Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1887
_ Complete Left, 4th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 18th May, 1888
WILLIAM THOMAS STEER Plumber & Tinman No. 4 Deerpark Newquay Cornwall do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The Canister is cylindrical in shape which has a sliding Float full size of Canister
made of Tin.. Thus two pieces of Tin are hollowed up or Blocked as it is termed and
then reversed and put together like two quarter circles and soldered together & made
air tight. Then a Rim or Band of Tin in. deep is made to fit around the top edge
being soldered to edge of circular pieces which is in reality an Air Vessel. After the
Milk is put in the canister the Float is put on Top of it that when the edge of Rim
touches or comes in contact with the Milk the Air which gets confined in depth of Rim
gets compressed through weight of float and fitting tight to sides of canister, there is
no escape for the Air between the Milk & top part of Float and as the Milk is drawn
from the Tap so the Float follows down the Milk to bottom of Canister.
1
The object of Float is to prevent the Milk beating around sides of Canister.
Keeps Milk Cool in Hot Weather.
No cloths needed around cover.
Canisters can be better cleaned.
The Milk keeps sweet for greater length of time and its Qualities are not

page_text: I, WILLIAM THOMAS STEER, of Cyprus Terrace, Newport Barnstaple in the County
of Devon, Plumber and Tinman, (formerly of Newquay, Cornwall,) 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 objects of this invention are to ensure the safe conveyance of milk without
deterioration or waste, and to facilitate the straining of the milk and the filling
emptying and cleaning of the Milk-can, and also to keep it cool in warm weather.
My improved Milk-canister is by preference, in shape, an ordinary cylinder with
external hoops for strength, but it might be made octagonal, square, or of any other
suitable shape.
Its lower end is by preference hollowed or conical on the inside and with a pipe
leading from its lowest part to a tap on the outside so that all the milk can be easily
drawn off. This tap may be fitted with a loose key, or padlocked in the usual way, to
prevent loss in transit.
An ordinary hoop or rim foot is attached to allow space for the tube and tap.
.
At the top is a tightly-fitted cover, also by preference conical or concave on its
inside and in the centre, or highest part of this cover is inserted a nozzle, which is
closed by a cap plug or bung. By preference I use a small cap perforated at its rim
or side. The nozzle projects through the cover and forms inside a small tubular
cap or cup which being perforated with holes forms a sieve for straining milk poured
through it.
This cover when reversed forms a funnel for filling the cannister, and the perforated
cap then acts as a strainer as before stated. Beneath the rim of the cover I place a
small cushion of india-rubber to make the cover air and water tight. The cover is
held down tightly on the rubber by pins and eyes and a hasp or button or other
suitable fastenings.
The chief novelty of my invention is a self adjusting float which slides up and
down inside the canister, resting upon the surface of the milk. This float is
applicable to other liquids which have to be removed from place to place. It consists
of a circular air-tight chamber elliptical in section by preference, which is placed
horizontally on the surface of the milk, and depending from its circumference is a flat
hoop or rim fitting rather closely inside the cylinder or canister of whatever shape it
may be, and which rim descends into the milk, thus enclosing an air space beneath
the float.
In order to allow for indentations in the body of the canister which might interfere
with the rise and fall of the float; I attach when preferred, a flexible diaphragm
to the periphery of the float. In ordinary use this diaphragm may not be necessary,
but I anticipate that it will be useful in canisters used for forwarding milk by
rail.

page_text: The air tight chamber is formed by preference of two discs, one or both of which
may be concave or conical if preferred and which are connected at their peripheries,
by being soldered to each other or to an intervening hoop or rim; so as to leave the
required space for air.
Through the weight of this float when placed on the milk the air beneath it is
compressed and forms an air cushion on the top of the milk, inside the hoop or rim.
This float and air cushion prevent the milk splashing, and being indifferent conductors
of heat keep it from being heated in transit in hot weather.
Among the advantages gained by these improvements are the following:
The canister being straight sided can be more easily cleaned.
There is thorough ventilation when required to cool warm milk, through the top
nozzle.
No cloths are needed around the cover.
The milk can when desired be kept entirely from contact with the air which in warm
weather preserves its good qualities and keeps it longer sweet.
All the milk can be drawn off through the tap without tipping the canister.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. I is a sectional elevation of my improved Milk Canister with the float
inside.
Fig. II. is an enlarged section of my milk float separately.
A. is the sealed air tight chamber.
B. is the cushion of compressed air beneath A.
C. is the rim of the float.
D. is a dotted line representing the surface of the milk.
E. is the cover.
F. is the perforated cap or cup inside the cover.
G. is the loose perforated cap, outside the cover.
H. is the india-rubber cushion.
I. is the hollowed bottom.
T
K. is the pipe and tap from I.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
(1). A Milk Canister having parallel sides in combination with a cover fitted with
an india-rubber-cushioned air-tight rim, and fixed strainer, and with a hollowed bottom,
pipe and tap, and with a special kind of floating vessel; as herein explained and
set forth.
(2). A special air chamber or floating vessel with pendent rim forming an air
cushion beneath the float which float rises or falls as the milk increases or decreases in
the can and prevents splashing of the milk during the jolting of the can in transit ; as
herein explained and set forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
(1). A Milk Canister having parallel sides in combination with a cover fitted with
an india-rubber-cushioned air-tight rim, and fixed strainer, and with a hollowed bottom,
pipe and tap, and with a special kind of floating vessel; as herein explained and
set forth.
(2). A special air chamber or floating vessel with pendent rim forming an air
cushion beneath the float which float rises or falls as the milk increases or decreases in
the can and prevents splashing of the milk during the jolting of the can in transit; as
herein explained and set forth.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, E.C.,
Patent Agent.