IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND BEATING COFFEE AND OTHER SEED CASKS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Brice Tydeman, of Manor House, Crossness, in the Parish
of Erith, Kent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
FILLING AND BEATING COFFEE AND OTHER SEED CASKS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Brice Tydeman at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st January 1880.
BRICE TYDEMAN, of Manor House, Crossness, in the Parish of Erith, Kent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND BEATING COFFEE AND OTHER
SEED CASKS."
This Invention relates to an improved method of filling and beating casks to
reduce the bulk of coffee or other seeds contained therein by an arrangement of
hoppers and beaters in connection therewith.
According to the ordinary mode of effecting this operation men are stationed
round the cask and fill the cask from a heap on the floor by wooden shovels.
After being filled the men station themselves round the cask and strike it simul-
taneously, or as nearly so as possible, with wooden mallets or beaters.
Now this Invention consists in a hopper being fixed to the under side of the
floor (a portion of the floor the same size as the hopper being movable), and of such
a shape that the bottom part is contracted to a small aperture of about nine inches
square, protected with a sliding plate to draw out, so that the coffee or other seed
can be run out of the hopper into the cask; the cask having the head taken out,
being first placed on one end on a truck, the truck being then pushed under the
hopper and filled by withdrawing the slide at the bottom of the hopper. The
apparatus for beating is attached to the hopper, and consists of a circular or other
shaped frame supporting double levers or arms, which levers or arms are fixed
vertically and at equal radial distances round the frame in proper bearings provided
for that purpose, one end of each lever being much longer than the other, and the
long end being provided with a rounded head or bammer for striking the cask.
The force or power used for this purpose is water or steam under pressure, and is
applied in the manner hereinafter described.
The frame is supported on two or more legs or uprights from the floor, and of
such a height as to allow of the cask when on the truck being pushed under one
side of it into the central position with the frame. The frame is provided with

page_text: two cavities running all round and separated from each other, proper snugs or
connections being formed on the frame to connect these cavities with fluids under
pressure from a reservoir or container. Bosses are also placed at equal radial
distances over the top cavity and under the bottom cavity, to which small cylinders
are connected. The top set of cylinders are all actuated at one time, and the bottom
are all likewise actuated at one time in sets of six or more, as may be desired. The
open ends of the cylinders are placed outwards, each cylinder being provided with
a plunger or ram working through a gland packed in the usual manner.
The cylinders are placed horizontally and at equal distances from the centres on
which the levers work, the levers being provided with small projections on the
edge nearest to the cylinders for the ends of the rams or plungers to work against.
The top row of cylinders are provided with smaller rams or plungers than the
bottom row, and the fluid under pressure, or steam, is continually on the top row
of cylinders, so that the hammers are forced against the cask; but as no blow could
be struck unless the hammers were extended, the bottom row of cylinders are
provided with rams or plungers of a larger area, and when the pressure is con-
nected with the bottom cavity of frame, and consequently with the bottom row of
cylinders, the larger rams overcome the smaller, and the bottom ends of the levers
are extended or forced outwards away from the cask; but the pressure being
alternately connected with and disconnected from the bottom row of cylinders,
iimmediately the pressure is taken from the bottom row of cylinders the accu-
mulated force acts immediately on the top row, and the bottom ends of the levers
are immediately and simultaneously forced against the cask.
The valve which regulates the fluid under pressure, or steam, is a slide or D valve
fitted to a valve spindle in the usual manner; but the valve spindle is made with
one end smaller than the other, so that the spindle forms a piston within the valve
box, and the valve spindle being raised by means of a small cam worked by hand,
or otherwise, when the spindle is raised by the cams to the top point of projection,
and the cam passes from under the end of the spindle, the pressure in the valve
box immediately acts upon the piston or valve spindle and pushes the valve to the
full exhaust of the valve, so that the pressure is removed from the bottom row of
cylinders, and the levers or hammers simultaneously strike the cask through the
action of the rams or plungers in the top row of cylinders being forced out by the
pressure, and this operation is continued as often as required until the coffee or
other seeds have been sufficiently reduced in bulk.
A regulator is attached to this apparatus, by means of which the length of stroke
and force of blow can be regulated. For this purpose a ring or disc with camlike
recesses is fitted above the bearings on which the levers work, and this disc is so
fitted as to touch each lever when the pressure is on the bottom cylinders, and
prevents the levers from being forced out too far, the camlike recesses being
arranged to alter the blow from one half to the whole length of stroke, but of
course this proportion may be varied to any part of the stroke.
The cam for raising the valve spindle can be worked by mechanical or hand
power, as required.
By this Invention one man can do the work of twelve men more efficiently and
in less time.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Brice Tydeman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th May
1880.
BRICE TYDEMAN, of Manor House, Crossness, in the Parish of Erith, Kent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND BEATING COFFEE AND OTHER
SEED CASKS."
My said Invention relates to the beating of casks or receptacles containing coffee
or other berries or seeds for the purpose of reducing the compass or space occupied
by a given quantity of such berries or seeds, so as to condense a larger quantity of
the same into a cask or receptacle of given dimensions.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, of my Drawing represents side elevation, part of which is in
section.
Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan of machine constructed and arranged according to
one mode of carrying out my Invention.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of valve case and cam for working valve.
