Improvements in the Manufacture of Barrels, Tubs, and the like, and in Machinery or Apparatus employed therein.
Year: 1892

page_text: No text detected.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Barrels, Tubs, and the like,
and in Machinery or Apparatus employed therein.
I, HENRY CAMPBELL, of Baltimore City, in the State of Maryland, United
States of America, 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 the mode of manufacture of barrels, casks, kegs and
other receptacles formed of staves in which the staves are individually crozed, and
also usually chamfered, howelled and trimmed at the ends, before being assembled
to form barrels or other packages or receptacles, and consists in certain improve-
ments in such mode of manufacture and in the apparatus therefor.
My invention more particularly consists in certain steps of procedure constituting
an improved method of manufacture, and in certain combinations of parts con-
stituting improved apparatus for carrying such method into practical effect, which
steps of procedure and combinations of parts are hereinafter pointed out in the
distinct statements of claim.
My improvements in this manufacture have for their objects to simplify and
shorten the operation of making the barrels and other articles, to decrease the
number of times that the articles require to be handled, to simplify and cheapen
the machinery by which the crozing, chamfering and trimming of the staves and
the setting up and firing of the barrel is performed, to enable comparatively
unskilled labor to be more fully utilized, and at the same time to maintain or
improve the quality of the product.
I will first describe that part of my invention which consists in the improved
method or series of operations by which the barrels are made, irrespective of the
particular machinery employed.
Supposing the stock or staves to be used to be already formed of approximately
the length desired, and jointed, the first step or operation consists in crozing the
staves individually or when uncombined permanently in the barrel or other article.
This may be performed by any well known or suitable machine. I prefer however
to employ the machinery hereinafter particularly described and illustrated. I also
prefer at this time to chamfer the staves and trim them at the ends to the exact
length required. The next step is to assemble the upper of the permanent heads
of the barrel, or other article, and the staves in proximately upright position
around it, into proper form to be partly hooped. This I perform by the aid of a
suitable setting up machine, preferably but not necessarily, improved machinery of
the character hereinafter set forth. The next step is to apply the permanent hoops
(as distinguished from truss-hoops) to that end of the barrel in which the head 'is
situated. The next step is to fire the barrel and render it pliable for the
windlassing or compressing operation by which the staves at the other end of the
barrel are forced in to meet each other along their edges. This operation of firing
may be however, and is preferably, by the machinery which I have devised and
hereinafter described, commenced as soon as the setting up of the barrel is begun, a
firing stove being combined with the setting up machine. The next step is to
windlass the barrel or otherwise force in the staves at the other end of the barrel,
the other permanent barrel head being at the same time inserted, and to apply the
remaining permanent head hoop and the other permanent hoops. The barrel is
then complete. If a half-barrel, tub, or similar vessel is made the operation will of
course differ from the above in the omission of the second head and head hoop.
In order to make more clear the foregoing description of my improved method,

page_text: as well as to illustrate the mechanical improvements comprised in my invention I
have shown in the accompanying drawings machinery for carrying out said method
in practice said machinery embodying also the improved mechanical combinations
of my invention.
In said drawings,
Figure is a vertical sectional view of a crozing, chamfering and trimming
machine embodying certain of my improvements.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the clamps for the stave and their actuating
mechanism.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the clamps and brackets.
Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the cutter-heads constituting a portion of the
oscillating knife frame, with its knives and knife-adjusting devices.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the same from the inner side.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the same from the outer side.
Figure 8 is a perspective view from the front side.
Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional view of the same on line IX-IX, Figure 7.
Figure 10 is a longitudinal vertical section of another form of crozing, chanfering
and trimming machine, embodying certain of my improvements and adapted for the
operation of the crozing and other knives in straight lines, the guides which direct
the knives in such reciprocation being provided with pressers by which the stave
can be temporarily flattened at its ends during the crozing operation, said pressers
being also yielding to permit the knives to come within the desired uniform distance
of the outer face of the stave.
Figure 11 is a plan view of the same.
Figure 12 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the same.
Figure 13 is a vertical sectional view taken in a direction crosswise of the
position of the stave illustrating the construction of the presser which is carried by
each of the knife guides.
Figure 14 is a sectional view taken in a direction transverse to Figure 13 and on
a larger scale, showing also a portion of the knife-carrying stock and knives.
Figure 15 is an end view of another form of crozing machine containing certain
of my improvements and more especially adapted for bringing a heavy pressure to
bear upon the stave and hold it in a curved position while it is being operated upon.
