Improvements in Funnels.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec.. 1894-1ccepted, 5th Jan., 1895
Improvements in Funnels.
We, ROBERT ALEX BROWN, and FERDINAND SARMIENTS BOND, of
No. 255 Sycamore Street, Philadelphia, in the County of Philadelphia, State
of Pennsylvania, United States of America, 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 :-
This invention relates to funnels of that class which are used for the filling of
bottles or other vessels with liquids, and which automatically cease flowing when
the vessel is filled to a certain height, usually to the mouth of the funnel.
The object of my invention is to provide a device of this character capable of
being cheaply constructed, which shall not only automatically cease flowing when
the liquid in the bottle reaches its mouth, but which will also, upon being placed
in a second vessel after filling the first, instantly re-commence flowing, thereby
rendering the funnel purely automatic in its operation, whereas heretofore it has
been necessary to mechanically release the valve of the funnel after the latter has
once been closed.
The invention consists in the novel inventive construction and arrangement of
parts necessary to effect. the above-mentioned and other desirable results, and
hereinafter fully described.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through the centre of a funnel embodying my
invention, and of a bottle on which the same is mounted.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line -x, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a similar section upon the line y-y, Figure 1.
In the practice of my invention, I construct a funnel body A, of the usual or any
other approved style, and secure to the lower end thereof the usual tube or stem B,
which projects perpendicularly downwardly from the said funnel body and I
preferably form the lower portion of said funnel body appreciably wider than the
stem and secure between the same a tubular core or filling A', tapered toward the
centre at the top, and having an annular flange a projecting downwardly from its
outer periphery, this core serving to widen the bottom of the funnel body exteriorly.
This construction of the funnel stem is not obligatory, but in the form of my
invention herein illustrated such is preferable, and greatly facilitates the perfect
operation of the device.
The lower end of the funnel stem is projected inwardly and tapered to form
a seat B¹ for a gravity valve C, which is sectionally circular and conical upon its
bottom, and is also beveled or inclined circumferentially at the top. This valve C
is mounted upon, or formed integrally with, a narrow tube D, open throughout its
length and extending from the top of the funnel body to a point somewhat below
the base of the stem.
The funnel body has secured therein above the valve C a sieve or strainer E,
centrally apertured, and having a depending inwardly turned annular flange Ei
resting upon the interior of the funnel, and held in place by friction.
The lower end of the tube D is externally screw-threaded and has mounted
thereon a disk b, which by turning upon the said screw-threaded end of the tube, may
be held thereon at any desired distance below the stem B. This disk may be more
securely held upon the tube D by means of a nut c. Ranging upwardly from the
disk b is an outside tube d, having mounted upon the top thereof a thin wafer-like

page_text: collar e open at the centre to surround the upper portion of the funnel stem B, and
movable vertically thereon. Upon the periphery of this collare I secure a ring F,
of soft rubber or similar material, interiorly slotted to receive therein the collar e
upon which collar it is stretched. In the lower portion of the outside tube d,
at its junction with the disk bare four openings or outlets f, through which the
contents of the funnel escape.
The operation of the device will be readily apparent from the foregoing
description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. The device
being placed in the neck of the bottle, the rubber ring F will rest upon the top
or rim thereof, and the air tube B and consequently the valve C, being stationary
relatively to the said ring, the funnel body A and the stem B will fall till the
annular flange a upon the core A' rests upon the top of the ring F, and the seat B¹
by this movement dropping below and away from the valve C, the funnel will be
opened and any contents thereof will flow through the stem B, the tube d and the
outlets f, and into the bottle. The said bottle is then filled by pouring the desired
liquid into the funnel, and as the said liquid, which passes through the stem B,
practically seals the same. and further the top of the bottle being closed by the
ring F, the air present in the bottle finds its only outlet through the tube D, at
the top of which it passes out.
When the liquid in the bottle rises to the lower end of the air tube D, the
said end is sealed by the said liquid, and there being no outlet for the air present
in the bottle above the liquid, the same will be compressed and will tend to prevent
any further ingress of the liquid, which latter will but partially flow, until the
bottle is filled to the base of the funnel stem, when the liquid will cease flowing
altogether. The funnel then being raised and removed, the valve C will fall into
the seat B', permanently closing the funnel and preventing any escape of the
contents therefrom, however much the funnel body may contain.
