An Improved Dip-rod for taking the Vacuities of Casks.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 12th June, 1900-Accepted, 21st July,
1900
1.
· PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Dip-rod for taking the Vacuities of Casks.
I, FRANCIS CILARLES FARMAR, of 38, Thorndale Road, Waterloo, near Liverpool,
in the County of Lancashire, Officer of Customs, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
61
mean
"
My invention relates to an improved dip-rod for taking the vacuities of casks.
The rod in question is based upon the principle that the bung-dimension
originally applied to a cask-whether it be the
or the perpendicular―
shall remain fixed, and not be liable to subsequent alteration.
Measuring 18 inches in extreme length, or 9 inches when folded-in-two, it is
furnished with two moveable arms, or bung-rests, which may be turned down
when not in use.
The four sides are graduated in inches and tenths, counting from zero in a
downward direction; but each series commences at its own specified distance from
the starting-point.
The rod is thus rendered capable of showing at a glance the actual vacuity in
any cask, whether dipped at inch, inch, inch, or 12 tenths, according to the
face selected to represent the thickness of the wood.
The arms, which may be composed of any material, but preferably of brass,
are made to extend outwards at right angles, on two opposite sides, to the distance
of about 2 inches, by means of shoulders keeping them in that position. These
arms move up and down on a hinge or pivot; the upper parts of the hinge-pieces
being fixed to the rod on both sides by means of rivet pins.
The rod may be composed of any material, but I prefer boxwood. It may be
of any length, but I prefer 18 inches, rendering the instrument capable of record-
ing or taking vacuities up to 14 inches, which is sufficient for all practical purposes.
And it may be made with or without the middle hinge for folding purposes, the
latter arrangement being merely for pocket use.
The dip-rods hitherto in use are long, the figures read upwards, and they
possess usually a brass contrivance, moving up and down the whole length of the
rod, designed to measure the bung diameter of the cask, and take the wet at the
same time-the vacuity being ascertained by deducting the wet from the bung.
My invention obviates this labour and trouble, by showing the actual vacuity
directly the rod is inserted through the bung hole-the bung diameter originally
applied to the cask being again taken in connection therewith, for computing
purposes.
Dated this Twenty-third day of September 1899.

page_text: An improved
Caning
-
I, FRANCIS CHARLES FARMAR, of 38, Thorndale Road, Waterloo, near Liverpool,
in the County of Lancashire, Officer of Customs, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
1. My invention relates to an improved dip-rod for taking the vacuities of
casks.
2. The rod in question is based upon the principle that the bung-dimension
originally applied to a cask-whether it be the mean or the perpendicular—shall
remain fired, and not be liable to subsequent alteration.
3. Measuring 18 inches in extreme length, or 9 inches when folded in two, it is
furnished with two moveable arms, or bung-rests, which may be turned down
when not in use.
4. The four sides are graduated in inches and tenths, counting from zero in a
downward direction, but each series commences at its own specified distance from
the starting point.
5. These specified distances are, preferably, inch, inch, inch, and inch,
respectively.
G-The rod is thus rendered capable of measuring the perpendicular dry-inches
of depth of vacuity space in casks, and showing the same at a glance, whether
dipped at inch, inch, inch, or ths., according to the face selected to repre-
sent the thickness of the wood. This dipping operation is commonly or techni-
cally termed "taking the vacuity in inches," or, briefly, "taking the vacuity."
7. The arms, which may be composed of any material, but preferably of brass,
are made to extend outwards at right angles, on two opposite sides, to the distance
of about 2 inches each, by means of shoulders keeping them in that position.
These arms move up and down on a hinge or pivot; the upper parts of the hinge-
pieces being fixed to the rod on both sides by means of rivet pins.
8. The rod may be composed of any material, but preferably of boxwood. It
may be of any length, but I prefer 18 inches, rendering the instrument capable
of recording or taking vacuities up to 14 inches, which is sufficient for all prac-
tical purposes.
And it may be made with or without a middle hinge for folding
purposes the folding arrangement being merely for pocket convenience.
9. The dip-rods. hitherto in use, are long, with figures reading upwards; and
they possess usually a brass contrivance, moving up and down the whole length
of the rod, designed to measure the bung-diameter of the cask, and take the wet-
inches at the same time-the vacuity in inches being ascertained by deducting
the wet-inches from the bung-diameter.
10. My invention obviates this labour and trouble, and all danger of mistakes,
by enabling the actual vacuity in inches to be shown at a glance directly the rod
is inserted through the bung-hole of the cask-the bung-diameter originally
applied to the cask being again taken in connection therewith for computing
purposes.
11. In the accompanying sheet of diagrams, Fig. 1 (E) is the rod referred to,
shown with arms (A, a) extended at right angles. Fig. 2 (a, A) shows the same
arms turned down. Fig. 2 (F, f) shows the hinges or pivots upon which the arms
move up and down; while Fig. 1 (D), d) shows the shoulders which keep the
said arms in position at right angles when extended.
12. In Fig. 1 (E) we have a front view of the rod, showing an inch distance
of allowance from the starting point (S). And in Fig. 2 we have the reverse view,

page_text: showing an inch distance of allowance from the same starting point. Similarly,
in Figs. 3 and 4 we have the two other sides illustrated with inch and
distances allowed for at G and H respectively.
13. Fig. 1 (C) shows the top of the rod, which serves conveniently as a handle.
And Fig. 1 (B, 6) shows the upper parts of the hinge-pieces which are fixed to
the rod on opposite sides by means of rivet pins.
14. Fig. shows the rod closed, or folded up; the two halves turning on
the hinge J. Fig. 5 (K) is a front view of a portion of one of the arms turned
down, showing it to be of the same width as the rod itself.
15. 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). A dip-rod provided with two moveable arms capable of being extended and
fixed at right angles when in use, and of being turned down when not in use.
(2). All the sides of the rod graduated or marked with a scale of inches and
tenths, numbered from zero in a downward direction-cach series commencing
at its own specified distance from the starting point.
Dated this Eleventh day of June 1900.
FRANCIS C. FARMAR,
(Applicant).