IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING CASES ANY OTHER VESSELS OF OR FROM IRON AND OTHER METALS
Year: 1840

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
BROWN, of No. 8, Finsbury Pavement, in the City of London, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-first day of January, in the third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Samuel Brown, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said Samuel Brown, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Samuel Brown, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term
of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might, make, use, exercise,
and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING CASES ANY OTHER VESSELS OF OR
FROM IRON AND OTHER METALS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a
proviso that 1, the said Samuel Brown, shall cause a particular description
of the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to
be performed, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being there-
unto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Samuel Brown, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and ascer-

page_text: Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say:-
My Invention relates, first, to certain novel constructions of casks and other
vessels made from sheet iron or other sheet metal; and, secondly, the Inven-
tion relates to certain machines for performing different parts of the processes
or operations necessary in constructing sheet iron or other sheet metal casks
and other vessels. And in order to give the best information in my power, I
will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed, and the figures
and letters marked thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents the outline of a sheet-iron cask constructed according
to my Invention. Figure 2 is a plan of the cylinder thereof, without either
of the heads or ends applied. Figure 3 shews part of a section of another
construction of vessel, which has two permanently fixed heads or ends; but in
one end or head there is a neck or tube applied, whereby liquids may be
poured into or out of a vessel so constructed. These vessels are of the
following construction:-a, a, is the cylinder, which is made in a similar
manner to that heretofore practised for various purposes, and consists of a
sheet of iron or other suitable metal plate a turned up at the two ends, as is
represented .edgewise by Figure 4, and this plate being bent into a cylinder,
the two ends a¹ are joined together, as represented at Figure 2, and as is
well understood, and having made the cylinder a there are to be suitable
ends or heads applied thereto; and it is the mode of constructing and applying
such heads or ends which constitutes the first part of my Invention. 6 repre-
sents one end or head of the cask, Figure 1. This head or end b is permá-
nently fixed into the cask in the following manner:-The head or end 6 is
turned up all around at its circumference, or is what is called dished, and the
end or head is of such size that it will require considerable pressure to force
it into the end of the cylinder, and having forced or driven the head or end
into the end of the cylinder a, it is to be rivited at intervals by passing the
rivets through the turned-up edges of the head, and through the lower part
of the cylinder a, and by such means the head or end 6 may be securely
applied and retained in the cylinder a.. The other end or head c is the
moveable head of the cask, and is constructed similar to the head or end b,
but is secured in its place by different means. d is a handle affixed to the
head by means of rivets, and one end of the handle is so bent as to pass

page_text: over the side of the cylinder a, as will be better understood when I come to
describe the mode and machinery for forming the various parts. On the
upper end of the cylinder a are applied ears or projections e, e, at about
every four or five inches, such ears being rivited to the cylinder a, and in such
manner that when folded down inwards in respect to the cylinder a, such
ears will lap over the turned-up edges of the end or head c, and be the
means of securely holding that head in its place; and it should be stated that
the heads of the rivets by which the ears are affixed to the cylinder a are on
the inside of that cylinder, and are the means of preventing the end or head c
from being forced too far into the cylinder a. It will be readily understood
that when the head or end c is required to be affixed in its place, it is to be
forced into the end of the cylinder a; it being made to fit tightly requires
considerable pressure or force to drive it into its place, in order by the
pressure around the sides of the cylinder a, that as fluid-tight a joint as possible
may be obtained, and the joints are rendered fluid tight by painting them or
by other convenient means; and having got the head c into its place in the
cylinder a, the ears e are to be bent over and closely hammered or otherwise
driven down, so as to retain the head c in its place; and when the head
is required to be removed, the ears are to be turned back by a chisel or other
convenient instrument, and I prefer making these ears of tin plate in order that
they may serve several times, and allow of being often bent. In making the
vessel, Figure 3, both the heads or ends are to be permanently fixed in like
manner to what was described in respect to the head 6, Figure 1, but one
of them is to have a neck f affixed thereon by rivets or other convenient
means.
Having thus explained the nature of the casks or vessels made according to
my Invention, I will proceed to explain the various machines by which I am
enabled to perform several of the necessary processes or operations with
facility. The first operation is to cut out sheets of iron or other suitable
metal for forming the cylinder a.
parts
Figure 5 shews a plan of a machine for cutting sheets of metal for making
casks or other vessels. Figure 6 shows a side view of Figure 5. Figure 7
shews a transverse section of the machine. Figure 8 shews some of the
separately. g, g, is the framing of the machine, some of the upper part of
which is removed. his a bed or platform. i, i, are two parallel rails, on to
which the guage plate is affixed at a distance from the shears according to the
length,required to be cut off a sheet. j is the fixed blade of the shears, which
is securely affixed to the cross framing g' by screw bolts and nuts. k is the

