Improvements in Apparatus for Stowing or Breaking-out Casks and such like in Cellars or Stores.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 25th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 13th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Stowing or Breaking-out Casks and
such like in Cellars or Stores.
I, JAMES MORTON, of 26 and 28 North Lindsay Street, Dundee, in the County of
Forfar, North Britain, Wine Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to stow or break out casks and such like, in an
improved manner, and by means of improved apparatus. My improved apparatus may
be used in cellars, bonded stores, distilleries, and such places where the casks are
usually stowed lying on their sides.
In carrying out my invention, according to one modification, I employ a low set
portable lifter or carriage, for raising and transporting the cask from place to place.
Said carriage consists of a crossbeam carried on four wheels, and used to support the
cask at one end-together with a plain crossbeam without wheels for the other end of
the cask, and two side levers, whose fulcrums are supported by wheels between the
power and the weight.
When it is desired to transport the cask from one position to another, the manner
of operation is as follows:-
The crossbeam carried by the wheels is placed underneath one end of the cask,—the
cask being on its side-and then the plain crossbeam is placed in position at the
other end of the cask. The levers are then set so that one end of each is underneath
each extremity of the plain crossbeam, and then by pressing down these levers, the
plain crossbeam and the cask is lifted. When the cask is lifted high enough, the ends
of the levers engage in catches on the crossbeam carried by the wheels, and in this
manner the various parts are combined to form a carriage having six wheels, capable
of transporting the cask from place to place.
In stores where there may be a soft floor, I may employ portable rails to facilitate
the transposition of the casks.
In cases where it is necessary to lift one cask upon two others, I employ a portable
elevator, together with a carriage mounted upon three wheels, and a set of adjustable
high level rails. In this elevator I employ a cradle on which are three rails, two of
which are for the double wheels, and the central one for the single wheel, of the three
wheeled carriage. Said cradle is lifted by means of four chains attached to its four
corners, the whole being actuated by a handle turning a worm wheel, worm, and chain
barrel. To get the cask upon the three wheeled carriage and upon the cradle, I first
raise the cask upon the first mentioned low set portable lifter, and take it to the port-
able elevator placing it so that the axis of the cask is parallel with the rails upon the
cradle and in the same vertical plane as the central rail. I then place the three wheeled
carriage underneath the cask and transport it on to the cradle. When this is done
the elevator may be made to carry the cask to the desired spot, and it may be raised
to any desired height by means of the chains, and other apparatus in connection there-
with. When I desire to place the cask above and between two others-as is usually
the case-I place the single rail of the adjustable high level rails between these two
and nearly level with their tops; and roll the three wheeled carriage along said rails,
until the cask is into position, after which the carriage and rails are withdrawn the
cask being allowed to rest upon wedges on the other two casks. The single rail is
supported at the one end by means of a hinged upright, and at the other by a cross
bar resting upon the two under casks. Said cross bar carries continuation of the
two rails which support the two wheels, of the three wheeled carriage.
In some cases it is necessary to break out a cask from underneath others. When
I wish to do so I employ a wedge, consisting of a combined right and left handed

page_text: screw, each of the nuts upon it being fitted with four friction rollers. The screw, with
its appurtenances is placed between the two upper casks, the axis of the screw being
vertical; the nuts are then made to approach one another and thus force the casks
apart, and in so doing take their weight off the under cask, and transfer it to the
others on each side of the cask which has to be removed. The cask is then raised on
to the low set portable lifter, and withdrawn.
According to another modification 1 may employ a four wheeled, instead of the
before mentioned three wheeled carriage, and use suitable high level rails for same.
Dated this 22nd day of January 1890.
GEO. C. DOUGLAS & Co.,
Applicant's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Stowing or Breaking-out Casks and
such like in Cellars or Stores.
I, JAMES MORTON, of 26 and 28 North Lindsay Street, Dundee, in the County of
Forfar, North Britain, Wine Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
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 my invention is to stow or break out casks and such like, in an
improved manner, and by means of improved apparatus.
My improved apparatus may be used in cellars, bonded stores, distilleries, and such
places where the casks are usually stowed lying on their sides.
The accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings illustrate the method of carrying
out my invention.
Figure 1. (Sheet No. 1) represents a view of the low set portable lifter or carriage,
and Figures 2. and 3. (Sheet No. 2.) views of the portable elevator; Figure 2.
showing the elevator as it appears when ready to remove a cask, and Figure 3. as it
appears after having placed the cask into position.
Figure 4. (Sheet No. 3.) represents a view of the wedge; showing how it is used
when employed to break out a cask from underneath others, and Figures 5. 6. and 6ª.
(Sheet No. 4.) a side elevation, a plan, and an end view respectively, of the elevator
and rails as designed for use with a four wheeled carriage.
Figure 7. represents a side elevation of the stool, and Figure 8. shows how the casks
are stowed by means of the four wheeled carriage and elevator.
Figures 9. and 10. represent a plan and a side elevation of the central rail used with
the three wheeled carriage, and elevator.
In these drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
In carrying out my invention, I employ a low set portable lifter or carriage 11.
(Figure 1.) for raising and transporting the cask 12. from place to place. Said
carriage consists of a crossbeam 13. carried on four wheels 14.-and is used to support
the cask at one end-together with a plain crossbeam 15. without wheels for the
other end of the cask, and two side lovers 16, whose fulcrums are supported by
wheels 17. between the power and the weight.
When it is desired to transport the cask from one position to another, the manner
of operation is as follows:-
The cross beam 13. carried by the wheels 14. is placed underneath one end of the
cask, the cask being on its side-and then the plain crossbeam 15. is placed in
position at the other end of the cask. The levers 16. are then set so that one end of
each is underneath each extremity of the crossbeam, and then by pressing down these
levers, the plain crossbeam 15. and the cask is lifted. When the cask is lifted high
enough, the ends 18. of the levers engage in catches 19. on the crossbeam carried by
the wheels 14. and in this manner the various parts are combined to form a carriage
having six wheels capable of transporting the cask from place to place. 20. are chains
to regulate the distance between the two crossbeams.

