IMPROVEMENTS THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC BOXES OR VESSELS USED 70 CONTAIN PRESERVED ALIMENTARY PROVISIONS OR OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE APPARATUSES AND MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Léopold D'Aubréville, of No. 60, Boulevart de
Strasbourg, Paris, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC BOXES OR VESSELS USED 70 CONTAIN
PRESERVED ALIMENTARY PROVISIONS OR OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE
APPARATUSES AND MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN."'-A communication from
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION lett by the said Leopold D'Aubrevine a
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th April 1860.
1, LÉOPOLD D'AUBRÉVILLE, of No. 60, Boulevart de Strasbourg, Paris,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC BOXES OR VESSELS USED TO CONTAIN
PRESERVED ALIMENTARY PROVISIONS OR OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE APPARATUSES
AND MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows :--
The object of the said Invention is to obtain economy in manufacturing the
metallic boxes or vessels used for containing alimentary or other substances.
Firstly, I economise the soldering material used, by preparing and setting
the edges of the metallic sheets as is shown in the annexed Drawing, made on
an enlarged scale. Fig. 1, A, side of the box; F, bottom, the edges of which

page_text: are clasped together and set at C by special tools, leaving a wedge-shaped
gutter D all round to pour the solder in, the solder being kept from running
through and inside the box by the shape of the setting or join C. Fig. 2
shows another arrangement for clasping the lid of the box, by which the same
advantages are obtained, namely, economy of the soldering inetal. A, side of
the box; L.lid, which is clasped at D, inside the box.
Secondly, I economise the metallic sheets by means of corrugations, which
I make on the said prepared sheets, either by stamping or any other con-
venient method, in order to strengthen them, thus allowing the use of thinner
sheets, which when corrugated will resist pressure as well as thicker smooth
sheets. By corrugating the metallic sheets it is possible to make square boxos
for preserves with thinner sheets of metal than is usual, instead of cylindrical
boxes, which is the usual form adopted, and with the square boxes no space
will be lost in stowing them on board ship.
The third part of the Invention consists of an apparatus for soldering the
tops and bottoms of the boxes, the box receiving a rotary motion, and the part
to be soldered passing under a steady heated soldering iron, by which incans
special workmen are dispensed with, the workmen needing only to touch now
and then with a stick of solder the heated iron, to give the required quantity
of solder.
The fourth part of the Invention consists in making the said boxes sound
and tight without soldering them. By holding the lid pressed upon a soft
impermeable substance placed between the lid and box during the boiling
process in cooling, a vacuum takes place, and the atmospheric pressure keeps
the lid tight in its place upon the soft material used. This lid is then fastened
with 2 or 3 drops of solder, and the stays are taken off to serve again for
other boxes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Léopold D'Aubréville in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 26th October 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LEOPOLD
D'AUBRÉVILLE, of No. 60, Boulevart de Strasbourg, Paris, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
3
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year of our 3
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the
year of

page_text: Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Leopold D'Aubréville, Her special licence that I, the said
Loopold D'Aubréville, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Leopold D'Aubréville, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC
BOXES OR VESSELS USED TO CONTAIN PRESERVED ALIMENTARY PROVISIONS OR OTHER
SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE APPARATUSSES AND MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN," a com-
munication to him from Alfred Henry Rémond, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Leopold D'Aubréville, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, 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 Leopold D'Aubréville, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
These improvements relate to metallic boxes, canisters, or other similar
vessels made use of for preserving alimentary provisions, or for containing other
substances that require to be protected from the influence of the atmospheric
air, and they consist in,―
Firstly, providing the sides or body of the said boxes, canisters, or other
similar metallic vessels with proper oblique serrations, flutings, or corrugations,
or giving a suitable inward deflection or concave curvature to the said sides,
with the object of increasing the power of the said boxes to resist an inward
or outward strain exerted on them, allowing also of giving any suitable
angular form to the said boxes, canisters, or other similar metallic vessels, the
lid, bottom, and angles of which, or either or part of them, may be further
strengthened and the entire arranged in the manner as will hereafter be fully
described.
Secondly, an improved mode of affixing the lid and bottom, or either of
them to the body or sides of the said boxes, canisters, or other similar metallic
Vessels, with the object of retaining an economy in the soldering material, by
preventing any surplus of this latter to trickle or run down along the inside