In this machine the stave-holding and compressing clamps are freely mounted upon
slides, which slides are operated by cams or excentrics mounted upon the shaft or
axis upon which the knives oscillate.
Figure 16 is a transverse vertical section of the same.
Figure 17 is a rear view of the same.
Figure 18 is a horizontal sectional view on line XVIII-XVIII, Figure 15.
Figure 19 is an edge view of the end of a stave finished by this machine.
Figure 20 is a view showing an improved machine for setting up and at the same
time firing the barrel, this view being partly in section and illustrating also the
means for removing and replacing the barrel head clamp or holder.
Figure 21 is a vertical sectional view of another form of setting up machine
which comprises additional means for temporarily holding in place the staves,
consisting of sharp radial pins upon which the staves can be forced or driven, as by
the tap of a hammer, as they are successively set up to form the barrel, with which
pins are combined means for projecting and retracting them. These pius may be
employed in conjunction with the upwardly and downwardly movable stave-holding
fingers which are shown in this figure, and in Figure 20, or may be employed
independently of said fingers without the presence or use of the latter.
Figure 22 is a horizontal sectional view on line XXII-XXII, Figure 21.
Figure 23 is a detail view of the point of one of said pins.
I will now describe the improved crozing machinery which I have devised for
this manufacture, the new combinations of parts being hereinafter set forth in the
claims. Referring to Figures 1 to 9, inclusive, of the drawings-

page_text: 1 indicates the supports or legs of a suitable frame, connected at the top by a
front rail 2 and rear rail 3 bolted to the legs. 4, 4, indicate brackets mounted
rigidly on the frame, preferably on front rail 2, against the inner faces of which
brackets the stave to be operated on is firmly held by clamps 5, 5. The latter
have horizontal arms or feet 6 pivotully mounted on the frame or on the brackets 4,
the latter construction being illustrated, by bolts 7. The vertical or upwardly
extending parts of the clamps have biting edges or portions 8 which conform in
contour to the inner faces of the brackets. The best contour is an arc corresponding
more or less with the barrel or vessel to be produced-that is to say, an arc formed
on, or approximately on, the same radius as the barrel or vessel. It will be observed
that this form of clamp can obtain a very powerful hold upon the stave, so that
the stave is not only firmly grasped but can be temporarily bent to the proper
And this
contour, namely the contour which it will assume in the finished vessel.
can be done by comparatively small expenditure of power by the operator. This
results from the fact that the stave clamps are so mounted, oscillating in planes
substantially parallel with the length of the stave, that the movement of the biting
edge or part of the clamp towards the stave is much less than the movement
parallel with the stave, and from the further fact that the power is applied to the
clamp in substantially the latter direction. I prefer to actuate the clamps by toggle
links 9, 9 pivoted to the clamps at 10 and pivoted at 11 to a sliding block 12. The
block fits in a guide 13 and is held down therein by edge-plates 14, and is normally
The spring
pressed and held in a direction to retract the clamps by a spring 15.
is held on an arm 16 carried by the guide, and bears against the mner side of the
block. The guide is rigidly secured to the front rail 2, or other appropriate part
of the frame. The block is moved inward to spread the toggle by a hand lever 17
passing through and engaging the side of an aperture in the block and having a
fulcrum at 18 between two adjustable bolts or screws 19, 20, scated in the guide.
The lower end of the lever is rounded so as to work easily between the contiguous
ends of the screws and is held thereby from disengagement. It will be observed
that by thrusting the hand lever inwards the stave will be clamped. The lower
edge of the stave rests on wooden blocks 21 held in dovetailed grooves 22 formed
in the brackets. These blocks engage the stave on the under side at the places
where the crozing and other knives emerge after having completed their cuts, and
prevent any splintering of the stave as the knives cut their way out.
I will now desoribe the means by which the stave is crozed and otherwise shaped.
23 is a vertically movable frame, which is most conveniently mounted, so as to be
retained in proper relation to the stave holding devices and yet have a free up and
down movement, by means of pivot or hinge pins 24. These pins are supported in
the ears 25 of stands 26, the latter being held in the longitudinal groove 27 of the
rear rail 3, in which one or both of the stands longitudinally adjustable so as to
enable the machine to be adapted to staves of different lengths. The pins 24 pass
Said arms are
through the rear ends of arms 28 which are a part of the frame 23.
united at their front ends by a longitudinal bar 29, which is adjustably clamped to
one or both of the arms so as to permit of a slight longitudinal extension of the
machine as already mentioned, the adjustment corresponding with that of one or
both of the stands 26. One or both of the brackets and clamps 4. 5, is correspondingly
adjustable on the rail 2.
