IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CASKS OR BARRELS.
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Wright, of Wright Street, Egremont, in the
County of Cheshire for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CASKS OR BARRELS.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Wright at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th July 1882.
SAMUEL WRIGHT, of Wright Street, Egremont, in the County of Cheshire
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF CASKS OR BARRELS
"
This invention has for object improvements in machinery or apparatus for the
manufacture trussing and heading of casks or barrels, and has reference to a
collapsible core barrel constructed in segments and made considerably shorter than
the length of staves to be placed thereon. These segments are held and guided by
means of rods or links, pivotted at or near their ends; the other ends of the said
links are pivotted to collars on the central or barrel shaft; one of these collars is
fast while the other can slide along the shaft and is coupled to a lever by which it
is operated when the core barrel is to be expanded or collapsed. The centres or
points at which the links are pivotted to the segments, are rather closer together
than the corresponding centres on the collars on shaft, so that when the loose collar
is drawn longitudinally on the shaft, by the lever, the segments are brought
sufficiently close together to allow the bulge barrel rim being drawn off. Suitable
slot holes or their equivalents are provided to permit of two of the opposite
segments (if the rim is composed of four pieces) to close towards the shaft in
advance of the other two. In place of the links or rods, before described I may
use tapered dis, or wedges, working against pins or guide pieces on the collapsible
segments; these pins or guide pieces are made to slide in bosses secured to the
central or barrel shaft. The tapered dies or wedges are each formed with a groove
or other suitable device to draw the segments together when the dies are with-
drawn; they slide on the central or barrel shaft in grooves, or sunk keyways, and
Price 1071

page_text: may be coupled together at one or both ends by means of sliding collars. They are
connected to a sliding sleeve operated by the collapsing lever which draws or forces
the taper dies in or out.
My invention relates, secondly, to a simple apparatus for feeding staves to a
barrel machine, such as that described in the specification of Letters Patent, N° 2886
of 1881, granted to Frederick McClure Scott, of Liverpool (a communication from
abroad by James Stark of Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada). A suitable platform with a
saw shaft grooving cutters, and top roller is provided, of sufficient length to hold
a complete set of staves for one barrel. The staves are laid flat with their edges
touching each other, and are held down by means of guide rollers or bars. A chain
or chains provided with a hook or hooks at one end is passed over the staves and
secured to the last of them. The other end of the chain or rope passes over the
collapsible barrel and into a drum or other suitable hauling apparatus underneath
the barrel body. To feed the machine the chain is drawn sufficiently tight to push
the staves between the guide hoops and the collapsible core barrel, which may be
driven slowly or may be rotated by the frictional contact of the staves with the
core barrel if preferred instead of the gearing described in the above mentioned
specification. The back guiding hoops instead of swinging back as described in
specification N° 2886 of 1881 are, at the lower end connected to an eccentric or
crank shaft provided with a lever, so arranged that when the lever is lowered the
eccentrics or cranks move the back hoops so far that when the front hoops are
opened out the barrel body may be drawn off; thus the main frame and platform
are fixtures.
To truss the casks or barrels I provide expanding trussing hoops each formed of
a suitable pliable hoop or strap. A hand lever pivotted at the end fits into a joint
formed at one extremity of the hoop iron band; between this and the other end of
the lever is a pin with two short links coupled thereon. The links are coupled to
the other end of truss hoop so that when the lever is laid close against the truss
hoop, it draws the two ends together; the links will have slightly passed the centre
line and will remain in position when the full tension is acting on the hoop. For
larger barrels one or more similar levers and links may be applied to the same
hoop. For heavy barrels, there may be substituted for the lever and links a rack
and pinion or a ratchet wheel or screw may be applied.
For placing the head of a barrel into the groove constructed for that purpose in
the staves I provide two pieces of wood or metal whose leugth is a little greater
than the diameter of the barrel end; these pieces are placed parallel with each
other leaving a space between them and at right angles to thein two cross pieces
are fixed parallel to each other. These cross pieces are made the same depth as the
croze and of suitable length to pass inside barrel end; they are also provided with
small spikes The barrel head is put together on a flat surface, the cross pieces are
then placed over it and the spikes forced slightly into it to enable it to be lifted-
The head and cross are then placed on the barrel end, the longer pieces resting on
the end, and the staves are drawn close together by the trussing hoop to hold the
head in its place without the cross.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Wright in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th January
1883.
