IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF WOOD FOR CONVERSION INTO CASKS OR BARRELS, AND IN MACHINERY TO BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE."
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Hadfield, of Carlisle, in the County of
Cumberland, Varnish Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE PREPARATION OF WOOD FOR CONVERSION INTO CASKS OR BARRELS, AND
IN MACHINERY TO BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Hadfield at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th
December 1860.
I, GEORGE HADFIELD, of Carlisle, in the County of Cumberland, Varnish
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF WOOD FOR CONVERSION INTO CASKS OR
BARRELS, AND IN MACHINERY TO BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE," to be as follows:-
. This Invention relates, firstly, to a novel arrangement of machinery,
whereby timber of irregular shapes may be cut into pieces suitable for
conversion into staves. To this end I provide an ordinary upright saw frame
which is driven by a crank shaft and pulley. Bolted to the framework is
a bed upon which are mounted two slides, working at right angles to each
other, similar to a slide rest. On the upper slide are attached two arms,
one of which is a fixture, and the other adjustable by a screw. These arms.
carry steel points between which the timber to be cut is held fast, but is

page_text: capable of receiving an axial motion. This axial movement of the timber
is for the purpose of allowing it to assume a perpendicular line with the saw
however crooked the wood may be, which line it will take by reason of the
timber being held against an adjustable vertical roller, which serves also
to gauge the thickness of the stave blank to be cut. Against this roller the
timber is pressed by springs or levers acting upon the lower or advancing
slide.
The second head of the Invention, relates to an apparatus for facilitating
the steaming and straightening of wood for forming straight staves, and to
the bending of wood to form staves. To this end I form a metal carriage on
wheels of a sufficient width to receive any given number of piles of planks
side by side, the ends of which are supported by blocks. Over the piles of
planks I lay a convex block, and by applying pressure thereto (by the aid
of suitable machinery), I cause it to descend and force down the middle of
the planks, while they are under the influence of steam or hot air. To
apply the steam or hot air the carriage travels upon rails, which run through
a metal steam or hot air chamber, having two sliding doors, one for ingress
and the other for egress. When the carriage, with its load, is centred in the
chamber, and the doors closed, I admit steam or hot air to the chamber in
order to soften the timber before bending it. The convex bending block I
retain in its depressed position by two or more catches at the sides of the
carriage which drop down upon the top of the block, and prevent it rising
when the pressure is removed. When the bending of the wood has been
effected, the carriage containing it is removed through the opposite doorway
to that at which it entered the chamber, and another carriage with its load
of staves is moved forward into its place in the chamber. The bent wood
or staves when cool will keep an approximate curved form and greatly
facilitate the setting up of casks or barrels.
The third part of this Invention, relates to the compressing of timber for
the staves and heads of casks or barrels. The compression which is effected
by any suitable arrangement of press is carried beyond the point of contraction
due to desiccation, and after the casks or barrels formed of this compressed
wood are put together, I subject them to a current of steam so as to cause
the wood to expand and tighten the permanent hoops which are lightly affixed
in their places on the cask.
This Invention relates, fourthly, to a novel mode of shaping staves in the
straight or unbent state to form casks or barrels, the object being to simplify
the operation of cutting the same and yet ensure a perfect fit, when staves

page_text: of equal or unequal widths are finally brought together. To this end I cut
the flat staves at such an angle as will ensure the formation of a perfect
joint when the staves are drawn together by the binding hoops. In cutting
various widths of staves on the flat, I use two circular saws or cutters
mounted upon spindles, having their bearings at the lower end of two radial
arms. The upper ends of these arms are slotted to receive the adjustable
axle on which they vibrate. The adjustment of the axle is vertical through
the agency of screws, for the purpose of changing the angle of inclination of
the saws, and the saws are also adjusted laterally by means of levers and
connecting rods, the angles at which they stand to their work being indicated
upon a graduated quadrant. The wood to be cut into staves is placed piece
by piece on a central table and clamped thereto. The table is supported by
and caused to rock on adjustable trunnions, which have their bearings in
sliding blocks affixed to guides pendent from the main framing, and it is by
this rocking motion that the wood is brought up to the action of the saws.
As the saw spindles do not lie over the fulcrum of the table, but on one side
thereof, the inclined saws will necessarily cut the staves of a taper form the
extremities of the wood reaching a higher position in the angle of inclination
than the-parts-nearer the centre.
The Invention relates, fifthly, to an arrangement of machinery for effecting
at one operation, the shaping of the ends of staves and grooving them to
receive the heads of the casks. Around a roller attached to the under part
of the framework, and running its whole length, pass two straps which run
over guide pullies at the top of the machine, and over pullies attached to a
pair of cutter spindles. In the end frames a pair of screws are mounted
vertically, and these screws carry two blocks, which slide in slots in the end
frames. These blocks carry a horizontal shaft which supports two swinging
arms that are slotted vertically so as to admit of their being raised or lowered
as required, and are secured in the required position to the cross shaft by
means of clamping bolts. In these swinging arms the cutter spindles are
mounted, the cutters of which are so shaped as to bevil the edges of the
staves and cut a groove in their inner face when the cutters are brought
into action. The fulcrum of the swinging arms which carry the cutters
must be adjusted to suit the diameter of cask required to be made. On two
adjustable blocks attached to the bed of the machine, is placed the stave to
be operated upon, which is secured in position by a pressing block, motion
is then given to the revolving cutters, which being at the same time swung
over the stave, give the ends the required form.

