IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES OR OTHER VESSELS, ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND DISCHARGING THE CONTENTS OF BOTTLES OR OTHER VESSELS."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edgar Breffit, of Upper Thames Street, in the City of
London, and John. Edwards, of Castleford, in the County of York, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES OR OTHER VESSELS,
ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND
DISCHARGING THE CONTENTS OF BOTTLES OR OTHER VESSELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edgar Breffit and John
Edwards at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th March
1876.
EDGAR BREFFIT, of Upper Thames Street, in the City of London, and JOHN
EDWARDS, of Castleford, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS
FOR BOTTLES OR OTHER VESSELS, ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN
APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND DISCHARGING THE CONTENTS OF BOTTLES OR OTHER
VESSELS."
This Invention relates to improvements in stoppers for bottles or other vessels,
applicable also to other purposes, and in apparatus for filling and discharging the
contents of bottles or other vessels.
In one arrangement I insert in the mouth of the bottle a cap, having a socket
formed in an opening through the centre to act as a valve, and at the body as a
guide, and the top of the cap has arms formed so that they can be fixed over the
top of the bottle mouth, and be firmly and tightly held to the neck by coiling
around it a length of wire which can be looped and twisted as required. In this
arrangement the cap which is also used as an exit passage is partly formed as a
tube, having at the upper end a knob or button, through the centre of which is an
aperture for the discharge of the liquid, and at the bottom a disc to act as a valve;
the disc being solid and cast or formed with a solid part at the bottom of the tube
and above the disc and solid part; there are one or more holes leading to the interior
of the tube, and between a part of the cap, and knob, or button there is a metal or
india-rubber spring. Upon the lower part of the moveable tube and partly upon
the guide. tube.is.a.washer-of-india-rubber, which-acts as a packing on the moveable
tube, and also as a valve seat. On depressing the button or knob the hole or holes
in the moveable inner tube are exposed, through which the contents are discharged.
When the mouth of the bottle is turned down and the button or knob is pressed,

page_text: the valve is oponed and the aerated liquid is discharged; but upon releasing the
button the valve is returned to its-seat by the pressure of the gas and the elastic
force of the spring, and thereby any quantity of aerated liquid can be drawn off.
The stopper may have a tube attached to it passing nearly to the bottom of tho
bottle or vessel, and the dischargo pipe formed so that the contents may be drawn
off without inverting the bottle or vessel.
The cap or capsule and scating may be connected together by means of male and
female screws, one part being firmly held to the neck of the bottle by looped and
twisted wire or other suitable means, or thero may be external or internal screws
formed on or in the nocks of the bottles whilst in the process of manufacture, so
as to be capable of receiving and holding the valve stopper, there being india-rubber
or other packing rings or washers to keep the parts tight when screwed up. This
may also be applied to water taps, valves, and like purposes..
The apparatus or machine employed for filling the bottles, consists of a metal stand
or framio on a bed or foundation plate, the bottom of the frame being formed as a
pillar or cylinder with open sides, and the top so shaped that it can have an air and
liquid passage communicating with passages passing down or through the upright
of the frame, and connected by union joints to pipes from the charge and air
cylinders, and at the top of the frame there are regulating taps and a nipple to fit
the tube at the top of the bottle.
In the pillar or cylinder of the filling machine is a rod carrying at the top a
cup for supporting the bottle, and around the rod a spiral spring, thoro being jointed
to the rod a hand lever working on a fulcrum fixed to the frame.
In order to place the bottle in the position to be filled the hand lever is depressed
and the spring compressed to lower the cup for the bottle to be placed upon it; but
when the lever and spring are lowered the cup is sufficiently low for the bottle to be
placed upon it, and the instant the spring is released it secures the bottle to the
nipple, and by turning the proper taps the bottle will become filled, and the moment
the bottle is lowered the gases or air and the spring at the top of the bottle closes
the valve on its seating and effectually stoppers the bottle.
In the apparatus for opening the bottles there is a pillar or stand, having one or
more arms above and below, there being in the lower arms recesses for the mouths
of the bottles to enter, and in the top arms spring rods carrying cups for the bottom
of the bottles to be upon or in the bottles, being kept tight when the springs are
compressed, and in the lower arms there are pistons worked by hand levers, for
forcing back the stoppers, and thereby opening the bottles.
The hand opener is the same as the first arrangement of stopper, only it must be
held to the bottle instead of being fastened to it.
In another arrangement the valve stopper is formed in the following manner :-
Attached to the bottle by any suitable means is a hollow globe perforated at opposite
ends, the perforations at one end when fixed being in juxtaposition with the mouth
of the bottle. In the interior of this globe is placed a ball, and in the second per-
foration, viz., at the bottom of the globe is inserted an india-rubber washer to forin a
scating for the ball valve. Upon opening the bottle the ball is forced away from
the seating, and lodges in the globe during the discharge of the liquid.
