An Improved Case for the Transport and Storage of Eggs, Fruit, and other Perishable Goods, and Means for Rotating the same.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1894--Accepted, 27th Oct., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Case for the Transport and Storage of Eggs, Fruit, and
other Perishable Goods, and Means for Rotating the same.
I, JOSEPH HENRY BOWLEY of Marengo, McHenry County, Illinois, U.S.A.,
Canvassing Salesman, 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 a packing case which is more especially designed for
storing and transporting eggs although it is adaptable for fruit and other
perishable goods which like eggs require change in position whilst in transit or
in cold storage.
The main object of the invention is firstly, to provide a packing case with
supports which will allow of the rotation of the same upon its bearings to change
the position of the contents and prevent them from being damaged by remaining too
long upon one side. Secondly, to provide a case to protect eggs not only from
fracture of the shell but from the union of the yolk and white which results from
the constant jar incident to railway carriage; and which will allow of the position
of the eggs being changed by means of spring bearings in which the trunnions of
the case rest and an intermittent rotary movement communicated to it by the
jolting of the vehicle, or such movement may be communicated in a controlled
manner by mechanical means.
In the drawings
Fig. 1 is an end view of a simple rectangular case of this invention. Fig. 2 a cross
section thereof. Fig. 3 a longitudinal section.
Fig. 4 a side view of a cylindrical automatically revolving packing case with the
outer casing shewn in section.
Fig. 5 a section through line A-B of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 a longitudinal sectional elevation thereof through the packing case and the
outer casing. Fig. 7 an end elevation.
Figs. 8 and 9 perspective views of segments to form the revolving cylindrical
packing cases.
Figs. 10 and 11 respectively a plan and a side elevation of a series of revolving
packing cases geared together.
Figs. 12 and 13, perspective views of the packing case trunnions and Figs. 14
and 15 of the shaft at one end of the packing case and of the trunnion bearing
adapted to the cases shewn in Figs. 10 and 11.
Fig. 16 is an isometric view of a modified construction of case and Fig. 17 a
similar view with the doors and cover removed.
Fig. 18 a detail view of the cover.
Fig. 19 a perspective view of a revolving packing case having a removable ice or
water compartment.
Fig. 20 a view of the under side of said case with a removable bottom substituted
for the compartment.
Fig. 21 a similar view of said case with the bottom removed.
Fig. 22 a perspective view of the ice and water compartment detached.
In the construction shewn in Figs. 1 to 7, 1 is an outer case with removable
cover 2. 3 is a vertical slot at each end of the outer case and extending down-
ward to the centre of the same. At the bottom of the slots are bored vertical
holes 4 in the material of the ends of the outer case and helical springs 5 inserted
therein. A stem is placed within each of these springs, and a bearing shoe 7
secured to the top of each stem 6 supports the trunnions 8 and 9 giving to the

page_text: inner or egg containing case 10 a cushioned movement. 11 is a removable cover
and 12 a removable partition dividing the egg case into two compartments. 13 is a
notched disc secured upon the end of trunnion 8 outside case 1 and engaged by
a pawl 14. The end of the trunnion shaft is made square to receive a crank or
wrench for rotating the inner egg case 10 without removing the cover or disturbing
the outer case in any way.
When the eggs are to be placed in cold storage the pawl 14 is set to engage
the disc 13, and the cases piled so as to allow access to the trunnions 8 in order
that by means of a crank or wrench the inner case may be rotated as often as
desirable. For transportation by rail the pawl is thrown back against the stop 15
and the jolting of the moving train will cause the inner case 10 to rotate slowly on its
trunnions and thus turn the eggs. The supporting springs 5 save the inner case
from sudden jars and prevent the breakages incidental to the dropping and handling
of egg cases of the usual kind.
