IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO STOPPERING BOTTLES FOR FACILITATING THE DISCHARGING AND FILLING OF SAME, AND CLEANING THEM.
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT o Frederick Baron Michell, of Plymouth, in the County
of Devon, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO STOPPERING
BOTTLES FOR FACILITATING THE DISCHARGING AND FILLING OF SAME, AND
CLEANING THEM.
"
Sealed the 11th October 1878, and dated the 20th April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Baron Michell. at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th April 1878.
"
FREDERICK BARON MICHELL, of Plymouth, in the County of Devon. "IMPROVE-
MENTS APPLICABLE TO STOPPERING BOTTLES FOR FACILITATING THE DISCHARGING
AND FILLING OF SAME, AND CLEANING THEM."
My Invention mainly consists of a bottle, stopper, and filling machine for aërated
waters, the object being to produce a safer, cleaner, easier, and more expeditious
method of discharging such waters than at present in use.
The bottle consists of a neck and two chambers, with free communication from
one to the other through the centre. The neck and lower chamber are round, but
the upper chamber is nearly oval at the top, but at the bottom it forms two sections
of a circle converging at the centre. This shape has an object herein-after
described.
The stopper consists of a plug of glass, earthenware, or any other suitable mate-
rial, and a band or ring of rubber, so constructed in relation to each other that when
the bottle is full and at rest it is perfectly gasproof, but by a slight pressure on the
top of the stopper apertures are opened, through which the free gas is allowed to
escape, and what was before a stopper becomes a kind of safety valve, doing away
with the necessity for the great force to overcome the compound pressure incidental
to opening all bottles (with internal stoppers) now in general use.
The filling arrangements for such bottle and stopper consist of a cradle or basket
of wood and metal, formed so as to hold the bottle to be filled, said basket to be
hinged at one end on a tube of metal, with a counterweight on the other side of the
hinge. On the said tube hinged with the basket is a revolving nipple with rubber

page_text: screwed in a kind of box open in the centre, against which the top of the bottle
is driven up for filling by a screw at the bottom of said basket, worked by a handle
from the outside.
When the bottle is ready for filling, a handle is turned that is attached to a screw
fitted into the metal tube, and a spring valve acts on the other side to let off surplus
gas. When the bottle is full it is turned upside down by another handle connected
with the basket, when the stopper falls into its place in the neck of the bottle, and
is held there by the power of the gas pressing the rubber against the bottom of the
neck.
The objects of the formation of the bottle, as described above, are,
First. To prevent the stopper from turning over, and so getting out of its proper
position.
Secondly. That when the stopper falls from the neck the rubber shall catch on
the compressed sides of the bottle, while the hard plug of glass or other breakable
material shall have room to fall through the opening without the bottom of the
plug knocking the glass in its descent, thus doing away with the liability of breaking
bottles and stoppers, as is now usually the case.
Thirdly. To allow of the passing in and out of a revolving brush for cleaning
purposes; on two sides of the upper chamber there is a compression, thus securing
two recesses for the reception of the stopper when the brush is working.
The stopper is nearly a round knob at the bottom, above which is a groove, to
take the rubber band, enlarging in circumference as it goes upward; the plug is
tapered so far as the rubber occupies it in a state of rest, then it tapers off, decreasing
in size until it comes to a shoulder, beyond which the rubber is not to pass, so that
when the plug is forced through the rubber it may open a kind of mouth under the
rubber, and thus expose one, two, or more indents in the plug, through which the
gas escapes above the rubber band, but so small is the space allowed for the plug to
pass through the rubber that on the external pressure being withdrawn the elasticity
of the rubber draws it back to its first position, and this is an essential feature of
my Invention.
From the shoulder to the top the plug gradually increases in size so as to cause
it more readily to fall into its place when full.
