IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CASKS OR BARRELS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
I, ALEXANDER DUNBAR of the City of Guelph Province of Ontario Dominion of
Canada but at present at the Bee Hotel St John's Lane Liverpool in the County
of Lancaster, Barrister-at-Law, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CASKS
OR BARRELS," to be as follows:-
In the manufacture of casks and barrels according to this invention staves,
previously jointed are heated and fed on to a slowly revolving elastic collapsible
barrel form or drum and are then made to assume the shape of a bulge barrel by
two trussing heads which are drawn, by means of screws, over the staves at each
end, forcing their ends into intimate contact. Trussing hoops are laid in grooves.
in the trussing heads, and serve to keep the staves in position after the heads are
withdrawn. Circular cutters on revolving shafts cut the barrel to 'length, and
groove, chime, croize and trowel it after which the heads are drawn back, the
collapsible form is collapsed, and the barrel withdrawn ready for another to be
commenced.
The two trussing heads are arranged with their wide ends towards each other on
a base plate on which is cut a suitable dovetail or groove parallel with the col-
lapsible barrel shaft. In this dovetail or groove one trussing head is arranged to
slide. At the other ond, being the end at which the barrel is taken off the machine
a separate fixing is provided to which the second trussing head is pivoted in such
a way that it may be swung back so that the barrel rim when finished may.
y.bo
drawn off.
The insides of the trussing heads are made conical or of the same contour as the
barrel rim when trussed. Suitable grooves or recesses are formed on the insides
for the reception of solid trussing hoops and are so formed that the truss hoops
may be pushed in from the front of the trussing heads and will remain on the
barrel rim when the heads are removed.
The first trussing head bas diametrically opposite pockets into which screw nuts
are inserted into which suitable screw threaded shafts take. These screw shafts
work in other nuts secured as above described in the fixing to which the second
trussing head-is pivoted as above described. The screws are made with right and

page_text: left hand threads so that when revolved in one direction the trussing heads are
made to approach each other, when revolved in the opposite direction the trussing
heads will recede from each other.
he
On the trussing heads, brackets are provided, and pivotted to these there are
suitable fixings in which the circular cutter spindles revolve; these fixings are
capable of adjustment. The fixings in which the circular cutting spindles revolve
are so constructed that the cutters may be made to clear the ends of the staves
during the operation of trussing by means of levers and links or other suitable
mechanism which will act upon either or both sets of cutters at one time. When
they are connected together to move simultaneously the circular cutter fixing on
the 2nd trussing head may be made to be readily disconnected when the head is to
swung back for the purpose of removing the barrel rim. The stove or furnace
for heating tho staves is provided with flues and midfeathers so as to distribute the
heat properly over its upper surface which surface is either level or slightly inclined.
Upon the top of the stove or furnace is placed a trough or frame to hold staves
sufficient to make one barrel and it is so arranged that it can be conveniently
placed nearer to or further from the upper surface of the stove and that it can be
brought forward and the remote end
convenient. Suitable guide bars aro plac
to keep the staves from overlapping as
hereinafter described.
ated to any degree that may be found
above the staves on the trough or frame
ey slide down into the trussing heads as
The elastic collapsible form is com] :d of a narrow ring somewhat less in
diameter than the inside of the bulge of tuc barrel. It is divided into four or more
segments. To theso segments are attached links or other contrivances by which
they may be drawn together or expanded in the usual way. On the outside of
these segments light steel plates or staves tapering each way from the centre aro
fixed parallel to the axis. They aro somewhat less in length than the barrel rim
and are elastic and so as not to exercise inore pressure on the inside of the barrel
during the operation of trussing than is sufficient to keep the wooden staves in
their proper places. These plates or staves are straight or nearly so from end to
end except a depression in the middle where they are bent down sufficient to allow
for the diminution of the diameter of the barrel when trussed over the ring above
mentioned. This form may be collapsed by the use of a hand lever in the ordinary
way or it may be attached to the first trussing head in such a way that the motion
given to the trussing head will simultaneously expand or collapse the form.
The screw shafts may be driven by toothed gearing with crossed and open belts
and the circular cutters by straps from long pulleys on a countershaft.
The shaft to which the collapsible form is attached may be driven by means of
toothed or frictional gearing.
