Improvements in Vessels or Containers for Petroleum or other Liquids.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 17th May. 1892-Accepted, 18th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vessels or Containers for Petroleum or other
Liquids.
I JOHN DALZIEL SPRUNT of 6 East India Avenue in the City of London
Merchant do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object to provide a cheap light and efficient receptacle
for liquids but more especially intended for petroleum in which it can readily be
transported for retail purposes and from which it can readily be removed when
required. I make the edge of the vessel of a hoop over which 1 fix a flexible
material to form the sides somewhat like drum heads. I prefer to use wood for the
hoop and to use stout tough paper soaked in glue for the sides or heads but I may
use other material for the hoop and other material for the sides or heads such as
thin veneer preferably in two sheets glued together with the grain of one crossing
the grain of the other. The sides or heads may be turned over the edges of the
hoops or tape or other strips may be used as the connecting medium being glued
over the edges of the hoop and sides or heads or any other convenient way of
securing the parts together may be used. The part which I have called the hoop
need not be circular although I prefer it to be of that form for convenience of
making and strength. It may have a flattened part or parts or ribs secured trans-
versely to it so as to allow the vessel to stand on its edge or periphery but so that it
may be readily turned over to allow the liquid to run therefrom through an orifice
in the periphery which orifice can be conveniently closed by a cork. To remove
the contents into a lamp for example there may be secured to the periphery of the
vessel (in proximity to the orifice) a funnel of a flexible material (preferably glued
paper) which can be folded flat against the periphery and opened out therefrom
when the contents are to be removed.
The ribs upon which the vessel stands as aforesaid may also be of glued paper
which can be folded flat against the periphery or rolled up to form the supporting
ribs. The vessel should be made liquid tight by an internal lining of glue for
example. I prefer to introduce the petroleum when at a higher temperature than
the normal temperature so that as the petroleum contracts on cooling the vessel
having been closed or sealed the heads or ends of the vessel owing to their flexibility
are forced or caused to bulge inwards by the outward pressure of the air and
thereby maintain the equal distribution of the bulk and weight of the liquid through
the vessel and prevent leakage.
Dated this 29th day of October 18
1001
J. H. JOHNSON & Co,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vessels or Containers for Petroleum or other
Liquids.
I JOHN DALZIEL SPRUNT of 6 East India Avenue in the City of London
Merchant 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 has for its object to provide a cheap light and efficient receptacle
or vessel intended more particularly for containing liquids of a penetrating nature
such for example as petroleum turpentine and the like but which may be used for
containing other liquids and from which the contents can readily be removed when

page_text: required. The vessel or container may be made rectangular cylindrical or of any
other desired form and preferably partly of rigid material and partly of flexible
material. For example the vessel or container may be in the form of a drum or
barrel the hoop or body portion being made of light rigid material such as wood
and the ends or heads of any suitable yielding or flexible material such as stout
tough paper soaked in glue or of sheets of thin veneer glued together with the grain
of one sheet crossing the grain of another but I may make the hoop or body portion
and also the heads or ends of other material such for example as compressed paper
or paper pulp. The sides or heads may be turned over the edges of the hoop or
body portion, or tape or other strips glued over the edges of the body portion and
the ends or heads may be used as the connecting medium or any other convenient
way of securing the parts together may be used. The body portion if of cylindrical
or curved form may have a flattened part or have ribs secured thereto for the vessel
to stand on but preferably so that the vessel may be readily turned over to allow
the liquid to run therefrom through an orifice therein which orifice can be
conveniently closed by a cork or by cementing a paper or other cover over the said
orifice.
For convenience of packing so as to occupy a minimum amount of space I prefer
to make the vessel rectangular and to facilitate the discharge of the contents, into
a lamp for example, there may be secured to the vessel (in proximity to the orifice)
a funnel of a flexible material (preferably glued paper) which can be folded flat
against the vessel when not required for use and opened out therefrom when the
contents are to be removed.
