IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING EGGS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Stead, of 67, Strand, Middlesex, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING EGGS." A communication
from abroad by Kellogg Hubbard, Loomis, of New York, United States of
America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Thomas Stead at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th November 1881.
THOMAS STEAD, of 67, Strand, Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
PRESERVING EGGS." A communication from abroad by Kellogg Hubbard Loomis,
of New York, United States of America.
The nature of my Invention consists in the construction and arrangement of an
apparatus for preserving eggs, and its object is to provide an economical and practical
machine for carrying out this end.
It consists, first, in providing a means for effecting a thorough and equal instan-
taneous distribution of the preserving fluid or substance employed.
Secondly. In the construction of a tray or rack for securely supporting the articles
under process of preservation, and retaining them in the desired position against the
contact of a displacing action caused by the sudden injection of the preserving fluid
into the reservoir; and,
Thirdly. In a cut off cock or valve for opening and closing the communication
between the reservoir and air or suction pump in a quick and positive manner.
These ends I accomplish by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my Invention complete.
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same showing its internal arrangement.
Figure 3 is a plan view thereof, and
Figure 4 is a detached plan view of a portion of my improved tray or supporter.
The letter A designates the supporting pieces or legs employed for sustaining the
body of my apparatus, to which they are suitably secured by bolts and nuts or in
any other convenient manner.
The letter B indicates the lower portion or section of the body or reservoir of my
machine and is constructed of cast inetal.
It is preferably of circular form, and is hollowed out after the manner of a bowl.

page_text: At its upper edge I form an annular ledge or flange B somewhat below the
extreme upper surface, which furnishes additional strength thereto, and projecting
therefrom are lugs b, to which the supporting legs abovo referred to are attached.
Resting upon this lower section B and fitted thereto is a similar section C, the
bottom edge whereof is provided with two annular flanges C¹ and c, the one fitting
within the section B, and the other carrying a rubber or other suitable packing
ring D located in the channel formed therein, the said packing D being interposed
between the two sections and forming an air tight joint.
It will be observed that the upper bead on the lower section B is slightly rounding
in its cross section, the object of which is that the same may the more readily take
into and form a closer joint with the packing ring D.
At or near the centre of the lower section B of my reservoir is secured & stop
cock F, which is used to open and close communication between the reservoir B, C,
and the tank or vessel containing the preserving fluid.
This cock is provided with an upper extension F¹, which projects upwardly into
the section B a short distance, where it is provided with a number of small apertures
or perforations f, the function of which latter will presently appear.
Above these perforations f the said extension F1 is screw threaded and carries
two nuts G and G₁, the upper of which is closed, forming a cap or covering for the
extension, thus preventing an upward discharge of the preserving fluid.
Interposed between the nuts G and G' and on the extension F is a thin disk or
circular plate H, the diameter of which is regulated according to that of the lower
-section-of-the-reservoir,.its periphery extending near the inner wall of such section,
forming between the two surfaces a narrow annular way or space for the passage=
of the preserving fluid, the function of the said disk H being to prevent the
preserving fluid from forcing its way directly upward into the reservoir (which on
account of its high speed would displace and damage the eggs), and to spread the
same in an even manner, allowing it to enter the egg compartment only in a thin
filin or stream.
Immediately above this disk H is suitably supported a tray or rack I for
containing the eggs, which is formed of a convenient number of concentric rings or
hoops connected together by a series of smaller rings located in close succession
between each concentric hoop.
At the point of contact between each of the smaller rings and the latter with the
concentric hoops I make a suitable connection by solder or otherwise.
At intervals around each of the smaller rings I attach thereto short pins or posts
inclining inwardly or toward each other as they extend upward, forming rests or
supports for the eggs, between which the latter are held, and by which they are
prevented from contact with the rings enclosing them, thus allowing substantially
their whole surface to be acted upon by the preserving fluid during the process of
Bealing.
At a suitable point, preferably near the centre of the section C of the reservoir,
I attach a two way cock J, the casing of which has two projections or extensions J₁
and K, to one of which J¹ is secured a hose or suction pipe L, the other K forming
a communication between the cock proper and the external air.
On one end of this cock I attach rigidly a pulley wheel M having a peripherial
groove in which is fitted and secured a spiral spring N, the other extremity of which
spring is connected by means of an interposed link O to a post or hook P on one
side of the section C.
To this pulley M is also secured a lever or actuating arm Q, by which the cock is
put into communication with the reservoir and air pump, and retained in that
position until a vacuum has been formed in the reservoir, when the said lever is
freed, and the recoil of the spiral spring partially rotates the pulley M, which acts
on the cock directly and instantly closes the communication thus established, and
forms one between the air pump attached to hose and the external air, the latter
being the normal position of the cock.
Near the said cock J is located on the section C a hand cock R, which is

page_text: used for opening up a communication between the reservoir and the external air
for the purpose of destroying the vacuum which has been previously formed in the
reservoir.
At a suitable point on the said section C is also attached a vacuum gauge, which
is employed to indicate the moment when the vacuum has been formed in the
reservoir B, C.
The operation of my machine will be readily understood from the following in
connection with the foregoing:
The section C being removed, the egg tray or rack is then filled with eggs and
the former then closed again.
The cock J is then put in communication with the reservoir and air pumps
attached to one end of the hose L, and the pump put in motion and kept in operation
until the air is exhausted from the reservoir.
At that moment, as indicated by the vacuum gauge, the lever Q is released, and
the recoil of the spring N then acts on the pulley M, giving it a partial rotation,
which instantly closes the communication last referred to.
The lower cock is then opened and a charge of silicate of soda (or other preserving
or sealing fluid) is admitted through the perforations in the pipe F, deflecting
against the under side of the disk H, from which it radiates, and then passes
upwardly in the reservoir until it is again deflected by the concavity of the
section C, from whence it descends in a spray like form upon the eggs, completely
coating them.
This occupies but a moment of time; the hand cock is then opened and the
vacuum destroyed, when the unconsumed sealing fluid returns by its gravity to its
proper receptacle.
The section C is then removed and the preserved or sealed eggs are taken out.
It will be observed that while the process of preserving is in progress the air
pump and external air are in communication with each other, owing to the normal
position of the two way cock, thus releiving the exhaustion mechanism of the
otherwise prolonged and continued strain.
In some instances I contemplate using a counterbalance weight for operating the
pulley M instead of a spring as above set forth.
Having thus described my Invention, what I claim as new and dosire to secure
by Letters Patent is,--
1st. In an apparatus for preserving or sealing eggs, the combination of an air
tight reservoir, having means for sustaining the eggs, of an exhaust mechanism for
forming a vacuum therein, substantially as specified.
2nd. In an apparatus for preserving or sealing eggs, an air tight reservoir having
a perforated injecting pipe, a deflecting disk, and an egg receptacle, substantially as
specified.
3rd. In an apparatus for preserving or sealing eggs, an air tight reservoir having
a two way exhaust cock, an actuating lever, and a spring or weight for closing the
same, combined with an air exhausting mechanisio, substantially as specified.
4th. In an apparatus for preserving or sealing eggs, a two part air tight reservoir,
the one provided with a rounding bead and the other with an elastic packing,
substantially as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Stead, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of Novr., A.D. 1881.
THOMAS STEAD. (L.S.)