The frame 23 is actuated by any suitable power device. I prefer a treadle 30
and spring 31, the former for depressing the frame to make the croze, chamfer, etc.,
and the latter for lifting and restoring the frame to its initial position. The treadle
is pivoted at 31° to the floor or other base, extends to the front of the machine
within reach of the operator's foot, and is connected with the frame 23. This
connection may be formed of a rod or rods 32, branched as indicated at 33, and
hinged in blocks 34 which are longitudinally adjustable and securable on the bar 29
by set screws 35. The spring 31 is connected with the frame, and with the treadle
or with the rod or rods 32. In order that the operator by sidewise pressure on the
treadle may not displace or tend to displace or spring out of line the frame 23 1

page_text: provide the treadle with guides 36 which permit it to move only in vertical planes
and impart only a direct downward pull to the frame.
Referring especially to Figs. 5 to 9, 37, 37 indicate the crozing knives.
They
are provided with longitudinal slots 38 and are seated in the inclined faces of guide
blocks 39 between the edge flanges 40. They are secured to the blocks by clamp
screws 41 which pass through said slots and engage screw threaded apertures in the
blocks. The blocks 39 are situated one on each side of the arm 28 and secured by
a bolt 42 which passes through the blocks and an aperture or slot in the arm.
It
will be seen that by this mode of securing the crozing knives they may be adjusted
individually diagonally towards or from each other on the blocks 39 to bring their
points into proper mutual relation, or adjusted together by moving the blocks
towards or from the end of the arm, to bring the knives to the right distance from
the stave-holding devices to make the proper depth of croze. The blocks are
directed in this adjustment by channels 44 formed in the arm, in which channels
the blocks fit.
The chamfering knife is shown at 45 and is mounted just above the crozing knives
on a block 46, to which it is adjustably secured by slot 47 and screw 48, as already
described in the case of the crozing knives. The block 46 is seated in a channel 49 and
clamped, when adjusted, by a boit 50 passing through a slot 51 in the arm.
chamfering knife has an inclined foot 52 provided with a cutting edge 53, adapted
to chamfer the end of the stave from a point at or near the croze to the end.
The
54 is the trimming knife mounted upon an off-set or projection 55 of the arm so
that it will cut off the end of the stave at the proper distance from the croze. This
knife has a downwardly directed edge 56 transverse to the stave, is seated in a
channel 57 on the arm and is adjustably secured by a bolt or screw 58 passing
through a slot 59 in the knife and engaging the arm. As the frame and knives
descend the trimming knife 54 passes down agaiust and along the outer face of the
bracket 4, which contact of the two trimming knives necessitates an accurate
movement of all of the knives and perfect shaping of the staves, and also prevents
any splintering off upon the outside of the stave at its ends under the action of
the trimming knives, the material of the stave being supported by the brackets 4
along the lines on which the trimming knives operate.
The ejection of the finished stave is effected by the upward movement of the
trimming knives, or any equivalent projection carried by the frame 28, the stave
being permitted after the descent of said frame and action of the knives to spring
or vield back slightly upon being released by the clamps so that the inner corner or
face of the stave will be sufficiently over the knives 54, which latter are preferably
flat and blunt on their upper edges, or over said equivalent projection, to be engaged
by said knives or by said projection or projections and lifted clear of the clamps
as the knife frame rises and be thrown or permitted to slide over the back of the
machine.
To recapitulate briefly the operation of the machine the stave is first dropped
into the open clamp. If the stave be originally of curved shape the curved and
concave surface will be placed inwards towards the knives. The lever 17 is then
forced inwards to cause the clamps to firmly bite the stave, curving it at the ends
to correspond with the arc of the knives if the stave be originally flat or of a
different curve from the contour of the clamps, unless the staves be of too thick
and rigid material. The operator then depresses the treadle bringing down the
knife frame and causing the several knives to make their appropriate cuts thereby
erozing, chamfering and trimming both ends of the stave." The clamps are then
released and the treadle and knife frame permitted to rise under the action of the
spring 31, ejecting the finished stave and leaving the machine. with its parts in
position for the reception of and operation upon another stave.
It will be understood that this machine may be built to operate upon but one end
of the stave, when firkins, truck barrels or tubs are manufactured.
