An Air-filtering Stopper or Closing Device for Bottles, Jars, Preserve-boxes or Tins, and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct., 1893-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Air-filtering Stopper or Closing Device for Bottles, Jars,
Preserve-boxes or Tins, and the like.
I, JOHANNIS JACOBUS VAN HEST, of 109, da Costastraat, Amsterdam, in the
Kingdom of Holland, Analytical Chemist, 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 :-
This invention relates to air-filtering stoppers or closing devices for bottles, jars,
preserve-boxes or tins, and the like, and consists of a device for admitting sterilised
air into the said vessel; so that while the vessel is for all practical purposes closed,
and its contents protected, a connection is maintained between the interior of the
vessel and the atmospheric air, which, as it enters, is freed from bacteria. and
impurities.
It is a well known fact that unless the liquid or solid contents of vessels of this
description are allowed to come into contact with bacteria, they cannot be con-
taminated. For this reason liquids and other substances, which it is desired to
preserve in a pure and uncorrupt condition, have hitherto been first sterilised by
boiling, and then placed in vessels or receptacles which were closed hermetically.
Now it has been ascertained by M. Pasteur that liquids after boiling, may be
kept in a disinfected condition even though air be constantly admitted to them,
provided the air is made to pass through a glass tube bent in a straight line, or
plane, so as to form a series of knees, or bends and is fused or welded into the neck
of the bottle containing the liquid. As the air passes through this bent tube, the
bacteria are arrested by the bends or turnings of the said tube, and thus prevented
from entering the bottle.
In spite, however, of the importance of this discovery, and the many purposes to
which it may be applied, it is nevertheless a fact that, in making bacteriological
experiments in laboratories, it is impossible to use glass tubes bent in a straight
line, as stated, in connection with the apparatus of which the said experiments
necessitate the employment.
Yet the results of bacteriological experiments have as far as practicable been,
for years, turned to account by manufacturers, and the destruction of bacteria and
germs of disease in articles of food, as a means of protecting the latter from
corruption, has always attracted special attention. Much difficulty, however, has
had to be contended with in thus attempting to utilise the discoveries of science,
and one of the most troublesome questions has proved to be that which concerned
the closing of the bottles or other receptacles. As, up to the present time, bottles,
jars and the like could not be closed till after their contents had been sterilised or
disinfected, the short time which elapsed between the completion of the sterilising
process and the closing of the vessels was sufficient to re-admit air with such
infectious germs or animalcula as it might carry with it.
The air-filtering stopper or cover for bottles, jars, preserve boxes or tins and the
like, which forms the subject of this invention, and the construction of which is
based upon Pasteur's principle, is adapted to be employed instead of a long,
extended tube which, being fragile and taking up much space, is unfit for use for
industrial purposes; and it consists of a narrow tube of metal or other suitable
material, bent in several places, the bends or curves of which, instead of being
extended in the same plane, are compressed into immediate juxtaposition and, as it
were, fitted together.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a tubo extending in a not or corice of fat hands or knees.

page_text: Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line x, y, Figure 3; and
Figure 3 shows the parts of the bent or folded tube in elevation.
Figure 4 illustrates the employment of the air-filtering cover in connection with
a preserve-box, jar or tin; and
Figures 5, 6 and 7 show the manner in which the invention is applied to bottles.
The tube made of metal or other suitable material is bent in several places as
shown (having preferably from 10 to 15 bends) and these bends or knees are closely
fitted together so that a compact set or series of bent tubes is formed, preferably not
wider than a bottle-cork in diameter. The straight lower end 6 of the tube descends
into the bottlo, while the other bent portion thereof is situated above the cork, and
may be surmounted by or covered with a protecting cap. The upper orifice a of the
tube is thus located within the set of curved tubes, and consequently, is situated
together with these, above the cork.
In the case of preserve boxes or tins, the air-filtering device is applied as follows:
The box A (Figure 4) is first filled, and then the cover or lid B is soldered in
position around its periphery. Into a small aperture provided in the lid, a tube b
is fixed with solder in such a manner, that its lower end terminates above the level
of the contents of the tin or jar. These contents are then boiled, the air and vapour,
which rise therefrom, escaping through the set of bent tubes. If a protecting cap C
be employed, it is provided with an outlet c.
After the contents of the box have been allowed to cool, the air-filtering device
may be removed, the tube 6 being cut or nipped off just over the lid. Where,
however, it is desired to retain the air-filter, the length of tube should preferably
be short, so as to enable the cap C to be secured directly to the lid.
The protective cap C is here supposed to be screwed on to a bottom plate D
through which the tube 6 protrudes downwards; or it may be simply fitted
thereto.
In the case of bottles stoppered with corks, the tube b is passed through a
perforation in the cork E, the cap C being then placed over it and secured to the
cork (Figure 5).
Where closing devices, such as are shown in Figures 6 and 7, are used, the
stopper G is provided with a perforation which, as in the arrangement shown in
Figure 7, may turn round the passage provided for the bent piece; and into this
perforation a length of flexible tube 6 is inserted (as shown in dotted lines in
Figure 7) which descends into the interior of the bottle through the india-rubber
ring F.
The
cap C may be fitted to a casting H integral with the stopper G (Figure 6)
or screwed thereto (Figure 7), so as to form one connected whole therewith.
The merits of the novel air-filtering closing or stoppering device are as follows:
(a). The bottle, jar, etc., is closed (with or without solder) after having been
filled; and not till after it is so closed, are its contents boiled and allowed to cool,
without this involving any danger of bursting. When this is done, the contents of
the vessel are completely sterilised, and cannot be infected by the air admitted
through the set or series of bent tubes. Hitherto, bottles jars and the like could
only be closed after sterilising, and the short time elapsing between the sterilising
and closing operations was amply sufficient to allow the air to impart to the food or
beverage a large quantity of infectious germs; a drawback which is entirely
removed by the improved device.
(b). A bottle or other receptacle provided with the improved closing device may
be placed in a horizontal position or even turned upside down if desired, without
allowing any of its contents to escape.
(c). The same device may be used over and over again, and when the contents of
one bottle or jar are consumed it may directly be transferred to another, it being
sufficient to "nip" or cut off the lower end of the tube in each case.
This new air-filtering closing device will be found particularly serviceable in
preserving milk, beer or other beverages which are introduced into the market
in a "pasteurized" or disinfected condition.

page_text: The protecting cap may be made of metal, glass or other suitable material, and
assume a shape corresponding to that of the cork or stopper employed in any
given case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. An air-filtering stopper or closing device for bottles, jars, preserve-boxes
or tins, and the like, through which, while the contents of the bottle or other
receptacle are being boiled, air and vapour freely escape, pure air being subsequently
re-admitted during the cooling process, without being allowed to carry any bacteria
or germs along with it as it enters, which device mainly consists of a tube or pipe
having a multiplicity of bends and compressed into compact shape, one end thereof
passing through the cork, stopper, or lid of the bottle, jar, or other receptacle and
being adapted to enter the said receptacle, for the purposes above specified.
Second. The combination, with an air-filtering stopper or closing device such as
I have hereinabove described, of a protecting cap provided with an aperture for the
passage of the air, aud secured to the cork, stopper or lid of the bottle, jar, or other
receptacle, substantially as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Dated the 23rd day of October 1893
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.