Improvements in Apparatus for Pitching Casks, Barrels, Kegs, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Feb., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 5th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Pitching Casks, Barrels, Kegs,
and the like.
I, HENRY RAUCH, of 47 and 49, Centre Street, in the Borough of Manhattan,
and City, County, and State of New York, United States of America, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to the class of apparatus employed for coating the insides
of casks, kegs, or barrels, and particularly those to contain beer, with pitch or
other liquid compounds requiring heat to liquefy them; the object being to
provide à simple and convenient apparatus for the purpose.
The apparatus operates through the medium of compressed air which forces a
predetermined quantity of the pitch, or other liquid compound, from a tank or
reservoir up into the cask or barrel, from which the surplus liquid flows back into
the reservoir. The apparatus may be constructed so as to treat one or more casks
or barrels at the same time, this feature depending on the size or extent of the
apparatus.
The apparatus consists of a kettle or reservoir for the liquid material-as
pitch this kettle being mounted over a suitable furnace for heating its contents;
the kettle has a suitable cover preferably provided with a covered aperture at
which to feed in the pitch. Below the bottom of the kettle, and preferably cast
integral therewith, is the tank (or tanks) to hold a measured or predetermined
quantity of the pitching liquid. As there may be one or more of these tanks,
all provided and fitted alike, only one tank and its appurtenances need be
described. This tank has an inlet in its top (the bottom of the kettle) for the
pitching liquid from the kettle, and this inlet has a check-valve opening toward
the tank. A pipe from some source of compressed air enters the top of the tank,
so that the air may force out the liquid contents thereof wholly or in part, and
a delivery pipe leads up from near the bottom of the tank out through the cover
of the kettle. This delivery pipe carries a nozzle on its outer end, which is
inserted into the cask, keg or barrel at the bung-hole thereof.
The delivery pipe may be telescopic and have a cushion-spring on it so that
when the cask or barrel is placed in a rough manner, the pipe will yield or be
driven downward on the cushion spring and injury to it and the nozzle be thus
avoided.
In order that the operator may not inadvertently remove the cask or barrel
until the pitch or other liquid in the tank has been forced therefrom, or the air
cut off, the lever of the cock which controls the admission of air to the tank
projects out over the cask when the air is turned on in such manner that the
air must be turned off by shifting the lever before the cask or barrel can be con-
veniently removed. This construction is desirable to prevent a careless operator
from burning himself with the hot pitch blown out by the air when the cask or
barrel has been removed.
To prevent waste of compressed air by allowing it to blow through after the

page_text: tank has been emptied of the pitching liquid, a device in the nature of a signal
is put on the pipe which supplies compressed air, whereby when the pressure
of air in the pipe falls below a predetermined point a valve opens and admits
air to a signal, as a whistle for example, which sounds the alarm and warns the
operator to cut off the air.
It is found that after the pitching process is over for the time and the kettle
and tanks, with the pitching liquid left therein, has become cool, the pitch
hardens in the tanks; and consequently when a fire is started again under the
kettle and tanks for a renewal of the pitching operation the gases or vapors
generated at the bottom of the tank (or tanks) under the hard mass of pitch
therein produces a strain tending to crack or burst the tank and kettle; and
this is the more likely to occur when the operator fires up rapidly and carelessly.
To obviate this trouble a safety-valve is provided for the escape of the incar-
cerated gases. This valve consists of a sheathing tube extending down through
the kettle and fixed in the top of the tank, and a smaller, valve-tube, which
extends down through the sheathing tube and is removable. In the lower end
of the valve-tube is a valve-seat, and a long pin-valve extends down through the
valve-tube and screws into the upper end of the latter so that the valve may be
screwed down to its seat. During the working a cap is screwed onto the sheath-
ing tube, but when work ends for the day, this cap is taken off, and the valve-
tube, with the seated valve inside of it, is inserted. Before heating up the
kettle and tank again the valve is unscrewed and withdrawn and this opens a
passage for the gases generated at the bottom of the tank.
