Improvements in the Construction of Oil-cans or Lubricators, also Applicable to Lamps and in Cases where Tight Plugs are Required.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1886
Complete Left, 20th Apr., 1887
Complete Accepted, 7th June, 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Oil-cans or Lubricators, also
Applicable to Lamps and in Cases where Tight Plugs are
Required.
I JAMES MCHARDY Islay Cottage Dollar N.B. Scientific Expert do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Conical, hemispherical, or otherwise suitably shaped washers and washer-boxes form
the chief feature in this invention, the object being to obtain complete tightness at the
joints, i.e., the filling hole and the nozzle of the oil can, or other such vessel. In the
case of The Bicycle oil can, complete tightness is attained in the following manner:
in any convenient position in the can, a small well-like recess is formed (either in the
metal or soldered into the can); this being capable of containing the washer, and
being provided with a threaded centre hole serves as a filler.
When the can is filled, an elastic washer, capped by a Dome-like case, both upon,
and capable of revolving, upon, a suitable screw or pin, are placed in the well, and,
on the screw's being entered, the elastic washer, unable to escape in any direction,
takes up the exact shape of the washer-chamber which is formed between the well and
the Doine-like case or cap which fits it.
As a matter of course any equivalent of the screw; that will give sufficient pressure,
may be used; and the above described washer and washer-chamber may be made as a
mero Plug, or they may be combined with the spout of the oil can, in which case
it may be made at the base of the spout, to turn with a screw-key, pin, or thumb
screw; but, when the plug is formed in any other part of the oil can, the screw
is most conveniently made like a skrew-nail head so as to be capable of being
turned by a shilling, when a screw driver is not at hand. The nozzle of the oil can
is, in turn, made perfectly tight by the use of a side clutch spring or friction spring
combined with the elastic washer, somewhat as follows; A cap for the spout may be
provided, in the form of that part of a magnum bonum-steel pen which surrounds the
end of the pen holder: This, having a suitable piece of elastic material in the
upper end may be made to act thus: The cap, (above described) on being pressed
с

page_text: down upon the spout of the can, exerts its spring force lateraly in proportion as the
larger spout of the. oil can, extends it: And so the friction arising, prevents the
removal of the cap, except by a force in proportion to the strength of material used,
in the same way as the magnum bonum pon sheath clings to the penholder.
But as this cap or sheath is pressed into position, the elastic washer at the inner
end, comes down upon the nozzle of the tube inside of the cap and so, fitting itself to
the reduced space, it closes the tube hermetically.
This
cap or sheath
may be made of any suitable material (as indeed may all of the
parts of the herein described invention); moreover, on being provided with a little
spring at the side to cause friction or grasp like a bayonet spring, it needs not be in
itself a spring: or, if constructed of India rubber or Vulcanite, it may act as its own
spring upon the same principle.
The direct object of this invention then, is to procure perfect tightness in lubricating
cans &c. so that the fluid they contain shall not spill or leak out as is generally the
case at present.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Oil Cans or Lubricators, also
Applicable to Lamps and in Cases where Tight Plugs are
Required.
I JAMES MCHARDY Dollar N.B. Scientific Expert 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:-
Conical, hemispherical, or otherwise suitably shaped washers and washer-boxes form
the chief features of this invention, the object being to obtain complete tightness at
the joints, i.e., the filling hole and the nozzle of the oil can or other such vessel.
In the case of the Bicycle-oil-can, complete tightness is obtained in the following
manner.
At any convenient point in the oil-can, a small well-like recess is formed, capable of
containing the washer, and, being provided with a threaded centre-hole, it serves as a
filler.
::
When the can is filled, an elastic washer, capped by a dome-like case, both upon,
and capable of revolving upon a suitable screw or pin, are placed in the well,
whereupon, the screw being entered, the elastic washer, unable to escape in any
direction, takes up the exact shape of the washer-chamber which is formed by the well
and the dome-like case, or cap, which fits it.
Any equivalent of the screw, that will give sufficient pressure, may be used, and the
above described washer-box may be made as a separate plug, or it may be combined
with the spout of the oil-can. In this latter case it may be made at the base of the
spout, to turn with a screwkey, Thumb-screw or other device; but when the plug is
independent of the spout, the screw is most conveniently made so as to be capable of
being turned with a shilling, when a screwdriver is not at hand.
The nozzle of the oil-can is, in turn, made perfectly tight by the use of a slide
clutch, or friction-spring combined with the elastic washer, somewhat as follows:
The cap for the spout, may be in the form of that part of a magnum bonum pen
which surrounds the end of the penholder. This having a suitable piece of elastic
material in the upper end, may be made, to act thus; The cap, as above described, on
being pressed down upon the spout of the can, exerts its spring force laterally, as the
larger diameter of the spout extends it; and so the resulting friction prevents the
removal of the cap, except by a force in proportion to the strength of material used,
in the same way as the magnum bonum sheath clings to the penholder But, as the
cap or sheath is pressed into position, the elastic washer at the inner end comes down
upon the nozzle of the tube and so, fitting itself to the reduced space, closes the tube
hermetically.
The cap or sheath may be made of any suitable material (as may all of the parts of
the herein described invention). moreover, on being provided with a little spring at the
side, to cause friction, or to grasp like a bayonet-spring, it need not be, in itself a spring:
or if made of indiarubber,
Γ.gr Vulcanite it may be made to act as both spring and washer.

page_text: When it is desirable to procure a very large filling hole, the screw-pin of the before-
mentioned plug, may be made to work in an angular nut: in which case, the hole
being of the same shape as the nut and large enough to admit it, and the inner surface
being provided with a stop, the nut being inserted and the pin turned for tightening
the former will partially turn until it comes upon the stop. In this position it will
The screw,
rest upon the inner shoulders of the hole and the plug may be tightened.
in this case, having a riveted end will not allow the nut to come off, so that in loosening
the plug the angular nut will be forced back to the position in which it may be
withdrawn from the hole.
In the accompanying sheet of Drawings.
Fig. I
-
Section of enlarged oil can.
A B Doine-like cap, containing an elastic washer of the same shape but larger
than the cap.
CDEF= Section of can with well-like recess.
=
efg Screw pin, entering the threaded hole at g and capable of drawing down the
cap as required for tightening.
Fig. II
Outline of an oilcan.
abc= - Sheath in the magnum bonum-pen form.
a=The spout which is of a greater diameter than the sheath when the latter is
contracted.
b= An elastic oil-proof washer.
d
Elastic substance to act as a spring.
Filling plug in the side of the can.
e= Slit for turning the screw-pin.
When a b c is pressed down upon the spout b shuts up the nozzle and c becoming
compressed holds it in its place.
Fig. III
Triangular nut hereinbefore described.
ABC Angular hole (not necessarily triangular).
DEF
=
The angular nut, turned to the stopped position, after having been
inserted through A B C.
a=
The threaded hole in the nut in which the screw revolves.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:
1. The washer-cap and confined elastic washer, as herein set forth.
2. The sheath for securing the nozzle of the oil can.
3. The Angular hole and nut which enables me to provide a large aperture with only
a light pin screw, all as set forth in these specifications.
DL: 14th love of April 1887