Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Setting up Staves in the Manufacture of Casks and the like.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1886
Complete Left, 3rd Sept., 1887
Complete Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1887
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Setting up Staves
in the Manufacture of Casks and the like.
I, ALEXANDER DUNBAR, of 105 Newsham Drive, Newsham Park, West Derby,
Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Barrister-at-Law, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to machinery or apparatus for setting up staves into barrel
form, ready to be fired and trussed, et cetera, either by hand or by a suitable
machine such as that described in the specification of former Letters Patent granted
to me dated June 9, A.D. 1884 and nunibered 8760.
According to this invention a central form, made in the shape of a frustum of a
cone, is mounted on a vertical shaft so as to be capable of rotating thereon. The
base or larger end of the form is provided with suitable brackets that carry a
flange to which are attached arms or supports for carrying concentrically a trussing
hoop. These arms or supports are notched out or recessed to receive the trussing
hoop, and means are provided (such as screw threaded nuts) for adjusting and
regulating the distance between the flange and the hoop to suit the size and shape of
cask or the like to be made-The form may be placed some distance above the
floor level, according to the size of cask or the like to be produced and be provided
with a suitable platform or stage on which staves can be stored and an operator can
stand when long staves are to be used. The form which may be made of wood or
thin sheet metal, is provided with a suitable catch or stop; a catch or stop may be
also provided on the before mentioned flange for the purpose of retaining the first
stave whilst the other staves are being fed. A suitable foot lever and spring are
provided for holding up the form whilst the staves are being placed-When this has
been done the form is partially lowered by depressing the foot lever which is then
caught and held by a suitable catch whilst the barrel form is being removed. In
setting up staves according to this invention the staves are placed in the annular
space between the form and one of the trussing hoops, which is supported by the
herein before mentioned arms. The first stave is placed against the catches or
stops whilst the others are being placed in position. The form allows of the upper

page_text: ends of the set up staves being somewhat closer together than their lower ends
thus admitting of another trussing hoop being placed thereon.
When the full complement of staves has been set up, another trussing hoop say for
example a hoop of about the diameter of the bilge required in the finished barrel, is
slid down so as to encircle the staves. The foot lever is then pressed down to
partially withdraw the form thereby allowing the staves to close together and the
bilge hoops to slide tightly down.
The set-up staves constituting a barrel form are then removed and ready for firing,
or with some classes of staves trussing and finishing off.
Apparatus of the kind referred to may be constructed in modified forms to suit
different classes of casks, barrels, kegs or the like without departure from the essential
features of my invention.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1886

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Setting-up Staves
in the Manufacture of Casks and the like.
I, ALEXANDER DUNBAR, of 105 Newsham Drive, Newsham Park, West Derby,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Barrister at Law, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to machinery or apparatus for setting up staves into barrel
form, ready to be fired and trussed, etcetera, either by hand or by a suitable machine
such as that described in the specification of former Letter's Patent granted to me
dated June 9th A.D. 1884, and numbered 8760. According to this invention, a
central form, made in the shape of a frustum of a cone, is mounted on a vertical
shaft so as to be capable of rotating thereon.
The base or larger end of the form is provided with suitable brackets that carry
a flange to which are attached arms or supports for carrying concentrically a trussing
hoop.
These arms or supports are notched out or recessed to receive the trussing hoop,
and means are provided (such as screw threaded nuts) for adjusting and regulating
the distance between the flange and the boop to suit the size and shape of cask or the
like to be made.
The form may be placed some distance above the floor level, according to the
size of cask or the like to be produced and be provided with a suitable platform or
stage on which staves can be stored and an operator can stand when long staves are
to be used.
The form, which may be made of wood or thin sheet metal, is provided with a
suitable catch or stop; a catch or stop may be also provided on the before mentioned
flange for the purpose of retaining the first stave whilst the other slaves are being
fed. A suitable foot lever and spring or weighted lever is provided for holding up
the form whilst the staves are being placed.
When this bas been done the form is partially lowered by depressing the foot lever
which is then caught and held by a suitable catch whilst the barrel form is being
removed.
In setting up staves according to this invention the staves are placed in the
annular space between the form and one of the trussing hoops, which is supported by
the hereinbefore mentioned arms. The first stave is placed against the catches or
stops whilst the others are being placed in position.
The form allows of the upper ends of the set up staves being somewhat closer
together than their lower ends, thus admitting of another trussing hoop being placed
thereon.
When the full compliment of staves has been set up, another trussing hoop say for
example a hoop of about the diameter of the bilge required in the finished barrel
s slid down so as to encircle the staves. The foot lever is then pressed down to

