US42351A - Improvement in the manufacture of tin cans - Google Patents

Description

Unirse drames EDWARD T. COVELL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE IVIANUFACTURE OF TIN CANS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 412,35H, dated April 19, 1864.

improved cans with its top off; Fig. 2, a transverse section of the saine; Fig. 3, a vertical section of the same with its top in place; and Fig. 4, a vertical section of a part of the bottom and one side of one of my improved cans, showinga mode of' securing the bottom therein differing somewhat from that illustrated in Fig. 3.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all of the figures.

The object of my invention is to afford a simple, expeditious, and cheap mode of uniting with each other the sides and ends of a sheet-metal can, and by the employment of this mode to produce a neat and strong can.

Heretofore in the construction of such a can as is illustrated in the accompanying drawings the usual process has been to lap the margins of two opposite sides-such as A and around the edges of the other two sides and to complete the joints by running a seam of solder over each one and on thesurface of the can, after which the end sheets,which are made larger than the transverse area of the can, are placed in position and their margins lapped over upon the outside of the can and also soldered. The can as thus constructed is not only unsightly and not very strong, but it also requires great skill and care in its construction, as the edges of the sheets of metal being exposed to immediate contact with the soldering-iron the solder, unless run on very quickly and skillfully, is apt to penetrate unequally under the edges and cockle7 them, thus forming an irregular and clumsy joint. I overcome these difficulties and objections by forming the joints of the cans as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the formation of the sheets composing the sides of the can being most clearly shown by Figs. 1 and 2,

wherein it appears that one margin 0f these sheets is bent inwardly until it reaches a position approximating to a right angle with the sheet, while the opposite margin thereof is bent into such a form as that its transversesection is somewhat similar to the letter Z or figure 2. These sheets. being so bent, are placed in such positions relatively to each other as thateach simple bend of the sheets may be received into and in a degree embraced by the compound bend of the next adjacent sheet, and being in this position it will be observed that a gutter or groove is formed at each angle of the can, down which the soldering-iron maybe guided with ease and accuracy by even an inexperienced hand, and as the edgesof the sheets are not exposed to direct contact with the iron the liability of cockling the edges is overj come.

The heads may be secured in the can by simply turning up a flange on each edge thereof and insideof the can, after which they are soldered securely on the outside of the joint, or they may be secured in the manner represented in Fig. 4, Here a groove is formed on vthe inner face of each side of the can, and before the sidesfare soldered together the heads, previously prepared of a proper size and hemmed, if desired, are placed in 4such a position that each edge thereof is received into one ot' the grooves, after which the whole is soldered together.

The side plates of the can may with advantage be hemmed at top and bottom.

I am aware that the joints of sheet-metal cans have been made by turning in the margins of the plates at suitable angles and soldering together the outer faces of these turnedin margins; but it will be readily perceived that the joints constructed upon my plan are much stronger than these, and have the ad ditional advantage of being free from those inwarwadly-projecting sharp ribs which are found in cans constructed as aboved escribed, and which are liable to injure the contents of the can.

My improved cans are more easily constructed than those made on other plans, as from the peculiar' formation of the several plates each is in a measure tied in place by the two next adjacent ones even before the solder is applied.

Having thus fully'described my improved A manner of constructing sheet-metal cans,what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Uniting the sides of sheet-metal cans by means of interlocking hook-shaped iianges and solder, substantially as herein set forth; but

this I only claim when the hook-shaped anges are completely formed upon the margins of the side sheets before the said sheets are joined together for the formation of a can, when the sides of a sheet-metal can are united with eachother by means of the above-described interlocking hook-shaped flanges and solder.

2. Securing the heads of the can in proper position by means of grooves formed inside of the can for the reception of the edges of the heads, the joints being completed by the ,use

of solder or other suitable cement.

The foregoing specification of my improvement in sheet-metal cans signed by me this 12th day of December7 A. D. 1863.

EDVD. T. COVELL.

In presence of-y Tnos. C. CAsE, SAM. SU'rrE.

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