Improvements in Apparatus and Machinery for the Manufacture of Casks.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 31st Oct., 1892-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1992
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus and Machinery for the Manufacture
of Casks.
I, ALLEN RANSOME, of Stanley Works, King's Road, Chelsea, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for the treating of staves for brewer's and
other strong casks before being bent into the form of a barrel, to prevent the
breaking of the staves; and also to improvements in the machines for close-
trussing casks and for driving on the permanent iron hoops.
In the apparatus for steaming the staves I adapt a distributor or nozzle to the
top of the pipe which supplies steam to the steaming cones or chambers in which
the stout casks are placed to render them pliable before being bent into the form
of a cask. The distributor is made in the form of a circular box the top and
bottom of which are solid, while the ring of metal forming the body of the box is
perforated with a number of holes drilled at such angles as to cause the steam
as it escapes through them to impinge more immediately upon the centre portions
of the staves. By this means the staves are caused to become most pliable in
the part where they require to be bent the most suddenly. I may superheat
the steam before being passed through the distributor; this can be done in any
known way.
In some cases it is found preferable to fire the cask after it has been set up
instead of steaming it, and in such cases it greatly facilitates the bending of the
staves to moisten their outer surfaces when the fire is heating them inside. This
is usually done by applying water with a swab or brush. I effect the same object
in a more effectual manner by applying live steam, superheated or otherwise by
means of a dispersing ring. This ring is made of steam pipe and is somewhat
larger in diameter than the centre of the cask, which is placed concentrically in it
while at the same time the inside of the cask is being heated by means of a fire
in a close cresset. The inner surface of the dispersed ring is perforated with a
number of small holes drilled at such angles as to cause the hot steam as it issues
from them to impinge upon the backs of the staves near their centre thus
keeping them moist and hot in the part where they require to be bent most
suddenly.
Machines for close-trussing tight casks and for driving on the permanent iron
hoops I construct on the principle of an hydraulic press, and stand the cask on a
table which is bolted to the head of the ram in the manner commonly employed in
trussing slack barrels and the lighter descriptions of small tight casks. The truss
hoops are driven tightly on the cask by means of a series of arms hinged to a
stationary head and furnished with drivers, and pressed inwards towards the cask
by weights attached to each arm.
Any number of these hinged arms may be employed, for the smaller sizes of
casks 4 or 5 will suffice, while for casks of large diameters 8, 10 or even 12 may
be advantageously used so as to press the hoop evenly and equally at the same
moment throughout its entire circumference. In order that the cask may not
foul the drivers when on its upward course an arrangement is added by which
all the arms can be simultaneously opened out from the centre by moving a single
lever. This is done by means of inclines upon a carrier to which a partial rotary
motion can be imparted.
In order to ensure that each truss hoop is driven with the desired amount of
force, and to prevent accident from driving them too hard I insert a safety valve
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page_text: in the supply pipe from the hydraulic accumulator, which valve is furnished with
a lever upon which slides a weight to keep it closed. This valve may also serve
as the exhaust valve from the ram and can be opened with a foot lever by the
man operating the machine. The amount of pressure to be communicated by
the drivers to the truss hoops is regulated by shifting the weight on the safety
valve nearer or further from the fulcrum. As soon as the hoop has been pressed
tight enough the safety valve opens and the upward movement of the cask is
instantly arrested.
For some descriptions of casks it may be found desirable to drive all the truss
hoops on one end of the cask simultaneously or all the hoops may be driven
simultaneously at both ends of the cask by placing its lower end in a cradle or
frame carrying projections on which the truss hoops rest, and which act as drivers
when the cask is forced down into its lower truss hoops by the pressure communi-
cated by the upper drivers.
In order to save time and economize power when trussing the smaller sizes of
casks I arrange to stop the table automatically as it descends at any desired distance
from the bottom of its course. I attach to the under side of the table a vertical
rod furnished with an adjustable stop collar which can be set at any desired spot
⚫ on the rod. The rod passes through a lug screwed into the foot lever which
operates the exhaust valve but on the opposite end of the lever to that to which
the treadle is fixed. Thus when the table has descended to any required distance
the collar on the vertical rod comes in contact with the lug on the lever and
presses it down thus closing the escape. To prevent the too sudden action on
this valve, a spring is inserted under the table in connection with the stop rod
which thus causes the valve to close without a shock.
The above improvements apply equally to machines for driving truss hoops
and to machines for driving the permanent hoops on casks excepting that in the
latter machines steel driving plates are substituted for the truss hoop drivers to suit
"the thinner hoops.
