IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOSING STOPPERING BOTTLES, TUBES, AND OTHER SUCH VESSELS, AND IN THE MEANS OF REGULATING AND MEASURING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS FROM SUCH VESSELS.
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Antonio McCalla, of Northampton
Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engraver and
Enameller, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOSING
STOPPERING BOTTLES, TUBES, AND OTHER SUCH VESSELS, AND IN THE MEANS OF
REGULATING AND MEASURING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS FROM SUCH VESSELS.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Antonio
McCalla at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 9th December 1869.
I, CHARLES ANTONIO MCCALLA, of Northampton Street, Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, Engraver and Enameller, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOSING AND
STOPPERING BOTTLES, TUBES, AND OTHER SUCH VESSELS, AND IN THE MEANS OF
REGULATING AND MEASURING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS FROM SUCH VESSELS," to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates, first, to improvements in the stoppering or
closing of bottles, tubes, and such like vessels or receptacles for fluids,

page_text: liquids, and essences, and of scents and other volatile bodies or materials,
which have generally a plug or stopper of greater or lesser length of
cork, glass, or other material inserted into the neck of the bottle, and
projecting down thereinto so as to prevent the escape of the contents
therefrom by means of the side fitting or circumferential contact of the
cork or other stopper with the interior surface of the neck or throat of
the bottle or other vessel; and, secondly, to and in the application of
the said improvements for the purpose of enabling the fluid contents of
bottles and such like vessels to be measured out in ascertained quantitics
without the aid of a separate measuring vessel, and to the counting or
recording the number of measures so withdrawn.
These improvements consist in substituting a close fitting button
valve, cover piece, or cap to the end or top of the bottle or other such
vessel suitably mounted and held in its place securely by a spring, whilst
it is raised and opened against the resistance of the spring by means of
a lever to which the finger or thumb of the operator is applied. The
valve may be faced, seated, or fitted like the ordinary button valve or
the safety valve of a steam boiler, ("without wings"), or the stopper or
valve may be slightly hollow or concave on its under side, and fit
on to or over the end of the bottle neck, which latter form I prefer to
cmploy for "smelling bottles" or bottles or tubes for containing volatile
essences, salts, or scents, and they may be fitted with perforated caps,
capsules, or covers, in which case the lever for operating the stopper
should pass through a slot in the side thereof. The stopper piece or
valve may be made of any suitable material, according to the purpose
for which the vessel is to be used or to the nature of its contents.
For the purpose of measuring out the fluid contents of bottles and
such like vessels in small quantities I form a shoulder, a ring, or a recess
at a convenient part within the neck or in the shoulder of the bottle at
such a distance from the top or from the under side of the stopper as
will represent accurately and contain a given volume or measure of
quantity, and by means of a rod or connection I fit and operate another
valve, so that when the lower valve is opened the chamber or space
between the valves may be filled or charged, and when it is closed the
fluid contents between them (or filling the space) the upper valve, or
stopper may be opened and so much of the contents of the bottle may
be discharged therefrom and the operation may be again repeated until

page_text: the bottle is emptied. Air may be admitted to and be expelled from
the bottle neck through a small passage provided for that purpose.
For the purpose of counting and recording the number of measures
withdrawn from the bottle I attach to the lever, by which the stopper
is operated "a countor," consisting of a dial with a pointer set in
motion by a train of wheels, or any other suitable instrument or
apparatus for indicating the number of reciprocations of the valve or
stopper lever..
By the first part of this Invention the "tops" or "caps" of "smelling
bottles," scent tubes, and vinaigrette bottles need not be opened, with-
drawn,, or otherwise removed when in use. The stopper or valve instead
of being opened by a lever extending, outside the perforated cap or cover
through a side slot therein may be raised or opened by means of a screw
or by the turning of the outer or perforated cover or cap.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Antonio McCalla in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 9th June 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
ANTONIO MCCALLA, of Northampton Street, Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Engraver and Enameller, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors
give and grant unto me, the said Charles Antonio McCalla, Her
special licence that I, the said Charles Antonio M°Calla, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Antonio
McCalla, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
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 "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN CLOSING AND STOPPERING BOTTLES, TUBES, AND OTHER SUCH VESSELS
AND IN THE MEANS OF REGULATING AND MEASURING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS FROM