SAMUEL WRIGHT late of Wright Street, now of 11, Rudgrave Square Egremont,
in the County of Chester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MCHINERY [sic] OR APPARATUS
FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CASKS OR BARRELS"
This invention has for object improvements in machinery or apparatus for the
manufacture trussing and heading of casks or barrels and has reference to a
collapsible core barrel, constructed in segments and made considerably shorter than
the length of the staves to be placed thereon. These segments are held and guided
by means of rods or links pivotted at or near their ends; the other ends of the said
links are pivotted to collars on the central or barrel shaft; one of these collars is
fast while the other can slide along the shaft and is coupled to a lever by which it
is operated when the core barrel is to be expanded or collapsed The centres or
points at which the links are pivotted to the segments are rather closer together
than the corresponding centres on the collars on the shaft so that when the loose
collar is drawn longitudinaly on the shaft by the lever the segments are brought
sufficiently close together to allow of the bulge barrel rim being drawn off.
Suitable slot holes or their equivalents are provided to permit two opposite
segments (if the rim is composed of four pieces) to close towards the shaft in
advance of the other two.
Referring to the accompanying five sheets of drawings Fig 1. is a longitudinal
central section of a collapsible core barrel according to my invention with the parts
shewn in their expanded or working position within a barrel rim and Fig 2. is an
end elevation of the same. Fig 3. is a section in line 22. 23. of Fig. 4. shewing
one of the smaller and one of the larger segments of the collapsible core barrel
with the parts in the collapsed positions and Fig 4. is a cross sectional elevation
of the same collapsed with a barrel rim ready to be drawn off. The collapsible
core barrel consists of four segments f. f. f¹. f. of which the two opposite ones f. f.
extend through a shorter circular arc than the other two, to allow of their being
drawn closer to the main shaft. A suitable bracket or fixing G¹. Figs 1. and 3. is
attached to each of the segments an is provided with stops and joints to which
the retaining links W. W¹. W. are pivotted at one end. The other ends of the
links. W. W. are pivotted to a fixed collar X¹. while the other ends of the two links
W. W¹. are pivotted to a sliding collar or sleeve X. and those of links W². have
pins or studs that pass into slot holes W. formed in the sliding collar X and of
such length as to allow the shorter segments ff to be drawn towards the shaft in
advance of the others. Figs. 5 to 10. inclusive illustrate a modification wherein
both sleeves X. X¹. can slide on sunk keys along the shaft to an extent limited by
the levers X2 whose fulcrum is at X³. and links X. X.-The four links. W. and W¹.
are placed at different angles as shewn in Figs 5 and 6. by this arrangement the
two slot holes W. Fig. 3. are dispensed with. In place of the links or rods before
described I in some cases use tapered dies or wedges working against pins or guide
pieces on the collapsible segments, these pins or guide pieces are made to slide in
bosses secured to the central or barrel shaft. The tapered dies or wedges are each
formed with a groove or other suitable device to draw the segments together when
the dies are withdrawn, they slide on the central or barrel shaft in grooves or
sunk keyways and may be coupled together at one or both ends by means of
sliding collars.
They are connected to a sliding sleeve operated by the collapsing lever A.
Fig. 22. which draws or forces the taper dies in or out.

page_text: 1
Fig. 12. is a central longitudinal section of a collapsible core barrel according to
this modification of my invention with the parts in their expanded positions and
Fig. 13. is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 14. is a section in the line 20. 21. of
Fig 16. and shews the core barrel with the parts in the collapsed positions and
Fig 16. shews the same in cross section.
In this arrangement each segment ƒ ƒƒ`ƒ' is provided with a round shank
or stem q turned to fit in sockets or bosses forming a four armed bracket Z on the
central or main shaft A'. Y. Y. are dies or wedges connected to a sliding collar X
and moving in guides or grooves on the shaft. To reduce the friction a roller q'. is
provided to each shank or stem. q. to run upon the corresponding die or wedge.
