Improved Means applicable for Use in Stoppering Bottles and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Trance).
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 8th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means applicable for Use in Stoppering Bottles and
the like.
1, LOUIS LEFRANC, of Tracy le Val (Oise), in. the French Republic, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to. improved means for stoppering flasks, bottles and
similar receptacles, and consists first, in the employment of wood stoppers of
special construction, secondly in an improved mode of preparing the wood whereby
it is rendered suitable for the purpose of stoppering. The object of the present
invention is to obviate the inconveniences arising from the use of cork-screws.
A stopper constructed according to my invention is composed of wood and may
be solid or hollow and of cylindrical or conical form. In applying such a stopper
to the closing of the neck of a bottle or similar receptacle, it is allowed to project
a short distance beyond the lip of the bottle so as to form a head. A hole is made
transversely through this head for the purpose of receiving a pin or rod when it
is desired to remove the stopper; it being sufficient for this purpose to turn the
stopper with the aid of the pin or rod, when the same may be instantly withdrawn
from the neck without injuring it. If desired instead of the hole in the head, one
or more notches may be formed therein, into which notch or notches a metal or
other strip may be inserted; when by imparting a slight turn to the stopper it can
be loosened and then removed by hand.
The above described arrangements of stopper enable a ferrule or capsule to be
fitted upon the head of the stopper. Thus the whole may be withdrawn by &
single operation.
In order to facilitate the removal of the stopper, and at the same time ensure a
perfect fit while in the orifice or bottle neck, the stopper is somewhat reduced in
diameter at or about the middle of its length so as to form a waist. This reduction
may be effected in a lathe or with the aid of a separate tool. Another mode of
effecting this reduction is by forcing the cylinder of wood into a rigid collar or ring
of smaller diameter than that of the neck or orifice to be closed. This collar may
be placed at the centre of the length of the stopper or it may be disposed above or
below the middle of its height, and inside the neck or outside the lip of the bottle..
The manufacture of hollow stoppers is thus facilitated. In constructing such
stoppers, a hollow cylinder is first formed. Into one end of the hollow cylinder is
inserted a plug of any suitable material, and this is firmly secured in position by
the pressure exerted in applying the ring or collar.
I will now proceed to describe my improved mode of preparing wood in order to
render it suitable for use in stoppering.
I have ascertained that in order to render wood supple, and to avoid its being
too sensitive to desiccation, it is necessary to limit to a certain degree the extraction
of the incrusting materials and to subject the cellulose only to limited modifications.

page_text: The exact extent of limitation cannot, however, be stated as will be readily
perceived, as this will vary with the quality and nature of the wood under
treatment.
For rendering hard wood supple, I prefer to proceed according to the methods
described in the Provisional Specification which accompanied my application for
Letters Patent dated 8th November, 1895, No. 21,189; according to which the
wood is steeped for a period of time (which varies with the suppleness required)
either in alcohol, ether or chloroform; or-which is found to be cheaper-in
chlorated water or ammonia, or in a potash or soda lye, or in a solution of alkaline
silicate or aluminate, or in any alkaline lye, as, for example, a solution of alkaline
hypochlorite or carbonate. The wood is then treated with an acid solution until
completely neutralized.
The methods of treatment above mentioned may be employed in combination
with the following methods of treatment, if the former do not bring about the
desired results.
For semi-hard wood, I may obtain the suppleness by subjecting the wood to the
action of sulphurous acid, chlorine, fluorine or any other acid, or to the action of
ammonia or any other base; these acids or bases acting by preference combined
with water-vapour, and being applied under pressure.
For so-called soft wood and even for the last-mentioned wood a remarkable
degree of suppleness may be obtained by treating the same with alcohol, and
particularly with its vapour. Or ether or its vapour, or sulphuret of carbon or its
vapour may be employed. If the wood be subjected to immersion in these agents,
the desired result may be obtained more rapidly by mixing a base or an acid with
the solution. When treating the wood with the vapour of these agents, the vapour
may with advantage be rendered alkaline or acid by the addition of an acid or
base volatilizable at the temperature at which the operation takes place in closed
vessel.
