IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON CASKS AND CISTERNS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John McGaffin, of Liverpool, in the County Palatine
of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF IRON CASKS AND CISTERNS."
Sealed the 12th September 1854, and dated the 30th June 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John McGaffin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th
June 1854.
I, JOHN MCGAFFIN, of Liverpool, in the County Palatine of Lancaster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF IRON CASKS AND CISTERNS" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of forming iron casks or cisterns, by combining cor-
rugated iron, either galvanized or not, with frames or rims of cast iron. For
this purpose casks or cisterns are made by employing cylinders or other forms
of corrugated iron, galvanized or not, the corrugations being in the way of the
length; and rims of cast iron (with undulations corresponding with the corru-
gations) are used, to which the corrugated sheet metal is fixed by screws and
nuts, or by rivets; and heads or ends of corrugated or plain sheets are fixed to
the cast rims by screws and nuts, or by rivets.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John McGaffin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
December 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
MCGAFFIN, of Liverpool, in the County Palatine of Lancaster, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John McGaflin, Her special licence that I, the said John
McGaffin, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said John McGaffin, 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON CASKS AND CISTERNS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said John McGaffin, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, 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 McGaffin, 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 following
statement thereof (that is to say):-
This Invention consists of forming iron casks or cisterns, by combining cor-
rugated iron, either galvanized or not, with frames or rims of cast iron. For
this purpose casks or cisterns are made by employing cylinders or other forms
of corrugated iron, galvanized or not, the corrugations being in the way of the
length; and rims of cast iron, with undulations corresponding with the corru-
gations, are used, to which the corrugated sheet metal is fixed by screws and
nuts, or by rivets; and heads or ends of corrugated or plain sheets are fixed to
the cast rims by screws and nuts, or by rivets.
Having thus stated the nature of my-Invention, I will proceed to describe
the manner of performing the same.

page_text: Corrugated rims of cast iron are made of the sizes it is desired to have the
casks or tanks, and the corrugated sheets are to be bent into corresponding
cylinders, to receive at their ends the cast-iron rims, and the edges of the sheet
metal where they overlap are connected by rivets or screw bolts, and the cast
rings or rims of the casks are forced into the ends and fastened therein by
screw bolts and nuts, or by rivets, or by making the corrugated casting some-
what conical or taper outwards, and then by driving on a corrugated hoop on
the outside of the cask or tank. Each of the cast corrugated rings or rims is
made with an internal flange, to receive the end plates or heads of the casks or
tanks, which are fixed thereto by means of screw bolts and nuts, or by rivets.
It is not essential that the plates or sheets of iron for making casks or tanks
should be corrugated in the whole of their lengths, as they may be made with
plain ends for a short distance, so as to require only a plain exterior cast ring
with an internal flange. The joint between the rims and cylinders, and
between the heads and the internal flanges, may be rendered fluid-tight by
introducing packings of india-rubber or other suitable packing, or in some
cases the galvanizing of the casks or tanks may be performed after the parts
are put together. The heads may be of plain sheet metal, and strengthened
by a bent stay or strip of metal bent to a half round in the way of its length,
and with a flanch on either side to rivet the same to the head.
In witness whereof, I, the said John McGaffin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
GEORGE ANDERSON,
Book-keeper,
Liverpool.
JOHN MCGAFFIN. (L.S.)