Improvements in Instruments for Removing the Tops of Eggs.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1887.
Complete Left, 27th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 27th Sept., 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Instruments for Removing the Tops of Eggs.
I, EDMUND WRIGHT of York Place, Bolton Road, Smallheath Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
I make use of cutting blades actuated by springs, which may be either lateral
or spiral and other accessories fully described hereinafter, by which means a sharp
sudden blow is given to the said blades, causing them to cut through the shells
without crushing the eggs this having hitherto been the fault with instruments
constructed for this purpose owing to their slowness of movement and other faulty
features. In order that my invention may be readily understood I have accompanied
my specification by drawings in which Fig 1. shews the adaptation of lateral or side
springs a. acting on the cutting blades b. b. which are pivoted at c. c.
on the
frame-plate d. and shown when closed by plain lines and when open by dotted lines
as are likewise the springs and other parts. It will be noted that in this method the
blades b. cross each other and are pivoted on separate centres, and instead of having
two separate springs I construct a double "lyre shaped" spring as shown. The
frame plate is made of metal or other suitable material and may be either cast stamped
er made of sheet metal. It is raised at a portion of the sides for a distance
corresponding with the thickness of the blades, springs and small cross bar i. which
is a portion of the opening and closing movement fully shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The
part of the frame enclosing the egg is circular and coned on its under side as shown
by dotted lines at J. Fig. 5. so that after opening the blades b. b. its upper edge comes
in close contact with and confines the egg to be operated on.
A similar framing
is seen in Figs. 5 and 6. A covering plate similar to that also shown at L. Fig. 5.

page_text: and held down by screws or pins at e. e. e. encloses a portion of the frame. One of the
special features in this part of my invention is the semi-automatic method of opening
and closing the blades. Fig. 2. is a semi-sectional view of the cylinder f. with
its knob or cross bar; recessed for the proper distance to contain the grooved stud g
which freely revolves and is continued through the covering plate.. and frame plate d.
the said stud between the above plates being of an oval or longitudinal shape with
rounded ends as shown at i. Figs. 1. 2. 3. A set screw or pin n. passes through the
side of the cylinder and enters the groove of the stud g. Fig. 3. represents
an upper sectional view of Fig. 2. at the line k. In this it will be seen that the
groove in the revolving stud g. is intercepted by the projection m. On the cylinder f
being moved in the direction of the arrow Fig. 3. the small set-screw or pin n. comes in
contact with the projection m. causing the stud 9 and consequently the oval part i.
to expand the blades b. b. and on continuing the movement the oval being brought in
a slightly oblique position the action of the spring or springs on the ends of
the blades pressing against the oval causes it suddenly to slip round thus allowing the
blades to come together suddenly and with great force the knob or cross-bar
remaining stationary. The latter may be moved either right or left with the same
effect. The handles for these instruments may be made of Ivory or any suitable
material and fastened in the ordinary way.
A further part of my invention is shown in Figs. 4. 5. 6 where I employ a spiral
spring for closing the blades b. b. which in this case do not cross each other but are
also pivoted on separate centres c. c. The upper part of the frame or platform d. d.
is somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 1. but is extended by means of a tube
or tubular handle o. which may be again covered with any suitable ornamental
material as in Fig. 4. p. This tube contains the spiral spring q. through which runs
the rod. Surmounted on its upper end by the piston s. part of which is made flat and
wedge-shaped as at t. It is prevented moving in any but an up or down direction by
means of small lugs v. running in lateral grooves as shown at l. Fig. 5. A second
piston A is placed below s. which is loose on the rod r. and may be made if desired
with a small shoulder as shown in Fig. 6. On drawing down the rod r. it brings
with it the cylinder s. with its wedge-shaped end t and also the lower piston or collar A
which is held fast at the desired point by the catch or trigger u. Fig. 5. This catch
may be made either with or without a small spring to keep it to its work. The rod r.
with its upper cylinder is now free to be moved into a position shown by the dotted
lines B. Fig. 6. On pressing the knob of the catch u. Fig. 5. the cylinder A is
released slides up the rod v. Figs. 4. and 6. and strikes forcibly against the cylinder S.
propelling its wedge-shaped end between the tails of the blades b. b. thus forcibly
closing them together. They are again released on reversing the action and are
opened either by the hand or by small flat or spiral side springs. A small pin H. let
in the frame keeps the blades in position.
Dated thin and d
ד
1007

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Instruments for Removing the Tops of Eggs.
I, EDMUND WRIGHT, late of York Place, Bolton Road, Small-Heath, Birmingham
in the County of Warwick, but now of 43, Camberwell Grove, London, S.E., Patent
Agent, 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 make use of cutting blades actuated by springs, which may be either lateral or
spiral, and other accessories, fully described hereinafter by which means, a sharp
sudden closing action is given to the said blades causing them to cut through the
shells and whites of the eggs, without cutting into the yolks, or crushing the eggs,
this hitherto having been a fault with instruments constructed for this purpose, owing
to their slowness of movement and other faulty features. In order that my invention
may be readily understood I have illustrated it with drawings, being those left with
my provisional specification. Fig. 1 shews the adaptation of lateral or side springs a.
acting on the cutting blades b. b. which are pivoted at c. c. on the frame plate d. and
shown when closed, by plain lines and when open by dotted lines as are likewise the
springs and other parts. It will be noted that in this method, the blades b. b. cross each
other and are pivoted on separate centres, and instead of having two separate springs,
attached to the frame plate d, and acting on the blades as shewn, I make use of a ring
of steel wire as á double spring, or a lyre-shaped double spring as shewn. The frame
plate d is made of metal or other suitable material, and may be either cast, stamped or
made of sheet metal. It is raised at the sides, or a portion thereof, as a side covering
for the spring or springs, the shanks of the blades, and the small cross bar b, which is
a portion of the opening and closing movement fully shown in Figs. 2, 3.
The part of the frame enclosing the egg is circular and coned on its under side as
shewn by dotted lines at Fig. 5, so that after opening the blades b.bits upper edge
comes in close contact with and confines the egg to be operated on. A similar frame
is seen in Figs. 5. 6. A covering plate similar to that shewn at L. Fig. 5, and held
down by pins or screws at e. e. encloses the upper portion of the frame. One of the
special features in this part of my invention is the semi-automatic method of opening
and closing the blades b.b. Fig. 2 is a semi-sectional view of the cylinder with its
knot, cross bar, or lever. It is recessed for the proper distance to contain the grooved
stud g, which freely revolves in it, and is continued through the covering plate h. and
frame plate d. the said stud between the above plates being of an oval or longitudinal

