the cylinders
produced in the manner above described may be steamed or impregnated in the
customary way, or they may be subjected to the further treatment to be described,
in the state in which they have left the cutting and bending apparatus.
The machine for the cylindrical compression of the barrel blanks consists of a
tubular body K, the cylindrical interior of which permits the introduction of said
blanks. Towards one end, the cylindrical interior of body K gradually narrows,
so that the difference between the greater and the smaller diameter is about equal
to the amount of the probable shrinkage of the wood in the cylindrical barrel-
blanks. At the wide end of body K is placed a piston L, which is provided
with an elastic ring, cut open in the manner of a piston ring, so that it will fit the
wider part of body K as well as the reduced part when the piston L is driven
through body K. Thus, a barrel blank, when introduced into body K through an
aperture k, in passing through said body K as impelled by the advancing piston L
will be compressed to the diameter to which it would otherwise have shrunk.
Piston L may be operated by hydraulic or any other suitable power. Body K may
be enclosed in a heating jacket or may be heated, if necessary, in any other
suitable manner.
The cylindrical barrel blanks leaving the reduced end of body K now have
the proper greatest diameter of the barrel to be produced, and by the compression
they have received, any further shrinking is prevented. These blanks are now
ready for being pressed into the conical form of barrels. This latter pressing into
the conical form may be done independently of the just described cylindrical
compression and by separate machinery, but, in order to simplify and quicken
the improved process,
have combined the two kinds of compression in one
machine.
'
At the smaller end of body K two conical press-forms M and M' are mounted
upon a common shaft in such manner that either one or the other of said forms
may be swung close before the discharge opening of body K.to which they present
their wider opening, which corresponds in diameter with said discharge opening.
At both sides of body K and opposite to forms M, M¹ are placed two stationary
press-forms N, N', which are also, but reversedly conical, so that they present
their wider opening to the wider opening of forms M, M'. The disposition of forms
M, M' to the discharge opening of body K and to the stationary forms N, N¹ IS

page_text: In line
such, that when one of the two forms M, M¹ the distance between which is fixed,
is brought to correspond with the discharge opening of body K the other will
correspond in the same manner with one of the stationary forms N, N'.
with forms N, N' two press-pistons n, n', operated by hydraulic or any other
suitable power, are placed at such distance that they will clear forms M, M¹, and
of such diameter and stroke that they may pass through said forms M, M' when
either of them is situated before one of the stationary forms N, N'. The process
for the conical compression of the cylindrical barrel-blanks is the following:-
Supposing form M is situated before the discharge opening of body K, their inside
diameters corresponding exactly at the point of junction as shown in Figure 3 of
the drawing, a barrel-blank, after having received its cylindrical compression in the
manner already described, as it is driven by piston L through the discharge opening
of body K, enters form M and is forced with its one end into the conical part of
the latter, whereby it is compressed and receives the tapering barrel-form. Press-
form M having a length corresponding to that of a barrel, the barrel-blank clears
body K as soon as it has been pressed far enough into form M. and the latter,
containing the half finished barrel body, may now be swung down in front of the
stationary reversed form N, thereby bringing the other, still empty form M¹ before
the opening of body K. Now piston n, which fits upon the already conical end of
the barrel-blank in form M, is put in operation and drives the half-finished barrel-
body through form M into form N where its other end is compressed into the
conical form.
This compression being finished, and piston n withdrawn, the barrel body may be
removed from the form N by a follower o" placed at the end of the latter and
operated by a screw o and hand wheel o¹. In the meantime a second blank has
been driven from body K into the other form M', which is then swung before the
other stationary form N', whereby form M again takes its place before the opening
of body K, ready for the reception of a third blank, while piston n' completes the
pressing of the second blank. In this manner a continuous operation and production
of barrel bodies is insured, requiring but very little manual attendance.
In order to hold the barrel bodies together. after the pressing has been finished,
temporary hoops may be employed. I employ for this purpose by preference
hoops of a wedge-shaped cross section as shown in the drawing, Figure 3,
which are placed into suitable recesses p at the smaller end of forms M, M',
N, N. The recesses p and hoops r must, as shown, correspond in such manner,
that when a barrel end has been pressed the hoop will remain upon the end of the
barrel and may be freely removed with the latter from the form.
