Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Tilting or Tipping Barrels or Casks.
Year: 1884

page_text: Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Tilting or Tipping
Barrels or Casks.
We, DAVID MORRIS of Underhill Cottage, Pontypridd, in the County of
Glamorgan, Mechanical Engineer, JOHN CHARLES MORRIS, of 15, Crockherbtown,
Cardiff, in the County of Glamorgan, bicycle manufacturer, and WILLIAM MORGAN
MORRIS, of Cambrian Works, Pontypridd, aforesaid, bicycle manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR TILTING OR TIPPING BARRELS OR CASKS," to be as follows:-
The improved machinery or apparatus constituting this invention is designed to
tip or tilt barrels or other similar vessels in a gradual manner accordingly as the
liquid contained in such vessels is drawn therefrom and without undue disturbance
and consequent fouling of the liquid. It consists, under one form of construction
and arrangement of a portable frame designed to be placed about a barrel or cask
and carrying at the top a winding drum fixed on a spindle capable of revolving in
bearings formed in side arms constituting a part of the said frame. Inside the
drum is a spiral spring, one end of which is secured to the drum and the other to
a worm or ratchet wheel free to rotate on the spindle aforesaid. The frame being
placed about a barrel of liquid, the front, or that end of the barrel at which is
situated the tap or cock, is secured to the frame and prevented from slipping
forwards by a bar which extends across the frame. To the top of the opposite or
rear end of the barrel is attached a claw or bracket from which extend linked tie
rods along the top of the barrel to the front thereof. The spiral spring is wound
to the requisite degree of tension and the drum connected to the claw or bracket
aforesaid by a cord or chain. As, by the drawing off of liquid, the weight acting
on the drum becomes reduced according to the quantity of liquid drawn off, the
strain tending to maintain tension of the spiral spring is reduced and the spring as
it unwinds causes the drum to rotate to a proportionate extent. The chain or cord
aforesaid becomes in a corresponding degree thus wound on the drum and the rear
end of the barrel is gently tilted or inclined from the rear accordingly.
A pawl engaging with the teeth of a ratchet wheel fixed on the spindle carrying
the drum counteracts any tendency of the barrel to decline backwards after having
been raised. The degree to which the barrel remains inclined affords an indication
of the quantity of liquid contained therein. The barrel is prevented from being

page_text: inclined further than is necessary for emptying it by contact with a crossbar at
the top of the frame. When the barrel is empty the frame may be readily
detached therefrom and another barrel be substituted.
Under another form of construction and arrangement the barrel is tilted or
tipped by a balance weight carried on one end of a lever the other end of which
is connected by a chain or cord to the rear end of the barrel, the fulcrum of the
lever being on the top of the frame.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, W.C.,
Applicants' Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Tilting or Tipping
Barrels or Casks.
We, DAVID MORRIS of Underhill Cottage, Pontypridd, in the County of 1
Glamorgan, Mechanical Engineer, JOHN CHARLES MORRIS, of 15 Crockherbtown,
Cardiff, in the County of Glamorgan, Bicycle Manufacturer, and WILLIAM MORGAN
MORRIS, of Cambrian Works, Pontypridd, aforesaid, Bicycle Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of our said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR TILTING OR TIPPING BARRELS OR CASKS," and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
The improved machinery or apparatus constituting our said invention is designed
to tilt or tip barrels and other similar vessels in a gradual manner, accordingly as
the liquid contained in such vessels is drawn therefrom, and without undue s
disturbance and consequent fouling of the liquid. It is designed to be generally
applicable to barrels of beer, porter, and other like liquids.
It consists, under one form of-arrangement and construction, of a portable frame
adapted to be placed about a barrel or cask and carrying towards the top a hollow
spindle which is free to revolve around a tie rod by which the side members or
arms of the frame are connected. Keyed or otherwise secured on the said hollow
spindle is a winding drum to the inside of which is secured one end of a coiled or
spiral spring the other end of which is secured to a worm wheel. The worm wheel
gears with a worm pinion which is furnished with a handle by which it is rotated
for winding up the spring.
When the frame has been placed about a barrel the front end at which is
situated the tap or cock-is brought to bear against a tie bar which extends across
the lower part of the frame, and thus the barrel is prevented from slipping