page_text: SUCH VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Charles Antonio McCalla, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-
vention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be 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 Charles Antonio McCalla, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, and the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings.
This Invention relates, first, to improvements in the stoppering or
closing of bottles, tubes, and such like vessels or receptacles for fluids,
liquids, and essences, and for containing scents and other volatile bodies
or materials from which the air has to be excluded, and which vessels
have generally a plug or stopper (of greater or lesser length) of cork,
glass, or other material inserted into the neck of the bottle and pro-
jecting down thereinto so as to prevent the escape of the contents
therefrom by means of the side fitting or circumferential contact of the
cork or other kind of stopper with the interior surface of the neck or
throat of the bottle or other vessel, and, secondly, to and in the appli-
cation of the said improvements to bottles, jars, and such like vessels,
for the purpose of enabling their fluid contents to be measured out in
ascertained quantities without the aid of a separate measuring vessel,
and to the counting or recording the number of measures so withdrawn.
These improvements consist in substituting a close fitting button
valve, cover piece, or cap, to the end or top of the bottle or other such
vessel suitably mounted and held in place securely by a spring or
equivalent means whilst it is raised and opened by means of a lever
or projection to which the finger or thumb of the operator is applied.
The valve may be faced, seated, or fitted like an ordinary button valve,
or like the safety valve of a steam boiler (without wings), or the stopper
or valve may be slightly hollow or concave on its under side and fit on to
or over the end of the bottle neck, which latter form I prefer to employ
for "smelling bottles," or bottles or tubes for containing volatile essence,
salts, or scents, and they may be fitted with perforated caps, capsules, or

page_text: covers, in which case the lever for opening the stopper should pass through
a slot in the side thereof. The stopper piece or valve may be made
of any suitable material according to the purpose for which the vessel is
to be used or to the nature of its contents.
For the purpose of measuring out the fluid contents of bottles and
such like vessels in small quantities I form a shoulder, a ring, or a recess.
for receiving a valve at a convenient part within the neck or in the
shoulder of the bottle at such a distance from the top or from the under
side of the stopper as will represent accurately a given volume or
measure of quantity, and I fit thereto and operate as herein-after
described another valve, thus, when the lower valve is opened the
chamber or space between the valves may be filled or charged, and the
valve be then closed, and when it is closed the fluid contents are thus
received between them, the upper valve or stopper may then be opened
and so much of the contents of the bottle as is represented by the
measuring chamber may be discharged therefrom, and the operation
may be again repeated until the bottle is emptied. Air may be admitted
to and be expelled from the bottle neck through a suitably small passage
provided for that purpose.
For the purpose of counting and recording the number of measures
withdrawn from the bottle I attach to the lever by which the stopper is
operated "a counter," consisting of a dial or dials with a pointer set in
motion by a train of wheels or any other suitable instrument or apparatus
for indicating the number of reciprocations of the valve or stopper lever
or other part of the apparatus or the mechanism by which the measuring
chamber is kept closed.
By the first part of this Invention the "tops" or "caps" of "smelling
bottles," scent tubes, and vinaigrette bottles need not be opened,
withdrawn, or otherwise removed when in use, nor the stopper, plug, or
corking piece be withdrawn from the neck of the bottle. The stopper
or valve instead of being opened by a lever extending outside the per-
forated cap or cover through a set slot therein may be raised or opened
by means of a screw or by the turning of the outer or perforated cover
or cap by which the cap, cover, valve, or stopper plate can be raised
without any direct application of the fingers to the plug, cork, or stopper
piece. The mouth of the scent or other bottle may be either square or'
angled, and the cover piece, cover plate, or valve may be held down by

page_text: "
used for other purposes, and when the contents are not solvents of
india-rubber and such like materials, the cap or cover may be held down
or retained in its closed position by a vulcanised or other "gum elastic
band or spring piece. The mode of counteracting the force of the
spring for the purpose of opening the cover may as before stated eithor
be by means of a direct action upon a projecting lever or thumb picce,
or by means of a screwing action of the perforated capsule or cover
piece.
In fitting "dram bottles" and such like vessels in accordance with
this Invention, I prefer in some cases to close the mouth with a flat
plate-like hinged valve having the under side slightly coned, the lower
valve fitted within the neck or in the shoulder of the bottle may be a
flat button or coned valve and be held up against a shoulder by means of
a spring or by being screwed up. When the chamber or measuring
space in the neck of the bottle has to be filled, the cover is closed and
fastened down, the bottom valve is then opened, and the fluid allowed to
fill the measuring space or chamber, the bottom valve is then released
and closes self-actingly where a spring is employed, or in some cases it
is screwed up tight by an entire or partial turning of the spindle, either of
which operations however ean only be effected after the top cap or cover
piece is perfectly closed. The action upon the counter or recording
instrument may either be by or through the closing of the bottom valve
or by or through the act of unfastening and prior to opening to the
slightest extent the cap or cover picce. Thus opening the cap or cover
piece even to the smallest extent to allow of the pouring out of the
liquid must follow the counting and recording of the drams or with-
drawings, and the closing of the cap or cover piece releases and resets
the counter ready for being again acted upon. The bottom valve and the
top cover are not open together except for the purpose of filling the vessel,
to ensure this the closing of the bottom valve must at all times precede
the unfastening and opening of the cover and the registering or recording
may either be effected upon the closing of the bottom valve, or by the
act of unfastening the cap or cover. The whole of the apparatus may be
combined and connected together so as to be inserted completely into

