IMPROVEMENTS IN CHURNS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Tinkler, of Penrith, in the County of
Cumberland, Churn Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CHURNS."
Sealed the 5th April 1859, and dated the 5th February 1859:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Tinkler at tlio
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th
February 1859.
I, ROBERT TINKLER, of Penrith, in the County of Cumberland, Churn'
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN CHURNS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, in the first place, to rotatory churns, or churns of the
barrel class, and it consists of a simple arrangement whereby the user of the
churn can set the barrel steady or fixed in several different positions as regards.
its rotation. This is effected by attaching to one end of the churn, case, or
barrel a metal or other plate perforated with a series of segmentally disposed
holes, into any of which a bolt carried by the top of the churn frame can be
set at pleasure. In this way the user after turning the churn as far round as
is necessary, can at once set it firmly for the convenience of putting in the
cream or removing the butter.
This Invention also relates to the application and use to and in churns of
bungs or stoppers, composed of a piece of india-rubber combined with wood,
and strengthened at the back with a metal plate. These bungs are much
more durable than the bungs of the ordinary construction made of cork
or wood.
Another part of the Invention consists of an improved air discharge valve;
for churns, which is so constructed that it can be readily taken out and cleaned.

page_text: when requisite; and in order to prevent any injurious effect upon the milk and
secure cleanliness the valves are electro-plated. This air valve consists of a
main cylindrical shell piece or tube screwed externally for attachment to the
barrel of the churn. This shell is formed with a conical lift valve seat at its
lower and inner end, for the reception of a conical disc valve opening down.
wards and inwards as regards the barrel of the churn. This valve is formed
with a long central spindle passing up the main shell and through a loose
internal tubular piece of metal, formed with a disc or collar piece to fit the
bore of the main shell. This tubular piece forms the support for a helical
spring, and the whole is covered in by a top and cap screwed upon the screwed
upper end of the valve spindle. The main shell is perforated with a ring or
series of lateral apertures near its centre. Hence, when the top cap is pressed
down by hand, the descent of the cap opens the valve, and allows the air to
escape from the interior of the churn up into the main shell, and thence
through the lateral apertures therein to the external atmosphere. Both the
spring and all the parts of the valve and its details are electro-plated, or
protected by such a coating as will insure cleanliness and lasting powers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Tinkler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th August 1859.
· TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
TINKLER, of Penrith, in the County of Cumberland, Churn Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Robert Tinkler, Her special license that I, the said Robert
Tinkler, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
ŝaid. Robert Tinkler, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CHURNS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Robert Tinkler, by an instrument in writing under my hand and

page_text: seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to bo filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Tinkler, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates, in the first place, to rotatory churns, or churns of
the barrel class, and it consists of a simple arrangement whereby the user of
the churn can set the barrel steady or fixed in several different positions as
regards its rotation. This is effected by attaching to one end of the churn,
case, or barrel, a metal or other plate perforated with a series of segmentally
disposed holes, into any of which a bolt fitted to the top of the churn frame
can be set at pleasure. In this way the user after turning the churn as
far round as is necessary, can at once set it firmly for the convenience of
putting in the cream or removing the butter.
This Invention also relates to the application and use to and in churns of
bungs or stoppers composed of a piece of india-rubber combined with wood,
and strengthened at the back with a metal plate. These bungs are much
more durable than the bungs of the ordinary construction made of cork
or wood.
Another part of the Invention consists of an improved air discharge valve
for churns, which is so constructed that it can be readily taken out and cleaned
when requisite; and in order to prevent any injurious effect upon the milk
and secure cleanliness, the metal portion of the bung and valves are electro-
plated. This air valve consists of a main cylindrical shell piece or tube
screwed externally for attachment to the barrel of the churn. This shell is
formed with a conical lift valve seat at its lower and inner end, for the
reception of a conical disc valve opening downwards and inwards as regards
the barrel of the churn. This valve is formed with a central spinille passing
up the main shell, and through a loose internal tubular piece of metal formed
with a disc or collar piece to fit the bore of the main shell. This tubular
piece forms the support for a helical spring. and the whole is covered in by a
top end cap screwed upon the screwed upper end of the valve spindle. The
main shell is perforated with a ring or series of lateral apertures near its
centre. Hence, when the top cap is pressed down by hand, the descent of the
cap opens the valve, and allows the air to escape from the interior of the

