Improvements in Hermetically Sealed Vessels, and in the Manner of Removing the Covers thereof.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Jan., 1896-Accepted, 4th Apr., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hermetically Sealed Vessels, and in the Manner
of Removing the Covers thereof.
I, JOHN JASPER STONE, of 369 George Street, Sydney, in the Colony of
New South Wales, Australia, Civil and Mechanical 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 :-
This invention has for its object the improvement, by simple means, of certain
parts of metal vessels, requiring to be hermetically sealed, so as to render it
possible to perform the sealing or soldering operation both quickly and effectively
by using a comparatively small adhesive surface on which to lay the solder, such
smali surface in itself providing an expeditious means for opening such vessels
without having to resort to the use of cutting instruments it being possible to
remove the whole of the sealed cover of such vessels without injuring any part
thereof.
This invention is designated the detachable peeling lid because of the peculiar
manner in which it is separated.
But in order that the invention may be more fully understood reference is now
made to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters are used throughout
the different views to indicate similar parts and in which :-
Figure is a sectional view of a circular canister provided with an internal
narrow seating at the opening end and a peeling lid.
Figure 2 is a plan of Fig. 1 shewing peeling lid with eyelet hole and narrow
margin for soldering.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of a circular canister provided with an external
narrow seating and a peel off' lid.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of a circular canister provided with an internal
beaded rim or rounded edge and a peel off lid.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of a circular canister provided with an external
beaded rim or rounded edge and a peel off' lid.
Figure 6 is a sectional view of a concave peel off lid adaptable for potted
meat tins.
Figure 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 6 but shewing the form assumed by
the peel off lid in Fig. 6 after cooking operation has been performed, and the vent
sealed.
Figure 8 shews a peel off lid to cover smaller opening than shewn in Figures 1
to 5.
Figure 9 is a circular canister provided with peel off' lid and a spare ordinary lid
to be substituted for peel off lid when removed.
Figure 10 shews the method of adapting peel off lid so as to enclose a
detachable lid.
Figure 11 is a representation of a sardine tin provided with a peel off lid.
Figure 12 is a representation of an oval fish tin provided with a peel off lid.
Figure 13 shews a peel off lid without the tongue and eyelet hole, but with
looped wire substituted to perform the same office as the tongue.
Figure 14 shews a combination of glass and metal with peel off lid for enclosing
the cork or stopper and hermetically sealing the vessel.
Figure 15 is a representation of a butter tin provided with a peel off lid, with
side removed to shew butter pat and heat resisting packing.

page_text: Figure 16 shews the peel off lid applied to vessels with small orifices such as
varnish tins or the like.
Figure 17 shews a further adaptation of peel off lid with its tongue passing
through a slit in a non-sealed lid by which it is enclosed, the tongue when bent
serving to secure the non-sealed lid.
Figure 18 is a perspective view shewing the method of detaching the tongue
from the soldered seating.
Figure 19 is another perspective view shewing the method of completing the
peeling off operation so as to detach the lid by the use of the prising bar.
Figure 20 shews a curled tongue of a peel off lid with wire loop or ring
substituted for eyelet hole.
Figure 21 shews a method of curling the tongue of a peel off lid so as to adapt
it for use with an ordinary fork.
Figure 22 shews another adaptation of the same idea to a circular lid as in
Fig. 21, but without the tongue.
Figure 23 shews a circular peel off lid provided with a hinge and peel off band,
to be placed either above or beneath the lid.
Figure 24 is similar to Figure 8 shewing wire for detaching peel off lid in close
proximity to tongue.
Figure 25 is similar to Figure 8, shewing wire for detaching peel off lid.
It is immaterial what the shape of the metal vessel may be, whether round, oval,
square, oblong, lozenge, or any other shape, the invention is alike applicable to all
of them providing the narrow seating or sealing surface can be obtained, and all
metals which may be soldered such as copper, brass, zinc, tin, aluminium, Britaunia
metal or the like, are serviceable in the construction of such vessels. Or where the
metal and glass are used in combination the same form of peel off lid may
be used.
The vessels to which this invention may be applied may be used to enclose
preserved meats, fish, vegetables, jams, jellies, marmalade, preserved fruits, con-
densed milk and all such like articles of food, also paints, varnishes, tobacco, and
all such articles of commerce.