In the front edges of the trussing heads at the point at which the near end of
the trough or frame rests when in position to deliver the staves into the machine,
slots are cut in extent sufficient to admit enough of the ends of the staves to hold
them securely in their place as they are carried. round by the revolving form, and
of sufficient width to admit the thickness of the staves and about these slots are
provided suitable guides to direct the staves into them.
At each side of the front end of the trough or frame is attached a small pin in
such a way that when the trough or franie is in position to deliver the staves these
pins project downwards close to the edge of tho trussing heads near the slots and
sufficiently far to catch the first stavo when it comes round and to hold it till the
last stave goes to its place. In this way if the staves have separated or if one end
has got ahead of tho other in going round the form they are by the motion of the
form inside of them brought into proper position.
The action of the machine is this—The proper quantity of staves are placed
together on the frame or trough over the upper surface of the stove or heating
furnace. Thero they are allowed to remain till they are heated or fired to the
proper degree,

page_text: It may be desirable in using heavy staves to keep the upper surface moist by
covering with a wet cloth or canvas or other convenient means so as to allow the
fibres of the outer surface to expand whilst the fibres on the inner surface are con-
tracted by the action of the heat so that the staves may take the curvo of the
barrel more readily and be more easily trussed.
The trough or frame containing the heated staves is then brought to the proper
position to allow the staves to slide down through the slots on to revolving form
by which they are carried round with their ends inside the wide end of the trussing
beads. The screw shafts are set in motion and the trussing heads drawn towards
cach other until the barrel is completely trussed. The motion of the screw shafts
is then reversed, the trussing heads recede from each other a little leaving the
trussing hoops fast upon the barrel but free to revolve inside the trussing heads.
By this reverse motion the circular cutters are brought to the required distanco
apart and are then set in motion. The form is then slowly rotated and with ono
revolution the ends of the barrels are lovelled, trowelled croized and chamfered and
the rim is ready to be withdrawn.
It is evident that I may modify the arrangement for trussing to suit different
kinds of staves without departure from the principle of my invention.
For
instance, I may substitute hydraulic pressure for the scrows and for light staves
I may use cranks and levers. I may also if required attach suitable springs to the
screw shafts to allow the trussing heads to give a little should one end of the
barrel be slightly smaller than the other. The trussing heads may be mado to
contain each one two or more truss-hoops according to the class of work to be done
or they may be made to place upon the barrel some or all of the permanent hoops
dispensing with truss-hoops either partially or entirely.

page_text: I ALEXANDER DUNBAR of the City of Guelph Province of Ontario Dominion of
Canada but at present at the Bee Hotel St John's Lane, Liverpool in the County
of Lancaster Barrister at Law, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CASKS
OR BARRELS " to be as follows:-
In the manufacture of casks or barrels according to this invention staves
previously jointed are heated and fed on to a slowly revolving clastic collapsible
barrel form or drum, and are then made to assume the shape of a bulge barrel by
two trussing heads, which are drawn by means of screws over the staves at each
end forcing their ends into intimate contact.
Trussing hoops are laid in grooves in the trussing heads and serve to keep the
staves in position after the heads are withdrawn.
Circular cutters on revolving shafts cut the barrel to length and groove, chime,
croizo, and trowel. it after which the trussing heads are drawn back, the collapsible
form is collapsed and the barrel withdrawn ready for another to be commenced.
The accompanying two sheets of drawings illustrate the improvements in
machinery or apparatus for manufacturing casks or barrels according to my
invention.
Fig. 1. is a plan or top view of the machine shewing the trussing heads in the
open position for receiving a supply of staves, also a portion of the heating stove
and trough or frame for carrying the staves.
Fig. 2. is an elevation shewing the taking off end of the machine, with the
trough or frame for carrying the staves also a portion of the stove in section.
Fig. 3. is a side elevation, the trusser heads are supposed to be drawn together
and the barrel rim trussed ready for operating on the onds.
Fig. 4. is an elevation shewing the driving end of the machine; the dotted circles
indicate toothed wheels.
Fig. 5. is a detached half view shewing a section of the trussing head, trussing
hoops and liner, for a small sized cask or barrel (to a larger scale).
The trussing heads A. A¹ are arranged with their wide ends turned towards each
other, as shewn in Figs 1. and 3. and slide on a base plate B.
On this plate B is formed a suitable dovetail or groovo, parallol with the
collapsible barrel shaft C.