page_text: noveable chap or cutting edge of the shears, which moves on an axis at ',
and is, a plate which guides the moveable blade in its movement up and
down, such plate being capable of adjustment in order to ensure the blade
working correctly with the fixed blade. is the guage plate, which can be
fixed in any required position on the parallel rails i by means of the hooks /¹
and the screw stems, the stems passing through the guage plate, and are
secured by screw nuts, the hooks taking under the parallel rails i, as will be
readily understood on examining the Drawing. The sheet to be cut being
.forced between the fixed and moveable blades of the shears, and correctly
placed against the guage plate 1, the handle of the moveable blade is depressed,
.by which the cut is obtained.
The next operation to which the sheet of iron or other metal is submitted is
the turning over the ends, as shewn at Figure 4, which is to be performed by the
machine shewn at Figure 8, Figure 8, Figure 8, Figure 8d, and Figure 8,
which Figures respectively shew a plan, a front view, an end view, and two
.transverse sections. A being the bed plate of the machine which is to be
fixed to a bench. B is a plate or bar moving on a fulcrum at B';.
this plate
or bar B is for fixing the sheet of metal to be bent on the bed. plate A, and
retains it securely during the operation of bending. Be is an inclined pro-
jection on the bar B, and C is a lever moving on an axis at C¹, and it is
by means of this lever being forced up the inclined surface B* which securely
holds down the bar B. D is a plate of steel affixed to the under surface
of the bar B, and this plate D acts as the die or guage on to which the edge
of the sheet of metal to be bent is folded in the following manner:-E is a
straight edge or folding plate which moves on necks or axes E¹ at each end, as
is shown; and E is a handle by which the workman forces up the folding
plate from the position Figure 8d into the position Figure 8%, and thus folds
over the edge of the sheet of metal on to the plate or guage D, as is clearly
shown in the Drawing. F, F, are two stops against. which the edge of the
sheet of metal to be turned up is placed, and there are openings in the folding
plate for such stops. The workman in using this machine secures the sheet
of metal fast on to the bed plate by the bar B, the edge of the sheet of metal
protruding beyond the edge of the plate D a distance equal to what is to be
turned over, which is governed by the stops. F, which are adjustable, and it
will be seen that in the movement of the folding plate only the edge will be
folded over. The sheet of iron or other metal is then to be bent into a
cylinder, and for this purpose I prefer to use the machine shown at Figures 9,
10, 11, and 12, which Figures respectively shew a front view, a plan, an end

