AN IMPROVED METHOD OF GAUGING CASKS, AND IMPROVEMENTS IN CALLIPERS THEREFOR to
Year: 1884

page_text: I EUGENE O'BRIEN of 31 Wilbraham Street in the County of Lancaster
Liverpool Customs Officer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
AN IMPROVED METHOD OF GAUGING CASKS, AND IMPROVEMENTS IN CALLIPERS
THEREFOR to be as follows:-
A long and cross callipers, having on their upper sides sliding pieces equal in
length and width to the callipers. The slides are so arranged on both callipers,
that, when moved to the required place, and screwed, both callipers, take the
measures net. These sliding pieces have on each, one line divided into inches and
tenths for taking the diameters and length. And the long callipers' sliding pieces,.
have also, one or more lines divided into parts, each, a certain fraction of an inch,
called an inch. The cask's length read according to arrangement on the one, or on
the other, of these lines, from both ends of the cask, marks at these two readings
or points, a certain fraction of the cask's length. Over these two points aré
measured by the cross callipers, two diameters, which, with or without the head
and bung diameters, according to arrangement, the mean diameter is found, from
which, and with the length, the content is obtained in the usual way, by the head
rod. On the cross callipers may also be marked, other, artificially divided lines, by
which we avoid mental calculation. By a mechanical or other arrangement, the
cross callipers are held perpendicularly to the length, both horizontally, and
vertically, while taking the cross diameters of the cask. The construction of
the "one line," the one or more lines," and the other "artificially divided lines,"
before named, may be described, and marked, as follows. On the cross callipers,
the numbers on the first line marked inches, are inches and tenths. On the second
line, marked Head and Bung D, the numbers are, one twelfth of the squares, of
the numbers on the first line. On the third line marked Quarter D, the numbers
are one third of the squares of the numbers on the first line, or four times the
numbers on the second line. On the fourth line marked mean D, the numbers are
the square root of twice each number on the third line, or of times the square of
each number on the first line. On the long callipers, the divisions on the first line
are inches and tenths. On the second line marked Quarter L, the divisions are
25, i.e.inches, and are to be read inches. On the third line marked MQL or
mean quarter L, each division is 24 i.e. 1 of an inch, which divisions are also to
22

page_text: be read inches. On each side of both callipers at any convenient place, a line
marked T W, 2 inches long, is divided into tenths of an inch, and figured at 0, 5,
10, 15, 20, tenths. On one edge of each slide is a mark, which, when placed to any
particular length on the T W line, and screwed in this position, the part of the
callipers against the cask when measuring, will be such particular length from
the U. commencing the line of inches on the top of each slide, I.E. when we place
the mark on the edge of the slide, to the thickness of wood on the T W line, both
callipers are set for work, and as before stated, take the measures net. There is on
each end of the long callipers, a sliding piece or saddle with a groove in, into
which the cross callipers fit, and by which, or by any other means, the cross
callipers are guided perpendicularly to the length, both horizontally and vertically,
while taking the cross diameters. On the ends of the long callipers' slides, next
the heads of the cask, there are stops, against which, the cross callipers take the
diameters of the heads exactly over both ends of the liquor.
How to use the two Callipers.
Having chalked on the cask its length in inches and tenths, taken in the usual
way, by the long callipers, which we may now fasten on the cask by a clip, which
slides to any convenient place on the callipers, we next put the cross callipers
into the sliding groove, move it to the stops, measure both head diameters by the
line of inches, and chalk on the cask the number on the bung and head D line
which stands opposite half their sum. Next, with the Bung rod and cross callipers,
we take the average bung diameter in inches and tenths, the number opposite
which, also, on the bung and head D line, we chalk on the cask. Again we put
the cross callipers into the sliding groove, move it to the number on each Quarter L
line, which represents the casks' length, measure here the diameters of these two
quarters in inches and tenths, and chalk on the cask the number on the
quarter D line, which stands opposite half their sum. We then add the three last
numbers chalked, and opposite their sum on the Quarter D line, will be found
the mean, on the mean D line. By this mean, and with the length, as above
chalked, we find the content of the cask, in the usual way, by the head rod..
•
Having taken the length of the cask as above, and fastened the long callipers
on the cask, we obtain the content otherwise. Thus, put the cross callipers in the
sliding groove, move it to the number, on each of the two mean quarter L lines,
representing the length of the cask, as above taken, half the sum of the two
diameters here taken is the mean, which, with the length, the content is found by
the head rod as before.