Into this dovetail or groove takes a shoe or foot, formed in one with or bolted to
one of the trussing heads.
At the other end of the machine or that end at which the barrel is taken off a
separate fixing D. is provided, to which the second trussing head A' is pivotted as
shewn in Figs. 1 and 2. so that it may be swung back as shewn by dotted line D¹
Fig. 1. to allow the barrel rim to be withdrawn.
The inside of the trussing heads A. A' are formed of slightly different diameters
made somewhat tapered as shewn in Fig. 5. and are provided with a shoulder at

page_text: the outer end for a solid liner or hoop A³ to catch against as the trussing heads are
drawn together.
I find it advantageous with some classes of staves to insert only one loose solid
trussing hoop A³ Fig. 5. so placed as to be near each end of the staves for the
purpose of holding them together, and to be drawn out with the barrel rim; this
arrangement allowing some of the permanent hoops being placed over the staves
before the temporary hoops A³ are taken off for inserting the heads.
The trussing hoops A³ are pushed in from the front of the trussing heads A. A¹.
and are placed against a shoulder formed in the liner as shewn in Fig. 5.
The trussing hoops A³ are made of sufficient strength to prevent their being
distorted when the trussing heads A. A' are opened out a little for a purpose
hereinafter described.
.
To reduce the friction of the barrel rim in the trussing heads, permanent heavy
trussing hoops or liners A³ may be inserted in the trussing heads, but so as to bo
capable of rotating with the barrel rim and keeping the staves tightly together, but
the said hoops or liners A³ do not leave the trussing heads when the finished rim
is withdrawn from the machine.
These solid trussing hoops or liners A³ may be held in the trussing heads by
means of pins or other suitable devices so long as they are capable of leaving the
staves and sliding back with the trussing heads when desired.
Thus it is to be understood that by changing the liners A' and the central
hoop N. different sizes of casks or barrels may be made with the same machine and
trussing heads.
The trussing head A. is provided with diametrically opposite pockets or bosses
in which screw threaded nuts are inserted; into these nuts the screw threaded
shafts E. E. take.
Theso scrow shafts also work in other nuts secured in the fixing D. to which the
trussing head A¹ is pivotted.
•
The screw threaded shafts E are each formed with right and left hand screw
threads, so that when they are revolved in one direction by the toothed wheels F F.
and pinion F the trussing heads will approach each other, whilst if the wheels
be revolved in the opposite direction the trussing heads will recede from each
other.
On each of the trussing heads a suitable boss is formed provided with a slot or
hole, into which one end of a pin or centre G. is secured, for carrying and adjusting
the circular cutter spindle fixing G, Figs 1. 2. and 3. so as to alter the position of
the circular cutters according to the size of cask or barrel, or the fixing G¹ may be
formed to slide on a base provided on the end of trussing heads, and actuated by a
screw instead of radiating on the pin G. Each of the fixings G¹ in which the
circular cutter spindle G₁ revolve are provided with a handlo, or adjusting bar H.
for the purpose of moving the saws and cutters clear of the staves whilst the
trussing heads are being drawn together and also for bringing the saws and
cutters into contact with the ends of the staves when they are fully trussed up
and the heads opened out a little to allow the barrel rim and liner to revolve
freely.
These handles or bars H. may conveniently be worked by a screwed spindle and
hand wheel H¹ as shewn in Figs. 1. 2. & 3. placed in a convenient position for the
operator. The stove or furnace J. for heating the staves may be mounted on pillars
or be built up from the floor. It is provided with ordinary flues and mid-
feathers ♫¹ J¹ so as to distribute the heat properly over its upper surface.
Upon the top of the stove or furnace J. a trough or frame K. is placed, formed of
angle iron bars. It is of ample length to admit a sufficient number of staves to
make one barrel, and it is so arranged that it can be conveniently placed nearer
to or further from the upper surface of the stove, and. it may be so pivotted
to fixings K¹ K¹ that the ends of the bars forming the trough or frame shall rest

page_text: on the trussing heads when elevated, to allow the staves to slide down, as
represented by the dotted line K' Fig. 2.
Instead of the elastic barrel form being composed of a narrow ring of about four
segments I find it answers the purpose better if it be, formed of a greater number
of segments since when collapsed it will allow a barrel rim with a greater amount
of bulge on it to pass readilly off.