In order that a more positive, certain and graduated intermittent rotation of the
egg case may be obtained, an improvement upon some of the details of construction
above described is shewn in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 where the egg containing case 16 is
of cylindrical form comprising four separate quarter segmental parts 17 (Figs. 8, 9)
each composed of skeleton, open perforated sheet metal or wire basket work
sides 18 and unperforated ends or covers 19 having depressions 20 and handles 21,
the covers being secured to the outer walls or sides by projecting lugs 22 which
engage in recesses therein, and the smaller sectional segmental parts 17 (Fig. 9)
having bale shaped wire rod handles 23 hinged to studs 24 thereon which facilitate the
handling of said sections and also project outwardly sufficient to engage with the
apertures of Fig. 8 when the sections shewn in Fig. 9 are placed therein to provide
smaller crates or boxes for containing eggs, fruit or other goods to be carried in
smaller packages than is convenient with the sections shewn in Fig. 8.
The segmental sections just described are supported upon solid cylinder heads 25,
each of which has a ratchet wheel 26 and a trunnion 27 formed with or secured
thereto, (Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7) the trunnions being carried in bearings upon the outer
case 1 herein before described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and the positive
intermittent rotary motion being imparted to the inner case by a spring pawl 28
secured to the outer case near the bottom and a spring pawl 29 secured to the top
portion of the case. These spring pawls engage the ratchet wheels 26. The
jolting of the train imparts to the egg container or inner case which is supported
on springs, a vertical bodily movement. When the case descends upon its springs
after being moved upwards the pawl 28 will be in engagement with the teeth of its
ratchet wheel consequently turning the case upon its trunnions in the direction
indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5. During this descent and partially rotary move-
ment of the case the pawl 29 will have slid over the teeth of the corresponding
ratchet wheel and firmly seated itself against a different tooth of the same,
remaining in engagement during the upward movement of the case which it turns
a short distance, the pawl 28 then sliding over the teeth of its ratchet wheel until
the case attains its uppermost position when this pawl will again cause the same to
rotate when it descends. This operation is repeated whenever the jolting of the
car is sufficient to cause the case to move vertically if only for the space of one
tooth of the ratchet wheels, thus keeping the eggs constantly on the move and
preventing the yolk portion from settling, or mixing with the white as the eggs
will be turned over a number of times during their transit.
When it is required to place a large number of egg cases in storage, the cases
above described may be coupled together in series and all operated in a controlled
manner conjointly without the labour of handling each case separately. Hitherto
the custom has been to turn eggs end for end by hand, taking them from one case
and placing them in another in order to prevent settling.
A series of cases are coupled together in the following manner:-A frame
composed of uprights 50 (Figs. 10, 11) connected by top cross bar 31 and lower
cross bars 32 support the semicircular bearings 33 in which the trunnions 34 of one

page_text: end of the revolving cases 1 rest, a short shaft 35 (Figs. 10, 14) fitting upon the square
sided trunnion 36 at the other end of the case and resting in similar semicircular
bearings 37, supported upon lower cross bars 32. A gear or segment gear wheel 38
fixed on or cast with the shaft 35 is engaged by a worm or screw 39* fixed on a
vertical shaft 39 which latter is preferably placed between two rows of gear
wheels 38 (Fig. 11) and revolving cases, so that the worms engage the teeth of the
wheels on opposite sides. At the upper end of the shaft 39 is carried a bevel
toothed wheel 40 which engages a similar wheel 41 fixed on a horizontal shaft 42,
which latter is rotated by means of a crank or in any other convenient manner,
say, by means of a motor. In operating this modified form of the invention, the
eggs are carefully placed in the case, which is placed in position in the frame by
first inserting the side end of the trunnion into the socket of the shaft 35 (Fig. 14)
and then lowering the other trunnion into the semicircular bearing 33 in such a
position that the eggs will stand on end. After the frame has been filled, or as
many cases placed in position as is desired, rotary motion is imparted to the shaft 42
to the extent of placing the cases bottom side up when the parts are left in this
position until another turning is necessary. Any one case can be placed in position
and removed without disturbing the others. By this arrangement all the eggs in a
case or series of cases may be turned at a single operation.
