IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS FOR HOLDING, TRANSPORTING, AND DISTRIBUTING INFLAMMABLE OR EXPLOSIVE LIQUIDS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS FOR HOLDING, TRANSPORTING,
AND DISTRIBUTING INFLAMMABLE OR EXPLOSIVE LIQUIDS."-A communi-
cation from abroad by Edouard Moride, of Paris, France; Chemist.
Sealed the 9th June 1874, and dated the 15th December 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 15th December 1873.
:
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS FOR HOLDING,
TRANSPORTING, AND DISTRIBUTING INFLAMMABLE OR EXPLOSIVE LIQUIDS," a com-
munication, to be as follows:-
The numerous and serious accidents that have occurred since the
introduction into manufacturing and. domestic uses of inflammable

page_text: Figures 3 and 4 are vertical sections, and Figure 5 is a horizontal
section on the line 3, 4, of a glass vessel also forming an "inexplosive
syphoid."
The metallic vessel A may have any convenient shape and dimensions;
it has at its upper part a neck B of copper or other suitable metal
soldered or screwed upon the neck of the vessel, and fitted with two
valves 6, 6¹, both fixed upon the same hollow rod c; the upper end of
the latter is provided with a small collar or washer c¹ secured by a pin
for keeping in place a spring c". The said collar and rod are perforated
with a small oblique hole d. The lever D jointed at e serves for regu-
lating the pressure upon the upper part of the rod c, in such a manner
that the orifice d is made to correspond with the orifice d¹ formed in the
side of the neck piece. At the lower part of the latter is the bent
tube E, and at the opposite side to the orifice is the spout F for the
entrance and escape of the liquids.
It will now be easy to understand the action of my improved vessels
or "inexplosive syphoids."
First, for the introduction of the liquid it is only necessary to place a
small funnel in the spout F, then press upon the lever D to cause the
descent of the rod c so that the valve 6¹ shall close and the valve 6 open.
The pressure upon the lever D must be maintained all the time necessary
for completely filling the vessel; as soon as the pressure ceases the
spring c¹¹acts and closes the valve 6, thereby stopping the communi-
cation between the interior and exterior of the said vessel, but for
delivering the liquid from the said vessel it is sufficient to incline the
same while exerting pressure upon the lever D to again close the
valve 6¹ and open the valve b; at the same time the two orifices d, d³,
are put in communication, and the external air entering by the tube E
displaces the liquid and permits it to flow through the spout I to the
last drop.
Figures 3, 4, 5, illustrate the application of the same principle to a
glass vessel, but include another arrangement for the introduction of air.
The tube E is fixed laterally upon the pewter neck B, the collar or
washer c¹ has a small extension forming a cap upon the upper part of
the tube E¹, in such a manner that the two orifices for air d, d³, are put
in communication as in the preceding arrangement while pressure is

page_text: exerted upon the same lever D; except in this modification the action
takes place exactly as above described. It must be observed that when
the vessel is filled, by withdrawing the pin e and the lever D secured:
together by a small chain the escape of the liquid contained in the said
vessel either accidentally or purposely is rendered impossible; con-
sequently the transport and storage may be effected without danger.
Moreover the delivery of the liquid may be effected without occasioning
any accident, for if it happens that any liquid spilt takes fire, by stopping
immediately the pressure upon the lever D the communication is inter-
rupted with the interior of the vessel, and consequently all danger of fire
or explosion is obviated even if the metallic vessel covered with flames
should be thrown to a distance with the liquid flowing, and the flames
reaching the orifice of the spout E an explosion of the liquid remaining.
in the vessel will be impossible.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 13th June 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence
that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS FOR HOLDING, TRANSPORTING, AND DISTRIBUTING

page_text: First, for the introduction of the liquid it is only necessary to place a
small funnel in the spout F, then press upon the lever D to cause the
descent of the rod c so that the valve 6' shall close and the valve 6 open.
The pressure upon the lever D must be maintained all the time necessary
for completely filling the vessel; as soon as the pressure ceases the
spring cacts and closes the valve b, thereby stopping the communi-
cation between the interior and exterior of the said vessel; but for
delivering the liquid from the said vessel it is sufficient to incline the
same while exerting pressure upon the lever D to again close the
valve 6¹ and open the valve b at the same time the two orifices d, d¹, are
put in communication, and the external air entering by the tube E
displaces the liquid and permits it to flow through the spout E to the
last drop.
Figures 3, 4, 5, illustrate the application of the same principle to a
glass vessel, but includes another arrangement for the introduction of
air. The tube E' is fixed laterally upon the pewter neck B; the collar or
washer C¹ has a small extension forming a cap upon the upper part of
the tube E¹ in such a manner that the two orifices for air d, d³, are put
in communication, as in the preceeding arrangement, while pressure is
exerted upon the said lever D. Apart from this modification the action
takes place exactly as above described. It must be observed that the
vessel being filled, by withdrawing the pin e and the lever D secured
together by a small chain the discharge of the liquid contained in the said
vessel either accidentally or purposely is rendered impossible; con-
sequently the transport and storage may be effected without danger.
Moreover the delivery of the liquid may be effected without occasioning
any accident, for if it happens that any liquid spilt takes fire, by imme-
diately ceasing to press upon the lever D the communication with the
interior of the vessel is interrupted, and consequently all danger of fire
or explosion is obviated even if the metallic vessel covered with flames
should be thrown to a distance with the liquid flowing, and the flames
reach the orifice of the spout E, an explosion of the liquid remaining in
the vessel will be impossible.
It is not necessary to dwell upon the advantages presented by the said
vessel or "inexplosive syphoid;" it may have the form of a barrel, a jar,
or jug, a bottle, or can, and may be of metal, wood, stone ware, or other
suitable material; it may have any dimensions required in retail trade,

page_text: furnished with my improved safety apparatus based upon the principles
above specified, viz.—
First. The employment of two valves permitting at will and instan-
taneously the introduction of air into the said vessel for causing the
liquid to flow through the exit tube or the stoppage of the influx of
air.
Second. The lever or other device controlling the valves in such
manner as to prevent their acting accidentally during the transport of
the said vessels.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
5 Witness,
H. J. NOONE,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
WM. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)