page_text: of the box, and also affording a more solid or perfect mode of securing the lid
and bottom to the body of the box.
Thirdly, an improved mode and certain modifications thereof for procuring
a perfect hermetical sealing of. the said boxes, canisters, or other similar
metallic vessels, by the interposition, betwixt the lid and the body of the said
boxes, of a washer or ring of india-rubber or other suitably impervious clastic
or yielding material, and keeping the said washer or ring pressed betwixt the
lid and the sides or body of the box during the boiling and subsequent cooling
of the box. This mode of hermetically sealing allows at the same time to
the said boxes, when required, without any notable difficulty, and without
materially injuring them, so as to make them fit to be used again.
open
Fourthly, an improved soldering machine or apparatus by means of which
any ordinary workman is enabled to solder the bottom and lid to the body or
sides of the above-mentioned boxes, canisters, or other similar metallic vessels
with much more ease and quickness as would otherwise be possible.
.
In order to make the Invention more fully understood, I will, in this
description refer to the Figures of the annexed Sheet of Drawings.
Firstly, the improvement in the arrangement of the above-mentioned boxes,
canisters, or other vessels for containing and preserving alimentary provisions
or other similar substancos, consists in providing the sides or body of the said
boxes, canisters, or other similar vessels with a serios of parallel corrugations,
serrations, or flutings situated in an oblique or slanting direction in respect to
the sides of the box in the manner as shown in the Figs. 11 and 12, which
Figures respectively represent an elevation and a horizontal soctional view
through the line X, Y, of Fig. 11, of a square box with rounded angles; each
of the sides of the body of which box is provided with a series B of the above
mentioned oblique parallel flutings or corrugations, whereas towards the upper
and lower ends s, s, where the lid and bottom are to be affixed to the body of
the box, the metal of this latter is left smooth. It is preferable that the
oblique flutings, serrations, or corrugations should be situated in a direction
paralel to the diagonal of each of the sides of the box. I must add, here,
that I am well aware that boxes for containing preserved provisions have
already been provided before with corrugations or flutings, but in the hori-
zontal or the vertical instead of the oblique direction, which method does not
increase so much the resisting power of the box as when the corrugations are
situated in an oblique direction. As for the lid and bottom, they may be
either smooth or be provided with one or more concentric circular flutings in
the manner as shown in the Figs. 18 and. 14, which Figs. respectively repre-
sent a longitudinal sectional view and a view from underneath of part of a lid

page_text: provided with one of the above-mentioned circular flutings B'; it is also pre-
ferable that the lids for such boxes should have suitable strengthening pieces I
soldered against their inner surface in a paralel direction with their sides, and
at the required distance apart from these latter so as to leave a suitable
opening for the insertion of the smooth ends of the corresponding sides of the
body of the box. Any other suitable shape than that shown in the Figs. 18
and 14 might be given to the said strengthening pieces, the object of which is
effectually to prevent any deflection of the lid and box, they might, for instance,
form one continuous or inner rim in the inside of the lid in the manner as
shown by B in Fig. 20, which Figure represents an inside view of part of the
lid. This system of oblique flutings or corrugations considerably increasing the
power of angular boxes to resist any outward or inward strain exerted on them
consequently allows of manufacturing such boxes of a much thinner description
of sheet metal as was hitherto employed for that purpose.
Another mode of increasing the strength of the sides of the box, and
which may be applied separately or in conjunction with the above described
flutings or corrugations, consists in giving to each of the sides of angular
preserve boxes an inward cylindrical deflection or curvature so as to make
each of the sides of the body form part of the surface of a cylinder in the
manner as shown by the dotted lines A' of Fig. 12, the corresponding shape of
the lid being shown in Fig. 20, seen from underneath, while Fig. 21 shows a
longitudinal sectional view of this lid; in such case it is also preferable to
give the angles a rounded form, and have soldered against the inside of
these angles strengthening pieces D' extending from top to bottom. Boxes
arranged according to these principles may have any suitable number of sides,
though it is preferable to make them either square, hexagonal, or octagonal,
to procure a better stowage on board ships. The above mentioned corru-
gations, flutings, or serrations, may be formed by rolling, stamping, or any
other suitable means.
Secondly, the second part of the Invention relates to an improved mode of
affixing the lid and bottom, or either of them, to the body of metallic boxes,
canisters, or other similar vessels for preserving alimentary provisions or other
substances. Fig. 1 is a plan, and Fig. 2, a sectional view through the line
V, W, of Fig. 1 of a flat pilchard's box arranged according to this improved
method, with the object of effectually preventing an excess or surplus of the
soldering material of trickling or running down along the inner surface of the
sides of the box, and also to afford a more solid manuer of securing the lid
and bottom, or either of them to the body or sides of the box. The manner
in which the lid and bottom, or either of them, are affixed to the sides or