page_text: EUGENE O'BRIEN of 34 Collingwood Street Liverpool in the County of Lancaster
Customs Officer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF GAUGING CASKS, AND IMPROVEMENTS IN CALLIPERS THEREFOR and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
100
Fig 1. a long callipers for taking the length of the casks; and fig 1' its plan.
(a a') and (6 b) are pieces or slips which slide in their slotted ends; and are made
fast, by the screws (s) to both arms of the callipers, and are of the same width as
the callipers. At the meeting of these two slips along their length they are
divided into inches and tenths; the (6 6¹) one from 0 to 32, or longer if required,
and the (a a¹) one, from 32 to 64, or more, if the (b'b') one is more than 32, the
divisions of the tenths being shown only from 0 to 2 and from 32 to 33, the
remaining divisions being supposed continued. The line (T W) two inches-or
more if required-are divided into tenths on the arms of the callipers and marked
as shown on the plan fig 11. The MD line on each slip has each division on it
24 of an inch to be read inches. There are two grooved pieces or saddles (M)
and (M), which, by means of the sliding piece (P) slide on the callipers. Fig 2 fits
and slides to and fro in these grooves when required. There is a clip (C) with a
screw S to fasten the callipers on the cask when required. (M) has a spirit level L
attached, for the purpose of setting the callipers horizontally on the cask, which
should be set bung up, and level, before being gauged. The near arm of the
callipers has a groove (G G) the whole or nearly the whole length of the callipers,
in which groove slides the piece (P) carrying the saddle (M) and the pointer (I).
The far arm which is covered by the near arm in fig 1. is similarly grooved on the
opposite side, in which slides the piece (P¹) carrying the saddle (M¹) and another
pointer I. (M) and (M³) have spring stops (K) attached for the purpose of keeping
them in their required places. When the end (b) of the slip (6 b) is moved to (T),
and the end (a) of the slip (a a¹) is moved to (W), i.e. when both (a) and (b) are
moved to 0 on the (T W) line, the nought commencing the line of inches must be
perpendicularly over the end (A) of the callipers, and the 32 continuing the line of
inches must be perpendicularly over the end (B). When the centre of the
saddle (M) is placed over the nought beginning the line of inches, the nought
beginning the (M D) line must be opposite the pointer (I) on the piece (P), and
when the centre of (M') is placed over the (32) continuing the line of inches on the
other arm, the nought beginning the other (M. D) line must be opposite the other
pointer (I) on the piece P¹, so the pointer I may be at any convenient place on P
and P. fig 2 the cross callipers for taking the diameters of casks, and its plan fig 2¹
has its T W line three inches or more if necessary divided as on the long callipers
into tenths, and marked 0. 5. 10. 15. 20. 25. 30 as on the plan fig 21. On the first
side of this callipers is a slip (a a') which slides on its slotted ends on the arm,
and is divided into inches and tenths from 0 to 25, the tenths being shown only

