Manufacture of barrels

Previously, all barrels were made by hand in a manual process. In 1880, after observing widespread advertisement for businesses desperately in search of barrel coopers, she asked her son, Oscar, whether there was any available machine that would make barrels and remove the need for coopers. After hearing that there wasn't, she became determined to create a solution and began brainstorming designs for a barrel-hooping machine capable of reliably and efficiently hooping wood together to create barrels.[8] In 1881, Beasley won her first patent for a barrel-hooping machine,[11] followed by a second version of the patent (including one filed in the United Kingdom) in 1882.[12][27] Her machine is designed to fit hoops tightly onto both sides of the barrel simultaneously, using two reciprocating heads, firmly-secured "hooping-toes" to guide the hoops, and a combination of springs, screws and levers.[11] Her updated patent aims to account for differences and imperfections in the shape of barrel staves and hoops; it uses radially-adjustable arms and jaws to hold materials more firmly in place.[12] The final design was capable of hooping 1,600-1,700 barrels per day, far more than a barrel cooper could hoop on their own.[8]

Barrel-making machine, along with process of making barrels; Barrel Setting-up machine; Process of notching & cutting hoops for barrels, Barrel-hoop driving machine.

Category:
Manufacturing

Completion Status:
yes

Patent Number:
258191;380976;341721;226264;245050;256951;604513;258004;202919;352850;300193;393683;448905

Co-Inventor:
George Rehfuss; J. George Rehfuss; Martin O. Rehfuss; S. Lloyd Wiegand; Emil M. Hugentobler; George M. Newhall