The barrel bodies thus finished in the regular bulging form may now be provided'
with the bottoms, hooped and made ready for use.
Simultaneously with, the conical compression of the ends of the barrel bodies the
chims or grooves for the heads may also be formed by compression in the following
manner. Two disks s, s', having at their circumference a form corresponding to
the form of the chim or groove to be produced, are by preference rigidly connected
with each other by a rod t in order to determine the proper distance between the
chims to be formed, and are placed into the cylindrical barrel blank before it is
introduced into body K or before it enters the conical press forms: For insuring
the proper position of the disks s, s¹ in the barrel blank, one of these disks may be
provided with a central sleeve or opening'u, into which fits a pin a' centrally placed.
upon piston L. Thus, as the latter moves forward, it keeps the barrel blank and
the disks, in correct position to each other until the conical form has been
entered and one end been compressed. When, during the conical compression the
diameter of the barrel end becomes reduced, the.edge of the disk is pressed into the
inside surface of the wooden blank, whereby the chim or groove is formed. .
*After one end of the barrel body has received its conical shape and the chim or
groove been formed at the same time, as shown in Figure 3, one of the disks sis
securely held in the chim it has formed, so that no further support or guide is
"

page_text: required for these disks when the second cone and chimb are to be pressed. When
the barrel body has thus been finished, the temporary hoops r, may be taken off
and the disks s, s' may then be removed by slightly springing the barrel body open
at the seam. Now the bottoms may be inserted, the hoops be put on and the barrel
finished in the usual manner. Instead of employing disks s, s of the form shown
in the drawing and connected with each other, these disks may have the form of a
common barrel bottom, and may serve as such, being left in the barrel after the
pressing. Such bottoms intended to be left in the barrel need not be of metal, but
may be made of any other suitable, eventually compressed material, such as wood
for instance; the only condition being that the material of the bottoms be harder
than the wood of the barrel body, so that the edge of the bottoms will imbed.itself
in the wood of the barrel, when the latter is pressed into the conical form.
When barrels of the kind herein described are to he made of more than one piece,
as for instance from pieces of spirally cut wood which are not long enough to form
a whole body, or from flat boards or strips, such pieces are bent and placed together
in the form of a cylinder, and held together in this form by a temporary central
hoop while they are subjected to the pressing processes described. Eventually
such cylinders composed of several pieces of wood may also. be provided with
a temporary sectional core, which can be taken apart when the barrel body is
finished:
The herein described apparatus may of course be modified in different ways with-
out departing from the spirit of my invention. Thus, for instance the apparatus
for the cylindrical compression of the barrel bodies may be operated independently.
of the apparatus described for giving to the barrels their conical form, or where
the kind and quality of the wood permits, the cylindrical compression may be
omitted and the crude cylinders be pressed at once into the conical forms. The
rocking movement of the forms M, M may be effected by hand, or these forms
may operate automatically, receiving their movement from the press pistons. The
screw device for operating the ejecting follower o" may be replaced by a suitable
lever device, or the follower may also be operated by the press piston, when this
latter performs its return stroke. The opening for the introduction, of the
wooden cylinders into body K may be closed by a suitable cover. The connection
of the two chin-disks s, may be adjustable so that the distance between the two
chims to be pressed may be regulated. Furthermore one disk alone may be
employed, especially when vessels with but one bottom and open at the other end
are to be produced. If, as has been described, the disks s, s' are to serve as
permanent bottoms, inserted during the process of conical compression of the
barrels, the press forms M, M', N, N' may be made of two halves and provided
with interior grooves for the reception of permanent hoops for the barrels. In
this manner the pressing apparatus herein described will produce the barrels com-
plete, with heads inserted and ready hooped.