Fig. 4 is a section of valve case showing valve, and ports, and valve spindle, with
glands, &c.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation of valve case.
A, Figs. 1 and 2, is a frame of metal cast in four pieces, provided with two
cavities, and bolted together in the usual manner. Two sets of faucets are provided
on this frame at equal radial distances, one set connected with one cavity, the other
set connected with the other cavity, the two cavities being entirely distinct;
a, a, are lugs bolted to the aforesaid frame for carrying double levers c, c, and are
placed centrally vertically with the faucets on frame A. Small cylinders b, b, are
provided with spigots to fit faucets on frame, and are bolted to the frame, one on the
top and one on the bottom, the open end of cylinders b, b, pointing outwards. The
cylinders b, b, on top of frame are provided with small rams of a less diameter than
the bottom row of cylinders b, b; the ends of these rams work on two small semi-
circular projections, being at equal distances from the fulcrum on which the
levers c, c, work. When the machine is at work the pressure is always connected
with the top row of cylinders b, b, consequently, the ends of the levers marked d, d,
are forced inwards to the cask B; but in order to give a blow the water or fluid
under pressure is connected with a valve of peculiar construction, and by moving
a cam h, Fig. 3, the valve spindle i is raised, and the water or fluid under pressure
is allowed to pass into the bottom row of cylinders b, b, the area of the rams in
these cylinders b, b, being sufficiently large to overcome the pressure, and force
back, by the action of the levers c, c, the rams in the top row of cylinders b, b,
so that the ends of the levers c, c, are now moved away from the cask B. The
valve spindle i is smaller at one end than at the other; the difference in area of the
two ends of the valve spindle i is a piston, and is acted upon by the water or fluid
under pressure, and immediately the cam h is moved round so that the projection
passes from under the end of the valve spindle i the pressure acting upon the valve
spindle immediately forces the valve u down, opens the exhaust port to the
pressure of the bottom row of cylinders b, b, thus allowing the water or fluid under
pressure to escape from the bottom row of cylinders.
The pressure upon the top row of cylinders b, b, immediately forces out the rams,
and causes the bottom ends of the double levers c, c, to strike the cask B. This
operation is repeated as often as the cam h is turned round and the valve spindle i
raised. The cam h shown in this Drawing has only one recess, but it is obvious
that a larger cam having several recesses would cause an equal number of blows
with one revolution. In order to provide for the beating of casks of various sizes

page_text: I provide a regulator p, which is recessed with cam like recesses at equal radial
distances to correspond with positions of double levers c, c; this regulator p rests
upon the lugs a, a, and is fitted to the frame A, but is loose, and can be moved
round for the purpose of varying the stroke of levers c, c, and is held in position
by a clip having one end screwed and fitted with a hand wheel 8, and working
through a guide q fixed to regulator p. When any alteration in the stroke is
desired the hand wheels is turned back or slacked, and a slight push causes
the regulator p to move round in either direction, either to lengthen or shorten
the stroke.
When it has been moved to the proper position the hand wheels is tightened up,
and will remain in this position as long as required by means of a clip r clasping or
gripping the frame A.
The regulator p, as shown in Fig. 2, when pushed from right to left will lengthen
the stroke of levers c, c, and consequently a heavier blow will be given; when
moved from left to right the stroke will be shortened and the blow lighter. Stops
are provided in this regulator p which can be moved to shorten the stroke from
half to any proportion of full stroke necessary. The frame A is supported on
standards e, e, which are bolted to the floor.
B, Fig. 1, is a cask on end on truck C, shown in position to be filled from
hopper D, and to be acted upon by levers c, c.
Letters on Drawings refer to following parts:-
a, a, lugs on frame to carry double levers c, c; b, b, cylinders attached to
frame A; c, c, double levers with cast iron heads d, d, as beaters; e, e, standards
to support frame A; f, valve case; g, wheel attached to cam shaft n with handle t;
h, cam for raising valve spindle i; i, valve spindle; j, pressure pipe connected with
top row of cylinders from valve case f; k, pressure pipe connected with bottom row
of cylinders from valve case f; l, exhaust pipe; m, pressure pipe from reservoir to
valve case; n, spindle of cam h and wheel g; o, clip for fastening wheel in such
a position that valve u is kept open, so that levers c, c, are extended, and cask B
on truck C can be moved between; p, regulator, as already described; q, guide on
regulator p for clip r; r, clip; 8, hand wheel on clip r; t, handle on wheel g;
2, D valve.
I do not limit my Invention to this particular manner as illustrated in my
Drawings, as a similar result may be obtained by having a frame made without
the cavities and connecting pipes to the cylinders, and the action of the valve
may be obtained by placing a weight on the top end of spindle in place of the
valve spindle being pistoned in the manner above described. Having now par-
ticularly described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which
the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion
that what I claim to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is, the application
to and use of water or fluid under pressure to machinery for beating casks or
receptacles, as hereinbefore described; and, secondly, the valve of peculiar con-
struction having one end of the spindle smaller than the other, whereby the action
is made sympathetic in so far as the pressure in the valve case must act with equal
force upon the pistoned part of the spindle as upon the D valve, which could not
be obtained by any other means.
In witness whereof, I, the said Brice Tydeman, have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
B. TYDEMAN. (L.S.)