IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CASKS OR BARRELS, OR OF THE LININGS OF THE SAME AND WHICH IMPROVS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER HOLLOW VESSELS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Hancock, of Upper Chadwell Street, Penton-
ville, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CASKS OR BARRELS, OR OF THE LININGS OF THE SAME,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Hancock at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th
August 1855.
I, WALTER HANCOCK, of Upper Chadwell Street, Pentonville, in the County
of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE. MANUFACTURE OF CASES OR BARRELS, OR OF THE LININGS OF THE
SAME, AND WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER HOLLOW VESSELS,"
to be as follows:-
These improvements relate, firstly, to a new mode of manufacturing casks
or barrels of gutta percha, or compounds of gutta percha, for the purpose of
reducing the cost of such manufacture and facilitating the operation.
Secondly, to a new mode of manufacturing linings of casks or barrels which
are not of themselves air or water tight, and by these means rendering them
perfectly tight at less cost than heretofore.
I would remark that I am aware of gutta percha having already been used
as a lining for casks or barrels; but in consequence of the imperfect method

page_text: adopted of shaping the said lining, and from not having been made of the same
curvature as the inside of the cask, together with the number of joints of the
material and expense of manufacture, its adoption has been very limited.
The object of these improvements is to render such manufacture cheaper,
and the lining more efficient than heretofore, by adopting the following mode of
manufacture Instead of using two pieces of sheet gutta percha in the form
of hollow truncated cones with their larger diameters joined together, as here-
tofore practised, I employ a revolving roller, the surface of which is of the
same size and shape as the inside of the cask or barrel to which the lining is
to be applied; this roller works in a trough containing cold water and soft
soap. The gutta percha sheet is secured by one end to the aforesaid roller, and
whilst the gutta percha is in a plastic state it is wound or coiled around and
upon said roller, and as the gutta percha passes through the water in the
trough it becomes partially set thereby to the desired shape, and at the same
time prevents the succeeding coil of plastic gutta percha from adhering to the
preceding one. When a sufficient quantity has been thus wound, the roller
with the gutta percha is removed and left to cool. A fresh roller is then
placed in the aforesaid trough, and the operation of shaping repented as before.
When the gutta percha thus shaped is perfectly set, I cut lengthwise through
the whole of the layers or coils with a knife, by which I obtain at one operation
a number of divided linings of the same form as the inside of the casks or
barrels to which they are to be applied, and I join such divided linings and
affix end pieces to the top and bottom of the same by the means commonly
employed of joining gutta percha. Instead of the revolving roller above
mentioned, the lining may be either wholly or partially shaped by means of
internal or external forms or blocks of the same size and curvature as the
cask or barrel to which it is to be applied, and the material joined together,
as above mentioned.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Walter Hancock in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3
13th February 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WALTER
HANCOCK, of Upper Chadwell Street, Pentonville, in the County of Middlesex,
send. greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 3
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Walter Hancock, Her special licence that I, the said Walter Hancock,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Walter
Hancock, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFAC-
TURE OF CASKS OR BARRELS, OR OF THE LININGS OF THE SAME, AND WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER HOLLOW VESSELS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Walter Hancock, my executors or adminis-
trators,, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, 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 Walter Hancock, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
My improvements relate, firstly, to a new mode of manufacturing casks or
barrels of gutta percha, or compounds of gutta percha, for the purpose of
reducing the cost of such manufacture and facilitating the operation.
Secondly, to a new mode of manufacturing linings of casks or barrels which
are not of themselves air or water tight, and by these means rendering them
perfectly tight at less cost than heretofore.
I would remark that I am aware of gutta percha having already been used
as a lining for casks or barrels, but in consequence of the imperfect method
adopted of shaping the said lining, and from not having been made of the
same curvature as the inside of the cask, together with the number of joints
of the material and expense of manufacture, its adoption has been very
limited.
The object of my said improvements is to render such manufacture cheaper,
and the lining more efficient than heretofore, by adopting the following mode of
manufacture: Instead of using two pieces of sheet gutta pereha in the form
of hollow truncated cones with their larger diameters joined together, as here-
tofore practised, I employ a revolving roller, the surface of which is of the

