Year: 1887

page_text: I, WILHELM PITTNER, of IV Margarethenstrasse 47, Vienna, Austria, Metal Goods
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for closing tubes or vessels
(hereinafter referred to as vessels") of soft metal. For this purpose resort has
frequently heretofore been had to the use of screwed caps, or to squeezing or twisting
together the necks of the vessels.
These methods as heretofore practised, and especially the last mentioned of them,
have many disadvantages, since vessels that have been closed by squeezing or twisting
very often acquire folds, so that they do not close tight, and they are unable to resist
internal pressure.
Now this invention has for its object to provide a method of closing vessels of soft
metals, such as tin, load, and alloys of lead, by gradually pressing together the edge
portion of the walls of the vessel concentrically all round the opening to be closed, so
as to impart to them a conical form, and by then further compressing the portion of
the wall so closed so as to form a solid plug.
This mode of closing may be performed by means of two slides or plungers carrying
discs, which I will call "squeezing discs," free to rotate, and which are so arranged as
to be able to approach one another; the end of the vessel to be closed is inserted
between the squeezing discs, and either the vessel, or the frame carrying the squeezing
discs is caused to rotate, while at the same time one or the other of these two parts
is moved to and fro in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the vessel, so that its
open end is first caused to acquire a conoidal tapering shape by the uniform pressure
applied all round it at a suitable distance from the edge, so that the opening is closed,
and then the metal walls which have thus been pressed together into a conical shape
are further compressed so as to form a solid closing plug.

page_text: It is evident that this improved method of closing might be employed to close both
ends of the vessel, but as a rule such vessels generally employed are drawn in one
piece and are thus provided from the beginning with a bottom.
In applying this new method in practice, the vessel to be closed is inserted between
two discs capable of rotation which can be advanced towards each other in a plane at
right angles to the axis of the vessel. Then either the vessel is caused to rotate
between the two discs while they are being constantly pressed up against it, or the
frame or part carrying the discs is caused to rotate, and one or the other of the two
parts is at the same time moved to and fro a suitable distance in the direction of the
longitudinal axis of the vessel. The result of this operation is that the squeezing
discs, by moving gradually towards one another, squeeze or nip the upper end of the
vessel into a conical form. The continuous advancing together of the squeezing discs
bring the edges of the vessel into contact with one another, and from this stage the
joined walls of the vessel are further compressed so as to form a solid plug. The
operation is thus completed, and the closing is effected.
In the machine for carrying out this method of closing the squeezing discs are
mounted on the ends of two slides or plungers arranged in line with each other in a
frame fixed on the end of a vertical shaft. The slides or plungers can he moved
towards each other by the operation of two cranked levers having their fulcra in
the frame, whilst suitably arranged springs tend to move them in the opposite
direction.
The vessel to be closed is fixed in a frame so that its axis coincides with a pro-
longation of the axis of the vertical shaft, and this frame is moveable in a direction
parallel to this axis.
The person operating the machine grasps two hand levers, one of which effects the
to and fro movement of the frame containing the vessel, whilst the other effects the
simultaneous approach of the two squeezing dises by means of a moveable cone on
the shaft.
This cone presses apart the ends of the two above mentioned cranked levers. Instead
of effecting the approach of the squeezing dises and the to and fro movement of the
vessel by hand, the machine may be provided with mechanism for effecting this work
automatically.
I will now describe by way of illustration a construction of such a machine. The
squeezing discs are mounted, and are capable of rotation on the inner ends of two
slides or plungers, which are fitted in a frame so that their axes are in a straight line
and so as to be capable of being moved towards or from each other in the direction of
their axes; they are kept apart by helical springs.
These springs bear on the one side against the end walls of the frame and on the
other side against a shoulder on the respective slides or plungers; they are enclosed
by cases screwed to the frame, and the bottoms of the said cases limit the outward
movement of the slides or plungers.
The frame is mounted on the free lower end of a vertical shaft so arranged that it
can be rotated by means of bevel wheels, and a belt pulley which is mounted on the
horizontal shaft of one of the said bevel wheels.
The simultaneous approach of the rotary squeezing discs is effected by two cranked
levers which have their fulcera in the frame: one arm of each lever is connected to one
of the slides or plungers by means of a slot, whilst the other arm of each lever bears,
through the medium of a friction roller, against a cone which is moveable along a
feather on the vertical shaft. When this conc is moved downwards towards the frame
it causes the upper ends of the levers to separate, and motion is thus communicated to
the slides or plungers carrying the squeezing discs thereby causing them to meet at
the centre of the frame. On again raising the cone away from the frame, the helical
springs push out the slides or plungers which carry with them the squeezing discs and
the lever arms so that the friction rollers of the arms remain in constant contact with
the cone.
The movement of the cone along the shaft is effected by means of the hand lever
which is pivotted to the framing of the machine and which surrounds the cono with an

