New or Improved Means for Automatically Tilting Casks, Barrels, and the like, for Draining the Contents thereof.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 22nd June, 1896-Accepted, 25th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Means for Automatically Tilting Casks, Barrels,
and the like, for Draining the Contents thereof.
I, JAMES CUNLIFFE of 11 Wesley Street, Openshaw, Manchester, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object to provide simple and efficient means for
automatically tilting casks, barrels, and other receptacles of unwieldy character
for draining their contents, and consists essentially of an arrangement of com
pensating wheel and balance weights, whereby the cask is uniformly and steadily
tilted as the contents are withdrawn.
In accordance with my invention I employ a, by preference, chain wheel, of
about 10 inches diameter, which I mount above the barrel when on the stillage..
The axle on which this wheel rotates is eccentric with the wheel centre, and gives
to certain parts of the wheel a greater radius (or leverage) than the opposite
parts. Over this wheel a chain passes with one end connected to balance-weights,
and the other end provided with a hook engaging with the rim of the barrel end.
When the barrel is full, or at its lowest position, the aforesaid wheel is in such a.
position as to cause the balance-weights to hang at the greater radius from the
wheel centre, whilst that portion of the chain which leads to the barrel leaves the
wheel at the smaller radius; the weight of the barrel when about half-full or
empty, and that of the balance weights, through the leverages of the wheel, being
about equal.
Any decrease in weight of the barrel now taking place by the withdrawal of the,
contents, causes the balance weights to fall to such a distance as will compensate.
for the difference in balance, by lessening the leverage of the wheel on one side, and
increasing it on the other side, and so on until the barrel is drained; the value of
the balance weights gradually diminishing as the barrel is tilted, and the leverage at
which the barrel is raised gradually increasing, and so automatically maintaining
the weights and barrel in equilibrium.
To lower the barrel after tilting the removal of the balance-weights, one by
one, will allow the barrel to fall on to the stillage again. By varying the weights
the apparatus may be set to operate barrels and casks of varying capacity, or
containing different quantities of liquor.
To facilitate the setting of the apparatus, the chain-wheel may be provided.
with stops or pins to abut against a suitable frame when the wheel is in the
ight position for starting.
To enable the barrel to be retained at any particular height, or to prevent
he barrel falling in case of the balance weights being disturbed,- or vice versa-I
provide a small ratchet wheel and pawl, the former on the side of the chain-wheel,
nd the latter on the aforesaid frame.
Dated this 20th day of September 1905
JAMES
CUNLIFFE,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.

page_text: New or Improved Means for Automatically Tilting Casks, Barrels,
and the like, for Draining the Contents thereof.
I, JAMES CUNLIFFE of 11 Wesley Street, Openshaw, Manchester, Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention has for its object to provide simple and efficient means for
automatically tilting casks, barrels, and other receptacles of unwieldy character
for draining their contents, and consists essentially of an arrangement of
compensating wheel and balance weights, whereby the cask is uniformly and
steadily tilted as the contents are withdrawn.
In accordance with my invention I employ a, by preference, chain wheel, of
about 10 inches diameter, which I mount above the barrel when on the stillage.
The axle on which this wheel rotates is eccentric with the wheel centre, and gives
to certain parts of the wheel a greater radius (or leverage) than the opposite parts.
Over this wheel a chain passes with one end connected to balance-weights, and the
other end provided with a hook engaging with the rim of the barrel end.
When the barrel is full, or at its lowest position, the aforesaid wheel is in such
a position as to cause the balance weight to hang at the greater radius from the
wheel centre, whilst that portion of the chain which leads to the barrel leaves the
wheel at the lesser radius; the weight of the barrel when about half-full (or half-
empty) and that of the balance weights through the leverages of the wheel, being
about equal. Any decrease in the weight of the barrel by the withdrawal of the
contents, causes the balance weights to fall and rotate the wheel and by altering
the value of its leverages, keeps the barrel and weight in equilibrium and so on
until the barrel is drained.
And in order that my said invention shall be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings and I
will now proceed to describe the same with the assistance of the various figures
and letters of reference marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a barrel on its stillage and with the improved tilter
applied thereto, the several parts being in the position they occupy when ready
to tilt the barrel.
Fig. 2 is a similar view, but shewing the position of the parts with the barrel
tilted.
Fig. 3 is a front view of the wheel only.
Fig. 4 illustrates the opposite side of the wheel to that shewn in Figs. 1 and 2.
(A) designates the compensating tilter wheel or pulley of about 10" diameter,
made in cast iron, and with a groove in its periphery for the reception of a
chain.
This wheel is suspended by arms (B) (B¹) (which terminate in a hook (C).)
from a bar (D) held by holdfasts from the ceiling or wall of the cellar or other
place in which the barrel is situated.
The pin or axis on which the wheel is carried by the arms (B) (B¹) is eccentric
with the wheel centre as illustrated and consequently is of a larger radius
from a to b, than from c to d.
Upon the chain (F) being passed over the wheel (A) and hooked to the
barrel (G) at one end, and to a set of weights (H) at the opposite end, and
the said wheel turned round, so that the weights shall hang from the greater
radius of the wheel as shewn in Fig. 1, the tilter is ready to work.
As soon now as the barrel lightens to an extent which reduces its weight
(and the leverage of c-b) to that of the weights H (and the leverage a-b of

page_text: wheel (A)) say when half empty, and when it is desired that tilting shall begin,
the said weights and barrel are in equilibrium. As the weight of the barrel
continues to lighten the weights (H) begin to fall, and thereby rotate the
wheel (A) in the direction of the arrow, and consequently slightly diminish the
leverage ab and maintain the aforesaid equilibrium.
As the barrel empties and the weights continue to fall, the wheel is gradually
rotated until the leverage at which the said weights operate is reduced to a
minimum, at which moment the barrel is empty, the circumference of the wheel
and the lift of the barrel being proportioned accordingly.
As an automatic check in preventing the tilting of the barrel beyond_a
certain height the chain is made of such a length as will cause the weights (H)
to come to a rest on the top of the barrel (see Fig. 2).
To facilitate the setting of the wheel and chain I provide a toothed pinion
or boss (K) on its side as shewn in Fig. 1 with which engages a click or
pawl (1) pivoted to the arm (B). I also provide a set of stops or abutments (J)
and (J) ou the opposite face of the wheel as shewn in Figs. 2 and 3, the stop (J)
being designed to abut against the arm (B') when the wheel is put back to its
starting point, and the stop (J') being designed for arresting the movement of the
wheel in case it should turn too far in the opposite direction. The click (I) when
in the position shewn in Fig. 1 locks the wheel until ready for starting, when it is
thrown back on to its other point.
To lower the barrel the loose weights (H) are removed one by one.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
1st. For tilting barrels, casks and the like, the use of a compensating or
eccentrically mounted wheel (A) as set forth and illustrated on the accompanying
drawing.
2nd. The combination of wheel (A), ratchet boss or pinion (K) ratchet click
or pawl (1), arms (B), (B'), with chain and weights as and for the purposes set
forth.
Deted thia zurn nav or
ted thig Zurn any or
JAMES CUnliffe,
By John G. Wilson & Co., Rgd. P.A.,
55 Market Street, Manchester, Agents.
JAMES CUNliffe,
By John G. Wilson & Co., Rgd. P.A.,
55 Market Street, Manchester, Agents.