IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR LIFTING AND TILTING CASKS OR OTHER RECEP- TACLES CONTAINING LIQUIDS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Argent, of White Lion Street, Pentonville,
in the County of Middlesex, Coach Builder, for the Invention of
"IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR LIFTING AND TILTING CASKS OR OTHER RECEP-
TACLES CONTAINING LIQUIDS."
Scaled the 9th July 1861, and dated the 18th January 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Argent at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th
January 1861.
I, EDWARD ARGENT, of White Lion Street, Pentonville, in the County of
Middlesex, Coach Builder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR LIFTING AND TILTING CASES OR OTHER RECEPTACLES
CONTAINING LIQUIDS," to be as follows:-
Casks, pipes, barrels, or other receptacles for liquids, when laid down in a
horizontal position, and holding liquid in which lees or other sediment is
formed by precipitation, require to be lifted or tilted in order to obtain the
whole of the liquid in a clear state.
For this purpose I propose to use an apparatus having at the upper end
thereof a hook by which it is to be suspended to a rod, chain, hook, or nail
when in use. At the lower end will be another hook or catch suitable to hold
on to the chime of the cask or receptacle. A metal framing will support a

page_text: A
rod threaded as a screw and fastened to the lower hook or catch by a spindle
running through two lugs at the bottom of the rod, and through the upper
end of the catch. The screwed rod passing thence through a screw nut with
double handle fitted thereon to work horizontally meets and passes through a
screw cap, and thence through a hole in the upper part of the framing.
bandle placed on the outer portion of the framing will serve to turn the upper
book, which is to be fixed to the upper ring of the framing, running down
its side for greater security. The upper hook being suspended to a bar, chain,
or otherwise, and the lower hook or catch being on the cask, by turning the
double-handled piece a strain is put on the end of the barrel, and it is
gradually lifted or tilted.
I also propose to make my apparatus with a handle working by rotatory
vertical motion; in which case I propose using two cogged wheels placed in a
casing, or I may place the screw rod in a framing, and work by means of
handles on the framing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Argent in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 17th July 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
ARGENT, of White Lion Street, Pentonville, in the County of Middlesex,
Coach Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Edward Argent, Her special licence that I, the said Edward
Argent, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Edward Argent, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR LIFTING AND TILTING CASKS OR OTHER RECEPTACLES
CONTAINING LIQUIDS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Edward Argent, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly

page_text: describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Argent, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the annexed Sheet of Drawings forming
part of this my Specification, and to the letters of reference denoting cor-
responding parts at each of the Figures marked on the different Diagrams.
The first of which, or Figure 1, shews in front elevation one description of
lifting apparatus constructed according to my Invention; Figure 2, front
elevation of my lift in a different form from that shewn at Figure 1; Figure 8
is a side view of Figure 2, and Figure 4 represents a front view of my lifting
apparatus constructed with a wooden casing, the lower part of the casing being
detached in the Drawing for the purpose of exhibiting portions of the
mechanism in its interior.
The object of my Invention is to enable wine and beer merchants (or others)
to lift by my apparatus one end of a cask, pipe, barrel, or other vessel filled
with liquid and lying longitudinally so gradually that as it is emptied the lees
or sediment of the liquor shall not be disturbed, but the whole contents
(except such lees or sediment) be racked off clear.
I am aware that mechanism has been used for this purpose, but such
mechanism has usually been placed under the barrel or cask, a separate stand
or mechanical apparatus being required for each cask. My lifting apparatus,
on the contrary, acts from above upon barrels or other vessels as they lie in
the cellar, tier upon tier, or in any horizontal position, and whether quite full
or partially emptied, and may be removed to any other or every other cask in
the cellar, in rotation, a block or wedge being first inserted under the lifted end
of the tilted cask, the operation of removing the "lift" from one cask to
another occupying scarcely a minute of time. A chain suspended (by any
purchase) from the ceiling or from a bar running the full length of the cellar
just over the end of the cask next the wall, and supported at intervals, serves
to suspend the apparatus, which I term a "lift," and which is hooked thereon.
The screw of the apparatus (hereafter described) being turned out as far as it
will go, and the hook of the clip or catch placed on the back (chime) of the
cask, on turning the handle or handles the screw works upwards lifting one
end, and thus tilting the cask. By using this lift with care great saving in
wines, beers, or other liquids is secured, as from the steadiness of the lift the

page_text: liquid contents of the cask are not shaken, and may be drawn off clear to the
last pint thereof.
At Figure 1 of the Drawing, a is a screw working through a metal boss b
on the end of the tube c, said tube being provided with a hook dat its upper
end for the purpose of attaching the apparatus to a chain (a rod may be used)
suspended from the roof or crown of the cellar or vault. When a barrel
requires to be tilted, the catch or clip e is placed on the back of the cask in a
line with the bunghole, the hook of the catch passing around and under the
chime; the handles f, f, are then turned round, causing the screw to enter up
the tube c, thus shortening the distance from the end of the cask to the
ceiling, and raising this end from a horizontal position to the degree of
elevation required.
Figure 2 represents a different modification of my apparatus, and it will be
perceived by reference thereto, that the screw a, instead of passing up a tube,
passes through the lower and upper parts of a metal frame g, the hook d
being fastened on or secured to the top of the frame, the handles f working
precisely as before described in reference to Figure 1. In this modification
the clip or catch e is made with two levers as in calipers. Figure 3 is (as
aforesaid) a side view of Figure 2.
Another modification of my lifting apparatus is shewn at Figure 4.
It is
composed of a wooden block h, in the centre of the bottom of which is a
horizontal toothed and bevelled wheel i, into which gears a vertical toothed
and bevelled wheel ; at one side of the wooden block. The axis of this
vertical wheel is provided with a winch handle f, which sets in motion both
wheels, thus winding the screw a in an upward direction, the boss of the lower
wheel being tapped with a female screw which works around the vertical
screw a. On this opposite side of the block is a handle to hold the tilt steady
while winding up. A hole is bored entirely through the centre of the wooden
block h from bottom to top thereof in order to allow the screw a to pass
upwards and through its apex; a hook d is fitted for the purpose before
mentioned, or this hook may be otherwise secured to the upper part of the
block h.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and means by which
I carry it into practical effect, I desire it to be distinctly understood that I do
not confine or restrict myself to the precise details herein given or the forms
of constructing my lift shewn in the annexed Drawing, as the construction
may be modified or varied without any departure from the principle I have
herein explained and illustrated in the Drawing; and I lay no claim to the
exclusive use of any of the mechanical parts herein named or illustrated

page_text: when taken separately as parts and not used in combination, or for the
purposes of my Invention, which I declare to be and I claim the exclusive use
of the combination of mechanical parts put together essentially as herein
explained and illustrated or shewn in the Drawing, forming when so combined
or put together an "Improved Apparatus for Lifting and Tilting Casks or
other Receptacles containing Liquids."
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Argent, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
JOHN GEDGE,
Patent Office,
11, Wellington St., Strand.
E. ARGENT. (L.S.)