Improvements in Barrel-washing Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by HENRY EDMUND KLAMT, of Harrison, Hudson County,
State of New Jersoy, United States of America, Engineer.]
Improvements in Barrel-washing Machines.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to facilitate and reduce the cost of washing barrels
and kegs, as compared with the methods of doing the same now in general use.
The invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangements of the
several parts of the machine, substantially as will be hereinafter set forth and finally
embodied in the clauses of the claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in each of the several drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a
barrel washing machine, embodying my improvements, the skids not being shown and
a portion of one of the water-tanks broken away; Figure 2, is a top plan view of the
machine with the end brushes omitted and part of the lever omitted that connects with
the top brushes; Figure 3, is an elevation of the removing device; Figure 4 is a plan
view of the cam shown in Figures 1 and 2.
In said drawings A represents the frame of the machine which may be made of
metal or wood, as may be preferred; B, B¹, are tubs or tanks secured to the frame A
for holding water: Cis a block bolted or screwed to the frame A in which is placed
the bearings for the journals of the driving shaft D.
On the end of said main or driving shaft is placed a crank E with crank-pin F to
which are pivoted rods G and G₁ pivotally connecting said cranks with the loose
crank levers H, H' on shafts I and II.
These shafts revolve in bearings secured to the water-tanks. On the frame A, are
also adjusted bearings, k, and k¹, in which are journalled shafts, L, and L'.
On the rear end of the driving shaft is placed a driving pulley, or a crank can be
used when the machine is driven by hand.
a, a, a, and a³, represent barrels in various positions of the machine as the washing
proceeds.
Projecting from the shafts, 1 I', are arms b, b, so arranged as to receive between
them a barrel or keg, as shown in Figure, 1. Within the water tanks B and B are
arranged double wire frames, c, c, seen in Figures, 1 and 2, on which the barrels roll
when being carried through the water tanks by the action of the machines.
These frames c, c, are circular and of a radius a little larger than the arc in which
the arms, b, b, move.
These wire frames are supported at their lowest point in support, d as shown in
tank, B', Figure 1.
On the end of shafts, I, and 1', are arranged pawl and ratchet wheel devices, as
seen at e, e Figures, 1, and 2.
These ratchet wheels have teeth in their periphery so arranged as to stop the
revolution of the respective shafts to which they are attached when the arms on which
the barrel rests shall have reached a position even or nearly so with the top of the
rear part of the water tanks, as shown more particularly at 1, Figure 1.
On each of the shafts L, L', are fixed two rubber rollers f, f, Fi, F, and preferably
so arranged that the top of those rollers shall be a little below the top surface of the
water tank B. Upon the rear end of the shaft L', a driving pulley can be attached to
which motion power can be applied. On said shaft L' is also fixed a band wheel G'

page_text: and on the shaft L is fixed a similar band wheel g. Over these band wheels is
stretched a belt or band as seen in Figure 2 so that by this arrangement
shafts I, I will receive uniform motion.
On main shaft D) inside the frame of the machine is securely fixed a rear wheel K
meshing into small gear wheels on short shafts m. This shaft runs in bearings n, n.
located on top of supports secured to the bottom of frame A, as seen in Figure 2. On
this shaft m is arranged a crank e for separating the devices for removing the barrels
from the rollers and at the proper time.
This device is shown in Figure 3, and consists of an arm pivotally connected to
said crank e by crank-pin, g, and at its lowest extremity pivotally connected to one end
of link by crank pin s. This crank is also pivotally connected at its other end to
pin t-in lugs u, u, secured to the front of the water tank B₁ as seen in Figures 2.
The mechanism for brushing and scrubbing the outside of the barrel is as follows.
Upon main shaft D is arranged two cam-wheels 2, 2, of equal throw, as seen in
Figure 2.
Against the inner face of these cam-wheels rests or bears pin, 3, firmly secured in
the lower end of the lever, 4, as seen in Figure, 4. These levers 4, are pivotally
connected to lugs on the frame A, as at 6, and to the upper ends are secured brushes 7,
as seen in Fig. 1.
These cam-wheels are so cut upon their surfaces that the brushes 7, 7, which bear
up the ends or heads, of the barrels shall be withdrawn from contact with the barrel,
when the arm, P, raises up to so as to receive the barrel from the rollers,,.
Upon the periphery of the cam-wheels 2, (on the front of the machine) is formed
another cam projection, as shown at 8, Figure 1. Upon this periphery rests or is held
one end of lever, 9, Figure 1. This lever is pivoted to the frame as at, 10, and at its.
other end is pivoted to vertical lever, 12, and this lever 12, is pivoted to a horizontal
lever, 13, secured at. 14, to rocker shaft, 15, Fig. 2.
On the other end of this rocker shaft and upon the other side of the machine is
secured another lever 16. To the outer ends of these levers 13, and, 16, are bolted or
screwed hangers 17. In these hangers are secured the horizontal brush, 18, as seen.
in Figure 1. The action of these levers upon this horizontal brush will be clearly
understood from the drawing.