As it is sometimes desirable when driving light permanent iron hoops to
communicate a second pressure to them, I mount a plate or platform to carry
the cask in a circular recess formed in the top of the rising table. To this
circular plate is attached a lever by which a rotating motion can be imparted
to the cask, the range of rotation being equal to half the distance between any
two of the hoop drivers. Thus in the second pressure the drivers act on the
hoop between the points at which the first pressure was applied and so the hoops
are driven perfectly true and evenly.
Dated this 30th day of January 1892.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus and Machinery for the Manufacture
of Casks.
I, ALLEN RANSOME, of Stanley Works, Kings Road, Chelsea, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, 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 relates to apparatus for the treating of staves for brewers and
other strong casks before being bent into the form of a barrel to prevent the
breaking of the staves; and also to improvements in the machines for close trussing
casks and for driving on the permanent iron hoops.
In the apparatus for steaming the staves I adapt a distributor or nozzle to the
top of the pipe which supplies steam to the steaming cones or chambers in which
the stout staves are placed to render them pliable before being bent into the form
of a cask. The distributor is made in the form of a circular box the top and

page_text: bottom of which are solid, while the ring of metal forming the body of the box is
perforated with a number of holes drilled at such angles as to cause the steam as
it escapes through them to impinge more immediately upon the centre portions of
the staves. By this means the staves are caused to become most pliable in the part
where they require to be bent the most suddenly.
Figure 1 of the annexed drawings is a vertical section and shows staves a to form
a cask set up in hoops a¹ upon a floor b ready for steaming; a cone or chamber
covers or encloses the hoops. d is the distributor which I provide to direct jets of
steam on to the stares at the middle part where the greatest curvature is required;
which curvature has to be produced by bending the stares. d' are perforations
around the distributor by which the steam issues. is the pipe supplying the
steam. is a stop cock. I may superheat the steam before being passed through
the distributor; this can be done in any known way.
In some cases it is found preferable to fire the cask after it has been set up
instead of steaming it, and in such cases it greatly facilitates the bending of the staves
to moisten their outer surfaces when the fire is heating them inside. This is usually
done by applying water with a swab or brush. I effect the same object in a more
effectual manner by applying live steam superheated or otherwise by means of a
dispersing ring. This ring is made of steam pipe and is somewhat larger in
diameter than the centre of the cask, which is placed concentrically in it while at
the same time the inside of the cask is being heated by means of a fire in a
close cresset. The inner surface of the dispersed ring is perforated with a number
of small holes drilled at such angles as to cause the hot steam as it issues from
them to impinge upon the backs of the staves near their centre thus keeping them
moist and hot in the part where they require to be bent most suddenly.
Figure 2 of the drawings shows staves set up as in Figure 1 but with a fire
within; a fire lighted upon the floor is indicated by the drawing but the use of a
cresset is preferable. is a curved pipe forming a ring around the exterior of the
cask, it is perforated with holes at and the steam issuing from these holes
impinges on the exterior of the staves where the greatest amount of curvature is
required.
Machines for close trussing tight casks and for driving on the permanent iron
hoops construct on the principle of an hydraulic press, and stand the cask on a
table which is bolted to the head of the ram in the manner commonly employed in
trussing slack barrels and the lighter descriptions of small tight casks. The truss
hoops are driven tightly on the cask by means of a series of arms hinged to a
stationary head and furnished with drivers, and pressed inwards towards the cask
by weights attached to each arm.
Any number of these hinged arms may be employed for the smaller sizes of
casks 4 or 5 will suffice, while for easks of large diameters 8 or 10 even 12 may
be advantageously used so as to press the hoop evenly and equally at the same
moment throughout its entire circumference. In order that the cask may not foul
the drivers when on its upward course an arrangement is added by which all the
arms can be simultaneously opened out from the centre by moving a single lever.
This is done by means of inclines upon a carrier to which a partial rotary motion
can be imparted.
In order to ensure that each truss hoop is driven with the desired amount of
force, and to prevent accident from driving them too hard I insert a safety or relief
valve in the supply pipe from the hydraulic accumulator, which valve is furnished
with a lever upon which slides a weight to keep it closed. This valve may also
serve as the exhaust valve from the ram and can be opened with a foot lever by the
man operating the machine. The amount of pressure to be communicated by the
drivers to the truss hoops is regulated by shifting the weight on the relief valve
nearer or further from the fulcrum. As soon as the hoop has been pressed tight
enough the relief valve opens and the upward movement of the cask is instantly
arrested.
In order to save time and economize power when trussing the smaller sizes of
0

page_text: casks I arrange to stop the table automatically as it descends at any desired distance
from the bottom of its course. 1 attach to the under side of the table a vertical
rod furnished with an adjustable stop collar which can be set at any desired spot
on the rod. The rod passes through a lug screwed into the foot lever which
operates the exhaust valve but on the opposite end of the lever to that to which the
treadle is fixed. Thus when the table has descended to any required distance the
collar on the vertical rod comes in contact with the lug on the lever and presses it
down thus closing the escape. To prevent the too sudden action on this valve, a
spring is inserted under the table in connection with the stop rod which thus causes
the valve to close without a shock.
