An Improvement in or relating to Closing Device for Sterilizing Receptacles such as Glass Bottles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 15th Apr., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in or relating to Closing Device for Sterilizing
Receptacles such as Glass Bottles.
I, RUDOLF THIEL, of 107, Schwartauer Allee, Lubeck, in the Empire of
Germany, Manufacturer, 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:—
In sterilizing liquids in glass bottles and the like there are two principal
desiderata. In the first place liability of the glass or the like vessel (when glass
or the like is employed) to fracture owing to the expansion of the liquid during
heating requires to be obviated and in the second place the liquid should not come
in contact with the india rubber or the like when same is employed as the packing
material or washer as otherwise such liquid is liable to be injuriously affected by
such material.
Now the present invention relates to a closing device for sterilizing receptacles
which differs from those hitherto known in the essential feature that in an
automatic spring-closing device for glass bottles and the like wherein india rubber
or similar packing is employed contact between the the liquid to be sterilized and the
rubber packing is prevented whilst a spring-bow portion of the closing device is
employed in such a manner that during sterilization of the liquid the closing
device is capable of yielding and so allowing the excess of pressure formed within
the bottle to escape and then automatically closing itself again when the steriliz-
ing operation is terminated.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the closing device-the neck of the bottle being shown
in section.
Fig. 2 shows the closing device in the closed position.
G is the glass bottle which as shown in the drawing is provided with a closing
stopper a of china or other similar material which is formed with a neck or in-
dentation b which supports and maintains the packing washer of india rubber
and also the protecting covering or washer d of asbestos (or other suitable material
which will not affect the liquid contents) which is arranged beneath said washer c.
The protecting washer d is therefore upon the lower side of the stopper which is
in contact with the contents of the vessel. The closing stopper a is
pressed upon the neck (mouth) of the bottle by pressure obtained from spiral
yieldingly
springs such pressure being produced by forcing down the pressure bow by
means of the lever e into the position shown in Fig. 2 which bowf passes through
the stopper a and is formed into two spirals gl and upon the left and right hand
sides respectively by means of which springs said stopper is able to yield during
the continuance of the internal pressure resulting from the sterilization in order to
permit of the escape of the gases or vapours (when said pressure is sufficient to
overcome the strength of the said springs) arising from the liquid which is being
sterilized and then to immediately and automatically again close the vessel.

page_text: 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. The combination with a closing device for sterilizing receptacles wherein is
employed a packing washer of india rubber or the like of a protecting under
covering or washer such as d of asbestos or the like for the purpose of preventing
contact between the liquid which is being sterilized and the india rubber packing
and a wire pressure bow such as f which passes through the stopper and which is
formed into spiral springs such a g'g upon each side of the neck of the bottle and
a lever such as c said springs g g when the stopper is closed permitting the latter
to yield under the internal pressure resulting from the sterilization in order to
permit of the escape of the gases or vapours arising from the liquid which is being
sterilized in the vessel then to immediately and automatically tightly close said
vessel substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. A closing device for sterilizing receptacles constructed combined and arranged
to act in conjunction with the neck of a sterilizing receptacle substantially as and
for the purposes described and illustrated.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.