page_text: same size and shape as the cask or barrel to which the lining is to be applied;
this roller works in a trough containing cold water into which some soft soap
has been stirred. A piece of sheet gutta percha or compound of gutta percha
is secured by one end to the aforesaid roller, and whilst the gutta percha is in
a plastic state, it is wound or coiled around and upon said roller, and during the
revolutions of said roller, and as the gutta percha descends and passes through
the water in the trough, it becomes partially set thereby to the desired shape,
and the succeeding coil of plastic gutta percha is at the same time prevented
from adhering to the preceding one. When a sufficient quantity has been
thus wound, the roller with the gutta percha is removed, that the gutta percha
may cool and set. A fresh roller is then placed in the aforesaid trough,
and the operation of shaping repeated as before. When the gutta percha thus
shaped is perfectly set, I cut lengthwise through the whole of the layers or
coils with a knife, by which I obtain at one operation a number of divided
linings of the same form as the inside of the casks or barrels to which they are
to be applied, and I join such divided linings and affix end pieces to the top
and bottom of the same, or otherwise finish them, as may be desired, by the
means commonly employed in joining and working gutta percha. If only a
thin lining be required, it will not be necessary to employ more than one
roller, as the gutta percha will be sufficiently set by passing through the cold
water in the trough, and consequently will not require to be laid aside to
cool, as before stated.
When practicable, I prefer fixing the above-mentioned apparatus in con-
nection with a rolling machine, such as is ordinarily used in the manufacture
of gutta percha sheet, as the gutta percha will then be supplied to the shaping
roller in the trough in the fittest and best state for shaping, and the speed of
the shaping roller should be so adjusted as to take off the gutta percha from the
rolling machine as fast as it is delivered; but when this is not practicable,
the gutta percha sheet may be made plastic, either by passing it on its way to
the shaping roller through a vessel containing warm water, or by any other
convenient means. In manufacturing casks or barrels of gutta percha, or com-
pounds of gutta percha, I employ a roller similar to that above mentioned, of the
desired size and shape of the interior of the cask or barrel; but it will be obvious
that the gutta percha will require to be stouter than for the linings before men-
tioned, in consequence of the extra weight and pressure it will have to bear.
And after the cask or barrel is joined up, in the manner before stated with
reference to the linings, I strengthen the cask or barrel, if necessary, by
cementing or fastening thereto hoops or bands of gutta percha, or otherwise,

page_text: as may be found most convenient and suitable for the purpose to which the cask
or barrel is to be applied. Carboys, bottles, buckets, jugs, vases, and other hollow
vessels may be manufactured in the same manner by substituting for the roller
of the shape of the cask or barrel another roller of the size and shape of the
carboy, bottle, bucket, or other hollow vessel required:
I now proceed to describe the construction and arrangement of the apparatus
which I have found answer well for the purposes of my said Invention, and the
mode of operating therewith, reference being had to the illustrative Drawing
hereunto annexed, and to the numeral figures and letters of reference marked
thereon respectively, as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus constructed according to my said
Invention; Figure 2, a side elevation thereof; Figure 3, an end elevation;
Figures 4 and 5 are rollers or blocks for shaping vases and carboys upon.
At
each of the foregoing Figures I employ similar letters of reference to denote
corresponding parts, in so far as such parts appear or can be seen at each of
such said Figures respectively.
A, A, is a rectangular-shaped vessel containing cold water, and supported by
a framing B, a portion only of which is shewn by the Drawing; C is a spindle
working in suitable bearings D, D; E, a winch handle for imparting rotatory
motion to the spindle C; G, a block or roller fitted tightly upon the spindle.
The block or roller may be manufactured of either metal or wood, as may be
most convenient; or it may be manufactured of wood turned smaller than the
size required, and made up to the size required with a thick coating or layer
of gutta percha. I have found this latter kind of block very advantageous, as
the gutta percha coating prevents the wood from being injuriously affected, and
from losing its shape by immersion in the water, and it has the further advan-
tage of being easily repaired or altered if necessary. In operating with the
above apparatus for manufacturing casks, barrels, or other hollow vessels from
gutta percha, or compounds of gutta percha, I proceed in the manner above
stated.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention of
Improvements in the Manufacture of Casks or Barrels, or of the Linings of
the same, and which Improvements are also applicable to other Hollow Vessels,"
together with the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same
into practical effect, I declare my Invention to consist in, and I claim, the
manufacturing of casks or barrels and other hollow vessels by the use of

page_text: rotating blocks or rollers in apparatus of the construction above described,
and represented and operated with as above stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Hancock, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
WALTER HANCOCK. (L.S.)
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE, Patent Agent,
4, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross.