IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING OR CLEANSING CASKS OR BARRELS."
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Adams, of Cork, in the County of Cork,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING OR
CLEANSING CASKS OR BARRELS.""
Sealed the 3rd November 1868, and dated the 26th May 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Adams at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th May 1868.
I, JOHN ADAMS, of Cork, in the County of Cork, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
WASHING OR CLEANSING CASKS OR BARRELS," to be as follows:-
My improvements in machinery for washing casks or barrels have
relation to that particular class of machines wherein casks or barrels
are caused to revolve end over end and in the direction of their cir-
cumference as well as every intermediate position by the rotation of
the main or driving shaft on which the machinery is suspended, the
centres of rotation of the main shaft never changing, whilst the cask

page_text: by the action of the machinery revolves in a continuously changing
position, or the cask may be caused to revolve in any desired position
for any length of time for the more effectual cleansing of any particular
part of the interior.
I form two circular frames or rims, one fitting within the other, the
inner frame being fitted to move freely around the circumference
of the outer frame and resting upon suitable bearing plates attached
thereto. In two suitable standards the outer circular frame is sus-
pended on two main shafts in the direction of its diameter; one shaft
is fixed to the outer circular frame and revolves with it, whilst the
other shaft is stationary and the outer circular frame revolves upon
it. On the inner end of the stationary shaft which projects within the
outer circular frame a pinion is fixed, whilst on the other end is a ratchet
wheel into which a pall stop gears by which the shaft is prevented
moving in one direction, though free to move in the opposite whilst
the outer circular frame revolves upon it. On the circumference of the
inner frame I form or attach thereto a spur wheel extending entirely
round the periphery, which gears into the pinion on the stationary shaft.
On the inner circular frame are fitted longitudinal bars in the direction
of the length of the cask, from one side of which two fixed straps
fitting the circular form of the cask project; into the recess thus formed
the cask is dropped and secured on the opposite side by chains or straps
hooked on each side of the longitudinal bars. By means of the combined
rotary motion of the outer circular frame on the main shaft and that of
the inner circular frame through the spur wheel & fixed pinion the
.cask in its revolutions is caused to assume, the various positions already
described, or by throwing the stop pall out of the ratchet wheel and
allowing the pinion to revolve with the spur wheel the cask will rotate
without changing its position. Water mixed with gravel, sand, or chains
is used for cleansing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Adams in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 23rd November 1868.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-first
year of Her reign, did, for Herself; Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said John Adams, Her special licence that I, the
said John Adams, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others, as I, the said John Adams, my executors, administrators, 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 MACHINERY FOR
WASHING OR CLEANSING CASKS OR BARRELS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Adams, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain 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 John Adams, 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 thereof; that is to say:-
My improvements in machinery for washing casks or barrels have
relation to that particular class of machines wherein casks or barrels.
are caused to revolve end over end and in the direction of their cir-
cumference as well as every intermediate position by the rotation of
the main or driving shaft on which the machinery is suspended, the:
centres of rotation of the main shaft never changing, whilst the cask.
by the action of the machinery revolves in a continuously changing.
position; or the cask may be caused to revolve in any desired position
for any given time for the more effectual cleansing of any particular
part of the interior.
I form two circular frames or rims; one fitting within the other, the
inner frame being fitted to move freely around the circumference of
the outer frame, and resting upon suitable bearing plates attached.
thereto. In two suitable standards the outer circular frame is suspended.
ou two main shafts in the direction of its diameter; one shaft is fixed:

page_text: to the outer circular frame and revolves with it, whilst the other shaft
On the
is stationary and the outer circular frame revolves upon it.
inner end of the stationary shaft which projects within the outer circular
frame a pinion is fixed, whilst on the other end is a ratchet wheel into
which a pall stop gears by which the shaft is prevented moving in one
direction, though free to move in the opposite whilst the outer circular
frame revolves upon it. On the circumference of the inner frame I
form or attach thereto a spur wheel extending entirely round the
periphery which gears into the pinion on the stationary shaft. On
the inner circular frame are fitted longitudinal bars in the direction
of the length of the cask, from one side of which two fixed straps
fitting the circular form of the cask project; into the recess thus formed
the cask is dropped, and secured on the opposite side by chains or straps
hooked on each side of the longitudinal bars. By means of the com-
bined rotary motion of the outer circular frame on the main shaft, and
that of the inner circular frame through the spur wheel and fixed pinion,
the cask in its revolutions is caused to assume the various positions
already described, or by throwing the stop pall out of the ratchet wheel
and allowing the pinion to revolve with the spur wheel the cask will
rotate without changing its position. Water mixed with gravel, sand,
or chains is used for cleansing.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood
I shall now proceed to describe the illustrative Figures upon the ex-
planatory Sheet of Drawings, which I have hereunto attached for the
purpose of shewing the manner in which my said improvements may
be judiciously carried out into practice.
Figure 1, Sheet A, is a longitudinal elevation, shewn partly in section;
Figure 2, a transverse view, also in part section.
A is an outer frame or rim supported in the standards b, b, by the
two bearing shafts c, c; d, inner frame or rim fitting into the outer
frame, and having spur teeth e, e, cast thereon which gear into the
fixed pinion f; g, g, ratchet wheel and pall by which the pinion is
prevented moving; h, h, belt pulleys for driving; j, j, j, j, bearing plates
for supporting and guiding inner frame; k, k, longitudinal bars which
with the fixed straps m, m, form a recess into which the cask n is placed
whilst it is secured in its position by the hinged strap o. Although this
arrangement shews a machine for cleansing only one cask at once, it
may be arranged to cleanse a larger number without any deviation

page_text: from the principle, but by preference I use separate machines for
cleansing each cask, as the operation is done more efficiently.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into practice, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not
restrict or confine myself to the precise details or arrangements which
I have had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be
made therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features
of my Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly. The general arrangement and construction of machinery for
cleansing casks or barrels, as herein described and delineated in Figures
1 and 2, Sheet A, of the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The novel arrangement and construction of mechanism
which causes the inner frame to revolve within the outer frame, whereby
the cask is constantly changing its position, or by which the cask may
be caused to revolve in any given position for any length of time.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Adams, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of October, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
DAN. F. BUCKLEY.
JOHN ADAMS. (L.s.)