IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING CASKS. BARRELS. AND OTHER WOODEN VESSELS OF CAPACITY
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Davidson, of Woolwich, in the County of
Kent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING
CASKS. BARRELS. AND OTHER WOODEN VESSELS OF CAPACITY."
Sealed the 8th December 1865, and dated the 22nd September 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Davidson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd
September 1865.
I, JAMES DAVIDSON, of Woolwich, in the County of Kent, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for.". IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
POB MAKING CASKS, BARRELS, AND OTHER WOODEN VESSELS OF CAPACITY," to be as
follows:
I...
This Invention relates to improvements in machinery applicable to the
bending and the shaping of staves, in forming the heads of casks and other
vessels, and in trussing and finishing casks and other vessels.
My Invention relates firstly to an arrangement of mechanism for bending
staves for making casks after being steamed in suitable cisterns. The
mechanism consists of one or more wheels of large diameter, carrying at their
periphery a series of moulds or bending blocks, which are set transversely
across the wheels. The stave blanks are inserted in the moulds and the upper

page_text: blocks are screwed down tight so as to shape the stave blanks both longitudi-
nally and transversely to the curve required. A slow rotary motion is given
to the wheels to allow of the moulded staves being removed and replaced
without arresting the rotation of the wheels.
The second improvement relates to an arrangement of machinery for cutting
the staves to the required length in their bent state. Upon a cast-iron bed
two circular saws are mounted in suitable headstocks. These saws are
capable of adjustment to any required angle and of being set at varying
distances apart to suit various lengths of staves and different bevils. Between
these saws is mounted a traversing frame for receiving the bent staves and
presenting them to the saws to be cut. This frame may be mounted upon
antifriction wheels. It is fitted with a block on which the curved stave is
laid and the stave is held down thereon by means of a presser piece jointed to
a hand lever. This lever is supported by a bracket arm, and it is weighted in.
order to raise the pressing piece when the pressure of the hand of the
attendant is taken off the hand lever. The traversing frame is operated by a
second band lever, or its equivalent, which by sliding the frame on its guides.
brings the ends of the staves into contact with, and passes them between the
saws.
The third part of my Invention relates to a novel arrangement of machinery
for rounding the outside of staves. and hollowing the inside of; cask. staves to
the proper curves. In this machine the staves are operated upon after being
bent to the required shape for forming casks. On the table of the machine
are fixed two curved fences for guiding the stave past the vertical concave
and convex rotary cutters. Each fence is fitted with a removeable block or
filling piece, corresponding to the curve of the staves, and the staves are held
in close contact therewith while passing under the action of the cutters by
means of pressing guide rollers. The staves in passing through the machine
are rounded on the outside and hollowed on the inside by the rotating vertical
cutters.
The fourth part of my Invention relates to a machine for jointing the staves
of barrels before submitting them to the bending operation. Upon a cast-iron
horizontal frame a large wheel is mounted, having a number of radial arms,
say eight, which are capable of being moved to and fro from, the centre
by means of screw shafts passing through the arms and working into
tapped nuts fixed in the sockets of the radial arms. These arms carry at their
outer ends a transverse piece which gives the arms the form of the letter T.
The use of these arms is to present the staves to be jointed to a pair of rotating
circular saws, and to pass them between the saws, and thereby effect the

