Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1887.
Specification Accepted. 15th July, 1887.
1. 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 performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My invention relates to sheet metal cans and the art of soldering the same.
It consists in a can cap, head, or other sheet having a thin strip of solder secured
at or near its edge and preferably folded over the same; for soldering such part
to an adjoining part or sheet.
By folding the band or strip of solder over the raw edge of the cap or sheet such
edge is protected from rusting, so that the caps may be made and kept on hand any
desired length of time before filling the cans without danger of injury.
As the solder is, in my invention, applied to the seam in the form of a thin ribbon
or strip, and preferably in a continuous ribbon or strip, the solder is evenly distributed
from one end of the seam to the other before the solder is melted or the heat is
applied; and for this reason the seam may be much more quickly and expeditiously
soldered; and for the same reason no more solder need be used than will just suffice
to unite the parts of the seam together, thus occasioning a great saving in the amount
of solder used. Owing also to the thin strip form of the solder and its even
distribution over the seam much less heat is required to melt the solder and properly
solder the seam so that there is no danger of scorching or injuring the contents of the
can, as heretofore has frequently been done, especially in canning certain kinds of
articles, such as corn or milk for example.
At the same time the edge of the sheet is hemmed with the thin strip of solder, a
flux, such for example as melted or powdered rosin, may also be applied.

page_text: The thin sheet solder annulus or ring may be used without folding it over the
exterior rim of the can cap or head or attaching it thereto. Where the sheet solder
ring is thus used separately it is made concentric with the can cap or can cap seat,
and it is preferable to make the ring of a V shape in cross section to better conform
to the shape of the can cap seat on the can head. The V shape of the thin sheet
solder ring also gives the ring the requisite stiffness or strength to preserve its
shape in handling, and enables them to rest or pack closely for shipment.
When a
number of such rings are nested together they mutually support and protect
each other.
My invention is also applicable for use in soldering up the vent holes in the heads
or caps of sheet metal cans. For this purpose I employ a thin disk of sheet solder,
having a central depression or point adapted to enter the vent hole. This central
depression in the small disk of solder may be formed by stamping or pressing and at
the same time the sheet disk. is cut or otherwise made. The central depression or
projection on the thin disk of solder renders the disk easy to center in place, and serves
also to keep it in place while the soldering tool or heat is applied to melt it.
In the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, Figure 1 is
the cross-section of a can head and can cap embodying my invention; Figure 2 is
a similar view of the same after the seam is soldered; Figure 3 is a detail plan view
of the strip or ring of solder before it is folded over the edge of the can cap;
Figure 4 shows the invention as applied to the head of a can; Figure 5 is a cross
section of a can showing the invention as applied to the side seam, and Figure 6 is
a perspective view of a sheet having a solder "hemmed edge"; Figure 7 shows a
modification, in that the solder strip is not continuous; Figure 8 is an enlarged cross
section Figure 9 is a plan view, and Figure 10 a section, of the V shaped solder
ring, the same being specially adapted for use separately or without folding it over
the rim of the can cap or head. Figure 11 is a sectional view of the same showing it
in place in the can cap seat; Figures 12 and 13 are plan and sectional views showing
a modified form in which the solder ring is beveled to fit only upon the outer angle of
the can cap seat, and Figures 14 and 15 are similar views of the ring when it is
beveled to fit only upon the inner angle of. the can cap seat. Similar letters of
reference indicate like parts in all the figures.
In the drawing A is a thin strip of solder, preferably about one sixty fourth of an
inch thick and from one eighth to three sixteenths of an inch wide, folded over the
edge a of the cap, head or sheet B, which is to be soldered to an adjoining part C of
the can.
Where the edge a is of a circular form, as in a can head or can cap, the solder
strip A is preferably cut in the form of an annulus or ring; but where the edge a is
straight, as in figures 3 and 6, the solder strip may be also straight. It is preferable
to make the solder strip continuous or about continuous; but it may also be applied
only at intervals, as indicated in figure 7, in which case however the strip will be made
correspondingly thicker or wider in order to afford the required amount of solder.
The strip of solder may be applied to the edge of the sheet in any suitable way.
One good way is to take a thin sheet of solder and cut or stamp therefrom strips or
rings of the desired width and then fold such strips or rings over the edge of the
sheet, thus securing the solder strip to the sheet or cap, so that the same may be
handled or manipulated without disengaging the solder strip therefrom.
c represents the flux. It may be applied before or at the time the solder strip is
folded over the edge of the sheet. The flux may be first applied to the edge of the
sheet by dipping the same in a bath of melted rosin for example; or powdered rosin
may be discharged upon the solder strip as it is being folded over the edge of
the sheet.
Instead of folding the solder strip over the edge of the sheet, as indicated in
figures, 1, 4, 5 and 6, the solder strip may be seated, as shown in figure 11, in the
groove or seat c¹ of the part C to which the edge a is to be soldered, as an equivalent
construction.

page_text: In figures 12 and 13 the solder annulus B, instead of having a V shape in cross
section to fit both angles of the can cap seat, is made with a single bevel and fits
against only the outer angle or side c² of the can cap seat c¹. In figures 14 and 15
the solder ring is beveled to fit the opposite or inner side of the can cap seat.
For soldering up the vent hole b in can heads or caps, I make my prepared sheet
solder in the form of a thin disc furnished with a central projection or depression b
stamped therein which fits in the vent hole and holds the solder disk in place while
it is being melted by the soldering tool.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my 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 :
1st. A sheet of metal of a round, square or other desired form having a thin strip
of sheet solder of sufficient width and thickness for soldering the seam secured at or
near its edge, substantially as specified.
2nd. A can cap having its rim or edge hemmed with a thin strip of solder folded
over such rim or edge, substantially as specified.
3rd. The can cap or head having a thin continuous ring of solder folded over its
rim or edge, substantially as specified.
4th. A sheet of metal having a thin continuous strip of solder folded over its edge,
substantially as specified.
5th. A can cap having its rim or edge furnished with flux and a strip of solder
folded over its edge and embracing the Hux, substantially as specified.
6th. The continuous annulus or ring of solder conforming to the outline of the
seam to be soldered, substantially as specified.
7th. The thin sheet solder annulus or ring conforming to the outline of the seam
to be soldered and of a bevel shape corresponding to the seat of the can cap or head
to be soldered, substantially as specified.
8th. The thin sheet solder annulus or ring of double bevel or V shape, substantially
as specified.
9th. A thin sheet disk of solder having its central portion depressed to form a
registering point to fit in the vent hole for soldering the same, substantially as
specified.
Dated this 14th day of June 1887.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.