IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC DRUMS OR CASKS, AND IN LIDS OR CLOSERS THEREFOR."
Year: 1876

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to James Simpson, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Merchant, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC DRUMS OR
CASKS, AND IN LIDS OR CLOSERS THEREFOR."
Sealed the 8th December 1876, and dated the 18th September 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Simpson at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th September 1876.
JAMES SIMPSON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant. "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN METALLIC DRUMS OR CASKS, AND IN LIDS OR CLOSERS THEREFOR."
The object of this Invention is to provide metallic drums, casks, or vessels suitable
for containing caustic soda and other substances complete, with efficient lids or
closers for the filling apertures at an economical rate, the lids having the following
desired advantages :-
(1). They close the apertures tightly.
(2). They are without the objectionable studs or their equivalents now in use.
And (3). They are not so liable to become damaged during transit.
For these purposes I form the body of each drum in any ordinary way, and connect
the ends thereto as may be convenient. The filling aperture I make of circular
outline, and cut out a piece of metal so as to form a recess at one side or part thereof,
and I do this to adapt it for the lid or closer now to be described.
The lid or closer is formed in one piece, with upper and lower projections at or
about right angles to each other. To secure the lid in position one under projection
is placed under the metal of the end of the drum, and the other under projection is
passed through the recess. The lid is then turned so that the under projections are
underneath the metal of the end, whilst the upper projections are above the metal
of said end.
A further part of my Invention consists in forming on the under side of one of the
upper projections a stud or piece, so that when the lid is in closing position such
stud shall drop into the recess in the end, and prevent turning of said lid.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a plan view, and Fig. 2 a side view of part of a caustic soda drum head,
with my improved lid, cap, or closer (hereafter for convenience called lid) in position.
a denotes the position of a head of a caustic soda drum before mentioned; b, filling
opening therein, shown nearly circular, it may be of other shape; c, recess or space;
1, lid with interior lateral projections 2, 2¹, and exterior lateral projections 3, 31;
4, stud or knob on under side of exterior lateral projections 3. The said lid with
exterior and interior lateral projections may be cast or fashioned in one piece.
The filling opening may be formed by punching or in any ordinary way; the lid
may be formed with a sunk space on its exterior or interior surface, or it may be
plain. The form of lateral projections it will be clear may be varied. In applying
a lid to a drum the said lid is placed over b, with 2 or 2¹ under «, and 2¹ or 2 in c ;
it is then given a turn to the right or left until 4 fits or drops into c, when the
closing is completed. To open a drum so closed 4 is raised, and the lid turned until
21 or 2 is in c, when it can be removed. It will be observed that to facilitate turning
the lid when first placed in position one of the exterior projections is chamfered or
bevelled at 5, and one of the interior projections at 6; both of the exterior and
interior projections may be so bevelled or chamfered.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, so that others will be
enabled to carry my improvements into effect I claim,―
First. The opening b, substantially as described, with the recess or spaco e in a
for the purposes set forth.
Second. The lid 1, with lateral projections 2, 21, and 3, 31, in combination with
an opening having recess or space c, for the purpose set forth.

page_text: Third. The stud or knob 4 adapted to fit into the recess c in combination with
the lateral projections 2, 2¹, and 3, 31, for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Simpson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Fifteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JAMES SIMPSON. (LS.)