page_text: jointing of the stave, and for this purpose the arms are provided with clips for.
holding the staves firmly. Within range of these arms the circular saws are.
mounted on the horizontal: frame, and to adapt the cut to staves for casks of.
various sizes the pedestal on which the wheel with the radial arms is mounted.
is made adjustable to or from the saws through the action of a pair of coupled
traversing screws: The saws are also capable of being. adjusted to an angle
corresponding with the joint of the stave to be jointed. A slow, rotating,
motion is given to the wheel whereby the staves applied. to the arms of..th
wheel are each successively brought into contact with the saws which will cut.
the joint to the required curve and bevil. The attendant stands at the;
opposite end of, the framework to 'that where the circular saws are mounted,
to feed in the saw blanks, and as; they, are jointed the staves are released,
by the clip arrangement striking against a fixed adjustable stop at the feeding.
end of the machine. The stave blanks are secured to the wheel while it
continues to rotate, and they are brought into position or centred by the aid
of a fixed-fence which is adjustable laterally to suit various widths of;
staves.
1
"
-The fifth part of; my. Invention relates to machinery for, forcing truss hoops,
on the bent staves when brought together to form a cask., To this end I use:
a modification of the hydraulic trussing press. Above a table which is affixed;
to the vertical-ram, a cast-iron 'hood divided into three parts is mounted. The,
hood; is carried by pillars from the foundation plate of the machine. Two of
the three parts of this hood are capable of receiving a sliding motion through;
gearing, which couples them together and ensures their moving simultaneously
and instantly releasing the trussed, cask: The hood is 'grooved- internally to
receive the truss hoops, which are inserted previously to the press being put
to work. When, the truss hoops are in their places the two moveable parts
of the hood' are brought close together, the staves are set up on end upon the,
tables, their upper ends being inserted in the hood. Motion is then given -to
the ram which, forces, up the staves into the hood and causes the truss hoops
to bind upon the now partially formed cask.. The hood is made to receive.
rather more than one-half of the cask. The ram having-reached its highest
position is now lowered, and the hood is opened to release the cask, which
comes out with the truss hoops left upon it. This operation is repeated upon
the other end of the staves, and the cask is then completely trussed.
As a modification of the above, I propose to use three vertical supports.or
wrought-iron standards in place of the divided hood, for carrying the truss.
hoops and resisting the strain of the press. These standards act as guides for
the rising table, and one of them is hinged at foot to the base plate to allow

page_text: of its being thrown back to provide for the insertion of the truss hoops which
are fitted into notches in the inner face of the standards, and for the release
of the cask when trussed. The standards are all bound together at top by
a hoop to make them firm, and a latch fastening is used to allow of the
hinged standard being readily released.
⚫ The sixth part of my Invention relates to machinery for grooving and
chiming casks, or preparing them to receive their heads and finishing
their ends. The machine consists of a lathe bed, on which two rings
supported in a vertical position by suitable stays are mounted to receive
the ends of the cask to be grooved. These stays are mounted at opposite
ends of the lathe bed, and one is bolted to the bed, while the other is capable'
of sliding thereon. Connected with the ring on the fixed stay is a flanged
wheel, which serves as a driving pulley for rotating the cask when "clamped
securely in the rings, which are free to turn in their bearings. The moveable'
stay is mounted upon a slide on the lathe bed, and can be moved to and fro
by means of a lever or other suitable means. The cask is placed between
these two supports, and one end of the cask having been pushed into the'
stationary ring the other ring is brought up by the lever and forced tightly
upon the other end of the cask. Suitable slides carrying cutting tools are
mounted in each of the stays, for the purpose of turning out the ends of the
cask and cutting the grooves to receive the heads.
A central support is
provided for preventing the cask from falling out of the machine when
released from the ring of the sliding stay.
My seventh improvement relates to an arrangement of reciprocating saw
for cutting round the heads of the casks after they are jointed and doweled'
together. A cast-iron standard carries two vertical slides, on which are fitted
two arms kept asunder by a centre piece, about the length of the saw. At
one end of these arms is mounted a web saw with suitable buckles, and on
the other end of these arms a tension bolt is provided for tightening the saw.
A shaft and crank mounted in the lower part of the cast-iron standard gives
reciprocating motion to the saw through a connecting rod. A table 'fixed to
+the side of the cast-iron upright carries a swivel clamping frame for presenting
'the wood to the saw, and for moving it round to enable the saw to cut out
the circular head..
The eighth head of the Invention relates to a novel construction of lathe
for turning a V-edge on the heads of casks or other vessels and giving them a
slightly oval or elliptical form. The head to be turned is held fast between
the face plate of the lathe and an adjustable pressing plate. Across the face
plate a slide is fitted, which by means of pins takes a firm hold of the head to

