A DEVICE APPLICABLE AS A STOPPER FOR BOTTLES, CANS, OR OTHER LIQUID HOLDERS
Year: 1876

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by Henry Howell Doubleday at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th July 1876. A communication
from Stephen S. Newton, of Binghampton, County of Broome, and State of
New York, in the United States of America.
HENRY HOWELL DOUBLEDAY, of Washington, in the District of Columbia, and
United States of America. "A DEVICE APPLICABLE AS A STOPPER FOR BOTTLES,
CANS, OR OTHER LIQUID HOLDERS." A communication from Stephen S
Newton, of Binghampton, County of Broome, and State of New York, in the United
States of America.
My Invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a device
applicable as a stopper for bottles, or to the spouts of cans containing fluids, and
consists,
1st. In constructing a stopper in such manner that by turning an interior or
valve tube fitted into a threaded sleeve, said actionof turning will open or close a
port or ports formed in the lower portion of the interior tube, and allow the
contents of the bottle to flow out, or prevent such flow by turning the tube in a
reverse direction.
2nd. In the application of said device to the spouts of cans, and operating it by
means of a flexible shaft or tube, through which the oil is discharged.
3rd. In the application of the device to the neck of oil cans, especially adapted for
oiling machinery, the device being operated by means of the nozzle.
And, lastly. The Invention consists in certain modifications and details of
construction, according to the circumstances under which the device is employed,
without however departing from the principle of the Invention.
But that my Invention may be fully understood I will proceed to describe the
same in detail by aid of the accompanying Drawings, in which,
-
Figures 1 and 2 are vertical sections showing the construction and arrangement
of the device as applied to bottles or flasks, the former showing the device having
the ports closed, and the latter with the ports open.
Figures 3 and 4 are similar views shewing the device adapted to the spouts of
ordinary cans, and operated by means of a flexible tube.

page_text: Figures 5 and 6 are similar views embodying a slight modification in the
arrangement of the device.
Figures 7 and 8 are elevations partly in section, showing the valve stopper as
applied to oilers, particularly adapted to oil machinery, the former shewing the ports
open, and the latter the ports closed.
Figures 9 and 10 are sections, shewing a slight modification of the same.
In the Drawings similar letters of reference are employed to indicate corre-
sponding parts in all the Figures wherever such may occur.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, A is a metallic tube of suitable size, which is
provided with a broad annular flange a upon its upper edge. The interior of this
tube or sleeve is screw threaded to receive a correspondingly threaded valve
tube B, the lower end of which is closed, and is provided with a broad head or
cap b to prevent its being drawn through or into the sleeve A, and to receive a
packer or washer b¹, which may be of any suitable material, such as vulcanite,
rubber, or leather, or other suitable substances, though for all ordinary purposes a
leather washer is preferred. The valve tube B is further provided near its lower
end and above the washer b¹ with a port or a series of ports C to admit the fluid
into the valve tube B, which projects some distance above the sleeve A, and not
only serves as a spout or nozzle, but also to open or close the valve ports by turning
the tube either in the one or the other direction, or in other words by screwing the
tube B up to bring its ports within the sleeve A, and the washer against the
lower face of said sleeve, or by reversing the movement of the tube B to bring its
ports beyond the flange of the sleeve, as plainly shewn by Figures 1 and 2.
The sleeve A is surrounded by an elastic packer or stopper D preferably of
tapering form, in order that it may the more readily pack tightly the annular space
of the neck of the bottle or can. This packer may be of any elastic material, such
as cork, rubber, or equivalent substances.
In Figures 3, 4, and 6, I have shown the device adapted to the spouts or nozzles
of cans, and in this case the broad flange b is on the lower face of the sleeve B, that
is to say, the sleeve is reversed, though in this case the flange b may be dispensed
with; E, E', are two sections of an oil can nozzle, the part E being that which is to
be attached to the body of the can or filler; A is the sleeve provided with a
flange a on its lower face, and has an internal thread to receive the external thread
of the valve tube B, as already described.
The valve tube B is connected at its upper projecting end to a flexible tube F of
rubber or other suitable material attached to the inner end of the valve tube B;
G is a coiled wire wrapping tube F, and forming with said tube a hollow flexible
shaft, the outer or discharging end of which is secured to the part E of the nozzle.
When the parts are in the position shewn by Figure 3 the part E' may be inserted
in a small aperture as in a lamp, when the body of the can may be tipped up at
any desirable angle without disturbing the position of the part E', owing to the
flexibility of the tube E and the wrapping G.
It will be readily understood that the oil or other liquid will flow through the
ports C, and thence through the tube F, and that by means of the latter and the
wire wrapping G the valve tube inay be screwed up into the sleeve or plug A until
the cap band washer b¹ shall effectually exclude the oil or other liquid from the
valve tube B.
When the thread of the valve tube B fits the thread of the sleeve A with
sufficient accuracy the washer b¹ might be dispensed with, hence I do not wish to
be limited to its use.
In Figure 4 I have shown the device applied to an oil can in which the flexible
tube is dispensed with, using only the wire shaft for operating the valve tube, and
for connecting the two portions of the nozzle together, and in this construction the
part E fits closely upon and over the outer end of the part E, so as to ensure that
there shall be no leakage at this point, the elasticity of the rubber tube and wire
covering (when both are used) permitting them or either of them to stretch and

