IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY EM- ח-TAV MITH MANTRA COND T OR WOOD CAORO
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Frederick Potter Woodley, of Rose Villa,
Moor Street, Burton-on-Trent, in the County of Stafford, Cooper,
and John Anderson, of High Street, in the said Burton-on-Trent,
Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY EM-
ח-TAV
MITH MANTRA COND
T
OR WOOD CAORO"
caled the 15th May 1874, and dated the 8th January 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Frederick Potter
Woodley and John Anderson at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 8th January 1874.
We, JOHN FREDERICK POTTER WOODLEY, of Rose Villa, Moor Street,
Burton-on-Trent, in the County of Stafford, Cooper, and JOHN ANDER-
SON, of High Street, in the said Burton-on-Trent, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOOD CASKS," to be as follows:-
One part of the Invention relates to apparatus for cutting the edges
of the staves to the desired shape of narrower progressively to each end
from the middle, and also to the desired bevil, or that process of

page_text: Another part of the Invention relates to means for effecting the
desired bevilling of the edges of the "heads" of casks. Pieces of wood
jointed together to form a head are placed between and so as to be held
by pins or projections between two plates capable of sliding sideways on
other face plates. The axis of one of these face plates is hollowed to
receive through it the axis or spindle of its sliding plate. Rotary
motion is given to this hollow shaft to cause the rotation of the several
plates and the "head" held between them, but during this motion other
motion is given to the axis or spindle to the sliding plate carried by the
plate affixed to that hollow shaft so as to cause the head to revolve in
an oval direction, so that its edge may be cut by the bevelling cutters to
an oval form capable of adjustment as to extent. The cutters are
supported in slide rest for adjustment.
Another part of the Invention relates to means for planing the edges
of the separate breadths of wood to form the "heads." For this
purpose a table and endless chain such as before referred to are employed
to conduct the pieces between a pair of rotary cutters, and the distance
apart of the axes of these cutters is regulated to the width of wood for
the time to be operated upon by a pair of pins or projections carried by
frames operated by right and left handed screw to such width, such
frames also carrying the axes of the cutters.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Frederick Potter Woodley and John Anderson
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th July 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
FREDERICK POTTER WOODLEY, of Rose Villa, Moor Street, Burton-on-
Trent, in the County of Stafford, Cooper, and JOHN ANDERSON, of High
Street, in the said Burton-on-Trent, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said John Frederick Potter Woodley and
John Anderson, Her special. license, that we, the said John Frederick

page_text: Potter Woodley and John Anderson, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said John Frederick Potter Woodley
and John Anderson, our 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 In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
WOOD CASKS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said John
Frederick Potter Woodley and John Anderson, our executors or admini- ]
strators, by an instrument in writing under our or their hands and
seals, or under the hand seal of one of us or them, should particularly
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 John Frederick Potter Woodley,
on behalf of myself and the said John Anderson, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the 2
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
Our Invention relates, firstly, to apparatus for cutting the edges of
the staves of casks to the desired shape of narrower progressively to
each end from the middle, and also to the desired bevil, or that process
of operating on the staves which is commonly called "jointing." For
this purpose cach stave to be operated upon is in succession placed on a
table on or in a groove of which an endless chain traverses with pro-
jections, one of which by acting on one end of a stave drives it forward
between a pair of radial shafts, or shafts placed at angles one to the
other, and carrying cutters adapted to produce the desired angle
to the edges.
In order that these angles may be varied the relative positions of the
shafts is variable by right and left hand screw motion. These shafts are
supported in a frame capable of movement in a direction transversely to
that of the motion given to the stave to adapt the cutting to the desired
variations in the width of the stave. These motions are effected by
cams or tappets. Rotation to the cutter shafts is effected by suitable
straps or bands.

