Improvements in the Manufacture of Casks.
Year: 1898

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Casks.
communication by GEORGE SAUTER, of 40, Hardenberg strasse; Charlottenburg,
near Berlin, in the Empire of Germany, Master Joiner.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil 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:-
For the transportation of beer and like liquids under pressure, producing
pressure, or fermenting, veneer casks have not been hitherto generally applicable,
first because the bottom and sides did not offer sufficient resistance to the great
pressure and secondly, because the beer was not kept cool enough in such casks
and the fermenting liquids were spoiled by the action of the outside temperature..
All these drawbacks are removed according to the present invention by the ends
of the casing of the cask, which project beyond the bottom being bent or folded
down over the said bottom and glued to the same, so that these flaps hold the
bottom firmly, and by providing the cask with an airtight outer casing so that
the inner body of the cask is embedded as it were entirely in a layer of air whereby
a space may be provided for carbonic acid and the like and a medium of pressure
may be inserted between the inner and outer body of the cask.
1
Such a cask is shown in the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 being a vertical section of the same;
Figures 2-9 show the apparatus for producing the inner casing;
Figures 14 and 15, are apparatuses by means of which any suitable number of
sheets of veneer may be glued on the inner casing;
Figure 16 is an apparatus for gluing the projecting flaps of the cask casing onto
the bottom;
Figure 17 shows the body of a cask without the flaps bent round;
Figure 18 shows the bottom and Figure 19 a finished cask without the outer
casing ;
Figures 20 and 21 show an apparatus for making the outer casing;
Figure 22 shows the staves from which the outer casing is formed;.
Figure 23 shows the outer bottom from the side facing the inner cask.
The apparatus for making the inner casing, Figures 2-9 consists of frame
standards A A¹ between which a core is gripped, by means of friction discs BB.
round, which the sheet of veneer is wound, when the core is set in rotation by
means of a crank B². This core consists of two mutually adjustable or movable
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page_text: .
parts C C¹ between which a wedge is passed by means of which the periphery of
the core may be altered (Figure 6).
In order to press the sheet of veneer around the core, an arrangement is adopted
which is mounted in the wall of the frame A A¹ and which consists of brackets
or supporting pieces E in which forks E3 and E are mounted carrying a smooth-
ing roller capable of being heated, which roller presses against the sheet of
veneer and winds or wraps it around the core. The necessary pressure for this
is imparted by the actual weight of the smoothing roller and the peculiar inclined
mounting of the same. This pressure may however be increased by the pull of a
spring or by weights or other similar means.
The sheet of veneer a which is bevelled at the ends which are to be glued together
is inserted longitudinally at a¹ between the core C C and the smoothing roller F,
and the crank B² is then slowly revolved in the direction indicated by the arrow,
Figure 2, causing the heated roller F to press the sheet of veneer firmly against
the core and at the same time drawing the former around the latter. In order.
that the sheet of veneer may remain firmly adhering to the core it is strained or
stretched under a bar or clamp which according to the thickness of the sheet of
veneer may be adjusted by means of an eccentric lever b¹ and a guide piece b³.
After the sheet of vencer has been entirely wound around the core, it is glued
together by its bevelled ends and this takes place in the following way. At the
places where the ends of the veneer encounter one another, a removable piece c is
arranged longitudinally in the core. This piece c is withdrawn from the core
before the gluing together of the ends and in its place there is inserted a clamp or
gripping device shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9.
This gripping device consists of two elongated parts d and d which at both ends
are held together by releasable connecting pieces f f¹ and a number of hand
screws g set in the upper part d. In order to insert the clamp or gripping device
in the groove formed by the withdrawal of the piece c, the part d¹ is first inserted
in the said groove uncoupled and then again connected with the upper part d by
the connecting pieces f f¹. When the device is inserted the hand screws g are
firmly screwed down on the part of the veneer which is to be glued (see Figure 9).