To these segments or suitable blocks, two light steel plates or staves (not shown)
are secured with countersunk set screws. Each of these blocks or segments are
also secured to bars bent so as to form wedges, their undersides being made smooth
to slide in recesses cut in the peripheries of discs.
Instead of using the ordinary links for expanding or collapsing the elastic barrel
form, I prefer to use circular discs as I find that links are more or less liable to
shake or vibrato instead of being rigid, which allows the barrel rim (whilst its ends
are being operated upon) to move a little, thereby causing the grooving and
chamfering to be unevenly done; I also prefer for the above reasons to use a right
and left hand screw threaded shaft or spindle in lieu of an ordinary collapsing lever
as the elastic collapsing drum will bo more rigid and may be retained in any
position.
The bent bars are made somewhat shorter than the full length of the staves to be
treated, so as to allow the circular cutters to work freely without catching the
retaining discs.
For retaining the said discs in their proper positions bolts or stays are inserted,
which also form guides for the expanding or collapsing discs to slide on, and prevent
them from rotating as the screw shaft is revolved.
The screw shaft may conveniently be rotated by extending one of its ends
through the hollow barrel shaft C. and attaching a toothed wheel L theroon as
shewn in Figs 1. 3. and 4.
Into this spur wheel another spur wheel L¹ gears which may be secured to a
short shaft M supported in pedestals as shown in Fig. 3.
The short shaft M. is provided with a suitable hand wheel M¹ placed in a
convenient position for the operator.
The shaft M. is arranged to slide end wise to a sufficient distance for the toothed
wheels Land L¹ to become disengaged when desired so that the collapsing barrel
form and shaft C. may be revolved for feeding the staves and cutting their ends,
without at the same time revolving the hand wheel and shaft M₁M respectively.
Between the trussing heads A and A' I provide a strong metal ring N. arrangod
and supported concentric with the collapsing barrel shaft C. as I have found that
the light steel plates or staves do not sufficiently hold the staves in position but
allow them to slide endwise more or less as the trussing heads are drawn towards
each other.
The motal ring N. has a suitable slot hole formed therein for the staves to pass
through on to the elastic drum. This ring N. is made somewhat larger in diameter
than the outside diameter of the finished barrel rim at the largest part, so as to
allow the barrel rim to pass there through when desired. It is to bo understood
that whilst the staves are being fed the collapsible barrel form is somowhat
collapsed to allow the staves to be readilly insertod, and when the full quantity
have been fed the clastic drum is then expanded sufficiently by the hand wheel M¹
to hold the staves, between the ring N. and spring plates or staves, in their proper
positions whilst they are being trussed; should any of the staves have moved
endwise circular bars or levellers pivotted to the outer ends of the trussing heads
may be brought sufficiently in front of the opening in the trussing heads A. A' for
a forward stave to catch against it, and be held there whilst the other staves
become level with it; the levellers are then released and spring back into their
former positions.
The screw shafts E. E. may be driven by toothed gearing with cross and open
belts, running on the fast and loose pulleys E¹ E2 E³ or the screw shafts may be

page_text: provided with a clutch coupling placed between the two loose strap driven
pulleys E3 E' so that the motion of the screw shafts may be reversed rapidly when
desired.
For the sake of clearness the strap guides are omitted.
On one of the screw shafts a large hand wheel P. may be fixed for the purpose
of assisting in moving the trussing heads together or forcing them assunder, for
the purpose of setting them right for croizing and chamfering the ends of a barrel.
The circular cutters may also be driven by straps from wide pulleys fixed on a
countershaft placed in a suitable position to allow the trussing head A' and circular
cutters to swing back.
The shaft to which the collapsible barrel form is attached is mado hollow for the
purpose before mentioned; it may be driven in the ordinary way by means of
toothed wheels or friction gearing Q. Q' as shewn in Figs. 3 and 4.
In the front edges of the trussing heads at the point at which the near end of
the trough or frame K. rests when in position to deliver the staves into tho
machine, slots or holes are formed in extent sufficient to admit enough of tho
ends of the staves, to hold them, by the elastic bars or staves, securely in their
places as they are carried round by the revolving clastic drum, and of sufficient
width to admit the thickness of the staves.
