Improvements in Apparatus for Distributing Powdered Soap.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Aug., 1.94-Accepted, 20th Oct., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Distributing Powdered Soap.
A communication by WILLIAM WILCLOW, of Aqueduct Building, Rochester, in
the County of Monroe, and State of New York, United States of America,
Manufacturer.
I, GEORGE CECIL DYMOND, M.1. Mech. E., of The Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, 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 :-
The invention relates to means for distributing powdered soap, and has for its
object to increase the efficiency of stirring and discharging devices and at the same
time secure economy of construction and ease of operation; and it consists in the
construction hereinafter described and particularly pointed out.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a vertical central section;
Figure 2 is a similar view taken at right angles to Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1; and
Figure 4 is a modified detail.
Numeral 1 denotes the body of the holder constituting the reservoir for powdered
soap or like material. 2 and 3 indicate respectively a cover and a bottom, each
removably secured by a well known fastening resembling a bayonet joint and
comprising projections or bosses 4 and a groove 5. When desired, the cover may
be fixed upon the body if the bottom is made removable, as it will be by preference,
in order to facilitate the assemblage of the parts. The holder can be charged with
material upon removing the cap, or if that is fixed, upon removing the bottom and
the hopper.
6 denotes a hopper held in the holder by friction or otherwise and closely fitting
the same.
7 denotes a sleeve or open-ended casing having in its top a hole 8
through which it may communicate with the hopper fixed on said top about the
hole. 9 is a plug fitted to slide lengthwise of the sleeve and provided with a stop 10
adapted to receive the end of a returning spring 11.
In the removable plug or slide 9 is a hole 12 passing entirely therethrough and
having about the same transverse dimensions and form as the opening at the
bottom of the hopper.
13 denotes a removable operating pin secured by screw threads or otherwise to
the slide and extending out through the side of the removable bottom 3. One end
of the spring 11 is connected to the slide and the other to the holder and said
spring is adapted to be put under tension by the inward movement of the slide
caused by pressing the suitably headed pin 13. This movement of the slide carries
the hole 12 immediately under the open bottom of the hopper in situation to receive
a charge of soap therefrom. The return movement of the slide caused by the
spring carries the hole over an opening 14 in the bottom through which the charge
of soap is discharged.
Such substances as powdered soap are liable to become packed in a hopper
situated and used as herein set forth and it is important that the contents of the
hopper be thoroughly stirred at and after each discharge. To secure this object
by simple and efficient means a post 15 is secured in the slide in manner to be
easily turned therein and at its top it is provided with a bent spring arm 16. Upon
this arm rests a frame 17 conveniently made of wire and consisting of two curved

page_text: members 18 connected by a bend 19 adapted to rest upon the spring arm in a
depression 16' therein. Each limb 18 passes loosely through staples 20 secured in
the walls of the hopper. At the upper ends of the members 18 are attached
inwardly curved arms 21 situated in an approximately horizontal plane near the
junction of the upper end of the hopper with the body of the hopper. 22 are arms
curved in vertical planes and fixed to members 18 near the foot of the bend 19.
The construction is such that the before described movement of the slide causes
the members 18 to move reciprocally through the eyes or staples 20 whereby the
arms 21 are oscillated near the top of the hopper and at the foot of any arch of
the material contained by the hopper which is otherwise apt to be formed with its
support at or near the junction of the hopper and body. Any tendency of the
material to pack or form a lower arch within the hopper itself is overcome by the
similarly oscillating arms 22.
The loose support of the stirring device consisting of its bend 19 hanging upon
the spring arm 16 co-operates with the limited rotary motion of the post 15 to give
ease and freedom of motion thereto and the agitation caused by the oscillating arms
simultaneously near the top and bottom of the hopper acts to thoroughly loosen the
contents and insures its even and free discharge.
In some cases it is proposed to make the stirrer out of a single piece of wire as
diagrammatically indicated in Figure 4. The staples are not essential and if
desired the bend 19 of the stirrer may be engaged by and held in a loop in
the arm 16.
As the bottom of the holder and the hopper are removable, easy access can be
had to the slide and stirrer. By unscrewing the post 15 and detaching the returning
spring the slide can be removed and the various parts cleaned in case material
should happen to become packed about the slide.
The advantage of the operating pin and returning spring consists in part in te
fact that the hand which pushes in the pin, by a thumb for example, cau at ..
same time be held underneath the discharge aperture to receive the soap.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:
1. In a soap distributer the open ended case having holes in top and bottom, the
hopper seated on the case about the upper hole, the slide having a discharge
passage therethrough, the post secured in said slide and standing above the same
within the hopper, and the stirring devices loosely suspended on the top of said
post, said devices consisting of two members 18 provided with curved arms 21
and 22 the latter situated near the bottom of the hopper and conforming
approximately to its sides in a vertical direction and the former near its top and
conforming approximately to its sides in a horizontal direction, substantially as
set forth.
2. In a soap distributer the combination of a hopper, a discharge slide, a post
secured in said slide and standing above the same within the hopper and provided
with a bent arm at its top, and a stirrer having two members 18 connected by a
bend adapted to hang loosely on said arm and provided with curved stirring arms 21
and 22 situated near the walls of the hopper, and means for moving the slide and
post whereby the contents of the hopper are cut centrally and whereby the curved
stirrer arms are caused to oscillate near the curved surface of the hopper both at
top and bottom, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 4th day of August 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.