IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR HOOPING CASKS AND THE LIKE
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Julius Boult of the firm of W. P. Thompson
& Boult Agents for Foreign Patent Solicitors, of 323 High Holborn London
in the County of Middlesex and 6 Lord Street Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster Engineer, for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
HOOPING CASKS AND THE LIKE"-A communication from abroad by Maria
1 Dalam
DL
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Julius Boult at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th April 1882.
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of the firm of W. P. Thompson & Boult, Agents for
foreign Patent Solicitors of 323 High Holborn London in the County of
Middlesex, and 6 Lord Street Liverpool in the County of Lancaster Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR HOOPING CASKS AND THE LIKE "
[A com-
munication from abroad by Maria E. Beasley of Philadelphia, United States of
America.]
'
This invention relates to improvements in machines for hooping casks; a
machine embodying these improvements is constructed substantially as follows.
On a suitable bed plate is mounted a truck provided with adjustable V shaped
saddles which serve to hold the cask and present it in proper position for the
operation of the other parts of the machine.
Two heads are fitted at the two ends and are capable of sliding towards one
another or further apart when actuated either by a pinion gearing with racks on
the said heads or by a screw having a right handed and a left handed thread and
acting upon nuts whose motion is transmitted to the heads by suitable rods.
Suitable reversing gearing is provided whichever arrangement is adopted. Each
head carries a series of equidistant jaws arranged in a circle concentric to the axis
of the barrel. The jaws are radially adjustable in slots in which they are capable
of sliding to and from the centre without being capable of turning in the said
slots. The outer ends of said jaws pass into spiral or convolute apertures io plates
Daina G.71

page_text: or discs behind the heads, so that the position of the jaws is adjusted by turning
the plates. The jaws are fastened by screw-nuts. Instead of the slotted discs for
adjusting the jaws, discs with studs may be used; the studs in this case are
connected with the jaws by short bars or links; the effect being the same in
both cases.
In each of the jaws a claw is mounted-These claws have shoulders or pro-
jections adapted to bear against the hoop so as to press the same against the cask;
by the saine claws the truss boops may be drawn off the cask the claws having
shoulders or projections for this purpose also.
Near to the point where the aforesaid claws or arms are jointed to the jaws
there is upon each a spring projecting at a right angle toward the centre of the
head and its slotted end fits over rods or bolts which are provided each with two
collars. These rods are free to move towards the cask and away from the same,
and when moved in one direction they cause the claws to open causing them to
close when moving in the opposite direction.
The claws are pressed towards the centre of the cask by springs, suitable levers
are however provided which allow the same to be released and both sets of claws
are connected in such manner that they can be opened or closed simultaneously.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred Julius Boult in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th October 1882.
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of the firm of W. P. Thompson and Boult Agents for
foreign Patent Solicitors of 323 High Holborn, London in the County of
Middlesex and 6 Lord Street Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR HOOPING CASKS AND THE LIKE
munication from abroad by Maria E. Beasley of Philadelphia United States of
America.
"
"
A com-
The object of this invention is to avoid some inconveniences and delays incident
to the working of the machine set forth in Letters Patent of the United States of
America No. 245,050 by making this machine so as to readily adapt itself to any
imperfections of form in the cask, and hoops and thus greatly accelerate its work.
In the working of the above stated patented machine the unequal action of the
driving belts, sometimes would move one driving head faster than the other, and
displace the cask on the truck or saddle, and the variations in the angle at which
the jaws rested upon hoops of unequal diameter, hindered the driving of the hoops
and rendered the machine uncertain in its action.
This invention consists in the combination of appliances for more conveniently
holding the casks to be looped so as to properly present them to the action of the
hoop driving machinery, in an adjustable arrangement of the hoop driving arms
and jaws, whereby the machine can be readily adapted to casks of different
diameters, in a mechanism for automatically adapting the driving arms and jaws
to imperfections or deviations in the casks from circular form, in an improved
mechanism for holding the hoops in position so as to present them to the action of
the driving apparatus, and in improved combinations of mechanism for driving
hoops equally on both ends of the cask simultaneously.