These wedges or dies are in pairs, each pair being so formed as to cause two
opposite segments to travel in advance of the others. This result is attained by
proportioning the height and length of the inclines so that one pair coines into
action before the other or performs its work more quickly. The length of the
shanks or stems is proportioned to suit the height of the inclines. The wedges are
coupled together at their ends as shewn in Figs 12 and 14. by the sliding sleeve ✗
and circular retaining hoop Y¹. Fig 14. being a section in the bent line 20. 21. of
Fig. 16. which shews one of the larger and one of the smaller segments as they
would appear when collapsed. The segments are considerably shorter than the
length of barrel rim to be built thereon, so that the staves may have a firin bearing
without excessive friction in the encircling hoops. Another part of my invention
relates to a simple apparatus for feeding staves to the barrel machine as shewn.
A suitable platform of sufficient length to hold a complete set of staves for one
barrel rim is provided and carried on standards, also a saw spindle, grooving cutters,
top rollers, and shaft or their equivalents are secured on to the frames J. J'. as
shewn. The staves are laid between the upper and lower set of guide bars
forming the platform, with their edges touching each other, and are drawn on
to the core barrel as presently described by a chain or rope or chains or
ropes passing partly around the collapsible core barrel to a drum or other
suitable hauling apparatus underneath the core barrel.
To feed the machine the chain or rope (or each of them when employing more than
one) is hauled sufficiently tight to draw the staves along the table and force them
between the guide hoops and the collapsible core barrel, which may be driven slowly
on by gearing such as shewn or may be rotated by the frictional contact of the staves
the collapsible core barrel. The encircling guiding hoops are at the lower ends
connected to an eccentric or bell crank levers which are keyed on to a rock shaft,
the bell crank levers are provided with a lengthening bar attached to each so
arranged that when the lever is raised the eccentrics or cranks move the back
hoops so far away, that when the front hoops are opened out the barrel body may
be drawn off; thus the main frame and platform are fixtures. Fig 17. shews in
elevation a machine comprising apparatus according to this part of my invention
as it, would appear with the hauling ropes and before feeding staves to the
collapsible core barrel, but with one stave between the top rollers and saw and
grooving cutters. Fig 18. is a plan of the same as it would appear after a set of
staves had been fed on to the collapsible core barrel. The hauling bar and ropes
or chains are drawn back on to the feeding table for clearness, they not being in
their respective positions when a complete barrel rim has been fed on to the
collapsing core barrel. Fig 19. is a back elevation with saw spindle removed but
shewing the guides and feeding table bars in section, and also a stave previously
bent to shape before it passes between the guides and the holding down rollers. The
shaft supports R R¹. are shewn open, Fig 20. is an end view partly in section of
part of the machine shewing the guide hoops, bell crank, rope or chain, and hauling
bar, as they would appear when opened out to allow the barrel rim to be drawn off
the collapsible core barrel A. Fig 21. is an end elevation showing the hoops closed
and the supports R R for the central shaft in position, also the supports H, for
carrying the feeding table bars. Fig 22. is a view of the machine at its other end;
It shews the driving gear for the hauling barrel, the collapsible core barrel and saw

page_text: spindle. The feeding table in the present case consists of upper and lower guides
and lower end guides connected by cross braces. The upper guides F F serve to
keep the stave edges in contact, and to prevent them from riding over each other,
they are attached to cross bars F'. F. which are held in position by means of
screws and hand wheels G screwed into the lower guide supports. H. H. The
guides are raised and lowered by the screws and hand wheels to suit different
thicknesses of staves. HH'. are end guide bars for the staves to slide between
as they are pulled forward towards the saw, grooving and bevelling cutters by the
hauling or feeding ropes. E. E. The lower guide bars and end guides H H³. are
bolted on to suitable frames or supports H. H. and are of sufficient length to hold.
a complete set of staves for one barrel rim to be placed thereon and be bolted on
to the saw spindle frame J'. or on to the short guide bars N¹. N'. The lower
frame J'. is secured to the fixings. O. O. (which are bolted to the iron base plate or
frame C) and is suitably formed to receive saw spindle pedestals, also brackets for
holding the short guide bars. N¹. N¹. in position, they are carried forward towards
the core barrel as shewn leaving a sufficient space for the thickness of staves to
pass. A central guide bar N². is provided and fixed to suitable adjustable supports,
placed on the inner and outer edges of the lower frame J¹ as shewn it rises
gradually towards the barrel form so as to assist the staves to pass on to the drum.
When staves are used that are not previously bent to the required bulge, the central
guide bar. N. and the two upper bars N. N. bend the staves as they pass over the
saw spindle and between the upper and lower frames J. J¹. to the barrel form or
drum. The springs. b. are adjusted by the nuts. g. to suit the strength of the staves
to be bent. The upper longitudinal guide bars F. F. are at one end fixed on to the
upper frame J and may be slightly raised or lowered by the screws and hand
wheels G at the same time sufficiently raising the upper frame J (whilst the staves
are being placed in position.) without interfering or unscrewing the nuts. g. on the
upper frame guides G¹. The lower nuts. gl. are to prevent the upper and lower
guide bars. N. and N. coming in contact with each other, when the last stave has
passed between. The top roller frame J is made somewhat similar to the lower
one it has hanging pedestals formed on for carrying the guide bars N N also to
receive the latches Q for securing the hoops M2. but is not prepared to receive saw
spindle pedestals. It is held and guided by four vertical guide bars G¹ which are
secured to the lower frame J'; the upper ends are of sufficient length to allow of
spiral or other form of springs. b. also distance bars and nuts as shewo. The
springs exert sufficient force on the frame J. to keep the staves from riding over
each other and down on the lower guide bars M'. The two cross bars J. on the
upper frame J (and directly over the saw spindle I'. on the lower frame J¹.) are
lined up and bored out to receive sliding pedestals K' (weighted by levers. k. or
springs) which carry an upper roller shaft K (or its equivalent) such as a guide
bar, the rollers are placed near the ends of the staves to keep them within a given
distance of the circular saws and cutters whilst being operated on, so that a
uniform depth of groove may be cut across its width. After the staves have been
grooved etc, they are pressed forward over the guide or bending bar N². and between
the encircling hoops and the collapsible core barrel by means of a rope or chain or
ropes or chains E which pass around a portion of the core barrel on the outersides
of the staves and are attached at their outer ends to a hauling bar A'. which is
provided with catches to press against the edge of the last stave of a set and force
all the staves forward as the other ends of ropes are wound on the hauling barrel B.
The ropes are led from the hauling bar A around the collapsible barrel core. A
over the sliding guide roller D thence to the hauling barrel B The guide roller
shaft D. rotates in sliding pedestals shewn in detail in Figs 21 and 22 which are
supported on springs E¹. and are guided in position by the fixings D³. they being
secured to the side frames. O. O. The pedestals D³. have extended ends formed on,
that they may work through the lower ends of fixings as shewn and are of
sufficient length to allow of nuts and a washer being placed thereon. Between the
washer and the fixing an india rubber buffer stop E* is inserted so that when the

page_text: ropes or chains are released from the last stave the compressed springs E'. will
rebound against the elastic cushion, The fixings D2. are bored out and the
pedestals D³ turned to fit in, when spiral springs are used but when springs are not
used a modification of levers and weights may conveniently be applied for the
same purpose. It will be seen that when the collapsed barrel form or drum A is
driven by the gearing shewn also the hauling barrel B that their respective
velocities are constant whilst the velocity of the ropes slightly vary as a greater
or less number of staves are fed on to the drum A therefore by the use of the
sliding pedestals arranged as above described the amount of rope to be wound on
to the hauling barrel in a given time is slightly varied by the guide roller D. and
shaft D¹. lowering or raising in proportion to the tension on the ropes and the
compression of the springs. By applying the automatic arrangement the ridged
ropes or chains become elastic in their action thus allowing the machine to work
more smoothly and feed the staves more regularly. The hauling barrel is driven