The staves may, however, be crozed, chamfered and trimmed by knives recipro-
cating in a right line, and I have devised improved machinery for this purpose

page_text: as indicated in Figures 10 to 14 inclusive, the construction and operation of WHICH
machinery will now describe. Referring to said last mentioned figures-
h
61 indicates a table or bed plate of any suitable character provided with rests 62
for the ends of the stave to he operated on. 63 are gauge screws operating slides 64
against which the stave is laid as it is placed in the machine and which may be
adjusted so that the crozes may be at right angles to the central longitudinal line
of the stave. 65 are lugs fixed on the table and carrying hinge pins 66, on which
latter are mounted guides 67. These guides are connected by a frame 68 and are
adapted to be raised and lowered by a spring or springs 69 and by clamps 70 to
release or clamp the stave a. The springs 69 are placed at any suitable point
between the table and some portion of the movable guides or their connecting
frame and tend to hold said guides above and away from the stave. One or both
of the guides may have an arm extending rearwardly beyond the pivots 66 and
provided with a counterbalancing weight, in place of the springs 69. The clamp 70
consists preferably of a lever having a cam arm a adapted to engage a pin or
projection on the guide. The lever is pivoted at c on the main frame and has a
handle d. The body or stock of each crozing tool is shown at 72 and is fitted in
one of the guides 67 so as to reciprocate therein crosswise of the stave and above
the end thereof. It is provided with knives 73 arranged at an angle to each other
as shown to form the croze, and with a flat and slightly inclined knife 74 which
cuts the chimb. I also prefer to provide a knife e adapted to trim the end of the
stave. The crozing tools are provided with suitable mechanism mounted on and
moving with said guides and frame, whereby the tools may be simultaneously
reciprocated. For this purpose I have devised and prefer two horizontal levers 75
and 76 mounted upon pivots 77 carried by the frame 68 and having slots 78 at their
outer ends embracing rollers 79. The latter are mounted on the tops of the crozing
tool stocks. The inuer ends of the levers are provided with slots 80 which engage
corresponding rollers on a central stud 81. Preferably the slotted end of lever 75
is forked and the slotted end of the other lever enters within it as seen in Fig. 10.
The stud 81 is fixed in a slide 82 which fits in a guide 83 in or on the frame 68.
84 is an angle lever the vertical arm of which is formed with a slot 85 embracing
a roller 86 mounted in the rear end of the slide 82. This angle lever is fulcrumed
at 87 on a bracket 88 fixed to the table, and its other arm extends forward and has
a handle 89 by which the lever may be oscillated vertically by the workman. It
will be seen that this movement will cause the reciprocation of the crozing tools
and their operation on both ends of the stave.
I will now describe the incans by which the stave may be held in such manner as
to insure that all parts of the croze shall be of the same depth, and as to cause the
bottom or apex of the croze to be always formed at a uniform distance from the
outer surface of the stave; in other words the thickness of the stave from
the apex of the croze to the outer side (the bottom as the stave lies in the machine)
of the stave is always the same regardless of the thickness of the stave. Said
means comprise a presser by which the stave is temporarily flattened at the instant
the croze is cut, and a step by which the crozing tool is arrested in its downward
movement at a uniform distance above the top of the stave rest. By employing
suitable yielding devices the presser may be mounted on the same frame that
carries the erozing tool, and the arrest of the downward movement of the presser
which will depend upon the thickness of the stave will not necessarily cause the
arrest of the downward movement of the crozing tool. Referring to my preferred
construction, which I have illustrated, 90 is a presser adapted to engage and
flatten the transverse curve or hollow of the stave from the form shown in dotted
The
lines at in Fig. 12 to that shown in full lines at a. The under face of the presser
may be hollowed so that it will first engage the outer edges of the stave.
presser may be yieldingly mounted on the guide of the erozing tool in various
ways. In the drawings 91 indicates pins which keep the presser in place on the
guide but permit a certain extent of movement towards and from the guide.
92, 92 are strong springs of such tension that the stave will be flattened before

page_text: the limit of compressibility of the springs is reached, and the further movement
of the guide will bring the crozing tool to its uniform final position against the
adjustable stop 93, in which position it finishes the cutting of the croze.
It will be understood that the machine may be built to croze but one end of the
stave when firkins, truck barrels, or tubs are manufactured, the machine illustrated
being a double, one adapted to simultaneously croze both ends of a stave.
When, however, a thick and rigid stave is to be crozed the above described
means will be found often unsuitable, and I have provided a special crozing means
for such staves which will operate accurately and produce a croze of varying depth,
according to the thickness of the stave.
That part of my invention now about to be described is therefore especially
adapted for operation upon staves designed for tight work, i.e. for barrels or other
vessels which are to contain liquids, or upon any staves which are so thick and stiff
that they cannot be flattened during the crozing process. On the other hand a
comparatively thin stave, such for instance as is employed in a flour or sugar
barrel, can be bent so that its cross-section will assume exactly the curve desired
preliminary to the crozing operation.
