IMPROVEMENTS IN STILLIONS OR APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AND TILTING ALE, PORTER, OR OTHER CASKS OR BARRELS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Herbert Holt, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STILLIONS OR
APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AND TILTING ALE, PORTER, OR OTHER CASKS OR
BARRELS."
Sealed the 8th February 1878, and dated the 18th August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Herbert Holt at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th August 1877.
CHARLES HERBERT HOLT, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STILLIONS OR APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AND TILTING ALE,
PORTER, OR OTHER CASKS OR BARRELS."
The Invention has for its object improvements in stillions or apparatus for
supporting and tilting ale, porter, or other casks or barrels.
For this purpose I employ two longitudinal timbers, on which are fixed one or
more castings formed curved or hollow at the front to carry the front end of the
cask or barrel, and provided with bearings near its rear end to receive the necks or
axes of a weighted or balance lever. This lever has a balance weight at one end,
and is provided at the other with two rollers, one in front of the other, working
loosely in sockets formed in the lever. These rollers are formed with a curved face,
or with a flange at each end thereof.
When the cask or barrel is full the front or tapping end rests on the curved or
hollow support at the front of the casting, and the rear end rests on the front roller.
As the contents of the cask or barrel are drawn off the weighted or balance lever
gradually raises the rear end of the cask or barrel, and thereby tilts it until the
rear roller comes into play, when a rest takes place in the action of the weighted or
balance lever until a further withdrawal of the contents so lightens the cask or
barrel as to cause the balance weight again to descend or come into play until it
rests on a cross bar or stop, when the tilting action is complete, and sufficient to
allow of the contents of the barrel being entirely drawn off.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Herbert Holt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th
February 1878.
CHARLES HERBERT HOLT, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STILLIONS OR APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AND TILTING ALE,
PORTER, OR OTHER CASKS OR BARRELS."
The Invention has for its object improvements in stillions or apparatus for
supporting and tilting ale, porter, or other casks or barrels.
For this purpose I employ two longitudinal timbers, on which are fixed one or
more castings formed curved or hollow at the front to carry the front end of the
cask or barrel, and provided with bearings near its rear end to receive the necks or
axes of a weighted or balance lever. This lever has a balance weight at one end,
and is provided at the other with two rollers, one in front of the other, working
loosely in sockets formed in the lever. These rollers are formed with a curved face,
or with a flange at each end thereof..
When the cask or barrel is. full the front or tapping end rests on the curved or
hollow support at the front of the casting, and the rear end rests on the front roller.
As the contents of the cask or barrel are drawn off, the weighted or balance lever
gradually raises the rear end of the cask or barrel, and thereby tilts it until the
rear roller comes into play, when a rest takes place in the action of the weighted or
balance lever, until á further withdrawal of the contents so lightens the cask of
barrel as to cause the balance weight again to descend or come into play, until it
rests on a cross bar or stop, when the tilting action is complete and sufficient to
allow of the contents of the barrel being entirely drawn off.
And in order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings, more fully

page_text: Instead of forming the apparatus as represented at Figure 5, the lower pa
thereof may be formed of wood or iron separate from the upper, and be connect
thereto by bolts or otherwise.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is
constructing stillions or apparatus for supporting and tilting ale, porter, or other
casks or barrels with a self-acting weighted or balance lever provided at one end
with a weight and at the other with two rollers, and mounted and operating in
manner substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Herbert Holt, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
CHARLES HERBERT HOLT: (L.S.)