page_text: partially withdraw the form thereby allowing the staves to close together and the
bilge hoop to slide tightly down.
The set up staves constituting a barrel form are then removed and are ready for
firing or with some classes of staves trussing and finishing off.
Apparatus of the kind referred to may be constructed in modified forms to suit
different classes of casks, barrels, kegs or the like without departure from the
essential features of my invention.
Referring to the accompanying two sheets of drawings, Fig. 1. is a sectional
side elevation of a machine according to this invention whilst Fig. 2. is a plan with
the wood work of the stageing removed for sake of clearness. Fig. 3. is a side
elevation partially in section shewing a modification of a setting up form according
to this invention applicable for large barrels. Fig. 4. is a plan or top view. Similar
letters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings:
The central form A. made in the shape of a frustum of a cone is mounted on a
hollow vertical shaft or spindle B. sliding in a sleeve B'. The form as illustrated in
Figs. 1. and 2 is made of metal throughout and consists of a thin sheet metal outer
casing rivetted or otherwise secured by means of a ring of angle iron to a sheet
metal top, stiffened by a washer, as shewn in Fig. 1. These parts rotate on a collar C.
which is screw threaded to take onto the end of the hollow shaft or spindle B. The
collar has projections cast on it or is lined up on its lower side to receive two links
connecting the pivots D. and E. Fig. 1 whilst the central form is retained in
position by the washer C¹ screwed onto the vertical shaft or spindle B.
The base or larger end of the coned form A. is provided with stays A' A' and a
stiffening ring of angle iron A2, the flange of which extends outwards for the purpose
of partially carrying a ring F. to which are attached three fixed pillars or supports G.
H. G. the two other supports J. J. are not secured to the ring F. but are retained in
position by means of segments of a ring or carrier bars K. K. which are secured to
the pillars J. J. by regulating nuts.
The carrier bars K. K. are capable of partially rotating on the fixed pillars G. G.
as indicated in plan Fig. 2. by the dotted lines JJ so as to open out clear and allow
the barrel to be withdrawn when the form A. is lowered down. The upper ends of
the five pillars are screw threaded and provided with regulating nuts for altering the
distance between the carrier bars K. K. and the ring F.
Each of the carrier bars K. K. and K' are provided with two regulating set
screws M. M. Figs. 1. and 2. they are screwed into the said bars and secured with
lock nuts. The set screws M. M. are made with square heads larger than the
ordinary set screw heads and have a short projection for carrying concentrically a
wrought iron truss or pass hoop L. for retaining the set up staves L' in position.
The pillars or supports for carrying the hoop for small kegs may be notched out or
recessed to receive it, but for larger barrels I find it advantageous to use moveable
carriers bars K. K. bent to a suitable shape and taking on to the before mentioned
pillars G. G. these being adjustable as before described, and by regulating the set
screws M. hoops of various thicknesses may be used according to the thickness of
staves and diameter of barrel required.
A suitable platform N. is provided the height being regulated by the length of the
staves to be treated and also by the height of the conical shaped form A. The
platform is so arranged that when a full set of staves have been set up the form is
capable of being lowered sufficiently that they may be slid off without having to be
lifted over the end of form A.
This platform also carries a number (say in ordinary sized casks or barrels six)
flanged antifriction rollers P. P. Fig. 1. on which the before mentioned ring F.
rotates. The balance weight Q. is of such a weight as to only overcome the weight
of the form A. and lift it against the ring F. with such pressure that the two may
rotate together. Tapered steady pins or guides R. R. are provided on the ring F
for centring the form as it rises, inside the ring, thereby keeping the setting up
ring L concentric therewith.
The diameters of the ends of the form A. are so arranged as to form a gauge for the

