AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR CLEANING BARRELS OR CASKS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jonathan Peacock, of Rockford, Illinois, United
States of America, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Brewer, for the Invention of "AN..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Jonathan Peacock at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Decla-
ration, on the 15th August 1867, pursuant to the 9th Section of the
Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO. ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JONATHAN
PEACOCK, of Rockford, Illinois, United States of America, now of No. 8,
Southampton, Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Brewer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "AN IMPROVED MACHINE
FOR CLEANING BARRELS OR CASKS," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant
unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent
for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that I am the true and first
Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jonathan Peacock, do bereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal, fully
describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner

page_text: the same is to be performed, in and by the following statement, reference
being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings forming a part of this
Specification:-
☐ My Invention relates to the construction of a machine wherein the barrels
or casks are cleansed by the centrifugal action of water or other liquid, which
action is produced by the rotation of the barrels upon a central axis.
The said Invention consists, chiefly, in the employment of two or more
rotating frames arranged to turn upon the same horizontal axis, and adjusted
to balance one with the other when loaded.
The said Invention, also consists partly in the construction of the said
frames in the devices for holding the barrels and adjusting them in different
positions therein, to ensure the desired action of the cleansing liquid on all
parts of their surfaces, in the means for adapting the rotating frames to receive
barrels or casks of various sizes, and for holding a number of barrels evenly
balanced during their rotation; also in the devices for locking the frames
together and adjusting and securing them in the proper position to allow the
barrels to be secured, and released, and also, while they are being filled and
emptied.
The said Invention also consists in the construction and arrangement of a
trough or vat in combination with the said rotating frames, whereby the
barrels can be filled with the cleansing liquid after they are placed in the said
frames, and in the arrangement of adjustable valves and tubes, whereby the
barrels in the said frames are all supplied, with, the said liquid at one time..
Although more than two of the rotating frames may be employed in one
machine, I prefer to limit each machine to that.number, and also to make
each frame of the proper length to carry five casks or barrels. The said
frames consist of horizontal bars and end pieces or cheek plates for supporting
the said bars. Journals-extend from these end pieces, and are- fitted-to-turn
in suitable bearings in upright- standards. The ends of the horizontal bärs
are adjustable radially or laterally in guideways or recesses in the end pieces,
which are provided with a series of holes or slots and adjustable, keys or pins,
whereby the said bars are adjusted more or less widely apart to suit barrels of
different sizes. Three of these bars are by preference employed in one frame,
two of which are provided with metal grippers curved. to receive the barrels.
These grippers may be fixed upon the bars and made long enough to allow the
barrels to lie diagonally in either direction across the frame, or may be
attached to adjustable bars or rods which slide endwise on the. frame, and
allow the grippers to be set to hold: the barrels at any desired angle thereon..
The third bar of the frame is provided with adjusting screws, whose ends are

page_text: furnished with curved shoes which fit the barrels, and in combination with the
grippers hold them in the frame while they are being filled, rotated, and
emptied. The frames are coupled together by means of a disc carried on
the journal of one frame and a locking device on the adjacent frame. The
said disc has a series of holes around its face, and the bolt of the locking
device is fitted to enter either of these holes when brought opposite to the
same. When the barrels are to be filled the frames are adjusted and locked
with the barrels all in one position, their bung-holes being upward. After the
proper.quantity of water has been supplied to the barrels and the bungs are
inserted therein the locking bolt is withdrawn from the disc, and the frames
set at such a relative angle as will cause the barrels to be evenly balanced in all
positions around the axis of the said frames; the frames are then again secured
by the locking device and disc. The trough or vat from which the cleansing
liquid is supplied to the barrels is supported upon the upright standards above
the rotating frames, and extends the entire length of the latter. The said
trough is divided into spaces corresponding in number with the number of
barrels carried by the machine at one time. Each of these divisions is pro-
vided with an outlet aperture and valve for closing the same. The said valves
are connected to a horizontal bar or rod, whereby all the valves may be opened
or closed at one operation. The outlet apertures are provided with flexible
tubes, which are attached to a horizontal bar hinged to the under side of the
trough. By means of this hinged bar the said tubes may be all lowered
together to fill the barrels, and may be all raised to clear the frames and
barrels while the machine is in action.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan of the top of my improved machine showing the same
filled with barrels; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same with parts in
position for supplying the said barrels with the cleansing liquid; Figure 3 is a
similar elevation showing the parts of the machine adjusted for action;
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the said machine as adjusted for emptying the
barrels; Figure 5 is an end elevation of the said machine; Figure 6 is a
section on the line a, a, Figure 1; Figure 7 is a plan of one of the rotating
frames detached; Figures 8 and 9 represent other detached portions of the
said machine. Like letters indicate the same parts in each of the Figures.
The upright standards A may be secured upon the floor of a building or
upon any other suitably firm-foundation. These standards are constructed of
cast iron or other suitable material, and the bearings A are cast upon or
otherwise firmly attached to the said standards at the proper position to
.3