page_text: "
from 0 to 1, and from 25 to 26, the remander of the division supposed continued.
The other arm is divided on the solid (no slip) from 25 backwards to 56. inches.
When the end (a) of the slip (a a') is brought to nought on the (T W) line and
fastened by the screw (8), and, (A) and A¹ are brought together; the nought on
the line of inches, on the one arm, and the 25 inches on the other must coincide.
This callipers must be the same width as the grooves in the saddles (M) and (M¹³)
on fig 1. The callipers fig 3, and its plan fig 3' has three inches divided into tenths
at any convenient place on the top, as on fig 3¹." This callipers is for taking' the
thickness of the heads of casks. The arm (A a) is put into the bung hole, the
end (a) is made to meet the head on the inside, the end (b) on the outside, the
thickness, ie the distance (a) to (b) being in the present fig, supposed to be one inch.
This inch is indicated on the top of the callipers as shown on the plan fig 3', where
the black pointer (I) points to 1 inch. When (a) and (b) meet, the pointer I
points to 0. Fig 4 is a callipers for taking the thickness of staves. The end (d)
enters the bung hole (B) outside. "(B) and (d) catch the stave between them, while
the pointer (a) points to its thickness on the piece (C). The fixed arm (CHD) d)
which carries the fixed piece (C), two or three inches long, divided into such
'divisions as give tenths at (B b), carries an arm (AB) turning on A as centre.
(A B) carries a pointer (a), which, when (B) and (d) meet, points to O'on the piece (C).
When B and d are any given distance apart say 1 inch, as is supposed in the present
drawing, the pointer (a) points to 1 inch on the piece (C); and will point to more or
less, according as (B) and (d) are more or less apart, i.e. as the stave is more or less
thick. These several callipers which have been thus described are prepared and
used for gauging as follows. Take the thickness of staves with the callipers fig 4.
Move (a) the end of the slip (a a¹) fig 2, to twice this thickness on the T W line,
and fasten the slip with the screws (8) This cross callipers is now ready for use,
and take the cross diameters net. Take the thickness of heads with the callipers
fig. 3. as before described. Move the end (a) of the slip (a a¹) fig 1, to this
thickness on the (TW) line, and the end (b) of the slip (bb) fig. 1. to the thickness
on the other (T W) line, and fasten the slips with the screws (8). This long
callipers is now, also ready for use, and take the net length of the liquor in the
cask for when (A) the end of the callipers fig 1 is against the head of the cask,
and (a) the end of the slip is moved to the thickness of head on the T W line, the
nought commencing the line of inches, stands exactly over the inside of the head of
the cask. And hence our measures commence at nought at one end, and terminates
at the other end of the liquor, thus giving the net length of the liquor in the cask.
This arrangement for net measurement, and for taking the cross diameters of casks
at of their length, from their heads, over their quarters, and which is
accomplished by means of the slips and the T W lines, may also be accomplished
otherwise. Thus, Let the (M D) line and the line of inches on the slips of fig 1. be
cut on the solid callipers instead of on the slips. Let the T W lines be marked and
divided on parts of (A¹) and (B), and let the parts (A) and (B) slide telescopic-like
on (A) and (B), then the moving of (A) towards (A¹), and (B) towards (B') to the
thickness of heads, will give the same result, as moving (a) and (b) in fig 1, to the
thickness of heads. The long and cross callipers are used for gauging as follows.
Take the cask's length in the usual way by the long callipers fig 1. Leave the
callipers on the cask. Pull the clip (C) over, or near the bung hole, and fasten the
callipers on the cask, by a turn of the screw S pull the pointers (I) on the saddles M
and M to the number on each M D line which is numerically equal to the cask's
length above taken. Half the sum of the two diameters measured over these
saddles by the cross callipers will be the average mean diameter of the cask, if the
cask is not flattened. If it is flattened, and hence the horizontal greater or less
than the perpendicular diameter at the bung, (the centre of the cask)-add less or
more on third part of the difference of these diameters to the mean diameter above
obtained for a corrected mean diameter. Find the content of the cask by the head
rod in the usual way from this mean diameter and the length of the cask above
taken (no allowance required for shape).

page_text: 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
1. Taking the diameters across the quarters of the casks.
2. Taking these diameters at the point of the length of the cask from each
head, which point is mechanically obtained by means of the sliding grooved pieces
or saddles, and the M D line, and the length of the cask.
3. Taking the measures net by means of the T W lines and the long sliding
pieces (a a) and (b 6') as first above described, or by means of the T W lines and
the inches cut on the solid arms of the callipers as described secondly above.
4. The pair of callipers fig 3 for taking the thickness of the heads of casks, and
the spirit level arrangement fig 11.
5. The pair of callipers fig 4, for taking the thickness of the staves of casks, also
the stops (K) fig 1'.