page_text: In stores where there may be a soft floor, I may employ portable rails to facilitate
the transposition of the casks.
In cases where it is necessary to lift one cask upon two others, I employ a portable
elevator, together with a carriage mounted upon three wheels, (Figures 2. and 3.) and
an adjustable high level rail (Figures 9. and 10.). In this elevator 1 employ a
cradle 21. on which are three rails 22. two of which are for the double wheels 23. and
the central one for the single wheel 24. of the three wheeled carriage. Said cradle is
lifted by means of four chains 25. attached to its four corners, the whole being actuated
by a handle 26. turning a worm wheel 27, worm 28. and chain barrel 29. To get the
cask upon the three wheeled carriage and upon the cradle 21., I first raise the cask
upon the first mentioned low set portable lifter 11., and take it to the portable elevator
placing it so that the axis of the cask is parallel with the rails 22. upon the cradle as
shewn in Figure 2. and roll it on to the three wheeled carriage, by means of the two
rails 30. which are then removed. When this is done the elevator may be made to
carry the cask to the desired spot, and it may be raised to any desired height by means
of the chains 25., and other apparatus in connection therewith. When I desire to
place the cask above and between two others, as shewn in Figures 2. and 3. at 31., I
place the single rail Figures 9. and 10. (Sheet No. 4) which is a continuation of the
central rail 22. between these two, and nearly level with their tops; and roll the three
wheeled carriage along said rails, until the cask 32. is into position, after which the
carriage and the rail is withdrawn, the cask being allowed to rest upon wedges 33. on
the other two casks. The single rail is supported at 34. by the central rail on the
cradle the other end resting upon the two casks 31. by means of the bars 35. To
facilitate the withdrawal of the single rail the bars 35. are hinged at 36. and are made
to turn until they are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rail by means of the
double rack 37. and pinions 38. 39. is the handle of the rack rod which operates
the bars.
In some cases it is necessary to break out a cask from underneath others, when I
wish to do so I employ a wedge 40., Figure 4. (Sheet No. 3.) consisting of a combined
right and left handed screw 41. each of the nuts 42. upon it being fitted with four
friction rollers 43. The screw, with its appurtenances is placed between the two upper
casks 44., the axis of the screw being vertical; the nuts 42. are then made to approach
one another and thus force the casks apart, and in so doing take their weight off the
under cask which was at 45.--the drawing showing the cask removed-and transfer
it to the others 46. on each side of the before mentioned cask which has to be removed.
The cask at 45. is then raised on to the low set portable lifter, and withdrawn.
According to another modification as illustrated by Figures 5. 6. 7. and 8., I may
employ a four wheeled, instead of the before mentioned three wheeled carriage, and
use suitable high level rails 48. for same. This modification is employed when the
casks are to be placed as shewn in Figure S. The upright rails of the portable elevator
are shown at 46., and 47. is the cradle with the rails laid along it. 48. are the con-
tinuation rails, supported at the one end by the cradle and at the other end by the
lower set of casks. 49. is the stool for supporting the cask when the four wheeled
carriage 50. is being placed underneath it. 57. is the removeable cross bar and 52.
the fixed cross bar which takes the weight of the cask when the levers 53. are in the
position shown. 54. is a catch hinged at 55. for holding down the cross bar 56. of
the levers. The above mentioned four wheeled carriage is manipulated in a somewhat
similar fashion to the portable lifter 11. previously described. To get the cask upon
the stool 49. two rails 57. are placed in a somewhat similar position to those shewn in
Figure 2. and by using them, the cask is rolled on to it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
1 claim is :-
(1) In apparatus for stowing or breaking out casks and such like the use of the
low set portable lifter or carriage with reference to Figure 1. substantially as
described.

page_text: (2) In apparatus for stowing or breaking out casks and such like the use of the
portable elevator with its appurtenances, with reference to Figures 2. 3. 9. and 10.
substantially as described.
(3) In apparatus for stowing or breaking out casks and such like, the use of the
screw wedge, with reference to Figure 4. substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
(4) In apparatus for stowing or breaking out casks and such like, the use of the
four wheeled carriage and its appurtenances, with reference to Figures 5. 6. and 7.
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
(5) In apparatus for stowing or breaking out casks and such like, the general
construction, combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as and for the
purposes herein set forth, together with any mere modification or modifications thereof.
Dated this 8th day of October 1890.
GEO. C. DOUGLAS & Co.,
Applicant's Agents.