Improvements in Hermetically-sealed Cans or Tins and other similar Vessels for Preserving Alimentary and other Substances.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1886
Complete Left, 15th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 15th Nov., 1887
Improvements in Hermetically-sealed Cans or Tins and other similar
Vessels for Preserving Alimentary and other Substances.
I, JAMES PETER WEST, Engineer, of Lulworth Villa, Crawley Road, Horsham,
Sussex do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:―
This invention relates to certain improvements in cans or tins and other vessels
made of tin-plate and used for preserving alimentary and other substances, the object
being:
1st. To render the opening of the can or tin at all times easy and expeditious
without the use of a tin-opener, or tool for cutting through the tin.
2nd. To prevent, as far as possible, contact between the contents of the can and
the cut edges of the tin-plate of which such cans, tins or vessels are made.
Air-tight cans or vessels at present used for preserving or canning are usually
opened at great inconvenience and danger by means of a can-opener, tool or knife
in well known ways. Besides this, however, their contents are sometimes found to be
much discoloured and damaged owing probably to the oxidization and electrical action
at the edges of the plate in contact with such contents.
Attempts to obviate the imperfections and inconveniences just set forth have at
various times been made, but they have failed in some instances by reason of their not
embracing both the points mentioned and in others on account of the excessive cost of
carrying the improvements into practical effect; and besides this they have been
unsound and unpractical.
It is desirable therefore to produce such cans or tins as shall meet, as far as possible,
all the requirements above set forth and which at the same time may be manufactured
at a favourable cost as compared to those imperfect ones at present used. I accomplish
this by constructing cans in the following manner :-
I take a piece of tin-plate of such dimensions as will make a "body" and proceed
in the usual way to shape it to the required form of the can to be made. I then solder
up the seam and finally form a "swage-inwards" in it about one quarter-of-an-inch
from one of its ends. Of course any form of "tin" may be made but we will suppose
the one I describe to be of cylindrical form.

page_text: "
By means of well known machinery I now stamp out what I term the "tops."
For this purpose it will be found preferable to use a very thin tin-plate viz. that
known as 90, 112 or 120 lb. " tagger "but I do not confine myself to this,―These
tops" in form resemble the stamped lids or covers of ordinary cannisters inasmuch
as they consist of a disc with a rimmed margin except that in this case the rim is
turned upwards instead of downwards and the rimmed portion is slightly coned
outwards. At the angle formed by turning up the rim of these tops, a recess for
holding a piece of tinn'd wire of suitable gauge (rather more than enough in length
to encircle the "top") extends all round the "top." At a convenient part of the
recess for holding the wire I punch two holes close together each of the same diameter
as that of the wire used. I next pass both ends of the wire, just referred to, through
these holes to the opposite side, allowing one to extend through about one-quarter-of-
an-inch and the other to the extent of about four inches and bend the ends of the
wire back out of the way.
The "
"
"
•
top is now ready to be into the "body" of the can. This is effected by
pressing the top" (the mean diameter of the coned rimmed-margin of which is
exactly of the same diameter as the inside of the body) into the body until it descends
and rests on the "swage-inwards" previously mentioned and by reason of the rimmed
margin having been slightly coned during the process of "stamping" it fits and
makes a tight joint, which subsequent soldering makes perfectly air tight.
It will be seen by the accompanying sheet of drawings fig. 1 that the rim of the
"top" and the edge of the "body" coincide and are flush with each other when fixed
by soldering, whilst as a consequence the central area of the "top" is sunk.
Sometimes, however, instead of allowing the whole of the central area to remain
sunk I give it an "inverted-pan" form as shown in figure 2, so that it is nearly flush
with the top edge of the "body" but I leave a trough all round the margin in order
to obtain a proper depth for soldering etcétera.
The "top" is soldered, on well-known machine methods to the body by rotating the
edges (marked h in all the accompanying sketches) in a bath of molten solder which
also seals the holes through which the wire passes.
"
are
We have, hitherto, spoken only of the " tops" of the cans. The "bottoms
preferably stamped out of tin-plate of the gauge known as I.C., but they may be
stamped out of tin-plate of any gauge. Their shape may be the same as that of those
at present used, but I prefer, in order to keep the cut edges clear of the can's
contents, to make them of the same shape as the "tops" just described and shown
in figure 2, except that the small recess is omitted and they are consequently fixed
in the same manner as described for fixing the "tops."