The seating or sealing surface A may be an integral part of the body B of the
metal vessel, and may be formed either internally or externally as shewn in
Figures 1 and 3. The cover C is preferably made of a less diameter than the
body B so as to provide a resting place for the soldering iron as shewn in Fig. 2,
such soldering surface being marked D. The tongue E is an integral part of
the cover Caud is pierced with the eyelet hole F. the eyelet G being inserted
to prevent the metal tearing during the peeling off operation. The eyelet G is
not indispensable, being only inserted where thin metal is used in the construction
of the lid. The solder is applied upon the annular surface D, which serves to
hermetically secure the lid C to the surface A, part of the solder invariably
passing to the narrow surface beneath the lid. The tongue E is soldered on its
under side to the body of the tin. Where the narrow seating or sealing surface
consists of the beaded rim H, shewn internally in Fig. 4, and externally in Fig. 5,
the soldering of the peel off lid C is performed in the same manner as just
described the object being in all cases to provide a sufficiently small seating to
render the detaching operation possible. In Figure 18 the method of commencing
the detaching operation of the peel off lid is shewn. The prising bar I which
may represent an ordinary skewer, is passed through the eyelet hole F and pressed
upwards so as to draw the tongue away from its seating. The tearing operation
will be found takes place at one side of the tongue and as scon as this is
accomplished the bar I is grasped transversely with one hand and the body of
the tin with the other when the peeling off operation may be completed as shewn
in Fig. 19, the detachment taking place very easily, by reason of the peculiar
construction and combination of the adhering parts. In Fig. 13 the wire J is
shewn as a substitute for the tongue E and is shewn in dotted lines beneath the
Cover C, the ends thereof being attached to the body B. of the vessel at K. The

page_text: wire J being in the form of a loop will admit of the same treatment as just
described for the tongue and the peeling off operation is performed in a precisely
similar manner.
In the case of Figure 9 a detachable lid L is provided and when
the peel off lid C is removed the lid L is substituted therefor. In Figure 8 the
peel off lid C is shewn in combination with a vessel having a small orifice, the
tongue E in this case therefore does not project beyond the body of the vessel.
The soldering beneath the tongue is performed by bending it at right angles to the
cover. In Figure 16 the peel off lid is shewn applied to small orifices such as are
usual in the construction of varnish tins, the necking M being used for the
insertion of a cork which would be enclosed by the peel off lid C when hermetically
sealed. In Figure 10 the removable lid N is shewn enclosed with the peel off
lid C, such a combination being necessary in some forms of metal vessels whose
contents have to be kept for some time after the peel off lid has been removed.
Figure 17 shews the tongue E utilised to keep the lid L in position when it is not
considered desirable to carry out the form showu in Figure 9. In this case the
tongue is passed through the slit O formed in the lid L and is turned down on to
the lid so as to prevent its detachment. When it is desired to unseal a vessel of
this kind the tongue E is straightened vertically and the cover L is removed, when
the peel off lid C may be drawn off in the same manner as previously described.
The adaptation of the peel off lid to a rectangular sardine box and oval fish tin is
shewn in Figures 11 and 12 respectively. Figure 20 shews the tongue E curled
with the metal ring P substituted for the eyelet hole F. This metal ring may
either be laid flat upon the cover or be allowed to fall down against the body B.
In adapting the invention to a glass or carthenware jar (vide Fig. 14) so as to
hermetically seal the same, the band Q is provided and secured to the glass or
earthenware by a suitable liquid cement filling. The upper portion is provided
with a seating having the soldering surface D and to this the peel off lid is
soldered. The necking of the glass or earthenware vessel may be filled with a
cork or glass stopper if considered necessary. This peel off lid may be attached to
the band Q with a hinge if desired. When the peel off lid is applied to tins for
the preservation of meats which are cooked after being enclosed in the tins, the lid
is made in a concave form and provided with the usual vent hole, and is attached
in the manner shewn in Fig. 6 with the bulge outwards. After the cooking
operation the vent hole is sealed and the contents allowed to cool, which causes the
lid to assume the form shewn in Fig. 7. It is claimed by this peculiar construction
that no undue strain will be put upon the soldered joint upon the surface A.
because sufficient allowance is made by the outward bulge to prevent the collapse
of the metal when the contraction of the air takes place within.
The butter tin shewn in Figure 15 is furnished with a peel off lid C as in the
case of the sardine box shewn in Fig. 11, but the butter R is shewn insulated by
the use of packing S placed as a lining inside the tin and which may consist of any
suitable heat resisting material.
I do not confine myself to the form of tongue shewn provided with an eyelet
hole, as several modifications may be made in that portion of the lid. Figures 21
and 22 are illustrations of two modifications. In Figure 21 the eyelet hole F. is
dispensed with and the tongue curled so as to provide piercings T to admit of the
insertion of a pronged instrument such as a kitchen fork, by the use of which the
lid may be peeled off as readily as in the other methods shewn. In Figure 21
the pronged instrument or fork is inserted sideways in the piercing and by imparting
a twisting movement, the tongue is detached from the solder and the lid peeled off.
In Figure 22. a corrugated strip U is soldered to the lid in lieu of the tongue, and
is provided with the piercings T, the fork is inserted pointing towards the centre of
the can and the lid removed by prising the handle upwards. In Figure 23. a further
modification of the peel off lid is shewn. The lid is circular as in Fig. 13 but in
lieu of the wire J. a strip of metal V. is soldered or attached either to the under
or top side of the lid with one end formed as a tongue E, and the other end attached

page_text: to the body of the tin by the hinge W. This form of construction will admit of
the lid being peeled off, but it will remain attached to the body of the hinge W for
convenience of future use. In Figures 24 and 25 the peel off lid C. is shewn in
combination with a detaching wire X used for separating the lid C. from its soldered
surface A. In Figure 24 the wire is inserted in the tongue and secured as at Y.