The cam-throw 8, should be so arranged and constructed that the brush 18, shall be
raised up from contact with the barrel at precisely the same time that the brushes, 7, 7,
are released from contact with the heads of the barrel.
I prefer to construct the rollers, f, f', on shafts, L and L, but they would from
long usage become smaller by being worn away. In order to compensate for this
wearing away, I arrange the bearings of the shafts so that they can be adjusted
upon the frame.
The hangers for holding the top brush, I construct in two parts, 17, and 171,
below which the brush head is clamped. The part, 171, is firmly secured below the
brush head; the part 17, has an elongated slot, so, that it can be raised or lowered
by slightly looseening the belts or screws which hold it to the ends of the leveres.
In running the machine, I prefer to have the shaft, L' make about 50 revolutions,
while the main shaft, D, is making one revolution.
The operation of the machine is as follows; The water tank, B, is filled with hot
water and the tank, B1, is filled with cold water; the barrel to be, washed is then
placed upon one of the arms, of the machine as seen at a, Figure 1, the machine
is then started and revolves in the direction shown by the arrows. The barrel is
carried slowly down into the tank, of hot water where it is rapidly filled sufficient for
washing, it is then carried up in the rear of the tank until the arm upon which, it
rests has reached the position shown at 6, the barrel will then roll over the ways or
skids, 181, Figure 2, to the top of the rollers, f, ff, f; the barrel will then be
in position as at a', and the top end brushes will by means of the camn-wheels above
refereed to be brought in contact with the barrel.
These rollers revolving at a high rate of speed, the water inside the barrel does.
not move as fast as the barrel itself, hence the inside of the barrel is scrubbed and,

page_text: rubbed by the friction of the water, while the outside, is being brushed and scrubbed
by the top and end brushes.
The removing arm, p, then raises up and pushes up and the barrel over onto the
ways or skids, 19, over which it rolls and onto the arm. , from the shaft, I', which
will be there in the action of the machine at the right time to receive it.
The barrel is then carried down and into the cold water tank, B', as seen at a², and
after being rinsed and cleaned is rolled up to the rear of the machine and from thence
to a table or any place arranged to receive it.
I do not intend to limit myself to the use of rubber rollers, such as I have described
on shafts, L, L, as metal rolls can be used which would be cheaper, or wooden rolls
if made of close grained wool.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
a
1. The improved automatic barrel washing machine herein described, combining
tank adapted for filling the barrels with hot water; means for washing and scrubbing
said barrels, and a tank adapted for cleansing and rinsing the barrels after they have
been washed and scrubbed, together with means for automatically moving the barrel
in the different operations, as and for the purposes set forth.
2. An automatic barrel washer combining a plurality of washing tanks, a carrier
for conveying or transferring the keg or barrel from one tank to the next, and a
scrubber or washer for removing the adhering dirt in the transfer, as set forth.
3. In a barrel washing machine, (a mechanism for filling the barrels with water
consisting of) a water tank, a revolving shaft provided with arms for receiving,
holding and automatically discharging the barrel from the tank, pawl and ratchet
wheel for regulating the motion of the shaft crank, levers, and rods connecting said
shafts of the machine, substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.
4. In a barrel washing machine, a washing and scrubbing mechanism consisting
of two revolving shafts provided with rubber rollers on which the barrel rests and
with which it revolves, brushes adapted and arranged to automatically brush and scrub
the ends and sides of the barrel and an arm disposed to automatically lift and remove
the barrel from the rollers, substantially as described and for the purposes set
forth.
5. In a barrel washing machine, the combination with main driving shaft, D,
provided with crank E, of tanks B, shafts, I, I, cranks, H, Harms, b, b, for
holding the barrels, pawls, and ratchets, e, el and rods, G, G' connecting
cranks, H, H to crank, E, substantially as described and for the purposes set
forth.
6. In a barrel washing machine, the combination with main driving shaft, D, of
gear wheel, K, on said shaft, gear wheel 1, meshing into said gear wheel, K, crank, o
and link, arm, p, pin t, cam-wheels, 2, 2, on main driving shaft, pivoted levers, 14,
having their lower ends resting against said cam-wheels, brushes 7, 7, secured to the
upper ends of said levers, pivoted lever, 9, having one end resting upon the periphery
of cam-wheel 2, and operated by projection 8, on said camwheel, pivoted lever, 13,
rod, 12, connecting levers 9, and 13, rocker shaft, 15, to which are secured levers 13,
and 16, brush and clamps, 17, secured to the ends of levers 13, 16, all said parts
being arranged and combined as herein shown and for the purposes set forth.
7. In a barrel washing machine, the combination with main driving shaft, D,
provided with gear wheel K, of a gear wheel 1, shaft, m, crank, o, arm, p, link, r,
pin, t, and lugs, u, u, secured to the frame of the machine, all said parts being
arranged and combined as shown and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 26th day of March 1889
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.