Figure 3 is a front elevation and Figure 4 is a side elevation (both partly in
section) of a hoop driving machine in accordance with my invention. is a strong
bed fixed upon a suitable foundation and into it the cylinder of an hydraulic press
is inserted. ii are columns fixed to the bed and carrying the head k. is a ram
working in the cylinder h, it has a table m fixed upon its upper end which rises and
falls with the rain and is guided by the columns i. n is the cask on which the
hoops n¹ are to be driven. The cask may be supported either on the table m or on
a turn table provided upon m as herein after stated. oo' are levers jointed to the
head and weighted so that they tend inwards towards the centre. 020² are drivers
or projections upon the levers which catch upon the upper edge of the hoop and
retain it whilst the cask is raised by the hydraulic press. The levers o o' have
short arms o at their upper ends and over these is a ring or disc p mounted upon
the head on a central pivot. The ring or disc is notched at pl pl to accomodate the
ends of the arms o³ and to allow the levers o o' to fall in towards the centre until
they come against the cask. When however the ring or disc is turned around its
pivot through a small angle the notches p' pass away from the arms of and the
inclined sides of the notches come against the arms. The levers o o' are thus lifted
and supported so as to remain out of contact with the cask. The ring p is moved
by means of the lever o'; the joint which connects this lever with the head is
pivoted so as to admit of a lateral movement of the arm and the arm being coupled
with the ring by a link 2 is caused to turn. g is a pipe which connects the
hydraulic cylinder with the accumulator and is a valve which when opened by
means of the handle admits the water under pressure to the cylinder and causes
the ram to rise. 8 is the relief valve, it is on a passage t which when open allows
water to pass out from the cylinder h. The valve s is kept to its seat by a weight u
on a lever the fulcrum of which is at vi but the valve lifts and allows water to
escape when the pressure upon the hoop is sufficient. The valve can also be lifted
by depressing the treddle ², this is done after closing the supply valve » in order to
cause the table to descend. The table in its descent is automatically stopped when
it has come down sufficiently far by the collar wo which is clamped on the rod w'.
This rod is connected loosely with the table m and is held in the position shown by
the spring which can yield for a short distance only. The rod passes through a
lug on the lever v and when the collar w comes against this lug the valves is
closed down to its seat although the foot of the workman may still be upon the
treddle.
2°
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For some descriptions of casks it may be found desirable to drive all the truss
hoops on one end of the cask simultaneously or all the hoops may be driven
simultaneously at both ends of the cask by placing its lower end in a cradle or
frame carrying projections on which the truss hoops rest and which act as drivers
when the cask is forced down into its lower truss hoops by the pressure communicated
by the upper drivers.
The above improvements apply equally to machines for driving truss hoops and
to machines for driving the permanent hoops on casks excepting that in the latter
machines steel driving plates are substituted for the truss hoop drivers to suit the
thinner hoops.
As it is sometimes desirable when driving light permanent iron hoops to com-
municate a second pressure to them I as already stated provide means for turning

page_text: the cask whilst in the machine. I mount a plate or platform to carry the cask in a
circular recess formed in the top of the rising table. To this circular plate is
attached a lever c by which a rotating motion can be imparted to the cask, the
range of rotation being equal to half the distance between any two of the hoop
drivers. Thus in the second pressure the drivers act on the hoop between the
points at which the first pressure was applied and so the hoops are driven perfectly
true and evenly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. Apparatus substantially as described whereby jets of steam are caused to
impinge on the centre parts of the staves when they are set up within the steaming
cone or chamber.
2. Apparatus substantially as described whereby jets of steam are caused to
impinge on the centre parts of staves on the outside whilst the staves are heated by
a fire within.
3. In a machine for trussing and hooping casks the combination substantially as
described of a rising and falling table operated by an hydraulic press, and a
stationary head having arms or levers jointed to it carrying drivers which engage
with the hoops and retain them whilst the cask rises with the table upon which it is
supported.
4. In a machine for trussing and hooping casks the combination substantially as
described of a rising and falling table, an hydraulic press actuating the same, a
stationary head carrying hoop drivers and a weighted relief valve so arranged as to
arrest the upward movement of the cask when a suitable prearranged pressure upon
the hoop which is being driven is attained.
5. In a machine for trussing and hooping casks the combination substantially as
described of a rising and falling table, an hydraulic press actuating the same, a
stationary head provided with hoop drivers, and an outlet valve controlled by a
stop moving in connection with the table and so arranged as to stop automatically
the downward movement of the table at any prearranged point.
Dated this 31st day of October 1892.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.