An Improved Apparatus for Washing Barrels.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left. 11th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Washing Barrels.
I, WILLIAM HENRY MUNNS, of 106, 107, and 108, Victoria Chambers, 55 and
56 Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by George
Alvin Bidwell, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Inventor,) to be as follows
-
This invention has reference to certain new and useful improvements relating to
apparatus for washing barrels more effectually and rapidly than those machines at
present in use.
The apparatus comprises a suitable framework, in the lower part of which is
journalled a hollow shaft mounted to rotate, and adapted to connect at one end
with a steam and water supply, and at its other end forming a support for the
barrel. A branch pipe leads from said hollow shaft to discharge into the barrel.
In the upper part of the framework is journalled a power-driven shaft, which, by
means of a band and pulley gives a rotary motion to the hollow shaft and barrel.
Shot or the like abrading substances are placed within the barrel and the length of
the branch pipe of the hollow shaft is adjusted to enter the bung-hole or tap-
aperture so as to turn with the barrel and allow a constant current of steam and
water to enter it.
D
1
CALL 1001
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Washing Barrels.
I, WILLIAM HENRY MUNNS, of 106, 107, and 108 Victoria Chambers, Chancery
Lane, in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention (a communication to me from abroad by George Alvin Bidwell,
of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Inventor,) and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved barrel-washing
machine which is simple and durable in construction aud very effective in operation.
The invention consists of a hollow shaft mounted to rotate and adapted to connect
at one end with a steam and water supply and to form at its other end a support
for the barrel, a branch pipe leading from the said hollow shaft and adapted to
discharge into the barrel, and an adjustable support for the barrel arranged in line
with the said shaft.
The invention also consists in certain parts and details and combinations of the
same, as will be described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding 'parts in
all the figures.
Figure 1 is a front view of the improvement with parts in section.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a face view of one of the barrel-bearings, and
Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the barrel-inlet.
The improved barrel-washer is provided with a suitably-constructed frame B,
preferably fastened on the ceiling of the building in which the barrels are to be

page_text: washed. In one end of the frame B is mounted to turn in suitable bearings a
hollow shaft C, connected at its outer end by a suitable coupling D with a fixed
pipe E, into which open the pipes F and G for supplying the pipe E with steam
and water, respectively. The pipes F and G are provided with valves F and G¹
for regulating the supply of water and steam passing to the pipe E.
From the inner end of the hollow shaft C extends a branch pipe H, which opens
into the barrel-inlet J, connected with one of the heads of the barrel and
arranged in such a manner as to open when the valves F1 and G₁ are opened,
so that water and steam flow through the pipe E, the hollow shaft C, and the
branch pipe H into the interior of the barrel K to be washed.
it.
The barrel is provided in the centres of its heads on the outside with bearings L
and L, each of which is provided with a transverse recess L. (See Fig. 3.)
The bearing L is engaged in its slot L by a lug C₁, formed on the closed end of
the hollow shaft C, so that when the latter is rotated the barrel K rotates with
The other bearing L' is engaged by a lug N', formed on the end of a shaft N,
mounted to turn in suitable bearings in a sleeve P, jornalled in a movable
frame O, fitted to slide on longitudinally-extending guide-bars R, held in the upper
part of the main frame B. When the frame has been adjusted according to
the size of the barrel, it is fastened to one of the guide-bars R by a set-screw S.
In order to conveniently move the sleeve P longitudinally, the latter is provided
with an eye P¹, engaged by a pivoted arm P2, fulcrumed on the frame O and
serving to move the sleeve P, with the shaft N, inward or outward, so as to engage
the lugs NC with the recesses L2 in the bearings L L or disengage them from
the same.
In order to lock the shaft N in place, a weighted pawl Q is provided,
engaging teeth N2, formed on the sleeve P. The pawl Q has the tendency to
move the shaft N inward toward the barrel K.
Instead of placing the bearings L and L¹ on the heads of the barrel, they may
be placed on the staves-and-arranged diametrically opposite each other, as is plainly
shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
When arranged in this manner the pipe H is extended, as shown in dotted
lines in Fig. 1, so as to make proper connection with the inlet J. The latter
is preferably of the construction shown in Fig. 4, in which a bushing Jis provided,
secured to the head of the barrel by suitable means, and in which screws a
plug-seat J, in the front end of which opens the pipe H, and in the rear end of
which is adapted to be seated a plug J, opening inward onto the bushing J.
The bushing J is provided at its inner end with suitable perforations to permit
the liquid to pass into the barrel.
In order to prevent the frame O from sliding outward, a notched bar T is
provided, adapted to pass through an opening in the said frame and engaging with
one of its teeth a shoulder O¹ in the bottom of the said opening. The notched
bar T is preferably held on one of the guide-bars R.
The shaft C for turning the barrel K can be rotated in either direction, and for
this purpose is provided with a pulley U, over which passes a belt U₁ also passing
over a pulley U2, secured on a shaft V, mounted to turn in suitable bearings in the
upper end of the main frame B.
On the shaft V is fitted to slide and to turn with the shaft the double clutch W,
connected with the usual shifting-lever W, which when moved to the right or
left changes the position of the clutch on the shaft. When the lever W' is
moved to the left, one end of the double clutch W engages a pulley W2, mounted to
turn loosely on the shaft V. When the lever W₁ is moved to the right, one end
of the double clutch W engages a pulley W³, mounted to turn loosely on the
shaft V. Over the pulley W passes a belt W, also passing over a pulley W,
secured on the main driving-shaft X, mounted to turn in suitable bearings in
hangers Yarranged in the rear of the main frame B. Over the pulley W³ passes
a crossed belt W, also passing over a pulley on the shaft X, so that when the
latter is rotated and the double clutch W engages the pulley W³, then the shaft .V.