Having now fully described the nature of my said invention and in what manner
it is to be performed, what I claim is :
1. A process for the manufacture of bulging barrels, which are formed from
cylindrical wooden blanks by compression, this process consisting :
a) In the production of the said cylindrical blanks by cutting a log, having a
length corresponding to the height of the desired barrel, parallel to the
axis thereof, into a long, spiral strip or band of even thickness, and by
detaching from this band pieces of a length corresponding to the circum-
ference of a barrel, and bending the pieces thus detached into the form of 5
cylinders;
I +
b) In reducing, by compression, the diameter of the cylindrical barrel blanks
thus produced in a measure corresponding to the eventual shrinkage of the
wood employed, by driving these blanks through a cylinder, which gradually
stapers towards one end by this measure. of contraction;

page_text: c) In the conical compression of first one and then the other end of these.
cylindrical barrel blanks by pressing them into conical shaped forms,
or dies;
d) In the forming, by compression, simultaneously with the conical com-
pression of the barrel blanks, of the chimbs or grooves for the barrel heads,
by inserting into the said blanks, before their conical compression, disks of
a diameter and circumferential form corresponding to that of the barrel
heads, and of a material harder than the wood of which the barrel blanks
are made.
2. The device for cutting the spiral strips of wood for the barrel-blanks, and for
bending these strips into cylinders, consisting of a saw B, of a wedge a placed with
its edge behind the blade of said saw, one or more heatable pressure rolls & mounted
opposite to one side of wedge a, and of a pair of rolls c and d, of equal speed but
different diameter; the whole arranged and operating in such manner that
wedge a is situated in the cut produced by the saw, while the heated roll or
rolls 6 press against the outside of the strip of wood being detached from the log
by the saw,
said strip, being led between the pair of guide rolls c, d, whereby it is
rolled into the form of a cylinder in the same measure as the cutting of the saw
proceeds.
3. The apparatus for the cylindrical compression of the barrel blanks, con-
sisting of a body K, the cylindrical interior of which gradually diminishes towards
one end in a measure corresponding to the shrinkage of the wood in the cylindrical
barrel blanks; body K provided with an aperture for introducing the barrel blanks
to be compressed, and with an expansible piston L for driving the barrel blanks
through body K and thereby compressing them.
4. In combination with the apparatus herein described for the cylindrical com-
pression of the barrel blanks, the apparatus for the conical compression of these
barrel blanks, consisting of two press forms or dies M, M' conical at one end and of
two press forms or dies N, N' conical at their end opposite to that of forms M, M¹;
forms or dies M, M' connected with each other and rocking upon a common shaft,
while forms N, N' are stationary and have each a piston n, respectively n', disposed
in front thereof; the whole disposed in such manner that either of the two forms
or dies M, M' may be brought to correspond with the discharge opening of press
body K, ready to receive a barrel blank as it leaves said opening, while the other
one of said forins M, M' will correspond with one of the stationary forms N, N¹;
substantially as described.
5. In combination with the apparatus described for the conical compression of
the barrel blanks, a device for forming the chims or grooves in the barrel bodies
by compression, simultaneously with their conical compression, consisting of one or
two disks s, s, the circumferential form of which corresponds to that of the barrel
heads; said disks 8, s placed into the barrel blanks before their conical compression
either singly, or held together by a rod t.
6. In combination with the apparatus described for the conical compression of
the barrel blanks, temporary hoops r of a wedge shaped cross section, fitting into a
corresponding recess p at the conical end of press forms M, M', N, N¹, the bottom
of which recesses p runs parallel to the wider or cylindrical part of said press forms,
while the inner surface of hoops r stands even with the conical end of these press
forms, so that after a barrel blank has received its conical compression hoop r
will remain upon the end of the barrel and can be removed from the press form
together with the barrel body.
7. In combination with the apparatus herein described for cutting and bending
the spiral strips of wood, a device for preventing the breaking or splitting of the
wood while being bent, consisting of one or more metal bands g, the bent end g' of
which is hooked over the frout edge of the wooden strip, and of a pair of brake
rolls h, between which said metal band g are passed, and which will offer a certain
resistance against the advancing of the metal bands g together with the wooden

page_text: strip as the cutting and bending proceeds, whereby a pressure upon the wood is
exerted.
Dated 11th December 1894
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.