Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1889
Specification Accepted, 8th June, 1889
A communication from CHRISTIAN XANDER and WILLIAM H. THOMAS, of Washington,
in the County of Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America,
Gentlemen.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
M.1.M.E., 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 has relation to vessels or funnels for filling barrels.
Heretofore funnels have been made round or the shape of an inverted cone
gradually enlarging from its small point to its mouth. The objections to this class of
funnels for filling barrels are, first they wabble about in the bung hole and frequently
tilt to one side, spilling the liquid, and thus causing waste. Another objection is that
they cannot be made sufficiently large to hold large quantities of liquid without danger
of spilling, so that much valuable time is lost in holding the bucket full of liquid
until it slowly passes through the funnel. Neither can the round conical shaped
funnel be used to hold the weight of an emptying bucket without danger of tilting
it over or spilling the contents, nor is it well adapted to give full vent to the
escaping air necessary in filling large barrels in a rapid manner.
To overcome these objections and to facilitate the transfer of liquid rapidly from
one barrel to another are the objects of this invention. And also to produce a vessel
that will be safe and steady and which is designed to hold a bucket full of liquid
to be run into the barrel, while the attendant is drawing off another, thus saving time
and preventing waste.
To these ends this invention consists in constructing a vessel or box of any suitable
material in such manner that its contents will readily flow into the barrel, cask or
the like, said vessel to have an inclined bottom, but horizontal on its top whereby when
the liquid is poured into it, it will not overflow in any direction, the vessel being so
constructed as to set firmly on the barrel, and in further details of construction as will
be hereinafter described.

page_text: In the drawings, the same letters will indicate like parts throughout all the
figures.
Figure 1 is an illustration in perspective of a barrel with the invention attached.
Figure 2, shows a longitudinal vertical section of a portion of the barrel with
the filling vessel in position in the act of operation.
Figure 3, is an enlarged view in longitudinal section.
Figure 4 is a cross section taken on the line y-y of figure 3, and
Figure 5, is a transverse section on the line -x of figure 3, showing the vent
tube, for the escape of air from the barrel when being filled.
A, is the barrel, B, the filling vessel or funnel, C, is the inclined bottom, D, E,
the inclined bottom sides, and F, the rear inclined plate. G, is the screen the
perforation exceeding in the aggregate the area of the funnel nozzle. H, is the
funnel nozzle which extends into the bung hole of the barrel and I is the vent tube
provided with induction and eduction ports. This tube is entirely independent of
the filling nozzle and by its construction the usual air bubble is entirely prevented
and by which the liquid is permitted to have free access into the barrel. The vessel
is provided with legs or other support J, by which the vessel is made to set in a
horizontal position on the barrel. The sides K, of the vessel are parallel and extend
below the bottom thereof. These sides serve as strengthening pieces. The ends L,
of the vessel B, are concave so as to fit the contour of the barrel and the ends a, serve
as supports, the same as the legs do for the front ends. Thus the vessel or funnel
sets firmly on the barrel without wabble or shake, and is made sufficiently strong
to bear without injury, weight equal to five gallons of liquid.
The rear end of the vessel is provided with a crown or cap piece M, which extends
well over the screen and nozzle, so that the liquid if poured in rapidly cannot dash
over, thereby preventing a great waste.
The operation of the invention is as follows. The vessel being placed on the
barrel with the nozzle of the funnel in the bung hole, the liquid is poured into the
vessel. The liquid now runs through the strainer which traps any foreign matter,
sedimentary deposits or the like. As the liquid fills into the barrel the displaced air
escapes through the ports bc, the bottom having an inclination from all sides towards
the funnel nozzle, no liquid remains in the vessel. The bottom being formed of angular
pieces, each piece being set at an angle against the other adds materially to the strength
of the vessel, and greatly enhances its durability.
The vessels may be used in various industries, as well as for the transfer of
liquid from one barrel into another of which may be mentioned druggists, Mineral
oils in the mixing of paints, separating the pulp from cider, grape or the like. It
is admirably adapted for any such uses.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to bo performed as communicated to
"me by 'my foreign correspondents I declare that what I claim'is :-
al
1st. As a new article of manufacture, a vessel for filling barrels, tanks, or the
like, comprising a tank to rest upon the exterior of the barrel provided with
downwardly inclined bottom, and a funnel nozzle extending from the lowest portion
of said bottom, substantially as described.
2nd. A vessel for filling barrels, or the like comprising a tank provided with
downwardly extending sides or legs to hold the same in position upon the exterior
of the vessel to be filled, and a funnel nozzle extending downwardly from the bottom
of said tank, substantially as described.
3rd. As a new article of manufacture, a vessel for filling barrels, or the like,
comprising a tank to rest upon the exterior of the barrel, a funnel nozzle extending
downwardly from the bottom of said tank, and a hood partially closing the top
of the tank at one end, for the purpose set forth.
4th. A barrel funnel comprising a tank to rest upon the exterior of the barrel,
a nozzle extending downwardly from the bottom of the tank, said bottom slanting
downwardly to the mouth of the nozzle from all sides, a screen permanently secured

page_text: over the mouth of the nozzle, and a vent tube for the nozzle, substantially as
described.
5th. The combination of a vessel having sides and ends of the inclined bottom
terminating in a funnel nozzle, provided with an air eduction tube, and concave ends,
substantially as described.
6th. The combination in a vessel for filling barrels having sides and ends to fit
the contour of the barrel and provided with an angularly inclined bottom, and
funnel nozzle, the latter having a vent tube, substantially as described.
7th. The combination in a vessel for filling barrels and the like, provided with
two parallel sides, and concave ends, the former being provided with legs whereby
the vessel is kept in a horizontal position of the angularly inclined bottom and funnel
nozzle, as set forth.
8th. The combination in a vessel for filling barrels having sides, and ends as
described, and a funnel nozzle, of the hood or crown M, arranged to operate as set
forth.
9th. The combination in a vessel for filling barrels as described, of the inclined
bottom, funnel nozzle air eduction valve and hood M, all operating together as set
forth.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents.