A NEW OR IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN PACKING SUGAR OR OTHER POWDERED, GRANULAR, OR BROKEN MATERIAL IN CASKS OR OTHER VESSELS."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Stewart, Sugar Refiner, and Adam Hunter,
Engineer, both of Greenock, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, for an
Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN PACKING SUGAR OR OTHER POWDERED,
GRANULAR, OR BROKEN MATERIAL IN CASKS OR OTHER VESSELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Stewart & Adam
Hunter at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th Juno
1880.
ANDREW STEWART, Sugar Refiner, and ADAM HUNTER, Engineer, both of
Greenock, in the 'County of Renfrew, North Britain. "A NEW OR IMPROVED
CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN PACKING
SUGAR OR OTHER POWDERED, GRANULAR, OR BROKEN MATERIAL IN CASKS OR
OTHER VESSELS.”
This said Invention has reference to a new or improved general construction or
arrangement of a machine, or combination of the parts thereof, for the close and
compact packing of all ordinary loose, powdered, granular, or other material in
small particles or lumps (such as raw or crushed sugars, and bleaching or other
powders, and soda, ash, and other crystals, and such like substances) into casks or
other receptacles for their safe transit and removal by the vibration, shaking, or
concussion of the casks and carrying table while the material is being filled into
them, instead of ramming by hand as was formerly the case, which machine is
more simple, compact, and durable in its construction, and more efficient and less
liable to derangement in its working and action than those heretofore used for
many years in chemical works for the more close packing of such substances.
The nature and novelty of this Invention, or the said general construction or
combination of the parts of this machine, consist all as follows, namely:-Of a
main round, square, or polygonal cast-iron sole or bed plate or frame, which carries
close over it, all the new or improved working parts and fittings in a compact
portable or self-contained manner below the ordinary vibrating or raising and
lowering platform or table, on which the casks or other vessels or holders are set or
secured, one at a time, with their top end open while being filled. This bed plate

page_text: is secured by its flat underside to any suitable foundation beams or masonry, and
has formed in the centre a large round vertical eye turned truly on its outer
circumference, with a shoulder to carry a strong revolving horizontal screw wheel
steadily thercon, with screw teeth on the outer periphery carrying and actuating
on its upper face, as will hereinafter be described, the said vibrating table on
which the casks are placed to be filled. This screw wheel is driven by a screw
gearing into it on a shaft carried in bush bearing brackets on one side of the sole
plate, and actuated by wheel gearing or pulleys and belts as may be desired from
any adjacent motive power shaft for the purpose. This bed plate also carries a
strong outer annular grooved rim fitted with a ring of hard-wood and india-rubber
or other equivalent bed for cushioning the table by a corresponding rim feather on
its under outer surface, and softening or deadening the sound each time it falls or
is vibrated. This table is guided by four or other suitable number of guide
brackets secured to the said strong annular outer rim of the bed plate. The said
actuating or carrying screw wheel, beneath the internal or central part of the
table, carries three or other number of short actuating or raising or lowering
inclined planes or cam blocks (or it might be rollers or rolling surfaces) secured to
its upper surface at equally divided distances, so as to work into a set of twelve
or other number of equally divided inclined planes or cam notches formed in a
strong ring or rim feather on the under edgo or face of the table over the said
notches and screw wheel, so that as the screw wheel is turned tho said three cams
acting at equal distances on the said inclined notches of the table cause it to raise
off and fall two inches or so suddenly on to its cushion bed twelve times cach
revolution, which has the effect of giving a succession of sudden or concussive
vibrations or shocks to the cask and the sugar or other material being filled into it,
which with the weight of the material packs it very close and compact in the
cask or other receptacle; and if the screw wheel is turned at only ten revolutions
per minute this would in the same time give the high rate of one hundred and
twenty vibrations to the table, cask, and material being filled into it, and the
screw shaft being driven at a proportionately quick speed to effect this (as, say, four
or five hundred revolutions per minute) would be very easily driven, and would
make a very strong and effective cam actuating arrangement, with a most simple
and steady driving gearing, which does not receive or sustain any of the vibrating
action, and is not therefore liable to the derangement and wear and tear of former
machines of this class, which were actuated by the cams directly on the high speed