page_text: allow the valve tube to be backed out into the position shewn in Figs. 3 and 4 to
permit the liquid to flow in through the ports C, or the part E' may be made to
slide upon the part E to permit the desired movement.
In Figure 5 the valve tube B is dispensed with, the flexible tube connecting
directly with the interior of the can, and it is evident that under this arrangement
the part E¹ may be dispensed with, and that any practicable kind of flexible tubing
may be employed instead of that shown.
In Figure 6 I have shown a modification of the device for permitting and checking
the flow of the liquid, and in this case the sleeve A projects upon each side of the
flange a, the closed end projecting into the can, and is provided with a port or
ports a¹, said sleeve being surrounded by an elastic packer D, as already explained.
B is the valve tube connected at one end with the hollow flexible shaft F, G.
It will be seen that when the parts are in the position shewn by Figure 6 the oil
can flow through the ports a¹ and into the tube B, but if the valve be screwed
tightly into the cylinder and past the ports, no oil can enter said ports a¹. I would
however have it understood that when the device is adapted as above described, and
shewn in Figures 3, 4, and 6, I do not wish to be limited to the use of the part E¹,
and the sleeve A may be soldered into the part E, and thus dispense with the elastic
packer D. Nor do I wish to claim broadly the combination of a flexible tube with
an oil can under any and all arrangements, being aware that such tubes have here-
tofore been employed to conduct air or vapor from the lamp to the upper part of
the can and above the outlet through which the oil is poured, as my Invention
consists in combining a flexible delivery nozzle with the discharging orifice of the
can, whereby any desired angle or inclination of the flexible nozzle or the tip of the
nozzle may be maintained without regard to the angle or inclination at which the
body of the can may be held in order to discharge its contents.
In Figures 7 and 8 I have shown the device applied to an ordinary machinery
oiler, in which L is the body of the can, made of any suitable or preferred material,
and of any desired size or form, the neck of which is provided with a female screw
thread, as shown at l, to receive the external male thread of the lower part of the
nozzle M, as shown at m, said lower part being constructed and substantially
forming the valve tube B, having a head b, washer b', and a port or ports C. The
nozzle M is further provided with a port or ports c at or near the bottom of the
flange or drip cup m³ for a purpose presently explained. A is the sleeve screwed
into the neck of the can, and having connected thereto the drip cup m³, which bas
an inwardly curved or turned flange formed upon the upper end thereof. When
the parts are in the position shown by Figure 7 the oil will pass freely through the
ports C and out of the nozzle; when however the lower end of the tube is in the
position shewn by Fig. 8, no oil can be discharged from the body of the can, but
such oil as may flow down the outside of said tube or nozzle will be arrested by the
drip cup m², and will pass through the port or ports c into the valve tube B, from
whence it may be ejected through the tip of the nozzle with oil which is received
through ports C; or, if preferred, the drippings may be returned into the can by
opening said ports C, as in Figure 7, and when the latter are open the drip ports c
are within the neck or sleeve A, and thus any discharge of oil through them while
using the oiler is effectually prevented.
In order to facilitate the operating of the nozzle valve tube M, B, and to avoid
the soiling of the fingers by the oil adhering to the outside of the nozzle I provide a
slightly dished perforated milled wheel me, by means of which the nozzle may be
readily screwed up or down, and through the perforations of which any drip oil may
readily pass to the drip cup. It will also be evident that by giving the drip cup
an inwardly curved flange or rim any oil which may be in it is prevented from
flowing out either in using the oiler or by an accidental upsetting of the same.
I do not wish to confine myself to using these drip ports c, as some of the advan
tages which are incident to the other features of construction may be derived
without them, it being evident that the closing of the can against leakage by means

