IMPROVEMENTS IN RACKS FOR STORING AND IMPROVING OR AGEING WHISKY AND OTHER SPIRITS WHICH INVENTION IS. ALSO APPLICABLE TO WINES AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC LIQUIDS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Smith of 15 Upper Parliament Street Liverpool
19
in the County of Lancaster Merchant for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN RACKS FOR STORING AND IMPROVING OR AGEING WHISKY AND OTHER
SPIRITS WHICH INVENTION IS. ALSO APPLICABLE TO WINES AND OTHER
ALCOHOLIC LIQUIDS" communicated to him from abroad by Claude M
Johnson of Lexington Kentucky in the United States
.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Edward Smith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th July 1883.
EDWARD SMITH of 15 Upper Parliament Street Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster Merchant IMPROVEMENTS IN RACKS FOR STORING AND IMPROVING
OR AGEING WHISKY AND OTHER SPIRITS WHICH INVENTION IS ALSO APPLICABLE
TO WINES AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC LIQUIDS"-communicated to me from abroad by
Claude M Johnson of Lexington Kentucky in the United States
"
1
"
This Invention relates to an improvement in the construction and arrangement
of Apparatus or racks for storing and ageing Whisky and other Spirits and also
Wines and other alcoholic liquids and it consists in the first part, in mounting the
-racks which hold the barrels in position on rockers, and connecting them by crank
and pitman connections with a driving pulley, so as to rock the rack on which the
barrels are placed, and thereby age the whisky and other Spirits
"
. :
My invention consists, in the second part, in combining two or more tiers of
rocking racks, mounted in the same frame, with crank and pitman connections, so
that each alternate tier of barrels will rock in opposite directions. This featuro is
important, because if all the tiers of racks, being one above the other, were to rock
in the same direction the shock or vibration would break the frame in which the
racks are mounted, and these shocks or vibrations would seriously affect ordinary
buildings in which the articles are desired to be stored
:
Other features of my invention will be fully set forth in the following description
of the accompanying drawings in which-
1.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of several broken sections of a barrel storing
frame, showing my improved rocking racks and their driving connections "in

page_text: position for operation-Fig 2 is a rear end view, partly in section, showing the
rocker-frame and its rocker shaft, which is journaled in bearings on the main
frame Fig 3. is a broken side elevation of the rocker frame and the rocker bed of
the main frame. Fig 4 is a central sectional elevation of Fig 1. but showing but
one tier of rocking frames' and main frame
A represents the uprights or posts of the main frame
BC C' represent girders or cross-beams-These parts should be rigidly attached
together
E represents cross timbers, which form the floor of the rockers
FF represent guides for the rockers to work between
D represents the rocker frame-It is composed of frame pieces d and cross
pieces d¹¹
d represents segmental notches, in which the barrels rest
-
1
In order to distribute the strain over the entire rocker frame D, I provide a
rocker-shaft G. which runs longitudinally on the under side of the rocker-frame 1
and is gained into-the-rockers D¹³, to which rockers-this shaft-is-rigidly-secured so
as to form a tie rod or brace. I provide a supplemental rocker-bearing at each end
of the frame, in which the ends of the shaft G. rock on knife edge or similar
bearings h.
H" represents a cap or plate to hold the rocker-frame down
H' represents a plate upon which the ends of rocker shaft G rest, preferably in
V shape bearings h' whose side walls act as stops for the ends h. of Shaft G at each
end of the rocker stroke
---I I¹ I¹¹ represent pitmen or connecting rods
J represents a driving crank-wheel, which may be driven by the pitman K or by 2
belts, as preferred. The distance between the crank pin of pulley J to the center
being less than the distance from the crank pin i to the centre of shaft G. oscillates
the crank H and with it the shaft G and rocker frame D-It is important to have
each alternate crank H move in opposite circular paths, so as to rock each alternate
frame D-in opposite directions
It is obvious that other forms of bearings for the Shaft G may be employed; but
the form herein shown and described is preferred
-3
I am aware that a rocking platform has been supported by knife edge bearings
for the purpose of agitating the liquor in barrels arranged on said platform I
am also aware that chairs have been provided with rockers arranged to rock on 3
a stationary base frame. I am also aware that grain-shoes of grain-separators
have been composed of two sections driven from a single crank-shaft, by which
they are reciprocated in opposite directions; but such features do not constituto
this invention, and are not broadly claimed by me, this invention comprising
combinations of parts which are specifically set forth in the several clauses of 4
claims
I claim
1. The barrel rack D. having rockers D' in combination with the rack frame A
BCC provided with rocker-beds F substantially as and for the purpose herein set
forth
2. The barrel-rack D, having rockers D¹ in combination with the rack frame A.
B C. C'., provided with rocker beds E and rocker-guides F. substantially as and
for the purpose herein set forth
3. In combination with the series of rockers D', the transverse rocker shaft Ɑ
supported in bearings at each end of the rack frame, substantially as herein set
forth
4
4. The combination, with two or more rocker frames, D, of shafts & cranks H
connected with the latter and extending in opposite directions, pitmen I, and crank
wheel J substantially as, described whereby each alternate rocker frame will rock
in a direction opposite to the other as set forth
5 The combination, with a stationary supporting-frame, of two or more rocker
frames D constructed to, hold two or more tiers of barrels and arranged one above

page_text: the other, and crank and pitman connections, substantially as described, whereby
each alternate frame will rock in a direction opposite to the other, substantially as
set forth
In witness whereof I the said Edward Smith have hereunto set my hand and
seal this twenty fourth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty three
"
Signed sealed & delivered by
the said Edward Smith
in the presence of
AUGUSTUS F WARR
Notary Public
Liverpool
EDWARD SMITH (L.S.)