page_text: The Invention relates, sixthly, to machinery for cutting the leads of casks
or barrels. To effect this object I mount a sliding saddle upon the upper
face of the framework of the machine, and on this saddle I mount a spindle
working in bearings. To the upper portion of the spindle (which projects
through the saddle) is fixed a face plate upon which the timber to form a
cask head is placed, the timber is held fast by a screw working through a
bridge, which spans the largest cask head required to be cut. The work is
made to rotate by means of a worm and worm wheel fixed upon the lower
portion of the spindle before mentioned. Upon the same spindle is fixed a
spur wheel which gears into another wheel, half its diameter, and carrying
upon its face an adjustable excentric stud. This stud is attached by means
of a connecting rod to a stationary stud, the rotation therefore of the spindle
will give to the saddle a slight reciprocating motion horizontally upon the
framework. Upon the front of the machine working in suitable bearings
.carried by a slide are two revolving cutters which rotate in opposite directions
or otherwise if required. These cutters I bring alternately or similtaneously
into contact with the edge of the timber for the purpose of giving it a bevilled
form, suitable for fitting into the groove in the staves forming the cask.
The reciprocating motion given to the saddle causes it to approach to and
recede from the revolving cutters, and as this motion is twice repeated'
during each revolution of the timber it must necessarily give an elliptical
form to the head, which form is requisite to ensure tight joints (unless the
timber has been previously compressed as described before). The reason
for using two sets of cutters and causing them to rotate in opposite directions,
is to permit of the timber being operated upon in' the direction of its grain.
As a modification of the above arrangement I propose to clamp the wood
forming the cask head between two vertical discs mounted in a kind of
lathe and by means of a pair of inclined rotary saws to bevil both edges of
the cask head simultaneously.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Hadfield in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th June 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HADFIELD, of Carlisle, in the County of Cumberland, Varnish Manufacturer,
send greeting.
3

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Ier
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said George Hadfield, Her special license that I, the said George
Hadfield, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said George Hadfield, 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 THE PREPARATION OF WOOD FOR CONVERSION INTO CASKS OR BARRELS, AND
IN MACHINERY TO BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE," upon the condition, amongst
others, that I, the said George Hadfield, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the samo 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 Hadfield, 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, and accompanying Drawings, (that is to say) :-
The first part of my Invention relates to an apparatus for facilitating the
cleaning, straightening, and bending of wood to form staves, and is shewn in
the several Figures of Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side view of the straightening and bending apparatus, and Fig. 2
is a top view thereof; Fig. 3 is an end view of the aforesaid apparatus,
within the steaming chamber; and Fig. 4 is a top view. At a is a carriage,
provided with wheels b, suitably formed for running upon a railway. Upon
this carriage any desired number of planks c are laid, and are placed in tiers
side by side, their ends resting upon blocks d, and it is then run upon the
railway e into the steaming chamber f; when in the centre thereof a convex
block g is placed upon the staves, and pressed downward, so as to bend them
into the form shewn at Fig. 1. The apparatus I employ for this purpose is as
follows: At h is a winch handle, mounted upon a shaft i, which carries a
pinion j. taking into a wheel k; this wheel is provided with a nut working
upon a screw 1, which screw is prevented from revolving by means of a key.