page_text: view, and a transverse section of the machine for bending sheets of iron or
other metal into cylinders for making casks and other vessels, m, n, and o being
three rollers moving in suitable bearings or brasses, which bearings are
capable of moving in openings in the end framings of the machine, in order
to the rollers working closer or farther from each other; and thus to adjust the
size of the cylinder to be produced, the nearer the top and back roller is set to
the front roller the smaller will be the diameter of cylinder produced by the
machine, the machine being from time to time adjusted to the length of sheet
of iron or other metal which is to be turned or bent into a cylinder. p, q, are
the screws which adjust the position of the rollers m, n, o, the screws p
having each a pulley affixed thereon, and by means of an endless band p¹ the
two screws p are caused to turn equally in adjusting the upper roller.
The workman in using this machine inserts one end of a sheet of iron or
other metal between the upper and front rollers in a direction downwards
towards the back roller, and gives motion to the machine by means of the
winch handler; and the back and front rollers being geered together by cog
wheels, they will both move, and the sheet of metal will be bent into a cylinder. -
s is a bar which runs from end to end of the machine and acts as a tie bar.
Another part of my Invention relates to machines for cutting circular plates
of iron or other metal for forming the ends or heads of casks or other vessels;
and although the circular plates of iron or other metal may be cut by any
convenient means when making casks and vessels of iron or other metal
according to my Invention, I prefer when the diameter is not greater than
eight or nine inches to use a fly or other convenient press having applied
thereto certain cutting dies or punches, as hereafter explained; and it may be
remarked that as the construction of fly presses' as well as other presses are
well known, it will not be necessary in describing this part of my Invention to
enter into an explanation of the construction of presses, but confine myself to
the tools employed therein, which are constructed according to my Invention.
Figure 13 represents a plan and section of the fixed die for cutting circular
plates of metal, such fixed die being of the ordinary construction. Figure 14
shows an elevation, two sections, and an under side view of the punch or
moving die for cutting circular plates of metal, for making casks or vessels of
iron or other metal; and it will be seen that the cutting edge or circumference
in place of being plain, as is usually the case with such descriptions of punches
when cutting small circular discs, is in this case undulating, so that only a
comparatively small portion of the face in place of the whole cutting face
thereof is brought into action at one time; by this means circular discs or plates

page_text: of iron or other metal can be cut by dies and pressure with considerable facility
and with but comparatively small power. The circular plates being obtained
are then to be turned up at their edges, and this I prefer to perform by means
of dies and pressure, the dies being particularly constructed for performing this
operation. Figure 15 shows a side view of a fly press and dies suitable for
this part of my Invention. Figure 16 shows a plan of the fixed or lower die,
a side section thereof, and a section of the upper die or punch previous to
sinking or dishing the metal. Figure 17 shows a section of the upper and
lower die after sinking the metal into the lower die, and this Figure also
shows the under side view of the upper punch or die; the nature of these
dies being clearly shown, very little description will be required to explain
their action. t is the lower die, and is sunk to the size desired, there being
a ledge or sinking suitable for receiving the circular plate of metal before it
is sunk or dished, there being a hole through which a ram v works to drive
out the dished plate of metal when it remains in the lower die. wis the upper
die or punch which presses the sheet of metal into the lower die t, and it will
be seen that this die w is provided with an under plate w' which fits into a
recess formed in the under side face of the die w, such plate w' having two
studs w affixed thereto, which pass through the die w, and there are heads w³
affixed on these studs w², which, coming against the lower part of the guide
plates of the fly press, force off the sunk sheet of metal therefrom if it should
remain on the upper side.
The sixth part of my Invention relates to a mode of constructing proper
dies for punching and bending one end of the handle which is affixed to the
moveable head of a cask. Figure 18 shows the dies for this purpose applied
to a fly press. Figure 19 is a plan and section of a moveable head or end of
a cask complete, wherein it will be seen that the handle is rivitted on the
upper surface thereof, and that one end of the handle is so bent as to embrace
the end of the cylinder a, and thus prevent the moveable head being forced too
far in, and is also the means of driving off the head by striking with a hammer
or other tool, and if desired the two ends of the handle may be bent and
punched in like manner by means of the dies, which I will now describe.
Figure 20 shows a front view of the upper and lower dies. Figure 21
shows a plan of the same parts, there being a portion of a narrow plate
of iron or other suitable metal ready for receiving the operation of the
punch. Figure 22 shows two sections of the dies, one before and the other after
the bending and punching of the plate. Figure 23 shows a plan of the upper
or moveable dies or punches separately The fixed or under die is affixed by