Another modification consists of a socket or cap, having a tube in its centre with
the top closed, said tube having an aperture on the side. Upon this tube is placed
another tube also having an aperture in the side, and on the bottom thereof is a
disc upon which is a small arm. In the centre of the tube is placed a small piece
of india-rubber tubing, with an aperture on the side, and placed in the centre tube
so that the holes meet. Upon pressing the two arms together the movable tube is
brought in a line for the discharge of the contents of the bottle or vessel; upon
releasing the arms the bottle is instantly stoppered by the action of a coiled spring
secured under the disc.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patentfiled
by the said Edgar Breffit and John Edwards in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 8th September 1876.
•
EDGAR BREFFIT, of Upper Thames Street, in the City of London, and JOHN
EDWARDS, of Castleford, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS
FOR BOTTLES OR OTHER VESSELS, ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN
APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND DISCHARGING THE CONTENTS OF BOTTLES OR OTHER
VESSELS."
This Invention relates to improvements in stoppers for bottles or other vessels,
applicable also to other purposes and to apparatus for filling and discharging the
contents of bottles or other vessels.
In the Drawings Fig. 1 is a side view, shewing the valve stopper attached to the
bottle neck.
Fig. 2, a vertical section, shewing valve stopper depressed and open.
Fig. 3, like section, but showing stopper in closed position and arrangement of
syphon.
Fig. 4 represents a side view of the filling apparatus, and Fig. 4a a top view of
the upper part of the apparatus.
Fig. 5 represents a side view of the apparatus for opening bottles and discharging
their contents or any portion thereof.
Figs. 6 and 7, side and sectional views respectively of hand device for discharging
the contents of bottles and vessels.
Figs. 8 and 9, are side views of modifications of apparatus for opening bottles
stoppered with internal stoppers.
Figs. 10 and 10ª, are side and plan views respectively of arrangement for
stoppering; and Figs. 11 and 11ª are like views of a modificat thereof.
Fig. 12 represents a side view of a modification of stopper, and in Fig. 13 aro
shown detached parts.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 there is inserted in the mouth of
the bottle a cap a, having a short tube or socket b secured or forined in an opening
in the centre of said cap a to act as a guide, and the top of the cap has arms a¹,
formed thereon or stamped, of a piece therewith, so that said arms can be fixed
over the top of the bottle mouth, and be firmly and tightly held to the necks, by
coiling around it and the arms a length of wire which can be looped and twisted
as required. In this arrangement of stopper a second cap c is used, and carries the
exit passage tube d, said tube being open at the upper end for the discharge of the
liquid, and fitted at the bottom end with a disc e to act as a valve, said disc being
solid and cast or formed with a solid part at the bottom of the tube, and above the
disc e there are one or more holes f, leading to the interior of the tube, and
between a part of the cap a and second cap c there is a metal or india-rubber
spring g; upon the lower part of the guide tube b and partly upon the movable
tube d is a washer h of india-rubber, which acts as a packing on the novable
tube and also as a valve seat.
The action of this valve stopper is as follows:-When any portion of the contents
of the bottle is required to be drawn off the mouth of the bottle is turned down,
and the second cap c and with it the tube d is depressed, and the end of the tube d
with the hole or holes f will extend below the india-rubber valve washer h and
Icave said hole or holes ƒ exposed and free for the passage and discharge of the
acrated liquid. Upon releasing the button ċ the valve is returned to its seat by
the pressure. of the gas and elastic force of the spring g, and thus any quantity of
aërated liquid or liquid under pressure can be drawn off.
As shewn in Fig. 3 the stopper may have a tube attached to a flange-i¹ on the
bottom of the cap a, said tube passing nearly to the bottom of the bottle or vessel,
and the discharge pipe or spout & be formed so that the contents of the bottle may be
drawn off without inverting the bottle or vessel. For attaching this stopper to bottles

page_text: and other vessels, the cap or capsule and seating may be connected together by means
of male and female screws, one part being firmly held to the neck of the bottle by
arms and looped and twisted wire or other suitable means, or there may be external
or internal screws formed on or in the necks of the bottles whilst in the process of
manufacture so as to be capable of receiving and holding the valve stopper, thero 5
being india-rubber or other packing rings or washers to keep the parts tight when
screwed up, as will be well understood. This valve stopper may also be applied to
water tap valves and like purposes, and for perfume fountains or perfume bottles,
and when used for those latter purposes a roducing nipple is screwed on to the outlet
tubo of the stopper, said reducing nipple consisting of a screw or other of
cap
suitable design, and perforated to throw a jet or a "rose" spray, which will operate
on depressing the cap c and tube as before described.
any
1
For charging bottles for throwing a spray of perfume the bottle is about three-
fourths filled with the perfume and then stoppered, the stopper being secured pre-
ferably by means of a ring u, which is pressed down over the arms a of the stopper 1
cap a, (as shown in Fig. 12). The mouth of the stopper is then applied to the
nozzle of a force pump, and air is forced into the bottle, then the reducing nipple is
attached.
The apparatus or machine employed for filling the bottles, is shown in Figs. 4
and 4ª, and consists of a metal stand or frame A on a bed or foundation plato B, 2
the bottom of the frame A being formed as a pillar or cylinder with open sides, and
the top so shaped that it can have an air and a liquid passage C, D, communicating
with passages passing down or through the upright of the frame, and connected by
union joints to pipes E; from the charge and air cylinders and at the top of the
frame there are regulating taps F and a nipple G to fit the tube d at the top of the 2
stopper of the bottle.
In the pillars or cylinders of the filling machine is a rod H, carrying at the top a
cup I for supporting the bottle, and around the rod is a spiral spring, there being
jointed to the rod a hand lever K working on a fulcrum pin L fixed to the frame.
In order to place the bottle in position to be filled, the hand lever K is depressed
and the spring compressed to lower the cup I to the required distance for the size
of the bottle in process of filling, said bottle being then placed upon the cup I, with
the mouth against the nipple G, and on the hand lever being released the power of
the spring will be exerted, and hold the bottle securely to the said nipple G.
In the apparatus for opening the bottles, and which is shewn in Fig. 5, there is
a pillar or stand A¹, having one or more arms A2, A3, above and below, and
extending radially from the pillar A¹, there being in the lower arms A³ recesses G¹
for the mouths of the bottles to enter, and in the top arms A are spring rods H¹,
carrying cups I' for the bottom of the bottles to be upon or in the bottles, being held
tight when the springs are compressed, and in the lower arms As there are tubular
or solid pistons M, worked by hand levers K¹ for forcing back the stoppers and
thereby opening the bottles. At N is shewn a tightening stop for the rod H¹, and a
swivel joint is provided to the pillar A¹ at O to enable the framing and arms A², A³,
with the bottlos held therein to be turned around to draw off any portion of the
contents from one or other of the bottles, when there are two or more sets of radial
arms A, A³. This arrangement is particular advantageous for use in refreshment
bars and like places.
The hand opener shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is of substantially the same con-
struction as the first described arrangement of stopper and like letters of reference
are employed to distinguish similar parts; but this hand opener or valve must be
held to the bottle in drawing off any portion of the contents, and on removal, if the
contents of the bottle is not exhausted and the bottle be held in an inverted position,
the internal stopper will fall to the mouth of the bottle, and be held there by the
compressed air and gas and effectually restopper the bottle, and keep the contents
fresh and active.
In Figs. 8 and 9, are shewn modifications of the hand device for discharging
the contents of bottles and vessels. In using this modification the "butt" or end P,

page_text: is pressed against the internal stopper, and the hook O is then inserted in the mouth
of the bottle, while the liquor is discharging, to hold the stopper away from the
mouth of the bottle and keep the passage free.
In the arrangement of stopper, shown in Figs. 10 and 10ª, is a hollow globe
perforated at opposite ends, the perforation at the lower end when fixed on the bottle
being in juxtaposition with the mouth of the bottle, and in the interior of said
globe is placed a ball (indicated in dotted lines), and in the second perforation
namely at the top of the globe, within a flange m is inserted an india-rubber
washer to form a seating for the ball valve. Upon opening the bottle the ball is
pressed away from the seating m, and lodges in the globe during the discharge of
the liquid.
8
In Figs. 11 and 11ª is shewn a modification of this stopper, wherein A repre-
sents a tubular piece with a hollow enlargement n for the reception of the ball,
when same is pressed from its seat in the flango m. These globe and tube stoppers
are preferably stamped in halves, which are then soldered or brazed together with
the ball enclosed, the cap a and arms a¹ being employed for purpose of attachment.
A modification of the valve stopper described in the first part of this Specifi-
cation is shown in Figs. 12 and 13, in which a is a socket or cap having a tube b¹
in its centre and an aperture o on the side. Upon this tube 6 is placed another
tubo c', also having an aperture in the side, and on the bottom thereof is a disc c,
upon which is a small arm p; q is a spring which is placed around the tube b, and
secured at one end to the cap a or tube therein, and at the other end the
tube c¹ or flange e thereon; a small arm is raised on the cap a A piece of india-
rubber tube a having an aperture s¹ in the side is then pushed into the tube b, with
the aperture 8¹ opposite the aperture o in said tube, and the stopper is completed by
fastening a button or knob t upon, the top of the tube b to close same and hold the
part c¹ securely thereon; the tube 8 may be provided with a syphon tube h. Upon
pressing the two arms pandr together with the aperture in the movable tube c¹ is
brought in line with the apertures o and a¹ for the discharge of the contents of the
bottle or vessel; and upon releasing the arms the discharge will be instantly stopped
by the action of the coiled spring q. This stopper is shewn attached by means
of arms a², which arms are turned up at their lower extremities to take into a
groove on the outside of the bottle neck, and a ring is passed over the arms a¹,
a tight fastening being thus provided; but at the same time one that will allow
of the speedy removal of the stopper for filling. The contents of the bottle is
put under pressure in substantially the same manner as before described.
Having now described the nature and particulars of our said Invention, we
claim the improvements in stoppers for bottles or other vessels, also applicable to
other purposes, and in apparatus for filling and discharging the contents of bottles
or other vessels, substantially as herein described, and shown on the accompanying
Drawings.
•
In witness whereof, I, the said Edgar Breffit, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-third day of August, in the year of our Lord One