page_text: be turned. This slide is operated through its connection with a rod which
passes through the lathe spindle. This rod is coupled with the slide by a pin
taking into a slot cut at an angle to the axis of the rod. As therefore the
rod is moved endwise by means of a hand wheel and screw, the slide will be
moved and with it the cask head, which being thus thrown out of centre after
the head has been turned round the cutting tool will reduce the circular head
to an elliptical form. This machine may be fitted with one or a pair of
cutting tools carried by a slide capable of being moved to and from the centre
of the lathe. This slide carries an upright too! holder capable of being moved
round about a fourth of a circle. When two tools are used, two arms project
from the stem of this upright, each carrying a cutting tool, which is brought
into operation on each side of the intended head to give the proper bevil and
shape to the edge of the head. This machine may also be used for giving
the rough circular form to the head if thought desirable.
My last improvement relates to the machine for boring the bung holes in
the casks, and consists of a radial arm having trunnions and mounted in
suitable journals. These trunnions are hollow, and inside them is, mounted a
shaft carrying driving pulleys for the purpose of driving the drill spindle.
The radial arm is capable of being elevated or depressed so as to suit any
size of cask placed vertically against a fence.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed.
by the said James Davidson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd March 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
DAVIDSON, of Woolwich, in the County of Kent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of September, in the year of our
Loid One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
.the said James Davidson, Her special licence that I, the said James Davidson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Davidson, 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 1sl of Man, an luveution for IMPROVEMENTS IN
"

page_text: MACHINERY FOR MAKING CASKS, BARRELS, AND OTHER WOODEN VESSELS OF
CAPACITY," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James
Davidson, 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 James Davidson, 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, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to "improvements in machinery applicable to the
bending and the shaping of staves, in forming the heads of casks and other
vessels, and in trussing and finishing casks and other vessels.
My Invention relates, firstly, to an arrangement of mechanism for bending
staves for making casks after being steamed in suitable cisterns. The mecha-
nism consists of a pair of wheels of large diameter mounted on a horizontal
shaft and carrying at their periphery a series of moulds or bending blocks,
which are set transversely across the wheels. The stave blanks are inserted
in the moulds and the upper blocks are screwed down tight so as to shape the
stave blanks both longitudinally and transversely to the curve required. A
slow rotary motion is given to the wheels to allow of the moulded staves being
removed and replaced without arresting the rotation of the wheels.
In Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings, Figures 1 and 2 shew the
manner of constructing this stave moulding apparatus; Fig. 1 being a side
view of one of the wheels with two moulds (of a series) applied thereto, and
Fig. 2 shews the wheels in edge view, with the moulds mounted thereon and
the driving gear for giving a slow rotary motion to the wheels. The wheels
a, a, are keyed to a horizontal shaft b, which carries a worm wheel c in gear
with a worm on the shaft of an intermediate crown wheel d. Gearing into
this wheel d is a bevil pinion keyed to the driving shaft e. The moulds are
composed of an upper and 'under die f, g, the upper die f being moveable and
forced down on to the stave to be moulded by means of a compressing screw h,
which passes through the cross head of the mould.
The second improvement relates to an arrangement of machinery for cutting
the staves to the required length in their bent state. Upon a cast-iron bed
two circular saws are mounted in suitable headstocks. These saws are

