Improvements in and relating to Machines for Forming, Dressing, and Bevelling Staves of All Kinds for use in the Manufacture of Casks, Barrels, and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1893-Accepted, 30th Sept., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Machines for Forming, Dressing,
and Bevelling Staves of All Kinds for use in the Manufacture of
Casks, Barrels, and the like.
We, JOHN WESLEY LAHEY and THOMAS GEORGE LAHEY both of Vulture
Street, South Brisbane, in the Colony of Queensland, Saw Millers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Our invention has been specially designed to produce a more efficient and
economical machine for the purpose of manufacturing staves of all kinds and of
varying dimensions and shapes to be employed in the manufacture of casks, barrels,
and articles of a like nature, at a less cost and with greater rapidity than has been
obtainable with machines as hitherto constructed.
In order that our machine may he clearly understood we append hereto several
sheets of drawings, of which
Fig. 1 represents a plan of our machine.
Fig. 2 an elevation.
Fig. 3
a section at B B of Fig. 14.
Fig. 4
a section at A A of Fig. 1A.
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
an end elevation showing our modified method of operating the cutters m m
is a section at C C on Fig. 5ª.
Fig. 7 is a side elevation of hopper.
Fig. 8 is a plan of hopper.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, on Sheet 6, represent portions of our machine in detail.
Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, on Sheets 3 and 5, are also details of portions of our machine.
A is a cast-iron table or bench to carry the various parts of the machine.
TTTT are cast-iron brackets carrying the feed rollers U U and U XUX with
gear. UU are grooved to accommodate SB. VV are two wheels grooved to
carry S B. S B is an endless steel band which is caused to travel continuously in
the direction indicated by the arrows shewn on detail drawing Fig. 4. This endless
steel band is shaped in the form of a number of barrel staves, as shewn in detail
drawing Fig. 4. Each section of the steel band has two sets of holes, V I and VIII,
and a steel stud m is secured in one hole of each of these sections as required, to
regulate the position of the various lengths of staves required. The set of holes VI
are used when the material is fed into the machine behind the studs m (see Fig. 3^),
but the set of holes VIII is used when the material is fed in front of the studs m
(see Fig. 7). In the former case the rollers U U and U XUX alone act as a
feed, but in the latter case the steel band and studs m may act in conjunction with
the feed rollers U U and UX UX to feed the machine, or the steel bands with
the studs m may be relied on exclusively as a feed; in this case pressure rollers
may be substituted for the feed rollers U U and U XUX. The drawings show
the machine as arranged to be fed, by placing the material behind the studs m
(see Fig. 3). The principal advantage of this arrangement
that a much shorter
steel band can be used, and thus less floor space is required in the factory. Except
when this is an essential point, it is much better to arrange to feed the machine in
front of the studs m, by means of a hopper or otherwise (see Fig. 7). The studs m
carry a sharp steel feather (see Fig. 10) which is reversible to either front or back
of the studs, for the purpose of holding the material in proper position. The
studs m' (see Fig. 8) carry small steel pins m³ which project upwards, and are
forced into the material as it passes through the rollers U and UX, and which
also help to keep the material in true position while being operated upon. Inter-
mediate studs are also used to keep the steel band true to its work. All the studs

page_text: carry thick steel washers between the steel band and the nuts, which protect the
nuts, and serve to steady the steel band by means of guides. NN are two pieces
of steel to carry the material while being operated upon by the cutters, and to act
as upper guides to the studs op the steel band S B. Immediately under N N are
placed guides which confine the washers v in order to steady the steel band to its work.
H is a cutter to reduce the material to a uniform thickness, and at the same time to
round off or hollow it out as required. M M are a pair of star-shaped cutter heads
carrying right and left hand cutters, shewn in detail Fig. 1, and are ground on top
and one side as per detail No. 9 for shaping and bevelling the material as it passes
through the machine or circular saws may be substituted. 99 are two steel spindles
carrying the cutter or saw heads M M working in the four adjustable bearings PP
PP. JJ are two slotted levers into which the two blocks t are studded (see Fig. 6)
U
and through which the spindles g g pass. On each spindle are placed two adjustable
collars K K with washers. By the collars K K the levers JJ can be set at any
position on the spindles to suit any width of stave required. L L are two iron
rods which pass through the levers JJ, and are pivoted thereto by the four set
pins w on which they oscillate. These rods are supported by the bearings PP. On
the end of the rods L L are attached two small steel grooved rollers I 1, which press
against the edges of the steel band S B and force the cutters or saws M M apart in
proportion to the bilge on the sections of steel band. The rollers I I may be kept
against the steel band by means of springs behind the levers J J-not shewn on the
drawings or by cords with weights from the levers J J.