I will now proceed to describe the inode of making and operating this invention
referring in so doing to the drawings annexed and the letters of reference inarked
thereon.
Figure 1 Represents a plan of the machine.
Figure 2 Represents a front elevation.
Figure 3 An end elevation.
Figures 45 and 6 Shew modifications
Figure 7 Shows an enlarged central section of the heads C and C', and
Figure 8 An end view of the head C showing the mechanisin for expanding and
contracting the driving apparatus to suit casks of different diameters, and the
remaining figures illustrate parts of the machine in detail upon an enlarged scale.
A represents a truck having V shaped saddles, marked A' adjustable thereon in
height so to support the cask B that its axis may coincide with the axis of the
driving mechanism hereinafter described; the height of the saddles A' being
adjustable they can be adapted to hold casks of different diameters in the proper
central position to receive the hoops.
Cand C are two heads or standards fitted to slide lengthwise in guides A*
formed in a base A³ and are moved simultaneously in opposite directions by a
pinion C engaging in the rack Cand attached respectively to the heads C
and C

page_text: being reversed in the direction of their motion by either shifting belts or clutches
engaging in pulleys revolving in opposite directions controlled by the hands of an
attendant.
Upon each of the standards C and C¹ are placed a series of jaws or Joints D
arranged at equal distances in circles concentric to the axis of the cask B.
In each of the Jaws D is a claw or arm E' provided with a tooth or
shoulder E adapted to rest against the hoop H and press it towards the centre of
the cask B.
The several Jaws D are made radially adjustible by fitting through radial
slots C³ in the heads Cand C¹ the portions D¹ of the stems or shanks of the Jaws D
fitting in the slots C³ being rectangular so as to prevent their turning whilst they
may slide lengthwise in the slot C³ the portion D' of the shank of the jaws D
back of the head C and C is cylindric and passes through through spital or
involute slots G₁ in the circular plates G which are fitted so as to turn upon
centres coincident with the axial line of the barrel. A nut D³ fitting upon screw
threads D' on the shanks of the Jaws D serves the double purpose of holding the
Jaws D against the heads C and C¹ and also the plates G against the back of the
hends or standards C and C³ (see Figures 7 and 13)
By turning the plates G either forward or backward the jaws D are simul-
taneously caused to approach or recede from the centre or the axial line of the
barrel and are thus radially adapted to casks of different diameters.
Instead of the plates G having involute slots G₁ a plate G as shewn in Figure 14
inay be used provided-with-equidistant studs R and links S fitting upon the
parts D of the Jaws D the operation of this form of device is the same as that
tirst described in expanding or contracting the circle of the Jaws D on the heads C
and C to suit different diameters of casks.
Upon each of the arins E back of the tooth or shoulder E is a second
shoulder E adapted to engage with the truss hoops D³ and draw them off from
the casks.
The bevel and portions of arms E¹ beyond the tooth or should E' is of such form
as to be adapted to rest on the outer surface of the hoops H.
|--To-each-of-the-arms-E-near-to_the_points_jointed to the Jaw D is attached a
spring Fs shown detached in Figure 15 and as applied in Figure 10 projecting at
right angles of the arm E toward the centre of the head C and having a slit
formed in the end to fit over the rods or bolts F F between the collars F and F ;
fastened thereon.
The rods F are susceptible of motion lengthwise and when moved toward the
cask they cause the arms E to open, and when moved away from the cask cause
the arms E to close upon the hoops H
The springs F act as levers in conjunction with the arm E' and their elasticity
permits the levers E to adapt themselves to any variations from the circular form
in casks and hoops.
The slotted end of the springs F³ permit them to slide in and out on the bolt or
rod F without becoming disengaged from the rod F and collars F¹ and F² when
the radial adjustment of the Jaws D and the connected parts is changed.
The levers E' are pressed in towards the centre of the cask B by means of
springs F³ and are opened by means of levers F' operating the rods F the levers F*
are connected by a rod F which is adjustably connected to one of the levers F' as
shown at F7 in Figure 2 so as to operate both levers simultaneously, in different
adjustments for different lengths of casks; by means of a shifter Z applying the
bands turning the pinion C₁ by its connected gearing in either direction. The
heads C and C¹ can be forced towards each other or drawn apart and by means of
the rod Fe the arms E may be simultaneously opened and closed.