page_text: capable of adjustment to suit various lengths of staves, and, if desired, of
different bevils.
t
In Sheet I., Fig. 3 shews this improved machine in plan view; Fig. 4 in
front elevation; and Fig. 5 in end elevation. Upon the bed A of the
machine the adjustable brackets B, B, are mounted. These brackets are
fitted with bearings for receiving the spindles which carry the saws C at their
inner ends. The saws C are set at an inclination to suit the bevil to be given
to the ends of the staves, and they are driven by straps which pass from
pulleys D' on the main driving shaft over the flanged pulleys D¹ keyed to the
saw spindles. Between these saws is mounted a traversing frame or carriage
E for receiving the bent staves and presenting them to the saws to be cut.
This frame or carriage is furnished with antifriction rollers e, e, which embrace
the projecting guides of a central guide plate F affixed to the bed A. The
carriage is fitted with a block E', on which the curved stave G is laid, and
the stave is held down thereon by means of a pressing piece H jointed to a
hand lever H', and it is weighted in order to raise the pressing piece H when
the pressure of the hand of the attendant is taken off the hand lever. The
traversing frame or carriage is operated by a second band lever I, which is
keyed to an axle 1', that is carried by a sleeve bracket projecting from the
front end of the central guide plate F. To the opposite end of the axle T¹ to
that which carries the lever I an arm I is keyed to receive a coupling link I³,
which is made fast to the front of the carriage. By pushing forward the hand
lever I the carriage is slidden on its guides, the ends of the staves are brought
into contact with and pass between the inclined saws, which by their
rotation will cut the staves to the gauged length and give them the required
end bevil.
my
The third part of Invention relates to a novel arrangement of machinery
for rounding the outside of staves and hollowing the inside of cask staves to
the proper curves. In this machine the staves are operated upon after being
bent to the required shape for forming casks. On the bed of the machine a
curved fence is fixed for guiding the stave past concave and convex rotary
cutters. The staves are held in close contact with the fence while passing
under the action of the cutters by means of pressing guide rollers.
are
The rounding and hollowing machine is shewn in several views in Sheets II.
and III. of the Drawings. Fig. 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 is. a plan
view, and Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same; Figures 4 and 5
detached views showing the weighted levers for operating upon the pressing.
rollers; Fig. 6 shews the cutters and holding-down rollers in section; and.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of part of the curved fence against which the stave is.

page_text: pressed, shewing the opening for the cutters. A, A, is the frame of the
machine; B, B, and B*, B*, are two rocking frames mounted one above and
the other below the bed of the machine on trunnions d and carried by the
framing. These rocking frames are fitted with journals to carry the counter-
shafts C, C, for the driving pullies c, c*. On the inner ends of these rocking
frames are mounted in journals the cutter spindles D and D*, which are
respectively fitted with convex and concave cutters, as shewn at Figures 3
and 6. Keyed to one end of the cutter spindles are driving pulleys d, d*,
which receive the driving belts from the pulleys c, c, of the shafts C, C*.
The upper rocking frame D* is beld in position by a regulating screw a which
binds it to the frame A. On one side of the lower rocking frame B is fixed a
stud carrying the friction bowle E, which rides on the periphery of the cam F
and as that cam rotates raises and lowers the cutter spindle D, so that as tho
stave passes over the lower or hollowing cutters the middle part of the stave
is cut thinner than the ends. G, G¹, G³, G³, are two pairs of friction rollers
which are geared together by spur wheels, for feeding and discharging the
staves. In the feeding roller G₁ is a slot, into which is fitted a sliding piece
or stop (see Fig. 6). This stop is pushed outwards by means of springs 1
until it comes nearly in contact with the corresponding feeding roller below.
When the operator feeds the machine he pushes the end of the stave against
this stop piece, which ensures its being carried forward at the proper time for
the cutter to shape the inside of the stave and make it thinner at the bilge
than at the ends. H, H, are weighted levers for pressing the upper rollers
G, G', against the staves; b, b, are two pressure rollers, also provided with
weighted levers, for pressing the stave up against the fixed curved fence K.
I, I, I, I, are a train of spur wheels which gear the feeding rollers and the
cam F so as to drive them simultaneously; L, L, are a pair of pulleys
mounted on a stud axle for driving the gearing and feed rollers; and M, M,
are pulleys on the shafts C, C*, for receiving straps from the prime mover and
communicating the same to the cutters.
From the above description of the machine it will be understood that the
staves in passing through the machine are rounded on the outside and
hollowed on the inside at the bilge by the rotating concave and convex
cutters.
The fourth part of my Invention relates to a machine for jointing the staves
of barrels before submitting them to the bending operation. This machine is
shewn in Sheet IV., Fig. 1 being a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan view.
Upon a cast-iron horizontal frame a large wheel is mounted, having a number
of radial arms (say eight) which are capable of being moved to and fro from