page_text: forward. To the top of the opposite or rear end of the barrel is fitted a claw or
bracket which is connected by a rod or rods to a claw fitted at the front.
The spring aforesaid is wound to the requisite degree of tension and the drum is
connected to the claw at the back by a rope or chain.
As, by the drawing off of the liquid the weight acting on the drum becomes
reduced according to the quantity of liquid drawn off, the strain tending to
maintain tension of the spring is reduced and the spring as it unwinds causes the
drum to rotate to a proportional extent. The rope or chain connected, as aforesaid,
to the claw at the back of the barrel thus becomes in a corresponding degree
wound on the drum and the barrel is consequently tilted or inclined from the rear
accordingly.
A pawl which engages with the teeth of a ratchet wheel fixed on the drum
spindle counteracts any tendency of the barrel to decline backwards after having
been tilted.
The degree to which the barrel remains inclined may be made to afford an
indication of the quantity of liquid contained therein.
According to another form of construction the spring, drum and winding gear
are dispensed with and the barrel is tilted or tipped through the agency of a
counterweight carried on one end of a lever the other end of which is connected
to the claw or bracket at the back of the barrel, the fulcrum of the lever being at
the top of the frame.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings, Fig. 1 thereon represents a
side elevation of our improved apparatus for tipping or tilting barrels, casks and
other like vessels, according to one form of arrangement and construction. The
apparatus is shown mounted upon an ordinary barrel rack or still A. and placed
about a barrel' B which is indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 represents a front
elevation of the same. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the apparatus as
placed on the ground about the barrel B. Fig. 4 represents a part plan of the
apparatus.
The portable frame consisting of the base pieces or feet C side arms E and tie
rods F, F¹ and F, is placed about a barrel B as shown.
Carried on the tie rod F' by which the side arms E are tied together at the top
is a hollow spindle a free to revolve on the tie rod F*. Upon the spindle a is
keyed or otherwise secured the winding drum b to which is attached one end of
the coiled or spiral spring G. The other end of the spring G is attached to the
worm wheel & gearing with the worm pinion e furnished with a handle f. At the
rear the barrel B is grasped by the claw H to which is attached one end of a wire
rope h the other end of which is attached to the winding drum b. The claw H is
connected by the rod i to the claw I which grasps the barrel at the front as seen
at Figs. 1 and 2.
The lower tie rod F is furnished with stops g to bear against each side of the
barrel. These stops g are adjustable on the rod F to suit different sizes of barrels.
When the frame has been placed about a barrel the spring G is wound by means
of the worm wheel & and pinion e to the requisite degree of tension and the level
of the barrel adjusted accordingly. As the contents of the barrel are drawn off,
the spring G in recoiling accordingly causes the winding drum to rotate to a
proportionate extent. The rope h thus becomes wound on the drum b and the
barrel is gently and gradually tilted or inclined from the rear. Undue disturbance
of the beer, porter or other liquid contained in the barrel and consequent fouling
or "thickening" thereof is thus obviated.
A pawl taking into the ratchet wheel d¹ fixed at the end of the spindle a
opposite to the worm wheel d prevents the barrel from being inclined backwards
after having been tilted forward as above described.
The degree to which the barrel remains inclined may be made to afford an
indication of the quantity of its contents.
The barrel is prevented from being inclined further than is requisite for emptying
it by the tie rod F against which the barrel bears when so inclined or tilted.

page_text: When the barrel is empty the apparatus may be readily detached and another
barrel be substituted for the empty one.
According to another form of construction, the winding drum, spring and
winding gear are dispensed with and the barrel is tilted through the agency of a
counterweight carried on the front end of a lever the rear end of which is connected
by a rope or chain, corresponding to the rope h above mentioned, to the claw at the
back of the barrel, the fulcrum of the lever being conveniently on a tie rod at the
top of the frame.
As the contents of the barrel are drawn off the weight sinks lower and con-
sequently tilts the barrel from the rear.
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 machinery or apparatus for tilting or tipping barrels, casks and such like
vessels, constructed, arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated on the accompanying sheet of drawings whereby the vessel is tilted
through the agency of a spring acting on a winding drum, and the modification
under which the vessel is tilted through the agency of a counterweight and lever,
substantially as described, both arrangements being self-contained and portable.
C a100%
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, W.C.,
Applicants' Agent.