IMPROVEMENTS IN CASKS, PACKING CASES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN THE MODES OF AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING THEIR HEADS OR LIDS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Maher, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CASKS, PACKING CASES, AND OTHER
SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN THE MODES OF AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING
THEIR HEADS OR LIDS."
Sealed the 12th March 1878, and dated the 15th September 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Maher at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th September 1877.
CHARLES MAHER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CASKS, PACKING CASES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN THE MODES OF AND
APPARATUS FOR SECURING THEIR HEADS OR LIDS."
In barrels as ordinarily constructed the head is nailed on; this has several
disadvantages,―
1st. The lining hoop and the chimes of the cask are soon worn out, frequently
only lasting for a single journey.
2nd. The barrels can be opened and their contents partially abstracted without
any visible exterior evidence that such act has been committed.
My Invention is designed to obviate this. It consists in a lining hoop and head
exactly as at present, only instead of nailing, a metallic bar is placed over the head
fitting in holes in two stout staves opposite each other in the cask. These staves
can be strengthened with iron plates if necessary. One of the holes goes right
through the stave. The bar is preferably cruciform in shape, and must have
projections on its sides to protect the cants or sides of the lid. In its centre is &
longitudinal slot, through which projects a pin or bolt projecting through the centre
of the cask head with its own head inside the cask. This bolt is usually screwed,
and a nut applied having a male thread turned on a portion of its outer surface.
Beneath the nut is a washer with projections fitting into the slot. The nut being
screwed down, a string passed through a cottar hole in the inner bolt is tied above
and sealed; the nut cannot now be unscrewed without cutting the string and
breaking the seal. To guard the seal a cap is screwed over all.

page_text: It will be seen at once that other forms of mechanism could take the place of the
screws, a cottar bolt could be used instead of the screw bolt, and a cottar run
through and secured with a padlock.
It will be also seen that this Invention applies equally well to packing cases,
which are open to the same objections, two lugs on the sides of the case taking the
place of the stout staves.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Maher in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th March
1878.
CHARLES MAHER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CASKS, PACKING CASES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN THE MODES OF AND
APPARATUS FOR SECURING THEIR HEADS OR LIDS."
In barrels as ordinarily constructed the head is nailed on; this has several
disadvantages,
1st. The lining hoop and the chimes of the cask are soon worn out, frequently
only lasting for a single journey.
2nd. The barrels can be opened and their contents partially abstracted without
any visible exterior evidence that such act has been committed.
My Invention is designed to obviate this, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 of the Drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan of cask head
secured in position; Fig. 2, vertical section through centre of same; Fig. 3,
bottom plan of securing washer; Fig. 4, enlarged vertical section of the securing
apparatus.
A is the cask; B, the head thereof, which can be cut out in one piece, or be made
in segments attached together by cross pieces, as shown in Fig. 2; C, C, are
brackets bolted or screwed to head radially. Through these brackets the flat metal
bars D can slide longitudinally. Four bars are preferably used. Opposite the
brackets in which the bars slide I form sockets in the chimes of the cask in which
the said bars can be inserted. I prefer to mortise the sockets into the wood, as
shown at E, Figure 2. I arrange an annular ring or seating at F, on which the
head of the cask can rest; or it can be supported at several points in the circum-
ference instead of the ring. To secure the head it is placed on the seating or ring.
The four bars are then pushed forward into the corresponding sockets. The metal
disc G, shown in bottom view in Figure 3, and having recesses or holes corresponding
to receive the ends of the bars D, is then dropped over the central bolt H secured
to the cask head and fitted over the ends of the bars, which are consequently
prevented from moving by one of the ends abutting against the end of the socket
in the chimes, the other against the end of the recess in the washer or disc. The
bolt H is threaded above the disc, and a nut I is then screwed down tightly, thus
clamping the washer or disc G against the bars D and cask head. A string N is
then passed through a hole in the bolt H above the nut I, and the ends are sealed.
A cap J fits over all and screws on to the threaded part of nut I. It will thus be
seen that the nut I cannot be unscrewed without breaking the seal, and therefore
any attempt to abstract the contents of the cask is made manifest. Of course the
mode of taking off the head is by simply breaking the seal, removing the nut I and

page_text: disc G, when the bars can be pushed back out of the sockets in the chimes and the
lid is loose. Thus the same lid can be used till the cask itself is worn out.
Figs. 5 and 6 respectively, a plan and vertical section, shew another variation
on the same principle. In this the cap J is dispensed with and also the double
screwing of nut I. B is the cask head; D, the bars, which do not, however, reach
to the ends of the recesses in washer or disc G. Pins or rivets M being placed
through holes in them fitting into the head after the bars are pushed forward into
the sockets in the cask, a hole or recess to receive the ends of the string or wire N
(which passes from the head B up through the space in the recess in the disc G) and
seal O. A thin washer J is placed to cover this seal, and then an ordinary nut I is
screwed over the end of the bolt, holding all fast. To open the cask the nut I and
washer J are unscrewed, the seal broken, and then the disc G is lifted off and the
bars D pushed back precisely as in last case.
Fig. 7 shews another variation, in which a hole is made through the washer R
to fit over a hook P projecting from the cask head. A corresponding hole is made
on the other side of the disc G to pass over a staple Q projecting up from the cask
head. A flat washer R is placed over the staple and hook, the disc being recessed
for its reception. The hook thus projects over the edge of the washer, a string N is
then passed through the staple Q and sealed at S. A nut I having its lower face
undercut, so as not to crush the seal, being screwed over the bolt, holding all fast.
It will thus be seen that the washer G cannot be prized up at either end without
being broken.
The Invention could be applied with a little variation to packing cases and
boxes by merely placing lugs for sockets E on the sides of the box and fixed as
with casks.
Having now described my Invention, and the best modes known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not claim as new the
principle of securing cask heads and the lids of cases by means of bolts, and sealing
them with a seal or seals, so that any attempt to abstract the contents shall be
made visible; but what I do desire to claim as my Invention under the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The mode of fastening on the lids or heads of casks, cases, and the like, by
means of moveable pieces holding in hooks, sockets, or other holdings in or on the
sides, and securely held to the cask head or lid, so as to prevent them slipping out
of their holdings by locked or sealed apparatus.
2. The apparatus for fastening or holding on cask heads, lids of cases, or the like,
consisting of pieces D holding into sockets E, and held down by washer G, nut I,
and sealed string N, or their mechanical equivalents.
3. In apparatus for fastening or holding on cask heads by fastening them with
one central fastening sealed, and the seal covered from accidental injury, substantially
as described.
4. The general arrangement and special forms of apparatus, substantially as and
for the purposes described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Maher, have hereunto set my hand and
L
J&L
of Manch in the vour of our Lord 1978
Witness,
JOHN HAYES,
Apprentice to W. P. Thompson, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
6, Lord Street,
Liverpool.
CHARLES MAHER, (L.S.)