Improvements in Milk Cans or Vessels used for the Conveyance of Milk.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 26th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 25th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Milk Cans or Vessels used for the Conveyance
of Milk.
We, WILLIAM WOOD MELLOR, of West Seacombe Terrace, Seacombe, in
the County of Chester, Engineer, and JOSEPH SHAW, of Lockwood, near
Huddersfield, in the County of York, Brass Founder and Finisher, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the vessels used for the transit of milk by road or rail.
The vessels at present in use for this purpose admit of the milk being more or less
violently agitated during transit from the farm to the consumer, often resulting in
the milk being soured and partially converted into butter before reaching the
consumer and in an unsuitable condition for use as pure milk.
The object of our invention is to prevent the milk being agitated during transit.
For this purpose we provide that the milk shall be confined in a vessel under
pressure. Our method of carrying out this invention is to fit a cover to the mouth
of the milk can or vessel having a mechanical joint capable of withstanding a
moderate hydraulic pressure. To this cover we fit a piston, plunger, or ram for
the purpose of setting and keeping up the required pressure.
We further provide
a relief air valve and overflow, all in a manner to be more fully set forth and
described in our final Specification. We also as an alternative means of setting
up the required pressure use, (instead of a piston ram or plunger fitted on to
the cover before mentioned) a small force pump the pressure thus set up being
retained by a back pressure valve.
Dated this 25th day of April 1892.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Milk Cans or Vessels used for the Conveyance
of Milk.
We, WILLIAM WOOD MELLOR, of West Seacombe Terrace, Seacombe, in
the County of Chester, Engineer, and JOSEPH SHAW, of Lockwood, Hudders-
field, in the County of York, Brass Founder and Finisher, 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:
-
Our invention has reference to cans or vessels for the conveyance of milk, which
being largely consumed in populous places towns and cities and mostly derived from
distant agricultural districts, has to be daily carried by railway, road or sea for
delivery to the consumers. The cans or vessels in which the milk is conveyed
admit of its being violently agitated in transit and too frequently the milk arrives
at its destination more or less sour. It is also a matter of common observation to
consumers of milk thus supplied, that even when received by them in an apparently
good condition, its tendency is to become sour and unfit for use within a few hours.
Therefore the conveyance of milk by the present mode has a dilaterious effect
upon its quality.
The object of our invention is to obviate the dilaterious effects hitherto
experienced and to successfully overcome the disadvantages attendant upon the
conveyance of milk in cans or vessels as heretofore, whereby we can ensure its
delivery at the end of a long journey by road, rail, or sea, in the same good condition
as when it left the farm.

page_text: This we accomplish by means of a ram or plunger cover or lid, fitted to the
mouth of the can or vessel so as to subject the milk therein to hydrostatic pressure
and maintain the molecules of the fluid in a state of equilibrium or at rest whilst in
the vessel.
Such being the nature and object of our invention we will now describe the same
more fully, and for this purpose make reference to the accompanying sheets of
drawings, wherein :-
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a can or vessel commonly used for the conveyance
of milk shewing our improvements applied thereto, and Fig. 2 is plan of same.
A is the mouth or orifice of the can B the inside of which is preferably cylindrical
and turned to a true and smooth surface. C is the cover or lid for the vessel,
having the functions of a ram, on the underside of which is an expanding ring D,
made of leather, india rubber or other suitable flexible material, held in position by
a convex plate E fastened by thumbscrew F to the ram or cover C, the said parts
being adapted to slide freely in the mouth piece of the vessel. The can or vessel
is first filled with milk to the level of the overflow pipe G, then the ram C is
inserted into the mouth A and the bridge piece H secured on the top of the can by
bolts and nuts a as shewn. The said bridge piece is provided centrally with a pin
or stud b on which is pivotted a lever I having a cam or eccentric J formed on or
attached to the end thereof, such lever being maintained in the position shewn in
dotted lines with the shorter radii of the cam presented to the upper surface of the
ram until the bridge piece has been made secure to the can, whereupon the lever is
drawn down to the horizontal as shewn in full line, bringing the longer radii of the
cam into engagement with the upper face of the ram C and forcing said ram down-
wards so as to place the milk within the vessel under hydrostatic pressure and to
maintain the molecules of the fluid in equilibrium or at rest. At the same time the
flexible ring D is caused to expand and make a fluid tight joint between the ram
and the inner walls of the mouth of the vessel.
Before despatching milk from the farm it is customary to cool it down from the
temperature at which it leaves the cow to a temperature as near as possible to that
of the atmosphere. In the course of experiments we have tested the condition of
milk under various pressures and temperatures, and in most cases we prefer that
the milk, after it has left the cow and previous to being put into the can, be cooled
down to a suitable temperature-say-for instance, approximately to that of the
temperature of the atmosphere and whilst in this condition we make up the vessel
as described herein. We have also found it advantageous to subject the milk to a
hydrostatic pressure of about 20 lbs., or a few pounds in excess of what may be
necessary to convey the milk hydrostatically, in order to compensate for any
reduction in bulk of the milk owing to variation or lowering of temperature with
that of the atmosphere, and this provision permits of the milk being conveyed a
great distance and remaining in the vessel a considerable length of time without its
qualities being in any way impaired.
The construction and operation of the cover or ram and parts so as to bring to
bear and maintain a pressure inside the vessel greater than that due to the pressure
of the atmosphere forms one of the essential features of our invention.
At Fig. 3 which is a vertical section of milk can and parts, we shew a modifi-
cation of the construction of ram C and expansion ring D.
In this case the ram is cast hollow to obtain lightness being, however, of sufficient
strength to withstand a moderate pressure. The under face of this ram is made
convex and the convex plate previously described thereby dispensed with. The
mouth A of the vessel is provided with a shoulder c forming a seating for the
Ushaped expansion ring D which may be composed of any suitable flexible
material, said expansion ring being held in its place by a flanged cap or gland d
secured to the mouth of the can or vessel. The parts for and the manner of
operating the ram to subject the milk to hydrostatic pressure are substantially the
same as previously described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig. 4, sectional
elevation and Fig. 5, plan of same, we shew a modification of the construction of