revolving driving shafts. Although a horizontal screw wheel has been described
for carrying and actuating the inclined blocks or equivalent cams or rollers (that
being preferred) it is to be understood that a corresponding large spur or bevil
wheel may be used in this new combination of parts, driven by a corresponding
gearing pinion, either of which arrangements would give the special advantage of a
quick or high speed of vibration with a slow speed of this wheel gearing. The
vibration of the machine may be stopped (for the holding up and removal of the
casks when filled and the replacing of another empty one) in several ways; by
shifting the driving belt from a fast to a looso pulley on the prime moving shaft in
an ordinary manner; or by the shifting of a friction clutch or friction gearing,
when that is used for driving; or otherwise the table with the cask on it might be
lifted out of action with its revolving can wheel by swivelling inclined blocks and
wheel gear; or by an arrangement of rollers and levers from below up through the
hollow centre of the foundation or sole-plate.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Andrew Stewart & Adam Hunter in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th December 1880.
ANDREW STEWART, Sugar Refiner, and ADAM HUNTER, Engineer, both of
Greenock, in the County of Renfrow, North. Britain. "A NEW OR IMPROVED
CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN PACKING
SUGAR OR OTHER POWDERED, GRANULAR, OR BROKEN MATERIAL IN CASKS OR
OTHER VESSELS."
Our said Invention has reference to a new or improved. construction or
arrangement of machine, or combination of apparatus for the close and compact
packing of ordinary loose, powdered, granular, or other material composed of small
particles or lumps (such as raw or crushed sugars, and bleaching or other powders,
soda ash and other crystals, and such like substances) into casks or other receptacles,
by the vibration, shaking, or concussion of the casks on-carrying table while the
material is being filled into them.
The improved machine is more simple in construction, more compact, durable,
and efficient, and less liable to derangement in action than machines of a similar
kind heretofore used for many years in chemical works for the close packing of
such substances.
And in order that our said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to
be performed, may be properly understood, we have hereunto appended for that
purpose a Sheet of explanatory Drawings representing a modification of our
improved machine or apparatus which we now proceed to describe:-In these
Drawings the same reference letters are used to mark the same or like parts
wherever repeated.
Figure 1 is a transverse vertical-section taken as at the line 1-1, in Figure 3, of
a modification of our said machine or apparatus to be employed for shaking or
jolting casks, or other vessels in packing sugar or other powdered or granular
material into them; Figure 2 is an end elevation of the samo at right angles to
Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a plan with the upper platform or table B which carries
the cask or casks, shown as partly cut or broken away.
Referring to these Drawings, the improved machine comprises a main round,
square, or polygonal cast-iron sole or bed-plate, or frame A, which carries close over
it all the new or improved working parts and fittings. in a compact, portable, or self
contained manner below the ordinary vibrating or raising and lowering platform
or table B, on which the casks or other vessels or holders are set or socured one at
a time to be filled. The bed-plate A is secured by its flat underside to any suitablo
foundation beams or masonry; and it may be formed as shown with a vertical
cylinder C in the centre, fitted with a piston or plunger C', actuated to cant or tilt
the cask when filled, as will hereinafter be described. A large round vertical cyo
or annular flange A' is also formed or fitted on the bed-plate A, and turned truly
on its outer periphery, with a shoulder at a to carry a strong revolving horizontal
scrow wheel D steadily thereon, with screw teeth D' on the outer periphery, the
eye or boss D³ of the scrow wheel D being truly turned internally to fit on the
annular flange A' and revolve freely on it. The wheel D is fitted with inclined planes,
wedges, or cam surfaces D³ on its upper face to actuate the said vibrating table B
on which the casks are placed to be filled. This screw-wheel D is driven by a screw
or worm E gearing into its teeth D', the screw E being formed on a sleeve E¹,
keyed or otherwise, fixed to a horizontal revolving shaft Es, carried in bush bearing
brackets Es, with bolted covers-e-on-one side of the sole plate A The shaft Es is
fitted with fast and loose pulleys E, E, actuated-by-a-belt-and-pulley_on_any_
Ladjacent-inotive-power-shaft;-or-this-shaft E and worm E might be driven by
-

page_text: means of spur wheels or other equivalent gearing. The bed-plate A is also formed
with a web a' carrying a strong outer annular grooved rim or channel A² in its
upper face, fitted with a ring or pieces of hard wood F, proferably inserted end-
wise and quite tight between radial webs a² formed across the channel or groove A².
