IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING AND CLEANSING CASKS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas King, of Brick Lane, Spitalfields, London,
in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
Sealed the 6th August 1867, and dated the 23rd February 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas King at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd
February 1867.
I, THOMAS KING, of Brick Lane, Spitalfields, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING AND CLEANSING CASKS," to be as
follows:-
My improvements consist in the continuous washing of casks by passing
them through a machine in motion. The casks are caused to roll through
gradually and receive a longitudinal motion in combination with the rolling
whilst passing through. The machine does not require to be stopped for
fixing or taking the casks out, thus saving a considerable amount of time and
labor. The machine is formed of two longitudinal frames open at both ends,
and placed one within the other, the outer one being stationary whilst the
inner one revolves within it. The inner frame is formed of two toothed or
spur rims placed at any suitable distance apart; on each of the toothed or
spur rims is fixed a plain circular rail; they are connected longitudinally by
rails of wood or iron fixed to suitable snugs; two of these rails support the

page_text: casks, the others keeping them in position. The aforesaid circular rails rest
upon antifriction pulleys on the bottom of the outer frame; other pulleys are
placed at the sides and top for the same purpose; the circular rails thus
supported and guided by the pulleys are free to revolve as on centres. The
toothed or spur rims are geared to pinions fixed upon a driving shaft, to which
motion is given by a handle or otherwise. The casks are moved through the
machine by endless chains passing over suitable pulleys attached to the inner
frame, these chains being connected transversely by rods to which antifriction
pulleys or hooks are fixed which press against the casks and push them
onward, motion being given to the chain pulleys by spur gear or other suitable
arrangements. When the casks are ready for washing they are placed upon a
line of rails leading to the machine, the rails having sufficient fall to allow the
casks to roll forward into the arms of what I call the porter, which is formed
of two sets of arms in three divisions fixed upon a shaft and connected at the
extremities by transverse rods on which loose pulleys are placed, motion is
communicated to the porter by the inner frame whilst revolving, striking
against tappet arms fixed upon a shaft geared to the porter shaft, each one-
third of a revolution of the porter placing one cask in the machine and taking
one off the line of rails. The machine is fixed so as to present an ascending
plane from the porter, up which plane the casks are rolled by the action of
the pitch chains whilst they revolve longitudinally by the turning of the
machine, and are discharged at the upper end.
Although I have described the casks. as entering the machine at the lower
end they may be admitted at the upper instead of the lower end; they would
then roll through by their own gravity, the porter arrangement regulating the
exit of the casks from the machine instead of their entrance.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas King in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st August 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
KING, of Brick Lane, Spitalfields, London, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the twenty-ninth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and. grant unto.

page_text: me, the said Thomas King, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas
King, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1,
the said Thomas King, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING AND CLEANSING CASкS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Thomas King, my executors or adminis-.
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas King, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, viz. :-
My improvements consist in the continuous washing of casks by passing
them through a machine in motion. The casks are caused to roll through
gradually and receive longitudinal motion in combination with the rolling
whilst passing through. The machine does not require to be stopped for
fixing or taking the casks out, thus saving a considerable amount of time
and labor. The machine is formed of two longitudinal frames open at
both ends and placed one within the other, the outer one being stationary
whilst the inner one revolves within it. The inner frame is formed of
two toothed or spur rims placed at any suitable distance apart; on each
of the toothed or spur rims is fixed a plain circular rail; they are connected
longitudinally by rails of wood or iron fixed to suitable snugs; two of these
rails support the casks, the others keeping them in position. The aforesaid
circular rails rest upon antifriction pulleys on the bottom of the outer frame;
other pulleys are placed at the sides and top for the same purpose; the
circular rails thus supported and guided by the pulleys are free to revolve
as on centres. The toothed or spur rims are geared to pinions fixed upon
a driving shaft to which motion is given by a handle or otherwise. The.
casks are moved through the machine by endless chains passing over suitable
pulleys attached to the inner frame, these chains being connected trans-
versely by rods to which antifriction pulleys or hooks are fixed which press

