Electrical Method of Closing the Air Exhaust Apertures of Hermetically Sealed Canisters and like Vessels.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 20th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Electrical Method of Closing the Air Exhaust Apertures of
Hermetically Sealed Canisters and like Vessels.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM DAVEY, of Bannerleigh, Leigh Woods, near Bristol,
Tobacco Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :-
This invention relates to closing the air exhaust apertures of canisters and other
vessels from which the air is withdrawn by a pump or like appliance after the goods.
are packed.
This invention is designed mainly for use in relation to canisters and other vessels
for coutaining tobacco. It is also applicable to canisters and like vessels for other
goods capable of like treatment.
According to this invention, the canister is placed on an insulated stand or table
to which is connected a wire from one of the poles of an electric battery or electric
current generator. An air-tight cap, the side of which consists of a ring of india-
rubber or other suitable insulating material, is applied at the other end of the vessel
and is fitted with an air-tight stuffing box in which is a spindle vertically set over
the air exhaust aperture of the vessel and having connected thereto the wire from
the opposite pole of the electric battery or generator.
A spring coiled about the spindle tends to keep it raised out of contact with the
vessel.
When the air has been exhausted from the vessel, which is closed through a tube
communicating with the space between the top of the cap and the end of the vessel,
the spindle aforesaid is pressed down on the vessel, and the electrical circuit
is completed. Solder placed either on the air exhaust aperture and itself pierced
for the passage of the air, or carried at or towards the lower end of the
spindle, is fused by the electric current and closes the air exhaust aperture.
On releasing the spindle, the spring returns it to the raised position, thus breaking
the circuit.
Dated this 4th day of March 1895.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Chartered Patent Agent, Bristol.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Electrical Method of Closing the Air Exhaust Apertures of
Hermetically Sealed Canisters and like Vessels.
I, GEORGE WILliam Davey, of Bannerleigh, Leigh Woods, near Bristol,
Tobacco Manufacturer, 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 :-
I
This invention relates to closing the air exhaust apertures of canisters and like
vessels from which the air is withdrawn by a pump or like appliance after the goods
are packed.
This invention is designed mainly for use in relation to canisters and other vessels

page_text: for containing tobacco. It is also applicable to canisters and like vessels for other
goods capable of like treatment.
According to this invention, the canister is placed on an insulated stand or table
to which is connected a wire from one of the poles of an electric battery or other
electric current generator, or to an electrical storage battery or accumulator. An
air-tight cap, the side of which consists of a ring of india-rubber or other suitable
insulating material, is applied at the other end of the vessel and is fitted with an
airtight stuffing box in which is a spindle vertically set over the air exhaust
aperture of the vessel and having connected thereto the wire from the opposite pole
of the electric battery or accumulator. A spring coiled about the spindle tends to
keep it raised out of contact with the vessel.
When, after the goods have been placed in the vessel, the air has been exhausted
from the vessel, which is done through a tube communicating with the space between
the head of the cap and the end of the vessel, the spindle aforesaid is pressed down
on the vessel, and the electrical circuit is thus completed.
Solder placed either on the air exhaust aperture and itself pierced for the passage
of the air, or carried at or towards the lower end of the spindle, is fused by the
electric current and closes the air exhaust aperture. On releasing the spindle, the
spring returns it to the raised position, thus breaking the circuit.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings is illustrated the method of and means for
closing canisters and other like vessels, by the employment of an electric current,
in which this invention consists. Fig. 1 is in elevation, and Fig. 2 partly in
elevation and partly in section.
According to this invention the canister a, having been charged with tobacco or
other goods which it is desired to pack therein and after having had its cover
hermetically sealed and a lump of solder a placed over the air exhaust aperture a²,
is placed on a stand b which is insulated. Free communication between the interior
of the canister and the space below the plate d is afforded through a hole made in
the solder a'. Insulation of the stand & may be effected in a variety of ways, as is
well understood. For example, insulation may be effected by placing the stand
upon a slab or legs of glass, porcelain or other suitable material. Or, the stand
may be supported on balls of glass, porcelain or the like fixed to its underside.
To the stand is connected one end of a wire c extending from one of the poles of
a battery or other source of electric current supply. An air-tight cap consisting of
a plate d, having fixed to its underside a ring d' of india-rubber or other
suitable insulating material, is placed on the upper end of the canister. At
Fig. 1 the ring d is shown with a piece removed to enable the solder a¹ to
be seen.
Mounted on the plate d is an air-tight stuffing box e through which is passed the
spindle. A spring 9, coiled about the spindle and compressed between the
head of the spindle and the top of the stuffing box e, tends constantly to maintain
the spindle in the raised position shown in the drawing. To the spindle fis
connected a wire à extending from the opposite electric pole of the battery or other
source of electric current supply.
The air below the plate d and within the canister and about the tobacco or other
contents of the canister is withdrawn by an air pump or other suitable appliance
connected to the air exhaust tube i. The spindle is then pressed down on to the
solder a and, on making contact therewith, an electrical circuit is completed through
the canister and the spindle f. The solder a¹ becomes melted and, running
. together, blocks and closes the aperture a².
On withdrawal of the downward pressure exerted therein the spindle ƒ rises,
under the influence of the spring y, and the canister is then withdrawn.
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 :-
1. The method of closing the air exhaust apertures of hermetically sealed
i

page_text: canisters and like vessels, herein above set forth, that is to say, through the
instrumentality of an electric current the path of which is through the canister or
other vessel which is mounted on an insulated stand or other insulated support, and
the circuit of which said current is, at will, made and broken at a lump of solder
placed either over the air exhaust aperture of the canister or other vessel, or
carried on the end of a spindle, or its equivalent, so that the solder is melted at
completion of the circuit and, running together, closes the air exhaust aperture of
the vessel.
2. Apparatus for closing,-through the instrumentality of an electric current,
the air exhaust apertures of hermetically sealed canisters and like vessels; said
apparatus consisting of a spindle such as fadapted to reciprocate in a suitable
stuffing box such as e and having a spring a coiled about the said spindle tending
constantly to raise it; the arrangement being such that when the spindle fis
sufficiently lowered, the electrical circuit is established either through a lump of
solder placed over the exhaust aperture and itself pierced, or through a lump of solder
carried on the lower end of the spindle; the result being that the solder is melted
and, running together, closes the air exhaust aperture, substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings.
3. The air-tight cap consisting of the plated with air exhaust tube i and ring d³,
of india-rubber or other suitable material, fixed to the plate and constituting an
air-tight and insulating ring, arranged substantially as hereiuabove set forth.
Dated this 19th day of September 1895.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Chartered Patent Agent, Bristol,