page_text: Upon the handle h, therefore, being turned, the screw is carried downward,
and its lower end is forced against the convex block g, so as to effect the
required bending of the staves. Upon the carriage a are standards m provided
with slots n, within which are mounted catchers o, capable of turning upon
centres p; before the staves are bent these catches are turned outward, but
upon the block 9 being pressed down they fall inward, so as to bring pro-
jecting parts above the said block, and thus retain it in the position shewn in
the Drawing. The steaming chamber fis provided with doors g. 9, which
slide in grooves, and are mounted at their outward ends upon a shaft s. This
shaft is furnished with toothed pinions t, taking into stationary racks u; upon
the shafts, therefore, being turned by means of the handle v, the pinions t are
caused to travel upon the racks u, carrying with them the doors q, q.
In
Fig. 3 the doors are shewn as open, the carriage and its staves have been run
into the steaming chamber, and the block g has been forced downward, in
which position it is held by the catches o. The doors are now to be closed
by turning the handle r, and steam is then admitted by any convenient means
to the chamber f. After the staves have been submitted to the steaming
process for the required time, the doors are again opened, and the carriage
run out through the opposite side, the screw having been previously raised
from the block g; the pressure, however, still continues through the agency of
the catches o, and the staves may be kept confined thereby in their bent
position as long as may be required.
We have above spoken of submitting the staves to the action of steam, but
hot air may be admitted to the chamber fif desired.
any
The next part of my Invention relates to the compressing of timber for the
staves and heads of casks or barrels. The compression, which is effected by
suitable arrangement of press, is carried beyond the point of contraction
due to desiccation, and after the casks or barrels formed of this compressed
wood are put together I subject them to a current of steam, so as to cause the
wood to expand and tighten the permanent hoops, which are lightly affixed in
their places on the casks.
The next part of my Invention relates to a novel mode of shaping staves
in the straight or unbent state to form casks or barrels, the object being to
simplify the operation of cutting the same, and yet ensure a perfect fit when
staves of equal or unequal widths are finally brought together. The apparatus
I employ for this purpose is shewn at Sheets II. & III. of the accompanying
Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 an end view thereof.
The arrangement for cutting the bevil edges of the staves is identical with

page_text: that described in the Specification of a Patent, granted to me, bearing date
the Eighth November 1859, and which Specification was duly filed, a par-
ticular description thereof will not consequently now be necessary; but
inasmuch as my present improvement is combined therewith, it will be
desirable for me briefly to allude thereto. The framework of the machine is
shewn at a, provided at its upper part with a slot b, within which is a sliding
piece e, capable of adjustment upward or downward by means of screws f,
actuated by gearing g. The sliding piece e is connected to levers i, ", which
cross each other, so that the upper and lower ends of the said levers are on the
opposite sides of the block c. Each of these levers carries at its lower end a
spindle j, upon which a circular saw k is mounted, which saws are caused to
rotate by means of pullies 7. It will be perceived that the spindles jare
placed at opposite angles to the horizontal line, and the saws are therefore so
disposed that there is a wider space between them at the lower part of their
diameters than there is at the upper. If a plank shewn at be pressed against
these saws, it is evident that their deviation from the vertical line will cause a
bevil to be cut on each side, and that different widths of staves may be so cut
by presenting the plank to the saws at a lower or higher elevation, so far,
however, the amount of bevil would remain the same; but by turning the
screws ff, the one way or the other, the levers i, *, are caused to turn upon
their centres of motion, as described in my former Specification above referred
to, so as to alter the angles of the saws according to the desired bevil of the
stave.
The above arrangement, as before mentioned, does not constitute any
portion of my present Invention, and I will now proceed to describe the
improvements which work in combination therewith. The lower part of the
framework is provided with a slot m, in which are placed blocks n capable of
adjustment upward or downward by screws o, actuated by a pulley handle p
and gearing q.
These blocks carry a shaft r, to which is fixed a boss s, pro-
jecting into a slot formed in an arm t, which terminates at its upper end in a
table u.
Upon the shaft t is a loose collar v, which is capable of being
attached by screws to the boss s, so as to constitute a clamp for holding the
arm t in any desired position. It will therefore be seen that the table u is
capable of being moved higher or lower by sliding the blocks n in the slots m,
and also inward or outward by loosening the clamp s, v, and sliding the arm t
upon the top of the shaft r. The stave to be shaped is placed upon the table u
and secured thereto by means of the clamp w; this clamp is constructed as
follows:-At w is a plate carrying at each end a link a, jointed to a lever y,