page_text: annular portion provided with pins furnished with friction rollers entering in an
annular groove of the cone.
The moveable frame in which the vessel to be closed is fixed in order to insert it
between the squeezing dises and to move it to and fro between the same, has the shape
of a table capable of movement in a vertical plane for which purpose it is provided
with a dove fail shaped edge which takes into a correspondingly shaped part of the
frame of the machine. This table carries the device for holding the vessel to be closed.
This device comprises a tube composed of two trough-shaped parts connected by a
hinge. The axis of this tube coincides with the axis of the vertical shaft of the
machine. A lever serves to hold the parts of the tube together, and a tightening lever
is provided which serves to retain this holding lever firmly in position.
The raising and lowering of the table is effected by means of a toothed wheel
mounted beneath it, which engages with a rack fixed to the frame of the machine; a
shaft is fixed to the toothed wheel provided with a hand lever.
When a vessel is to be closed it is first fixed in the divided tube, and firmly retained
therein by the two above mentioned levers, then by raising the table by the hand lever,
the open end of the vessel is caused to enter into the central opening of the rotating
frame. On then depressing the hand lever the squeezing discs are pressed against the
end of the vessel.
By continuously raising and depressing the hand lover, the gradual pressing
together of the open end of the vessel into conical form, and afterwards the
compressing together of the metal walls into a solid plug, is easily effected.
It is clear that such a machine may be constructed to work just as well with a
horizontal shaft instead of with a vertical one.
Trials have shown that metal vossels closed as above described, remained quite tight
under a pressure of 6 atmospheres.
Ր
1
1007
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Mode or Method of Closing Tubes or Vessels of Soft Metal and
Apparatus therefor.
I WILHELM PITTNER of IV Margarethen Strasse 47 Vienna, Austria, Metal Goods
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 :-
This Invention relates to a method of and apparatus for closing tubes or vessels of
soft metal.
For this purpose resort has frequently heretofore been had to the use of screwed
caps, or to squeezing or twisting together the necks of the tubes or vessels.
These methods as heretofore practised and especially the last mentioned of them, have
many disadvantages, since tubes or vessels that have been closed by squeezing or
twisting very often acquire folds, so that they do not close tight, and they are unable to
resist internal pressure.
Now this invention has for its object to provide a method of closing tubes or vessels
of soft metals, such as tin, lead, and alloys of lead, by gradually pressing together the
edge portion of the walls of the tube or vessel concentrically all round the opening to
be closed, so as to impart to them a conical form, and by then further compressing the
portion of the wall so closed so as to form a solid plug.
This mode of closing capsules may be performed by means of two slides or discs
which I call "
squeezing discs" free to rotate and which are so arranged as to be able
to approach one another; the end of the capsule to be closed is inserted between the
squeezing dises, and either the capsule, or the frame carrying the squeezing discs is
caused to rotate, while at the same time one or the other of these two parts is moved to
and fro in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the capsule so that its open end is
first caused to acquire a conoidal tapering shape by the uniform pressure applied all
round it for a suitable distance from the edge, so that the opening is closed, and then
the metal walls which have thus been pressed together into a conical shape are
further compressed so as to form a solid closing end or plug.
It is evident that this improved method of closing might be employed to close
both ends of the tube or vessel, but as a rule the tubes or vessels of soft metal
generally employed are drawn in one piece and are thus provided from the beginning
with a bottom.
In applying this new method in practice, the tube or vessel to be closed is
inserted between two discs capable of rotation which can be advanced towards each
other in a plane at right angles to the axis of the tube or vessel.
Then either the tube or vessel is caused to rotate between the two discs while they
are being constantly pressed up against it or the frame or part carrying the discs is
caused to rotate, and one or the other of the two parts is at the same time moved to
and fro a suitable distance in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tube or
vessel.
The result of this operation is that the squeezing discs by moving gradually towards