page_text: I
•
or
support the rotating frames B, B', 'at a convenient height from the ground.
The end pieces.b of these frames are made of cast iron or other suitable metal,
and of sufficient strength to support firmly the longitudinal bars 6; b, and the
barrels or casks while the same are being cleaned. 'The recesses 63 which
receive the ends of the bars 61, 62, are of such a lengthi as to allow the said bars
to be moved outward far enough to receive properly the largest sized casks
The
barrels. he bars when so adjusted will bear upon the end portion of "the
flange which forms the recesses 6s, but when the bars are adjusted to receive
barrels of a smaller size, or such as are called "half casks," and "quarter
casks," the bars are moved inward, and one of the pins C is inserted behind
the said bars through one or other of the holes Cat each end of the frame."
The pins, C are by preference provided with a key or feather C, which can be
passed through the elongated portion of the hole C, and then turned round' in
the opposite direction to prevent the escape of the pins from the holes. The
two frames B, B1, of the machine represented in the Drawings are each shown
with a different arrangement of devices for holding the barrels in the said
frames. The grippers D which are shown on the frame B are rigidly attached
by screws or other suitable fastenings to the bars 6¹. The said grippers, which
are formed of cast iron or other suitable metal, are constructed with a double
curved seat on their. holding surface to allow the barrels to lie diagonally
across the frame in either direction, as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4. The
barrels lie on the curved surface of the grippers, and are secured thereon by
means of the curved plates or shoes E and adjusting screws F. The latter
are passed through the bar 62, or through nuts fixed in the said bar, and are
secured therein by the plates F¹, or other suitable means.. The ends of the
said screws are fitted, to turn freely, in the sockets formed in the curved
plates E, so that the latter. can be readily adjusted upon the barrels in what-
ever position they may lie. The other frame of the machine is shown provided
with adjustable grippers G, which are more clearly illustrated in Figures 7
and 8. These grippers, are provided on their under side with bolts or pro-
jections G', whose heads allow the said grippers to slide freely between the
curved guides G³, but prevent their being accidentally displaced. The said
guides are preferably let into the bar b¹ flush with its surface, and fastened
thereto by screws or other suitable means. Each of the grippers G'is con-
nected by means of the stud G³ or other suitable device' to one of the
adjustable, rods H, which are supported so as to slide horizontally' through
the guide brackets Hattached to the side of the bars 6. Each of these
rods H is attached at one end by the link H2 to the lever I, which is pivoted
at its centre to the cross bar J midway between the two bars b¹. By means