When the inner casing is finished, the core is removed from its bearings and the
casing a drawn off. For this purpose either the wedge D is drawn out or the
movable parts C C₁ of the core are adjusted so that the periphery of the same is
diminished, Figure 6. The inner casing consists of a veneer of from 3-10 milli-
metres thickness according to the requirements of the liquid to be contained
therein. In casks for vinegar must over-fermenting beer and the like, the inner
casing must of course be made thicker than for under fermenting beer, because
for the former the tannin of oakwood is necessary for the fermentation whilst for
the latter the cask may be enamelled or glazed. In the casing thus formed a
bottom A may be placed which is formed of long strips of veneer glued together
with material such as cloth or canvas laid between, (Figure 18), or even of a stout
veneer or plank in such a way that the part cl only covers the casing. In this
way there results a completely closed hollow body. The places where the ends A³
and casing a come in contact are rounded at the seam so that the upper surfaces
of the casing a, and the ends A2 form surfaces capable of being glued. On the
completely closed hollow body thus formed several strips of veneer e³ (Figure 1)
are then successively glued alternately with suitable layers of fabric in such a
way that the joints are distributed at different places so as not to be one over the
other. These layers of veneer are also made somewhat broader than the length
of the cask to be formed so that they project somewhat over the bottom.
An apparatus shown in Figures 14 and 15 is employed for glueing the separate
layers of veneer around the casing a according to the process hereinbefore
described.
The cask body formed is inserted longitudinally in U irons in a frames so that
it lies firmly. The upper part of the body of the cask is then coated with the
heated sheet of veneer and a cap or cover t is placed over the same.
This cover t

page_text: consists of two suitably shaped zinc plates which are soldered together in such a
way that a spacer exists between them which serves for receiving water under
pressure. In order to secure the cover t on the body of the cask, it is provided at
the sides with projections n over which hooks h engage, which hooks may be
moved up and down by means of a screwed spindle u, whereby the covert may be
moved towards the cask or released and the same may in this way be pressed
against the body of the cask or released. therefrom so that it may be removed.
After this cap t has been fixed, water under pressure is pumped into the same, in
consequence of which, the diaphragm is pressed firmly against the body of the
cask and the vencer is glued on. After this has been done, the water is discharged
by means of the tap v, the cover t is released from the hooks h and removed. The
cask is then turned round and veneered in the same way on the other side, said
veneering being repeated until the body of the cask is the necessary thickness. A
body is then obtained such as is shown in Figure 17. The flaps g¹ are then bent
round and pressed on the bottom and glued thereon. This takes place by means
of the apparatus shown in Figure 16. The flaps glare warmed so that they
become flexible and are pressed against the bottoms or ends A². The flaps g' are
first folded against the bottom on one end of the cask and the cask is placed with
this bottom end on the floor or on a support. The flaps g¹ of the other end are
then folded against the end A2 and a cover ¹ is forced over the same (Figures 16.
and 17). This cover ¹ is formed of zinc and is also hollow so that water may be
pumped into the same. It is connected with the cask by means of a ring w which
is laid around the cask. A framework y is arranged on the ring w, in the cross
piece y of which framework a screwed spindle p is provided, by means of which
the cover v may be screwed up and down. This cover is then screwed firmly by
means of the spindle against the bottom covered with the flaps after which
water under pressure is admitted to the cover and in this manner the flaps are
glued on the bottom. When this one. end or bottom is finished the water is let
out, the cover vl is removed, the cask is reversed and the flaps at the other end are
in the same way glued on the other bottom or end.
Instead of utilising one cover and finishing the ends one after the other, the
operation may be performed with two covers so that both ends are finished
simultaneously.
If necessary the flaps may also be rabbetted so that they form no ridge or
fold, but this is not necessary as the impermeable diaphragm fits into all folds and
presses the flaps on the bottom. A cask is thus made such as is shown in
Figure 19.
