US2038517A - Receptacle closure - Google Patents

Description

April 28, 1936. M. ALLAND RECEPTACLE CLOSURE a u H nf W 7 mm 4 M Filed Sept. 22, 1952 Patented Apr. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to receptacle closures, and more particularly to closures such as are used on gasoline tanks of automotive vehicles.

The theft of gasoline by siphoning or otherwise withdrawing quantities thereof from automobile tanks is a frequent source of loss and annoyance to automobile owners. Also the caps which cover the filling openings in closures used on such tanks, as well as used on radiators and 'the like, are often removed and stolen.

An object of my invention is to provide a device which will prevent the unauthorized withdrawal of any quantity of gasoline whatsoever from a tank.

Another object is to prevent the theft of the cap which covers the filling opening of such a tank.

A still further object is to produce such a device having a cap which will permit the venting of the tank when closed, but will effectively prevent the entrance of foreign matter into said tank.

The foregoing and other objects of my invention will be best understood from the following description of an exemplification thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1.is a vertical cross-section of my novel device taken along line Il of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a top view of my device; g

Fig. 3 is a top view showing the cap in its open position; and i. i

Fig. 4 is a vertical elevation of the device showing the open position of the cap in dotted lines.

In the drawing, I represents a gasoline tank having an opening 2 which receives the lower end of my novel closure-device; This device consists of an outer tubular member 3, and an inner tubular member 4. These two tubular members are formed of comparatively heavy material, and

are lmperforate. The upper end of the tubular member 4 is connected to the outer tubular mem; ber 3 adjacent its upper end by an annular memher 5. The inner tubular'member 4 serves as a filling opening for the tank I. In order to prevent the unauthorized withdrawal of gasoline, a

barrier 6 is formed adjacent the lower end of the tubular member 4. The'barrier 6 is'also formed of a comparatively heavy'and tough material, such as, for example, metal, in order to prevent the unauthorized breaking thereof. In order to'allow the entrance of gasoline into the tank, the barriert is provided with a plurality of perforawithdrawing gasoline from the tank. These openings, however, exist in sufficiently large numbers so that gasoline can freely pass into the tank. some previous attempts have been made to produce devices which will prevent the theft 5 of gasoline from the tank. However, these have had the drawback that when the tank isabsolutely full of gasoline, a considerable amount thereof could bestolen from the tank. I avoid this difficulty by locating my barrier 6 at a level 10 not below the upper wall of the tank I. Thus gasoline 8 may be introduced into the tank I, and fill said tank to an absolutely full position, as illustrated in Fig. 1. It will be noted that even when the tank is sofilled with gasoline, the barrier 6 is located above the level of said gasoline, and therefore prevents any withdrawal thereof. Inasmuch as the side walls of the tubular members 3 and 4 are imperforate, it is necessary to provide some means for allowing the air to escape from the tank when gasoline is being introduced into said tank. For this purpose I provide a number of perforations 9 in the annular member 5. These perforations 9 are also sufficiently small to prevent the entrance of any pipe which anyone may attempt to insert for the purpose of withdrawal of the gasoline. These perforations, however, are sufiiciently numerous so that the air displaced by the gasoline entering the tank passes out freely therethrough. The total area of the perforations 9 is of the same order of magnitude as the total area of the perforations I. These perforations 9 not only serve the purpose of allowing the escape of air from within the tank, but also permit the entrance of air into said tank as the gasoline is withdrawn from the usual fuel line for consumption in the engine itself. The lower end of the tubular wall 3 may be provided with an'annular ledge I0, whereby my device may be securely fastened to 40 the upper wall of the tank I, as, for example, by being welded thereto. Of course, it is to be understood that any other satisfactory mode of attachment of the device to the tank may be used.

My novel device is also provided with a. cap I I, this cap being provided with screw-threads, whereby it may be threaded into the upper end of the tubular member 3 which is also threaded to receive said cap. In order to securely hold the cap to the device and prevent the theft thereof, this cap is mounted on the device in the following manner. Integral therewith or otherwise securely fastened to the outer wall of the tubular member 3 is a lug I2 provided with a longitudinal bore I3 passing therethrough. Thisbore adopted. The outer edge 2 I3 receives a rod I4 which fits loosely into said bore, whereby it is free to move longitudinally and rotate therein. The upper end of the rod I4 is provided with a narrowed section I5 which passes through an opening in the outer end of the connecting bar It. The upper end of the section I5 is provided with an enlarged head I'I, whereby the bar I6 is securely held between said head I1 and the ledge formed between the lower end of the section I5 and the upper end of the rod l4. The lower end of the rod I4 is provided with another enlarged head I8 which prevents the removal of the rod I4 from the bore I3. At the opposite end of the bar It is provided an opening through which a pin I9 passes. This pin not only passes through said bar I6 but is also received in an opening passing through the center of the cap II. The pin I9 is provided with enlarged heads 20 and 2| at the upper and lower ends thereof, which heads serve to securely fasten together the cap II and the bar I6. The opening in the center of the cap II is of sufiicient size so that the cap rotates freely on the pin I9. In the closed position of the cap I I, as shown in Fig. 1, it will be seen that the openings 9 are completely closed by said cap. In order to provide venting of the tank in the closed position of said cap, a vent 22 is provided passing through said cap. In order that the upper ends of the perforations 9 be not completely closed, said cap is preferably provided with a concave inner surface 23 forming a chamber which in the closed position of the cap extends above the upper ends of said perforations 9. Thus the perforations 9, the upper chamber and the vent 22 through the cap 1 I form an air passage through which the interior of the tank may be vented. Since the perforations 9 are covered by the cap II, the entrance of foreign matter, such as rain or dirt, into the tank through these perforations is effectively prevented. The only remaining opening in the tank which need be protected against the passage of foreign matter therethrough is the vent 22. 1 accomplish this protection in a particularly simple but effective manner by so proportioning the threads on the cap II and the upper end of the tubular member 3 that when the cap I I is screwed down tight against the top of said tubular me ber 3, the vent 22 lies directly under the bar I6. Thus the bar l6 covers the upper end of the vent 22, and protects it against the entrance of undesirable foreign matter. In order to provide a space between the upper end of the vent 22 and the bar [6 for the free passage of air, I preferably make the upper surface of my cap I I slightly convex asshown. Of course any other arrangement whereby a clearance exists between the upper end of the vent 22 and the bar I6 may be of the cap Il may be roughened, as for example by knurling at' 24, whereby it may be easily threaded into and out of the upper end of the tubular member 3.