The cans are preferably filled before the "bottom" is put and soldered.
To open one of my cans, the longer end of the wire is so twisted as to form a loop
(sometimes I attach a cross handle or such like,) through which a key, knife handle,
pencil, &c. or even ones finger may be put and the wire may then be pulled and it
has the effect of cutting the metal "top" all round the recess in which the wire has
been placed. Thus giving access to the contents of the can.
swage-
To explain the drawings hereunto attached; Fig. 1 represents a sectional drawing of
the can complete; and Fig. 6 an elevation. a, is the central area of the "top"; b, the
recess for the wire and c, the wire itself; d, the rim of the "top"; f, the "
inwards, upon which the "top" rests and which is intended to keep the wire in its
proper track. As an alternative method, I sometimes omit this swage-inwards and in
lieu thereof I form the recess as shewn at b, in fig. 3, so as to contain the wire. I
prefer this form when I apply the system to the closing of jars and such like. Fig. 2
represents a portion of the same can, the lid, panned upwards, being shewn at a and
the trough at g. Fig. 4 shews a lid corrugated concentrically. In all the above
sketches h shews the line of solder by which the tins are hermetically sealed. It will
be observed that the "tops" of the cans are protected from injury by the projecting
edges of the "body."
I do not confine myself to inserting the wire in the manner before described but
I sometimes insert it so that both its ends extend through the holes in the "top" to

page_text: an equal distance sufficiently far to enable them to be twisted into loops. To open
this can one loop is first pulled until one half of the lid is severed and the other loop
is pulled until the other half is likewise severed, the wire being fixed in its middle
for that purpose. In some cases I prefer to weaken the metal lying in the track that
is cut by the wire so that the metal may be more easily torn asunder and I effect this
in the process of "stamping" by giving the recess an undulating form, as shewn at k
in fig. 5.
In case it be desired to fill the cans herein described by the process that now
generally obtains, viz.,-by leaving a hole in one of the "tops" or rather ends of the
can and soldering a flat plate of metal over the hole when the can is full,-this may
be done by cutting mine in exactly the same way.
Another method I have of constructing easy-opening cans is the following:-
The "body" and bottom of the can having been made in one of the ways described
before, I form the "top" of the can by stamping out a trough-shaped annular
marginal-piece which I solder to the "body" so that the upper edges of the trough
are preferably flush with the edge of the "body" of the can. The central void
covered with a disc having its edge turned downwards somewhat in the form of the
letter C in section (as shewn in fig. 7) and also projecting sufficiently far into
the trough to enable a piece of soft solder, which is of wire form in section and which
has been already put into the C form cavity, to fit closely to the inner side of the
annular trough. The disc is fixed to the annular piece by sweating the soft solder,
which operation I prefer to effect by applying a heated metal ring immediately over
the line of wire solder. The can is thus hermetically sealed and may be opened by
means of a small lever whose fulcrum is the outer edge of the annular trough,--the
effect of the lever being to tear asunder the sweated soft-solder-joint. Fig. 7 further
illustrates the can. I do not confine myself to using an edge (to the disc) of C form,
however, but use a flat disc,—the edge of which I strengthen in well-known ways,-
and solder it down on to the inner edge of the annular trough. With this form I
prefer to solder the bottom of the can last, so that the chemicals used in soldering the
top shall not come in contact with the can's contents and also that I may be enabled
to solder the "top" from the inside of the can. Fig. 8 shews these cans.
Dated thi Tiftonth
dav
3
Decembe
ስ. thousand
ht hundred and

page_text: Improvements in Hermetically-sealed Cans or Tins and other similar
Vessels for Preserving Alimentary and other Substances.
JAMES PETER WEST Lulworth Villa Crawley Road Horsham Sussex Engineer
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 improvements in the construction of cans or boxes for
containing alimentary and other substances whereby such cans or boxes may be opened
by the wire-cutting principle in an easier safer more reliable and expeditious manner
without requiring the aid or use of a particular tool, key, instrument or separate
opener.
These improvements are especially applicable to hermetically-sealed cans or boxes
and consist in the novel formation and construction of certain parts of such cans or
boxes so as to render the application of the wire-cutting principle thoroughly practical
and of great utility.