It is passed beneath the tongue so that a portion of it lies within the vessel. The
loop Z. will rest upon the surface D, and serves the same purpose as the loop P.
shewn in Figure 20 but with this difference, than when the loop Z. is pulled the
wire will separate the tongue from the seating A. to which it has been soldered,
and after the separation the loop Z. may be used to pee! off the lid in the same
manner as shewn in Figure 19. In Figure 25 the wire X is inserted in the
tongue and afterwards placed beneath the edge of the lid C. which is curled to
receive it, although this is not absolutely necessary. It is passed beneath the lid
in the manner shewn so as to allow a small portion of the lid C. to remain
attached to its seating, so that the lid may remain attached after the wire has
been pulled through the solder. It is observed that in these two modifications
the removal of the lid is obtained by the wire operating upon the smallest obtain-
able sealing surface, which renders the detachment very easy as the amount of
resistance offered is very slight.
It is found that the vessels so constructed and soldered in the manner described
will withstand all the rough usage incidental to transportation and handling, and
the soldered surface is sufficient to ensure a perfectly hermetically sealed joiat,
and is just as serviceable in the case of large as in small vessels.
It has been found in practice that the ordinary kind of solder used for sealing
metal vessels which in trade are mostly composed of tin, may be used for soldering
the lids of vessels constructed in accordance with this invention, but it is also
claimed as part of this invention that any class of solder may be used suitable for
the purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In metal vessels of any desired shape or form requiring to be hermetically
sealed, the seating or sealing surface A. formed either internally or externally at
the opening end of the vessel the soldering surface D, and a peel off lid such
as C. of smaller dimensious than the external measurement of the seating surface, as
described and shewn.
2. In metal vessels of any desired shape or form requiring to be hermetically
sealed, a seating or sealing surface formed either internally or externally upon the
body of the vessel by a beaded rim such as H. so as to provide a narrow soldering
surface D, for attaching a peel off lid such as C. as described and shewn.
3. In metal vessels of any desired shape or form requiring to be hermetically
sealed, a lid such as C. provided with a tongue such as E. eyelet bole such as F
and eyelet such as G. and the method of securing the said lid and tongue, by solder,
so as to render it detachable in the manner described and shewu.
4. In metal vessels of any desired shape or form requiring to be hermetically
sealed, a peel of lid in combination with a wire loop for detaching the said lid
from its tarrow seating and sealing surface, as described and as shewn in Fig. 13 of
the drawings.
5. In metal vessels of any desired shape or form requiring to be hermetically
sealed, a pelt hd in combination with a metal strip and a hinge, as described and
as shewn in Fig. 23 of the drawings.
6. In metal vessels of any desired shape or form requiring to be hermetically
sealed, a peel oft lid having a concave formation for the purposes described and shewn
and as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings.
7. In netal vessels of any desired shape or form requiring to be hermetically

page_text: sealed, the combination of a peel off lid with a vessel having a detachable lid for
use after the peel off lid has been removed, as described and as illustrated in Fig. 9
of the drawings.
8. In metal vessels of any desired shape or form requiring to be hermetically
sealed, a peel off lid enclosing a detachable lid, as described, and as shewn in
Figure 10 of the drawings.
9. In metal vessels of any desired shape or form requiring to be hermetically
sealed, a peel off lid enclosed by a detachable lid having a slit through which the
tongue of the peel off lid is passed for the purpose of securing the detachable lid,
as described, and as shewn in Figure 17 of the drawings.
10. In combination, a glass or earthenware jar, and a metal band secured to the
necking of the said jar and provided with a narrow seating surface, such as A, and
a soldering surface, such as D, and a peel off' lid, such as C., for attachment to the
seating surface, for hermetically sealing the said jar and for enclosing the cork or
stopper of the said jar, as described, and as shewn in Figure 14.
11. The combination of a metal vessel having a peel off lid, with an inner lining
or packing of heat resisting material, as described, and as shewn in Figure 15.
12. A peel off lid in combination with a curled tongue and a metal ring, as
described, and as shewn in Fig. 20, and for the purposes set forth.
13. In bermetically sealed vessels provided with peel off lids of the kind described,
the method of detaching and removing the said lids by first breaking the solder
nearest to the tongue, loop, or band, by the aid of a prising instrument and subse-
quently peeling the lid so as to disengage it from the solder upon the upper narrow
seating surface, as described and shewn.
14. In combination a peel off' lid and a detaching wire secured to the said lid for
separating the tongue from its seating surface and for wholly removing the lid
from a hermetically sealed vessel as described and as shewn in Figure 24 of the
drawings.
15. The combination of a detaching wire located so as to operate in the detach-
ment of a peel off lid by separating the edges thereof from a seating surface and
partially removing the lid from a hermetically sealed vessel as described and as shewn
in Figure 25 of the drawings.
16. In hermetically sealed vessels provided with soldered joints, the use of a wire
for separating the solder by which such vessels are hermetically sealed, by passing
the said wire between the sealed or soldered surfaces.
Dated this 1st day of January 1806
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.