IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CASKS AND OTHER RECEPTACLES FOR CONTAINING OIL, PETROLEUM, AND OTHER LIQUIDS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Augustus Collingridge, of 82, Cheapside, London,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CASKS
AND OTHER RECEPTACLES FOR CONTAINING OIL, PETROLEUM, AND OTHER
LIQUIDS."
Sealed the 18th March 1864, and dated the 23rd September 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Augustus Collingridge
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd September 1863.
I, AUGUSTUS COLLINGRIDGE, of 82, Cheapside, London, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
CASKS AND OTHER RECEPTACLES FOR CONTAINING OIL, PETROLEUM, AND OTHER
LIQUIDS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the application of layers, strips, or sheets of gutta
percha to the internal surfaces of the staves of casks, and their attachment by
heat, or by an adhesive solution, or by fastenings to the staves. The gutta
percha is to lap over the edges of each stave. In some cases I propose to
harden the gutta percha by oxide of iron or other well known means. Or I
apply internal sheathings or layers or veneers of wood of a tough and close
texture to resist the penetration of liquids; such sheaths could be removed and
others replaced at any time. Or I apply sheet iron, copper, tin, or alloys such
as Betts's metal or Muntz's metal, or layers of wood and gutta percha com-
bined.

page_text: The Invention is applicable to wooden and iron casks or other receptacles.
Old staves spoilt by the action of deleterious agents, and termed by the trade
"stinkers," can be rendered useful by means of any of the above sheathings.
The heads of the casks being similarly treated, the whole are to be put together
and hooped. The bunghole and bung should be sheathed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Augustus Collingridge in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 21st March 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, AUGUSTUS
COLLINGRIDGE, of 82, Cheapside, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Augustus Collingridge, Her special licence that I,
the said Augustus Collingridge, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Augustus Collingridge, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CASKS AND
OTHER RECEPTACLES FOR CONTAINING OIL, PETROLEUM, AND OTHER LIQUIDS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Augustus Collingridge, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Augustus Collingridge, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the saine is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
My Invention consists in the application of layers, strips, veneers, or sheets
of gutta percha (or other substances herein-after mentioned) to form the

page_text: internal surface or lining of casks or of separate staves of casks, or of other
receptacles for containing liquids, such as oil, petroleum, wine, beer, and alcho-
holic and volatile liquids, such surfaces or linings being rendered capable
of removal and preservative of the casks, staves, or receptacle for liquid,
so as to render them or either of them serviceable for future useful
purposes.
The method of operating so as to fulfil the objects of the Invention
may be varied in many ways. Gutta percha may be caused to adhere
to the surface or surfaces aforesaid by its application in a heated con-
dition as a plastic substance or as a chemical solution of an adhesive
character, or it may be applied in thin layers or sheets and held in
position by an adhesive solution, such as a solution of india-rubber, marine
glue, or other known adhesive compound or substance, or by mechanical fast-
enings. When the staves are treated separately, I cause the gutta percha or
other plastic material to lap over the edge of each stave, and also beyond the
extremities, in order that when placed together and hooped they may form a
most perfect and tight union capable of containing dangerous and subtil liquids,
such as petroleum and other oils, without risk of leakage. In some cases I
harden the gutta percha or other plastic material by oxide of iron or other
well known means, in order to toughen the same and render it more durable.
In lieu of gutta percha I also apply the gum obtained from the juice of the
valata, indigenous to Guiana and other tropical districts, which gum is known
as a substitute or equivalent for gutta percha. The other equivalents which I
apply to my Invention are malleable glass or metals or metallic alloys, sheet
iron and steel, aluminium, lead, copper, tin, or their alloys, or Betts' metal
Muntz's metal. And also in certain cases shellac gum and white and other
wax may be applied. Or I apply sheathings or facings of wood or veneers,
such as of oak or other hard wood or cork (by preference rendered impervious
by saturation in hydrocarbon waterproof solutions), either separately or in com-
bination with any one or more of the aforesaid substances. Old staves spoilt
by the action of deleterious or penetrating liquids or agents, usually termed by
the trade "stinkers," can be rendered seviceable by means of any of the fore-
going applications, sheathings, or facings, and the heads of the casks being
similarly treated as the staves, the whole are to be set up, put together, and
hooped round by the cooper. The bung and bunghole may also, if adviseable,
be treated in a similar manner to the cask, so as to perfect the hermetical
closing of the cask.
Although I have described several useful materials applicable to my Inven-
tion, it is evident that some others may be found adaptable to the purpose, and I

page_text: reserve to myself the right of such applications, since they would be consistent
with the general tenour of this Specification and the objects intended to be
accomplished thereby.
Having thus stated in which method or methods my Invention is to be per-
formed, I desire it to be understood that I claini under the herein in part
recited Letters Patent, the application to casks, staves of casks, and other
separate portions thereof, or to any other receptacles for liquids, whether of
metal or of other material, of any of the before-mentioned materials separately
or in combination, and also of any others equivalent as substitutes in lieu thereof
in the manner or manners herein described, or any other manners suitable for
the purpose.
In witness whereof, I, the said Augustus Collingridge, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of March, in the year
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
AUG. COLLINGRIDGE. (L.S.)