page_text: A saddle piece operated by the attendant and pressing rollers serve to
aid in guiding the stave correctly to the cutters, whilst weighted lever
arms with rollers serve to hold the stave correctly whilst the cutting is
effected.
Our Invention relates, secondly, to apparatus for effecting the
hollowing of the inside surface of the staves. For this purpose each of
the staves to be operated upon is, as in the last apparatus, placed on a
table in position to be acted upon by one of a series of projections from
an endless travelling chain, by which such stave is moved into position
for such surface to be cut by rotary cutters driven by a band or
strap.
The stave whilst moving forwards under the operation of the cutters
is guided by a template or roller or series of rollers acting as such to
control the form of cut obtained. Weighted guides and a weighted
pressure roller guide and aid in holding each stave in position during its
traverse.
Our Invention relates, thirdly, to apparatus for effecting the cutting
of the outer surface or the "backing" of the staves.
The desired cutting or "backing" for the outer surface of the staves
is effected by each stave being moved forward by a similar endless chain
on a table with the outer surface of such stave in position to be acted
upon by other rotary cutters. Weighted pressure rollers and guides aid
the motion of the staves.
Our Invention relates, fourthly, to means for effecting the desired
bevilling of the edges of the "heads" of casks. Pieces of wood
jointed together to form a head are placed between and so as to be held
by pins or projections between two plates, one of which is affixed as a
face plate to a shaft capable of revolving in suitable bearings, and has
rotary motion given to it. The other plate is capable of sliding sideways
on another face plate and of being held as set with its centre out of that
of its face plate corresponding with the extent of variation from a true
circle desired in the cutting of the opposite edges of the head by the
bevelling cutters. The bevelling cutters are supported in slide rest for
adjustment.
But that the Invention may be better understood we will by the aid
of the accompanying Drawings proceed to describe more in detail means
pursued by us in carrying the same into effect.

page_text: Figure 1 snews a plan view and Figure a side view of apparatus
arranged by us for carrying into effect the first part of the Invention.
Figures 3 and 4 show transverse sections of the above taken through
the lines 1, 1; and 2, 2, respectively.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 show details.
In each of these views the same letters are employed to indicate cor-
responding parts wherever they occur.
a, a, indicates the main framing; b, the table on which the pieces of
wood are in succession placed, and along which they are carried for the
purpose of their being cut to the desired form by the revolving cutters.
These cutters c, c, as used by us are applied with capability of adjust-
ment to a pair of axes c¹, c¹, a section of one of which at the part where
the cutters are applied is shewn at Figure 7. The necks of these shafts
or axes are supported to revolve freely in bearings a formed on
frames d, d, and these frames d, d, are formed at their upper ends to
receive a bolt e¹, which is also passed through the upper cross bar of the
frame e, and by which both those frames d, d, are suspended so as to be
capable of turning on that bolt e¹, whilst at their lower ends these
frames d, d, are each formed to receive a pin d², by which they are con-
nected to slides which are capable of moving in slots d³ formed for
them in the lower cross bar of the frame e. These lower ends of the
frames d, d, are also by links d' connected to sockets d³, which are tapped
to receive one or the other portion of the screw f, one portion of that
screw being formed with a right-hand thread and the other with a left-
hand thread, as is well understood, so that by turning the screw ƒ in one
direction the lower ends of the frames & will be separated farther apart,
and the revolving cutters c be adapted to cut the edges of wider staves
or to cutting the respective edges at a greater angle one to the other, or
by turning the screw f in the opposite direction the lower parts of the
two frames will be brought closer together, lessening the angle between
them, but this adjustment of the angle of the axes of the cutters may
be otherwise obtained. Rotary motion is given to the axes of the
cutters c, c, in the directions desired by those axes having formed on or
applied to them drums or pullies o² to receive straps or bands c³, which
are also passed partly round the drums or pullies 9, 9, affixed to the

