Year: 1886

page_text: I, HERBERT LINDLEY of Sandon Engine Works, Salford in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer 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:-
My invention relates to an improved form and method of constructing oil cans,
and consists of the combination of a more suitable material for the body thereof
than has been used heretofore, with an elastic bottom preferably corrugated, and of
an improved method of securing the bottom whereby a more permanent & durable
joint is made with the body of the oil can, and also whereby the bottom is less
liable to destruction and wear by reason of its being recessed or placed above the
base of the body of the can.
In carrying my invention into effect I make the body of the oil can, hereinafter
called the can, of malleable iron, cast steel, brass, or even tough cast iron, instea l
of tin (tinned iron) as heretofore usual, the shape of the body such as is ordinarily
used, viz, cone shaped.
At the top of the cone is cast an eye or boss, into which the spout or tube which
serves both as a plug for refilling, and as a conduit for the oil, is screwed, thus
saving a joint which has hitherto been a source of trouble in the ordinary tin
oil-can.
The lower or large end of the cone is cast open, and the elastic bottom is secured
thereto in the following manner;-I take a disc of tinned iron, steel, brass, or
other suitable material and form it, by means of dies or other well known means,
into a shallow disc with sloping sides, having the same angle as the sides of the
conical body of the can. The bottom of this shallow disc preferably corrugated
with either one or a number of circular eccentric depressions at the same time as
the side flange is formed in order to give elasticity & allow the oil in the can to be
expelled. The elastic bottom is then soldered into the body of the can & the
considerable amount of surface on the sloping sides of the bottom, renders the
soldered joint very secure, the rigidity of the sides of the body of the can also
serving to prevent derangement of the joint.
The elastic bottom also being raised above the base on which the can ordinarily
stands, it is not subject to wear, & is not so liable to be accidently damaged. In
order to render the fastening of the bottom in the can, more secure, I sometimes

page_text: bead the body over the flange of the bottom, or sometimes turn a shallow groove
in the body into which the bottom is pressed either before or after soldering.
In order to provide a simple & cheap handle or eye for holding or lifting the
can I sometimes cast out a thin flat strip of sufficient length to bend round into an
eye, or I cast in a thin strip or eye of sheet iron, though any ordinary well-known
means may be employed to affix a handle or eye. And in order that my invention
may be better understood I have caused to be appended hereunto one sheet of
drawings marked with letters of reference indicating like parts in the various
figures. All the figures are sections.
In Fig. 1, a is the body of the can with spout b, screwed into the boss c at the
e is
upper end. d is the handle or eye formed of a strip cast in & bent round.
the corrugated bottom with the flanged sides f serving to form a secure soldered
joint.
Figs. 2 & 3 show two other methods whereby the joint between the bottom & the
body of the can is rendered still more secure.
Fig. 4 shows another form of corrugation to obtain elasticity in the bottom.
Having now described & ascertained the nature of my said invention & in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st The construction of an oil can having a rigid cast metal body with a flexible
bottom, substantially as described & illustrated in the drawing.
2nd The form & manner of securing the flexible bottom in an oil can having a
cast metal body so that the elastic surface is placed above the bottom on which the
can naturally stands, and whereby a very secure joint between the flexible bottom
& the case is obtained as described.
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1996