It con-
Another form of stopper is for an ordinary aërated water or other bottle that may
be used for any liquor, and is attached to the outside by means of wires.
sists of a plug of glass, wood, earthenware, or other suitable material, with a groove
near the bottom to take a rubber band. Immediately above the band, or what
may be called the back of the stopper, there is a deep curve formed, and a little
before the centre, near the top of the plug, is a hole, through which a strong wire is
inserted. This wire is brought down on each side, and curved back in loops, which
loops are inserted back a little way from the centre of the bottle neck, in two other
loops, of a wire surrounding said neck, thus forming a kind of hinge, which on
being drawn back turns the stopper out of the neck for discharge, without producing
any compound pressure, and turning at the same time on the wire as its axis, it is
brought down by the neck of the bottle, without danger of injuring it.
reverse pressure the stopper is revolved back into the neck, and is secured there by
the wire binding on the front before, and on the back behind, the centre of the
application of internal force, taking as before mentioned the part curved away as
the back.
By the
Another form consists of a revolving internal stopper which lets off the gas
without pressing down. It is grooved near the bottom, and has a horizontal hole
near the top, the former to take a piece of rubber, the latter to take an instrument
to act as a lever, in revolving it to let off the free gas. There is a notch cut in the
outer rim of the rubber, and in the bottle for which it is intended there is a small
projection in and immediately under the neck. When the bottle is stoppered the
projection is covered, but when the one comes immediately above the other an
opening is formed, through which the gas escapes, and the stopper falls into the
bottle.

page_text: A
For washing the bottles I use a brush, by preference consisting of hair twisted
between wires, like the revolving brushes now generally used, which brush is
inserted between the two supports of the bottle in washing machines, so that tho
surface of the bottle shall come against it when it is on the revolving brush.
strongly bound plug is put on the wire of the revolving brush, tapered beyond the
binding, to take the neck of the bottle, and if necessary bound with rubber; this
carries the bottle around, thoroughly cleaning the lettering, and outside of the
bottle, at the same time as the inside is washed. The binding of the plug is screwed
to the pivot that takes the revolving brush.
Important points in my Invention I at present consider to be as follows:-
First. The safety valve or method of letting off the free gas without pressing down
the rubber.
Second. The compression of the bottle by which the rubber is caused to stay the
descent of the stopper, and thus prevent the hard plug coming in dangerous contact
with the bottle.
Third. The compression of the bottle into an oval, by which the stopper is kept
in sucli a position that on the bottle being turned upside down the plug will imme-
diately fall into the proper position for stoppering the bottle securely.
Fourth. The filling machine, with a revolving nipple and basket attached, that
can turn over on a hinge from one side to another.
Fifth. The method by which, though the bottle is divided into chambers, a
revolving brush may pass in and out, without displacing either the stopper or its
rubber.
Sixth. The second and third forms of stoppers before described, which neither
require to be wired or unwired, but are opened or closed by a single motion of the
hand, without having to be forced down against the internal gas to free the binding
wire.
Seventh. By means of my bottle-washing machine bottles are washed on the out-
side and inside simultaneously, while others require the outside to be washed
separately from the inside.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Baron Michell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th:
October 1878.
FREDERICK BARON MICHELL, of Plymouth, in the County of Devon. "IMPROVE-
MENTS APPLICABLE TO STOPPERING BOTTLES FOR FACILITATING THE DISCHARGING'
AND FILLING OF SAME, AND CLEANING THEM."
My bottle consists of a neck and two chambers, with free communication from
one to the other through the centre. The neck and lower chamber are rounded, as
in the ordinary construction of bottles, but the upper chamber is nearly oval in its
upper part, while its lower part is peculiarly shaped, as represented in the accom-
panying Drawings, and herein-after described. This shape effectuates objects
herein-after described.
My stopper consists of a plug of glass, earthenware, or any other suitable material,
and a band or ring of rubber so constructed in relation to each other that when the
bottle is full and at rest it is perfectly gasproof, but by a moderate pressure on the
top of the stopper the plug slides part way through the rubber, thereby opening.
apertures under the said band, through which the free gas is allowed to escape, so
that what before was a stopper becomes a kind of safety valve, doing away with
both the danger and great force necessary to overcome the compound pressure inci-
dental to opening all bottles with internal stoppers now in general use.
