Improvements in Metallic Vessels for the Storage, Transit, and Distribution of Alimentary Substances, Liquids, and for other like purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 16th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metallic Vessels for the Storage, Transit, and
Distribution of Alimentary Substances, Liquids, and for other
like purposes.
1 ERNEST CHARLES THOMASSON of the Firm of Thomas Thomasson and
Company of Shrub Hill in the City of Worcester, Manufacturers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in the construc-
tion of oval, square, oblong or other sheet metal boxes, cans or flasks (with rounded
angles) whereby the articles or materials stored in the said vessels are protected
against the action of the air, or of loss by leakage during storage, transit &
distribution.
In sheet metal boxes, cans or flasks as ordinarily constructed the vertical edges
of the sheet of metal forming the body of the can are laid together & secured
with solder. The ends of the body are closed with discs each having a vertical
rim which after being slipped upon the body, one at each end, are likewise secured
with solder.
The disc at the upper end of the can being provided with a circular neck used
for filling and which is usually closed with a stopper of cork or other material.
With this method of construction leakage of the contents is often caused by the
solder giving way from rough usage in transit, by a blow or fall during storage or
by the imperfect fit of the stopper.
The object of my improvement is to effectually prevent all leakage whether
caused by the body or ends of the can box or flask giving way, or from the
failure of the cork or other stopper used to close the vessel when filled, and this I
effect in the several ways hereinafter described.
I will describe my invention as applied to an oval or substantially oval can or
flask made from tinplate. The sheet of tinplate forming the body of the can
having been bent to the required shape, the two vertical edges being (folded)
turned back in opposite directions so that they will hook together are then closed
by pressure forming a securely locked joint.
The upper and lower ends of the body are then horizontally flanged and are
closed with discs sunk inwardly so as to fit inside the body of the can leaving a
horizontal flange projecting slightly beyond and lying upon the flange formed upon
the body of the can.
The can with the ends in this position is placed in a machine and revolved
rapidly against grooved rollers which curl the horizontal flanges of the body and
ends tightly together forming a joint of great strength.
To ensure the cans being airtight the joints are secured with solder in the
ordinary way.
Instead of the neck or socket placed in the upper end of the can for filling and
which is usually closed with a cork I pierce a circular hole in the upper end of the
can in a convenient position leaving a small conical flange projecting outwardly,
through which I pass a seamless nozzle with hole pierced in the upper end for
filling and provided at the lower edge with a flange to engage with the conical
flange formed in the top of the can to receive it and to which it is securely
soldered.
Upon this nozzle is fitted a seamless cap which for greater security is provided

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with a washer or disc of leather, indiarubber, cork or suitable material placed in
the inner end of the cap.
Both cap & nozzle are drawn up from a single piece of sheet metal after which
they are passed through steel rollers which impart a screw thread to the metal.
This for greater security enables the cap to be screwed upon the nozzle, (after
the can is filled) the washer effectually closing the hole in the nozzle and making
a sound joint.
These boxes cans or flasks are intended to be made from tinplate brass copper,
aluminium or other suitable thin sheets of metal.
By a modification of this invention the body of the box, can or flask may be
reduced in depth and the ends closed in the manner previously described with the
exception that the circular hole for the nozzle is pierced through the upper side of
the body (instead of the end) in which position the nozzle is fixed as described in
the first arrangement.
This modification will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Sheet 1. Figure 1. represents in section and Figure 2 in plan the upper side of
an elliptical or practically elliptical can or flask shewing the nozzle washer and cap
in position and the flanged edges ready to be rolled or double seamed together.
Figure 3. represents in section and Figure 4 in plan the same can or task with
the flanged edges rolled or double seamed together.
Sheet 2 Figure 5 represents in cross section a modification of a can or flask
made in the manner previously described with the nozzle, cap & washer fixed in
position and the flanged edges ready to be rolled or double seamed together.
Figure 6 represents in cross section the same can or flask with the flanged
edges rolled or double seamed together.
Figure 7 represents in front elevation the complete finished can or flask.
Figures 8. 9. 10. represent in plan some of the other shapes of cans or flasks that
this improved manufacture can be applied to.
Any of these cans or flasks may be fitted with either fixed or movable handles
of metal or other suitable materials if desired.
The essence of my invention consists in the improved construction by rolling or
double seaming all the joints of the box, can or flask, in combination and con-
junction with the seamless nozzle cap and washer as substantially herein before
described.
Dated this 16th day of December 1895.
ERNEST CHARLES THOMASSON.
:
4
DIE DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metallic Vessels for the Storage, Transit, and
Distribution of Alimentary Substances, Liquids, and for other
like purposes.
I ERNEST CHARLES THOMASSON of the Firm of Thomas Thomasson and
Company of Shrub Hill in the City of Worcester Manufacturers 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 4
statement:-
My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in the con-
struction of oval, square, oblong, or other sheet metal boxes, cans, or flasks, (with
rounded angles) whereby the articles or materials stored in the said vessels are
protected against the action of the air, or of loss by leakage during storage, 5
transit, and distribution.

page_text: In sheet metal boxes, cans, or flasks, as ordinarily constructed the vertical
edges of the sheet of metal forming the body of the can are laid together and
secured with solder, the ends of the body are closed with discs each having a
vertical rim which after being slipped upon the body one at each end are likewise
secured with solder, the disc at the upper end of the can being provided with a
circular neck or socket used for filling and which is usually closed with a stopper
of cork or other material.
With this method of construction leakage of the contents is often caused by the
solder giving way from rough usage in transit by a blow or fall during storage, or
by the imperfect fit of the stopper.
The object of my improvement is to effectually prevent all leakage whether
caused by the body or ends of the box, can, or flask giving way, or from the failure
of the cork or other stopper used to close the vessel when filled, and this I effect
in the several ways hereinafter described.
I will describe my invention as applied to an oval or substantially oval can or
flask made from tinplate;
The sheet of tinplate forming the body of the can having been bent to the
required shape the two vertical edges being (folded) turned back in opposite
directious so that they will hook together are then closed by pressure forming a
securely locked joint.
The upper and lower ends of the body are then horizontally flanged and are
closed with discs sunk inwardly so as to fit inside the body of the can leaving a
horizontal flange projecting slightly beyond and lying upon the flange formed upon
the body of the can.
The can with the ends in this position is placed in a machine and revolved
rapidly against grooved rollers which curl the horizontal flanges of the body and
ends tightly together forming a joint of great strength, to ensure the cans being
airtight the joints are secured with solder in the ordinary way.
Instead of the neck or socket placed in the upper end of the can for filling and
which is usually closed with a cork, I pierce a circular hole in the upper end of
the can in a convenient position leaving a small conical flange projecting outwardly,
through which I pass a seamless nozzle with a hole pierced in the upper end for
filling and provided at the lower edge with a flange to engage with the conical
flange formed in the top of the can to receive it and to which it is securely
soldered, upon this nozzle is fitted a seamless cap which for greater security is
provided with a washer or disc of leather india rubber, cork or other suitable
material placed in the inner end of the cap.
Both cap and nozzle are each drawn up from a single piece of sheet metal after
which they are passed through steel rollers which impart a screw thread to the
metal, this for greater security enables the cap to be screwed upon the nozzle (after
the can is filled) the washer effectually closing the hole in the nozzle and making
a sound joint.
These boxes, cans, or flasks, are intended to be made from tinplates, brass,.
copper, aluminium or other suitable thin sheets of metal.
By a modification of this invention the body of the box, can, or flask, may be
reduced in depth and the ends closed in the manner previously described with the
exception that the circular hole for the nozzle is pierced through the upper side of
the body (instead of the end) in which position the nozzle is fixed as described in
the first arrangement, this modification will be readily understood by reference to the
drawings left with the Provisional Specification.
Referring now to the provisional drawings, Figure 1 represents in section and
Figure 2 in plan an elliptical or practically elliptical can or flask shewing the ends
in position (with nozzle, cap, and washer fixed) with the flanged edges ready to be
rolled or double seamed together.
Figure 3 represents in section and Figure 4 in plan the same can or flask with
the flanged edges rolled or double seamed together.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts, a is the body of the flask ;

page_text: .
a, a are the horizontal flanges at both ends of the body a; b, b are the discs or
ends of the flask provided with horizontal flanges 62, 6' which rest upon and
project slightly beyond the flanges a³, a of the body of the flask a; b is the
conical flange in the upper end of the flask through which 1 pass the seainless
nozzle having at its lower edge a flange which engages with the conical
flange bd is the seamless cap provided with the washer e in the inner end.
All these parts having been prepared and placed in position as shown in Figure 1,
the box, can, or flask is placed in a machine and revolved rapidly against grooved
rollers which curl the flanges a³, a and b, 63 tightly together as shown in Figure 3,
to ensure the can being airtight the joints may be soldered in the usual way.
Figure 5 represents in section the modification of a can or flask made in the
manner previously described with the nozzle cap and washer fixed in position and
the flanged edges ready to be rolled or double seamed together.
Figure 6 represents in section the same can or flask with the flanged edges rolled
or double seamed together.
Figure 7 represents in front elevation the complete finished can or flask.
In this arrangement the body a of the can or flask is reversed and the nozzle c
is passed through a hole pierced in the upper side of the body a, having a conical
flange a with which it engages, the ends b, b which in Figures 5. 6. 7 appear as
sides are placed in position see Figure 5 with the flanges a³, a³ and 62, 63 lying upon
and overlaping; the can or flask is then placed in a machine and revolved rapidly
against grooved rollers which curl the flanges tightly together, the joints then
being soldered to ensure the can or flask being airtight as previously described.
Figures 8. 9. 10 represent in plan some of the other shapes of boxes cans or
flasks that this improved manufacture can be applied to.
The method of forming the body joint or seam of the boxes, cans, or flasks is
shown in the accompanying drawings.
Figure 11 represents in section the body a of an elliptical flask with the
edges a, a folded or turned back in opposite directions.
Figure 12 represents in section the same body a with the edges at, a* hooked
together and the joint securely closed.
Figure 13 represents in side elevation a finished can showing the position of the
body joint a*.
Figures 14 and 15 represent in section and Figure 16 in plan a similar body
joint as applied to the modification of flask as previously described and illustrated
in Figures 5. 6. 7.
Figures 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. do not in any way limit
the sizes or shapes in which these boxes cans or flasks with rounded angles can
be made, both size and section can be varied as most convenient or as desired, the
seamless nozzle cap and washer may also be of any convenient diameter or depth.
Any of these boxes, cans, or flasks may be fitted with either fixed or moveable
handles of metal or other suitable materials if desired.
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
The improved construction of metallic boxes, cans, or flasks having rounded
angles, by rolling or double seaming all the joints of the box, can, or flask, in com-
bination and in conjunction with the seamless nozzle, cap, and washer constructed
and arranged and operating substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Dated this Fifteenth do
1000
ERNEST CHARLES THOMASSON.