JXJX are two brackets with long slots; in these slots are fastened in an
adjustable manner the two pins GG, which pass through the slots in the levers J J,
and act as centres for the levers J J to work upon. When the pins G G are fixed
towards the centre of the levers, or towards the end of the levers JJ, the lateral
movement of the cutter heads is increased or diminished, and thus the material can
be shaped to any bilge required. For shaping staves other than for casks, it is
advisable to provide a special steel band suitable to the shape of the staves required.
The bearings PPPP can be adjusted so as to bevel the inside or outside of the stave
uppermost as desired. Q is a sprocket wheel which drives the feed rollers UU
and U XUX by the sprockets RR with a chain belt which runs under the
tightener RX. The spindle 6 carrying the steel band S B is driven by the sprocket
wheels W and W' by a chain belt so that the steel band will travel at exactly the
same speed as the rollers shewn on the drawings, but when the material is fed in
front of the studs m it will be better to drive 6 by a leather belt, so that the steel
band will travel a little faster than the rollers; in this case the leather belt will
adjust the speed of the steel band exactly to that of the feed rollers, when operating
on the material. The pulleys CC drive B B, E drives F, and Z drives Y.
Figs. 5 and 6 represent a modified arrangement of the levers J J with attach-
ments, and Figs. 74 and 84 a hopper for feeding the machine. This arrangement
of the levers JJ, etc., is for the purpose of giving the lateral motion to the cutter
or saw spindles M M, in lieu of that action performed by the steel band SB for
the purpose of working very narrow staves or otherwise. CX 18 a spindle (see
Figs. 5 and 6) carrying AX. AX is a disc of cast iron or other suitable
material. BX is a piece of steel about 4-inch thick shaped like a section of the
steel band S B (shewn to a larger scale at Fig. 7A), or otherwise according to the
nature of the staves required, and is securely fastened on the rim of the disc A X
by countersunk studs or otherwise. The spindle C X carrying the disc A X is driven
from the spindle carrying V and W2, and is so arranged that the steel rim B X will
travel at exactly the same speed as the steel band S B. When the above-described
arrangement is adopted, only a narrow steel band with parallel edges, chain, or any
other suitable means may be employed, and it will not be necessary to make the
studs m and m' adjustable. All the studs may be brazed to the top of the steel
band, thus dispensing with the nuts and washers on them; or special washers may
be used to fit into recesses in the rims of the wheels V. V to ensure the uniform
travel of the steel band and prevent slippage; also the grooves in the wheels V V

page_text: and the deep-centre groove in the rollers U U. The starting-point for each length
of stave required may be arrived at in this case by placing one of the pieces of
material to be operated upon in front of the stud m, and bringing it forward with
the steel band SB, so that the front end of it will be just up to the face of the
cutters or saws M M; then set the disc A X so that the cross line on BX,
corresponding with the length of the staves required, will be exactly opposite the
centre steel rollers II (shown on Fig. 5). The hopper shewn at Figs. 7 and 8ª
is arranged with adjustable sides, the front end of which is sufficiently far off the
table to allow one stave at a time to pass under it. The studs m as they advance
(see Figs. 7 and 8^) come in contact with the spring Y³, which in turn presses the
lower stave in the hopper into proper position, the steel feather on the stud m sinks
into the end of the stave and keeps it in true position; the spring Y also keeps the
front end of the stave up to the fence, until it reaches the feed rollers U and UX;
the pins 44 keep the spring Y³ in proper position. By means of this hopper the
machine may be fed either by hand or by a carrier from the cross cutting machine.