This wooden ring F projects upwards beyond the rim or edges As of the channel A²,
and forms a bed for cushioning the table B and softening or deadening the sound
cach time it falls or is vibrated. Instead of wood, vulcanised rubber or other
slightly yielding material may be used to formn the cushion F, on which the outer
edge of the table B, or a rim feather B' formed on it rests. This rim B may also
be faced with wood, rubber, or other equivalent material for deadening the sound
and vibration, or this alone, when so faced, may form the cushion and bear directly
on the aunular rim A³. The table B is guided to prevent displacement during its
vibratory motion by four or other suitable number of guido brackets b bolted or
otherwise secured to projecting flanges A' cast on the said strong annular outer
rim A³ of the bed plate A.
The actuating or carrying screw wheel D, D', beneath the internal or central part
of the table B carries three or other number of short actuating, or raising or
lowering inclined planes; or blocks D³ (or it might be rollers or rolling surfaces)
secured to its upper surface, at equally divided distances, by bolts or otherwise, so
as to work on to the under surface of a set of twelve or other number of equally
divided inclined planes, or reverse cam surfaces, or teeth B³ formed on a strong
ring or inner rim feather B³ on the under edge or face of the table B, over the said
cam surfaces D³ and screw wheel D, so that as the screw wheel D is turned, the
said three inclined planes D³ acting at equal distances on the said reverse inclined
planes B3 of the table B cause it to rise off and fall (through a distance of two
inches or so) suddenly on to the cushion bed F twelve or other corresponding
number of times each revolution. The effect of this action is to give a succession
of sudden or concussive vibrations or shocks to the table B and cask or other
receptacle on it, with the result that the sugar or other powdered or broken
material being filled into it is shaken down and packed very closely and compactly
in the cask or receptacle.
If the screw wheel D is turned at only ten revolutions per minute, this would in
the same time give the high rate of one hundred and twenty vibrations to the
table B and cask with the material being filled into it. The screw shaft E being
driven at a proportionately quick speed to effect this (as, say, four or five hundred
revolutions per minute), it requires very little power and makes a very strong and
effective cam actuating arrangement, with most simple and steady driving gearing,
which does not receive or sustain any of the vibrating action. The gearing and
working parts are not therefore liable to the derangement and wear and tear to
which machines of this class heretofore in use were commonly subjected, these
machines being actuated by cams directly on the high speed revolving driving
shafts.
Although a horizontal screw wheel has been described for carrying and actuating
the inclined blocks or equivalent cam surfaces or rollers D³ (as being preferred), it is
to be understood that a corresponding large spur or bevel wheel may be used in this
new combination of apparatus, and it may be driven by a corresponding gearing
pinion. Either of these arrangements would give the special advantage of a quick
or high speed of vibration, with a slow speed of wheel gearing. The vibration of
the table B of the machine may be retarded or stopped when tilting up and removing
one cask when filled, and replacing it by another empty one, either by shifting the
driving belt from the fast pulley E to the loose pulley E on the prime moving
shaft in the ordinary manner, or by other equivalent meaus, as by the shifting of a
friction clutch or friction gearing when that is used for driving; otherwise the table
with the casks on it might be lifted out of action with its revolving cam wheel by
swivelling inclined blocks and wheel gear, or by an arrangement of rollers and
levers from below up through the hollow centre of the foundation or sole
plate.

