Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Expanding the Ends of Casks, Firkins, or like Packages, for Withdrawing their Contents, or for other Purposes relating thereto.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Expanding the
Ends of Casks, Firkins, or like Packages, for Withdrawing
their Contents, or for other Purposes relating thereto.
I, WILLIAM KIRKLAND PATERSON, of 14 Lower George Street, Cork, in the
County of Cork, Accountant, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO
OF CASKS, FIRKINS OR LIKE PACKAGES
FOR OTHER PURPOSES RELATING THERETO
APPARATUS FOB EXPANDING THE ENDS
FOR WITHDRAWING THEIR CONTENTS, OB
" to be as follows:-
In removing the contents from casks, butter firkins, and like packages, it is
often desirable to do so without interfering with such contents or spoiling its
shape. This is especially so in the case of butter when packed in firkins or tubs,
and the method usually pursued in order to turn out the butter whole is to strip it
which necessitates the taking off of both top and bottom hoops, and in some
instances entirely destroying the firkin.
This invention is designed to avoid the need of taking off the lower hoops, and
by expanding the top of the firkin or other package allow the contents to be turned
out without damaging the shape. It consists first in a circular steel hoop placed
inside the barrel or firkin and expanded. In my prior application I described a
mode of forcing out segments by screws turned by bevel wheels from the centre, so
as to form an expanding block. In this case, I use a simple expanding hoop, the
ends of which overlap; one of these ends is provided with teeth like a rack the
other is fitted with a spindle handle, and toothed wheel gearing into said rack,
also, with a screw check attached to iron clamp for clamping the hoop. The hoop
being fitted into the mouth of the barrel is clamped and expanded.
To perform the operation the hoop is placed in the top of the firkin or cask.
After the top hoops have been removed the handle or lever is turned and the hoop
expanded until it has reached the required diametre in which position it may be
held by a small iron catch. An ordinary hoop can now be slid in and the other
withdrawn and used for another barrel or the contents can be withdrawn while the
expanding hoop is in.
As manipulation of the firkins is very heavy I employ the following apparatus to
assist in the procedure.

page_text: A plank say 6 feet x 18 inches × 2 inches has a block mounted on gimbols or
trunnions turning in two iron stanchions brackets or bearings standing up and
fixed to the sides of the plank. The block can swivel freely in these bearings,
when not held by a spring stop below; about one foot from the swivel block
is another block rather lower firmly fixed to the plank.
The mode of action is as follows: the swivelling block is turned so as to stand
horizontally; a firkin is now placed standing head up on the right hand side of the
swivel block, and the top hoops and top removed. The expanding hoop is now
placed inside the firkin and the handle turned. When sufficiently expanded the
expanding hoop is clamped by means of the screw clamp. The firkin is now
thrown on its bulge with the open expanded head facing the swivel block which is
also on its side. A timber plate is now placed on top of the contents between the
firkin and block and the firkin is pressed against the plate and block and is swung
round till it stands vertical on the now vertical block. (The plate is used to
prevent the block pressing into the butter). The block is now locked by the spring
catch. The firkin is lifted off and with its loose hoops and head is weighed to get
the tare. The contents are cleaned or covered with calico or other material and
the firkin put back again over the contents. The spring catch feed, the block
firkin and contents swung round till they rest on the stationary block. Then the
firkin and the contents are allowed to fall over till the unloosed firkin end rests on
the plank with firkin vertical. The head and hoops are now readjusted. The
plank above mentioned can be a part of the flooring if desired.
The use of this machine for the purpose of decanting butter in order to cover the
whole lump with tin-foil gauze or other material, and then replacing it in the
firkin or for the purpose of removing the contents of casks in order to ascertain
the correct tares after coming through the markets or for the purpose of cleaning
or scraping the contents will effect a great saving in time and labour also in cost
of cooperage. The machine or apparatus can be made partly of wood or other
material if desired.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Expanding the
Ends of Casks, Firkins, or like Packages, for Withdrawing
their Contents, or for other Purposes relating thereto.
I, WILLIAM KIRKLAND PATERSON of 14 Lower George Street Cork, in the
County of Cork Accountant 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, as far as relates to claims 1 and 2, is specially designed for use
with the overlapping band, which forms the subject matter of Dundon's Patent
No. 6831 of 1885 with the object, first, of obviating the necessity for any projection
appearing above or beyond the firkin when the latter is turned over, and,
second, to so arrange it that a solid ring can be slipped in outside the expanding
apparatus, and the latter then withdrawn, leaving the staves distended by the
solid ring.
In the drawings I have shown two slightly varying forms-one, Figures 1 to 3,
which I prefer when using a separate solid band to hold the firkin open while being
emptied the other, Figures 4 to 7 when only one firkin is being operated on at
once, and I use the expanding band itself to hold the staves apart.
Referring first to Figures 1 to 3,
Figure 1 is a plan.
Figure 2 cross section partly in elevation.
Figure 3 elevation of part of apparatus.
In these A is the band overlapping at B; C the teeth cut in same to form a rack,
D toothed wheel gearing into said rack, E toothed wheel gearing into D ; F bracket
attached to end of band, G shaft carrying toothed wheel E, sliding on squared part
thereof, and carrying also handle H; I ratchet catch to prevent band springing
back when handle is let go.
The mode of operating in this case is as follows; the apparatus being inserted in
the top of the firkins, in which the top hoops are removed, the handle H is turned
till the diameter is increased sufficiently, a solid ring is now slipped in fitting
easily into the space between the firkin staves and the bracket at J. The handle
is now let go or turned back, and the apparatus removed.
When the expanding ring is itself used to hold the firkin staves expanded while
the contents are being extracted, the mechanism shown in Figures 4 to 7 is used,
Figure 4 being a plan, Figure 5 a section partly in elevation, Figure 6 section of
hinged stop, Figure 7 section of strap and lug.
In these A is the band overlapping at B, C teeth cut in same forming a rack,
D toothed wheel gearing in said rack. F bracket attached to band, E bracket
sliding in same, carrying shaft G which in turn carries toothod wheel Ĺ, H handle,
I set screw to hold the handle and bracket E on bracket F, J pawl or clip to fasten
the band at any point. The mode of actuating this band is as follows; the
apparatus is placed in the opened firkin, and expanded by handle H, the spring clip

page_text: automatically or by its adjustment prevents the band from contracting again. The
handle H, wheel D, and bracket E are then lifted off, and applied to another hoop
if desirable. They are thus not in the way, or likely to be broken or injured in
turning over the firkin, to remove the ring; the pawl is now loosed and the ring
removed.
As manipulation of the firkins is very heavy, I employ the following apparatus
to assist in the procedure.
Figure 8 shows the apparatus about to be used Figure 9, the apparatus in use
and the barrel about to be lifted off the contents, Figure 10 harrel with contents
reinserted, Figure 11 front elevation of block Q.
In these L is a plank, say 6 feet x 18 inches x 2 inches, M a block mounted on
gimbols or trunnions N, turning in two iron stanchions, brackets or bearings O
standing up and fixed to the sides of the plank. The block can swivel freely in
these bearings, when not held by a spring P, stop p below; about one foot from
the swivel block is another block Q rather lower firmly fixed to the plank.
When
The mode of action is as follows;-the swivelling block M is turned, so as
to stand horizontally, as in Figure 8, a firkin K is now placed standing head up on
the right band side of the swivel block, and the top hoops and top removed. The
expanding hoop is now placed inside the firkin, and the handle turned.
sufficiently expanded, the solid ring is inserted into the head of the firkin, and the
expanding apparatus removed, or the expanding hoop is clamped by means of the
pawl, or a screw catch or clamp, and the handle etcetera removed. The firkin is
now thrown on its bulge, with the open expanded head facing the swivel block,
which is also on its side. A timber plate R is now placed against the contents
between the firkin and block as set forth in Figure 8, and the firkin is pressed
against the plate and block, and is swung round till it stands vertical on the now
vertical block. (The plate is used to prevent the block pressing into the butter)
The block is now locked by the spring catch, and is in position shown in Figure 9.
The firkin is lifted off, and with its loose hoops and head is weighed to get the
tare. The contents are cleaned or covered with calico or other material, and the
firkin put back again over the contents, the spring catch freed whereby the firkin
is contracted so as to hold the contents securely-and the block, firkin, and contents
are swung round till they rest on the stationary block Q. Then the firkin and the
contents are allowed to fall over till the unloosed firkin end rests on the plank with
firkin vertical, as at Figure 10. The head and hoops are now readjusted. The
plank above mentioned can be a part of the flooring, if desired.
The use of this machinery for the purpose of decanting butter in order to cover
the whole lump with tin foil, gauze, or other material, and then replacing it in the
firkin, or for the purpose of removing the contents of casks in order to ascertain the
correct tares after coming through the markets, or for the purpose of cleaning or
scraping the contents, will effect a great saving in time and labour, also in cost of
cooperage. The machine or apparatus can be made partly of wood or other material
if desired.
I am aware that an expanding ring with teeth, and a pinion on a horizontal shaft in
fixed bearings on the ring, and a handle turning such pinion is set forth fully in
Dundon's aforesaid Specification No. 6831 of 1885, and I make no claim whatever
under this patent, for the said arrangement, nor for anything that is set forth in the
said Dundon's said Specification, nor do I claim as new the handles set forth in the
drawings of my said specification, nor do I in this specification claim broadly the
combined use of a solid ring with an expanding device, as that is already set forth my
specification N° 15340 of 1884.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1st In combination with an expanding overlapping hoop such as described, but not
herein claimed, a pawl or clip J hinged to one of the overlapping ends and capable of

page_text: engaging into one or more teeth or recesses in the other overlapping end when the
hoop is expanded and thus of holding the same distended independently of the
distending apparatus and without requiring anything to project from either side of
the hoop against or over the staves or into the space through which the butter has to
pass for the purposes described.
2nd The manufacture and use of the improved apparatus and attachments for trans-
mitting the motion of the handle to a pinion and overlapping hoop with teeth into
which the said pinion gears, substantially as and for the purposes herein described,
no claim being made for the handle pinion and overlapping hoop.
3rd The manufacture and use with an expanding hoop, such as described, but not
claimed of a clamping device attached thereto, and with an expanding mechanism that
can be removed, leaving the ring expanded and clamped, whereby the expanding
apparatus is not in the way, or liable to be broken during the emptying of
the cask.
4th The manufacture and use of a swivel block, with spring or other catch
substantially as described, also in combination with same the block Q, as and for
the purposes substantially as set forth.
Dated this alawanth dom
1 1000