Referring especially to Figures 15 to 19 of the drawings, 94 indicates a bed
plate adapted to be inounted upon legs at a height about equal to that of the
waist of the operator, or to be secured to any preferred stand or foundation.
95, 95 indicate two segmental heads, frame pieces or plates secured to said bed
plate and provided with bearings 96 in which is mounted a shaft 97. 98 indicates
rests situated at the circumference of the heads 95 and having between themselves
and the shaft spaces or slots 99 in which the stave or staves to be crozed is or are
received with their convex faces against the rests 98 and their concave faces
towards the shaft. 99 are guides formed in or attached to the heads 95 and fitted
with radially movable slides 100. 101 are clamps carried by the outer ends of the
slides and preferably pivoted thereto at 102. Such pivoting causes the outer
surface of the staves to conform in position to the rest, and the croze always to be
cut in uniform relation to the said outer surface. These clamps may be convex on
their outer faces, adapted to correspond with the concavity of the stave. I also
prefer to form the inner faces of the rests 98 concave to correspond with the
convex face of the stave. It will thus be seen that when the stave is in place
beneath the rest, and the slides 100 are forced outward, the stave will be tightly
clamped at each end between the said parts 98 and 101. The slides are actuated
by cams or eccentrics 103 carried by an oscillatory part 104 having a hand lever 105
or a foot lever. Said part 104 is in the form of a yoke mounted on the shaft 97
and oscillatory independently thereof. 123 indicates blocks situated beneath the
circular ends 124 of the yoke 104 and adapted to receive the down thrust on
the latter when the stave is clamped, thus relieving the shaft of any binding
pressure.
106 indicates brackets rigidly mounted on the heads 95 by bolts 107 but
adjustable towards and from the position of the stave by reason of the slots 126.
108 are stops or templates of wood, vulcanite, or soft metallic alloy clamped in said
brackets and adapted to abut the rear edge of the stave. 109 are stops having
slots and adjusting screws 125 engaging said stops and the heads 95 by which the
stops 109 may be brought into a fine parallel with the shaft 97, to the end that the
stave when in place against said stops may also be parallel with the shaft and have
its crozes cut on true transverse lines.
110 indicates two arms or segments keyed upon or otherwise rigidly connected
with the shaft 97, and 111 is a hand lever by which the shaft may be oscillated.
Any other suitable power device may however be used to turn the shaft, which
shaft preferably oscillates but may, consistently with some of my improvements
herein described, rotate. The cutters for forming the croze proper are indicated
at 112. They consist of a plate adjustably secured to the arm 110, as by a
bolt 113 passing through a slot in the plate. The plate is formed with two scoring
teeth 114 having their edges a distance apart equal to the width of the croze.

page_text: 116 is
115 is a tooth having a cutting edge parallel with the shaft 97 and situated in line
with the space between the edges of the scoring teeth. The tooth 115 removes the
wood from between the scores cut by the teeth 114 and finishes the croze.
the howeling cutter mounted on the arm 110 behind the crozing cutters and having
a curved cutting edge 117. 118 is the cutter adapted to form the chimb, and
119 that for cutting the chamfer at the end of the stave, these latter knives being
mounted in the order nained upon the arm 110 after the howeling cutter, and having
their edges positioned to give a drawing cut.
The stave being introduced into the space 99, through the openings 120, and
placed against the wooden stops 108 the lever 105 is turned forcing out the
clamp 101 till the stave is firmly held. The lever 111 is then drawn or turned so
as to carry the arms 110 and the cutters across the concave face of the stave, this
motion being repented if necessary to perfect the croze.
When the stops 108
are first inserted in the machine, and the above cutting operation performed, cuts
will be formed by the knives in the stops exactly in line and corresponding with the
crozes in the stave. Thereafter said stops will permit, the free passage of the
knives but will support the material at the rear of the stave and prevent its
splintering as the cutters pass through it.
121 is a brace bar connecting the heads 95 and secured thereto by bolts 122.
The staves having been crozed by the described or any other suitable machine or
machines, the next step in the process is to assemble the head and staves by the
aid of a suitable former or setting up device. A machine for this purpose is shown
in Fig. 20 which part of my invention will now describe. 127 indicates a suit-
able base or main support upon which is carried a firing stove or other heater 128
of any usual or preferred construction which is adapted for the purpose. The
products of combustion from this stove pass by a flue down and out under the lower
edge of the machine in a well known manner. Above said heater, and preferably
resting thereon, is a supporting table or plate 129 adapted to carry a barrel
head X or other former adapted to give shape to the upper end of the barrel,
cask, or tub.