page_text: shaft g', upon which are also affixed the fast and loose pulleys 9³, g³,
driven by a strap or band from a steam engine or other suitable
power.
The frame e is formed at its sides to slide vertically in the main
framing a, there being adjustable pieces a¹ at those parts, as is well
understood, and the desired to-and-fro vertical motion is obtained to this
frame e during the cutting of the edges of cach stave to vary the width
of cut effected by the cutters c by means of cams h, h, affixed to the
shaft or axis h¹ acting on the trucks or bowls e², which are supported to
turn on pins carried by the adjustable blocks e³, these blocks e³ being
adjustable on the face of the frame e by set screws in order to aid in
effecting changes in width or angle of cut produced by the cutters c, c.
The shaft or axis h¹ is supported to revolve in stationary bearings
carried by the main framing, and it has applied to it the tooth wheel h²,
the teeth of which are taken into by the teeth of the worm wheel h³
affixed on a shaft h', which is supported to revolve in a fixed bracket h³,
and has applied to its upper end the bevelled wheel hº, the teeth of
which are taken into by the teeth of the pinion h7 affixed on the shaft or
axis h. This shaft h³ receives motion from the driving shaft g¹ by its
having affixed on it the change pulleys h³ acted upon by a strap or
belt, operated from one or other of the change pullies " affixed on
the driving shaft g', according to the relative speed required. On the
shaft h¹ is also affixed the wheel h¹, with teeth formed to pass between
the links of an endless flat chain indicated by the dotted blue lines i,
and which chain passes over guide or conducting pullies, which serve
to guide the chain i to and from its course in the groove or recess 6¹ of
the table b. This chain i is formed with projections & at intervals, each
of which is serrated at its edge and adapted by acting upon the end of a.
stave to drive it forward against the cutters as indicated by the red
dotted lines j; k is an adjustable screw stop to aid in placing each stave
in position on the table; and 1, 1, are a pair of adjustable slides capable
of movement simultaneously towards the middle of the table to com-
plete that adjustment of the position of each stave as it approaches
the cutters. This simultaneous movement to the slides for action on
each stave is obtained by means of the handle lever 1, which is sup-
ported to turn on a fixed stud 1, and is connected by. pin joint to the
slide, which is capable of sliding vertically in stationary guides, and
is also by pin joint connected to one end of each of the levers . These

page_text: turn on fixed studs 15, whilst their
levers
upper ends pass between ribs
formed on the slides / to give motion to them. The outer end of the
with a tendency to raise its
separated to their full extent,
lever arm l' is weighted by the weight
handle end and thereby keep the slides
and they are brought towards each other for the purpose of acting on
the opposite sides of each stave, and thereby adjust the position of such
stave by depression of that handle end of the lever l
The staves are borne steadily on the table 6 during the cutting of the
edges of them by means of rollers m, m, with roughened edges. These
rollers are supported to turn on axes carried by a bar m¹, which is by
links m² connected to the weighted levers m³. These weighted levers m³
turn on axes m₁ carried by the stationary piece m affixed to the
brackets me and the weights m to the levers m³ are capable of being
varied to the pressure desired to be exerted by the rollers m.
adjustable stops, which by passing under the levers m³ limit the extent
of their downward motion.
"
m³ are
Figure 8 shows a side view and Figure 9 a plan view of machines
according to our Invention for effecting the "hollowing" and also the
'backing" of the staves according to the second and third parts of our
Invention. As shown these machines are arranged as a combined
machine, but this may be varied so that they may be used separately.
a is the mainsframing and the table on which the staves to be cut
are placed, and i is an endless travelling chain, which is similar in con-
struction and has corresponding motion given to it in the direction of
the arrow to that described under the first head of the Invention. The
wood to form the staves is placed on the table so as to be carried
forward by one of a series of projections or teeth standing up from
the chain i so as to bring it to be acted upon for hollowing by the pair
of cutters c similarly formed and applied to a revolving axis c¹, as
described in respect of the first part of the Invention. This axis c¹ is
supported to revolve freely in stationary bearings, as shewn, and it has
rotary motion given to it by means of a strap or band A, which is passed
partly round the pulley B affixed on the driving shaft C and partly
around a small pulley D affixed on the shaft or axis c¹. The wood to be
❝ hollowed as it is moved forward is guided in a correct position in
relation to the cutters c by passing between the lever guides E, E, and F.
The lever guides E, E, turn each upon a stationary axis E¹, whilst at
"

