Improved Process of Seasoning or "Curing" Casks, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Loft 20th Sent 1807 Accented. 30th Oct 1897
Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Loft, 20th Sept, 1807 Accepted, 30th Oct 1897.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Process of Seasoning or "Curing" Casks, and Apparatus
therefor.
I, JAMES GILLIES, of the Firm of James Gillies and Company, Brewers' Engineers,
Glenpark Street, in the City of Glasgow, do hereby declare the nature of this
Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object to effect the curing or seasoning of casks
by means of steam and heated air or hot products of combustion of carbonaceous
matter with or without the addition of sulphurous fumes or gases, the admission
of which to the casks is controlled by means of improved apparatus so as first to
effect the removal by steaming of the acid and other soluble noxious constituents
in the wood, then to sweeten the wood by commingling steam and heated air with
or without the addition of detergent fumes or gases within the cask and finally to
dry the cask by blowing in heated air alone..
The improved apparatus comprises a live steam pipe and a hot air supply pipe
upon which a number of the steam and air admission devices may be fitted at
various points to deal with a corresponding number of casks, and a plug or like
valve for each, the valves being connected to both pipes and separate ports being
formed in the valve casing communicating with the steam and hot air pipes. On
the end of the valve plug and communicating with the interior thereof is formed
or secured an injector having an outlet pipe the extremity of which is bent to
the arc of a circle whose centre coincides with the axis of the plug valve. The
curved end of the pipe is suitably guided and it passes loosely through a bush
over which the cask is placed so that the bung hole is filled by the bush. When
the valve is closed to shut off both steam and hot air the end of the bent pipe lies
in the bush, but on turning the valve plug to admit steam through the steam port
the end of the pipe is projected slightly into the cask so as to direct the steam into
it. Water resulting from condensation of the steam and containing the soluble
matters extracted from the wood by steaming is allowed to escape through the orifice
in the bush around the pipe. The valve is gradually turned by means of a hand
lever until the hot air port is also opened whereupon steam and hot air in admixture
are delivered into the cask. In order to effect the induction of the hot air by the
steam and suitable commingling thereof the steam passes from the valve through
the injector being preferably directed through a central nozzle and the hot air
drawn by the steam through the annular orifice surrounding it, the air passage
and steam port in the valve being suitably connected to the respective parts of the
injector. The hot air and steam commingling in the injector are directed into the
cask through the end of the pipe which by the turning of the valve is projected
further into the cask. The effect of thus admitting hot air and steam to the cask
is to drive out the moisture and remnant of noxious matter and sweeten the wood.
On still further turning the valve the steam port is closed and hot air alone
admitted if desired to finally dry the wood. While removing the seasoned or

page_text: cured cask the supply of steam and air is cut off by means of a stop valve or valves
and the curved end of the injecting pipe withdrawn by turning back the valve.
When sulphurous or other detergent fumes or gases are to be admitted to the
casks, these may be directed into the hot air pipe; and when the hot products of
combustion of carbonaceous matter are used in lieu of hot-air sulphur or 'other 5
reagent may be added to the fuel.".
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Of the Firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather,'
Chartered Patent Agents,
62: Saint Vincent Street,. Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.
Improved Process of Seasoning or "Curing " Casks, and Apparatus
therefor.
I, JAMES GILLIES, of the Firm of James Gillies and Company, Brewers' Engineers,
Glenpark Street, in the City of Glasgow, do hereby declare the nature of this
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement-
This Invention has for its object to effect the curing or seasoning of casks
by means of steam and heated air or hot products of combustion of carbonaceous
matter with or without the addition of sulphurous fumes or gases, flic admission
of which to the casks is controlled by means of improved apparatus so as first to
effect the removal by steaming of the acid and other soluble noxious constituents
in the wood, then to dessicate and sweeten the wood by commingling steam and
heated air with or without the addition of detergent fumes or gases within the cask
and finally to dry the cask by blowing in heated air alone.
The Invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2
being elevations partly in section at right angles to each other shewing the
apparatus as employed when seasoning or curling" oasks or other movable
receptacles; and Figure 3 is a vertical elevation partly in section shewing
a slightly modified form of apparatus as employed in seasoning or "curing" vats.
Figures 4 and 5 are vertical sections at right angles to each other of the steam and
air admission device used in the seasoning or "curing" process.
The improved apparatus comprises a live steam pipe A to supply a pipe N which
encloses a hot air supply pipe B upon which a number of the steam and air
admission devices Cashewn particularly at Figures 4 and 5 may be fitted at various
points to deal with a corresponding number of casks, and a plug or like valve D
for each, the valves D being connected to the pipes N, B, by separate ports D', D,
formed in the valve casing E communicating with the steam and hot air
pipes N, B. On the end of the valve plug D and communicating with the interior
thereof is formed or secured an injector having an outlet pipe G the extremity
of which is bent to the arc of a circle whose centre coincides with the axis of the
plug valve D. The curved end of the pipe G is suitably guided by the bracket
or guide Z and it passes loosely through a bush J over which the cask H is placed
so that the bung hole T is filled by the bush J. When the valve D is closed to
shut off both steam and hot air the end of the bent pipe G lies in the bush J, but
on turning the valve plug to admit steam through the steami port D¹ the end of tlie
pipe G is projected 'slightly into the cask so as to direct the steam into it. Water
resulting from condensation of the steam and containing the soluble matters

page_text: extracted from the wood by steaming is allowed to escape through the annular
orifice J in the bush J around the pipe G to a waste drain under the apparatus
or to a trap. The valve D is gradually turned by means of a hand lever K until
the hot air port Da is also opened whereupon steam and hot air in admixture are
delivered into the cask. In order to effect the induction of the hot air by the steam
and suitable commingling thereof the steam- passes from the valve D through the.
injector F being preferably directed through a central nozzle F and the hot air
drawn by the steam through the annular orifice Fa surrounding it, the air
passage Ds and steam port D¹ in the valve D being suitably connected to the
respective parts of the injector as shewn at Figures 4 and 5. The hot air and
steam commingling in the injector F are directed into the cask through
the end of the pipe G which by the turning of the valve D is pro-
jected further into the cask H. The effect of thus adinitting hot air and steam
to the cask H is to drive out the moisture and remnant of noxious matter and
Sweeten the wood. On still further turning the valve D the steam port Dis
closed and hot air alone admitted if desired to finally dry the wood. While
removing the seasoned or cured cask the supply of steam and air is cut off by means
of a stop valve or valves and the curved end of the injecting pipe G withdrawn by
turning back the valve D.
When sulphurous or other detergent fumes or gases are to be admitted to musty
or foetid casks, the chemicals are placed in a receptacle L through which the hot
air pipe B' passes, and when the hot products of combustion: of carbonaceous matter
are used in lieu of hot air sulphur or other reagent may be added to the fuel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The improved process of seasoning or "curing" casks by means of steam and
heated air or hot products of combustion with or without the addition of sulphurous
fumes or gases injected into the casks by apparatus substantially such as described.
2. The improved apparatus for seasoning or "curing" casks constructed and
arranged to operate substantially as described.
3. In apparatus for seasoning or "curing" casks the combination with. steam
and air pipes of a plug or like valve adapted to be rotated in its casing to connect
its ports with steam and air pipes and an injector formed on or secured to it and
by means of which the air is drawn into and caused to commingle with the steam
when desired substantially as described.
Dated this 98th day of Santamlar
1807
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Of the Firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather,
Chartered Patent Agents,
62 Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant..