Improvements in Oil-cans.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Oct., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Oil-cans.
I, DAVID TRUE, of Rocky Hill Road, in the Town of Amesbury, in the County
of Essex and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Manufacturer of
Bont-knees and Carriage-jacks, 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 that class of oil-cans in which a pump is employed for
driving the oil through the discharge-spout; and the invention consists in the novel
construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, whereby the device
may be operated with the least expenditure of power and without waste of oil
and whereby the construction is improved in various details, all substantially as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved oil-can.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.
Figure 3 is a section taken on line æ, Figure 1, with the spout turned down into
the position indicated by broken lines in Figure 4.
Figure 4 is a central vertical section of the device.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of a modification of the connection between the spout
and the can.
Figure 6 is a vertical section taken on line y, Figure 2.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A represents the reservoir or fount, made of any suitable material and provided
with an opening a by means of which it may be filled and a cap a¹ for closing
said opening. The bottom of the reservoir is raised from the lower edge of the
sides, as shown in Figure 4 and said bottom inclines downwardly from its edge
at A toward a central depression A"; the effect being that when the oil becomes
low in the reservoir, or when the oil-can is tipped, the last place for the oil to leave
is the central portion A" of the bottom. As will hereafter appear, the piston by
means of which the oil is driven through the spout, and the tube in which said
piston moves, are located centrally in the can and extend down into the central
depression produced by the above described shape of the bottom. Hence, owing
to the fact that this central depression is the last portion of the can to become
exhausted, and that the can may be tipped considerably without causing the oil to
flow out of said depression, the pump is enabled to accomplish its object until the
oil in the can is almost entirely exhausted.
B is a plug which sets snugly in the can and is formed to rest upon the upper
edge of the mouth b. This plug is provided with a vertical bore B" which is
counterbored and screw-threaded at B to receive the small plug C, which is
centrally and vertically bored to receive the piston-rod D which moves through
suitable packing C₁ supported by a centrally bored disk or washer C₁ which lies
between the lower end of the plug C and the annular shelf produced by the
counterboring of the passage" B₁. The piston-rod D is provided near its lower
end with the piston D provided with suitable radial openings'd, said piston fitting
and moving vertically in a tube B' which extends down from the plug B into the
depression formed by the shape of the bottom of the. can. A spring e surrounds
the piston-rod and extends from the washer C" to a cross piece or support ¿¹
secured to the piston-rod, as shown in Figure 4, and a sliding valve D₁ of less
diameter than the piston, moves on the rod D between the piston and the cross-
piece e¹.
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page_text: A
To the upper end of the piston-rod D is secured a lifting-bar which consists of
the central portion E and cross-piece E'; the latter having its under side formed
into finger-recesses Ell as shown. F is a vertical rod screwed into the upper surface
of the plug B, as shown in Figure 6, so as to be adjustable as to height.
Supported by and secured to the upper end of this rod, is a hand-support H.
bifurcated guide F1 extends from the portion; E to opposite sides of the rod F
(see Figure 2). The upper surface of the hand-support is shaped as indicated in
the drawing, so that when the hand is in the proper position for operating the
piston, the fingers are in the concavities E" ou the under side of the lifting bar,
the convex protuberance H on the hand-rest lies nearly under the center of the
palm of the hand, the upwardly flaring portion H extends toward the space
between the thumb and forefinger, and the portion Hand central portion H
lie under the base of the thumb (see Figure 2). With the hand and fingers in
this position (as indicated in Figure 1) the natural movement of the fingers in
closing pulls up the finger-bar E' and lifts the piston. This movement is, owing
to the relative positions and shape of the hand-rest and finger-bar, naturally a
substantially vertically one, and the effect is to accomplish the lifting movement
with a minimum of effort and also, on account of the substantially vertical
direction of the movement, to prevent any tendency to a lateral movement or
swinging of the can, even if it be suspended or raised from the floor. Hence no
power
is wasted and the can is kept steady even when it is supported solely by the
hand which operates it.
I is a passage leading from the passage B31 to the outer surface of the plug.
This passage is set at an upward incline from its inner end outward, and the
diameter at its inner end l'is decreased in order to prevent a free bali J from entering
the passage B. This ball by gravity automatically closes the lower end of the
passage I, thus forming a ball-valve, while its forward and upward movement is
limited by a screw K which passes into the plug and through said passage, as
shown in Figure 4. Thus air is prevented from entering the passage B" when the
can is not in use, while any oil in the spout or passage I is conducted downward to
the lower end of said passage, instead of dripping outside.
L is a tube which is screwed into the passage I (see Figures 3 and 4), and which
at L' makes a horizontal turn at right angles, while at L" it turns in a horizontal
plane and bends back upon itself. The outer end L is screw-threaded at to
receive the connecting tube N, upon whose outer end is screwed the elbow tube or
connection P. Suitable packing m is inserted between the tubes P and N, and the
outer end of the portion L of the tube L is counterbored to receive the spring n
which lies between the shoulder and washer m². A suitable spout S is screwed,
into the outer end of the elbow tube P. This spout can be swung up into the
position indicated in Figure 1 or down into the position indicated in broken lines in
Figure 4, according to the location of the bearing to be reached. When it is thus
swung, the elbow tube P turns on the tube N which remains stationary in the
portion Lof the tube L. The spring n which bears against the washer or
disk m¹ next the inner end of the elbow tube P, provides sufficient friction to enable
the spout S to be sustained in any position. Moreover when the spout is swung
up, that is to say outward, the tube P unscrews on the tube N with the result of
course, that said tube P and spout S are moved slightly outward from the can.
There is usually a drop of oil at the extreme end of the spout which is liable, when
the spout is removed from the bearing, to work down upon the outside of the spout
or to fly off when the spout is swung up. But by means of my construction, the
swinging up of the spout and its sinultaneous movement away from the can causes
the drop of oil at the end to be sucked into the spout by atmospheric pressure, and
hence prevents it from working out or flying.
In practical operation, when the can is to be used, the nozzle is placed in the
spot which is to be lubricated, and the hand and fingers on and under the hand-rest
and finger-bar respectively, as above described. The end of the thumb rests
naturally upon the finger-bar next one end, as shown in Figure 1. The other hand-

page_text: need not be used in lifting the can, the hand which is in engagement with the
hand-rest and finger-bar being sufficient. By closing or lifting the fingers naturally,
the piston rod D, piston D", and valve are lifted, thus starting the oil toward the
nozzle through the passages B" I, and when the finger-bar is released, the spring e
forces down the piston, and the valve D' drops more slowly by gravity.
For the purpose of securing the plug B removably to the can A, a fastening
device is employed which may be duplicated on the opposite side of the plug if
desired. This consists of an eye T forming an arch or bridge on the neck band
extending from a wire T which is soldered or otherwise secured to said neck.
Rigidly secured to the side of the plug B is a wire U which extends down through
an eye U, and is bent into loops at U", and extends at V through the eye or
arch T, being preferably bent a little downward next said arch in order to make the
engagement therewith more certain. By this means a spring connection is formed,
making it easy to bring the portion V into and out of engagement with the eye T
by rotating the plug B.
In the modification shown in Figure 5, the bent tube Lis omitted, and a straight
tube W connects with an elbow tube W₁ (from which the nozzle extends)
substantially in the same manner as the tube L is connected with the elbow P.
In case the working of the ball valve J is interfered with by the presence of
impurities in the inclined passage I, such impurities can be easily removed and the
ball valve reached by removing the screw K.
By reason of the combination with the pumping mechanism of the easily
operated finger-bar and hand-rest, the heaviest and stiffest oils may be easily
operated and driven out through the spout.
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:
1. In an oil can of the character described, an oil-reservoir provided with a
suitable closure or plug, a pump connecting with the reservoir and provided with a
piston which is adapted by its upward stroke to eject the oil, a lifting-handle
connected with the piston and adapted to be engaged on its under side by the
fingers of the operator, and a hand-rest supported by the stationary portion of the
oil-can above the lifting-handle and adapted to support and bear against the palm
of the hand, whereby the oil-can is held in a stationary position as the lifting-
handle is lifted toward the hand-rest from beneath it, substantially as described.
2. In an oil-can of the character described, an oil-reservoir provided with a
suitable closure or plug, a pump connecting with the reservoir and provided with
a piston which is adapted by its upward stroke to eject the oil, a lifting bar con-
nected with the piston and adapted to be engaged on its under side by the fingers
of the operator, and the hand-rest H formed on its upper side into a convex
protuberance H₁, flaring portion H", and the portion H H for the accom-
modation of the base of the thumb, said hand-rest being supported above the
finger-bar by the standard F extending from a stationary portion of the can,
substantially as set forth.
3. In au oil-can of the character described, the plug B provided with a passage
extending to the exterior thereof and connecting with the oil reservoir, the pipe L.
bent at substantially right angles at L' and back upon itself at L" L, the
connecting tube N extending from said pipe, the elbow pipe extending from and
rotating on said tube N, a nozzle extending from the outer end of the elbow pipe P,
and a spring located in the outer end L of the pipe L and having its opposite
ends bear against a shoulder in said pipe and a washer next the inner end of the
elbow pipe P, substantially as described.
4. In an oil-can, the combination of the following parts viz., a pipe extending
from the can and connecting with the reservoir, a connecting pipe extending from
the outer end of the first named pipe and externally screw-threaded at its outer
end, a nozzle-supporting pipe internally screw-threaded and turning on said

page_text: connecting pipe by means of its engagement with the screw-thread thereof, and a
spring located between the pipe extending from the can and. the nozzle-supporting
pipe and bearing directly or indirectly against the inner ends of both pipes, said
Dozzle-supporting pipe as it is swung or turned up so as to unscrew upon the cou-
necting pipe serving by the outward movement produced by: such unscrewing to
withdraw into the nozzle slightly the oil at its 'outer end thus preventing it from
running down on the outside, substantially as set forth.
5. In 'an oil-can of the character described, the neck or mouth b, the wire T
rigidly secured thereto and provided with the loop or arch T, 'the plug B adapted
to fit into said neck or mouth, and the wire. U secured to said plug, extending down
therefrom over said neck or mouth and provided with the coil U and spring-
extension V adapted to project through said loop or arch, substantially as
described.
6. In an oil-can of the character described, in combination, the can A., provided
with the mouth b and central wall B', the plug B fitting into said mouth and
provided with the vertical passage Bi and connecting passage I, the piston-rod D
provided with the stop or cross-piece e¹, spring e, the plug C screwing into said
plug B and through which said piston-rod extends, a lifting bar connected with
said piston-rod, the piston D secured to the lower end of the piston-rod and
provided with the openings d, and a valve D₁ playing on said piston-rod between
the piston and the stop or cross-piece e', substantially as set forth.
Duted this 3rd day of September 1995.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
DAVID TRUE.
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.