IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF MAKING JOINTS FOR SHEET METAL ARTICLES OR VESSELS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Martin Benson, of No. 52, Chancery Lane, London, for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF MAKING JOINTS FOR
SHEET METAL ARTICLES OR VESSELS." A communication from abroad by
Alton Hugh Fancher, of Brooklyn, in the County of King's, State of New
York, United States of North America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Martin Benson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th May 1881.
MARTIN BENSON, of No. 52, Chancery Lane, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MODE OF MAKING JOINTS FOR SHEET METAL ARTICLES OR VESSELS."
A com-
munication from abroad by Alton Hugh Faucher, of Brooklyn, in the County of
King's, State of New York, United States of North America.
This Invention relates to the production of articles of sheet metal, tin, or
equivalent sheet material, with joints so made and soldered that while the joint is
rendered tight by the solder the latter is not suffered to appear at the inner side
of the joint, so that the contents of any article of sheet metal formed with said
joint will not be contaminated by contact with the solder.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view
representing the arrangement of the parts of a sheet metal can preliminary to
their union according to my said Invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view representing
a completed sheet metal can embracing my said Invention; Fig. 3 is a detailed
sectional view illustrating a modified form of my said Invention, and Fig. 4 is a
transverse sectional view shewing my said Invention so far as embraced in the
longitudinal seam of a sheet metal can:
In the practice of my said Invention a suitable metallic soldering material is
interposed between the folded edge of an interlocking sheet metal joint in such a
manner that after the joint is mechanically formed, the solder, being enclosed
within the joint, may be melted by the application of heat to the external surface
of the latter, thereby internally uniting the folded or interlocking edges without
exposing the solder; so far as concerns the mechanical structure of the joint it may
be of any ordinary variety, but in general that represented in the Drawings may
be preferred.

page_text: A represents the body of an ordinary sheet metal can, the end edges of which
are turned outward and inward to form the circumferential edges or flanges a. The
heads or ends B have their circumferential edges shaped into the flanges band
folded or interlocked with the flanges a; the two thus mechanically united will
form the well known interlocking joint. In the practice of my Invention, however,
preliminary to the folding of the edges together the soldering material c is placed
in such relation with the flanges a, b, that when the said flanges are folded or
interlocked the said soldering material will be enclosed between or within them, as
represented in Fig. 2. The soldering material may be applied either in the form of
wire, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, or it may be first supplied in a melted
condition by dipping in moulten solder to the concavity or channel formed by the
inner side of each of the flanges a, and as represented in Fig. 3. When the
soldering material is used in the form of wire it may be placed either at the
inner side of the flanges a, as represented at the lower ends of said Figs. 1, 2,
and 3.
The Invention is also applied in substantially the same way with reference to
the longitudinal joint or seam of the can body as it is to those of the end of same.
The soldering material being thus enclosed within the mechanically formed
interlocking joint, the latter is heated by any suitable means to a degree sufficient
to melt the solder, thereby soldering together the inner surfaces of the interlocking
edges to form a hermetically tight joint devoid of any solder at its external or
interior surfaces.
Having now described my Invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure
by Letters Patent is,-
1st. The method of forming the joints of articles of sheet metal which consist
in first turning the edges of the metal as required to interlock them, then enclosing
the solder or fusible metal between them, and then subjecting the whole to the
action of heat to melt the solder or fusible metal, substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth.
2nd. The combination of a strip of solder or fusible metal with a folded
sheet metal joint, the strip being enclosed within the joint so that the latter may
be soldered by melting the strip, substantially as and for the purpose herein set
forth.
3rd. A sheet metal joint composed of interlocked edges enclosing a suitable
solder, fused, between or within them, substantially as and for the purpose herein
set forth.
4th. A sheet metal can or box, the joints of which are composed of interlocked
edges enclosing between or within them a suitable solder or soft metal fused to
unite the said edges, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Martin Benson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal; this Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord 1881.