page_text: quantity of wood or staves L' required for a cask or barrel of a given diameter; they
are each provided with a catch or stop, not shewn, for retaining the first stave upright
whilst the others are being fed.
In setting up forms for small barrels I use a foot lever or spring to operate the
form, but for large barrels I use two light wrought iron levers S. S. bent to such a
shape as to allow the central form A. to lower down until its top is level with the
ring F. as indicated by dotted centre lines of levers.
The other ends of the levers S. S. are extended on the opposite side of the fulcrum T.
which is carried by a suitable bracket T' bolted to the floor, and are provided with a
balance weight Q.
Suitable connecting links are pivotted to the pin D. in collar C. Fig. 1. whilst their
lower ends are pivotted to the wrought iron levers S. S. at E. as shewn by dotted
lines Fig. 1.
A foot lever U and pedal U. are also provided for starting the setting
up form from the inside of the staves which are held tightly together by placing
another truss ring or pass hoop over their ends it being say the diameter of the
bilge and is afterwards employed for trussing the cask.
This foot lever U. is pivotted to the base B' as shewn, and has a slot hole cut in
the shank into which it takes. There is also a long slot cut in the hollow central
shaft or spindle B. and at its lower end a cross piece B is provided on which the said
foot lever rests.
For raising and lowering the formn A. a hand lever V. placed in a convenient
position is provided it being secured to one of the levers S.
A catch, not shewn, may also be provided for retaining the form in any given
position thus for example if a barrel is required a little less in diameter, by lowering
the conical shaped form a certain distance the staves will be gauged in a different
position in comparison to their length thus gauging a less quantity of wood and so
making the required difference.
This
In a setting up form for some classes of casks I find it advantageous to modify the
arrangement so as to make it light, easy to work, and reducing the cost in manu-
facture, thus in the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 3. and 4. only the circular gauging
disc A. forming the upper end of a frustum of a cone is lowered into the inside of say
a cone shaped circular ring or guide A² which forms the lower end of the cone.
circular gauging disc A. may for lightness be built up of layers of wooden boards
having the direction of the grain crossed so as to retain the circular shape and be
securely fixed to the hollow spindle B. by plates and bolts as shewn in Figs. 3. and 4.
The cone shaped circular ring or guide A tapers quickly as shewn, to facilitate tho
insertion of the staves L' between it and the setting up ring L. It is bolted to the
circular plate F. so that should a cask of say a smaller size be required, by changing
the ring or guide A and gauging disc A. a variety of sizes may be gauged and
set up.
For large and heavy casks or barrels the circular plate F. is made solid (instead of
a ring as previously described as suitable for smaller barrels) and is guided and kept
central by the hollow central spindle B which has a slot hole B³ cut a sufficient
length for a cotter B. fixed in the bush F¹ to take, and allow the said spindle and
gauging disc to slide down.
The spindle is of sufficient length to slide in two guides B B Fig. 3 formed with
a suitable fixing which is bolted to a wooden baso or foundation N. sunk level with
the ground line as shewn. To this wooden frame six antifriction rollers P. P. are
secured, also a bracket T' having links T. pivotted thereto for carrying the lovers S. S.
and balance weight Q.
The levers are pivotted to a ring S' taking between fixed collars or supports S' on
the central spindle B.
As a substitute for the foot lever U. and pedal U¹ Fig. 1. for starting the cone, I
employ in this case a draw bar or link U. pivotted to one of the levers S. and a hand
lever U pivotted to a fixing U' secured to the wooden frame N as shewn in Figs. 3.
and 4.
The draw bar or link U. is provided with moveable stops U³ ³ so that by raising

page_text: the hand lever U₁ into the position shewn by dotted centre line, sufficient power is
gained to withdraw and release the gauging disc N. from the inside of the set up
staves L. The draw bar link is then lifted up by hand to bring the gauging disc
down on to the circular plate F. The plate F. carries as before described regulating
supports or pillars G. H. J. onto which for very large casks (I prefer to fix a ring L
of the requisite size to form the setting up hoop. This hoop is made in three
segments, (one half circle, and two quarter circles) hinged to the supports or
pillars G. G. and secured together by a latch L³ as shewn in Fig. 4. For retaining
the set up staves tightly together a pass hoop La bilge hoop L. and say a quarter
hoop L are passed over the barrel form and pressed tightly down, so that when the
catch L³ is released the two quarter segments may be opened out, as indicated by
dotted lines J. J. Fig. 4 to allow the barrel form to he lifted off.
The end of the fixing B2 is provided with a tube sunk into a well for the end of the
hollow central spindle B. to pass into, as shewn in Figs. 3 and 4.
It will thus be understood that by employing a setting up form according to this
invention, the staves are set up and gauged simultaneously, and are then ready to be
fired or finished by hand according to the class of timber employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, what I claim in machinery or
apparatus for setting up staves in the manufacture of casks and the like is :-
1. A cone shaped form capable of rotation in combination with a concentric trussing
hoop substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
2. A cone shaped form capable of rotation and of being lowered from the inside of
the set up staves substantially as described.
3. A cone shaped form capable of rotation in combination with a concentric ring
having arms or supports attached for carrying a trussing ring or its equivalent
substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
4. I also claim the improved machinery or apparatus for setting up staves for the
manufacture of casks, barrels, kegs or the like, constructed arranged and operating
substantially as described and illustrated in the drawings.
T
1024
150ISCHIOLI LODN
ום נום חד מושב חמוד זO---
100T
ALEXANDER DUNBAR.
Witness,
F. M. C. SCOTT,
Patent Agent,
Liverpool.