page_text: body of the box is shown in Fig. 3, which Fig. represents, on an enlarged
scale, a sectional view of the part of the body and lid or bottom of the box.
The bottom or lid F and the body of the box are towards their rims bent all
round in an angular shape a', a³, in such manner that when the bottom or lid
F is fully clasped or set within the body of the box, as shown in Fig. 3, this
bottom or lid cannot any more be taken out of this body even before being
soldered thereto without injuring the box, the bottom or lid having in this
manner been firmly set within the body of the box, the solder is applied in the
open space or edge D, and is consequently prevented from passing betwoon
The manner
the angular parts a', a², and running into the inside of the box.
upon
of setting or ultimately obturating a box of this description is as follows:-
When, after stamping all the parts, they are to be put together, both bottom
and lid must be successively set within the body of the box, but in order to
allow the lid of being removed for filling the box, a steel clasp, shown respec-
tively in front, side, and top views in the Figs. 4, 5, and 6, is placed astride
the edge or corner of one of the rounded angles of the box in the manner
as shown by C, H, Fig. 1, the leg H of the clasp being situated inside, and
the other Coutside of the box, by which means the setting roller will, during
the setting operation, run over the clasp, and thus prevent the protected
corners of the box and of the lid from shrinking, while the remainder of them
will be firmly applied against each other, after which the lid may easily be
forced out at the corner that had been protected by the clasp. The bottom
being then entirely set and soldered, the box is filled with the substance to bo
preserved, the lid is carefully inserted, the protected corner being the last to
be let in; the box is then soldered, and finally boiled in the ordinary
manner.
Thirdly, the third part of the Invention relates to an improved mode of
affixing the lid to metallic boxes, canisters, or other similar vessels for pre-
serving alimentary or other substances requiring to be hermetically sealed up,
and consists in inserting a ring or washer of india-rubber, greased leather,or
anyother suitable strongyieldingsufficiently impervious material betweentho
riin of the box and that of the lid, and holding those parts firmly pressed
together during the boiling and the subsequent cooling of the box; thewasher
thus preventing any exterior air to enter the box, a partial vacuum will be
formed in this latter, in consequence of which the pressure of the atmosphere
will keep the lid firmly secured on the box untill a hole, whatever so small,
would been drilled or otherwise formed in the box, and thus allowing the
outside air to enter into this latter, thereby equalizing the inside and outside
pressure, and thus allow the.lid to be removed without any further difficulty.

page_text: This part of the Invention is illustrated in Fig. 15, which Figure represents
a vertical central sectional view of a cylindrical box having a ring or washer i
of india-rubber,greased leather, or any other suitable elastic and sufficiently
impervious material inserted between the enlarged part D of the rim of the
lid, and a round moulding D' encircling the box. The box having been filled
with the substances to be preserved, the ring or washer i is applied over the
top of the box against the moulding D'; the lid is then put on, and firmly
pressed on the washer by inserting the entire in an iron pressing frame or
armature shewn respectively in elevation and in top view in the Figure 16
and 17, and consisting of an iron ring R and upper cross piece Thelttogether
by two or more vertical stays or tie rods L, L, passing through openings in
an iron disc or ring S, so as to allow this latter of being pressed down by
means of a thumb-screw V on the box B placed underneath the disc S on the
ring R between the rods L. The entire is then submitted in the usual
manner to the boiling operation, and is then left to cool, after which the box
being removed from the pressing frame is ready. In order to allow the lid to
expand somewhat during the boiling of the box, a suitable depression S¹ or a
suitable hole is made in the under side of the disc S.
It will be understood that this mode of sealing up preserve or other similar
boxes, canisters, or vessels is not only applicable to cylindrical but also to any
shape of such boxes or vessels, such, for instance, as the form of box of
which Fig. 20 and 21 show the inside of the lid provided between the inner
and outer rim with a ring or washer i of india-rubber or other suitable
material, and that instead of the above described pressing frame or armature,
any other description of apparatus may be used by which the lid may be kept
firmly pressed down on the elastic washer or ring during the boiling and the
cooling of the box. It is evident that two or more boxes might be in the
same manner submitted simultaneously to one pressing frame, viz., situated
side by side or one on the top of the other. In Fig. 11 the lid is secured to
the box in the above described manner by the interposition of a washer or
ring of india-rubber or other suitable impervious elastic material, but instead
of a pressing frame the lid is, during the boiling operation and the cooling of
the box, firmly secured on the box by means of two or more clasps E, one end
of which takes under the sharp-edged moulding S, while the other end.is
inserted partly in a small depression in the upper part of the lid; as those
clasps do not offer any notable impediment to regular stowing, they may if
wished remain on the boxes. Another manner of securing the lid on the
interposed india-rubber or other elastic washer or ring on the box is shown in
Fig. 18, viz., by means of a series of strips S, S, of tin plate, some of them