by a worm and worm wheel. d. d. from the main gearing and is provided with a
clutch or toothed coupling B2. so that it may be thrown in and out of gear. The
drum itself is loose on the shaft B¹ so that when the coupling is withdrawn by
the lever and handle. T. T. Figs 19 and 20 the ropes and bar may be run back
ready to take the next set of staves. As soon as the last stave is fed on to the
core barrel the catches on the hauling bar A'. press against the first stave which
forces them off thus leaving the bar free to be drawn by the action of the
compressed springs into recesses V. on the encircling hoops where it remains
whilst the barrel rim is trussed and the segments M¹. M³, opened out as shewn in
Fig 20. The collapsing lever A. which is pivotted at Z to a fixed pin secured to
the frame O and O. is then actuated by the hand wheel and screw A5. which
draws or forces the sliding aleeve X along the central shaft thus collapsing the
drum sufficiently for the trussed rim to be drawn off. The encircling hoops are
each formed in three.segments. The first or shorter segment M. is securely fixed to
the guide bars. N. N¹. and framing O. the segment M¹. is pivotted to the
segment M and the third segment M². binged to the segment M'. also to slot holes
formed in the levers P. in such manner that the segments M'. can be thrown clear
of the staves by means of the levers P. P. and lengthening bars Pl. Pl. These
levers P. P. have slot holes formed in where the segments M. and M2 are jointed
see Figs 17. 20. and 21. and are keyed on to the rock shaft. p. The upper ends
of the third segment M². of the hoops are bent to the form shewn in Fig 20 and
are coupled together by means of a cross bar S also a distance bar S¹. When the
hoops are closed the bar comes in contact with the frame J and by means of latches
QQ on the frame J is there locked and holds the hoops in the required position
By the application of the ropes the staves are kept tightly together on the core
barrel thus tight work can be done on this machine the ropes also to some extent
truss the barrel thereby reducing the friction between the encircling hoops and the
staves. The bevelled rollers K K and shaft. K are used for holding down rollers
also for keeping the staves in direct contact with the circular cutters. When the
staves are slightly rounded across their width the lower guides. N¹. N¹. are also
similarly rounded to allow the grooves to be cut an equal depth across the stave.
The collapsible core barrel A and shaft A2. may be driven by the spur or worm
wheel A. and worm d². as shewn in Figs 17 and 22 or may be rotated by the
frictional contact of the staves which are drawn or forced by the feeding ropes or
chains. E. E. between the core barrel and encircling hoops M. M'. M³. When this
plan is adopted the large spur wheel A³. on the main shaft. A³ may be disconnected
and allowed to run loose without altering the other gearing. The machine is
driven by the fast and loose pulleys x and ¹ on the shaft. D.; this shaft is geared
by a pair of angle bevel wheels Ū Fig 18. to the diagonal worm shaft d³. The
shaft carrying the fast and loose pulleys. 2. 23. which drives the saw counter-
shaft L by the strap ¹. The strap guides and levers are omitted to prevent
confusion. To truss the casks or barrels I use expanding trussing hoops each
comprising a suitable pliable hoop or strap. A hand lever pivotted at the end fits

page_text: into a joint formed at one extremity of the hoop iron band, between this and the
other end of the lever is a pin with two short links coupled thereon. The links
are coupled to the other end of truss hoop so that when the lever is laid close
against the truss hoop, it draws the two ends of the hoop together; the links are
so arranged that when they have attained the extreme position they have slightly
passed the centre line and will remain in position when the full tension is acting
on the hoop. For larger barrels two or more such levers and links may be applied
to the same hoop For heavy barrels there may be substituted for the lever
and links a rack and pinion or a ratchet wheel or screw may be applied.
Fig 23 is a part view of an expanding trussing hoop according to my
invention shewing it as it would appear in its relaxed condition.
