US2010126A - Measuring and dispensing can - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 6, 1935.. E. c. AKERS MEASURING AND DISPENSING CAN Filed March 19, 1934 I VENTOR. EARL C. A KERS TTORNE 5.

Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,010,126 MEASURING AND DISPENSING CAN Earl C. Akers, Detroit, Mich., assignor of one-half to Frank L. McLaughlin, Detroit, Mich.

This invention relates to liquid receptacles, and is particularly directed to the provision in conjunction with oil receptacles and the like of novel fractional dispensing means for limiting to a desired amount the portion of its fluid contents which may be withdrawn from a container at a single pouring, thereby enabling positive securance of a predetermined quantity only, re-

gardless of the capacity of the container,.at every pouring.

An important object of my invention is to provide a container especially suitable for motor oil, and of such nature that motorists and other users of oil in relatively small quantities, but

' who nevertheless purchase it in greater amounts than they ordinarily use at one time, may pour oil directly from a container holding perhaps several quarts or more into the crank-case or other part to be lubricated, and yet obtain only a desired quantity, as for example one quart, at each pouring. At present it is the usual practice to measure out the desired quantity into a separate measure before pouring it into the crankcase. This practice is not only bothersome in itself, but

i the necessity of keeping the measure, and usual- 13; a funnel as well, accessible (and clean, if the introduction of grit into the motor is to be avoided) is such a nuisance as to discourage many from buying oil in quantities despite the marked economy which may be thus effected.

The elimination of these troublesome disadvantages and drawbacks, and provision 'of an improved and simplified container adapted to hold a suitable quantity, as for example several quarts, of oil or other liquid, yet from which its contents may be poured a quart at a time only, is a primary object of this invention, together with such simplification of the means for accomplishing these desirable results that incorporating my invention adds very little to the cost of manufacture of a container.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawing illustrating preferred embodiments of my invention, and wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an oil can of a well a known eight-quart variety insofar as its general construction is concerned, but which is equipped with measuring means in accordance with the principles of my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a similar vertical section showing the container in tilted, fluid-delivery position, the disposition of oil therewithin under typical conditions being also indicated in dotted lines, and

Figure 4 is a perspective of the overweighted valve member employed to regulate communication between the two fluid chambers of the receptacle.

Referring now to the drawing, the interior of the container, as shown in Figure 2, may be divided into two compartments by the wall or partition A, which forms a false bottom, the space beneath which (designated D) defines a measuring chamber whose capacity is of course fixed by the positioning of the wall, which is preferably provided with downturned flanges, as B, adapted to support it in desired spaced relation with respect to the bottom of the can. The flanged wall assembly A-l3 is proportioned to fit slidably but relatively tightly inside the can, and may be held in place entirely by friction. Any slight leakage which takes place because of such method of inserting the partition is of course immaterial, since only approximate apportionment of the contents into quart or other desired units is required. The space above the partition, designated C, constitutes the main storage chamber and communicates with the measuring chamber D through an aperture E. Through this aperture, when the valve L (presently to be described) is open, fluid from the upper chamber C may freely flow by gravity into the measuring chamber D. Near one corner of the container rises a delivery or pouring tube G connecting the measuring chamber with the pouring cap opening P. Through this the fluid, which has filled the chamber D when the container is in the upright position shown in Figure 2, may be poured directly to a desired point.

When the container is upright the overweighted portion J of the valve-carrying support H forces upwardly and holds in raised position the oppoiste, active portion of the valve-carrying piece, which is pivoted on a pin K supported by the partition A appurtenant the valve opening E. The underside of the valve member H carries a valve portion L of suitable relatively resilient material, such as cork, movable upon swinging the valve member to stop and free the valve opening.

When the container is upright, as above indicated, the weight J overbalances the valve section, so that the latter is then distinctly raised from closure position with respect to aperture -E. When the receptacle is tilted to the oblique position shown in Figure 3, the center of gravity of the weighted valve support passes over the center of pivot pin K, so that the valve is then urged toward closed position to block the communicating aperture E. Thus when the can is tilted for pouring the valve is closed, permitting all of the fluid contained in the measuring chamber D to be poured through the delivery tube G and from the receptacle, without the possibility of any more of the fluid still contained in the upper storage chamber C making its way into the lower measuring chamber. If, for example, the container has a total capacity of eight quarts, while the measuring chamber holds one quart, pouring from the can in the normal way enables the user to pour out only the quart contained in the measuring chamber, and no more, upon a single tilting of the can. When, however, the receptacle is again restored to upright position, the weight J opens the valve and oil again fills the measuring chamber to enable repetition of the measured pouring thereafter.