page_text: or fitted to the bottle, jug, or other vessel, and when the discharge
of the measured fluid is regulated by the turning or sliding past ouc
another of two pierced discs or two "treblet drawn" tubes the slots or
openings in which form a passage or passages. When the two arc
brought opposite or are made coincident, the act of turning the plate or
tube operates the recording apparatus and thereupon the cap or cover is
free to be removed and a portion of the contents of the vessel may then
be discharged. Instead of applying the top valve and its mounting to
the top of the bottle or jug, or to the bottle mouth and the lower valve,
and its seating to the shoulder or lower part of the neck, each separately,
the whole of the apparatus may be fitted to a tube or "socket picce" and
be inserted into the neck of the bottle, to which it may be attached by
cementing or otherwise, and the whole may thus readily be removed from
one vessel and be applied to another.
Figures 1 to 6 inclusive rolate to smelling bottles; Figure 1 being
a side view, partly in section of a double tube, each end being fitted
with a button valve cover and a perforated cap, the lever for opening
the cover piece or valve being shown as projecting through the side and
working in a slot.
с
Figure 2 is a plan of the upper end of Figure 1 with the perforated
cap removed; Figure 3 is an end view of the lower end of Figure 1.
"
Figure 4 is a side view of a double scent tube, similarly fitted to
Figure 1; the tube is of oval section; Figures 5 and 6 are end views
of Figure 4, corresponding with the Figures 2 and 3; in Figure 5 a
modification in the form and mounting of the spring is shewn. Instead
of the forms of spring shewn a boxed coil spring or "snuffer spring'
may be employed. Instead also of the mouth of the tubes being fitted
with metal mounts, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, the valves or cover
pieces may fit direct on to the end of the scent tube and be mounted
within the perforated cap or capsule.
In Figures 7 to 15 inclusive various views of bottles, jars, and jugs
fitted in accordance with this Invention are shewn by which the
measuring of drams and the recording of the number thereof drawn from
the vessel may be effected in the manner hercin-before described.
Figure 7 is a vertical section of a bottle neck fitted with measuring
apparatus with the lower valve open; Figure 8 being a similar view
showing the lower valve closed; Figure 9. is a plan view of Figures 7

page_text: down in its place,
and S. The pressing down of the lower valve against the resistance of
the spring leaves the "counter" in a condition to record the filling of
the measuring chamber when the valve ascends and closes the lower
part of the measuring chamber, and thereupon the top valve, cap, or cover
may be opened and the liquor be poured forth, and when emptied and
the cover is brought down and secured the lower valve may then be
pressed down and opened as before to admit of a fresh charge or quantity
being admitted. The spindle of the lower valve is guided top and
bottom, the lower guide in the scating piece of the valve whilst at the
upper end it works up and down in a cross bar. In addition to the
spring pressure applied to the cap or cover to hold it
the locking or fastening thereof which may be effected by means of any
convenient form of ketch prevents access to the contents until the
fastening is withdrawn or removed, and it is during the withdrawal of
the fastening and before the cover can be raised or opened that the
action upon the "counter" is effected, such fastening being connected
by means of a rod or link to the counter or registering apparatus, which
being contained in a small close case may be fitted to the neck of the
bottle or within the bow of the handle of a jug or jar. Figuro 10 is a
sectional view of the neck of a jug similarly fitted, the arrangement of
the working parts of the apparatus being modified to allow of the
opening and upward movement of the cap or cover operating the
"counter" gear by means of the multiplying levers fitted on each side
of the neck. Figure 11 is a plan of the cap or cover of the jug, and its
fittings. Figure 12 is a sectional view of a jug fitted with a cap or cover
applied to the end of a tube, to and within which are fitted the several
parts of the apparatus as there shewn, the whole being inserted in the
neck of the jug and secured. In this view the cover is not intended as a
lid to be opened each time that portions of the contents have to be drawn
off, but only for filling the jug or for giving access to the lower valve or
parts of the apparatus contained within the tube, the contents are poured
through the spout through a square or elongated hole, when the inner
tube having a corresponding hole or opening is turned round so as to
bring the two openings together. In this modification of the parts the
inner tube cannot be turned until after the lower valve has been closed
by reason of the difference in form between parts of the upper end of the
valve rod, or in some cases I prefer to connect and operate the two parts
so that when the lower valve is open or down a double cross fork fitted