So long, however, as the safety-valve or relief device permits the escape of the
gases generated by the heating of the pitch, its specific construction is not so
important; it may be automatic in operation, or so as to avoid injury to the
kettle produced by negligence of the workmen.
Dated this 11th day of February 1898.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Pitching Casks, Barrels, Kegs,
and the like.
I, HENRY RAUCHI, of 47 and 49, Centre Street, in the Borough of Manhattan,
and City, County, and State of New York, United States of America, Mechanical
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 class of apparatuses employed for coating the insides
of casks, kegs, or barrels, and particularly those to contain beer, with pitch or
other liquid compounds requiring heat to liquefy them; the object being to
provide à simple and convenient apparatus for the purpose.
The apparatus operates through the medium of compressed air which forces a
predetermined quantity of the pitch, or other liquid compound, from a tank or
reservoir up into the cask or barrel, from which the surplus liquid flows back into
the reservoir. The apparatus may be constructed so as to treat one or more casks
or barrels at the same time, this feature depending on the size or extent of the
apparatus,

page_text: The apparatus consists of a kettle or reservoir for the liquid material-as
pitch this kettle being mounted over a suitable furnace for heating its contents;
the kettle has a suitable cover preferably provided with a covered aperture at
which to feed in the pitch. Below the bottom of the kettle, and preferably cast
integral therewith, is the tank (or tanks) to hold a measured or predetermined
quantity of the pitching liquid. As there may be one or more of these tanks,
all provided and fitted alike, only one tank and its appurtenances need be
described. This tank has an inlet in its top (the bottom of the kettle) for the
pitching liquid from the kettle, and this inlet has a check-valve opening toward
the tank. A pipe from some source of compressed air enters the top of the tank,
so that the air may force out the liquid contents thereof wholly or in part, and
a delivery pipe leads up from near the bottom of the tank out through the cover
of the kettle. This delivery pipe carries a nozzle on its outer end, which is
inserted into the cask, keg or barrel at the bung-hole thereof.
The delivery pipe may be telescopic and have a cushion-spring on it so that
when the cask or barrel is placed in a rough manner, the pipe will yield or he
driven downward on the cushion spring and injury to it and the nozzle be thus
avoided.
In order that the operator may not inadvertently remove the cask or barrel
until the pitch or other liquid in the tank has been forced therefrom, or the air
cut off, the lever of the cock which controls the admission of air to the tank
projects out over the cask when the air is turned on in such manner that the
air must be turned off by shifting the lever before the cask or barrel can be con-
veniently removed. This construction is desirable to prevent a careless operator
from burning himself with the hot pitch blown out by the air when the cask or
barrel has been removed.
To prevent waste of compressed air by allowing it to blow through after the
tank has been emptied of the pitching liquid, a device in the nature of a signal
is put on the pipe which supplies compressed air, whereby when the pressure
of air in the pipe falls below a predetermined point a valve opens and admits
air to a signal, as a whistle for example, which sounds the alarm and warns the
operator to cut off the air.
It is found that after the pitching process is over for the time and the kettle
and tanks, with the pitching liquid left therein, has become cool, the pitch
hardens in the tanks; and consequently when a fire is started again under the
kettle and tanks for a renewal of the pitching operation the gases or vapors
generated at the bottom of the tank (or tanks) under the hard mass of pitch
therein produces a strain tending to crack or burst the tank and kettle; and
this is the more likely to occur when the operator fires up rapidly and carelessly.
To obviate this trouble a safety-valve is provided for the escape of the incar-
cerated gases. This valve consists of a sheathing tube extending down through
the kettle and fixed in the top of the tank, and a smaller, valve-tube, which
extends down through the sheathing tube and is removable. In the lower end
of the valve-tube is a valve-seat, and a long pin-valve extends down through the
valve-tube and screws into the upper end of the latter so that the valve may be
screwed down to its seat. During the working a cap is screwed onto the sheath-
ing tube, but when work ends for the day, this cap is taken off, and the valve-
tube, with the seated valve inside of it, is inserted. Before heating up the
kettle and tank again the valve is unscrewed and withdrawn and this opens a
passage for the gases generated at the bottom of the tank.
So long, however, as the safety-valve or relief device permits the escape of the
gases generated by the heating of the pitch, its specific construction is not so
important; it may be automatic in operation, or so as to avoid injury to the
kettle produced by negligence of the workmen.
The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and
in these
17
1 ja e vortical contion thereof at line in Tio 2

page_text: Fig. 2 is a plan.
Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional plans on a smaller scale than Figs. 1 and 2, taken
respectively at lines and at in Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view.
Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a slightly modified form of the apparatus.
Figs. S, 9 and 10 illustrate the manner of constructing and applying the
relief device or appliance to be hereinafter described.
1 is the pitch-reservoir or kettle, mounted over a furnace, 2, and provided with
a cover 3. The kettle may be of any form as here shown, it is square. The
apparatus here shown is adapted for treating four casks simultaneously, but it
may be constructed for treating one or more casks. As the means for treating
the casks are alike, the means for treating one only need be minutely described.
Below the bottom of the kettle, and preferably cast integrally therewith, are
four tanks, 4 (see Fig. 4). Each tank has an inlet, 5, for the pitch, and this
inlet is controlled by a check-valve, 6, opening downwardly. A pipe 7, supplying
compressed air, enters the top of the tank 4. As here shown the four pipes ī
branch from a supply pipe, 7", in common. From near the bottom of the
tank 4 rises an outlet pipe, S, provided at its upper end with a perforated
nozzle 9, which enters the bung-hole of the cask X.
The pitch in the kettle will usually be at about the level w. The operator
places an empty cask X on suitable supports 10, the nozzle 9 passing in at the
bung-hole compressed air is admitted to the tank 4; the valve 6 closes and the
pitch incarcerated in the tank is driven up into the cask through the pipe 8,
the nozzle 9 spreading it so that it coats the whole interior of the cask, as at y.
The surplus flows back out at the bung-hole and into the kettle through open-
ings 3 in the cover. As soon as the pitch is blown out of the tank 4, the air
is cut off and the tank simultaneously opened to the atmosphere; the tank then
refils at the valved inlet by gravity. A suitable two-way cock, 11, in the air
pipe 7 serves to control the air; and in order that the workman may not remove
the cask until the air is turned off (whereby he might be badly burned), it
is preferred to provide the air-cock 11 with a long operating arm 12, which
extends over the cask when the air is turned on, so that said arm must be
operated to shut off the air before the cask can be conveniently removed. To
adapt the lever 12 to casks of different sizes, one part thereof may be adjustably
hinged to the other, as at 12".
The pitch may be put into the kettle at a filling aperture 13, and a horizontal
screen 14 may be arranged in the kettle to prevent lumps of the material from
interfering with the inlets to the tanks 4; and this screen may have in it a
trap 14" to afford access to the space below it. To prevent injury to the
nozzle 9 from the careless or rough placing of a cask, the pipe 8 may be tele-
scopic and have a cushion spring 8", so that if the nozzle 9 does not fairly enter
the bung-hole, the pipe 8 will be depressed and yield to the blow without injury
to the nozzle.
In lieu of a two-way cock 11, it will be obvious that two separate cocks may
be used-one to cut off the air and the other to open the tank 4 to the atmosphere.
By placing the tanks 4 below the kettle instead of submerging them in the pitch
in the kettle, the charge of pitch in them is brought into close relationship with
the heat and the coating of the tank externally with pitch is avoided. By
extending the pipe 8 only part way down in the tank 4, leaving below its end a
considerable stratum of pitch, there is less liability of burning the bottom of
the tank.