page_text: is rotated in one direction, and when the said double clutch W engages the other
pulley Wthe said shaft V is rotated in an opposite direction from the main driving-
shaft X. The rotary motion of the shaft V in one direction is transmitted to the
shaft C by the pulley U and U2 and the belt U
The operation is as follows: The barrel K is hoisted into the proper position by
suitable means, so that one bearing L engages the shaft C and the other
bearing L is engaged by the shaft N, as previously described. Shot is preferably
placed in the barrel, which is closed at the bung-hole, and then the operator opens
the valves F and G¹, so as to admit steam and water into the barrel by means of
the hollow shaft C, the pipe H, and inlet J, previously mentioned. At the same
time the double clutch W is thrown in contact with either of the pulleys W² or W³,
so as to rotate the shaft C in either direction, whereby the barrel K is turned and
the shot in the barrel rolls around in the latter, and with the steam and water
thoroughly scours the inner surface of the barrel. After a suitable length of time
the shifting-lever W₁ is moved so as to turn the shaft C in the opposite direction
to reverse the motion of the barrel K in order to insure complete scrubbing of all
parts of the inside of the barrel. As the frame O can be shifted longitudinally, the
shaft N, supported on the said frame, is moved inward and outward, so that the
device can be used for large or small barrels or for turning the barrels endwise, as
is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is:
1. A barrel-washer comprising a hollow shaft mounted to rotate and adapted to
connect at one end with a steam and water supply and at its other end forming a
support for the barrel, a branch pipe leading from the said hollow shaft to discharge
into the barrel, and an adjustable support for the barrel, arranged in line with the
said shaft, substantially as shown and described.
2. A barrel-washer comprising a hollow shaft mounted to rotate and adapted to
connect at one end with a steam and water supply and at its other end forming a
support for the barrel, a branch pipe leading from the said hollow shaft to
discharge into the barrel, an adjustable support for the barrel, arranged in line
with the said shaft, and means, substantially as described, for imparting a forward
and backward motion to the said shaft to rotate the barrel in opposite directions,
as set forth.
3. In a barrel-washer, the combination, with a hollow shaft mounted to turn in
one direction, of a fixed pipe leading into one end of the said hollow shaft and
connected with a water and steam supply, a branch pipe leading from the said
hollow shaft and adapted to discharge into the barrel to be washed, and a longi-
tudinally-adjustable shaft forming with the said hollow shaft bearings for the barrel,
so as to turn the latter, substantially as shown and described.
4. In a barrel-washer, the combination, with a hollow shaft mounted to turn in
one direction, of a fixed pipe leading into one end of the said hollow shaft and
connected with a water and feed supply, a branch pipe leading from the said hollow
shaft and adapted to discharge into the barrel to be washed, a longitudinally-
adjustable shaft forming with the said hollow shaft bearings for the barrel, so as to
turn the latter, a longitudinally-adjustable frame supporting the said shaft, and
means for locking the adjustable fraine, substantially as shown and described.
5. In a barrel-washer, the combination, with a longitudinally-adjustable frame,
of a sleeve mounted to slide therein, a shaft connected with the said sleeve and
free to revolve therein, but sliding with the said sleeve, and a barrel-bearing
adapted to be engaged by the outer end of the said shaft, substantially as shown
and described.
6. In a barrel-washer, the combination, with a longitudinally-adjustable frame,
of a sleeve mounted to slide therein, a shaft connected with the said sleeve and

page_text: free to revolve therein, but sliding with the said sleeve, a barrel-bearing adapted
to be engaged by the outer end of the said shaft, and a hollow shaft mounted to
rotate and connected with a barrel-bearing opposite the first-named shaft, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
Dated
1
בד .
1001