Improvements in the Tray Shaped Lids of Railway Milk Cans or Tankards.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 18th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Tray Shaped Lids of Railway Milk Cans or
Tankards.
I, GEORGE COTTON of Willaston, near Crewe, Cheshire, Implement Maker,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
These improvements consist in constructing the tray shaped lids of railway milk
cans or tankards shallower so that they shall lie below the top edge of the neck of
the can and so be out of the way and not liable to be damaged by being made to
extend over and above the can neck as heretofore. These improvements also
consist in forming the lids with plain sides in lieu of the usual stepped sides, and
also in dispensing with the rim or band which usually projects from the bottom
edge of said lids, and further in forming said lids with flat instead of oval bottoms.
This improved formation of the bottom of the lid prevents splashing of the milk
and effects a saving in the cost of making the lid.
The lid is made of malleable cast iron to obtain greater strength and durability.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Tray Shaped Lids of Railway Milk Cans or
Tankards.
1, GEORGE COTTON of Willaston, near Crewe, Implement Maker, do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
These improvements consist in so constructing and mounting the lid of a railway
milk can that it shall lie below the top edge of the surrounding neck of the can and
so be out of the way and not be liable to damage by being made to extend over
and above the can neck as heretofore. These improvements also consist in forming
the lid with plain sides in lieu of the usual stepped sides and in dispensing with the
rim or band which usually projects from the bottom of the lid. My improvements
further consist in forming said lid of malleable cast iron and with a flat instead of
an oval bottom.
On the accompanying drawing I have illustrated a transverse section of my
improved lid shewn applied to a railway milk can.
As illustrated A designates my improved lid and B the neck of the can or
tankard, the top edge of the lid lying considerably below the top edge of the can
neck.
The sides of the lid are made plain and parallel with the sides of the can neck
and the bottom of the lid is formed flat instead of oval or arched as heretofore.
The lid is, by preference made entirely of malleable cast iron, hence its strength
and durability as compared with the sheet metal lids now in use is considerably
increased. If desired and to make the lid lighter, the rim only may be made of
malleable iron the other portions being made of sheet metal.
Hitherto (as aforesaid) it has been the custom to make the lid so as to rest upon
the top edge of the can neck thus exposing the lid (which is the weakest part of
the can) to damage in transit and in order therefore to provide for the mounting
of the lid in accordance with my invention I provide the lid with a beading C which
is designed to take onto the ledge or recess D formed in the can neck.

page_text: To further support the lid or to cover in the opening between the lid and neck a
further step is formed on the neck at E, but it is preferred to allow the lid to rest
on the top step only, or on the neck sides as hereinafter described.
To ensure of the proper formation of the steps D and E the can neck may also
be formed of malleable cast iron.
The lid may be made without the edging C and so dispense with the need of the
step or recess D the sloping sides of the can neck or the step at E serving to
support the lid. This will enable the lid to be made of still shallower dimensions,
consequently stronger, less liable to wear and easier to clean.
The lid and neck are formed with suitable means for securing the lid in position.
It will now be obvious that by making the lid and neck in the manner described
the degree of shallowness may be varied as required and that greater compactness
and durability in wear is obtained and further that by allowing the lid to lie below
the can neck its shape is preserved and all leakage or splashing is avoided.
Having thus 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 1
claim is.
In railway milk cans or tankards and the like a lid wholly or partly made of
malleable cast iron and so formed and mounted as to lie below the top edge of the
can neck in the manner hereinbefore described and illustrated on the accompanying
drawing.
Octahan 1002
JOHN G. WILSON & Co.,
Agents.