IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING BARRELS, BOTTLES, AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR WASHING BARRELS, BOTTLES, AND OTHER VESSELS." A com-
munication from abroad by Gustav Schock, of the City of New York, in the
County and State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 19th December 1876, and dated the 26th July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th July 1876.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING BARRELS, BOTTLES
AND OTHER VESSELS."
This Invention relates to a new barrel, bottle, or tumbler washer, in which the
washing pipe and the barrel or bottle supports are rigidly united and made vertically
movable so that when the barrel is put on the supports it will cause them to
decend and the pipe to be opened, all as herein-after more fully described.
The supply pipe for the water or other liquid which is used for washing the
barrels or other vessels is supported horizontally on a suitable framework, and
has a vertical branch at every place at which a barrel washer is to be applied.
Into every vertical branch of the supply pipe is fitted a vertically movable pipe,
which at its lower part carries an enlargement or valve which is by the pressure
of the water held against an annular valve seat, formed in the branch, or in a
tube that is or may be screwed into the same. A spring may be applied against
the lower part of the sliding pipe to ensure the closing of the valve. The sliding
pipe extends loosely through the branch and tube, and projects above the same, and
terminates at its upper end in a rose or sprinkler. Below this rose or sprinkler
are attached to, and rigidly connected with the sliding pipe, two or more projecting
arins which constitute the barrel support. The sliding pipe is closed at its
lower part, so that when the valve is closed no liquid can enter said pipe from the
supply pipe, but above the valve the pipe has an aperture or apertures, so that
when a barrel is placed upon the arms or brackets and the pipe thereby slid down,
and the valve opened, the liquid from the supply pipe will enter the sliding pipe
and thereby also the barrel, for the barrel is so placed upon the brackets that the
pipe will enter its bung hole, and wash it with the liquid that flows through such
pipe. The sliding pipe has also above the branch and tube before mentioned an

page_text: outer flange or shoulder, which at its under side carries a cushion of lead, rubber,
or other proper material, and which by the weight of the barrel is forced upon the
upper end of the tube to close the annular space between the sliding pipe and the
branch and tube and prevent water from escaping around the sliding pipe. Directly
below the sliding pipe I propose and prefer to form a chamber, and to provide the
same with a short pipe and cock to allow a small escape of water in winter, and
prevent freezing. The chamber also permits the application of a guide rod to
the lower end of the sliding pipe.
In applying the Invention to the washing of a bottle the arrangement of parts
is essentially the saine as before, the only real difference being in the form of
the supporting arms. For a tumbler washer the shape of the arms would also
bo correspondingly varied, as also the proportion and size of the parts of the
apparatus.
A steam pipe may also be connected with the apparatus to enter the lower part
of the chamber before mentioned as placed directly below the sliding pipe. In this
case the upper end of the chamber is closed by an upwardly closing tubular valve
which is directly beneath the hollow stem of the valve closing the end of the sliding
pipe. Whenever a barrel is placed upon the arms, the sliding pipe is first depressed
and the valve opened to admit water from the supply pipe into the sliding pipe,
but the continued downward motion of said pipe causes the hollow stem to depress
the tubular valve and thereby to open also the steam supply so as to admit a
combined spray of steam and water into the barrel or vessel to be cleaned.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
January 1877.
"
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING BARRELS, BOTTLES,
AND OTHER VESSELS." A communication from abroad by Gustav Schock, of the
City of New York, in the County and State of New York, United States of America.
This Invention relates to a new barrel bottle or tumbler washer in which the
washing pipe, and the barrel or bottle supports are rigidly united and made
vertically movable, so that when the barrel is put on the supports it will cause
them to descend, and the pipe to be opened, all as herein-after more fully described.
Figure 1 is a vertical central section of the improved barrel washer, showing its
valve closed; Figure 2 is a similar view of the same, showing its valve opened;
Figure 3 is a top view of the same; Figure 4 is a perspective view thereof;
Figure 5 is a vertical central section of a modification of the same; Figure 6 is a
vertical central section of another modification of the same. Similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
With particular reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, of the Drawing, the letter A
represents a horizontal supply pipe for the water or other liquid which is used for
washing the barrels or other vessels. This pipe is supported on a suitable frame-
work, and has a vertical branch a at every place at which a barrel washer is to be
applied. Into every vertical branch a of the pipe A is fitted a vertically movablo
pipe B, which at its lower part carries an enlargement or valve b, which is by the
pressure of the water held against an annular valve seat c. The seat c is formed
in the branch a or in a tube ₫ that is or may be screwed into the same as shown.
A spring e may be applied against the lower part of the pipe B to ensure the
closing of the valve b. The pipe B extends loosely through the branch a and
tube d, and projects above the same, and terminates at its upper end in a rose or
sprinkler l. Below this rose or sprinkler are attached to and rigidly connected
with the pipe 1, two or more projecting arins D, D, which constitute the barrel
support. The pipe B is closed at its lower part, so that when the valve b is closed

page_text: as in Figure 1, no.liquid can enter said pipe from the pipe A, but above the valve b
the pipe has an aperture or apertures, so that when a barrel is placed upon the
brackets D, D, and the pipe B thereby slid down and the valve openedas in Figure 2,
the liquid from the pipe A will enter the pipe B and thereby also the barrel, for the
barrel is so placed upon the bracket D, that the pipe B will enter its bung hole and
wash it with the liquid that flows through such pipe. The pipe B has above the
branch a and tube d an outer flange or shoulder f which at its under side carries
a cushion g of lead, rubber, or other proper material, and which by the weight of
the barrel is forced upon the upper end of the tube d, as in Figure 2, to close the
annular space between the pipe B and branch a and tube d, and prevent water
from escaping around the pipe B. Directly below the pipe B I propose and prefer
to form a chamber gx, and to provide the same with a short pipe / and cock i to
allow a small escape of water in winter and prevent freezing. The chamber g* also
permits the application of a guide rod j, to the lower end of the sliding pipe B
as shown.
Figure 5 of the Drawings shows the same Invention applied to the washing of
a bottle, the arrangement of parts being essentially the same as in Figure 1, with
the only real difference in the form of the supporting arms D. For a tumbler
washer the shape of the arms D would also be correspondingly varied as also the
proportion and size of the parts of the apparatus.
Figure 6 shows the Invention connected with a steam pipe m which enters the
lower part of the chamber g*. In this case the upper end of the chamber g* is
closed by an upwardly closing tubular valve n which is directly beneath the hollow
stem o of the valve b. Whenever a barrel is placed upon the arms D the pipe B
is first depressed and the valve b opened to admit water from the pipe A into the
pipe B, but the continued downward motion of the pipe B causes the tube o
to depress the tubular valve n, and thereby to open also the steam supply so as to
admit a combined spray of steam and water into the barrel or vessel to be cleaned.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is-
First. The barrel or bottle washer composed of the sliding perforated pipe B,
which carries the barrel supports D, D, substantially as specified.
Second. The combination in a barrel washer of the sliding perforated pipe B,
with the valve band with the valve seat c above said valve, substantially as
specified.
Third. The combination of the sliding perforated pipo E with the shoulder f
and with the embracing tube d or a, to constitute a valve when the pipe B is slid
down, substantially as specified.
Fourth. In combination with the sliding pipe B of a barrel washer the chamber g*
and pipe l, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. In combination with the tubular sliding valve stem o of a barrel or bottle
washer the steam valve n and steam pipe m, substantially as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.