The operation of shaping, bevelling, and dressing staves in the machine as set forth
by the drawings is as follows:-The various parts of the machine are first properly
adjusted to suit the size of staves required; the operator then pushes the material
out of which the staves are to be formed against the feather on the back of the
studs m, taking care to keep the material up to the fence (not fully shewn on the
drawings, but as ordinarily used in wood planing machines) until it reaches
the springs for that purpose (of the usual form), the little pin on the stud m³ (see
Fig. 8) being forced into the material as it passes through the feed rollers U
and UX, the cutter H reducing the material to a uniform thickness and face as
required. The cutters M M shape and bevel the edges of the material as it passes
through, the steel band S B working against the rollers I I, which, being attached
to the levers JJ forces the cutters or saws M M gradually apart until the highest
point on the bilge is reached. The lateral movement of the cutters or saws M M
is accomplished by springs (not shewn on the drawings, but as will be readily under-
stood) behind the levers J J or by cords attached to the levers JJ, with weights
hung over pulleys in the usual manner. When the modified at rangement of the
levers J J, etc. (shown in Figures 5 and 6^) is used, the lateral movement of the
cutters or saws M M is governed by the rim of the disc B X.
When the hopper
is used (which will be readily understood on reference to Fig. 7) the machine feeds
itself automatically from it. The other operations in these cases are similar to
those already described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The general arrangement, construction and combination of the various parts.
constituting our machine substantially as and for the purpose herein described in
the Specification and illustrated in the drawings.
2. In combination with a machine as herein set forth an endless steel band shaped
in the form of a number of staves and furnished with adjustable studs placed thereon
to regulate the position of the material to be operated upon.
3. In combination with a machine such as herein described an endless steel band
shaped in the form of a number of staves and furnished with adjustable studs placed
thereon for the purpose of feeding the machine substantially as herein set forth.
4. In combination with an endless steel band such as herein described, the studs
and washers to run in guides both above and below the hand for the purpose of
keeping it in true line, substantially as herein set forth and described.
5. In combination with an endless steel band studs m of the form illustrated in
the drawings (see Fig. 1), furnished with a sharp steel feather arranged to be
reversible, for the purpose of holding the staves in position substantially as herein
described and set forth.
6. In combination with an endless steel band studs m¹ furnished with small steel

page_text: pins, which, projecting upwards, are forced into the material as it passes through
the rollers, thus insuring the material retaining its proper position in relation to the
cutter and to each other.
7. In combination with an endless steel band such as herein described, the
grooved wheels V V and the rollers U U, such grooves being formed for the
accommodation of the before-mentioned attachments. Consisting of a steel band,
studs, and washers, substantially as herein set forth and described in the Specification
and illustrated in the drawings.
8. In combination with a machine constructed in the manner herein described, a
disc having a steel stave shaped rim securely fastened thereto as, and for, the
purpose herein set forth.
9. In combination with a machine constructed in the manner berein described, a
disc of suitable material having a steel stave shaped rim suitable for the particular
form of staves to be manufactured, and worked in combination with a steel band or
other suitable means substantially as set forth.
10. In combination with a machine as herein described, an endless band, chain,
or other suitable means with studs at intervals as required, to regulate the position
of the material to be operated upon, a disc of suitable material having a steel stave
shaped rim substantially as herein described and set forth.
11. In combination with a machine as herein described, the peculiar arrangement
of the spindles g g running in adjustable bearings PPPP, operating the cutter or
saw heads M M in conjunction with the rollers I I, carried by the arms L L pivotted
into the slotted levers JJ by the set pins wwww, the slotted levers J J working on
the adjustable centres G G in the slotted brackets J X.
12. In combination with a machine as herein set forth, the adjustable centres GG,
slotted brackets J X, and slotted levers J J, held between the adjustable collars K K
and the washers.
13. In combination with a machine for the purpose herein described, the star-
shaped cutter or saw heads M M, shewn in Fig. 1, the special form of cutter Fig. 9,
which are shaped in this manner so as to both cut and dress the edges of the
material at the same operation.
14. In combination with a machine for the purpose herein described, the special
form of steel plates N N, as shewn at Fig. 5, for supporting the material while
being operated upon, and to act as guides to the studs substantially as herein set
forth.
15. The method of, and means for, feeding the machine automatically, by means
of the hopper constructed and connected to the machine, substantially and for the
purposes set forth.
16. In combination with the hopper as set forth, the spring Y³ and pins 44
substantially as herein described.
Dated this Twenty-third day of May 1893.
d day of May 1893.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.