This invention especially embraces a novel formation of the tops, covers or
lids of cans or boxes and of a novel and peculiar arrangement of the wire in a recess
about the inside of the said lids covers or tops.
Another feature of this invention is the formation of a swage in the bodies of cans
or boxes which swage prevents the said wire when pulled from accidentally slipping
or leaving its proper track.
It also provides a means of protection for the protruding or availablo end of the
wire as well as a more expeditious way of soldering down the cans or boxes after
filling.
The cans or boxes constructed according to this invention likewise afford greater
protection to their contents from oxidation.
In order however that the present invention may be fully understood I will
proceed to describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which :-
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the lid, top or cover, which, I preferably make
of 112 lb. or 120 lb. Tagger.
a. is the groove or recess for the wire which extends all round.
Fig.
6 shows plan view of the under side of the lid top or cover.
a. is the recess or groove for the wire extending all round.
61 62 are two holes through which the ends of the wire are led to the opposite side
of the lid, cover or top. One end of the wire is made to extend through the hole b²
about one-quarter-of-an-inch and is bent back upon the surface-This end when
soldered forms the fixed end of the wire.
The other end extends through the hole b' to a distance of about four inches and is
twisted and formed into a loop (or other convenient shape) and laid on the surface of
the lid or top as shewn at k fig. 4.

page_text: This loop is protected by a strip of common coarse muslin, paper or other suitable
terial which is pasted or stuck over it and which keeps it fixed firmly to the top or
ver of the can.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the body of my can.
c. is the swage which prevents the wire from getting out of its track when pulled.
Fig. 3 shows in sectional elevation a can or box constructed according to this
vention complete (except the wire loop).
Dis the lid on top. E is the body. F the bottom.
the swage.
cess. is the wire lying between the swage c and the recess a-h is the line of
der joining the lid or top (and the bottom) to the body of the can.
Fig. 4 is an isometric view of a sardine box made according to this invention.
To the hads
Dithe
'5°
recess. is the wire lying between the swage c and the recess a-h is the line of
solder joining the lid or top (and the bottom) to the body of the can.
Fig. 4 is an isometric view of a sardine box made according to this invention.
To the
e body D is the top or cover.
a. is the recess in which the wire is laid.
c is the swage
k is the available end of the wire formed into a loop, lying on the surface of the
lid or cover.
The rim h being somewhat higher than the surface of the top or cover D on which
the loop of the cutting wire is laid, is a further means of great protection to the loop.
This will be readily seen on reference to Fig. 3 Sheet 1.
Fig. 5 shows another method of forming the swage.
is the swage g is the wire. h is the line of solder connecting top and bottom to
the body of the can.
In practice I prefer to solder the tops, covers or lids of these cans into their bodies
before the bottoms are attached which are soldered in after filling.
The two holes b¹ 6 fig. 6 are sealed up with solder at the same time of soldering in
the tops. It will be noticed that the shorter space between the holes 6' 6' fig. 6 acts
as a hinge to the lid when the latter has been cut and that the wire does not affect
that part in cutting.
In conclusion I do not confine myself to the exact shapes, details or proportions
which I have had occasion herein to show, describe or make use of as many variations
and modifications may be made thereof without deviating from the main novel
features.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. The peculiar method of applying the wire cutting principle to hermetically-
sealed cans or boxes substantially as described and shown herein.
2nd. The novel formation of parts of cans or boxes.
1st The Body, 2nd the lid or cover 3rd the bottom.
3rd. The method of laying and keeping a wire in a recess formed in the lids or tops
of cans or boxes without solder, by the formation of a swage in the body of such cans
or boxes substantially as described and shown herein.
4th. The method of forming a marginal sinking or trough round the tops or covers
of boxes so that the wire cuts through the tin in or about the said trough and thereby
leaves no protruding ragged edge as described and shown.
5th. The method of protecting the protruding loops of the cutting wire.
1st by pasting or otherwise sticking or fastening them down to the tops of
the cans.
2nd by sinking the central surface of the lids or covers on which they lie below
the edge or rim of the body all substantially as shown and described herein.
Dated this 18th day of September 1887.
JAMES P. WEST.