US2121878A

US2121878A - Caster for sugar or other granular or powdered substances

Info

Publication number: US2121878A
Application number: US69483A
Authority: US
Inventors: Locker Maurice
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-03-30
Filing date: 1936-03-18
Publication date: 1938-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 1955-06-28

Description

June2s,193s. M. LOCKER I 2,121,872;

' CASTER FOR SUGAR OR OTHER GRANULAR OR POWDERED SUBSTANCES Filed March 18, 1956 Inventor Patented June 28, 1938 I c-Asr nFoR-sUGAR on OTHER Gasman -'0RPOWDERED'SUBSTANQES w H illlaui'ice l lpcker, Manchester, England Application March 18, 1936, Serial=No. 69,483

I I In Great Britain -March 30,1935

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a caster forsugar or other granular or powdered substance, such as salt, coffee, etc.

The ordinary sifter or caster has certaindisadvantages, for example, the quantity delivered is indefinite (being dependent upon the size of grain, its dryness and the size' of apertures which are difficult to judge), and the delivery is very distributed and by its construction its use is limited to that for whichit was made, i. e., for sugar or for salt respectively.

The object of the invention is an improved caster which is simple and efii'cient in operation, is free from the above stated disadvantages and has a Wider range of utility.

According to the invention, the improved caster comprises a holder or container having a delivery nozzle with synchronized masked inlet and outlet valves therein, so that the body of the nozzle constitutes a measuring chamber.

In the accompanying drawing-- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of my improved caster.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a modified form of the caster.

As shown in Fig. 1, the improved caster comprises a glass jar-like body a tapering at its lower end to a nozzle in which is fitted the delivery nozzle 1). At its upper end the jar is provided with a screw capv 0 having a central hole through which projects the knob 11 of the delivery valve described below.

The nozzle b is cylindrical in shape, having a conical flange e adapted to rest on the inside of the glass body and screw-threaded on its outside for a clamping nut f. Above the flange and surrounding the central bore of the nozzle are three upstanding guide lugs g. The bore of the nozzle which is about inch long by inch diameter is slightly enlarged at each end for about inch of its length, forming seatings or stops, h, h for the valves.

The valve consists of two conical washers i and a separated by a distance piece It about inch long-the three parts being mounted on a screw 1 which screws into the end of a tubular rod m. Onthe upper end of the rod m is secured the knob dwhichprojects through the hole in the cap 0.

A return spring 0 is provided of the coiled type adapted at one end to encircle the three guide lugs'g above referred to, and having its other end bent across diametrically to pass through a small hole p in the tubular rod m.

In operation, the spring 0 holds the valves in their raised position when the upperuvalve disc will be above the flange e of the valve body. Sugar or other content of the container may then flow into the chamber of. the valve body b, the conical shape of the valve 7' and of the flange e acting to direct the fioW of the same. To obtain a delivery of the sugar the knob d is depressed, which operation may be performed by one finger of the hand in which the caster is held; The first movement of the valves brings the edge of the upper valve disc 7' within the body b, of the nozzle before the lower disc 1' leaves the same. Further movement of. depressing the knob brings the lower valve 2' beyond the end of. the nozzle 19 when the sugar which has collected between the two valve discs flows out over the lower conical valve 2'. When the knob is released, the valves rise and sugar again flows in under thev upper valve disc to fill the chamber of the nozzle. The caster above described delivers about half a teaspoonful of sugar. at each operation, and the whole contents of the container can be emptied without difficulty.

The container is easily filled by removing the screw top.

The upstanding lugs g act to locate the return spring and also as a guide for the upper valve disc 7' so that the valve rod will stand centrally While the cap is removedfor filling the container.

By varying the diameter of the spacing collar or both the length of the collar and nozzle, the g quantity of material which is delivered may be adjusted as may be required. ,The diameterof the valves and nozzle may also be varied for the same purpose. 7

In combination with the sifter is a stand q in which the caster may stand or there may be provided a depending flange r as shown in Fig. 2 formed as an extension of the glass body a and on which the caster may stand, on a table. One advantage of the separate stand q is however that any small quantities of sugar which pass the valves due to vibration or accidental operation of the knob or other cause are collectedtherein and may be returned to the container. For such purpose the stand is preferably made so that the end of the container fits therein sufi-lciently closely to protect any sugar therein from the access of flies or from other contamination. Also the end of. the screw Z may be extended to engage the well of the stand q so that the knob cannot be depressed until the caster is lifted.

As already explained, the caster may be used l'or salt, tea, coffee or any other suitable commodity beside sugar, and is, therefore, a very useful domestic utensil.

What I claim is:--

1. A caster comprising a container having a cylindrical outlet passage, an annular inwardly projecting ridge in said passage intermediate of its ends, and a measuring :and delivery valve associated with said passage, comprising two valvelike members spaced apart on a rod, and both of equal diameter, just smaller than the internal diameter of the passage, but greater than that of the ridge, said members being spaced apart by a distance less than the length of the passage but greater than the distance from either end of. the passage to the side of the ridge furthest from such end, the ridge constituting a stop defining the limit of movement of the valve members in both directions, and so that, in an intermediate position, 'both the valve-like members are within their respective ends of said passage.

2. A caster according to claim 1 characterized by a stand having a recess adapted to receive and enclose the lower end of the caster, on which end is formed the outlet passage, the bottom of the recess being just lower than the end of the valve rod when the caster is supported in the stand with the valves in their raised position, the bottom of. the stand thereby acting as a stop to prevent opening or downward movement of the valves.

3. A caster according to claim 1 characterized in that the valve-like members are detachably mounted on their rod and separated by a detachable distance piece which determines their spacing apart.

MAURICE LOCKER.