Improvements in the Manufacture of Casks, Barrels, Kegs, and the like.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Casks, Barrels, Kegs,
and the like.
We JAMES HAWLEY, of Derby Works, Carruthers Street, Vauxhall Road,
Engineer, and SIMEON LORD, of 149, Mere Lane, Walton, Engineer, both of the
City of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, 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 manufacture of tight casks, barrels, kegs, and the like, according to our
invention, we plane suitable pieces of timber to the required thickness of staves,
and then place them in a steaming vessel or chamber to soften, where they remain
until they are sufficiently elastic or pliable to take the required shape. Whilst in
this state they are blocked to the shape which they take when in the finished
barrel, and whilst being blocked they are fired or dried. The edges of the staves
are then jointed by a wheel or other suitable jointer, having a flat knife or knives
in place of the hollow disc jointers in general use. We build such staves up by
hand within (say) one of the bilge trussing hoops and afterwards truss them by
means of a trussing machine, which acts by percussion, as we find that a succession
of blows will more quickly and effectually truss the cask or barrel than a steady
pressure.
The first part of our invention consists of a steam vessel or chamber in which
planed pieces of wood to form the staves are placed. Wet steam either direct from
a boiler at a low pressure, or the exhaust from the steam trussing machine, is
turned into the steaming vessel or chamber amongst the pieces of wood intended
to be formed into staves. After the pieces of wood have become sufficiently
softened or pliable they are then taken out and in the case of heavy staves, one
or more, according to the width, is or are placed within blocks shewn in Figs. 1. 2
and 3 of the accompanying drawings, where they are pressed into the shape
intended for the finished barrel:
Fig. 1, shews a longitudinal section. Fig. 2, is a plan or top view, and Fig. 3, is
a section on line A B. of Fig. 1.
The bottom block C is rounded on the upper surface to the same contour as the
inside of a finished barrel formed of that size of stave.

page_text: The upper or top block C¹ is hollowed to the shape of the outside of the same
barrel.
The surfaces where the wooden stave or staves C² touch are made smooth and
may be perforated or slightly ribbed according to the class of staves to be treated
to allow the moisture in the stave to evaporate whilst undergoing a firing or drying
process. Around the bottom block two suitable straps D. D. are fixed; they have
cotter holes formed therein, into which the cotters or wedges E. E. take. Thus it
will be understood that as soon as the softened staves are taken out of the
steaming vessel, they are placed in and parallel with the mould C the top block C¹,
is then placed in position and pressed tightly down by a lever, or by a small
hydraulic or steam ram, to press or squeeze the softened staves into their proper
form. The cotters E. E. are then driven in and the lever or ram released. The
blocks or moulds with the pressed stave or staves C are then subjected to heating
or firing by a kiln or travelling oven, such as shewn in Figs. 9. 10. and 11.
In treating some classes of staves, instead of subjecting them to a high
temperature such as produced by the before mentioned kiln or travelling oven we
employ a vessel in which a vacuum is produced as hereinafter described.
Fig. 9. is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the kiln or travelling oven
according to this part of our invention.
Fig. 10. is a sectional plan taken on line 15, 16.
Fig. 11. is an end view in section taken on line 17. 18. The kiln or travelling
oven consists of fire places U. U, flues U U³, uptake flues U³ U', dampers Us U6,
travelling chains V. V, which are retained parallel with each other by means of rods
or staves V¹ V¹ and rails V2 V* which are supported on cross girders let into the
kiln or oven walls.
The endless travelling chains which are composed of links as shewn in Figs. 12
and 13. passing over suitable driving pulleys, W. W, which have lugs or teeth to
take in the open links. They may be driven by means of toothed gearing such as
shewn in Fig. 10. or by a ratchet wheel and pawl, so arranged that the speed
of the travelling chains may be altered to suit different thicknesess and classes of
staves. At the entrance of the oven a sliding door X with weighted lever and
chain W¹ is provided, as shewn in Fig. 9.
