Improvements in Cans for Holding Liquids such as Kerosene to Facilitate Discharges therefrom.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1898-Accepted, 11th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cans for Holding Liquids such as Kerosene to
Facilitate Discharges therefrom.
We, GORHAM LAMBERT, of Timaru, in the Colony of New Zealand, Chemist, and
JAMES STEWART, of Pleasant Point, in the Colony of New Zealand aforesaid,
Farmer, 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 make certain improvements in cans for fluids
especially kerosene and like fluids which are very penetrative and are generally
put up for domestic use in large tins containing several gallons. The improve-
ments comprehend a simple and effective leak proof socket which is attached to the
can and is adapted to be engaged and fitted by an ordinary draw off or bib cock
so as to enable the fluid to be discharged without trouble and without leakage at
the said socket after the cock is inserted. A further object is that the socket shall
be easily punctures or cut to allow the fluid to reach said cock, and yet shall be
so located that it cannot be damaged in transportation before use. A further
object of this invention is to so arrange the parts that a socket after use can be
repaired or be removed, and a new socket inserted, so that the same can may be
used over and over again, whereby a considerable amount of expense in manufac-
turing new cans will be obviated.
Referring now to the accompanying drawings which illustrate forms in which
it is preferred to embody this invention (without wishing it understood that the
latter is limited thereto) Figure 1 shows a diagram in perspective on a smaller
scale than natural size and Figures 2 to 7 show side elevations (in several instances
sectional) showing various parts on a scale larger than is usually adopted in the
case of kerosene cans.
Figure 2 shows the can X an aperture A therein and shell B which serves as
a nut or socket for the cock Y shown in Figures 1 and 7.
Figure 3 shows a plug D of wood (or other suitable material) which is kept in
the socket until such time as it is required to insert the cock. The plug in any
form used prevents admission of dirt, and as its face D¹ does not project outwardly
beyond the can surface (usually it is approximately flush with the plane of the
aperture A) it serves to keep the can rigid and free from distortion at that part:
and further utility of the plug is explained hereafter. In Figure 4 a simpler plug
is exhibited held tightly in place by a washer E which is compressively held in
a corrugation, expansion or groove F, in the shell B, the rear of said shell having
a means of closure C consisting either of an end integral with B (vide Figure 7)
or an attached cap (soldered on) said end or cap being made thinner or of softer
metal than the front part of B, or at least sufficiently thin or soft that it may be
easily cut or perforated. In Figure 5 the lines R indicate how a blade V may
be inserted to cut off the back end of the means of closure C after the plug is
extracted, and in Figure 6 the plug is shown provided with a cutter or blade D
In its back end, so that on removing the plug to begin with and taking out the

page_text: wad G (which is thick enough to keep the cutter away from the rear of part C
during transportation prior to the opening of the can, and then reinserting the
plug with pressure and rotating it, the cutter D2 will first pierce and then cut out
a disc or piece at the rear of cap C. D³ is a ring which is one form of handle
that might be used to turn the plug round. The plug need not be turned round
to make an opening; it could if pointed as in Figure 3) be simply driven in until
it fell inside the can, but in practice the latter system is not preferable. The
object of cutting away part of the closure C is to allow room for the rear of the
tap to pass into the can for any distance until the shoulder of the tap W is "home"
against the socket flange H or any interposed washer, but the cap or socket is (in
connection with this invention) often specially made extra long as in Figure 7
so that no cutting away is then required; in practice a mere piercing of the end
with any convenient instrument, suffices to establish communication between the
tap and the fluid in the can.
The reason this piercing is usually done is that when after emptying, it is
desired to make the can leak-proof, so that it may be used as a bucket (by cutting
away the top &c.) or otherwise, a few drops of solder will serve for that purpose.
It is to be understood that whilst a screw thread on the socket has advantages
(chiefly in that by preserving uniform threads one tap will do for innumerable
cans) yet such threads are by no means essential as any suitable surface may be
provided against which the tap shank will fit true and firmly, so that a conical
surface would do; but in any case one part of the tap viz. S (that part which con-
tacts with the washer E) is smooth, so as to prevent leakage beyond the same.
The washer E is compressed by and therefore serves to firmly grip) the tap shank,
and so keep it in place. It will be observed that the flanged edge H of the socket
is located outside the can, being soldered on around the edges of aperture A. This
arrangement has peculiar advantages; thus the greater the pressure of the tap
shoulder W or any other external article (as a washer) on the flange H the more
firmly the socket will be held in place, undisturbed. Then also the hole A
is larger than the largest diameter of corrugation F in the socket,
so that the manufacturing process of attaching the socket to the tin (after the can
is made) is an exceedingly easy one, and yet a loose socket cannot get inside the
can. Furthermore it is easy after 'the contents of a can have been used to remove
the old socket and any scrap metal from within the can, and substitute a new
socket. The can may be filled through the aperture A which may be located in
any position in the can, and preferably at T (Figure 1) i.e. at a top corner, there
being no necessity for any other aperture. An aperture is always necessary at
present for filling, so that one hole may serve both purposes. In Figure 7 the cock
is shown inserted. Minor changes might be made in details whilst still in spirit
adhering to the invention here claimed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. The combination with a can having an aperture therein of a shell attached by
a flange to the exterior of the can and serving as a nut or socket for a draw off
cock, said shell projecting within the can, and having its inner end closed, said
shell also having a corrugation or groove for an internal washer substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
2. A shell or socket having the inner end closed and the outer end flanged and
secured to the exterior of a can round the edges of an aperture therein, said shell
having between said ends a corrugation or groove of less diameter than the said
aperture substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The combination with a can of a shell or socket having a closed end and a
flanged end, a corrugation between the ends a washer compressively held in said
corrugation, and adapted to closely fit a tap shank and a plug having its face not
projecting outwardly beyond the can surface substantially as described.

page_text: 4. The combination with a can having an aperture of an internally projecting
socket closed at the inner end, a plug having a cutter, and a wad to keep said cutter
out of contact with said closed end substantially as described.
5. In combination with a can, a tap socket having an inner closed end of easily
pierced metal, said socket being so elongated that a suitable tap may be engaged
with the socket and the fluid within the can put in communication with said tap,
by simply perforating the rear of said socket substantially as described.
Dated this 2nd day of May 1898.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.