A breather vent, as M, may be provided in the partition A to break any tendency toward creation of a vacuum in the measuring chamber. This vent is preferably arranged close to the corner diagonally opposite the pouring tube G, and a vent as N is also arranged in the top of the can and closable by means of a cap as N.

Oil cans of this variety are ordinarily not filled completely to the top, and it will be apparent that the can may be tilted to a sharp angle when pouring, so that the measuring chamber is substantially vertical, if desired. As a result, the surface of the oil then lies below both vents M-N, and air may enter the measuring chamber to replace the oil therein as the latter flows out. If through carelessness any slight amount of oil enters the measuring chamber through the small vent during pouring, the slight inaccuracy thereby induced is unimportant in view of the purpose for which the container is intended to be used.

Attention is also desired to be called to the inturned flanges Q with which the overbalanced valve supporting member H is provided. These will be seen to be so disposed that as the can is tilted (to the left as viewed in the drawing) the movement of the oil toward the low side of the container results in the striking of the valve, inside the pocketed portion defined in the flanges Q and sheet metal body portion of the valve support H, by a quantity of the moving oil. The momentum of the moving oil thus helps to positively throw the valve toward closed position. As shown in Figure 3 a pouring funnel, as B, may be substituted for the cap P during use of the can to assist in directing contained liquid into any desired receptacle, as oil into a breather pipe. The funnel shown is of a conventional variety adapted to screw on the spout P in place of the cap.

While it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiments of my invention herein disclosed are well calculated to adequately fulfill the objects and advantages primarily stated, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. A measuring and dispensing can having in combination with an apertured wall separating the interior thereof into a general fluid-storage space and a subjacent measuring space, a pouring outlet leading from said last-named space to the exterior of the can, and an overweighted valve member controlling the possible fiow between the two spaces and lying in non-closing position with respect to the aperture in the interior wall when the can is in horizontal, nonpouring position, said valve member being adapted to be rocked to position of closure with respect to said aperture when the can is inclined from its normal horizontal position for pouring.

2. In combination with a plurally chambered can having one of its chambers of a predetermined capacity and located subjacently of another chamber and in potential communication therewith, an overweighted valve member in normal position of non-closure with respect to the communication passage between the chambers, said valve being adapted to be moved by gravity into position of closure with respect to the passage between the chambers upon the inclination of the can as a whole from its normal position, and a pouring spout leading from the measuring chamber to a point outside of the can.

3. In combination with a container, means enabling fractional dispensing of a predetermined portion only of the contents of the container upon a single inclination thereof from upright position, said means comprising a wall bounding a measuring chamber portion and having an opening therein providing communication between said measuring chamber and the remainder of the container, valving means for said opening, means responsive to movement of the container from upright position for moving said valving means to closed position, and an outlet communicating with said measuring chamber.

4. In combination with a container, means enabling fractional dispensing of a predetermined portion only of the contents of the container upon a single inclination thereof from upright position, said fractional dispensing means including partitioning means defining a chambered section of predetermined capacity appurtenant the bottom of the container and having an opening therein providing communication with other portions of the container, valving means for said opening for controlling such communication, means responsive to movement of the container out of upright position for actuating the valving means, and a breather connecting said chambered section with a point higher than the normal liquid level therein.

5. In combination with a container for a liquid, fractional dispensing means for limiting the proportion of contents of the container which may be poured therefrom by a single tilting thereof, comprising a measuring chamber section appurtenant and in communication with the bottom portion of the container, valving means for such communication, means responsive to movement of the container out of upright position for actuating the valving means, and a pouring portion connected to said measuring chamber section and extending higher than the normal liquid level in the container.

6. In combination with a container for a liquid, fractional dispensing means for limiting the proportion of contents of the container which may be poured therefrom by a single tilting thereof, comprising partitioning means defining a measuring chamber section and having an opening therein providing communication with the bottom portion of the container, valving means for such opening, means responsive to movement of the container out of upright position for actuating the valving means, a pouring portion connected to said measuring section and extending higher than the normal liquid level in the container, the container having a breather opening therein, and the measuring chamber having a breather therein permitting communication between the measuring chamber and the first mentioned breather when the container is tilted.

EARL C. AKERS.

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