page_text: upon the upper end of the valve spindle just under the bridge of the
short inner tube is out of gear therewith, but upon the bottom valve
being closed it comes into contact with the cross bar or bridge piece and
the two may then be turned together, and on their being turned act upon
the "counter" gear or register. In Figure 12 the button head of the
valve rod works through the cross handle or milled button for turning
the short inner tube, and the lever arm for acting upon the counter is
fitted close under the cross handle. Neither the connecting rod or lever
between it and the counter nor the counter are shewn. Figure 13 is a
sectional view of the neck of an ordinary bottle fitted with the apparatus,
the principal variation in which is that the bottom valve is opened and
closed by screwing up or down by means of a quick thread screw, the
spindle of the valve being in two lengths, the lower part being screwed
and fitted into a nut in the cross bar or stay, whilst the upper portion
passes through a stuffing box in the top cover and has a socket at its lower
end fitting on to or taking into the upper end of the lower rod, the upper
end of the upper portion where it passes through the top cover is of two
diameters, or it may be of three diameters, so that when the lower valve
has been securely closed the end of the forked lever for operating the
counter is raised and this is done before the top cover can be set free and
opened to the slightest extent, the shoulder on the upper end of the
upper rod comes in contact with the forked end of the lever arm of the
"counter" gear, and as the valve is screwed up causes it to move.
through a small are and indicate and record the action, and the further
movement of the lever arm through a greater are upon the opening of
the cover does not affect the "counter" gear as the connection or
contact of the parts may either cease or the movement be otherwise
made inoperative. Figures 14 and 15 are top views of Figures 12 and 13
respectively.
Figures 16 and 17 are internal views to an enlarged scale of "counters"
or registering apparatus that may be applied in connection with the
second part of my Invention, but I do not intend to claim these or any
other mechanical contrivance for registering or recording as a part of my

page_text: jug, or other vessel. The counter may be so constructed that it is "set"
ready for action either by the closing of the lid, cap, or cover or by the
opening of the lower valve, and by means of a spring, catch, or a detent
which is instantaneously released or set free by the closing of the valve,
or by the first act of unfastening the lid, cap, or cover and the step-by-
step movement of the numbered disc or of the pointer or index upon the
dial be produced each time by a spring, which spring has to be overcome
or drawn back and the "counter" reset by hand through the closing of
the lid, cap, or cover, or by the opening of the lower valve.
Although in some of the Figures illustrating the application of my
Invention to the necks of bottles and jugs the bottom valve and the
cross guide are shown unconnected, and as being separately fixed within
the throat or neck, I prefer to connect them together and also with the
seat or mouth ring, either by means of bands or by a tube, within which
or to which the whole are connected so that they can be drawn out
together.
In Figures 18 and 19 the plate or disc under the cap or cover of the
bottle neck has curved slots or openings corresponding with similar ones
in the cap or cover, by turning which the necessity for raising or opening
up the cap or cover is avoided, and the liquid contents are poured out
through either or both of these openings. The shutting (by raising) the
lower valve is made to slightly raise the lever arm of the counter gear
and release the detent, and one step or motion is communicated to the
counter or register at each charging of the measure and closing of the
bottom valve.
Having now described my Invention of improvements in closing and
stoppering bottles, tubes, and other such vessels, and in the means of
regulating and measuring the flow of liquids from such vessels, and
illustrated generally in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings some of the
modes or methods in which I prefer to apply my said Invention, I
wish it to be understood that I make no claim for the several parts of
the mechanism therein shown separately, as they are mostly old and well
known, but what I claim is,-
First. Fitting scent bottles, tubes, vinaigrettes, and such like articles
as herein described.
Secondly. The improvements in closing and stoppering bottles, tubes,
and other such vessels herein described.

page_text: Thirdly. The apparatus herein described for regulating and measuring
the flow of liquids from bottles, jugs, jars, and other similar vessels.
Fourthly. The mode or method herein described of mounting and
fitting dram bottles and such like vessels for measuring, or measuring
and recording the contents as discharged therefrom.
Fifthly. The apparatus herein described for measuring out the fluid
contents of bottles, jugs, and other vessels in a series of separate and
distinct operations, as herein described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Antonio McCalla, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of June One
thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
GEORGE BAKER.
CHARLES ANTONIO MCALLA. (L.S.)