The revolving egg cases are preferably made of sheet metal open work material
having doors through which objectionable eggs may be removed, a central tube through
which light can be admitted to the case, in order that the eggs may be properly handled
without removing them from the case, and having a removable cover (Figs. 16, 18) 45
provided with swivelled books 46 for engaging under the edge of the cross bars 44
of the case 43 in the bottom of which are located springs 44. Each of the sides of
the case is provided with openings 47 closeable by lids or doors 48 having a hinged
connection with the cross bars 44" of the open work sides of the case 43 and
hooks 49 to hold the doors closed. The doors are preferably stamped out of sheet
metal to conform to the open work of the sides. The openings are for the purpose
of giving access to each compartment of the case. An open tube 50, in this instance
of glass, extending from end to end and secured centrally to the bottom and to the
cover of the case, whilst projecting slightly beyond the latter to form trunnions for
its support and rotation, admits light to the centre of the case so that the eggs may
be handled and should an objectionable one be discovered the door nearest to it can
be opened and the egg removed without disturbing the others. The tube instead
of being of glass may be made of open work material.
In practice, suitable packing, excelsior for instance, is placed upon the springs 44
at the bottom of the case so as to form a yielding support, and the doors shut and
fastened. The case is filled with eggs and packing placed on top. The cover 45
is then pressed down until the hooks 46 of the same engage the under edge of the
cross bars, the springs 44 preventing fracture of the eggs. The cover may be moved
along the inside of the case and the hooks will engage any of the cross bars according
to the quantity of eggs within the same. These cases are designed to be placed in
auy suitable number in receiving boxes.
The attachment for the revolving egg case shewn in Figs. 19 to 22 is designed
for holding eggs more especially, but may be used for fruit or other perishable
goods. It consists of a tank or receptacle attached to a case in such manner that
it may be removed to fill it with ice or remove the water therefrom. The ends of
case 1 have transverse grooves or guide ways, into which fit the ends of the
bottom 51 as shewa in Fig. 20 or into which may be fitted the tongue 52 and
groove 53 upon the ends of a tank receptacle or extension 54 which is preferably
made of sheet metal and is fitted with a round centrally located screw cap 56
covering a corresponding aperture through which said tank may be filled or
emptied of ice and water. A perforated bottom 55 is fitted to the case 1 and
will hold the contents intact when the bottom 51 and tank 54 have both been
removed.
In using this attachment the case 1 (Fig. 19) provided with trunnions is packed

page_text: with goods for carriage and the cover 2 secured in position. The tank 54 is then
filled with ice, closed with the screw cap 56 and placed in engagement with the bottom
of the case, the whole being then ready for despatch. In long transits of eggs and
fruit it is necessary to keep them at a certain temperature in order that they may
arrive at their destination in the best possible state and by means of the case just
described such transits may be made without the employment of a refrigerator
truck and cheaper transportation had. By revolving the case upon its trunnions
after the tank has been secured to the bottom thereof, the tank can be turned
uppermost and refrigeration from the top may be thus effected while the eggs or
fruit are turned end for end.
Having now 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 I
claim is :-
1. The general construction, arrangement and combination of parts constituting the
packing case and of the parts constituting the meaus for turning the same when
subjected to a jolting motion, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3
of the drawings.
2. The general construction, arrangement and combination of parts constituting
the packing case and of the parts constituting the means for turning the same when
subjected to a jolting motion, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, 9, of the drawings.
3. The means for mounting and rotating a series of cases each having a shaft
and semicircular bearing at one end, a shaft with a square or angular socket
at the other end a trunnion which fits into the socket and is carried in a
bearing, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
of the drawings.
4. The general construction, arrangement and combination of parts constituting a
revolving egg case, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 16, 17, 18, of
the drawings.
5. The general construction, arrangement and combination of parts constituting a
revolving case and tank, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 19, 20, 21, 22,
of the drawings.
D
101 1
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.