page_text: of the head b, or by withdrawing the ports C within the sleeve A, is independent of
the functions of the ports c; but in practice I prefer to use them, as it will insure
that there shall be no accumulation of oil in the drip cup, as the drippings are
ejected each time the oiler is used.
In Figure 9 the valve tube B is operated by means of a coiled or other spring N,
and forces the head b against the face of the sleeve, which in this case has no interior
thread, nor is the tube B threaded externally, the one sliding within the other. One
end of the spring end is affixed to the nozzle, and the other to the base of the drip
cup, and by depressing the nozzle by means of the perforated milled wheel the oil
may be readily discharged, and when released the spring will close the ports auto-
matically by forcing them into the sleeve A of the nozzle M.
In Figure 10 the sleeve is arranged to be screwed upon an external thread formed
on the neck of the can or bottle, the interior portion of said sleeve A. being so con-
structed as to form a seat a¹, and has an interior screw thread a² above said seat to
receive the correspondingly threaded valve plug B. The seat a¹ is provided with
an annular packer a³, so that when the nozzle is screwed down tight no oil can pass
up between the tube B and sleeve A. The tube B is further provided, as in the
other cases, with a head 6 and a packer or washer b¹, the operation in this case being
similar to that of the devices already described.
Having now described my Invention, what I claim is,―
1st. The combination of the flanged tube A, having its interior screw threaded,
the screw threaded valve tube B, provided with a head or flange b, and a port or
ports C and a washer b¹, whereby when the valve tube is closed the washer abuts
against the lower part of the sleeve, and the port or ports lie within the bore of the
tube, substantially as described.
2nd. The combination with the discharging outlet of an oil can of a flexible
delivery nozzle adapted to be bent at any desired angle, substantially as set forth.
3rd. An oil can nozzle made in two parts connected with each other by means of
a flexible tube, substantially as set forth.
4th. An oil can nozzle provided with a valve which is operated by means of a
flexible shaft arranged within said nozzle, substantially as described.
5th. An oil can nozzle provided with a valve which is operated by means of a
flexible shaft through which the oil is discharged, substantially as set forth.
6th. An oil can nozzle made in two parts connected with each other by means of
a flexible shaft, which also serves to operate a valve through which the oil is dis-
charged, substantially as set forth.
7th. An oil can nozzle made in two parts connected with each other by means of
a hollow shaft, which also serves to open a valve through which the oil is dis-
charged, the oil being delivered through the hollow shaft, substantially as described.
8th. The combination in an oil can of the body L, the thimble A, and nozzle M, B,
having its lower part threaded, and provided with the discharging ports C, substan-
tially as set forth and shown by Figures 7 and 8.
9th. The combination with the body L and drip cup m¹ of the screw threaded
nozzle M, B, having drip ports c, whereby the dripping may pass into said nozzle
and ejected through its tip, substantially as set forth and fully shown by Figures 7
and 8.
:
10th. The combination of the body L, the drip cup m², and the screw threaded
nozzle M, B, provided with ports C, c, substantially as described and shown by
Figures 7 and 8.
11th. The combination of the nozzle M, B, with a perforated dished milled wheel
m³, substantially as shown by Figures 7 and 8, and herein-before described.
12th. The combination with the sleeve A and nozzle M, B, of a coiled or other
spring N, substantially as described and shewn by Figure 9.
13th. The combination with the can of a sleeve A, having a seat a¹ and the valve
tube B constructed substantially as described and shown by Figure 10.
14th. The combination of an unthreaded sleeve A and the spring N and can L

page_text: with the unthreaded nozzle M, B, and the dished perforated milled wheel m², sub-
stantially as described and shown by Figure 9.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Howell Doubleday, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
HENRY HOWELL DOUBLEDAY. (L.S.)