IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO LIDS FOR THE FILLING HOLES OF OIL-CANS AND LUBRICATORS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Nickholds, of the Firm of Nickholds Brothers, of
Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Tin-plate Workers, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO LIDS FOR THE FILLING
HOLES OF OIL-CANS AND LUBRICATORS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Nickholds at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th August 1881.
JOSEPH NICKHOLDS, of the Firm of Nickholds Brothers, of Wolverhampton, in
the County of Stafford, Tin-plate Workers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING
TO LIDS FOR THE FILLING HOLES OF OIL CANS AND LUBRICATORS."
The lid of an oil can is formed, according to this Invention, preferably as a
segment of a hollow sphere, and is carried inside the can by means of strong steel
wires fixed to the underside of the lid and to a rocking spindle supported below the
lid, transversely of the can, in suitable bearings. The wires are curved considerably
in side elevation, and are fixed in place in a state of sufficient elasticity or spring
to press the lid against a face or seating, which projects around the filling hole
slightly down into the can. The lid thus makes a tight joint under the filling
hole when closed. A stud projects through the filling opening from the upper side
of the lid, forming the means by which the lid can be opened and closed, and also
forming a stop to its movement in opening and closing. The lid is opened and
closed by sliding it forwards and backwards, the wires moving therewith as arms
on the rocking spindle. The wires are continued down for a short distance below
the rocking spindle, and if the lid is accidentally left open a cross-piece on a rod,
by which a valve in the spout is actuated, comes in contact with the extended
part of the wires the first time the valve is opened, and thus closes the lid. A
special mounting on the top of the can has formed on its under side the face or seat
for the lid, and is dished on its upper side around the hole through it to facilitate
filling the can.
The lid may be made as a segment of a hollow cylinder if desired; and any
suitable equivalent may be used in place of the wires to form the connection
between the lid and the rocking spindle, and to give the necessary pressure to
the lid, and to form the extended part for the purpose described.
In applying my Invention, as above described, to a lid for a lubricator, the
extended part of the wires is dispensed with, as there is in this case no rod for
actuating a valve corresponding to that employed in an oil can. The lid must
therefore in the case of a lubricator always be closed as well as opened by means
of the stud.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph Nickholds in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd February 1882.
JOSEPH NICKHOLDS, of the Firm of Nickholds Brothers, of Wolverhampton, in
the County of Stafford, Tin-plate Workers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING
TO LIDS FOR THE FILLING HOLES OF OIL CANS AND LUBRICATORS."
The lid of an oil can is formed, according to this Invention, preferably as a
segment of a hollow sphere, and is carried inside the can by means of strong steel
wires fixed to the underside of the lid and to a rocking-spindle supported below
the lid transversely of the can in suitable bearings. The wires are curved con-
siderably in side elevation, and are fixed in place in a state of sufficient elasticity
or spring to press the lid against a face or seating which projects around the filling
hole slightly down into the can. The lid thus makes a tight joint under the filling
hole when closed. According to one arrangement a stud projects through the
filling opening from the upper side of the lid, forming a means by which the lid
can be opened and closed, and also forming a stop to its movement in opening and
closing, the lid being opened and closed by sliding it forwards and backwards, the
wires moving there with as arms on the rocking-spindle. According to another
arrangement, and which I prefer, the stud is dispensed with, a stop being fixed to
the can inside to fix the position of the lid when closed. With this latter arrange-
ment the lid is opened by pressing it down with the finger against the spring
pressure, slightly off the face, and then pressing it forwards clear of the opening,
when the finger may be removed, leaving the lid open. Wires or arms connected
rigidly with the arms aforesaid are continued down for a short distance below the
rocking-spindle, whichever arrangement, as aforesaid, is adopted, and if the lid is
left open after filling, a cross-piece on the rod by which the valve in the spout is
actuated comes in contact with the wires or arms below the rocking-spindle as
the valve is opened and thus closes the lid. When the arrangement without the
stud aforesaid is adopted it will be found much more convenient to close the lid
by pressing on the valve-rod button than by pressing on the lid and pushing it
backwards, which latter cannot be done at all if the lid has been opened to its full
extent. A special mounting (preferably brass) on the top of the can has formed
on its underside the face or seat for the lid, and is dished on its upper side around
the hole through it to facilitate filling the can.
.
The lid may be formed as a segment of a hollow cylinder if desired, and any
suitable equivalent may be used in place of the wires to form the connection
between the lid and the rocking-spindle, and to give the necessary pressure to
the lid.
In applying my Invention, as above-described, to a lid for a lubricator, the wires
or arms extending below the rocking-spindle are of course dispensed with (unless
in the case of a lubricator which may have or be desired to be constructed with an
internal rod corresponding sufficiently in its shape and use with the valve-rod
aforesaid, to employ in a similar manner for the closing of the lid) and the arrange-
ment with the stud projecting from the lid, and by which to open and close it, is
consequently adopted.