page_text: the centre by means of screw shafts passing through the arms and working
into tapped nuts fixed in the sockets of the radial arms.
These arms carry
at their outer ends a transverse piece which gives the arms the form of the
letter T in side elevation. The use of these arms is to present the staves to
be jointed to a pair of rotating circular saws, and to pass them between the
saws and thereby effect the jointing of the stave, and for this purpose the
arms are provided with clips for holding the staves firmly. Within range of
these arms the circular saws are mounted on the horizontal frame, and to
adapt the cut to staves for casks of various sizes the pedestal which carries
the wheel with the radial arms is made adjustable to or from the saws through
the action of a pair of coupled traversing screws. The saws are also capable
of being adjusted to an angle corresponding with that required for the joint
of the stave. A slow rotating motion is given to the wheel, whereby the
staves applied to the arms of the wheel are each successively brought into
contact with the saws which will cut the staves to the required taper and
bevil.
A, A, is the frame of the machine; B, B, are the driving pulleys mounted
on the shaft C, which is carried by bearings inside the frame and near the
floor; keyed to this shaft is a bevil wheel D (shewn by dots in Fig. 1), which
takes into another bevil wheel E keyed on the upright shaft E'; F is a bevil
wheel keyed on the top end of the shaft E', which takes into two bevil
wheels G, G, keyed respectively on the shafts G' and G¹. These shafts
are mounted on adjustable standards on the bed of the machine, which
standards are capable of being placed at such an angle as will correspond
with the angle of the saw spindle; H and H✶ are the saw spindles mounted
in headstocks capable of being placed in a diagonal position to each other
so as to cut the stave to the proper bevil. These spindles are driven by
bands from pulleys on the shafts G & G*; on the driving shaft C is keyed
a spur wheel C' which takes into a stud wheel Ca mounted on the frame A.
The pinion on this stud wheel C drives another spur wheel C³, keyed on a
short shaft (supported by bracket bearings at the side of the machine)
carrying also a cone pulley I. This cono pulley drives by a band the cone
pulley Jon the worm shaft J. At the opposite end of this shaft a worm
is fitted capable of sliding thereon by means of a key and groove; this worm
takes into the worm wheel K which is mounted upon the end of the axle L,
carrying the radial arm wheel M. The worm wheel K is attached by friction
cones and a bolt L' which passes through the entire length of the shaft L,
and is screwed at its end to receive a hand wheel L', which acts as a nut to
tighten up the cones on which the worm wheel K is mounted; on the axle L

page_text: is keyed the large wheel or hollow boss M; in this boss is fitted a series of
radial arms N capable of being adjusted to the diameter by means of
screws N¹ which pass through the inside of these arms; the outer end of these
arms N being shaped like a T form beds for the staves to lie upon whilst
being cut. The staves cut to the length in the usual bevil shape, at the ends
are gripped by the excentric clasp N* at one end of the stave, and the other
end is thereby pushed against a bevil projection at the end of the bed or T
piece N. O. is a flat fence to lay the stave against while being clamped on
the T-piece or bed N*; P, P, are screws mounted in the framework A for
the purpose of sliding the journals which carry the axle L to or from the
circular saws, and they are operated through the worm shaft P by means of
a hand.key; Q, Q, is a strap guide and handle for moving the driving band
upon the driving pulleys; R is a stud fitted in a slot in the lower part of the
frame A for the purpose of releasing the excentric clasp N³, which grips
the staves so as to allow the stave to fall out before the arm rises above
the framing, and be ready for the operator to supply each arm with a fresh
stave. The attendant stands at the end of the framework where the fence O
is situate to feed in the stave blanks and clamp them to the rotating beds.
The continued rotation of the wheel or hollow boss M will then press the
stave blanks between the rotating circular saws, and thus effect the jointing
of the stave, after which they will be released by the handle of the clamping
excentric striking against the adjustable stud R, and fall out of the machine
near the feet of the attendant, leaving the beds free to receive fresh blanks,
which are secured in position while the wheel or hollow boss continues to
rotate, the blanks being brought into position or centred by the aid of the
fixed fence O, which is adjustable laterally to suit various widths of staves.
The fifth part of my Invention relates to machinery for forcing truss hoops
on to the bent and jointed staves when brought together to form a cask. To
this end I use a modification of the well-known hydraulic trussing press,
which is shown in elevation and plan in Sheet V., Fig. 1 being an elevation
partly in section, and Fig. 2 a plan view of the same. A, A, is the bed of
the press, to which are secured three pillars B, B, B. These pillars serve to
support a hood, which is composed of a strong. cast-iron hoop C, fitted with
three segment pieces D, D', D³, one of which is fixed, and the other two
moveable radially. These segment pieces are recessed to receive the truss
hoop, into which the end of the cask is intended to be thrust by the hydraulic
ram. The cask to be trussed is placed upon the table E, which is affixed to
and carried by the vertical ram F, the rise and fall of which is offected in the
manner commion to bydraulic presses. This table is provided with guides