:
My filling arrangements for bottles and stoppers named above are as follows:-
A cradle or basket of wood and metal formed so as to hold the bottle to be filled,
said basket to be hinged at one end on a metal tube, with a counterweight on the
other side of the hinge, fixed to revolve round the said tube, with a nipple against
which the top of the bottle is pressed, either by springs or a screw, that can be.
drawn backward and forward by a handle for fastening and freeing, which basket
is covered by a hinged wire guard.
screw
When the bottle is ready for filling a handle is turned that is attached to a scre
fitted into the metal tube forming the hinge, through which the aërated water comes
out of the cylinder of the machine. In order to regulate the back pressure a spring
valve adjusted by a screw is attached to the said tube, the purpose of which is to
prevent the bursting of bottles. When the bottle is full the cradle is made to
revolve, and on the bottle being turned upside down the stopper falls into its place,
when the bottle is freed and falls into the guard for removal.
The objects of the formation of my bottle as described above, are,―
First. To prevent the stoppers from turning over, and so getting out of their right
position.
Secondly. That when they fall or are pressed down from the neck into the body
of the botle, the rubber shall catch on the compressed sides of the upper chamber,
and allow the bottom of the hard plug to fall between the parts forming the division
of the chambers, without coming into dangerous contact with the sides of the bottle
or its bottom, and thereby starring it or causing it to burst.
Thirdly. To allow of the passing in and out of a small revolving brush for
cleaning purposes, my construction provides two recesses for that purpose and the
reception of the stopper.
Fourthly. It enables a defective rubber to be removed without destroying either
the bottle or the stopper, or resorting to the tedious process of cutting it out.
The stopper is nearly a round knob at the bottom (above which is a groove to
take a rubber band) enlarging in circumference as it goes upward, so far as the
rubber occupies it in a state of rest. From there it tapers off, decreasing in size
until it comes to a shoulder, beyond which the rubber is not intended to slide, so
that when forced down through the rubber this contrivance opens a kind of mouth
under the rubber, and thus exposes one, two, or more indents formed in the plug
for this purpose, through which the free gas escapes above the rubber band. But
so small is the space allowed for the plug to pass through the rubber that on the
external pressure being withdrawn the elasticity of the rubber draws it back to its

page_text: first position. Thus it is made a real safety valve stopper, and this, with the
division of my bottle into chambers by a compression down in the body of the
bottle, constitute the distinguishing features of this Invention.
Another form of stopper of my Invention is for an ordinary aërated water or
other bottle, which is attached to the outside by means of wires. It is like the:
first in material, and having a rubber band fitted into a groove. Immediately
above the groove I prefer to have a dent, to obtain the more easy freeing of the:
stopper, though this is not absolutely essential. Near the top of this stopper there
is a hole through the body of the plug, first running in a horizontal direction, and:
then descending, by preference, in an oblique line, nearly down to where the
shoulder or under part of the stopper rests on the top of the bottle. Through this:
hole a strong iron wire passes, which is brought down on each side of the neck of
the bottle, and curved back in loops fastened into two other loops of a wire sur-
rounding the neck of the bottle, thus forming a kind of hinge on which the stopper
is revolved in and out of the neck, and down by its side without the trouble of:
unwiring, or producing any compound pressure by having to press the stopper
down against the gas. But when the wire is in the horizontal part of the hole the:
stopper is safely bound against any internal pressure, as the binding wire crosses
the centre of the application of the internal force. As the horizontal part of the
hole is not in the centre of the plug the pressure is unequal on the two sides of the
hole, which causes one part of the stopper's shoulder or bearing to press on the
neck of the bottle, while the opposite part rises a little higher, and allows a small
part of the rubber band to project between the stopper and the top of the bottle.
By this simple means, when it is necessary to open the bottle for pouring out its
contents, a light pressure causes the elastic rubber to yield, when the wire easily
slips into the oblique part of the hole, and the stopper is perfectly free to open,
but is secured to the neck of the bottle by the wire. When used for other than
aërated drinks the rubber comes up beyond the groove around the top of the neck..
Another form is a revolving stopper that lets off the gas without pressing in. It
is grooved near the bottom, and has a horizontal hole near the top, the former to
take a band of rubber, the latter to take an instrument to act as a lever in revolving
it to let off the free gas. There is a notch cut in the outer rim of the rubber, and in
the bottle for which it is intended there is a small projection in and immediately
below the neck; when the bottle is stoppered the projection is covered, but when the
dent or notch in the rubber comes immediately below the projection an opening is
formed, through which the gas escapes, and the stopper falls into the bottle.