page_text: of this lever the grippers G can all be adjusted together to set the barrels 10
by required diagonal position without raising the barrels from their seat on
he grippers G. The latter; as well as the grippers D, are roughened on their
holding surface. The adjusting screws and plates E in the bar b² in this
frame are similar to those in the other. frame. Other convenient means for
securing the said barrels may be employed instead of these adjusting screws
and curved plates, but any device used for this purpose should be such as, will
allow the barrels to be reversed without removing them from their seat on
the grippers. The object of adjusting the barrels diagonally across the
rotating frames is to insure their surfaces being subjected equally in all parts
to the action of the cleansing liquid, especially the corners at each end, which
might be imperfectly cleansed if the barrels were left in one position in the
frames. Either the adjustable grippers G or fixed grippers D will be found
to answer for holding the barrels, but the former are preferable for cleaning
barrels or casks that are very dirty, and when it becomes necessary to use
gravel, flint, or other scouring material in the liquid, as they allow the position
of the said barrels to be more readily reversed, and being all moved together
they effect a saving of time and labour. The holes l' in the lever 1 allow a
rod or bar to be inserted through the same to increase the leverage if it should
be found difficult to move the sliding rods H when the barrels are secured in
the frame. The disc or plate K is fixed on the end of the journal *, the
latter being secured in the end piece of the frame B', and extended to form a
support for the adjacent end piece of the frame B. The latter turns freely, on
the said journal, so as to allow the two frames to be adjusted in any required
relative angular position. The locking device carried by the frame B is pro-
vided to secure the two frames together in whatever relative position they may
be adjusted. The bolt e of the said device is formed to enter freely into either
of the boles.d in the surface of the disc K, and the said boles are arranged to
hold the two frames in the proper position for filling and emptying the barrels,
as shown in Figures 2 and 4, and to balance them equally during their rotation,
as-shown in Figure 3. The bolt e is attached to the end of the lever e which
is pivoted to the end piece 6 of the frame B, and is, provided with a handle
at its outer end, by which the bolt e is conveniently operated. The said bolt
is by preference fitted to slide through the socket e, and is retained in the
5 boles d by the spring f, or other suitable device. By means of this locking
⚫device and disc- the two rotating frames B, B', can be readily adjusted into
either of the relative positions represented in the Drawings, and the barrel
can be caused to rotate in equilibrio, which is very essential to the proper
working and durability-of-the-machine. If the two frames when working ar

page_text: not properly balanced, but are allowed to rotate while in the relative position
represented in Figures 2 and 4, the liquid in all the barrels would be
'thrown to one end of the same at once, and its weight acting all in one
direction would cause a great strain upon the machine, and a great waste of
power to operate the same. The catch g at the outer end of the frame B¹ is
provided to hold the rotating frames firmly while' the barrels are being placed
in the frames and removed therefrom, and also while the said barrels are
being supplied with the cleansing liquid. The said catch is pivoted 'to the
'side of the standard A, and is formed with a jaw g to take hold of the pro-
jection h on the boss of the fast driving pulley i, which with the loose pulley
is carried by the projecting end of the. journal 65 of the said frame. The.
rotating frames are 'driven by a belt which passes over these pulleys, or by
'other suitable and convenient driving means. The catch 'g and projection: h
h'g
are more clearly shown in Figure 9. The trough L is arranged longitudinally
'over' the rotating frames B, B', and' is securely attached by screws or other
suitable fastenings to the top of the standards A, which are extended above
the frames for that purpose. The said trough is formed of wood or metal;
and of a capacity adapted' to 'the quantity of liquid it will be 'required' to
contain at one time. The partition pieces L' divide the trough into separate
chambers; each of which is made. to contain sufficient liquid for one cask or
barrel. The division of the trough into these chambers insures each of
the barrels being properly supplied with the liquid, which might otherwise be
prevented' by the stoppage of some of the tubes or apertures by the entrance
of some foreign substance' therein. The aperture ; in the bottom of each of
these 'chambers 'is arranged to correspond with the position of one of the
barrels when the same is in the frame below. The flexible tubes M are by
preference formed of india-rubber, and are of the proper length to extend
conveniently to the barrels when the 'said tubes and barrels are adjusted in
the position represented in Figure 2. The adjustable bar N whereby the
flexible tubes M are raised and lowered is suspended by the arms N¹or other
suitable hinged connections upon the trough L, and these connections allow the
said bar to fall into the position represented in Figure 2 when released by the
spring catch O attached to the side of the trough L, the said catch serving to
retain the bar N and tubes M in the position represented in Figures 3 and 4,
keeping them clear of the rotating frames while the machine is in operation.
The Drawing represents the tubes M passing through perforations in the said
bar 'N, but other means of connecting-the tubes to the bar may be employed,
the object being to provide means for readily raising and lowering the said
tubes all together. The rod P for operating the valves Q which close the

