US1263810A - Automatic funnel. - Google Patents

Description

G. 0. SAUERMANNQ AUTOMATIC FUNNEL.

APPLICATION man NOV. 20. ms.

Patented. A 23, 1918.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESSES GUSTAVE 0. SAUEBMANN, .0]? KENESAW, NEBRASKA. i

AUTOMATIC FUNNEL.

Application filed November 20, 1915. Serial No. 62,675.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUs'rAvn O. SABER- MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kenesaw, in the county of Adams and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Funnels, of which the following is a specification.

An object of my invention is to provide a new and improved automatic funnel that consists of novel means to normally retain the closure valve in an open position, mechanism to cause the proper actuation of the retaining means in order to allow the valve to move into a closed position at the tine the level of the fluid in the container, in connection with which the device is being used, reaches a desired height, and means whereby the operator may retain the closure valve in a seated position after it has been released to automatically move into that position; thereby permitting the funnel to be moved from one container to another without creating liability of spilling therliquid' remaining therein.

My invention, has for another object, the provision of a device of the type in question that is extremely simple in construc tion, strong and durable, and highly practical from both the standpoint of the manufacturer and the standpoint of the user; and which, it is believed, may be manufactured at a minimum cost.

, Various other objects and advantages will become apparent during the continuance of the following description.

lhese objects are accomplished by such means as are shown in their preferred form in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like characters designate like parts throughout the several views;

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my invention showing the same as in its preferred embodiment; and in conjunction with a bottle neck of substantially the conventional form.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1. V

In the drawings A designates a bottle neck of substantially the conventional form in connection with which my invention is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 23., 191%..

shown. It is to be understood however that I do not limit myself in any manner to the use of my invention in connection with a container having a neck of this specific form, but desire to point out that my improved funnel is readily applicable to the Various forms of containers and the necks thereof, which are now in use.

My improved funnel consists more essentially of a body structure 10 that is slightly tapered toward its lower end, as are the majority of devices of this character, and which supports at its lower end a mouth or spout structure 11 through the medium of a transverse supporting shoulder 12. As is clearly shown in Fig. 1, in the use of the funnel in connection with a container having a neck of the type shown, the shoulder 12 rests on the upper edge of the neck and thus properly supports the body of the funnel at all times. This form of means for supporting the body of the funnel is especially desirable at the time the liquid is being poured into the funnel in that it eliminates the necessity of the operator steadying the funnel with one hand.

In order to properly support the closure valve (which will be presently described), and at the same time provide for the uniform dispensing of the liquid from the body of the funnel to the mouth or spout 11, I arrange within the body, preferably at a point slightly above the upper terminus of the mouth or spout, a centrally apertured disk 13 which has its circumferential edge bent as at 14: to facilitate a more secure connection with the body of the funnel. Adjacent a central point, the frame 13 carries a depending outlet tube 15 to permit a flow of liquid from the body of the funnel to the mouth or spout 11, which is provided, substantially intermediate its ends with a bearing 16.

I further provide a ball valve 17 that carries a depending guide rod 18 to be journaled through the bearing 16, while the guide rod 18, in turn carries a second and smaller ball 19 at its lower end. The valve 17 preferably madeof a diameter whereby it is capable of closing the outlet 15 at certain times to prevent the further dispensing of the liquid contained in the body of the funnel, while the other ball 19 may be formed of a diameter materially less than the diameter of the outlet so as to not in any way obstruct or impede the flow of liquid from the outlet to the mouth or spout 11.

Consistent with the foregoing, I have devised improved means for normally retain- 5 ing the valve 17 in a raised po-sitionin order to allow the dispensing of liquid from the body of the funnel through the mouthor spout 11 to the respective container, and to this end I provide a pair of detents 20 each of which is pivotally supported within the body of the funnel, slightly below the lower terminus of the outlet 15, through the medium of the transverse supporting rods 21. One end of each of the detents has pivotal connection, as at 22, with one of the supporting rods 23, the latter being bent to -for1n a horizontal element 21 to normally rest on the shoulder 12 or" the funnel, whil they further support a float- 25 adjacent their 2.( lower ends as clearly shown in Fig. l. The weight of the rods 23 and the float 25 will normally retain the detents in the positionshown in Fig. 1 so that their inner ends will engage and support the ball 19 and thus retain the valve '17 in an open position with respect to the outlet 15. On the other hand should the float 25 be moved upwardly, such as caused by the rising of the level of the.

fluid in the neck of the container in connection with which'the tunnel is used, the detents 20 will be made to rock upon their respective pivots, the rods 21, in order to permit the ball 19 to move downwardly and thus cause the proper seating oi. the valve 17 In order to partly deflect the fluid passing downwardly through the mouth or spout structure 11 and to somewhat nullify the pressure of that fluid upon the float 25, I provide the mouth or spout structure with 40 a series of transverse openings 26 through which a portion of this fluid may pass.

'Ihese openings are preferably arranged in the mouth or spout structure at a point appreciably above the float as clearly shown in Fi 1. I b

After the level of the fluid in the cont ainer in connection with which the funnel is used reaches a desired height and the valve 17 has been permitted to move to a closed position it is of course desirable to provide means for retaining the valve in this position in order that the funnel may be removed from the container without the liability of the valve again moving into an open position. To this end I provide an actuating rod 27 one end of which is movably connected to the valve 17 as at 28, while its other end projects through a guide member 29' adjacent the upper edge of the funnel body and'bent -as at 30 to form a suitable finger-engaging portion 31. It is contemplated to arrange the finger-engaging portion of the rod 27 in proximity to the handie of the tunnel in order that the operator may actuate the same with ease. By exerting a slight downward pressure on the finger-engaging portion of the rod, the latter will be moved in a like direction and thus securely retain the valve 17 in place.

From the foregoing it is believed that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily understood and therelkn'e further detailed description is deemed unnecessary.

In reducing my invention to practice I find that the form referred to herein as the most practical and preferred embodiment is the most eflicient, but realizing that certain conditions will necessarily *ary in concurrence with the adoption of my device, I desire to emphasize the fact that various ininor changes in the details of construction and in the proportion of parts may be re sorted to when required without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A funnel, comprising the usual body 00 and spout, there being an inner shoulder between the body and spout, a valve within the body for normally shutting oil the fiow of liquid therethrough, a detent for holding the valve unseated under normal conditions, a float disposed within the spout, and connecting means between the float and detent and having an oiiset portion to engage the said inner shoulder to normally hold the parts in predetermined position.

' A funnel, comprising the usual body and spout, a disk within the lower portion of the body and having a centrally disposed opening, a tube depending from the disk in line with the openings thereof, a guide with in the tube, a valve for closing the opening of the dish, a stem depending from the valve and co-acting with the guide, opposed detents for engaging the stem and normally holding the valve unseated, a float, and connecting means between the detents and float and normally engaging a part of the tunnel to hold the parts in given position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GUSTAVE O. SAUERMANN.

Witnesses EARLE Bownns, II. M. RUssnLL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C.

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