Improvements in and Relating to the Covers of Sheet Metal Cans and similar Vessels.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1897-Accepted 5th Feb., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Relating to the Covers of Sheet Metal Cans and
similar Vessels.
I, JOSEF FLIEGEL, of Mallmitz, Silesia, in the Empire of Germany, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
--
The tinned, galvanised, and enamelled sheet metal vessels which are employed
for conveying liquids, milk for instance, are usually made airtight by pressing a
cover on to the neck of the vessel and introducing a packing ring generally made
of india-rubber. This packing ring is the almost sole cause of impurities
in these vessels, and hitherto it has not been possible to avoid them.
The object of the present invention is to remedy this. I will now describe
the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which it will be
seen that the mouth of the vessel A, Fig. 1 terminates in a ring a made of some
durable ceramic substance such as porcelain, stone-ware, or glass the surface being
evenly smoothed or polished. The said ring a is cemented to the neck of the metal
vessel by means of a durable lute or cement. A cover d, which fits this ring is
made of similar material, and the surfaces which come in contact with those of
the ring a must also be smooth or polished. The cover dis as hereafter described
so pressed on to the ring, that the two smooth or polished contact surfaces fit closely
together, the result produced being an infallibly close air-tight seal, without its
being necessary to employ any other packing material.
In Figs. 2, 3 and 4 the invention is shown by way of example, as applied to a
milk trunk or transporting can. The neck of the metal can A is furnished with a
strengthening flange or rim f which is so arranged as to be capable of receiving
on its inner circumference the ring a previously described. This ring a with its
smooth or polished surface completes the mouth of the can.
The ring a is as before stated, made fast to the neck of the can by means of a
suitable cement as for instance, caseine lute, consisting of 4 parts of cheese, and 1
of unslaked lime. The before mentioned cover d has a closing edge or rim d³,
which is surrounded by a protecting ring d². A cross piece e made of flat iron is
placed across the cover, and projects through suitable openings din d a little
beyond the periphery of the cover on both sides. This cross piece e with the
handle is fastened to the cover d by cement or in any suitable way. At the top
of the carrying handles gg are the pivots i which receive the ends of the usual
bent closing lever k which is formed with eccentric bearings to press upon the
cross piece e.
Fig. 2, shows the bent closing lever when the cover is lying unfastened.
If the bent closing lever k be turned in the position shown in
Figs. 3 and 4, its eccentric bearings press against the cross piece e, whereby the
cover d is forced on to the ring a and thereby the can is closed air-tight by the
close contact of the smooth or polished surfaces of the cover d, and the ring a.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
An improved device for closing sheet metal vessels, characterised by a smooth
or polished ring made of glass or other ceramic substance, firmly and impermeably
attached to the metal body, and forming the mouth of the vessel, on to which ring,
a cover made of similar material, and likewise smooth or polished, is firmly
pressed, so as to cause an air-tight contact of the polished surfaces as herein
described and set forth.
Dated this 6th day of November 1897.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
Patent Agent, 171, Queen Victoria Street, London.