page_text: To enable heavy casks or vessels when filled to be canted or tilted up for con-
venience of removal from the table B, hydraulic or steam lifting apparatus is
provided. This apparatus consists of the vertical cylinder or barrel C shown in
the Drawings, as cast or formed in one piece with the sole plate A (but which may
be separately fitted) at or near the centre of the machine beneath the table B. In
this cylinder, which is truly bored, there is fitted a long piston or plunger C',
preferably made hollow for lightness, and fitted at the lower end with a leather cup
or washer c or other equivalent, held. in position by a metal disc c¹, bolted to the
plunger Ci The upper end of the plunger C' is formed with an outer spherical
surface or ball at C, which fits into a corresponding hollowed recess or socket G.
formed in the lower side of a large disc or plate G, passing through an opening in
the centre of the table B. The ball or spherical part C is held in the socket GI by
means of an annular plate G³, formed in balves passed over or round it, and bolted
to the disc G, fitting tightly beyond its upper hemisphere to secure the plunger Ci
and disc G and form a ball and socket joint between them, so that when the plunger
is raised, the disc or plate A coming into contact with the lower end of the cask
which overlaps it tilts or cants the cask in whatever position it may happen to be
on the table B.
The raising of the plunger C and disc G is effected by the admission of water under
pressure, either from a water main or from a force pump, into the lower end of the
cylinder C through the port c³ and flanged feed pipe h. When the plunger reaches
the desired height the admission of water is cut off, but to prevent its being
accidentally forced too high, a small port is provided a little beyond the
mid-length of the cylinder C, by which the water escapes when the plunger C
reaches or passes this port, a flanged pipe h', bolted to the cylinder C, being provided
to carry back the water to the pump cistern. To allow the plunger C¹ to descend,
the water beneath it returns by the inlet port e and feed pipe h, and escapes into
the pump cistern by the opening of a valve provided for the purpose but not
shown.
Instead of the tilting arrangement being actuated by hydraulic power it may be
worked by steam or other fluid under pressure. In such a caso it is preferred to
make the cylinder C considerably larger, and use low pressure steam or fluid, acting
on a large piston surface C'. In other respects, however, this part of the apparatus
would be arranged and act substantially the same as shown and described.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, we have to state that we do not confine ourselves to
the precise details herein described or delineated, but what we consider novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The construction, arrangement, and combination of the parts of a machine
or apparatus to be used in packing sugar or other powdered, granular, or similar
substances into casks or other vessels for communicating a vibratory, shaking, or
jolting motion to such casks or vessels from a table or platform B, actuated by
inclined planes or cam surfaces on it, and on a revolving wheel D under it, to raiso
the table and allow it to drop suddenly on a wooden or other cushion F, the
machine being further provided with hydraulic, steam, or other motive power tilting
apparatus or not, all substantially as herein described in reference to and as shown
in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. In machines or apparatus used in packing sugar or other powdered,
granular, or similar substances into casks or vessels, tho application and use of
inclined planes or cam surfaces on the platform or table carrying the casks, and on
a slow revolving wheel below it, worked by gearing from the high speed driving
shaft to communicate a rapid vibratory, shaking, or jolting motion to the vessels
being filled, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Third. In combination with machines or apparatus of the kind described for
communicating-a-vibratory, shaking, or jolting motion to casks or other vessels while
they are being filled with sugar or other powdered, granular, or similar substances,

page_text: the construction, application, and use of hydraulic, steam, or other motive power
tilting apparatus for tilting or canting the casks or vessels when filled, sub-
stantially as herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Andrew Stewart and Adam Hunter, have
hercunto set our hands and seals, this Thirteenth day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, C.E.,
Of W. R. M. Thomson & Co.,
Patent Agents,
Glasgow.
பாரா
ADAM HUNTER.
(L.S.)