The ribs upon which the vessel stands when the vessel is of a curved formed
as aforesaid may also be of glued paper which can be folded flat against the
periphery or be rolled up to form the supporting ribs. The vessel should be
made liquid tight by an internal lining of suitable materials such as glue or
glued paper for example. I prefer to introduce the petroleum or the like when
at a higher temperature than the normal temperature so that, as the liquid
contracts on cooling, the vessel having been closed or sealed the heads or ends
of the vessel owing to their flexibility are forced or caused to bulge inwards by
the outward pressure of the air and thereby maintain the equal distribution. of
the bulk and weight of the liquid through the vessel and prevent leakage.
In order that my invention may be well understood I will describe with
reference to the accompanying drawings means whereby my invention may be
carried out in practice premising however that I do not restrict myself to the
precise details described and illustrated as variations may be made in the shapes
and mode of constructing the vessels without departing from the nature of my
invention.
Figure 1 represents in perspective a rectangular vessel or container constructed
partly of wood and partly of cardboard or the like according to my invention.
Figures 2 and 3 are vertical sections of the vessel or container drawn to a larger
scale, the sections being taken at right angles to each other through the discharge
passage and Figure 4 shews drawn to a smaller scale a strip of wood of which the
frame constituting the top bottom and ends of the vessel or container are formed.
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate in vertical section and horizontal section respectively a
mould for making seamless vessels or containers from paper pulp or the like.
To construct the vessel illustrated by Figure 1 I take a strip of wood as shewn
in Figure 4 of the necessary width and length according to the size of the vessel to
be made, the grain of the wood being preferably in the direction of the length of
the strip, and I score or groove this strip at the required distances apart as shewn
at a to form the angles of the vessel and then after steaming or soaking the strip in
water so as to render it pliable I coat the scores or grooves a with strong glue and
then fold the said strip into a rectangular form as shewn in Figure 2 and secure the
ends by nails, glue or other suitable cement or fastening. The open sides of the
frame thus formed I close by glueing to the edges the cof sheets of veneer, card-
Loal or other suitable flexible material and secure to the outer surface thereof by

page_text: means of glue or other suitable cement sheets of parchment or oil proof paper c
preferably of sufficient size to turn over and cover the outer surface of the
rectangular frame A. The joints at the angles may if desired be further strengthened
by glueing therealong strips of cloth or other suitable material. If desired the
veneer or cardboard sides b may be dispensed with and the sides of the vessel be
formed by several layers of parchment or glued paper wrapped round and secured
to the frame. An aperture B is made in the frame A preferably near one of the
angles through which aperture the vessel may be filled and discharged. The vessel
may have glue or other suitable material forced in through the aperture B or it may
be immersed in strong liquid glue or the like to fill up all crevices and form a lining
to the vessel as shown at d the surplus glue or the like being discharged through the
said aperture B. To facilitate carrying the vessel 1 secure preferably at the two
opposite ends thereof handles C which may consist of tape secured by glue or other
suitable means and to facilitate the discharging of the contents from the vessel I
secure by glue or otherwise in proximity to the aperture B a flexible funnel D which
may be made of glued paper, parchment or other suitable material that will permit
of being flattened against the vessel as will also the tape handles C. Before the
petroleum or other liquid is poured into the vessel it should be heated to some
degrees above the maximum temperature of the climate to which it is likely to be
subjected. When the vessel is full the flexible sides C will bulge outwards I then
close the aperture B preferably by glueing over it a piece of veneer or other suitable
material which will prevent the liquid from escaping. The liquid as it cools will
contract and would create a partial vacuuin in the interior of the vessel but owing
to the air-tight character of the vessel and the flexibility of its sides the atmospheric
pressure acting on the outside causes the sides to follow up the reduced bulk of the
liquid as it contracts and also when the liquid again expands the sides of the vessel
will yield to it and thus maintain the interior of the vessel fully charged with the
liquid whatever may be the variations of temperature to which it may be subjected.