page_text: churn up into the main shell, and thence through the lateral apertures therein
to the external atmosphere. Both the spring and all the parts of the valve
and its details are electro-plated, or protected by such a coating as will insure
cleanliness and lasting powers.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall
now proceed niore particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I
shall refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed;
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all
the Figures.
Figure 1 of the annexed Sheet of Drawings represents a perspective view
of a barrel churn fitted with my improvements; Figure 2 is a sectional detail
of the improved bung; Figure 3 is a corresponding plan of the upper or
external surface of the same; and Figure 4 is a vertical section, full size, of
my improved air discharge valve. A, A, is the framing or support of the
churn, which consists of an ordinary barrel or other shaped rotatory vessel -B,
supported at each end by spindles C working in any convenient bearings D.
A winch handle E serves to impart the requisite rotatory motion to the churn.
In one end of the churn I attach a plate F having a number of holes made
therein, arranged in the form of a segment, the centre of which coincides with
the centre of rotation of the churn. On the top of the support A is fitted i
sliding bolt or catch G, which is capable of engagement with any one of the
holes in the plate F, and serves when so engaged to maintain the body of the
churn in any required position as regards its rotation. By this means the
churn may be fixed in any required position, so as to afford facility for the
introduction of the milk or cream therein, or extraction of the contents
thereof. This I accomplish through an aperture closed by a bung II of a
peculiar construction, as shewn at Figures 2 and 3. This bung consists of a
plate of metal a, stamped or not into a dished or recessed form, and covered
on the inner surface by a piece of vulcanized india-rubber b, made to fit
accurately the inner surface of the metal plate, and secured thereto by screws
and washers c, c, so as to be readily removeable when requisite for the
application of a fresh piece of india-rubber. A cross piece of wood d inserted
in the hollow or recess of the upper surface of the bung, and maintained in its
place by two of the screws c above referred to, serves as a convenient handle
to the same. The metal plate a may be electro-plated, for the purpose of
insuring greater cleanliness and durability.
The improved air discharge valve I, shewn in full sized sectional detail in
Figure 4, consists of an outer cylindrical shell or tube e, screwed externally at
f for attachment to the barrel of the churn, and provided internally at the

page_text: Within the interior of the shell e
conical valve i fitting accurately, so
inner end with a conical lift valve seat g.
works a valve spindle h, which carries a
as to be air-tight on the valve seat 9. The spindle h works freely through the
tubular boss of the internal metal disc k, which disc serves as a bearing for
the helical spring / interposed between the disc and the hollow cap m, which
is screwed on to the outer end of the valve spindle, the object of the spring
being to keep the valve tightly closed, except when the cap m is depressed by
the hand, in which case the air valve is opened and the air escapes by the
lateral apertures n, n, made round the shell e of the valve. All the metal
parts in connection with this valve are electro-plated, or otherwise protected
from the action of the milk.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the general construction and arrangement of certain of the various
parts of churns, as herein-before described.
Second, the application and use to and in churns turning upon fixed centres
of segmentally perforated or notched plates, in conjunction with suitable bolts
or catches, for the purpose herein-before described.
Third, the peculiar combination of india-rubber, metal, and wood, for the
manufacture of the bungs of churns, as herein-before described.
.
Fourth, the peculiar construction and arrangement of air discharge valves
for churns, as herein-before described.
Fifth, the electro-plating of the metal portion of churns which are liable to
come into immediate contact with the milk or cream, for the purpose herein.
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Tinkler, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Second day of August, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty nine
Witness,
W. NORTON, of
Richmond, Chandler, & Norton.
ROBERT TINKLER. (L.S.)