page_text: entering into a dovetailed groove in the bridge plate of the fly press, there
being a guage or stop plate N, which prevents the plate being forced too far.
The parts being clearly shown in various views, they will readily be understood
on examining the Drawing, O being the punch for the rivet hole, P the
punch for bending the end of the handle; Q is the fixed die plate, having
two holes or female dies, one for the punch O, and the other for the
punch P.
The seventh part of my Invention relates to a machine for punching the
holes for the rivets through the turned-up edge of the heads or ends and
through the cylinder a, which operation of punching is performed at the same
time, the heads or ends being forced into its place before punching the holes
for the rivets.
Figure 24 is a front view of the machine. Figure 25 is á plan thereof, and
Figure 26 is a transverse section. A is the plate affixed on to a bench, and
the fixed die B is applied to a projection, as is shown in the Drawing. . C is
the moveable die or punch, which is affixed to a lever D, which inoves on a
fulcrum at D', the punch C being carried by a projection on the front of the
lever D, as is shown in the Drawing. The object of having a projection on the
lever D, is that the face of the lever D may act as the guage against which
the end of the cask or cylinder a may be pressed, and that the projection
carrying the punch may stand sufficiently within the end of the cylinder a as
to produce a hole at a suitable distance from the end of the cylinder for
receiving a rivet..
.
Figure 27 shows a front view, and Figure 28 a plan of another machine for
punching the holes for rivets where the ears or projections e are applied; and
the only difference in this machine from the preceding is, that the hole is
punched from the outside towards the inside, which is the reverse of the mode
of acting of the former machine, and there is a guage plate E applied, against
which the cylinder is placed when in the act of working, in other respects
the parts being similar, they are marked with the same letters of reference.
The eighth part of my Invention relates to a machine for cutting off and
punching a hole in lengths of tin or other suitable metal plate for making the
ears or projecting plates e which are rivetted on to the end of the cylinder a in
order to fasten the moveable head, as before explained. Figure 29 is a plan,
Figure 30 a front view partly in section, and Figure 31 is a transverse section,
of a machine constructed according to this part of my Invention. F is a bed
plate which is to be affixed by screws to a bench; at the back of this bed
plate there is a projecting surface which acts as a straight edge, against which
the narrow plate of metal is to be laid. G is a guage plate to determine the

page_text: length cut off this plate G can be slided to or from the cutting edges of
the shears, and be fixed by the screw G¹. It will be seen that the machine
performs the two operations of cutting off a length and punching a hole
for a rivet at the same time. H is the fixed die for receiving the punch, and
the edge of the plate H acts as the fixed cutting edge of the shears. This
plate H is affixed to the bed plate by a screw, as shewn, or by other con-
venient means. I is a bridge standing across the plate H, and is also affixed
to the bed plate, there being an opening through which the steel punch J passes;
the punch J is affixed to the steel plate K, such plate K acting as the moveable
cutting edge of the shears. L is a lever handle moving on a fulcrum at L'; and
it is by means of the lever L that the joint operations of punching and cutting
is performed by the workman at one time, for it will be seen that the plate K
is affixed to the lever by a screw and moves therewith. M are guides or
uprights between which the lever L moves, and is guided correctly to its
work.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I lay no claim to any
of the separate mechanical parts of which the various machines are composed.
But what I claim is,-
First, the mode of applying and fixing heads or ends to iron or other metal
casks or vessels, as above described.
Secondly, I claim the mode of constructing a machine for cutting sheets
of metal for making casks or other vessels by applying the parallel rails i
and moveable guage plate l, as above described.
Thirdly, I claim the mode of combining the parts B, D, E, and parts con-
nected therewith, into a machine for turning over the edges of sheets of iron
or other metal for making casks or vessels, as above described in respect to
Figures 8, 8, 8°, 8d, and 8°.
Fourthly, I claim the mode of forming dies, one having a plain cutting
edge, the other an undulating cutting edge for cutting circular plates for
making casks or vessels, as described in respect to Figures 13 and 14.
Fifthly, I claim the mode of constructing dies for sinking the heads or ends
of casks or vessels, as described in respect to Figures 15, 16, and 17.
Sixthly, I claim the mode of bending-and-punching the ends of handles by
dies and pressure, as above described.
Seventhly, I claim the mode of combining the mechanical parts for punching
the holes for rivets through the ends of the cylinders, and the turned-up'
edges of the heads inserted therein for affixing the heads, and also for affixing
ears or projections, as described.

page_text: Eighthly, I claim the mode of combining the mechanical parts into a
machine for punching and cutting off proper lengths of plates, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Brown, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-first day. of July, in
the year of our Lord 1840, the aforesaid Samuel Brown came before
our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twenty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty.