Improvements in and relating to Machinery for Manufacturing Barrels, Casks, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 24th Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Machinery for Manufacturing
Barrels, Casks, and the like.
I, AUDERS GUSTAF WILLIAM BERN, of 42, Tudor Road, Hackney, London,
N.E. 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 improvements in machines for placing the staves,
forming the barrel, in a cylindrical form and also for temporarily securing the same
so as to allow of them being removed to a trussing machine for the purposes of
being closed up and hoops and heads placed on.
The machine consists of two annular heads having double rings of metal forming
grooves, fixed on the inside of each, and arranged concentrically and into which
the staves previously shaped, are placed. Each head is divided vertically forming
semicircles, the halves being pivoted at their lower end to a bar of wood or metal
sliding vertically through a block of wood forming a guide and also a portion of
the base of the machine.
To these said halves are pivotally attached levers causing the sliding bars to
rise up when the heads are opened out, and a bar of metal attached to the lower ends
of said bars and suitably connected to the base of machine causes both ends to
close or open at the same time. Instead of using levers I may employ rollers if
found more suitable..
The top ends of the grooves when the heads are opened out lie close to tables on
which the staves are arranged, on edge, and are caused, by suitable mechanism,
to fall or be pushed into the said grooves, the ends of the staves engaging in these
hoops.
The halves of the heads are then closed up and a truss hoop, consisting of a
ring of metal, having suitable clips at the ends to engage with a key or wedge, is
placed around the staves and the key or wedge inserted in the clips and driven
home thereby tightening the ring around the staves and allowing them to be removed
from the machine.
A lever operated by the foot is connected to the heads by suitable levers and
cranks, so as to cause the heads to move slightly outward sufficient to allow the
staves connected by the temporary hoop to be removed from the machine for the
next operation.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood reference is had to the
accompanying sheets of drawings in which
Fig. 1 shows an elevation of the machine with the heads opened out Figs. 2 and 3
being a sectional and elevation and plan respectively of the same;
Figs. 4 and 5 are details of the adjusting slots for the metal grooves.
Fig. 6 shows an elevation of the machine with the ends closed and the staves
secured by the hoop prior to removal from the machine.
Figs. 7 to 10 shows the truss hoop and details and
.
Figs. 11 and 12 shows method of filling the grooves with staves.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 the heads A of the machine are provided with rings B
of metal or other suitable material forming grooves to receive the staves. These
heads are divided into two semicircular halves which are pivoted to the sliding bar C
at e by means of a bolt and nut, or other suitable method.

page_text: To the semicircular ends are attached levers D, one and of the latter being
pivoted to the former at d and the other end pivoted to a block of wood E, forming
a portion of the base, by means of the projecting plates e.
Instead of using levers, rollers D' may be employed as shown in dotted lines,
answering the same purpose.
The sliding bars Care connected by means of the rod or bar of metal F to the
framework or boards G having plates or bars of metal g fixed to the ends of latter
and pivotally attached to the ends of the rod F. These boards are hinged at gl to
the base H of the machine and are for the purpose of ensuring motion to both of
the heads A when only one is actuated.
To cause the heads to recede from one another for a short distance when
desired, a foot plate j is suspended from a lever J, attached to a shaft or rod K
.which extends across the base H and having two cranks L arranged in opposite
directions to one another.
These two cranks are connected by slotted levers or rods M to the heads the
ends of the rods being pivotally connected to the head and so arranged that on
pressing the foot plate downward the cranks cause the levers to move the said heads
further apart. To cause the ends to resume their original position a counter-
weight is secured to the end of the lever so that on relieving the pressure
on the foot plate the weight pulls the beads of the machine back again.
Pieces of wood e' are fixed to the blocks E for the purpose of forming an
efficient hearing for the said blocks when sliding on the base H under the influence
of the foot plate j.
As shown in Fig. 4 the metal rings B are arranged to slide out for the purpose of
inserting larger rings for larger barrels.
The heads A are recessed and metal angle pieces a are fixed therein, screws b
passing through the slotted angle pieces 61 shown in Fig. 5 and nuts 63, in second
recess a formed in A, engage with the angle pieces a securing the hoops and
allowing them to be adjustable for different diameters of barrels and also for
different thicknesses of staves.