page_text: one another squeeze or nip the upper end of the tube or vessel into a conical form.
The continuous advancing together of the squeezing dises bring the edges of the tube
into contact with one another, and from this stage the joined walls are further
compressed so as to form a solid plug or end. The operation is thus completed, and
the closing is effected.
In the machine for carrying out this method of closing tubes or vessels the squeez-
ing discs are mounted on the ends of two slides, or plungers arranged in line with
each other in a frame fixed on the end of a shaft. The slides or plungers can be moved
towards each other by the operation of two cranked lovers having their fulera in the
frame, whilst suitably arranged springs tend to move them in the opposite direction.
The tube or vessel to be closed is fixed in a frame so that its axis coincides with a
prolongation of the axis of the vertical shaft and this frame is moveable in a direction
parallel to this axis.
The person operating the machine grasps two hand levers, one of which effects the
to and fro movement of the frame containing the tube, whilst the other effects tho
simultaneous approach of the two squeezing discs by means of a movable cone on
the shaft.
This cone presses apart the ends of the two above mentioned cranked levers.
Instead of effecting the approach of the squeezing dises and the to and fro movement
of the tube by hand, the machine may be provided with mechanism for effecting this
work automatically.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation
partly in section of a machine according to this invention for closing soft metal tubes
or vessels.
Fig. 2 shows the hand lever for moving the cone to and fro which operates the two
armed levers.
This view is a section through a z of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shews the frame containing the squeezing discs fixed on the end of the shaft.
The view is a section through yy, Fig. 1.
Fig. is a plan of the movable frame or table in which is fixed the tube or vessel
to be closed.
Fig. illustrates the manner in which the squeezing discs effect the pressing
together of the open end of the tube into conical form, and the subsequent production
of a closing end or plug.
The squeezing discs cc (Fig. 1) are mounted and are capable of rotation on
the inner ends of two slides or plungers ee which are fitted in a frame C so that
their axes are in a straight line and so as to be capable of being moved towards or
from each other in the direction of their axes: they are kept apart by helical
springs cc. These springs c bear on the one side against the end walls of the
frame C and on the other side against a shoulder on the respective slide or plunger :
they are enclosed by cases screwed to the frame and the bottoms of the said
cases limit the outward movement of the slides or plungers c
The frame is mounted on the free lower end of a vertical shaft C so arranged
that it can be rotated by means of bevel wheels and a belt pulley which is
mounted on the horizontal shaft of one of the said bevel wheels 1.
The simultaneous approach of the rotary squeezing discs is effected by two cranked
levers ee which have their fulcra in the frame C. One arm of each lever is
connected to one of the slides or plungers e by means of a slot and pin whilst the
other arm of each lever bears through the medium of an antifriction roller against a
cone C which is moveable along a feather on the vertical shaft C. When this
cone C is moved downwards towards the frame C it causes the upper ends of the
ievers to separate, and motion is thus communicated to the slides or plungers c
carrying the squeezing discs c thereby causing them to meet at the centre of the
frame. On again raising the cone away again from the frame C, the helical
springs push out the slides or plungers which carry with them the squeezing
discs and the lever arms c² so that the anti-friction rollers of the arms c¹ remain in
constant contact with the cone C².

page_text: The movement of the cone along the shaft ( is effected by means of the hand
lever E which is pivotted to the framing of the machine and which surrounds the
cone with an annular portion provided with pins e furnished with anti friction
rollers entering in an annular groove e¹ of the cone C².
is
The movable frame in which the tube a to be closed is fixed in order to insert it
between the squeezing discs cc and to move it to and fro between the same has the
shape of a table B capable of movement in a vertical plane for which purpose
provided with a dovetail shaped edge which takes into a correspondingly shaped part
of the frame of the machine. This table carries the device for holding the tube to be
closed. This device comprises a tube composed of two trough shaped parts bb
connected by a hinge. The axis of this tube coincides with the axis of the vertical
shaft C of the machine. A lever 62 serves to hold the parts of the tube together
(Fig. 4) and an arresting lever 23 is provided which serves to retain this holding
lever firmly in position.
The raising and lowering of the table B is effected by means of a toothed wheel d¹
mounted beneath it, which engages with a rack d, fixed to the frame of the machine;
a shaft is fixed to the toothed wheel provided with a hand lever D.
When a tube is to be closed it is first fixed in the divided tubo bb' and firmly retained
therein by the two above mentioned levers; then by raising the table by the
hand lever D the open end of the tube is caused to enter into the central opening of
the rotating frame C. On then depressing the hand lever E the squeezing discs ce
are pressed against the end of the tube. By continuously raising and depressing the
hand lever D, the gradual pressing together of the open end of the tube into conical
form, and afterwards the compressing together of the metal walls into a solid end
is easily effected.
It is clear that such a machine may be constructed to work just as well with
a horizontal shaft instead of with a vertical one.
Trials have shewn that metal tubes or vessels closed as above described, remained
quite tight under a pressure of 6 atmospheres.
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 tubes or vessels of soft metal substantially as hereinbefore
described the said method consisting in gradually closing by concentric rotary
pressure the edges of the walls of the tube or vessel (all round the opening to be
closed) into conical form, and in further compressing à portion of the wall so closed
into a solid end or plug.
2. Apparatus for closing tubes or vessels of soft metal-according to the method
referred to in Claim 1 the said apparatus comprising two rotary squeezing discs
capable of being moved towards and from each other in combination with means for
supporting the tube or vessel, the discs and the tube having a relative longitudinal
motion and a relative rotary motion substantially as described.
3. In apparatus for closing tubes or vessels of soft metal a rotating frame C carrying
sliding plungers CC on which are mounted rotary discs cc in combination with
cranked levers c¹ c² and a cone (2 substantially as described and shewn.
4. The apparatus for closing tubes or vessels of soft metal, constructed arranged
and operating substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the
drawings.