For bottle washing I use a brush, by preference consisting of hair twisted between
wires, like the revolving brushes now in general use, which brush is inserted between
the two supports of the bottle-washing machine, so that the external surface of the
bottle shall come against it when it is on the revolving brush. A strongly bound
plug of wood or vulcanite is put on the wire of the revolving brush, tapered beyond
the binding to fit into the neck of the bottle. This carries the bottle around,
thoroughly cleaning the outside at the same time as the inside is washed. The
binding is secured to the pivot that takes the revolving brush.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1, section of my improved bottle, with stopper inserted in same, showing
the form of the compressions in the sides of the bottle for holding the stopper. The
dotted lines show the stopper as when pushed down into the bottle.
Fig. 2, elevation of same bottle, looking in front thereof, the lines drawn across
the body of the bottle indicating the compression.
Fig. 3, section of improved form of external stopper for aerated water and other
bottles, actuated and held in position by wires, as before described, with rubber
band and disk, as used for both kinds of drinks.

page_text: :
Fig. 7, view of filling arrangements in section, substantially as described.
Fig. 8, view of stopper similar to Fig. 4, with projection in bottle for letting off gas.
In Figures 1 and 2, A. is the neck of the bottle, B and B¹ the two chambers in
bottle, with free communication from one to the other, B¹ being the upper chamber
and B the lower chamber. C is the stopper, which by the arrangement of the
bottle is prevented from being turned over or getting out of its right position when
forced in, as the compression in the bottle shown in the Drawings allows the lower
portion of the stopper to fall between the sides of same, the rubber C¹ being the
means for holding same in suspension. C (Fig. 5) is part of groove in the stopper
that slides through the rubber, so that the free gas escapes above the rubber band c¹
through c, as herein-before described.
In reference to Fig. 3 the wire is passed through the slot formed and actuated as
described, the wire being brought down on each side of the neck of the bottle, and,
curved back in loops, and fastened to other loops of a wire surrounding the neck,
forming a kind of hinge on which the stopper is turned.
Fig. 4 is section of a form of internal stopper, with a hole D in upper part of
same, to admit a lever or handle for turning the stopper so as to let off the free gas.
In Fig. 6 E is a brush inserted between two supports for application to the
external surface of the bottle; F, revolving brush applied to the interior of the
bottle; G, plug of wood or vulcanite fixed on brush F, same fitting into neck of
bottle when same is being washed.
In Fig. 7, H is the cylinder for. aërated water or other liquid; I, tube on which
cradle is hinged; J, back pressure valve; K, screw to govern back pressure valve;
L, pipe to back pressure valve; M, counterweight to balance cradle or basket; N,
handle for turning on and off the supply of liquid; O, spiral spring to back pressure
valve; P, handle to keep down cover of cradle and release the bottle; Q, pieces of
wood for bottles to rest on; R, springs to force bottle against the nipple; S, wood
against which springs R press.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out
in practice, I hereby declare that I claim the Invention of "Improvements Applicable
to Stoppering Bottles, for Facilitating the Discharging and Filling of same, and
Cleaning them," substantially as herein-before set forth and described, whereby,-
(1.) The free gas can be let off without releasing the rubber of the stopper until
it can be safely done.
(2.) The arrest of the descent of the stopper is effected, and it is held suspended
between the compressed parts of the bottle so as to prevent it coming into dangerous
contact with any part of the bottle in its fall.
(3.) Improved filling arrangements are provided.
(4.) Also improved stoppering arrangements, in which the stopper neither
requires to be wired or unwired, nor pressed down against the imprisoned gas to free
the wire.
(5.) Likewise bottle cleansing arrangements, which clean bottles both inside and
outside simultaneously are effectuated..
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Baron Michell; have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
FREDERICK BARON MICHELL. (L.S.)
Witness,
FREDERICK EDMUND BUSSELL,
Buckland Hall,
Plymouth.