Around these slots or holes suitable guides are provided to direct the staves into
them. At each side of the front end of the trough or frame K. is attached small
pins (not shewn) in such a way that when the trough or frame K. is in tho
position, indicated by the dotted line K (that is to deliver the staves,) these pins
project downwards close to the edge of the trussing heads near the slots and
sufficiently far to catch the first stavo should it be carried round in advanco of tho
others and hold it until the last stavo goes into its place. In this way if the
staves have separated or if one end has got ahead of the other in going round
the form, they are or it is by the motion of the elastic barrel form inside of them,
brought into proper position.
When all the staves have been delivered on to the clastic form the trough or
framo K. is replaced on the heating stove and another set of staves placed thoreon
for the next barrel rim. .
The trough or frawe may have the remote end (not shewn) attached to chains
or other suitable connections, and to balanco weights, sufficient to overcome the
weight of itself and the staves thereon.
The action of the machine is as follows:-
The proper quantity of staves are placed together on the framo or trough K.
over the upper surface of the stove or heating furnace J. There they are allowed
to romain until they are heated or fired to the proper degree. It may be advisable
in using heavy staves to keep the upper surface moist by covering the staves with
a wet cloth or canvas, or other convenient means so as to allow the fibres of the
outer surface of the staves to expand whilst the fibres on the inner surface are
contracted by the action of the beat, so that the staves may tako the curve of the
barrel more readily, and be more casily trussed. The trough or frame containing
the heated staves is then brought to the proper position to allow the staves to slide
down through the slots in the trussheads, or in some cases it may be through tho
slots in the liners also when certain sizes of barrels are formed in one machine and
through the slot in the central hoop or ring N. on the slowly revolving elastic
form, by which they are carried round with their ends inside the wide end of
trussing heads or liners as the case may be.
The hand wheel M' is rotated a sufficient number of times to expand the barrel
form and force the elastic plates against the staves where they are grasped between
the central hoop N and the elastic plates or staves. The screw shafts E. E. are
then set in motion and the trussing heads drawn towards each other, the lovellora
being held in position until all the staves are level at their ends.
The staves are then released and the remainder of the trussing finished.

page_text: The elastic form is slightly collapsed as the trussing operation is being
completed.
When the trussing is complete the hand wheel P. on screw shaft E. is rotated
in the opposite direction, so as to cause the trussing heads to recede a little from
cach other, and allow the trussed barrel rim, and truss hoops to revolve in or with
the before mentioned liners or permanent trussing hoops.
The circular cutters are then set in motion and brought into gear by the screw
spindles and hand wheels H H.
The form is then slowly rotated and both ends of the barrel rim are bevelled,
trowelled, croized, and chamfered the rim being then ready to be withdrawn..
It is evident I may slightly modify the arrangement for trussing to suit
different classes of staves without departure from the principles of my invention.
For instance I may substitute hydraulic pressure for the screws, and for light
staves I may use cams and lovers.
The trussing heads may be cach made to contain one or more truss hoops or
liners according to the class of work to be done with any given size of machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my "said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it
understood that I make no claim under the present application to the use of
levellers, central hoop N. or collapsing form but I declaro that what I claim is
1. In a machine or apparatus for the manufacture of casks or barrels the
combination of trussing heads having slots cut therein with revolving cutters
substantially as described.
2. In machinery or apparatus for the manufacture of casks or barrels the use
of two trussing heads actuated by screws and arranged to slide in a recess or
groove ond of the said trussing heads being so pivotted that it may be swung
back when desired substantially as hereinbefore described for the purpose specified.
3. In machinery or apparatus for the manufacture of casks or barrels the
combination of trussing heads with elastic plates or staves forming an elastic
barrel form substantially as hereinbefore described for the purpose specified.
4. In apparatus for trussing and croizing casks or barrels the combination of
trussing heads with revolving cutters attached thereto substantially as heretofore
described.
5. In machinery or apparatus for the manufacture of casks or barrel the use of a
stove provided with a moveable trough or frame on which the staves may rest and
when desired slide-down, in combination with a barrel forming machine sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the drawings for the purpose
specified.
6. In a barrel forming machine the use of a collapsible barrel form provided with
elastic plates or staves substantially as hereinbefore described.
7. The combination of parts constituting the improved machine or apparatus for.
the manufacture of casks or barrels constructed, arranged, and operating, sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.
31 100
Witness,
F. M. C. SCOTT, Patent Agent,
89, Victoria Street, Liverpool.
ALEXANDER DUNBAR,