US543396A - Barrel-cover - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OE c Jenn MURRAY, on ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

BARREL-COVER.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,396, datedJ'uIy 23, 1895.

Application filed September 16, 1894-.- Serial No. 523,110.

useful improvements in barrel-covers for goods in the process of marketing.

The object of my improvements is to provide a depressing cover that will fit wholly inside the barrel and keep the main body of the goods under pressure, or below the surface of the brine or liquid, while allowing ac- 1 cess thereto without lifting the cover itself,

and furthermore, one that can be expanded so as to cover the varying area due to the difference of head and bung diameter as the goods are taken from below the cover.

To this end my improvements have reference to a head having a fixed diameter slightly less than the diameter of the cask at the chine, to readily enter the same and rest upon the contained goods with more or less pressure, but chiefly to an expansible attachment to said head, whereby its diameter is increased as the cask increases in diameter toward the bilge or bung and engages with the cask to maintain it in place.

In the accompanying drawings, on which like reference-letters indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 represents a plan perspective of the head or body; Fig. 1, a lid adapted to fit therein; Fig. 2, a plan View of the head with expansionsegments; Fig. 3, a section on the line y 1 Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a section on the line a; as, Fig. 2; and Fig. 5a dovetail sliding connection. I,

In the sale of goods that are more or less injured by exposure to the air,it is often difficult to prevent such deterioration, while at the same time allowing ready access for mar- 'keting.

pecially suffer in quality, and my invention is particularly applicable to. barrels containing such.

Referring to Fig. 1, the letter A designates a head of considerable thickness and weight, depending on the material of which it is made and the goods it is applied to. If made of the Such goods as pickles and kraut es-' No model.)

preferred material, pottery or artificial stone, it may be one and one-half inches in thicknesss to compress the kraut. It is provided with a holeB, preferably with inclined sides, in which fits a lid 0. The weight of the head will give sufficient pressure upon the kraut and descend with it into the barrel as the kraut is taken out through the holeB. For pickles, however, it is preferred to use an expansion attachment to the said head, consisting of sliding segments D D, Fig. 2, having slots d and pins E, which allow of substantially radial travel of the segments. The dotted lines in Fig. 2 indicate the increased diameter obtainable by forcing outward the said segments. This expansion is done in the preferred form by means of a wedge-frame F, fitting around the hole B and having a slid,- ing connection with the segments D to cause them to travel away from the center as the frame slides across the head on suitable guides G.

Fig. 4 shows the slot in the side of the frame, and Fig. 3 the pin connection with the segments. The edges of the latter have sharp pointed projections, such as dowels or serrations, which are thus engaged with the sides of the cask and support the cover at the surface of the liquid. below it and out of contact with the air. The frame F is shown with a hinged lid as the preferred form. The opening Bis substantially in the center of the head, and the frame F is long enough to give access to the hole in any point of its travel. Its extreme positions will be when the segments are drawn in on entering the barrel, as shown by the full lines, Fig. 2, and when it hasexpanded the cover to the bilge diameter by its travel forward across the head.

As the cover will be exposed to more or less dampness on its under side and to the air above, it will have a tendency to warp unless -made of some unshrinkable material, such as pottery, artificial stone, or glass. The two last named are especially suitable for its construction on account of their cleanliness and weight, which admirably serve the object of the invention. I regard this unshrinkable feature as one of the features of my invention.

I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown. 1

Referring to Fig. 5, another form of sliding connection between the wedge-frame and the expansion-segments is shown. It consists of a dovetail tongue and groove, which connects each segment with the wedge-frame, so as to draw them in or push them out as the frame is moved in one direction or the other across the head or body piece A. This form dispenses with the guides G in the center of the head, it it be desired. Any suitable sliding connection, however, may be employed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A barrel cover, comprising a body having an interior opening for passage of the barrel contents, and horizontal guides on its upper surface, a secondary cover for said open-.

ing, and a transversely sliding attachment adapted to be mounted on said guides, or dispensed with according to requirements.

2. A brine barrel cover comprisinga transversely sliding Wedge-frame surrounding, but

, not obstructing, a hole through the cover giving access to the contents of the barrel and adjunctive devices operating therewith.

3. A brine barrel cover comprising a maincover having an access hole to the subaqueous contents, an open frame slidingly mounted around said hole without closing it in normal adjustments, and expanding pieces operated by said frame to engage anywhere with the sides of the barrel.

4. A barrel cover comprising a main cover having an access hole to withdraw the contents from below, a transversely sliding frame surrounding said access hole without obstructing it, and expanding segments on opposite sides of said frame and slidingly connected therewith.

5. An interiorly adjustable cover forbrine barrels, comprising a wedge-frame, open for access below, and movable segments embracing said wedge-frame, having a slidingly operated connection of dovetail tongues and grooves on said members to push out and pull in the segments by the sliding of said wedgeframe.

6. A barrel cover comprising a main cover with a hole for passage of the contents, adjustable segments slidingly connected to said main cover about saidhole, and means to hold said segments in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J OHN MURRAY.

. Witnesses:

M. J ACOBY,

H. M. PLAISTED.

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