page_text: .
This
shape with rounded ends, as shewn at 7. Figs. 1. 2. 3. A set-screw or pin n. passes
through the side of the cylinder f. and enters the groove of the stud g. Fig. 3
represents an upper sectional view of Fig. 2, at the line K. In this it will be seen
that the groove in the revolving stud g. is intercepted by the projection m.
projection may be made any desired width and instead of a groove being turned
completely round the stud g. it may be filed or slotted through for a part of its
diameter, the remaining portion acting as the projection m. On the cylinder f. being
moved in the direction of the arrow Fig. 3, the small set screw or pin n. comes in
contact with the projection m. causing the stud g. and consequently the oval part i.
to expand the blades b.b. and on continuing the movement the oval being brought in a
slightly oblique position the action of the spring or springs on the ends of the blades
pressing against the oval part of the stud . causes it to suddenly slip round, thus
allowing the jaws b. to come together suddenly and with great force, the knob or
cross-bar remaining stationery. As the movement necessary to effect the opening and
closing of the jaws is not more than one third of a circle, a small lever and rachet or
its equivalent may be attached to the cylinder f. and the instrument thus constructed
may be used with one hand only of the operator. These instruments may be made in
halves where the handles are stamped, or the handles may be made of Ivory or other
material and fastened in the ordinary way.
A further part of my invention is shown in Figs. 4. 5. 6 where I employ a spiral
spring with its accessories for closing the blades b. b. which in this case do not cross
each other, but are also pivoted on separate centres c. c. The upper part of the frame
or platform d. d. is somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 1, but is extended by
means of a tube or tubular handle o. which together with the frame and cover may
also be stamped or made in halves and after joined together and the handle may be
again covered with any ornamental material as in Fig. 4. p. This tube contains
the spiral spring q. through which runs the rod r. surmounted on its upper end by the
piston s. part of which is made flat and wedge-shaped as at t. It is prevented from
turning in the tube o. by means of lugs v. running in lateral grooves shewn at l. Fig. 5.
A second piston A. is placed below S. which is loose on the rod r. and may be made if
desired with a small shoulder as shewn in Fig. 6. On drawing down the spindle . it
brings with it the piston s. with its wedge-shaped end t. and also the piston or
collar A which is held fast at the desired point by the catch or trigger u. Fig. 5. This
catch may be made either with or without a small spring to keep it to its work. The
rod with its upper piston is now free to be moved into the position shewn by the
dotted lines B. Fig. 6. On pressing the knob of the catch u. Fig. 5. the piston A. is
released, slides up the spindle r. Figs. 4. 6. and strikes forcibly against the piston s.
propelling its wedge-shaped end between the tails of the blades b. b. thus forcibly
closing them together. They are again released on reversing the action and are
opened either by the hand or by small flat or spiral side springs D. A small
pin H. let in the frame keeps the blades in position. In another method for operating
the piston S. as above described, I construct within it a pawl, actuated by a small
spring. I shorten the rod r. approximately to one half its length,. point its upper
end, and make it a fixture in the centre of the tube o.
The spiral spring 7. occupies a similar position to that previously described, but the
second piston A. is dispensed with, the spring q. acting directly on the piston s. which
is made with a hole for a short distance up its length sufficiently large to admit the
point of the rod r. A movable trigger having a small notch in it, works in a slot on
the under side of the tube o.
On the trigger being moved forward it is caught in its notch by means of the pawl,
the point of which is depressed by its small spring for this purpose, and the piston S.
may now be drawn back by means of the trigger. It is released by pulling it
sufficiently far back to allow of the point of the rod r. to enter the hole aforesaid,
whence it communicates with and depresses the back part of the pawl causing it to
relinquish its hold on the trigger, and consequently releasing the piston S. which is
then forced up the tube o. and closes the blades b. b. in the manner before described.
After the shells and the whites of eggs are cut through on their upper ends by means

page_text: of these instruments, a slight movement of the hand turns them over, leaving the lower
part intact.
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 pivoting of cutting blades on separate centres for the purpose, substantially
as herein set forth and described.
2. In instruments for removing the tops of eggs the use of spiral or lateral springs
and their accessories for actuating the blades in their cutting movement, substantially
as described and shewn in the drawings.
3. The method of opening and closing the blades of an egg-topper by means of a
semi-automatic cam as herein fully described and shewn in the drawings Figs. 1. 2. 3.
4. The combination of the spiral spring q. the blades b. b. with the other accessories
fully herein described and shewn in the drawings Figs. 4. 5. 6 for the purpose before
stated.
.
5. In combination with the blades b. b. a double ended spring either circular or
lyre-shaped as shewn in Fig. 1. substantially for the purposes herein set forth and
described.