Improvements in Knock-down Barrels or Kegs.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Knock-down Barrels or Kegs.
We, PHILIS MAYOTTE, Farmer, of Wells, and ISADORE CYR, Merchant, of
Hyde, both in the County of Delta and State of Michigan, United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
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:-
The object of this invention is to provide barrels or kegs (and more especially
barrels to contain beer) which may be knocked down " or collapsed when
empty for return to the brewer or merchant at an expense considerably less than
is now the case when returning empty barrels as at present constructed.
According to this invention the barrel is provided with hoops in the form of
chains which are secured in such manner as to prevent their movement length-
wise of the barrel whilst their ends are so connected as to enable the hoops to
be tightened and thus make the barrel tight. The links forming the chains vary
slightly in structure, the body of the chain being formed of links which are
alike while the two end links are slightly different in construction from the
body links. The end links each have an aperture in their outer end adapted to
receive a tightening bolt which passes through the end of one link and screws
into the end of the other link. The links of the inner hoops or those nearest
the bulge of the barrel are provided with flanges which project inwardly and
serve as a bearing surface for the heads of pins or bolts by which the chains
are secured to the barrel staves, which pins or bolts may either pass entirely
through the staves or only partly through. At their outer ends the pins or
bolts extend into a slot between the flanges and they are provided with a head
which engages the upper surface of the flanges thus permitting a slight circum-
ferential movement of the chain while holding the chain to the staves. The
links are hinged to each other in the usual manner while the end links receive
the tightening bolts. In the case of the end hoops only a few of the central
links are secured to the staves, the remainder of the links being secured against
longitudinal movement upon the staves by means of pins which project from the
staves and enter the space between the sides of the link. These pins permit
the chain to be removed from the staves and will hold the chain in place when
the barrel is set up. This construction is rendered necessary by reason of the
fact that when the barrel is knocked down and the staves laid out flat the ends
of the staves are separated. The adjustment of the links upon the staves which
would be possible by the construction used for the central hoops would not be
sufficient to allow for the adjustment necessary for the end hoops.
When it is desired to return the barrel constructed in accordance with this
invention, the hoops are loosened by withdrawing the bolts and the staves may
then be laid out flat and the heads removed.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents.
53, Chancery Lane, London.

page_text: out flat the ends of the staves are separated. The adjustment of the links upon
the staves which would be possible by the construction used for the central
hoops, would not be sufficient to allow for the adjustment necessary for the
end hoops.
For convenience in tightening the hoops, the heads of the bolts are slotted so
that they may be engaged by a screw driver, or they may be made of square or
hexagonal shape so that they may be engaged by a wrench if desired.
When it is desired to return the barrel constructed in accordance with this
invention, the hoops are loosened by withdrawing the bolts C, and the staves may
then be laid out flat and the heads removed. By this means a number of barrels
may be placed in the space which would otherwise be required for one barrel,
and freight charges for the same would be correspondingly reduced.
The result of the adoption of this barrel would be to cause the barrels to
be returned in many cases where they are not now returned, and would thus
result in a fewer number of barrels being needed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
The pins (D) when provided with heads extending over the flanges (b) of sundry
or all of the links which form the chain hoop, the shanks or bodies of said pins
passing through the slots between the flanges.
Dated this 15th day of June 1899.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents.
53, Chancery Lane, London.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents.
53, Chancery Lane, London.