'
For wrapping round and, glueing on the veneer bands F1 F2, an apparatus is
employed such as is shown in Figures 20 and 21. A shaft is mounted in each
of the uprights H H of the frame, which shafts are provided with india-rubber
dises or face plates. The shaft K mounted in the upright H may be adjusted by
means of a screw device L, whilst the shaft K mounted in the upright H¹ may be
rotated by means of a crank M. The standards H H' are connected with one
another above by means of a shaft and on this shaft, as shown in Figure 20, a
press roller P capable of being heated is mounted in forks P¹ which may be oscil-
lated on this shaft. The rear fork is formed as a counter-weight Q in order to
maintain an equilibrium with the pressing roller when pressing. A shaft S pass-
ing right through is arranged between the uprights H H on which a spool or
disc T movable to and fro is mounted, which is provided with a brake
device. This brake device may be of any suitable kind. In the present
case. it consists of a somewhat strong spring U pressing against a dish
shaped part U which is mounted in the frame V. The frame V may be adjusted
on the bed plate and fixed thereon. The spool T which is provided with as high
guide discs or cheeks as possible serves for guiding the strip of vencer, and the
brake serves for holding the same tight.
The centre band is then first glued around the casing of the cask, the said cask
being placed exactly in the centre between the indiarubber discs and held fast

page_text: or gripped by means of the screw or setting device L. The band k of veneer, is
then passed from the outside under the spool over the cask up to the pressing on
roller by which it is carried along and pressed on the cask. On the crank M
being rotated the band is wound further around the cask and may be wound round
the same as many times as desired: When winding the side or end bands round
the cask, the process is the same as when winding the central band. All three
bands may also be glued on simultaneously. In that case it is only necessary to
make the roller P extend along the whole length and to arrange suitable guide
rollers T.
"
'
If it be desired to form bulged or bellied casks, it is only necessary to make the
central band thicker than the end bands. When all three bands have been wound
round the cask, the outer casing or cover is glued thereon. The ends A2 of the
cask are provided with laths B³ (Figures 1 and 23) on which lies a second bottom
plate C. The body of the cask a c has also in the centre and at the ends,
bands FF of veneer wound round and glued on the same as before described.
The end bands F2 form also the supports.or bases for the chime and the outer
casing U2 is placed over these bands. The actual cask is thus constantly sur-
rounded by a layer of air which regulates, and maintains even, the temperature in
the interior of the cask.
The outer ends and the outer casing are provided with air holes through which
cold air or a medium of pressure such as compressed air or the like may be admitted
so that a counter pressure can be exerted on the inner casing from the outside to
counterpoise the pressure of the fermenting liquid from the inside to the outside,
so that the cask in itself is exposed to no pressure, which is extremely favourable
for its durability. The space between the two casings may however be filled with
carbonic acid so that a cask capable of being transported is obtained together with
a carbonic acid container. Such a cask is of particular value as it allows cask beer
to be used in private houses.
The outer casing U2 may also be formed of separate bars ³ rabbetted at the ends
so as to fit together, as shown in Figure 22, and of 30-40 mm. in width which
engage over one another in such a way that the casing can expand. Such a casing
is particularly suitable for casks which are exposed to a frequent and rapid change
of temperature and to great variations of temperature.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:
1. A vencer cask in which the body of the cask consists of sheets of vencer
wound round an inner casing in order to increase the resistance of the cask to
pressure, the edges of said sheets of veneer being folded over the bottom and glued
on to the same, and in which the body of the cask is provided with an outer casing
so that the inner cask body is embedded in a layer of air and a chamber is formed
for receiving carbonic acid or the like whereby by the introduction of a medium of
pressure between the outer and inner casings or bodies, a counter pressure may
be exerted on the inner or cask body, substantially as herein before described.
2. In the veneer cask hereinbefore described, providing the body of the cask with
bands of veneer (F1 F2) on which the outer casing (U2) rests, the end bands (F2)
forming also the supports or bases for the chime of the cask.
3. An apparatus for making casks of the kind hereinbefore described, charac-
terised by a core (C C D) having its entire periphery adjustable and adapted to
receive a clamp
or gripping device (dd, ff, g) for gluing together the over-
lapping ends of the sheet of veneer and by the said apparatus being provided with
a smoothing roller (F) capable of being heated which is arranged to press the
sheet of veneer (a) against and around the said core, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
4. A device for winding bands of veneer around casks of the kind herein before
described, consisting of a vencer band guide (T T¹) provided with a brake (U U¹)

page_text: and a pressure roller (P) which is adapted to wind the band of vencer around the
cask on the latter being rotated substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 14th day of March 1898.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.
Agents.