page_text: which embrace the pillars B, B, B, and serve to steady the table in its vertical
movements. The two segment pieces D', D, of the hood receive a sliding
motion through gearing which couples them together and ensures their
moving simultaneously and instantly releasing the trussed cask. d, d, aro
radial shafts having their bearings in the hoop C. Their inner ends (see
Fig. 1) are screwed to enter tapped bosses affixed to the rear of the sliding
segment pieces; when, therefore, these shafts are rotated they will either
advance or withdraw the segment pieces. To insure the simultaneous action
of the segment pieces D' and D, bevil wheels d' are keyed to the outer ends
of the shafts d, d, and into these gear respectively the pinions d³, d, which
are mounted on the diagonal shaft . Radial arms keyed to one end of this
shaft allow of its being slowly rotated to move the segments inward to grip
the truss hoop, and backwards to release it when the cask has been trussed.
The truss hoop is inserted in the annular groove previously to the ram being
put to work. When it is in place the two moveable.segments are brought
up to hold the truss hoop securely, and the staves are then set up on end
upon the table, their upper ends being inserted in the hood. Motion is now
to be given to the ram which will force up the staves into the hood and cause
the truss hoop to bind upon the now partially formed cask. The hood is
made to receive rather more than one-balf of the cask. The ram having
reached its highest position is now lowered, and the sliding segments
are drawn back by the attendant to release the cask which will come
out of the press with the truss hoop left upon it. This operation is repeated
upon the other end of the staves, and the cask is then completely trussed.
As a modification of the above 1 propose in place of the divided hood for
carrying the truss hoops and resisting the strain of the press, to use threo
vertical supports or wrought-iron standards, one of which is hinged at foot
to the base plate to allow of its being thrown back to provide for the
insertion of the truss hoops, which are fitted into notches in the inner face of
the standards, and for the release of the cask when trussed.
In Sheet VI., Fig. 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan view of this
arrangement of trussing press. A, A, are fixed standards firmly secured to
the bed plate B, and A! is a third vertical support secured to the bed plate
by a hinge joint. Between these standards rises a recessed table carried as
before explained by the ram, and on the table the cask is set up, the ends of
the staves being inserted for convenience in a binding ring set in the recess
of the table. The standards are all bound together at top by a hoop C to
make them firm, the two standards A, A, being secured thereto by nuts, and
the third standard A' is secured by a latch fastening to allow of its being

page_text: :
readily released. The upper end of the standard A' (see Fig. 2) enters a
socket formed in the edge of the ring C, and a hand lever D, jointed to the
ring and fitting into a catch on the ring, serves to confine the standard in its
socket. By simply lifting this handle the standard A' is left free to be
moved back to release the trussed cask. When the cask is removed from the
press the standard A¹ is restored to its upright position and made secure
.therein.
The sixth part of my Invention applies chiefly to the manufacture of large
casks, and relates to machinery for grooving and chiming the casks, or pre-
paring them to receive their heads and finishing their ends. The machine
may be described as consisting of a lathe bed on which two ring chucks, one
stationary and the other adjustable, are mounted, for receiving the ends of the
cask to be grooved, and rotating the same under the action of suitable cutting
tools. These tools are intended to operate simultaneously on opposite ends of
the cask, and for this purpose two attendants are required to throw them into
and out of action.
In Sheet VII., Fig. 1 shews the grooving and chiming machine in side
elevation, with a cask in position for being acted upon, and Fig. 2 is a plan
view of the same. A, A, is the bed of the machine, near the centre of which
is mounted a cradle or support B for the cask to be operated upon. This
support B is mounted in vertical guides in a carriage B', and is capable of
receiving a slight vertical motion therein from an excentric, which is operated
by a winch handle b. To the under side of the carriage a rack is fitted, into
which gears a spur wheel b', keyed to the axle of a hand wheel. This
arrangement is for the purpose of traversing the cask endwise and inserting
one end of the cask' in the stationary ring chuck. C and C are the ring
chucks mounted respectively in fixed and sliding heads D, D', but so that
they are free to revolve therein. The ring C is formed with a horizontal
flange c, which is intended to receive a driving band and serve the purpose of
a driving pulley, and also with a vertical flange c'. This latter flange bears
against a set of horizontal antifriction pulleys & mounted in the head D for
the purpose of receiving the lateral pressure of the ring, and in the head
vertical pulleys are also mounted for the periphery of the ring to run on.
The other ring C¹ is similarly mounted on friction pulleys to enable it to
rotate freely. The moveable head D' carrying the ring C¹ is mounted upon
a slide D on the lathe bed to admit of its being moved to and fro to secure
the cask in the ring chucks, and to release it when the grooving and chiming
is effected. A rack is fixed to the under side of the slide D2, into which gears
a pinion d, which is set in action by a hand wheel D³ through a train of