I have found that wrought iron, malleable iron and steel are soon destroyed by
the corrosive action of the acids in the pitch, while cast iron and brass remain
unaffected for a long time. Hence I find it advantageous to make the kettle and
tanks of cast iron and integral, so as to avoid the use of bolts. The valve-casings
and valves at the tank-inlets should also be of cast iron secured by. bolts and

page_text: nuts of brass, or like composition. It is also feasible to make the pipes within
the kettle of cast iron.
It may sometimes happen that a workman will be called away and leave the air
turned on too long in which case the pressure would run down rapidly and waste
ensue. To warn him of this I propose to provide an alarm, as a whistle for
example, connected with the pipe 7", to warn him when the pressure falls say
five pounds below the normal. Usually about 30 pounds pressure is employed for
this work, and the device is arranged to sound the whistle if the pressure falls to
about 25 pounds. It is not important just how this device is constructed, but
I have shown one which will serve.
A valve-chamber, 15, is connected on the one hand with the air-pipe 7", by
a pipe 16, and on the other hand with a whistle, 17, by a pipe, 18. A valve, 19,
in the valve-chamber, is adapted to close the outlet to the whistle when the
air-pressure in the chamber exceeds 25 pounds; but a spring, 20, on the valve-
stem tends to draw the valve away from its seat with a pull of about 25 pounds,
so that if, by any chance, the pressure should be allowed to fall, by wasting air,
below the tension of the spring, the valve 19 will instantly open and sound the
whistle. As soon as the waste is checked the increase of air-pressure will over-
come the spring and close the valve again.
In Figs. 6 and 7 the construction is substantially the same as that described
differing only in the following respects. The group of tanks 4, is cast in a
separate piece from the reservoir and secured thereto by bolts so that if it
burns out it may be conveniently renewed and replaced. The pipe 7" is extended
down into the reservoir at its center and the several pipes 7 connected with it inside
the reservoir. The valves 11 are therefore inside the reservoir and grouped
therein near the center, their stems 11", extending up through the cover of the
reservoir and having bearings in a bearing-plate, 7b, secured to the pipe 7. The
arms 12, for operating the valves are fixed adjustably on the respective stems 11ª
and swing in horizontal planes, so as to project out over the barrel X when the air
is turned on, and be clear of the barrel when the air is turned off.
Fig. 7 shows how the partitions between the tanks 4 (see dotted lines) may be
oblique so that the tanks will be triangular. It is not essential that the group
of tanks shall cover the entire bottom of the reservoir; the object is to have them
exterior to the reservoir, low down, and in direct contact with the hot gases.
It is found that when the pitch has been allowed to cool and harden in the full
tanks and heat is applied to them, the gases or vapors generated. at the bottom of
the tank below the hardened mass of pitch filling the tank above, is apt to generate
a tension sufficient to crack the tank or kettle. To relieve this tension a relief
device is employed, as illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10. Fig. 8 shows the
device as applied to the apparatus, Fig. 9 is a plan view and Fig. 10 shows the
relief device on a larger scale, in axial section.
A casing tube, 21, is fixed in the top of the tank 4 and extends through the
cover of the kettle where it may have a screw-cap, 22, seen at the right in
Fig. 8.
A valve-tube, 25, extends down through the tube 21, and has a valve-
seat, 24, in its open lower end through which projects a tapered needle-valve, 25.
The stem of this valve is screwed above into the tube 23 at z. When the pitching
operation ceases for the day, and while the pitch in the tank 4 is still fluid, the
valve-tube and valve are passed down through the tube 21 as seen at the left in
Fig. 8, thus forcing the liquid out of the latter tube. The pitch now congeals in
the tank about the valve-tube and valve, and before again heating the tank and
kettle, the operator unscrews the valve in the valve-tube and withdraws it,
thus leaving an outlet for the gases. After the pitch softens with the heat the
valve-tube may also be withdrawn.
The safety device described serves the purpose very well but any such device
which will permit the escape of the gases generated in heating the pitch may bo
employed in carrying out my invention. In the device as illustrated in Figs. 8,

page_text: 9 and 10, the tube 23 may be long enough to project a considerable distance above
the top of the fixed tube 21, if desired.
