IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF OIL CANS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Hadfield and Charles Selby, both of Dukinfield, in
the County of Chester, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF OIL CANS."
Sealed the 29th October 1878, and dated the 30th April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Hadfield and Charles
Selby at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th April
1878.
THOMAS HADFIELD and CHARLES SELBY, both of Dukinfield, in the County of
Chester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF OIL CANS."
This Invention relates to oil cans used for lubricating machinery, the objects of
the said improvements being,-
1. To enable the oil can to be filled without unscrewing the spout or other part.
2. So to construct the oil can that the oil will not flow out when the can is laid
down.
And, 3. To return any oil that may run down the spout (when the can is set
up on end) into the can, instead of allowing it to flow down the outside thereof.
We make the exterior of the can (by preference) cylindrical with a conical top.
Between the cylindrical body and conical top we solder or fix a division plate or
partition with a hole in the centre, into which we solder the larger end of the
spout, a small diagonal tube being soldered into another hole near the side of the
division plate, and reaching to nearly the bottom of the can, but on the opposite
side thereof.
The smaller end or mouth of the conical top of the can is larger in diameter
than the spout, so that there is an open space all round through which the oil can
be poured in, and will flow into the cylindrical body through the small diagonal
tube above mentioned, a cylindrical tube being soldered into the mouth, and ter-
minating just above the division plate.
The thin end of the spout is curved in such a manner that its end corresponds,
or nearly so, to the position of the hole in the division plate into which the diagonal

page_text: tube is soldered, and the opposite side of the can has a weight soldered thereto, so
as to keep the side always uppermost when the can is laid on its side, and thus the
oil cannot flow out at the spout when in this position.
It also results from the peculiar construction above described that, although
when the can is placed upon end, oil can be poured in freely at the mouth round
the spout, yet it will not run out at this part in whatever position the can may be
placed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Hadfield and Charles Selby in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 29th October 1878.
THOMAS HADFIELD and CHARLES SELBY, both of Dukinfield, in the County of
Chester. " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF OIL CANS."
This Invention relates to oil cans used for lubricating machinery, the objects of
the said improvements being,―
1. To enable the oil can to be filled without unscrewing the spout or other part.
2. So to construct the oil can that the oil will not flow out when the can is laid
down.
And, 3. To return any oil that may run down the spout (when the can is set up
on end) into the can, instead of allowing it to flow down the outside thereof.
Such being the nature and object of our said Invention, we will now proceed to
describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect; and in order that the same may be clearly understood,
I have annexed hereunto a Drawing illustrative thereof, and have marked the
same with letters of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation
thereof.
We make the exterior a, a, of the can (by preference) cylindrical, with a conical
top b, b, as shown in the annexed Drawing.
Between the cylindrical body and conical top we solder or fix a division plate or
partition c, c, with a hole d in the centre, into which we solder the larger end of
the spout e, e, a small diagonal tube f, f, being soldered into another hole near the
side of the division plate c, c, and reaching to nearly the bottom of the can, but on
the opposite side thereof.
The smaller end or mouth g, g, of the conical top of the cam is larger in diameter
than the spout e, e, so that there is an open space all round through which the oil
can be poured in, and will flow into the cylindrical body a, a, through the small
diagonal tube f, f, above mentioned, a cylindrical tube h, h, being soldered into the
mouth g, g, and terminating just above the division plate c, c.
The thin end of the spout e, e, is curved. in such a manner that its end corre-
sponds, or nearly so, to the position of the hole in the division plate into which the
diagonal tube f, f, is soldered; and the opposite side of the can has a weight i, i,

page_text: soldered thereto, so as to keep the side always uppermost when the can is laid on
its side, and thus the oil cannot flow out at the spout e, e, when in this position.
It also results from the peculiar construction above described that, although
when the can is placed upon end, oil can be poured in freely at the mouth g, g,
round the spout e, e, yet it will not run out at this part in whatever position the
can may be placed.
Having now described the nature and object of our said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, we wish it to be understood that we claim as our Invention, the
novel and peculiar combination of parts forming our improved oil can, substantially
as herein-before particularly described, and illustrated by the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Selby (on behalf of myself and the said
Thomas Hadfield), have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth
day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-eight.
CHARLES SELBY. (L.S.)