The funnel may then be inserted in a second bottle, whereupon the dropping of
the funnel relatively to the valve C will cause the same to open, the liquid present
in the funnel thus flowing into the bottle, and the latter may further be filled as
before. If after filling one bottle it is desired to use the funnel in decanting
another species or quality of liquid, the funnel may be held over the main vessel
or barrel from which the first bottle has been filled, and the rubber ring F
raised to lift the valve C, whereupon the contents of the funnel left therein after
the former operation, may be caused to flow into the main receptacle from which
they were withdrawr.
It will be noted that by screwing the disk 6 upwardly or downwardly upon the
end of the tube D, the height of the valve from the said disk will be thereby
decreased and increased respectively, consequently diminishing or enlarging the
space through which the liquid in the funnel may pass.
Further, the sieve E will not only prevent the clogging of the funnel stem by
particles in the liquid, but also serves as a bearing or guide for the air-tube D,
and said air-tube being detachable by unscrewing it from the disk b, in removing
Baid tube the valve C will engage the sieve and dislodge the same.
I claim as the main feature of my invention the sealing of the bottle neck whereby
the air can only escape through the funnel and thus when this escape is closed will
cause the funnel to cease flowing; and as a scarcely less important feature of my
invention, the air tube which forms the outlet for the air in the bottle and when
sealed by the liquid prevents the escape thereof, since while it might be possible for
the air in the bottle to escape through the funnel tube or stem in the absence of the
air tube, provided the said stem was of considerable diameter, still it will be obvious
that this air tube is a valuable means for ensuring perfect operation of the device,
and a steady, rapid and continuous flow of the funnel. And lastly, I claim it as a
valuable feature of the invention that the valve is mounted upon the tube and
consequently stationary relatively to the ring F, whereby the funnel will not only
be permanently closed when removed from the bottle, but will also automatically
commence flowing when placed in a second bottle, as before stated.

page_text: 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. A funnel comprising a body, a rubber collar surrounding the same and adapted
to seal the mouth of a bottle, an air tube supported therein and extending
vertically therethrough to temporarily cut off the flow of the liquid in the funnel,
connections from the collar to the air tube whereby the same is raised with the
collar, and a gravity valve secured upon the air tube to normally close the funnel,
and co-operating with the air tube to instantaneously and automatically cut off the
flow of the funnel when the raising thereof counteracts the flow checking of the
air-tube, substantially as shown and described.
2. A funnel comprising a body, an air tube therein, a normally closed gravity
valve upon the air tube, and a collar surrounding the stem of the funnel and
detachably secured to the air tube, whereby the attachment or removal of the parts
from the main body is permitted, substantially as shown and described.
3. A funnel comprising a body, an air tube therein, a normally closed valve
upon the air tube, and a collar surrounding the stem of the funnel detachably
secured to the air tube and adjustable thereon, whereby the raising of the collar
will open the valve wholly or partially as desired, substantially as shown and
described.
4. A funnel comprising a body, an air tube therein, a valve thereon adapted to
close the stem of the funnel, a disk upon the air tube, a collar surrounding the stem
of the funnel, and open connections from the collar to the disk whereby the air tube
is raised when the collar is rested upon a bottle, substantially as shown and
described.
5. A funnel comprising a body, a collar surrounding the same exteriorly, an air
tube extending vertically through the funnel from the top thereof to below the stem
and connected to the collar, a gravity valve mounted upon the air tube and adapted
to rise when the collar is lifted, and a sieve above the valve through which the air
tube extends, substantially as shown and described.
6. A funnel comprising a body having its body enlarged at the bottom, a flange
upon said body, a rubber collar surrounding the funnel below the flange and sliding
thereon, an air tube extending vertically through the funnel, a disk mounted thereon,
a tube connecting the disk to the rubber collar and having openings or outlets,
and a gravity valve mounted upon the air tube, substantially as shown and
described.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1894.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.