page_text: gearing d. The cask having been placed on the cradle or support B, and
one end of the cask having been pushed into the stationary ring C, the other
ring is brought up by means of the hand wheel and gearing before mentioned,.
and forced tightly upon the other end of the cask. Slide rests E, E¹, carrying
suitable cutting tools are mounted at opposite ends of the bed A for the
purpose of turning out simultaneously the opposite ends of the cask and
cutting the grooves to receive the heads.
My seventh improvement relates to an arrangement of reciprocating saw
for cutting round the heads of the casks after they are jointed and dowelled
together.
This arrangement is shewn in side elevation in Sheet VIII. A is a cast-
iron standard carrying two vertical rectangular slides B, B, on which are
fitted two arms C, C, kept asunder by a centre piece C¹ about the length of
the saw.
At one end of these arms C is mounted a web saw D with suitable
buckles, and on the other end of these arms a tension bolt E is provided for
tightening the saw. A shaft and crank F mounted in the lower part of the
cast-iron standard gives a reciprocating motion to the saws through a con-
necting rod F. Upon a table G carried by a bracket from the cast-iron
standard A a clamping frame I is mounted, and is capable of sliding in V-guides
thereon by means of a worm and rack or other equivalent motion. This
frame is fitted with two clamping screws I and K, and is intended to present
the wood to the saw. The wood when clamped between the screw I and a'
loose rest I in a line therewith is free to be moved round by the attendant,
when the reciprocating saw will rapidly cut out the circular head. But in
order to enable the saw to enter the wood it is necessary to move the wood
directly up to the saw. This is effected by clamping it between the screw
clamp K and the fixed rest K¹, and then traversing the frame until the saw
has fairly entered the wood. A rest L is provided to steady the wood
under the action of the saw, and a bowle L' carried by a spring arm which
presses it down upon the wood, and prevents it from rising with the lift of
the saw.
The eighth head of the Invention relates to a novel construction of lathe
for turning a V-edge on the heads of casks or other vessels, and giving them
a slightly oval or elliptical form.
In Sheet IX., Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the improved
machine; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; and Fig. 3 is an end elevation.
The head to be turned is held fast between the face plate of the lathe
and an adjustable pressing plate as is usual, but the chief peculiarity of the
improved macbiue is that across the face plate a slide is fitted, which by