With this table combine a suitable means for holding the former, when the
same consists of a barrel head, in place during the setting up operation. Said
holding means preferably consists of that shown which comprises a holding
plate 139 of sufficient weight to keep the barrel head in place upon its table, and
hinged arms 160 carrying spring fingers 156 which are adapted to be turned down
to engage the outer side of the upper end of the stave and press the same firmly
inwards towards the edge of the head or other former X. The holding plate 139
is suspended by a chain, rope, or rod 140 attached to a lever 141 on a travelling
carriage 142, the roller or rollers 143 of which is or are adapted to run upon an
overhead track 144.
By manipulating the depending rod 145 which is attached to the other arm of
the lever 141 the operator can cause the carriage to travel to a point over the
table 130, at which point it will be arrested by the stop 146, and can then lower the
holding plate into place; or he can elevate said plate and cause the carriage to
move from over the table in order to permit the set up and fired barrel to be
removed. When the arm 147 of the lever 141 is fully depressed the point of
suspension 148 of the plate 139 will have passed beyond (to the right in the
drawing) the fulcrum 149 of the lever and the weight of the plate will lock the
lever in such position with the plate elevated. By pushing slightly upward on
the rod 145 the point 148 will be slightly raised and caused to pass over and to
the left of the fulcrum, whereupon the plate 139 will be free to descend. The
upper end of the carriage 142 is bifurcated or made in two parts 150 as shown,
which parts engage a guide bar 151 attached to a fixed support so as to aid in
maintaining the proper position of the carriage on its track. 130 indicates a base
or supporting plate for the lower edges of the staves, and in order to provide for
different lengths of staves and different sizes of barrels, said plate is made
vertically adjustable, as by means of a series of graduated blocks 131.

page_text: The table 129 is also vertically adjustable upon the heater, if desired, by means
of blocks 132 or other suitable devices.
In using my invention I prefer to have two or three sets of the same.
The operator first begins by setting up a barrel upon the first device within the
heater of which a suitable fire has been kindled. When the first barrel is formed
the operator passes to the second set of devices or machine and sets up a second barrel
thereon. If three machines are employed, he then passes to the third machine and
sets up a third barrel. By this time the first barrel is sufficiently heated and fired
and may be removed and immediately windlassed in the usual or any preferred
manner. By windlassing I intend any operation, by whatever character of machine,
involving the drawing or forcing in of the staves at the open end of the barrel to
enable the hoops to be applied. As soon as the first barrel has been thus removed
by an assistant the operator immediately begins the setting up of a fourth barrel.
By the time that the latter is completed the second machine will be vacant and
ready for use as before.
I have thus obtained a very material economy in the manufacture of barrels or
similar articles, both in the time required and in the handling which is necessary.
As another means for retaining the staves in place as they are set up I have
dev sed a series of sharp radial pins and means for operating them, which I have
shown in Figures 21, 22 and 23 of the drawings in combination with upwardly and
downwardly movable spring fingers, but such pins may be employed to hold the
staves without the use of the fingers. When this machine is used the firing of the
barrel will be performed upon a separate device after the staves and one of
the heads have been joined together. Referring to the last mentioned figures of
the drawings:
231 indicates a stand of any suitable character on which is vertically adjustable
a plate or table 232. This adjustment is preferably effected by forming the stand
with a tubular bearing 233 in which fits a post 234 fixed to the plate. The post is
clamped at any desired height by means of a set screw 235.
The plate 232 is provided with concentric flanges 236, 237 on its under surface
(or if preferred on its top surface), in which are formed bearings 239, 240.
In these bearings are mounted shafts or pins 238 which extend in a direction
which is radial or from the center towards the periphery of the table.
The outer
ends of said pins are armed with points 241 having screw threaded stems 242
adapted to be fixed in the pins 238. The points 241 are preferably not conical
but have sharp edges running vertically and parallel with the grain of the staves,
which latter are shown at X². In setting up the barrel the barrel head X' is
first placed on the plate 232 where its parts are confined by a weight or other
clamp 243. The crozed staves are then applied around the head and are lightly
tapped against the points 241 which will cause the latter to separate and enter the
grain of wood sufficiently to hold the staves in place. The hoops are then applied
uniting the staves to one another and to the head. The pins 238 are then with-
drawn and the barrel removed. In putting the staves in place their lower ends are
stopped in proper position by a ring 252 which is attached to the stand 231. For
different sizes of barrels different rings may be employed. If a truck or other
open ended barrel or firkin it will be complete. If it is to be closed at both ends
the other head is applied in any suitable manner.
