Improvements in Sheet Metal Cans.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Sept., 1895-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1895
Improvements in Sheet Metal Cans.
I OLIN STEPHEN FELLOWS, Manager, of Middletown, in the County of
Orange, and State of New York, United States of America, 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 and
accompanying drawings
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My invention relates to sheet metal cans designed to be opened by the stripping
off of the flange of an end plate or an edge of the can body. The main object of
the invention is to prevent the flow of solder by which the can body and end plate
are secured together beyond the circuitous incision or other weakening line formed
to facilitate the stripping operation.
In carrying out my invention several modifications embodying the same essential
feature may be resorted to.
In the first seven figures the exterior flange of an end plate constitutes the
stripping portion, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, representing sectional elevations of the
upper portion of a sheet metal can, showing slight variations in the form of
the angle of the end plate; Figures 4, 5, and 6, are enlarged sectional views
illustrating these variations more clearly; Figure 7, is a sectional view illustrating
the old method of sealing.
The body of the can A, may be of any desired form,-that shown being
presumably cylindrical. The plate B, of the cap b, is formed with the exterior
flange g.
When the cap is applied to the body and the can passed through the soldering
bath the solder insinuates itself rapidly between the opposed surfaces of the can
body on one side and of the end plate flanges on the other, these surfaces being
practically in contact with each other, and the flow of solder being positive between
metallic surfaces which are thus opposed to each other. Hence, where the extreme
edge a, of the can body abuts against the inner surface of the end plate b, as in
Figure 7, the solder is drawn in by contact, the plate b, is soldered directly to the
edge a, of the can body and the stripping off of the flange does not unseal the
package so as to give ready access to its contents. If the solder thus reaches
the edge of the can body an incision or reduction in thickness in the cap at the
angle between the plate b, and the flange g, is found to be of no practical utility
since the stripping of the flange leaves the end plate attached to the can body in
such manner that its removal is difficult.
The essential feature of my construction consists in forming the can with a
circumscribing groove c, coincident with the incision or reduction in thickness d, by
which the stripping portion is limited and prescribed.
In the drawings hereinbefore referred to the groove or space c, is formed in the
end cap at the angle between the end plate and the flange, the plate b, being
depressed to the plane of the edge of the end plate to limit the capacity of the can
to the height of the can body, and the parts soldered together only between the
inner side of the flange and the exterior side of the can body, so that when the
flange is stripped from the edge of the can body the edge of the latter is exposed
free and clear, and no prying off of the end plate is necessary, neither is there any
overflow of the contents of the can.
The stripping of the flange is effected in any convenient manner, as by a twisting
key applied to the stripping tongue T, in a well known manner. The circuitous
incision or other weakening line d, may be made in any desired manner either on

page_text: is prevented and the exterior flange can be stripped from the can, releasing the end
plate from the body of the can, substantially as and in the manner described.
5th. A sheet metal can having an end plate, with a flange by which the end
plate is soldered to the inner side of the can body, a stripping portion on the can
body coinciding with said soldered joint by which the end plate and can body are
secured together and provided with a stripping tongue for engagement with a
strip-winding key, a circuitous reduction in thickness in the can body adjoining the
plane of the end plate and a circuitous space formed in the inner surface of the can
body for the purpose of preventing the flow of solder beyond the line of severance,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.
6th. A sheet metal can having an end plate with an outward flange by which the
end plate is soldered to the inner side of the can body, a stripping portion on the
can body coinciding with said soldered joint by which the end plate and can body
are secured together and provided with a stripping tongue for engagement with a
strip-winding key, a circuitous reduction in thickness in the can body adjoining the
plane of the end plate, and a circuitous space formed between the inner surface of
the can body and the opposed surface of the outward flange on the end plate for
the purpose of preventing the flow of solder beyond the line of severance,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.
7th. A sheet metal can having an end plate with an outward flange by which the
eud plate is soldered to the inner side of the can body, a stripping portion on the
can body coinciding with said soldered joint by which the end plate and can body
are secured together and provided with a stripping tongue for engagement with a
strip-winding key, a circuitous reduction in thickness in the can body adjoining the
plane of the end plate, a circuitous space formed between the inner surface of the
can body and the opposed surface of the outward flange on the end plate for
the purpose of limiting the flow of solder, and a circuitous shoulder formed upon
the can body to determine the position of the end plate substantially in the manner
and for the purpose described.
8th. A sheet metal can having an end plate with an inward flange by which the
end plate is soldered to the inner side of the can body, a stripping portion on the
can body coinciding with said soldered joint by which the end plate and can body
are secured together and provided with a stripping tongue for engagement with a
strip-winding key, a circuitous reduction in thickness in the can body adjoining the
edge of the inward flange, and a circuitous space formed between the inner surface
of the can body and the opposed surfaces of the inward flange on the end plate for
the purpose of preventing the flow of solder beyond the line of severance,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.
9th. A sheet metal can having an end plate with an inward flange by which the
end plate is soldered to the inner side of the can body, a stripping portion on the
can body coinciding with said soldered joint by which the end plate and can body
are secured together and provided with a stripping tongue for engagement with
strip-winding key, a circuitous reduction in thickness in the can body adjoining the
edge of said inward Hange, a circuitous space formed between the inner surface of
the can body and the opposite surface of the inward flange on the end plate for the
purpose of limiting the flow of solder, and a circuitous shoulder formed upon the
can body to determine the position of the end plate substantially in the manner and
for the purpose described.
Dated the 2nd day of Sentember 1895
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 5 John Dalton Street, Manchester,
For the Applicant.