A suitable platform or table is also formed at the inlet end of the kiln or oven
on which the before mentioned blocks or moulds are placed ready to be pushed
forward on to the cross bars V₁ V₁ of the travelling chains. At the opposite or
outlet end of the kiln or oven a plate or shoot Y is fixed for the blocks or moulds
to slide down when they have travelled through. A swing door W* is arranged so
that it will swing or close by its own weight, when the said blocks or moulds have
passed out. It will be understood by reference to the drawings how the flues and
dampers are arranged so as to control the temperature within the oven. For
quickly drying some classes of staves where a high temperature would be
objectionable, we place the before mentioned blocks and staves into a vacuum
chamber not shewn in the drawings.
It may conveniently be in the form of a cylindrical boiler, having a suitable
entrance or manhole door fitted at one end. Inside the vacuum chamber a coil of
steam pipes is provided for evaporating the moisture taken up by the staves whilst
in the softening or steaming vessel. The blocks and pressed staves whether
treated in the kiln or the vacuum chamber are left in a sufficient time to expel all
the moisture. They are then taken out and when sufficiently cooled down that
they will not change their shape when released, the moulds are opened and the
staves removed. The above mentioned method would however be too slow for
operating on staves suitable for small liquor barrels or kegs, and for moulding and
firing such staves instead of placing them in a number of moulds as before
described we employ a mechine represented in Figs. 4 and 5. of which Fig. 4. is an
elevation partially in section. In this machine the mould is made capable of
taking in at one time a considerable number of staves and is cylindrical in form.
It is heated by a flue instead of being placed in an oven. In Fig. 4. one half of

page_text: the machine to the left hand, is shewn with the hoods or outer parts of the mould
opened to admit the staves, whilst the right hand half shews the hoods drawn
together just sufficient to keep the staves in contact with the heated inner mould
or casing, which may conveniently be bolted or otherwise secured to the base
plate K. on to which the shaft supports or pillars K¹ K¹ are secured.
Fig. 5. is a side elevation:
F. is an inner casing of the same shape as the inside of a small liquor barrel or
keg the staves are intended to make.
Concentric with the inner casing F. a hood Fi is provided, it being rather less
than half the length of the staves under treatment. This hood is made the same
internal shape as the external surface of a finished keg or small liquor barrel.
In the annular space left, between the hood F and inner casing F. a sufficient
number of treated or softened staves are inserted for one keg or small liquor
barrel. The overhead shaft G. carrying the bevel wheels G₁ G¹ is set in motion
and may be driven by belts running on the pulleys G G so that the shaft may be
rotated in either direction.
Gearing with the bevel wheels G¹ G₁ are two others H. H. these are fitted on to
right and left hand screw threaded shafts H¹ H¹ on to which internally screw
threaded nuts work, they being attached to and retained from revolving by the
hoods F and F and pillar guides as shewn in Fig. 4.
Thus it will be understood that when a sufficient number of staves have been
inserted as before described, the overhead shaft G. and screws H¹H' are set in
motion thus bringing the hoods together.
The lower hood F1 has a shoulder left in the inside for lifting the staves up,
until they become central with the inner casing F. and are caught at the top end
by another shoulder formed on the interior of the upper hood. The staves are thus
brought in contact with the inner casing and are thus retained in their finished
shape. Beneath the inner casing a small furnace J. is provided and is connected
with a flue J¹ and damper J³. When a set of staves are in position the damper J'
is closed thereby causing the flame and heated gasses to pass through and heat the
inner casing.
The staves are allowed to remain exposed to the heat until they are dried or
fixed to the required shape. The damper J2 is then opened and the flame and
heated gases pass along the flue.
The hoods and inner casing may be perforated or slightly ribbed to allow the
steam or moisture to pass away.
The hoods are then removed and the dried staves taken out and jointed by a
wheel or other suitable jointer, having a flat knife or knives.
In consequence of the staves being bent into the proper form before jointing the
edges, it is preferable for tight work to leave very little inner wood and by the
blocks or moulds being smooth, the finished staves have a much better and neater
appearance, and require less trussing than when the staves are simply fired and
forced into the required shape by trussing.
Fig. 6. represents partially in section a trussing and firing machine according to
our invention, in which the hoops are driven on by percussion.
Fig. 7. is a side elevation and Fig. 8. is a half sectional plan or top view taken
on line 12-13.
