An Inexplodable Can for Inflammable Liquids.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left. 29th Feb., 1892-Accepted. 2nd Apr. 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Inexplodable Can for Inflammable Liquids.
I, THOMAS RICHARD SHILLITO of 89 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex. Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Graf-Walder & Co. of Wetzikon, Switzerland,
Manufacturers of Cans for Inflammable Liquids, to be as follows:-
The can of this invention is constructed with an external neck at the upper part
of its hollow body, from within which neck, a pipe leads downwards terminating
nearly at the bottom of the can in a funnel shaped or bell mouth. From within
the neck but lower down in the same a pipe leads upwards terminating in a spout
or outlet and fitting and fixed in the upper narrow part of the neck.
Should the outflowing liquid take fire the can is naturally set down so as to stand
upright. The fire can then only have a surface as large as the cross section of the
bell mouth pipe and be in communication with the inflammable gases in the neck.
This occasions a small flame at the end of the spout but no disaster.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1891.
T. R. SHILLITO,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Inexplodable Can for Inflammable Liquids.
I, THOMAS RICHARD SHILLITO of 89 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Graf-Walder & Co. of Wetzikon, Switzerland,
Manufacturers of Cans for Inflammable Liquids, 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 safety can for inflammable liquids such as ether,
benzine, spirits of wine, turpentine, petroleum, etcetera. The object of the invention
is to prevent the occurrence of disasters from fire and explosion like those which
frequently take place by reason of the incautious handling of cans containing
inflammable liquids. The invention consists in constructing the can in such a way
that in the event of the liquid catching fire when being poured out, the flame
cannot come in contact with the body of the liquid in the can or with the gases
which fill the space within the same that is not occupied by the liquid.
The safety or inexplodable can is shewn in the accompanying drawing in part
sectional elevation.
A is a neck or external receptacle for the inflammable liquid, located at the
upper part of the can body. From within the neck A, a tube B leads downwards
terminating near the bottom of the can in an enlarged mouth or inlet. From
within the neck also, but lower down than the top of tube B a tube C fixed in the
neck, leads obliquely upwards terminating in a spout or outlet. Communication
between the body of the can and neck A can only take place through tube B.
Owing to the relative positions of neck A and tubes B and C, the liquid, when the
can is inclined, will pass through tube B then first charging neck A whence it will
pass through tube Cout of the can. Upon bringing the can back to the normal
upright position, the liquid remaining in tube C flows back into neck A and thence
through tube B into the body of the can again, there being always liquid in the
neck whereby the end of tube C which dips into the liquid, is shut off from the

page_text: air except when the can is inclined for pouring out when there is not much liquid
in it, or when it is to be emptied, in which case the lower end of tube C ceases to
dip into the liquid in the neck but tube B then serves the same purpose. Should
the outflowing liquid take fire at C¹ the can would naturally be set down so as to
stand upright as is usual in such occurrences; then the fire could only be in contact
with a liquid surface never exceeding the cross sectional area of tube B and the
inflammable gases in neck A. This would produce a small flame at C' but no
accident or disaster.
The neck A instead of being rounded at the bottom, may be continued down as
shewn by the dotted line. The body of the can may also be of any suitable
form.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is:
In a can for inflammable liquids, the combination of neck A with tubes B and C,
for the purpose specified, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 29th day of February 1802
T. R. SHILLITO,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.