page_text: which turns upon a fixed centre at s.
When the centre of these parts are
brought in a line, the plate w is pressing upon the stave l, so as to hold it
firmly to the table, and that is the position shewn, but upon the lever y being
turned, then the plate w is moved upward for the reception of another stave.
Upon the table u being turned upward, either by hand or other means, the
end 1 of the stave will arrive in contact with the saws at the point 2, con-
sequently the width that it will there be cut to will be represented by the
distance between 3, 4, (Fig. 2); but inasmuch as the radius from 5 to 6 is
less than that from 5 to 7, the part 7 of the stave will be cut by a lower portion
of the saw, viz., at 8, and the width at the middle of the stave will therefore
be represented by 9, 10, (Fig. 2), and all intermediate parts will, on the same
principle, be of gradually increased width, the point, 7, however, having passed
the width of cut, will decrease exactly in the same proportion. During the
above described operation the sides of the stave will have been bevilled by the
means first-mentioned when referring to my former Patent. It has been
mentioned that the shaft r is capable of adjustment upward or downward by
means of the screws o; this is for the purpose of obtaining any required degree
of bilge in the stave. The position in the Drawing produces a certain curve,
but if the shaft r be moved lower down, then the points 1, 6, of the stave will
inove in a line approaching nearer to a circle, and a straighter stave will be
cut; but if the shaft r be raised, then the line through which they travel will
be more removed from a circle, and a stave with greater bilge will be the
result. It has also been observed that the arm t and table u are adjustable
upon the shaft r, which provision is adopted for the purpose of keeping the
stave when altered in position by screws o upon the working portions of
the saw.
d
The next part of my Invention relates to an arrangement of machinery for
effecting at one operation the shaping of the ends of staves, and the grooving
them to receive the heads of the casks, and is shewn at Sheets IV. and V. of
the accompanying Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the
machine, and Figure 2 an end view. The framework is shewn at a, and the
main driving shaft at 6; upon this are drums c around which bands & pass
from thence over guide pullies e to pullies f, mounted upon spindles which
carry the cutting tools g. These cutters consist of tools for bevilling the
ends of the staves, and of other tools i, j, the former of which hollow out the
wood and the latter cut the grooves for receiving the head. At Figure 3 one
of these cutters is shewn detached and as seen at right angles to Figure 1.
The cutter spindles are mounted upon a rod m, which is carried by arms n,

page_text: fixed to a cranked bar o (shewn detached at Figure 4) the crank pins p of
which are carried by blocks 9 capable of sliding in slots r, and of being adjusted
in any required position therein by means of screws s actuated by a pulley
handle t and gearing u. The arms n are attached to the bar o by means of
screws, which are situate within slots w, if therefore these screws be loosened
the screws s may be turned so as to carry the blocks q downward, and the
centre of motion upon which the cutters vibrate bodily will be brought lower
down, they will therefore describe a circle of smaller radius, and thus the
adjustment is effected for casks of different diameters. The arrangement by
which the cutters are so caused to vibrate is as follows:-To the framework a
of the machine is fixed a bracket which carries a pulley handle x on the axis
of which is a pinion y taking into a rack z formed upon one end of a sliding
bar 1. This bar at its other end is connected to a lever 2 turning upon a fixed
centre at 3, and jointed at its upper end to a rod 4, to which is connected a
crank 5, fixed upon the rod m; the attendant therefore upon turning the pulley
handle a will cause the bar 1 to slide so as to turn the above-mentioned lever ?
upon its centre, and this acting through the crank 5 will thrust forward or
backward the bar m, causing it to vibrate upon the centres p, and thus move
the cutters through the required circle. The vibration of the cutter spindles
renders it necessary that some provision should be made for keeping the
driving band d at tension, the guide rollers e, e, are therefore mounted upon a
bell crank lever 6, which turns upon a centre at b, and carries a weight 8.
Suppose the pulley handle a to be turned in the direction of the arrow (Figure 2)
the cutter spindles will be caused to vibrate so as to draw the band d against
the weight 8, and when the handle is released the said weight will draw the
cutters back, they being during these movements caused to revolve so as to
effect the required operations upon the stave. The stave which is shewn at 9
is supported at each end by a block 10, and is held securely in the correct
position by means of a block 11, which is pressed downward during the
operation of cutting by a lever 12 turning upon a fixed centre at. 13, and
provided with a projecting part which bears upon the said block.
The last part of this Invention relates to a novel arrangement of machinery
for cutting the heads of casks or barrels, the wood forming the cask heads
being submitted to the action of rotary cutters by means of rotating clamping
plates.
In Sheets VI., VII., VIII., and IX. of the Drawings, Fig. 1 is a longi-
tudinal vertical section of the improved machine; Fig. 2 is a plan view the
bracket for supporting the shaft that carries the upper clamping plate being