Lastly, for all kinds of wood, and particularly for semi-hard or tender kinds, the
wood may be rendered supple by treating it with water or with water-vapour. This is
an effective and economical method of treatment. For example, in the case of
tender wood, sufficient suppleness may be obtained by subjecting it for a certain
time to contact with boiling water. This suppleness is increased by raising the
temperature, and, therefore, I prefer to effect the operation in a closed vessel. If
the wood is treated with steam, the result is generally found to be more rapid and
regular.
This very simple mode of treatment of the wood is perfected to a great extent
if it be combined with mechanical means for imparting solidity to the wood during
its treatment for being rendered supple. In fact stoppers of wood rendered supple
by immersion in boiling water attain to a degree of ductility equal to that of cork
when they are compressed several times so as to submit their fibres to the
compression.
By the various modes of treatment, as also the different forms which may be
given to my stoppers, various kinds of wood may be used for producing the
improved stoppers.
However, in order to ensure solidity and to preserve the stoppers, I prefer to
impregnate the same with a deliquescent or hygromètric substance. For this
purpose, the part which may not be in contact with the liquid, is steeped to the
degree of saturation, or nearly so, in a solution of a deliquescent salt. The solution
or compound which I prefer to employ is glycerine. This possesses the advantage
of not communicating any bad flavour, and of being easily rendered antiseptic by
the addition of an agent, such, for example, as salicylic acid.
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page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means applicable for Use in Stoppering Bottles and
the like.
I, LOUIS LEFRANC, of Tracy le Val (Oise), in the French Republic, 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 relates to improved means for stoppering flasks, bottles and
similar receptacles, and consists first, in the employment of wood stoppers of
special construction, and, secondly, in an improved mode of preparing the wood
whereby it is rendered suitable for the purpose of stoppering. The object of
the present invention is to obviate the inconveniences arising from the use of cork-
screws.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation and Fig. 2 a view partly
in section and partly in elevation illustrating a stopper constructed according to my
invention. The stopper is composed of wood, and may be either solid or hollow
and of cylindrical or conical form.
In applying the improved stopper to the closing of the neck of a bottle or similar
receptacle, it is preferably allowed to project a short distance beyond the lip of the
bottle, so as to form a head. A hole iɛ made transversely through this head
portion for the reception of a pin or rod when the stopper is to be removed
from the bottle or other receptacle; it being sufficient for this purpose first to
slightly turn the stopper and then with the aid of the pin or rod to withdraw the
same. If desired, instead of the hole in the head one or more notches may be
formed therein, into which notch or notches a metal or other strip may be inserted;
when by imparting a slight turn to the stopper it can be loosened and then removed
by hand. A ferrule or capsule may be fitted upon the head of the stopper; the
whole being removed and withdrawn by a single operation.
In order to facilitate the removal of the stopper and at the same time ensure a
perfect fit while in the orifice, or bottle neck, the stopper is somewhat reduced in
diameter at or about the middle of its length so as to form a waist as shown in the
drawings. This reduction may be effected in a lathe or with the aid of a separate
tool.
Another mode of effecting this reduction is by forcing the cylinder of wood
into a rigid collar or ring of smaller diameter than that of the neck or orifice to be
closed. This collar may be placed at the centre of the length of the stopper, as
shown at A, Fig. 1, or it may be disposed above or below the middle of its height
and inside the neck or outside the lip of the bottle. The manufacture of hollow
stoppers is thus facilitated. In constructing such stoppers (see Fig. 2), a hollow
cylinder is first formed. Into one end of the hollow cylinder is inserted a plug
composed of any suitable material, and this is firmly secured in position by the
pressure exerted in applying the ring or collar B.
I will now proceed to describe my improved mode of preparing wood in order to
render it suitable for use in stoppering.
I have ascertained that in order to render wood supple, and to avoid its being
too sensitive to desiccation, it is necessary to limit to a certain degree the
extraction of the incrusting materials and to subject the cellulose only to limited
modifications.
The exact extent of limitation cannot, however, be stated as will be readily
perceived, as this will vary with the quality and nature of the wood under
treatment.
