Improvements in Oil and other Filling Cans.
Year: 1889

page_text: Improvements in Oil and other Filling Cans.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be perforined, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention consists of an improved over-flow check nozzle applicable especially
to oil cans and other such close receptacles having a nose through which the liquid is
discharged. My nozzle is so constructed, as hereinafter described, as to automatically
stop the flow when the lamp or other vessel into which the liquid is poured is full. At
the same time, by means of an acoustic indicator attached to the nozzle, a musical
sound is produced during the discharge, which stops when the flow ceases, thereby
indicating when the vessel is full.
Of the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 shows in section an oil can fitted with my improved nozzle; and
Fig. 2 shows the same in the act of filling a vessel, the surface of the liquid in the
vessel being shown at the point where tho tlow ceases.
A is the body of the can to which is attached an automatic over-flow check nozzle
consisting of the nose N, through which the liquid is discharged, and a smaller air
tube B preferably secured to the nose N and running from the outer end of the nose N
into the interior of the can and terminating preferably at a point opposite its point
of entrance.
To the inner end of the air tube B is attached the acoustic indicator C which, as
shown in Fig. 1, consists of a short piece of tube closed at its outer end e and having.
a roed E which vibrates in a slot along the upper side of the tube. The operation of
the nozzle is as follows:-
The can being inclined, as shown in Fig. 2 with the end of its nose N within the
vessel G to be filled, liquid will flow out of the can into the vessel. To make the out-
flow of the liquid continuous, air enters in a constant stream through the tube B,
displacing the liquid in the can A, and as the air enters the can through the slot
covered by the reed E, the latter is caused to vibrate and a musical sound is thus
produced. When, however, the surface of the liquid in the vessel to be filled reaches
the level of the outer end of the tube B the flow immediately stops because no
more air can enter the closed can A, it being of course understood that the cap of

page_text: the can is firmly screwed down so that the only means for the air to enter is through
the tube B. By this means it is impossible for the liquid to run over if the end of
the nose is below the level of the top of the vessel to be filled as the flow at once stops
when the surface of the liquid closes the air tube.
When the flow of air is checked the musical sound at once ceases, and notice is thus
given that the vessel is full. This acoustic indicator is especially useful when
opaque vessels are to be filled, such as metal lamps etc., where the oil, or other liquid
cannot be seen, and where, with ordinary oil cans, there is constant danger of over-
flowing. As long as the musical sound is heard the operator knows that the liquid
is flowing into the vessel and as soon as the sound ceases he knows at once that the
vessel is full and removes the can therefrom.
I ordinarily employ a bracket F attached to the nose at such a height as to
determine the depth to which the end of the nozzle reaches in the lamp or other
vessel. This bracket rests on the edge of the vessel in a manner readily understood
by reference to Fig. 1.
The acoustic attachment C is moreover particularly useful in cases, whore, through
carelessness or otherwise, a little air might leak in, either through the cap L of the
can, or through some hole other than the air tube B, so that even when the latter is
closed by the liquid in the vessel, enough air will leak in to cause the flow to continue.
In this case the operator will know by the stopping of the musical sound that the
vessel is full and will remove the can before any overflow can occur.
I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown, as for instance, the
air tube might be made in one piece with the discharge nose, either on the inside or
the outside thereof, without in any way affecting the principle.
Or, if desired a whistle or any other musical device operated by a flow of air, might
be substituted for the reed herein shown. I prefer, however, to have the outlet of the
air from the tube B into the can at or near the highest point within the can, when
the latter is in a position for filling a vessel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
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. An automatic over-flow check nozzle consisting of the combination of a liquid
discharge nose, a separate air admitting tube and an acoustic indicator, constructod
and arranged substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. An automatic over-flow check nozzle consisting of a discharge nose N, a soparate
air admitting tube E, terminating at its outer end near the end of the said nose and
at its inner end near the inner side of the can to which the nozzle is applied and
an acoustic indicator C, attached to the inner end of the tube B, substantially as
and for the purposes described.
3. An automatic over-flow check nozzle provided with an acoustic indicator,
substantially as described.
4. An automatic over-flow check nozzle in combination with a liquid discharge nose
and an air admitting tube, substantially as and for the purposes described.
5. An automatic over-flow check nozzle consisting of discharge nose N, a separate
air admitting tube B terminating at its outer end near the end of said nose and at its
inner end near the inner side of the can to which the nozzle is applied, substantially
as and for the purposes described.
Dated thin Teth J of T1000