IMPROVED ARRANGEMENTS FOR FILLING AND CLOSING BOTTLES AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Duncan McCallum, of Greenock, in the County of Renfrew,
North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVED ARRANGEMENTS
FOR FILLING AND CLOSING BOTTLES AND OTHER VESSELS."
Sealed the 21st March 1862, and dated the 27th September 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Duncan McCallum at-the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th September 1861.
DUNCAN MCCALLUM of Greenock, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain,
Engineer. "IMPROVED ARRANGEMENTS FOR FILLING AND CLOSING BOTTLES AND
OTHER VESSELS."
This Invention relates to improved arrangements for filling and closing bottles or
other vessels which arrangements are peculiarly suitable for aerated liquids but
also applicable with suitable modification for confining liquids having no expansive
tenuency.
In carrying out the Invention in the case of bottles for soda water, for example,
the bottle is formed with a contraction in the neck presenting a kind of valve seat
internally: The stopper is a kind of valve consisting of a washer made of a flexible
material such as leather or caoutchouc and fixed on a short spindle or centre in
such a way that on being pushed into the bottle in one direction the washer bends
inwards and passes easily whilst on being moved in the other direction the washer
expands and cannot in consequence be forced or drawn through the contracted neck
of the bottle: In proceeding to fill the bottle the stopper having been introduced
into it the bottle is fixed to or held against the mouthpiece of the filling pipe: This
mouthpiece is provided with a wire which enters it through a stuffing box or water-
tight opening and can be projected down into the bottle: The bottom of the wire
is formed with a hook by means of which it is made to hold the stopper (the
spindle of the latter having an eye or link for the purpose) and after the bottle is
filled it is made to draw up the stopper against the seat in the neck: The bottle is
then disconnected from the mouthpiece and the internal pressure keeps the valve
stopper securely in its place; In the case of non-expansive liquids, the valve stopper
may be held in its place by means of an external appliance. To empty the bottle
the valve stopper may either be simply forced inwards by means of a rod or any
convenient instrument or a discharge spout may be used which on being inserted
15804

page_text: forces in the valve stopper and permits the contents to flow out: The valve stopper
remains in the bottle and can be used over again repeatedly, thus avoiding the
expence of constant renewal attending the use of corks.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed by
the said Duncan McCallum in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th March
1862.
DUNCAN MCCALLUM, of Greenock, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain,
Engineer. "IMPROVED ARRANGEMENTS FOR FILLING AND CLOSING BOTTLES AND
OTHER VESSELS."
My said Invention relates to improved arrangements for filling and closing bottles
or other vessels, which arrangements are peculiarly suitable for aerated liquids but
are also applicable with suitable modification for confining liquids having no
expansive tendency.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood and carried
into effect I have hereunto appended a Sheet of explanatory Drawings to which I
shall refer in the following particular description of the improvements it being
premised that the same reference letters mark the same or like parts in all the
Figures.
In carrying out the Invention in the case of bottles for soda-water for example,
the bottle, which is shown in longitudinal section in Figure, 1, is formed with a
contraction in the neck A, presenting internally a kind of valve seat B. The
stopper (C) is a kind of valve, consisting according to one modification of a washer
made of a flexible material such as leather or caoutchouc and fixed on a short
spindle or centre in such a way that on being pushed into the bottle in one direction
the washer bends inwards towards or against the upper part of the centre or spindle,
and passes easily, whilst on being moved in the other direction, the washer expands
and cannot be forced or drawn through the contracted neck of the bottle.
According to another modification however, and which I find preferable in
practice, the stopper C, is made entirely of caoutchouc or rubber and is moulded or
shaped as shown in the elevation and plan Figures, 2, and 3, that is to say, the top
side is formed with a short central stud or spindle, d, by which the stopper can be
held; whilst on the under side an enlargement, e, is formed, which prevents the
edge, C, from being bent inwards and downwards sufficiently to enable the stopper
to pass through the contracted bottle neck, A. When however the stopper is entered
with the enlargement, e, foremost the edge, C, can be bent inwards sufficiently to
enable the stopper to pass. Instead of forming a solid stud or spindle, d, on the top
of the stopper, the stud may be made with an eye. In proceeding to fill the bottle
the stopper (C) having been introduced into it, the bottle is fixed to or held against
the mouthpiece of the filling pipe. This mouthpiece is, according to one modification,
provided with a wire which enters it through a stuffing box or water-tight opening
and can be projected down into the bottle. The bottom of this wire is formed with
a hook by means of which it is made to hold the stopper and after the bottle is
filled it is made to draw up the stopper into its place against the seat B, in the
neck, A, of the bottle. The bottle 'is then disconnected from the mouthpiece and
the internal pressure keeps the stopper securely in its place. Figure, 4, is a vertical
longitudinal section of a filling mouthpiece having its details modified to suit the
stopper, C, formed with a solid spindle. The aerated water enters the body, F, of the
-mouthpiece-by-a-side branch, G, whilst a stuffing box, H, is formed in the top in line
with the axis of the bottle. Through this stuffing box there is passed a tubular
rod I closed at its upper end, but open at its lower end to receive the stem of a
holding instrument J. This holding instrument J, is made to take hold of the
stopper, C, prior to the bottle being applied to the filling mouthpiece its lower part

page_text: being formed like a crayon holder but with the sides set to spring outwards. It is
made to secure the stopper by means of a ring, K, which may be pushed down when
in the bottle by a tube passed over the stem or by a bent wire, M, such as is shown
in Figure, 5. The stem of the instrument, J, is slightly bent so as to be held by its
spring action when inserted in its tubular rod, I. To facilitate the filling of a
number of bottles in succession a number of the holding instruments, J, are provided
and they are made to take hold of the stoppers of a number of bottles. As each
bottle is filled the stopper is drawn up into its place by means of the rod, I, and the
bottle lowered and the holder, J, removed from the rod, I, and from the stopper, C,
and handed to the attendant who is applying the holders to fresh bottles. If found
desirable, the rod, I, may be raised by means of a lever jointed upon a convenient
part of the apparatus. In the case of non-expansive liquids the valve stopper may
be held in its place by means of an external appliance. A simple arrangement for
this purpose is shown in Figure, 6. The stud, d, of the stopper, C, is in this case
elongated and formed with an eye, and the stopper being drawn into its place by
the holding instrument (J) a peg or pin, L, is passed through the eye and rests on
the edge of the bottle mouth. The stopper is made so that its stud is in a stretched
state when the pin, L, is passed across and its consequent elastic tension keeps it
firmly in its place. To empty the bottle the valve stopper may either be simply
forced inwards by means of a rod or any convenient instrument such as a pencil for
example, or a discharge spout may be used which on being inserted forces in the
stopper and permits the contents to flow out. The valve stopper remains in the
bottle and can be used over again repeatedly, thus avoiding the expence of constant
renewal attending the use of corks.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner in which
the same is or may be used or carried into effect I have to state that I do not
restrict myself to the precise details herein described or delineated but that what I
believe to be novel and original and claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is. The filling and closing of bottles and
other like vessels substantially in the manner herein-before described and particu-
larly the using of an internal valve stopper substantially such as is herein-before
described.
In witness whereof I the said Duncan McCallum have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twenty-fifth day of March in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
DUNCAN MCCALLUM. (L.S.)