The lid need not necessarily be shaped either as a segment of a sphere or of a
cylinder, and may of course be solid instead of hollow if preferred. I consider,
however, that the segment of a sphere and of a cylinder are very much to be
preferred for the purpose to any other shapes differing materially therefrom.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will now proceed more

page_text: particularly to describe and ascertain the manner of performing the same, and in
doing so will refer to the accompanying Drawing and the letters of reference marked
thereon.
I have illustrated my Invention only as applied to an oil can; but upon a
thorough understanding of this application, together with the whole context of
the Specification, an ordinarily skilled mechanic will readily be able to apply the
Invention in the modified forms which may be necessary to suit various shapes and
sizes of lubricators, without any need for further illustration.
The same letters of reference occurring on any two or more of the views indicate
corresponding parts.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through an oil can; Figure 2 a plan, with the
top of the can removed, and Figure 3 a front elevation shewing as a detached view
the lid and rocking-spindle with their connecting wires. A is the rod for actuating
the valve in the spout of the can, and B is the spring for holding back the rod.
Both are of the ordinary construction, the rod of course being bent to the proper
curve, as shewn, in side elevation, to suit the arrangement and shape of the other
mechanism illustrated. C is the lid formed of sheet metal (preferably brass);
D, D, are strong steel wires soldered into the hollow underside of the lid, and also
to the rocking-spindle E carried in bearings F, F, soldered to each side of the can.
The wires D, D, are curved considerably in side elevation, as shewn, and are fixed
in place in a state of sufficient elasticity or spring to press the lid tightly against
the face or seating G. The lid is opened by being pressed down with the finger
slightly off the face, and while so pressed down pushed forwards into the position
shewn by dotted lines, Figure 1; H, H, is a cranked-down part of the rocking-
spindle E, and I, I, a correspondingly cranked-down part of the wires D, D, with
which it forms a continuous length as shown. The wires D, D, are fixed to the
rocking-spindle E by soldering the parts I, I, to the parts H, H; K is a cross-bar
soldered to the valve-rod A as shewn, and when the valve is held back by the
spring B and the lid is open the cranked-down parts H, H, of the rocking-spindle
come against the cross-bar K (see dotted lines, Figure 1), which thus acts as a stop
to the forward movement of the lid. As the valve-rod A is pressed forwards to
open the valve the cross-bar K carries forwards the cranked-down parts H, H,
and I, I, and thus closes the lid against a stop L soldered under the top of the can.
M is a mounting, preferably of sheet brass, dish-shaped as shewn, to facilitate
filling the can. The face for the lid to work against is formed by turning the
sheet brass of the mounting M, under the sheet metal of which the can top is
formed around the opening through the top of the can, as shown.
The illustration shews my arrangement dispensing with the stud projecting
through the filling opening from the upper side of the lid. The application of such
stud will be readily understood when it is described as being of the same character
as the stud employed for the slide in the eye-piece of a telescope.
Instead of the arms D, D, and I, I, being fixed to the rocking-spindle E the
spindle may be fixed and the arms turn thereon if desired.
Having now stated the nature of my said Invention, and particularly described
and ascertained the manner of performing the same, I declare that I do not limit
myself to the exact details as shewn, but what I claim as my Invention and desire
to secure by the herein-before in-part-recited Letters Parent is,―
1st. Mounting the lid for the filling hole of an oil can or lubricator upon an arm
or arms centred on a fulcrum below the lid, such arm or arms being of sufficient
rigidity to be capable of turning on such fulcrum without material change of
shape, and having sufficient elasticity or spring when fixed in place within the can
or lubricator to press the lid tightly against the inner face of the filling opening,
substantially as and for the purpose herein described and shewn.
2nd. The method of closing the lid of an oil can (or lubricator when the con-
struction admits thereof, as before explained) mounted in the manner referred to in
Claim 1, by means of a part upon the valve spindle pressing forward, as the valve
is opened, an arm or arms connected to the arm or arms upon which the lid is

page_text: mounted, and extending down from the fulcrum aforesaid, substantially as herein
described and illustrated.
3rd. In an oil can or lubricator the lid C, arms D, D, and rocking-spindle E, all
constructed and operating, substantially as and for the purpose herein described
and shewn.
4th. In an oil can (or lubricator, when the construction admits thereof, as before
explained), the part K upon the valve-spindle, in combination with the arms H, H,
rigidly connected to or forming part of the arms D, D, substantially as and for the
purpose herein described and shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Nickholds, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness,
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Assoc. M. Inst. C.E.,
Office for Patents,
Wolverhampton.
JOSEPH NICKOLDD. (L.B.)