page_text: means of pins takes a firm hold of the head to be turned, and may be shifted
at pleasure (while the lathe is in motion) to give any. amount of excentricity
to the cask head. A is the face plate of the lathe, formed with a V-guide ou
its face to receive the slide B, and with a central recess to receive a forked
projection formed on the back of the slide.. This projection carries a pin (see
Fig. 1) which passes through an inclined slot made in a flattened portion of a
rod C which passes through the lathe spindle. This flattened portion of the
rod lies. within the forked projection of the slide, and its slot is cut at an
angle to the axis of the rod to receive the pin which forms a coupling between
the rod and the slide. By moving therefore the rod C endwise by means of
a hand wheel C¹ working on a screw thread cut on a sleeve shaft attached to
the end of the rod by a swivel joint, the slide will be moved end wise, and with.
it the cask head which is secured thereto with the grain of the wood parallel
with the sides of the slide. The cask head being thus thrown out of centre
after it has been turned round is ready to be reduced (across the line of the
grain) by the cutting tool to an elliptical form. The machine may be fitted
with one or a pair of cutting tools carried by a slide rest capable of being
moved laterally towards and from the centre of the lathe. The slide rest D.
(Fig. 2) carries an upright tool holder D', which is capable of being moved
round on its centre pin about a fourth of a circle, as indicated by the dotted
lines, for the purpose of bringing the tool to act alternately upon opposite
edges of the cask head, and thus give the head the required bevil edge.
Figures 4 and 5 shew in plan and elevation a slide rest with a tool
holder for carrying two tools. The holder is formed with two arms, which.
project from the stem of the upright, and each of these arms carries a cutting
tool which is brought into operation each on its respective side of the intended
head by giving the slide rest a lateral motion and the tool holder a swinging,
motion on its centre pin. Adjustable stops will be required for regulating
the amount of the above-mentioned movements.
In working with this machine it will be requisite to set the head excen-
trically first in one direction and then in the opposite direction to produce
the irregular turning desired. The above-described machine may also be used
for giving the rough circular form to the head, if thought desirable, instead of
using the sawing machine last described. For this purpose a tool holder E
is introduced for carrying a cutting tool e, which is advanced to its work by
means of a hand wheel and gearing e' working a screwed traversing shaft
which carries the tool holder.
My last improvement relates to a machine for boring the bung holes in
caske

page_text: In Sheet X., Fig. 1 shews the machine in end elevation; Fig. 2 is a
plan view of the same partly in section; and Fig. 3 a sectional elevation
taken in the line 1, 2, of Fig. 2. a is the drill spindle, carried by a hollow
shaft b, in which it is capable of sliding and with which it revolves, a groove
and feather connection being made between them. This hollow shaft has
its bearings in the end of a radius frame A, which is mounted on a shaft B;
carried by a rocking frame B', the fulcrum of which is a rock shaft sup-
ported in bearings secured to the bed plate C. On the hollow shaft bis a
pulley c which is driven by a strap from the pulley d on the shaft B, which
shaft also carries the fast and loose driving pulleys e. The radius framo
moves over the face of a standard D bolted to the bed plate, and an opening
is made in this standard for the drill to project through. On the face of this
standard holes are made to receive a pin f, which passes through the drill
frame to secure the same at any required elevation to suit the work in hand.
The cask to be bored is placed on the bed plate C, which is provided with an
adjustable fence C¹ for holding the cask in position. Jointed to the drill
spindle is a hand lever g, by operating which the drill may be pressed forward
to its work, and withdrawn therefrom as required. It will be understood that
the object of mounting the drill spindle in the radius frame is to enable it to
be elevated or depressed so as to suit any size of cask placed vertically against
the fence C¹.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of improvements in
machinery for making casks, barrels, and other wooden vessels of
capacity, and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I
wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent
I claim,
First, the construction of machine above described for moulding stave
blanks.
Second, the arrangement of clamping carriage above described for pre-
senting the bent staves to the circular saws for cutting and bevilling the ends
of the staves.
Third, the improved arrangement of machinery above described for rounding
and hollowing staves in their bent state.
Fourth, the improved arrangement of machinery above described for jointing
staves.
Fifth, I claim constructing the hood of trussing presses with fixed and
sliding segment pieces in the manner and for the purpose above set forth, and
also the modification above described of hinged standard or support, which
allows of the ready insertion and removal of the truss loops.

page_text: Sixth, the means above described for chucking casks for the purpose of
chiming and grooving the two ends simultaneously.
Seventh, the mode of mounting the reciprocating saw of the circular head
cutting machine, and keeping the same. at tension.
Eighth, the means above described for giving excentricity to the cask head
while the lathe is in motion.
Lastly, the arrangement of boring machine as above described for boring.
the bung holes of casks.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Davidson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twenty-second day of March; in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lanc.
J. DAVIDSON. (L.S.)