THE APPLICATION OF CERTAIN MATERIALS TO THE GLEANING OF CASKS OF CERTAIN MATERIALS TO THE CLEANING OF CASKS '
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Chappell Potts, of New Oxford Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Cooper, for the Invention of "THE APPLICATION
OF CERTAIN MATERIALS TO THE GLEANING OF CASKS
OF CERTAIN MATERIALS TO THE CLEANING OF CASKS '
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Chappell Potts at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd October 1856.
I, GEORGE CHAPPELL POTTS, of New Oxford Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Cooper, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"THE APPLICATION OF CERTAIN MATERIALS TO THE CLEANING OF CASES," to be as
follows:-
My Invention relates to the application of gravel, broken stones, and sand,
or other mineral grit, for the purposes of cask cleaning.
For this purpose I take a quantity of coarse gravel or small broken stones
and place it within the cask to be cleaned, together with some silver sand, or
other similar grit, introducing also a greater or less quantity of water or other
liquid adapted for the purpose. The bung-hole is then closed and the cask
turned over and over in any suitable manner to agitate the materials contained.
The heavier pieces when the cask is inverted sink rapidly in the liquid, and,
in addition to their own rubbing or abraiding action, they cause the sand or
smaller particles of grit to act quickly and effectually on the interior of the
cask, whereby the cask will be thoroughly cleaned. The materials are then
removed and the cask raised and freed of the sandy particles.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Chappell Potts in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 21st April 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
CHAPPELL POTTS, of New Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex, Cooper,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
the said
me, the said George Chappell Potts, Her special licence that
George Chappell Potts, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said George Chappell Potts, 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 "THE APPLICATION OF CERTAIN MATERIALS TO THE CLEANING OF CASKS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Chappell Potts, my
executors or administrators, 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 George Chappell Potts, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say :-
My invention relates to the application of gravel, broken stones, and sand,
or other mineral grit, for the purposes of cask cleaning.
For this purpose I take, a quantity of coarse gravel or small broken stones
and place it within the cask to be cleaned, together with some silver sand,
or other similar grit, introducing also a greater or less quantity of water.
The bung-hole is then closed and the cask turned over and over in any
suitable manner to agitate the materials contained. When the cask is
inverted the heaviest pieces sink rapidly in the liquor, and, in addition to their
own rubbing or abraiding action, they cause the sand or smaller particles of

page_text: grit to act quickly and effectively on the interior of the cask, whereby the
cask will be thoroughly cleaned. The materials are then removed and the
cask rinsed and freed of the sandy particles. I find that river ballast, which
a kind of broken shingle, answers the purpose very well if mixed with some
broken granite and sand; it is of a suitable size for the purpose, and is easily
washed after being used. By this means of cleaning casks it is not necessary
to unhead them, as all the materials may be introduced and removed at
the bung-hole, and the cask properly cleansed and purified. In agitating
the cleansing materials in the cask, it is sufficient to roll it and turn it
end over end, or otherwise to agitate the contents by hand; but when large
numbers of casks are to be cleaned, I prefer to fix them in a suitable
frame, mounted on gudgeons as an axis, on which to rotate or turn the cask
end over end, motion being given to the axis by any suitable power, or by
hand, by means of a winch handle fixed to the axis. The weight of the cask
being balanced on the axis, the power required to turn the frame will depend
principally on the weight of cleansing material introduced. Ready means
should be provided for fixing the cask in and removing it from the rotating
frame to facilitate the operation. After the ballast or shingle has been used
for cleaning the casks it should be well washed, and if necessary fresh sand
mixed with it for further operation.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be
secured by the Letters Patent is, "the use and application of gravel, shingle,
broken stones, sand, and other mineral grit, for and to the cleaning of casks.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Chappell Potts, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
GEORGE CHAPPELL POTTS. (L.S.)
Witness,
W. CLARK, Patent Agent,
53, Chancery Lane, London.