page_text: removed; Figure 3 is a partial section taken in the line 1, 2, of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is an end elevation looking in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1;
Figure 5 is an underneath view shewing the gearing for varying the speed of
rotation of the clamping plates; and Figure 6 is an elevation of the cutter
end of the machine.
A, A is the main framing of the machine, fitted with guides at its upper part to
receive a table B. To the upper face of this table a bracket arm C is bolted, and
in the extremity of this arm is mounted a vertical spindle D which carries at its
lower end a clamping plate E. In a line with the spindle D is a spindle D*
which carries at its upper end a clamping plate E*, and it is between these
two plates E and E* that the dowelled wood to form a cask head is placed
in order to be submitted to the rotary cutters which cut it to an oval form and
chamfer the opposite edges of the head to enable it to fit into the groove
formed for it in the staves by the machine above described with reference to
Sheets IV. and V of the Drawings. The spindle D* rests in a foot step carried
by an inverted saddle piece F bolted to the under side of the sliding table B,
and it is turned to a conical form at its upper part to fit into a cone seat made
to receive it in the table B. The relative adjustment of the clamps E and E*
is effected by giving the spindle D an endway motion in its bearing by means
of a hand wheel a keyed to the head of a screw a¹ (see Figure 3). This screw a
is provided with a shoulder through which it is supported by the bracket C,
and it works into a female screw formed in the hollow spindle D. In order
therefore to raise and lower the spindle in its bearings, and with it the
clamping plate E, the hand wheel has merely to be turned to the right or the
left as the case may be. Keyed to the lower end of this sliding spindle is a
pin a² formed with a shoulder at its lower end, which shoulder enters a socket
in the centre of the upper clamping plate, and is secured therein by a plate
which fits over the shoulder, and is held fast by screws to the clamping plate.
By this arrangement the plate E when brought down to clamp the wood upon
the lower champing plate will be free to turn on its centre when the lower
clamping plate receives rotary motion for the purpose of presenting the wood
to the action of the cutter. I propose to use two sets of rotating cutters G, G¹,
which I mount upon vertical spindles g, g¹, having their bearings in a slide H
which is supported on the end of the main framing, and is capable of receiving
a traverse motion (for the purpose of throwing one or other of the cutters into
action) by means of a screw band winch handle b. These spindles g, g¹, are
rotated in opposite directions, the object being to cut the wood in the direction
of the grain without reversing the axial motion of the cask head. To this end

page_text: I propose to throw one cutter out of and the other into action at every quarter
turn of the cask head, effecting such change by means of the winch handle ',
before mentioned. The mode in which the attendant ascertains the proper
time for shifting the position of the cutters is by the clamps which hold the
cask head ceasing to rotate. The arrangement of mechanism by which the
intermittent action is obtained will be hereafter explained.
The cutter spindles are furnished at their lower ends with pullies, which
severally receive a crossed belt from a broad pully c on the main driving
shaft. These belts are crossed in opposite directions, and therefore, the cutter
spindles are driven in opposite directions. I have said that there are two sets
of cutters employed. Each set consists of a pair of cutters, which are intended,
the one cutter to act upon the upper, and the other on the lower chamfered
edge of the cask head. On the same boss two sockets are formed, to receive
each a compound chisel, which is adjusted by means of clamping screws. The
broad edge of the cutter gives the chamfer c, and the narrow edge forms the
square edge of the cutter head. By the rotation of the cutter spindles these
cutters alternately act upon the work. I will now describe the means for
rotating the clamping plates which are intended to give the cask head a slow
rotatory motion always in the same direction, and of about the same surface
speed, whatever may be the diameter of the cask head under operation.
Keyed to the spindle D is a worm wheel d, which gears into a worm on the
horizontal shaft e, which has its bearings in the inverted saddle-piece F. This
shaft e carries a set of spur wheels e', e², e³, of different diameters, into which
gear spur pinions f³, f, f³, of corresponding diameters mounted on their
respective shafts, and the two outer ones of which are hollow. These shafts f
also have their bearings in the inverted saddle-piece, but on one end they
project through it, to receive respectively the pullies 1, h2, h3, all of the same
diameter. An endless belt from one of these pullies passes over or around a
series of guide pullies 1, 2, 3, &, the two first of which are mounted on a
lever k, having its fulcrum k¹ on the saddle-piece F, while the other two are
mounted on the main framing. Fast upon the axle of the pulley is a pulley
25, which is driven by a belt from a small pully on the main driving shaft.
It will now be seen that on motion being given to the main driving shaft, the
belt i will be set in action, and that by reason of the inequalities in diameter
in the spur geering, and to transmit the motion to the spindle E*, the pro-
portionate surface speed of rotation of the cask head will be determined by
shifting the belt i from one of the pullies h¹, he, h³, to the other. A belt fork
supported on a bar projecting from the side of the lever k (see Fig. 1) is used