For operating the pins 238 I prefer the following means: 244 indicates springs
applied around the pins and bearing at their outer ends against the flange 236 or
other suitable part or attachment of the table, and at their inner ends against studs
or collars 245 fixed on the pins 238. These springs normally tend to force the pins
inward out of engagement with the staves. 246 is a cone or frustum thereof
engaging the inner ends of the pins and mounted and adapted to move vertically in
the post 234. It is actuated by a rod 247 and treadle lever 248 fulcrumed
at 249 on a link 250 suspended from the stand 231. 251 is a guide collar for the
rod 247.
Before the staves are appied the operator depresses the treadle 248 sufficiently

page_text: to project the points 241 to a position in which they will engage the staves as
already described. The lever 248 and cone 246 will be held in this position by a
ratchet 253 fixed to the stand.
When the staves are hooped in place the release of the lever from the ratchet
will permit the springs 244 to retract the pins. 254 is a spring connected with
the treadle, or if preferred with the rod 247, for aiding this action of the
springs 244.
In vertically adjusting the plate 232 to suit different lengths of barrels,
kegs, &c. I prefer to employ a cam or eccentric 255 mounted on the tubular
258 is a roller
bearing or sleeve 233 by a stud 256 and having a handle 257.
mounted on the post 234 by a stud 259 and engaged by said cam. The turning of
this cam will move the said post and table 232 up or down until the desired
height is reached, when the set screw 235 may be caused to rigidly secure the
parts.
I will now describe an additional means for temporarily holding the staves against
the head X and pins 238, which means may be used in connection with said pins
or employed independently thereof. 260 is a movable finger, such as a metallic
spring, adapted to engage the outer side of a stave and to hold the same from
outward movement. A series of such fingers is provided sufficient in number to
hold the staves of which the barrel may be composed, the fingers being mounted ou
a suitable fixed support. I utilize the clamp weight 243 for this purpose, providing
it with bearings 261 in which are mounted on pivots 263 oscillatory arms 262.
Said fingers are formed with shanks 264 having slots 265, and the fingers are
thereby, and by bolts 266 passing through the slots, secured to said arms in such
manner that the fingers may be radially adjusted according to the diameter of the
barrel head. On each arm 262 is formed or attached a swell or projection 267
situated a little nearer to the center of the machine than is the pivot 263 of the
arm, but adapted to be, by the upward movement of the arm, thrown to a point
further than the pivot from said center. 268 is a spring bearing on the.
projection 267 and adapted by its pressure to hold the arm either down as seen in
full line in Fig. 21, or up as seen in dotted lines.
As the staves are applied and tapped into place with their crozes engaging the
edge of the head, the fingers 260 are brought down one after the other to engage.
and retain the staves. In order that the release of the barrel may be more readily
effected provide for lifting all of the fingers simultaneously. To this end the
weight 243 is furnished with a vertical guide or bearing 269 within which moves a
271 is a
slide 270 adapted to engage and depress the inner ends of the arms.
hand lever pivoted in or on the guide 269 and connected with said slide for
depressing it.
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. The herein described method of making barrels and similar articles which
consists in first crozing the staves individually or when uncombined permanently
in the barrel, then setting up the staves around one of the heads of the barrel and
forming the latter, then applying permanently the hoops to that end of the barrel
containing said head, then, the partly finished barrel having been fired, forcing in
the staves at the other end of the barrel the other head being at the same time
inserted, then applying the head hoop to secure the last mentioned head, and
applying the remaining hoops, substantially as set forth.
2. The herein described method of making barrels and similar articles which
consists in first crozing the staves individually or when uncombined in the barrel,
then setting up the staves around one of the heads of the barrel and forming the
latter and simultaneously firing the barrel; then applying permanently the hoops
to that end of the barrel containing said head, then forcing in the staves at the
other end of the barrel the other head being at the same time inserted, then
B

page_text: applying the head hoop to secure the last mentioned head, and lastly applying the
remaining hoops, substantially as set forth.
3. The herein described method of making barrels and similar articles which
consists in first crozing the staves individually or when uncombined in the barrel,
then consecutively setting up a series of barrels applying to each one or more of
its permanent hoops, and beginning the firing of each barrel when its setting up is
begun, and then consecutively windlassing and finishing said barrels, substantially
as set forth.