At the lower end of the grooves plates of metal a are secured forming a stop
for the staves and at the top end clips a³ on one half engage corresponding clips a
in the other half ensuring the two halves closing together properly.
As shown in Figs. 6 and 10 the staves N taper off towards their ends so as to
allow of being closed up into the proper shape. Around these staves is placed a
truss-hoop O, consisting of a band or strip of metal having at one end a projection
or clip o and at the other, a detachable forked piece formed with clips of similar to the
other clip. This forked piece is attached by means of screws or bolts and nuts to
the strip O, the latter having holes or perforations formed therein to allow the fork
piece to be adjusted for different diameters of barrels, a key or wedge P is employed
engaging in the clips o and ol and which, on being forced in draws the staves close
together securing and allowing them to be transferred, by means of the handles of
secured to the loop to the trussing machine for the purpose of fixing, the usual
hoops and heads in position. A suitable extension or projecting piece o³ is provided
on the hoop passing under the clips and wedge and extending for a short distance
around and between the hoop and barrel and terminating in two projections o
engaging with the sides of the said loop and keeps the two ends of the latter in line
with one another.
Referring to Fig. 11, a table R is employed having the staves N placed thereon,
on edge, and caused to slide towards the machine A by means of the bar rof wood
or other suitable material and having projections projecting through and sliding
in grooves in the table top.
To these projections and below the level of the top of the table there are
connected, ropes or cords engaging with and winding around a cylinder
the latter being revolved by means of any suitable power. A spring S, fixed to
the table in any convenient way causes the staves to fall into the grooves B of the
machine. Suitable guides are provided to guide the staves into the grooves.

page_text: Fig. 12 shows a modification of the above. A sprocket wheel T engages
with the staves and is revolved, thereby causing the latter to drop into the
grooves B as before, a counterweight f being employed attached to the sliding
bar by means of a rope passing over the pulley f¹ to keep the staves pressed
towards the wheel.
In the drawings and specifications wood has been referred to as forming the
different portions of the machine and accessories, but it is obvious that iron or other
metal could be used without departing from the principle of the machine.
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. In machinery for constructing barrels, the combination of the metal hoops B
attached to the heads A and the levers D or rollers D¹ attached to the block E
of the machine substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
2. In machines for constructing barrels, the heads A having loops or grooves B
and divided vertically, their halves being pivoted to sliding bars C and bearing on
the rollers D' causing the said sliding bars to rise on the ends being opened out
substantially as described.
3. In machines for constructing barrels the arrangement for operating both heads
at the same time comprising the sliding bars C pivoted to the heads A, the
rod or bar F, and the frame or board G hinged to the base H substantially as
described and shown.
4. In machines for constructing barrels the means for securing or removing the
rings B and for enabling them to be readily replaced by others suitable for different
diameters of barrels, comprising the angle pieces a and slotted angle pieces 6' and
their connected parts and of the plates a closing the ends of the loops and of
the clips a engaging in corresponding clips a substantially as described and
shown.
5. The arrangement of the lever J actuated by means of the foot plate j and
connected by means of slotted rods and cranks on the shaft carrying the said fever,
to the heads A causing the latter to move slightly outwards when the foot plate is
depressed, the parts being caused to resume their normal position by means of
a counterweight when the pressure is relieved, substantially as described and for
the purposes specified.
6. The construction of truss hoop having clips at its ends adapted to be drawn
together by a wedge so as to close up the staves, one of the clips being adjustable,
substantially as described with reference to Figs. 6 to 10 of the drawings.
7. The combination of a slotted table top, a sliding bar and connection causing
the staves to move forward, and springs and guides, substantially as described and
for the purposes specified.
8. The combination of a slotted table top a sliding bar, a pulley and weights
causing the bar to press forward, and a sprocket wheel and guides, substantially as
described and for the purposes specified.
°
9. My improved machine for manufacturing barrels, casks, and the like, constructed
and operating substantially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings
and for the purposes specified.
Deted the
1
2000
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.