For rendering hard wood supple, I prefer to proceed according to the methods
described in the specification filed in pursuance of my application for Letters

page_text: .
Patent dated 8th November, 1895, No. 21,189; according to which the wood is
steeped for a period of time (which varies with the degree of suppleness required)
either in alcohol, ether or chloroform; or which is found to be cheaper-in
chlorated water or ammonia, or in a potash or soda lye, or in a solution of
alkaline silicate or aluminate, or in any alkaline lye, as for example, a solution
of alkaline hypochlorite or carbonate. The wood is then treated with an acid
solution until the reagent is completely neutralized.
The methods of treatment above mentioned may be employed in combination
with the following methods of treatment if the first should not bring about the
desired result.
For semi-hard wood, I may obtain the suppleness by subjecting the wood to the
action of sulphurcus acid, chlorine, fluorine or any other acid, or to the action of
ammonia or any other base; these acids or these bases acting by preference
combined with water-vapour, and being applied under pressure.
For so-called soft wood and even for the last-mentioned wood a remarkable
degree of suppleness may be obtained by treating the same with an alcohol, and
particularly with its vapour. Or ether or its vapour, sulphuret of carbon or its
vapour may be employed. If the wood be subjected to immersion in these agents
the desired results may be obtained more rapidly by mixing a base or an acid
with the solution. When treating the wood with the vapour of these agents,
the vapour may with advantage be rendered alkaline or acid by the addition of an
acid or base volatilizable at the temperature at which the operation takes place in
a closed vessel.
Lastly, for all kinds of wood, and particularly for semi-hard, or tender kinds, the
wood may be rendered supple by treating it with water or with water-vapour.
This is an effective and economical method of treatment. For example in the
case of tender wood sufficient suppleness may be obtained by subjecting it for a
certain time to contact with boiling water. This suppleness is increased by raising
the temperature and therefore I prefer to effect the operation in a closed vessel.
If the wood is treated with steam the result is generally found to be more rapid
and regular.
This simple mode of treatment of the wood is rendered more effective if
mechanical action be combined therewith. In fact stoppers of wood made
supple by immersion in boiling water attain a degree of ductility equal to that
of cork when they are compressed several times so as to submit their fibres to the
compression.
By the various modes of treatment, as also the different forms which the stoppers
may assume, many kinds of wood may be employed in their manufacture. In order
to ensure the stability and preservation of the stoppers, I prefer to impregnate the
same with a deliquescent or hygrometric substance. For this purpose, the part
which may not be in contact with the liquid is steeped to the degree of saturation
or nearly so in a solution of a deliquescent salt. The liquid medium which I prefer
to employ is glycerine. This possesses the advantage of not communicating any
bad flavour and of being easily rendered antiseptic by the addition of an agent,
such for example, as salicylic acid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. In the stoppering of bottles, and the like, the employment of stoppers con-
structed or operating substantially as herein described, same, comprising a solid or
hollow, wooden cylinder having a reduced or waist portion at or about the middle
of its length.
2. In the preparation of wood for use in stoppering, bottles, and the like, the
herein described mode of rendering the same, supple, consisting in subjecting it
to the action of sulphurous acid, chlorine, fluorine, or any other acid,, or, of a,
base such as ammonia, preferably combined with water-vapour, and applied under
pressure.
"

page_text: 3. In the preparation of wood for use in stoppering bottles and the like, the
herein described alternative modes of rendering the same supple, consisting in
immersing it in alcohol, ether or sulphuret of carbon, or in either of their vapours,
the vapour, when used, being preferably rendered alkaline or acid; or in treating
the wood with boiling water or with water-vapour; either mode of treatment being
preferably carried out in a closed vessel.
4. For preserving wooden stoppers and rendering the same stable, impregnating
them either wholly or partially with a deliquescent or hygrometric substance by
steeping the same in a solution of a deliquescent salt, such as glycerine, substantially
as herein described.
5. The manufacture of stoppers, substantially as herein described, consisting
in forming a hollow cylinder of wood, inserting a plug into one end thereof and
securing the same in position by pressure exerted in the application of a ring or
collar for producing a waist-like portion on the stopper.