One or more of the trussing hoops may be driven simultaneously according to
circumstances. When a sufficient number of staves have been moulded to the
desired shape as before described and afterwards jointed, they are set up by hand
within one of the bilge truss hoops, and the ordinary hand raising cone, or they
may be set up under the hammer in the bilge truss hoop L, Fig. 6. the ends of
the staves resting on a hoop or ring M, which forms a gauge for the proper quantity
of staves to be inserted for a barrel of a given size.
When the trussing hammer is set to work the barrel rim and the ring M are
driven down until they rest on the base plate, thus levelling any of the staves that
may have moved endwise.

page_text: The hoop or ring M before the trussing is commenced is somewhat higher in the
machine than shewn in Fig. 6. in which the trussing is supposed to be completed
for one end of the cask and the bilge hoop L partially forced on for the other end.
It will be understood that the bilge truss hoop LI may be passed over the staves
when they are.set up by hand in the machine, in consequence of the staves being
bent to their finished shape.
The trussing ring driver N. is then slid down the guide rods P by means of a
lever (shewn by the dotted line Q. Fig. 6) which may conveniently be pivotted to
the upright standards P. P. This driver is formed with recesses as shewn by the
section in Fig. 6. so as to rest. on the trussing hoops L2 and L³. On the top of the
driver N. a suitable wood block or packing R. is placed, so that what might be
called the hammer face S. instead of coming in direct contact with metal driver N.
strikes the wood packing R. which may have a wrought iron plate beneath, and
be kept central with the driver by lugs or other convenient means.
The hammer face S. may be made large in diameter as shewn, hollowed out in
the centre and attached to the piston rod S¹ by a nut.
The steam cylinder T. may be carried as shewn, or in any other convenient way.
For trussing casks somewhat less in diameter than the one shewn in Fig. 6. a
suitable formed packing hoop is placed below the bilge trussing hoop L and the
trussing hoop driver changed. It may conveniently be steadied by guides working
on the pillars or supports P. P. so as to keep the cask quite central.
The operation of trussing a cask or barrel is as follows;-after the staves have
been set up and the trussing hoop passed over them, and the trussing driver
lowered into position as before described, the steam hammer is set to work, and the
hoops are successively driven the same as by hand work.
During the trussing the small furnace beneath the machine has been further
drying or firing the inside of the staves so as to cause the trussing to be more
easily executed.
When the three trussing hoops L L and L' have been driven home, the barrel
rim is turned over and the remaining truss hoops driven on.
A similar but smaller hammer to the one before described or a spring hammer
may conveniently be employed for trussing small liquor barrels or kegs, and may
be so constructed that the truss driver may be lifted by the piston rod if required.
We would have it understood that apparatus of the kind reffered to may be
constructed in modified forms to suit the various description of staves employed for
the manufacture of barrels, from the smallest sizes of gunpowder keg. to wine and
beer barrels without departure from the essential features of our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In machinery for the manufacture of casks, barrels, kegs and the like the use
of blocks or moulds for shaping steamed or softened staves previously to them
being jointed substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3. of the
drawings.
2. In machinery for the manufacture of casks, barrels, kegs and the like, the use
of a moulding machine consisting of an inner heated casing and hoods substantially
as described and illustrated in Figs. 4 to 5 of the drawings.
3. The bereindescribed method of treating staves for the manufacture of casks,
barrels, kegs, and the like consisting in first steaming them to bring them in to a
pliable state and then heating or drying them in blocks or moulds substantially as
described.
4. The use for trussing casks, barrels, kegs and the like, of a steam or spring
trussing machine acting by percussion substantially as described and illustrated in
Figs. 6. to 8. of the drawings.
5. In machinery or apparatus for trussing casks, barrels, kegs, and the like, the
use in combination of a trussing machine acting by percussion and a furnace or

page_text: flue, the whole so arranged that the trussing and heating or drying of the staves
are effected simultaneously substantially as described.
6. The use for drying staves of a travelling oven constructed, arranged, and
operating substantially as described with reference to Figs. 9. 10. and 11 of the
drawings.
7. The use for drying previously softened and bent staves of a vacuum pan in
which the moisture is removed at a low temperature substantially as described.
JAMES HAWLEY.
SIMEON LORD.
Dated this 10th day of February 1886.
Witness,
F. M. C. SCOTT,
Agent.
JAMES HAWLEY.
SIMEON LORD.