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 an apparatus for pitching casks, the combination with a covered reser-
voir or kettle for the pitching liquid, and means for heating the same, of a
closed tank arranged exterior to the reservoir and adjacent to its bottom, a valved
inlet for the flow of the pitch by gravity from the reservoir to said tank, a pipe
adapted to supply compressed air to the top of said tank, a valve in said pipe,
adapted to control the flow of air to and from the tank, a discharge pipe for the
pitch, extending from a point in the tank up through the cover of the reservoir,
and a discharge nozzle on the upper end of said pipe, substantially as set forth.
2. In an apparatus for pitching casks, the combination with a reservoir for the
pitching liquid and means for heating the same, of a closed tank exterior to the
reservoir and below the level of the pitch therein, said tank having an inlet for
the pitch and a check-valve at said inlet, a pipe adapted to supply compressed air
to the upper part of said tank, a discharge pipe extending from said tank up
through the cover of the reservoir, and a nozzle on the upper end of said dis-
charge pipe, the cover of the reservoir having supports for a cask and an aperture
adjacent to the discharge pipe for the flow of the surplus liquid back into the
reservoir, substantially as set forth.
3. An apparatus for pitching casks, having a reservoir for the pitching liquid
provided with a cover and a screen 14, a tank 4, beneath the reservoir, said tank
having a valved inlet at its top, a discharge pipe 8, extending up through the
cover of the reservoir, and a pipe 7 for supplying compressed air to the tank,
substantially as set forth.
4. In an apparatus for pitching casks, the combination with the reservoir for
the pitching liquid, having a cover with supports thereon for the cask and an aper-
ture for the surplus liquid to flow back to the reservoir, and means for heating
said reservoir, of the closed tank exterior to the reservoir and provided with a valve-
controlled inlet for the pitch, the air-inlet pipe at the top of the tank, and the
telescopic discharge pipe S, having a spring 8 under its upper section, and a
discharge nozzle 9 on its upper end, substantially as set forth.
5. In an apparatus for pitching casks, the combination with a reservoir for the
pitching liquid, means for heating the same, a closed tank below the reservoir,
having a valve-controlled inlet for the liquid and a discharge pipe for the liquid
extending up through the cover of the reservoir, of an air pipe 7, connected with
the upper part of said tank, a two-way cock in said pipe, and an operating arm
for said cock adapted to extend out over and in close proximity to the cask
being pitched when the air is turned on to the tank, substantially as set forth.
6. An apparatus for pitching casks having a reservoir or pitch-kettle, said
kettle being of cast iron and having formed integrally with it, at the bottom, a
tank 4 to hold a suitable quantity of pitch, said tank having a valve-controlled
inlet for the pitch, a discharge pipe for the pitch, and an inlet for compressed
air, substantially as set forth.
7. In an apparatus for pitching casks, the combination with a furnace, of a
pitch-reservoir arranged over the furnace and having formed integrally with it
and below its bottom a tank 4, to hold a suitable quantity of pitch, said tank
having a valve controlled inlet opening from the bottom of the reservoir, a dis-
charge pipe provided with a nozzle at its upper end and descending part way to
the bottom of the tank, and a pipe entering the top of said tank for supplying
compressed air, substantially as set forth.
8. In an apparatus for pitching casks, the combination with a tank having an
inlet to receive the pitch, and an outlet pipe for the pitch, said pipe terminating in the
interior of said tank, of a pipe adapted to admit air under pressure to said tank

page_text: to discharge its contents, and a sound-alarm connected with said air-pipe and
adapted to be operated by the compressed air when the pressure of the latter falls
below a predetermined point, whereby the undue waste of air by blowing through
the tank is indicated.
9. An apparatus for pitching casks having a kettle and a tank to contain a
suitable quantity of pitch, and having a relief-device for the gases or vapors
generated in heating the pitch, substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 4th day of November 1898.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.