Improvements in Machines for Fixing Hoopз on Oval Casks or the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 8th Feb.,
1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Fixing Hoopз on Oval Casks
or the like.
I JOHANN LEUGERING, Master Brewer, Lowen-brauerei, Dortmund, Empiro
of Germany, 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 :-
This invention relates to a machine for fixing or driving cask-hoops on.
oval casks.
On the accompanying drawings :
-
Figures 1 and 2 are horizontal sections of the machine ;
Figure 3 is a front elevation,
Figure 4 a vertical section and
Figure 5 a side elevation of the machine.
The most important parts of such an apparatus which are collectively mounted
in a rigid frame A, are the following: :—
First the lower part of the press, below the ground-level (Figures 3, 4 and 5)
consisting of a press-cylinder a with press-piston 6 lower platen c on which the
casks are placed with claw-stops or centreing devices d d₁ d, d, d, d, d, for the
purpose of firmly securing and properly centreing the casks upon the platen c;
then the central parts of the press, consisting of an upper platen f adjustable in
point of height, to suit the different heights of the casks, by means of a central
spindle e, and which carries a number of press-levers g, arranged radially, and
radially adjustable to suit the varying diameters of the hoops, in combination with
a lever-mechanism and arrangement ik whereby from the workman's position,
a common radial rocking or to-and-fro swinging motion can be imparted in common
to all the press-levers g; and, finally, the mechanism for working the whole,
consisting of a suitable power-driven pump-apparatus l, and, on the attendant's.
platform, suitable and conveniently arranged distribution-valve-mechanism for
controlling the operation of the press.
That part with which this Specification is principally concerned is more
especially the central part of the press, with the rocking press-levers g (Figures 1
and 2).
The upper platen which like the lower platen c is arranged to move up and
down in guides of the frame A, is provided with six or more radial grooves or
recesses n, in which duplicate slide-pieces o are arranged to slide radially to and
fro. The fulcra or pivots on which the pressure-levers 9 turn, are mounted in
these slide pieces through which pass the radial screwed spindles p the said spindles
carrying on their innermost ends, in the central hollow q of the press-plate, bevel-
pinions, all of which gearing simultaneously with a central bevel-driving-wheel
common to all of them. By means of another pair of bevel-wheels, arranged
above, the hand-wheel shaft r is capable of communicating radial reciprocating
movement to the slide pieces o' and through them to the pressure-levers g.
In addition to this symmetrical movement of the lever-fulcra or pivots, effected
by the simultaneous rotation of all the screwed spindles p, there is a rocking
movement imparted to the lever-claws s, for the purpose of giving to the latter the
position rendered necessary by the oval shape of the casks. These claw-ends in
the oblique position of the levers, are always under the influence of counterpoise-
weights t secured to the upper or beut euds of the levers g; and therefore, they

page_text: press, independently of each other, but with practically equal and invariable
strength laterally against the oval cask-hoops. For casks exactly round, it would
suffice, to rigidly connect the press-claws directly to the slide-pieces o because
they press upon exactly concentric circular points; for casks whereof the cross
section varies only slightly from a circle, i.e. imperfectly rounded casks, nothing
more would be needed than, at the most, spring-controlled jaws which would adjust
themselves to the inaccuracies of the cask. For oval casks, or those of elliptical
cross-section, wherein consequently, the large and small diameters of a cask-section
may differ considerably from one another, it is absolutely necessary-owing to the
characteristic property of springs in general viz. that of being able to exert a
constant pressure. within small limits, whereby they are disqualified and rendered
inapplicable in this case-to use, for the present purpose, a mechanism of a
different kind (such as, here, the levers g and counterpoise-weights t) whereby a
greater range of movement with constant lateral pressure is obtained for the
operative claws; this arrangement representing not only linearly but also
dynamically, a more than proportionate alteration, as compared with the result
attained by the employment of springs. This regular dynamic effect increases in
importance with the increase in the oval or elliptic form of the casks, and grows
in importance the more, for consideration, that (apart from casks with wooden
hoops such as cement and butter casks), in driving iron hoops on heavy casks,
especially, when it is a question of dealing with old casks, with hoops loosened by
wear and use, when, necessarily, higher pressure is essential, a position of the lower
lever-claws more and more turned inwards is required, the path to be described by
the claw-ends, until they reach the hoop becomes ever greater and greater.
In order, after the fixture of one hoop, to pass on to the next, it is necessary to
give the lower claws a backwards or return motion (away from the cask-hoop)
¿.e., to diminish the action of the counterpoise and relieve its pressure. This is
effected by drawing. up the crown ring (Figs. 3 and 4) which is connected to the
press levers g by links u the said ring being, connected by the before-mentioned
lever i with the treadle k.
In order to enable the casks to be speedily centred I secure on the lower
platen c, as by screws or otherwise, an adjustable claw appliance comprising hollow
guide blocks d¹ which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 extend into guide ways formed in
the frame A. In these blocks d¹ other blocks d7 are arranged to slide horizontally
forward and backward towards the centre of the machine. To the front or inner
ends of the blocks d 7 are pivotally-connected jaw-blocks d serving to seize the
casks; the pivotting of the jaw-blocks d serves to allow of their adjusting their
position to suit the varying oval cross section of different casks. The blocks d 7
and jaw blocks d are connected by links d8 and lever arms d 9 to the shafts d 4,
on which latter the arms d 9 are secured as are also other lever arms d3. The
two lever-arms d 3 are connected, as by links d2, to a hand lever d 5 by operating
which both of the jaw-blocks- are simultaneously moved towards or away from the
centre of the machine. The hand-lever d 5 is provided with a suitable locking
device by means of which it may be secured in any of its positions of adjust-
ment; when the hand lever d 5 is moved in one direction, say from the right to the
left of Fig. 3, the jaws are caused to grip the casks and when moved in the opposite
direction to release them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. A machine for hooping oval casks characterized by the claw-ends of rocking
levers such as 9 being arranged to act independently and to be adjustable within
wide limits and to be operated on by counterpoise weights so as to press with
a uniform pressure irrespective of the positions of the various levers upon the
hoops or the previously centred cask substantially as described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 2. In a cask-hooping machine such as described in Claim 1 the combination
with the lower press platen of an apparatus for rapidly centreing casks of different
sizes upon the said plate consisting of two freely-moving claws such as d guide-
ways tension and thrust rods d levers d³ pivots d for the levers d' hand-levers d'
and a toothed quadrant d' all substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
hooping machine substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Doted this 20th Ann of Amount 100K
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.