page_text: soldered to the box and others to the lid, and having their free ends bent
round so as to form as many hinge eyes; the lid being put on the box, and
pressed upon the elastic washer, a rod R is inserted in the corresponding
hinge eyes of the box and the lid, and in this manner these latter securely
helt together during the boiling and subsequent cooling of the box. Or the
lid may be kept pressed down on the elastic washer during the boiling and
cooling of the box by means of a hoop of tin plate or other suitable material
embracing the box from top to bottom, and which hoop may have its ends
either soldered or fixed together in the manner as iudicated by Fig. 19, viz.,
by having one end provided with a transverse slit B, in which the other end A
may be inserted and secured by being bent over.
Fourthly, the fourth part of the Invention relates to a soldering machine or
mechanical arrangement for soldering the bottom and lid to the sides or body
of the above mentioned boxes, canisters, or other similar vessels for containing
orpreserving eatables or other similar substances. Fig. 7 represents a front
elevation view of the machine, of which Fig. 8 represents a side elevation and
partly a vertical sectional view, whereas the Figs. 9 and 10 respectively
represent on an enlarged scale a top view and a view from underneath of the
soldering plate R; in these Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10 corresponding parts are
indicated by the same letters of reference.
The machine is composed of a frame or stand A, to the top B of which is
bolted an iron plate X, see Fig. 9 and 10; on this plate or frame V, the
shape of which varies according to the boxes to be soldered, and which frame
is provided with indentations round its inner side, is caused to glide with its
outer sides along a projecting rim U of the plate X by means of a pinion Q
keyed on the shaft I, and in gear with the indentations of the frame V.
Motion is given to the apparatus by means of a winch handle M, keyed on the
shaft C, turning in bearings 6, and carrying the bevel wheel D in gear with the
pinion E, driving the shaft I and pinion Q. Upon the frame V is fixed an
iron plate R, and on this latter is screwed a frame m, o, p, n, formed of four
sides suitably bent so as about to correspond in form with that of the periphery
of the box to be soldered; the part G is moveable, one end T of the same
being hinged to the end n of the frame, while the other end K may rest into
a notch or hook at the other end m of the frame. The box to be soldered is
helt between suitable bent pieces or wedges N, which may be fixed suitably
far apart by means of set screws 3, s. The soldering iron S, Fig. 7 & 8, is
carried by and turns on pivots in the forked end of a bent lever H, which
latter turns by means of small trunnions i in a forked bearing F, and is con-
nected by a rod L to a treadle P for lifting the lever H, which latter is formed

page_text: of two small metallic tubes gliding in the interior of the knob J, and connected
at d and g to two india-rubber tubes, one of which conveys ordinary lighting
gas and the other aunospheric air, which mix together and are ignited at the
exit opening r so as to project the flame on the soldering iron, and thus hoat
this latter, which process of heating is well known.
The mode of working of this apparatus is as follows:-The box to be soldered
being placed upon the plate R, and secured by the rod G and the wedges N,
the soldering iron is brought upon the edge by its own weight. The work-
man only requires to touch now and then the inside face of this iron with a
piece of solder in order to cause a sufficient quantity of this latter to run
down on the surfaces to be soldered together by the motion given to the box
by means of the winch handle. The bottom or the lid of the box having thus
been soldered all round, the workman causes the soldering iron to rise by
bearing with his foot on the treadle P; he then removes the box thus soldered
from the flame m, o, p, n, and replacing the box by a fresh one, performs
again the same operation.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the principles or main features of the said Invention; but what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to mo by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
1ly, providing the body or sides of angular metallic boxes, canisters, or
other similar vessels to be made use of for preserving alimentary provisions or
other substances with oblique corrugations, flutings, or serrations and rounded
angles separately or conjointly with giving those sides a suitable inward
deflection or curvature, and providing the inside of the body and lid of the
said boxes, canisters, or other similar vessels with proper strengthening picces
in the manner as has been described and illustrated in respect to the Figures
11, 12, 13, 14, 20, and 21.
2ly, the improved mode described and illustrated in the Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, and 6 for setting and securing the lid and bottom, or either of them, to the
sides or body of metallic boxes, canisters, or other similar vessels for pre-
serving or containing alimentary provisions or other substances, with the object
of preventing any excess of soldering material to run down along the inside of
the box, and at the same time securing those parts more firmly to the body of
the said boxes, canisters, or other similar vessels.

page_text: 3ly, interposing between the lid and the body of the said metallic boxes,
canisters, or other similar vessels a ring or washer of india-rubber or other
suitable strong sufficiently impervious and yielding or clastic material, and
keeping the said parts closely together during the boiling and subsequent
cooling of the said boxes by means of a pressing frame, or in any other suitable
mariner.
4ly, the mechanical arrangement described and illustrated in respect to
the Figures 7, S, 9, and 10, for soldering the lid and bottom to the sides or
body of the said metallic boxes, canisters, or other similar vessels.
In witness whereof, I, the said Leopold D'Aubréville, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-third day of October, One thousand
cight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
L. DE VOS.
L. D'AUBRÉVILLE. (L.S.)