In the modified form the machine shown in Figures 4 5 and 6 a right and left
screw M and Nuts N and N¹ are substituted for the pinion C and rack C³ and O'
for propelling the heads C and C¹; the motion from the nut N¹ is transmitted to
4

page_text: the head C by means of rods N, this form of machine possesses the advantage of
a inore direct transmission of force than that shown in the preceeding figures. And
the rods N acting as guides supersede the bed plate A³ required in the other form
of machine.
The machine is operated as follows, the cask B, with the truss hoops B³ upon it,
is placed on the truck A centrally with the heads C and C' a hoop of metal is then
placed upon each end of the cask at the points marked B and the arms E' being
closed upon it so that the shoulders E bear against the outer edges of the hoops,
and the power supplied by means of the shifter Z, so that both end hoops are
forced tightly on the cask the motion of the driving gear is then reversed so as to
loosen the hold of the arms E on the end hoops and the arms opened by moving
the rod Fo and the heads C and C" are then moved toward each other sufficiently to
permit the hooks or shoulders E³ to pass over the truss hoops B³ the arms E are
then closed by moving the rod F and upon applying power by the shifter Z the
heads C and C are drawn apart pulling the truss hoops B3 off, after which the
intermediate permanent hoops are applied and forced on in the same manner as
the end hoops.
Having now described the said invention and the manner of performing the
saine as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent I wish it to be under-
stood that what I claim and desire to protect under the hereinbeforo in part recited
Letters Patent is :-
First In a machine for driving hoops upon casks the combination of radially
adjustable jaws D and arms E (hinged thereto) having claws E2 with the pair of
heads C and C arranged to reciprocate through varying distances in opposite
directions by means of gearing, propelled by a roversible driving mechanism
substantially as and for the purposo set forth.
Second: In a machine for hooping casks the truck A having V shaped
bearings A adjustable thereon in height and adapted to hold casks of different
diameters centrally between the driving heads C and C in combination with said
driving heads provided with arms E and jaws D radially adjustable thereon and
arranged to reciprocate simultaneously in opposite directions as and for the purpose
set forth.
Third: The combination of the rigid arm E springs FS spring arms or levers F³
operated by the rods F having collars F and F thereon, and moved by the
levers F' connected adjustably at F7 by the rod F for the purpose of adapting the
machine to casks of different lengths substantially as described and shewn.
Fourth In a machine for driving hoops on casks the combination of the rigid
arms E' provided with shoulders E and E adapted to drive on or retract hoops from
casks, with the elastic actuating arm F³ connected by the collars F and F on the
rods F for applying and releasing the shoulders E and E³ to and from hoops upon
casks of imperfect circular form as and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth In a machine for driving hoops on casks the double series of arms E
having shoulders E and Es adapted to drive on or draw off the hoops of casks in
combination with the rods F and the spring levers F³ and a driving nechanism
adapted to move the pair of heads bearing both series of arms simultaneously in
opposite directions substantially as and for the purposo set forth.
Sixth-In a machine for hooping casks the combination of reciprocating heads C
and C operated by mechanism moving the variable distances simultaneously in
opposite directions and bearing rigid arms E pressed inwardly by the springs F
with the elastic arins F for the purpose of opening the arms E and applying the
shoulders of the several arms E, to irregularities in the shape of the hoops, and
driving the hoops on or drawing the hoops off a cask substantially as set forth and
described.
Seventh-The combination of the double series of arms E connected elastically
by spring arms F3 and rods F to a single opening and closing mechanism, and
hinged to the jaws D with the pair of heads C and C¹ rigidly secured to the said

page_text: jaws D and arranged to move simultaneously in opposite directions substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Alfred Julius Boult have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twenty fourth day of October in the year of Our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty two
ATA T DATIT M
ATAn
THAT TH
J. BOULT (1)