page_text: to effect this shifting of the belt i. The fork is operated by hand, and
secured in the required position on its bar by a clamping screw. In order
to stop the rotation of the cask head at every quarter turn, I mount loosely
upon one of the shafts f a wheel n, which is worked by an eccentric pin, or a
one-toothed wheel o on the shaft e of the worm, such gearing being so formed
as to effect a secure lock of the wheel n when a tooth o is not in action. On
the face of the wheel n are four stud pins n* (see Fig. 1), which divide the
wheels into four parts. These pins as the wheel completes a quarter revolution
strike the arm of a hand lever p pendent from the table B, and causes it to
rock upon its fulcrum. The lower end of this pendent lever is notched to
receive and bear against a pin g on the lever k thereof, and keep that lever in
a depressed position, a tendency being given to the lever by means of an
elastic band m to move upwards towards the table B. While the lever is
thus kept down, the pullies which it carries will hold the driving belt i at
tension, thereby insuring the driving of the clamping plate E*, but when the
wheel n has completed a quarter turn, a pin n will lift the arm of the hand
lever p and throw that lever off the pin q. The elastic band m will now draw
up the lever, and slacken the belt i, and the rotation of the cask head clamps
will be at once arrested. The operator has then to shift the cutter, as above.
explained, to bring the set into action that will work in the direction of the
grain of the wood next to be operated upon. Having done this the operator
next depresses the lever by means of a hand lever k² (Fig. 3) fitted to the
fulcrum of the lever k, and brings the shoulder of the lever p to bear again on
the pin q, when the tension of the belt i will be restored, and the rotation of
the clamping plates will proceed as before. The pendent lever & may at any
time be thrown out of action by the attendant rocking the lever by the handle
which projects above the table. In order to ensure tight heads to casks, it is
found necessary to cut the heads of an oval form, to allow for the lateral con-
traction of the wood. To enable the machine to do this, I give the table a
slight endway motion on its guide, regulating the amount of traverse according
to the diameter of the cask head under operation. On the spindle D* a spur
wheels is keyed, and into this wheel gears a pinion s of half its diameter.
This pinion is carried by a stud axle affixed to the under side of the table b,
and bolted to the under face of the pinion is an excentric s, shewn detached
at Fig. 7, furnished with elongated slot holes to allow for its adjustment. A
strap and rod s³ connect the excentric with an adjustable stud s' that is carried
by a screw shaft s5 (see Fig. 1). This screw shaft has its bearings in the main
framing, and an axial motion is given to it for the purpose of adjusting the

page_text: stud by means of a crank handle s. From this arrangement it will be under-
stood that for every rotation of the cask head the table will be caused to
approach the cutter twice, and thus as the distance between the centre of the
cask head and the cutters is constantly and uniformly varying, the oval form
required will be obtained.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner of carrying the same into effect, I desire it to be understood that
I claim as secured to me under the above in part recited Letters Patent,-
Firstly, the general arrangement shewn and described in reference to
Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly, the application as described under the second head of my Inven-
tion of pressure to timber for forming casks.
Thirdly, the rocking table and its adjustments for holding the staves, shewn
and as described in reference to Sheets II. and III. of the accompanying
Drawings.
Fourthly, the arrangement of machinery shewn and described in referenco
to Sheets IV. and V. of the accompanying Drawings.
Fifthly, the arrangement of machinery above described in reference to
Sheets VI., VII., VIII., and IX., whereby I am enabled to cut cask heads of
an oval form.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Hadfield, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
GEORGE HADFIELD. (L.S.)