When it is desired tofill the tank I with gasoline, the cap I I is unscrewed from the top of the tubular member 3, hereupon it may easily be rotated on the bar I6 around the rod I4 to the position as shown in Fig. 3. In this position the entire arrangement, including the cap I I, the bar It and the rod I4, can be lowered to the position shown in dotted linesin Fig. 4. In this position it will be seen that all of the elements associated with the cap have been removed to a position outside of and below the top of the tubular member 3, in which position it offers the minimum interference with the introduction of gasoline through the upper end of the tubular member 3. The gasoline is now introduced into the tubular member 4, and passes freely through the perforations I into the interior of the tank. Since a considerable section of the tubular member 4 projects above the barrier 6, this tubular member forms in effect a reservoir in which the gasoline collects if momentarily the rate at which gasoline is passed into said tubular member exceeds the rate at which it is discharged through the opening 56. During the filling of the tank, the air displaced by the gasoline passes out freely through the perforations 9. The fact that it is securely retained on the rod I4 which is in turn securely held within the lug I2 on the tubular member 3, effectively prevents the unauthorized removal and theft of the cap. After the tank has been filled with gasoline at the level as shown in Fig, 1, gasoline cannot be stolen therefrom inasmuch as if a tool is inserted through the upper end of the tubular member 3, it will encounter the barrier 5 before it can reach the upper level of the gasoline. Thus it will be seen that my device effectively protects the contents of the tank I against theft and also against contamination, due to the entrance of foreign matter, as well as guards against the theft of the cap closing the filling opening of said tank.

This invention is not limited to the particular details of construction, materials or processes described above as many equivalents will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. For example, said closure could be used on any other receptacle adapted to hold liquids other than gasoline. Also the particular mounting of the cap could be used on caps, such as are mounted on radiators or similar devices. It is accordingly desired that the appended claims be given a broad interpretation commensurate with the scope of the invention within the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a closed receptacle adapted to receive a liquid, an opening in the upper wall of said receptacle, a closure member received in said opening, said closure member comprising an imperforate tubular member, said tubular member constituting .an inlet passage for said liquid, a perforate barrier within said tubular member and extending entirely across said tubular member, said barrier being located at a level above the upper surface of said liquid when said receptacle is absolutely full of said liquid, said tubular member having at least a part thereof projecting above said barrier, whereby said liquid may be introduced into said receptacle throughsaid tubular member, anair passage leading from the interior of said tank, terminating at an opening adjacent the upper end of said tubular member and separated from said inlet passage, and a single cap adapted to close and protect both the upper end of said tubular member and said opening against the entrance of undesirable foreign matter.

2. In combination, a tubular closure member, a lug joined to the outer wall of said tubular member below the upper end of said tubular member, said lug being provided with a longitudinal bore, a rod passing through said bore and being free to rotate and move longitudinally therein, a cap for said. tubular closure member, a bar joined at one end to the upper end of said rod, said cap being rotatively connected to said bar at the opposite end thereof, means for preventing the removal of said rod from said lug, said bar and cap being rotatable about the axis of said rod out of line with the upper end of said tubular closure member, the edges of said cap, bar, and rod in their rotated position clearing the outer edge of said tubular closure member, whereby said cap, bar and rod can be lowered past the top of said tubular member on the outside thereof, said lug being sufficiently below the level of the top of said tubular closure member so that in their lowered position the tops of said cap, rod and bar lie below the level of the top of said tubular closure member.

3. In combination, a closed receptacle adapted to receive a liquid, an opening in the upper wall of said receptacle, a closure member received in said opening, said closure member comprising an imperforate outer tubular member, an imperforate inner tubular member, an annular ring integrally joining the upper end of said inner tubular member with said outer tubular member adjacent the upper end of said outer tubular member, said annular ring being provided with small perforations, a perforate barrier within said inner tubular member and extending entirely across said tubular member, said barrier being located at a level above the upper surface of said liquid when said receptacle is absolutely full of said liquid, said inner tubular member having at least a part thereof projecting above said barrier, whereby said liquid may be introduced into said receptacle through said tubular member, a single cap adapted to close and protect both the upper end of said. outer tubular member and said perforations in said annular ring against the entrance of undesirable foreign matter, and an air vent passage in said cap.

4. In combination, a closed receptacle adapted to receive a liquid, an opening in the upper wall of said receptacle, a closure member received in said opening, said closure member comprising an imperforate tubular member, said tubular member constituting an inlet passage for said liquid, a perforate barrier within said tubular member and extending entirely across said tubular member, said tubular member having at least a part thereof projecting above said barrier, whereby said liquid may be introduced into said receptacle through said tubular member, an air passage leading from the interior of said receptacle, terminating at openings adjacent the upper end of said tubular member and separated from said inlet passage, the total area of said openings being of the same order of magnitude as the liquid inlet area, and .a single cap adapted to close and protect both the upper end of said tubular member and said openings against the entrance of undesirable foreign matter.

MAURICE 'ALLAND.

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