page_text: our improvements as adapted for use where a force pump is employed to further
charge the vessel with the required hydrostatic pressure.
A is the mouth or orifice of the vessel B and provided internally with a shoulder
or seating cupon which rests the compression ring D. C is the cover formed with
a boss or neck C' and a nipple C' having internal and external screw threads
thereon by which a cap e and a pump K are secured thereto.
A triangular valve spindle L passes through the cover C and cape and is
adapted to work therein and carries a valve L at its lower end made to engage
with the under face of the cover by a spiral spring. H is the bridge or armed
centre piece capable of being turned round on the cover to engage the ends of the
arms with lugs a formed on or secured to the shoulder c or vessel. The parts
are. removeable from the vessel and when the can is filled with milk to the
level of the compression ring D they are placed back onto the seating at the
mouth of the vessel and the cover secured by engagement of the bridge or
armed centre piece with the lugs a as before stated, the cover being forced
tightly against the compression ring D to form a fluid tight joint by means of
set screws as shewn.
The milk is thus sealed up in the vessel hydrostatically, but in order to
further charge it with the required hydrostatic pressure a small supply of milk
is placed into the pump K and forced by piston K' past the valve L₁, which is
immediately closed by the spring and pressure of milk within the vessel.
Figs. 6 and 7 shew slight modifications of the cover, compression ring, and
means for operating them.
In Fig. 6 the construction of the cover is similar to that shewn at Figs. 4
and 5 as is also the bridge or armed centre piece and the method of securing
it to the vessel or can. The compression ring D is made preferably of the
section shewn and rests in a V shaped recess or groove formed in the shoulder
or seating c. The cover C rests on the compression ring and is secured to the
end of a screw J working in a nut or internally screw threaded socket in the
bridge or armed centre piece H and provided at its upper end with a handle.
or nut by which to operate it.
The vessel is first filled with milk to the level of the compression ring D,
then the cover C is placed upon it and the bridge or armed centre piece
secured by engagement with the lugs a. The cover is now forced down by a
few turns of the screw J to form a fluid tight joint between it and the
shoulder c and to set up and maintain the required hydrostatic pressure within
the can or vessel B.
In Fig. 7 the same means for operating or forcing down the cover are used
but instead of the screw J being secured to the said cover, it is secured to a
convex plate E placed between the bridge or armed centre piece H and cover C
and the latter is made of suitable thin flexible metal or material adapted_to_act
as a diaphragm and to form a segment of an arc when forced downwards from
the centre by the convex plate E. C¹is a metal ring resting on the diaphragm
cover C, which is engaged by the extremities of the bridge or armed centre
piece H and held in position thereby. The said bridge piece is secured to the
vessel by engagement with the lugs a, as previously described with reference to
Figs. 4, 5, and 6.
In addition to the screw J for forcing down the cover C to set up and main-
tain hydrostatic pressure within the vessel, set screws are employed to force
down the metal ring C¹ and cover C onto the compression ring D to form a
fluid tight joint.
It is obvious that instead of a cam or screw being employed to force down
the ram or cover, cranks or other equivalent mechanical devices may be employed,
with equally as good results for the same purpose and that the construction and
arrangement of the parts forming our improvements may be modified to suit
various constructions of cans or vessels used, the distances they may have to be
carried and other similar requirements.

page_text: We would also have it understood that temperature of the milk and pressure to
which it is subjected may be varied so long as the vessel is completely filled with
milk and subjected to hydrostatic pressure.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
Firstly. The means and method substantially as herein shewn for the conveyance
of milk under hydrostatic pressure.
Secondly. In cans or vessels for the conveyance of milk, a ram adapted to slide
freely in the mouth of the can or vessel and to be forced down and retained in
position by mechanical pressure, and an expansion ring to form a fluid tight joint
substantially as shewn and for purposes described.
Thirdly. In cans or vessels for the conveyance of milk, the combination with a
ram and expansion ring, of means for securing said parts in position and forcing and
keeping them down to form a fluid tight joint so as to set up and maintain hydro-
static pressure within the vessel, in the manner and for the purposes substantially
as herein shewn and described.
Fourthly. In cans or vessels for the conveyance of milk, the combination, with
a cover or diaphragm for subjecting the contents of the vessel to hydrostatic
pressure, of a compressible ring, and means for securing said cover in position and
compressing the ring to form a fluid tight joint, in manner and for purposes
substantially as set forth.
Fifthly. A vessel for the conveyance of milk constructed and arranged so that
pressure can be accumulated therein after the lid or cover has been attached thereto
for the purposes described and substantially as herein set forth.
Lastly. The general arrangement, construction and operation of the parts for the
conveyance of milk in cans hydrostatically, substantially as shewn and for purposes
described.
Dated this 25th day of January 1802