page_text: their under sides there is formed to each a projection to receive one end
of a cord, and these cords thence pass over guide pulleys E² to weights E³
with a tendency to bear the outer ends of those lever guides towards
each other. The lever guide F bears at its outer end upon that portion
of the stave for the time the uppermost, and it is applied to a shaft or
axis F, which is supported to turn in stationary bearings and has applied
to it the weighted lever arm F².
The wood to be cut as it passes from under the operation of the
cutters c is acted upon by the weighted pressure roller G, which is
supported in a fork formed in the outer end of the arm G¹ from the
axis G², which is supported to rock in stationary bearings as shewn, and
has applied to it the arm G³ weighted by the weight G*, capable of being
adjusted or varied as desired. That end of the wood then rises up the
curved incline formed on the template M, by which the form or extent
of the hollowing is in part controlled. y and z are guards to prevent
the chips flying in the face of the attendant.
We will now proceed to describe the process of "backing" according
to our Invention, and represented by the Figures 8 and 9, and by an
end view thereof, Figure 10.
In this case the wood to be cut is also carried forward in the direction
of the arrow on the table 6 by projections from the chain i, so that it
may be operated by the revolving cutters H affixed to the shaft or
axis H', and which are formed, applied, and operated as the cutters c in
the previous Figures. The wood as thus brought under the operation of
the cutters His borne upwards to those cutters by the weighted pressure
rollers I, I, and J. The axes of the rollers I, I, are each supported to
revolve in bearings capable of sliding vertically in stationary guides
whilst they are operated for lifting them by the outer ends of arms
from shafts, each of which is also provided with a weighted lever arm I³.
The axis of the roller J is supported to turn in bearings capable of
sliding vertically in guides provided for the purpose, and these bearings
are each connected to one end of a chain passing over guide rollers to
weights J'.
We will now describe the fourth part of the Invention, which is
shewn by side view at Figure 11%; plan view, Figure 12; end view,
Figure 13; and detail view, Figure 14. In each of these views the

page_text: a is the main framing; b, the main or driving shaft which receives
motion by a band or strap from a steam engine or other suitable power
by such strap acting on one of the pulleys 6' applied to that shaft ỗ.
Upon this shaft 6 is applied a face plate c with short pins projecting
from its surface. d is another face plate formed on or applied to another
shaft or axis d', which is supported to revolve freely in adjustable
'bearings. Upon the face of this plate d is supported, with capability of
variable sliding adjustment, another plate e which is also provided with
pins to stand out from its face. The head to have its edges cut is
placed and held by being nipped between the faces of the plates c and e.
The plate e is set on the plate d to an extent capable of being varied
as desired to correspond with the extent of divergence from a circle to
be produced in the cutting round of the head. The plates d and e, with
the axis d¹, are moved to and from the plate c by means of the adjusting
screw f. The heads are placed between the plates d and e so that the
shorter diameter obtained by the action of the cutters is in the direction
of the length of the staves composing the head, and when one such end
part has been cut to the extent desired the parts d and e are withdrawn,
releasing the head, which is then reversed for the opposite part to be
similarly operated upon, so that the head when thus operated is cut to a
somewhat oval figure formed of parts of two curves, which are segments
of circles of larger diameter than that of the head. g and h are the
cutters which are supported with capability of adjustment on a slide i,
which is capable of movement by screw motion operated by the
handle; or by other suitable means so as to bring the cutters g and h
alternately into operation; k is a set screw for setting fast the screw f.
Having thus described our Invention and means we adopt in carrying
the same into effect, we would have it understood that we do not confine
ourselves to the precise details shewn and described, but what we do
claim is,―
First. The arranging or combining parts forming machinery for
operating wood for staves of casks in order to effect the desired cutting
to form or variation of width of each stave, as well as the bevelling
thereof, commonly called "jointing," substantially as described.
Secondly. We claim the arranging or combining parts forming
machinery for effecting the cutting of the inside surface or the
"hollowing" of wood staves for casks, substantially as described.

page_text: Thirdly. We claim the arranging or combining parts forming
machinery for effecting the cutting of the outer surface or the
"backing" of staves of casks, substantially as described.
Fourthly. We claim the arranging or combining parts forming
machinery for effecting the cutting of the edges of heads of casks to
the desired figure, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Frederick Potter Woodley,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of July,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-four.
JOHN FREDERICK POTTER WOODLEY. (L.S.)