Instead of constructing the vessel as described I may employ a strong bag made of
canvas or other suitable material which when in use may be distended by placing
therein a frame consisting of pieces of wood connected together somewhat like a
St. Andrew's cross or a wool winder or the frame may be made of two rectangular
pieces of wood connected together at the corners at the required distance apart by
rods or bars of wood or metal. This frame is inserted in the bag and the mouth of
the bag is closed by stitching or otherwise or in case of the rectangular frame ends as
described the sides of the vessel may be formed of canvas or the like secured by
glue or otherwise to the edges of the frame. An aperture is then made through
one of the ends of the frame and the vessel thus formed is immersed in liquid glue
or the like as before described in which may be placed powdered steatite chalk or
other suitable material to fill up the interstices or cavities with a hard and cheap
material, or the bag may be coated inside or outside or both inside and outside with
parchment or glued paper so as to make it liquid proof. To prevent the outside of
the bag from becoming sticky in damp weather it may be painted with, or dipped
into, a solution of bichromate of potash, acetate of alumina or other suitable
material. To prevent air bubbles forming in the internal coating the glue or the
like may be admitted to the interior of the vessel by a pipe passing through the
aperture B and reaching to within a short distance of the bottom or opposite side
of the vessel.
To make a light and strong vessel or container without joints or seams I may
mould it in paper pulp in the following manner.
I provide a mould such as is shewn in section in Figures 5 and 6 of suitable
strength to bear the necessary pressure to which the pulp is to be subjected,
perforations being provided in the mould for the escape of the liquid forced out of
the pulp. The interior of this mould is lined with felt or other suitable porous
material e and is of the shape of the exterior of the vessel or container to be formed.
This mould may be made in parts hinged together as shewn at for otherwise
connected so as to be capable of being opened out or separated to remove the

page_text: moulded article therefrom. An opening is provided as shown at g through which
the paper pulp or the like to form the receptacle is introduced after which I pass
through this opening a waterproof flexible bag or bottle which when expanded
corresponds in size and shape to the interior surface of the container to be moulded.
The mouth of this flexible bag or bottle is connected to a water supply pipe
through which water may be forced by hydraulic pumps or otherwise, into the bag
so as to cause it to expand and press the surrounding paper pulp against the interior
surface of the mould and expel the moisture from the said pulp through the
perforations the felt lining e preventing the pulp from passing through the said
perforations. The pulp is thus caused to assume the shape of the interior of the
mould and forms the exterior surface of the container the interior surface of which
will be formed by the exterior surface of the flexible bag or bottle. When the pulp
has been subjected to the required pressure the water is discharged from the flexible
bag which may then be removed from the mould through the opening g
mould may then be opened and the moulded vessel or container removed and dried
and then coated with glue or other suitable waterproofing material as hereinbefore
described. A yielding vessel or container without seams may thus be produced
which is clastic light strong and liquid proof and provided with an opening for
charging it with material and discharging the contents, which opening may be closed
by the glueing or cementing of a layer of suitable liquid proof material over it as
herein before described.
The
Instead of moulding the pulp to the form of a finished container as hereinbefore
described, I may mould it to a cylindrical form of any desired diameter and length,
and while in a pliable condition I may press the said cylinder into a rectangular form
in a suitable mould. The rectangular tube thus formed 1 may divide into lengths
suitable to the size of the containers to be made and glue or otherwise secure to the
open ends of these lengths of tube sheets of parchment vencer or other suitable
flexible material and finish each container by forming an opening therein and
coating the surfaces with waterproofing material as hereinbefore described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. Vessels or containers for petroleum, turpentine or other liquids the said vessels
or containers being made air tight and being provided with yielding or flexible
parts to follow the liquid as it increases or decreases in bulk by expansion and
contraction substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. A vessel or container for petroleum, turpentine or other liquids, consisting of
rigid or inflexible pait made of wood or other suitable light material and a yielding or
flexible part composed of parchment, glued paper, or other suitable flexible material,
that will yield in accordance with the contraction and expansion of the contents of the
vessel the exterior or the interior or both the exterior and interior surfaces of the
vessel being coated or covered with glue, parchment, glued paper, or other suitable
material to exclude air and prevent the liquid contents from exuding through the
joints or pores of the material of which the vessel is made substantially as herein-
before described.
3. In vessels or containers constructed in the manner and for the purpose herein-
before described the combination with the aperture for the introduction and discharge
of the liquid of a collapsible funnel attached to the vessel in proximity to the
aperture therein substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
4. A vessel or container for petroleum, turpentine or other liquid of a penetrating
nature constructed substantially as hereinbefore described.
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