4. In the method of making barrels, performing the crozing operation upon
curved staves individually and before they are combined in the barrel by first.
flattening the staves and then forming the croze grooves in straight lines across the
same having their apices or inner angles at equal distances from the outsides of
the staves and of variable depth according to the varying thicknesses of the staves,
substantially as set forth.
5. The herein described method of making barrels and other similar receptacles
as above set forth in Claim 1, when performed by the machinery herein described
and shown.
6. The herein described method of making barrels and other similar receptacles
as above set forth in Claim 4, when performed by the machinery described and
illustrated in Figures 10 to 14 of the drawings.
7. An improvement in that part of barrel making machinery by which staves
are crozed, which consists in the combination with the crozing knives and their
actnating means, of clamps for the staves the movable parts of which move
lengthwise of the stave as they engage it, substantially as described and shown in
Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings.
8. The actuating means for such clamps, when combined therewith, consisting
of the toggle links 9 and their operating handle.
9. The knife carrying oscillating frame 23 acted upon directly by the treadle,
combined with suitable stave holding clamps and crozing knives.
10. The said knife frame, when combined with the clamps set forth in Claim 7.
11. The said knife frame, carrying crozing knives at each end and adapted to
operate on both ends of the stave at once, and made extensible as described.
12. The crozing knives combined with said frame by means of the adjustable
blocks having inclined faces on which the knives are adjustable, substantially as
set forth.
13. The improvements in machinery for crozing flattened staves which consists
in guides adapted to engage and flatten the stave combined with crozing knives
mounted and reciprocating in said guides substantially as described and illustrated
in Figures 10 to 14 of the drawings.
14. The guides for flattening the stave, and reciprocating crozing knives, said
guides being provided with yielding pressers interposed between the stave and
guides for permitting the knives as or after the stave is flattened to approach to
within a predetermined and fixed distance of the outer face of the stave irrespective
of the thickness of the stave substantially as set forth and illustrated in Figures 10
to 14 of the drawings.
15. In a crozing machine the combination with a rest against which the staves
are adapted to be held, of oscillating arms carrying crozing knives, clamps for
holding the stave against the rest or rests and cams for operating the said clamps,
said cams being mounted upon the shaft or axis of the oscillating knives,
substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 15 to 17 of the drawings.
16. The clamps 101 pivoted upon the slides 100 actuated by the cams 103, when
combined with the rests against which the stave is held, and with the crozing knives,
substantially as set forth and shown in Figures 15 to 17 of the drawings.
17. The improvement in that part of barrel making machinery by which the
barrel is set up and fired, which consists in the combination with a heater, of a
plate or former which may consist of the barrel head or of a plate separable from
the barrel after the barrel has been set up, said plate being supported above said

page_text: heater and within the space included by the upper ends of the staves and being
adapted to receive the inner sides of the upper ends of the staves, substantially as
described and illustrated in Figure 20 of the drawings.
18. The combination with a heater or firing device of a table or support above
the same and adapted to receive a barrel head, and means for temporarily holding
said head in place, substantially as set forth.
19. The combination with a heater or firing device of a table situated above the
same, a support for the lower ends of the staves and a means for adjusting the
distance apart of said support and table, substantially as set forth.
20. In a barrel setting up machine the combination of a means for holding the
barrel head, a support for the lower ends of the staves, and upwardly and down-
wardly movable fingers independent of each other supported above the said head
holding means and adapted to be brought down over and outside of the upper ends
of the staves, substantially as set forth and illustrated in Figures 20 to 22 of the
drawings.
21. In a barrel setting up machine, the combination of means for holding the
barrel head, a series of pivoted and vertically oscillatory arms 264 adapted to come
down towards the ends of the staves as the latter are put in place, and inwardly
operating spring fingers carried by the arms, substantially as set forth.
22. The combination with a support for the head, of upwardly and downwardly
movable pivoted arms mounted thereon, and fingers adapted to engage the outer
faces of the staves and carried by and longitudinally adjustable on said arms,
substantially as set forth.
23. In a setting up machine for barrels and similar articles, the combination of
a stand, a support for the barrel head carried thereby, and outwardly directed
radially movable pins having points adapted to engage the staves, substantially as
set forth.
24. The combination of a table, a clamp opposite to the same and adapted to
secure the barrel head, pins having outwardly directed points, radially movable and
adapted to engage the inner faces of the staves, springs for moving said pins
radially in one direction, and means for moving and holding said pins against the
action of the springs, substantially as set forth.
25. The improved machinery for the manufacture of barrels and analogous
articles formed of staves consisting of the combinations of parts arranged as shown
in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of July 1800
Dated this 16th day of
of July.
July 1800
H. CAMPBELL,
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.