Fig 25
is a side view and Fig 24. an edge view of the same in the contracted
condition. 3. is the pliable hoop or strap it has the lever. t. pivotted to one extremity
and the links. t. t. to the other extremity. The remaining ends of the links are
pivotted to the lever in such a way that when the lever is partially rotated in
one direction around its pivotted extremity the length or circumference of the
hoop is diminished. When the lever is in the position shewn in Fig 24. the
strain tends to keep its free end towards the hoop, which thus has no tendency
to expand and will remain tight without being held. For placing the head of a
barrel into the groove constructed for that purpose in the staves I provide an
apparatus shewn in front and side elevation respectively in Figs 26 and 27.
consisting of two pieces. n. n. of wood or metal whose length is a little greater
than the diameter of the barrel end; these pieces are placed parallel to each other
leaving a space between them and at right angles to them, two cross pieces. r. r.
are fixed also parallel to each other. These cross pieces are made the same depth
as the croze is cut from the end of stave and of suitable length to pass inside the
barrel end; they are also provided with small spikes as shewn. The barrel head
is put together on a flat surface the cross pieces are then placed over it and the
spikes forced sufficiently into it to enable it to be lifted. The head and cross are
then placed on the barrel end. the longer pieces resting on the end of staves which
are drawn close together by the trussing hoops thus holding the head in its groove
whilst the cross is removed.
Having thus described the nature of the said invention and the manner in which
it is to be performed I would have it understood that I make no general claim to
the use in combination of a collapsible drum, guides or hoops around it and cutters
for simultaneously reducing to length grooving and chamfering staves; as such a
combination is described in the specification of Letters Patent No 2886. dated
2nd July 1881. and granted to F. M. C. Scott. but what I consider to be novel and
original and therefore claim as secured to me by the Letters Patent hereinbefore
first in part recited is :-
1. In a machine for forming casks or barrels the use of a collapsible core barrel
of the improved construction hereinabove described with reference to Figs 1 to 4
inclusive of the drawings or modified as described with reference to Figs 5 to 10
inclusive.
2. In a machine for forming casks or barrels the use of a collapsible core barrel
of the improved construction herein above described with reference to Figs 12. 13.
14. and 16, inclusive of the drawings.
3. In a machine for the manufacture of casks or barrels feeding the staves along
a table or guides such as H'. H. and F to a collapsible core barrel by a rope or
ropes (or the equivalent thereof as a chain or chains) having a drawing or pulling
action and operating substantially as hereinabove described.
4. In a machine for the manufacture of casks or barrels the arrangement
substantially as hereinabove described whereby the staves whilst being drawn
towards the collapsible core barrel by a rope or ropes (or the equivalent thereof
as a chain or chains) are subject to the action of cutters which shape their ends as
above set forth.
5. In a barrel making machine in combination with a collapsible barrel form or

page_text: drum and encircling guide hoops; the top roller shaft. K. bevelled rollers K. (or
their equivalent) central lower guide bar N2. on lower frame J'. and means for
adjusting said guide bar. to suit the curvature the staves are required to take
before entering between the collapsible barrel form or drum & its encircling hoops
substantially as described.
6. In a machine for forming casks or barrels wherein a collapsible core barrel is
used in conjunction with a feeding rope or ropes (or the equivalent thereof as a
chain or chains) having a drawing or pulling action providing for automatic adjust-
ment of the said feeding rope or ropes (or the equivalent) thereof to accomodate the
staves on the core barrel substantially as above set forth with reference to Figs 21ª
and 22ª of the drawings.
7. In a machine for forming casks or barrels wherein the staves are fed between
& collapsible core barrel and encircling hoops, the use of hoops made in segments
connected together in the manner hereinabove described and arranged to be
quickly and simultaneously opened out by means of a lever or levers as above
set forth.
8. The improved machine for making casks or barrels with sawn or split staves
constructed, arranged, and operating as hereinabove described and illustrated in
Figs 17 to 22. inclusive of the drawings.
9. The improved expanding trussing hoop substantially as described with
reference to Figs 23 to 25 inclusive of the drawings.
10. The method of holding the barrel head in position by the use of an
arrangement of cross pieces furnished with teeth substantially as described with
reference to Fig 26. and 27 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Samuel Wright have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twenty fifth day of January in the year of our Lord One
thousand Eight hundred an [sic] Eighty three.