page_text: against the casks and push them onward, motion being given to the chain
pulleys by spur gear or other suitable arrangements. When the casks
are ready for washing they are placed upon a line of rails leading to the
machine, the rails having sufficient fall to allow the casks to roll forward
into the arms of what I call the porter, which is formed of two sets of arms 5
in three divisions fixed upon a shaft and connected at the extremities by
transverse rods on which loose pulleys are placed. Motion is communicated
to the porter by the inner frame whilst revolving striking against tappet
arms fixed upon a shaft geared to the porter shaft, each one-third of a
revolution of the porter placing one cask in the machine and taking one off 1
the line of rails. The machine is fixed so as to present an ascending plane
from the porter, up which plane the casks are rolled by the action of the pitch
chains whilst they revolve longitudinally by the turning of the machine and are
discharged at the upper end.
Although I bave described the casks as entering the machine at the lower
end they may be admitted at the upper instead of the lower end; they
would then roll through by their own gravity, the porter arrangement regulating
the exit of the casks from the machine instead of their entrance.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood and
readily carried into effect I shall now proceed to describe the several
illustrative Figures upon the accompanying explanatory Sheets of Drawings
which are hereunto attached for the purpose of shewing certain modifications
and arrangements under which my improvements may be judiciously carried
out into practice.
The Figures on Sheet A of the Drawings shew one modification of my
improvements for washing casks. Figure 1 is a side elevation; Figure 2, a
plan, and Figure 3 an end elevation, whilst Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, & 11
are details. The same letters refer to similar parts in each Figure.
A is the outer or fixed frame; B, the inner or revolving frame; c, c, spur
rims attached to plain rims d, d; e, e, e, e, rails for connecting the rims
together and guiding the casks f. f, f, f; 9, 9, 9, 9, antifriction pulleys, within
which the inner frame revolves as on centres; h, h, endless chains passing
over the pulleys i, i, and connected transversely by the rods j, j, on which
antifriction rollers k, k, are placed which press against the casks; 1, 1, gearing
for giving motion to chain pulleys; m, driving shaft; n, n, pinions through
which motion is given to inner frame; the casks are placed on the incline
plan o ready for entering machine; p, the porter connected by the gearing 9, 9,
to the shaft r, on which the tappet arms s are fixed; t, the wiper for giving
motion to the porter through the tappet arms. The casks enter the machine

page_text: from the incline plane o, and pass out at the opposite end; they are moved
through by the motion of the endless chains, each one-third of a revolution of
the porter pushing one cask into the machine, whilst at the same time one is
allowed to pass out at the opposite end.
The Figures on Sheet B of the Drawings shew another modification of my
Invention. Figure 1 is a side elevation; Figure 2.an end elevation. A is
the outer or fixed frame; B, the inner or revolving frame; c, c, spur rims
attached to plain rims d, d; e, e, e, e, rails for connecting the rims and guiding
casks ffff; 9, 9, 9, 9, antifriction pulleys within which the inner frame
revolves; h, h, endless chains passing over the pulleys i, i, and connected.
transversely by the rods j, j, on which antifriction rollers k, k, are placed
which press against the casks and push them forward as the chains move;
m, driving shaft; n, n, pinions through which motion is given to inner frame;
0, 0, levers for pushing casks into the machine, each revolution of which
pushes one cask into machine whilst one is discharged at the opposite end,
motion being given to the levers o, o, through the pinion p, and worm and
wheel q, q; r, tappet arms for moving pitch chain pulleys, motion being
given to the tappet arms by the levers s, s¹; t, well from which casks are
lifted into machine; u, retainer for casks; w, receiver for casks from machine.
The Figures on Sheet C of the Drawings shew another modification of my
Invention. Figure 1'is a side elevation; Figure 2, an end elevation; Figure 3,
a plan. A is the outer or fixed frame; B, the inner or moveable frame; c, c,
spur rims attached to plain rims d, d; e, e, e, e, rails for connecting the
rims and guiding the casks f, f,f,f; h, h, h, antifriction pulleys within which
the inner frame revolves as on centres; g, driving shaft; i, i, pinions for
giving motion to inner frame; j, j, levers for raising casks into machine,
through which they roll by their own gravity, their exit being regulated by
the porter k, to which motion is given by the spur gear 1, 1, and tappet
arms m.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into operation, I may observe in conclusion that I do not restrict or confine
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviation from the main features or the principles of my Invention; but what
I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly, the general arrangement and construction of mechanism for the
continuous washing of casks by passing them through a machine formed

page_text: with circular rims or rails bearing on antifriction pulleys, leaving the ends of
the rims open whilst revolving, so that the casks roll through gradually and
receive a longitudinal motion in combination with a rolling motion whilst
passing through, as berein described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3,
Sheet A, of the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly, the novel arrangement of mechanism for introducing and dis-
charging the casks, as herein described and set forth in Figures 1, 2, and 3,
Sheet A, of the Drawings attached,
Thirdly, the general arrangement and construction of mechanism for the
continuous washing of casks by passing them through a machine in motion
having the ends open and bearing on antifriction pulleys, as herein-before
described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, Sheet B, of the Drawings here-
unto appended.
Fourthly, the novel arrangement and construction of mechanism for
introducing and discharging the casks, as herein described and illustrated in
Figures 1 and 2, Sheet B, of the Drawings.
Fifthly, the arrangement and construction of mechanism for the continuous
washing of casks, as illustrated and herein described," Figures 1, 2, and 3,
Sheet C, of the Drawings attached.
Sixthly, the mode of introducing and discharging the casks by the
mechanism herein described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3, Sheet C,
of the Drawings appended.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas King, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
THOMAS KING. (L.S.)