page_text: apertures jis supported in bearings P¹ upon the side of the trough L. The
arms P' which extend from the said rod are attached to the valves by cord or
chain of the proper length to allow the said valves to close when the bar is
released from the spring catch Q, and to open the said valves when the
arm Q³ of the rod P is adjusted in the position represented in Figure 2, in
which position the rod is held by the said catch. The trough L is separated
in two portions 1 and 2 by the division piece L², which is provided with a
valve R. This valve has a weighted arm R¹ to render it easily adjustable,
and hold it securely when either opened or closed. The object of this partition
and valve is to allow each of the two divisions 1 and 2 of the trough L to
hold a different quantity of water when each of the two rotating frames is
filled with different sized barrels, one for instance, carrying "whole casks"
and the other half casks." The pipe for filling the trough is always
introduced in the part 1 over the frame B', and when casks of different sizes
are being cleaned in each frame the larger casks should always be placed in
the frame B. The valve R is kept open till the proper quantity of liquid has
passed from the first to the second division of the trough, and is then closed
by means of the weighted arm R' while the liquid still flows into the first
division, supplying the same with the additional quantity required by the
larger sized casks. When the barrels or casks are to be placed in the
rotating frames B, B', the said frames are connected by the locking bolte and
set in the position represented in Figure 4, and are held in that position by
the catch g; the adjustable screws F are then tightened to hold the barrels
securely, and the said frames being first released from the catch 9 are turned
into the position shown in Figure 2, and again secured by the said catch;
the tubes M are then lowered and the valves Q opened, as also represented
in the same Figure. When a sufficient quantity of the liquid has been
supplied to the barrels the valves are closed and the tubes raised, as shown in
Figures 3, 4, and 5, and the bungs of the barrels are inserted. The two
frames are then disconnected by the locking device, and are adjusted and
again, connected in the relative position shown in Figure 3. The driving
pulley is then released from the catch'g'and the frames are set in
motion. When the barrels have been properly cleansed or scoured the
machine is stopped by changing the driving belt to the loose pulley ¹, and the
two frames are disconnected and the bungs removed. The said frames are
then turned into the position shown in Figure 4, the bung holes of all the
barrels being downward, to allow the liquid.to escape from all the said barrels
at once.
The barrels are thus emptied, the removal of the liquid being
accelerated by rocking the frames upon. their journals. The barrels are then

page_text: again partially filled with either hot or cold water, and again rotated till they
are thoroughly rinsed, and again emptied, as already described. The frames
are then adjusted in the position shown in Figure 4 while the adjusting screws
are slackened. The barrels may then be removed one by one from the said
frames, or may be all allowed, to fall to the ground together by simply turning
the frames at right angles to the position shown in Figures 2 and 4.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, and shown how the same
may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I wish it under-
stood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction and
arrangement of the parts of the machine. herein, described and illustrated, as
these may be varied without departing from the essential principles of my
Invention; but I claim,―
:
First. Arranging two or more rotating frames to turn upon the same hori-
zontal axis, and to support the barrels in such a manner that the weight of
the frames and barrels will be equally distributed or balanced around the
said axis...
. "
Second. The rotating frames B, B', with adjustable bars 61; 6; supported in
the end pieces b, and adapted to hold barrels or casks of various sizes,
substantially in the manner set forth. . .
Third. The grippers D for supporting the barrels, constructed and arranged
upon the rofating frames substantially. as set forth..
Fourth. The adjustable grippers G with guides G2, the rods H and lever I,
constructed, combined, and operating for the purpose substantially in the
manner set forth., .
:
Fifth. The adjusting screws F, provided with the loose curved plates or
shoes E passed through the bar 63, and employed in combination with the
grippers D or G for holding the barrels in the rotating frames, substantially
as described.
:
Sixth. Constructing the end-pieces b with recesses 63, and providing the
same with the-adjusting pins. C-and series of holes C', for the purpose and
substantially as, set forth. :
Seventh. Connecting two or more rotating frames in such a manner that
they can be adjusted into the required relative angular positions for the
purposes described.
1
Eighth.. The disc K or other equivalent device secured to one of the
rotating frames, and provided with holes & arranged in the proper positions
to receive and hold the locking bolt e on the adjacent frame, for the purposes
and substantially in the manner set forth.
Ninth. The catch g and projection h, or other equivalent devices for holding

page_text: the rotating frames in any required position, arranged and operating sub-
stantially in the manner set forth.
Tenth. The trough L, with or without the partitions L', L, and so arranged
in combination with the rotating frames B, B', that the barrels to be cleaned
can be filled after they are placed in the machine.
Eleventh. The adjustable tubes M and valves Q, combined, arranged, and
operating for the purpose and substantially in the manner set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jonathan Peacock, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
W. ROB. LAKE,
8, Southampton Buildings,
W.C.
JONATHAN PEACOCK. (L.S.)