US2475562A - Closure apparatus for tanks and the like - Google Patents

Description

July 5,1949. w. A. CREWS' 2,475,562

CLOSURE APPARATUS FOR TANKS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 6, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 641 "6! 606? 0 47 15 v a? 619 66 1i J7 J5 INVENTOR.

14/ 14? [z'azrz Q Cl fezas" Patented July 5, 1949 ciiosmmsrrscuus-Fen-ranks AND THE LIKEb William-A. Crews, River Forest-pill} Application Feliruary 6, 1947, Serial No. 726,873

(errat -6555)- Claims;

This invention relates to closure: apparatus for tanks and the-like and moreparticularlyto such apparatus adaptedr to-use as' a part of a; system for the assurance and-insuranceofthe delivery of full measureof some sub'stanceisuch as afluid}. avoidance of undetectable:

therethrough, the thefts and the like: i i

The disclosed closureapparatus', although havinga: variety of and with other apparatus, with dispensing apparatus of the type shown in my copending application for United States Letters-Patent, Serial No; 737,459; filed March 27, 194W".

Generally speaking, the closure apparatus for tanks and the like; disclosed herein; tofunction in conjunctionwith a connecting element, such as-a-nozzle,incorporating coacting. in terlocking means of: astru'cture andsuch that said connecting element must-be: locked: in place relative to theclosure apparatus in order to effect the releaseof' akey or control'instruproducing flow through Furthermore; while theor key is thus released,v shall remain locked in: closure' apparatus; On

mentality necessary for the connecting element; control instrumentality the: connecting element placer with respect to: the theother hand when the control instrumentalityis replaced to an: inaccessible position within the closure apparatus, the: connecting element is ra leased for removal.

Eromr this briet statement rel ative? to thestructure: and: operation of. my; closure apparatus,= it

may' bermore readilyunderstood? that the invention c'omprehends thewprovision of such appa control 1 means adapted to i a sysetem for insuring delivery of full measure" of a commodity such asa liquid:(gasoline, oilor the ratus: including:

like) tor a predetermined party, as well as forpreventing partial and"v unauthorized deliveries;

It is another object of my invention =to;pr'ovide* closureapparatus adapted to use: on refillable" which are to be filled periodically supply tanks or when desired by one or more authorized-sup pliers;-

Another object: of the invention is to provide: closure apparatus for tanks and thelike:which-=is= constructed and: arranged to serve as' a part of a system effecting supervision of each filling: oper-'- ation without the necessity of the actual presence of an. observer to-accomplish -such super vision;

As another object, my; invention comprehends adaptations and uses initself is well suited to use adapted arrangement the provision of} closure apparatusfor tanks 7 and the likewhichi embodies a was mechanism for flow connection to the apparatus, which flow connection may be broken only'upon'the replacement of the control instrumentalit'y.

other obj ect's and: advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and t'he accom'painyingdtawings in which similar characters of re'ference indicat'e similar parts throughout theseve'ral": views;

Referring to the: drawings of which there are two sheets Figs. 1 and 2:are perspective views of a preferred form of myclosure apparatus for tanks and: the: like: which' respectively indicate the ap-- paratus in closedand open positions;

Fig; 3- is an end sectional view wherein the section is taken substantially ona line 3 4 of Fig; 2: i

Fig; 4 a: top sectional view with the section takens'ubstannauyon a1ine4 -4 of Fig: 5 and Fig; 5 15; a; side'sectio'naL view'in which the section is taken substantially'on a line 5-5 of Fig. 4. a

In the exemplary? embodiment of my invention which is shown in the accompanying drawings for illustrative purposes, myclosure apparatus is de'picte'das' a uiiitarystructure:having a housing [0, which housing desirably includes inner and: outer shells IT and I3 respectively. The innerfsh'ell pro'vides abottom wall M, a side wall I 5 anen'd: wall" I 6; and a longitudinal partitioning wall l1. ljesir'ably'th'e bottomavall is provided with an outlet' por t 18 adjacent which and extending. outwardlyis: an integrally formed collar l9 adaptedtube-securedto a-conduit 20 or the" like. which connects toa refillable supply tank. Lugs "22'and 23 projectingfrorn the outer surfaces of collar I9 and conduit 2 0 respectively and having openihg'sJ-A and;25"therethrough may be providedior locking: oris'ealing the closure a'ppara'tus to: the conduit so as 'to prevent its removalby ail-unauthorized person.

It is also by: preference: thatia substantially ringelilse collar 2"6'-is integrally formed at the top and mean one end of; thelongitudinal partitioning wall! I; ,said col-lar having ace'ntral aperture 2-1-therethjroi1gh-on the same side of: the partitioningsiwall IT as the outle tport l8" to servetudinally along the side of the'partitioning wall i1 opposite the flow chamber 32 which is formed by the inner shell.

For sealing and closing the apparatus and the tank entrance between filling operations, a suitable cap 33 (Fig. 1) is fastened to the projecting upper end of the collar 26, as by being thread ed thereon. H

In a system of which the disclosed apparatus may comprise a part, it is proposed that the supply source from which a tank on which the disclosed apparatus is to be utilized shall be equipped with a keyed nozzleadapted to fit and coact with the disclosed. apparatus to effect the release of an individualized control element such as a key 34 (Fig. 2). The key 34, as desired, or as the complicity of the system warrants, may or may not have data such as the name and address of an individual embossed thereon so as to serve as a printing die in a registering meter on the dispensing apparatus. Whether or not the key is individualized to the extent of having data embossed thereon for printing purposes, it is desirable that it shall be individualized to the extent of having some portion thereof keyed to fit the meter of the dispensing apparatus. In the disclosed apparatus and particularly as depicted in Fig. '2, one end portion of the key 34 is provided with notches or corrugations which are adapted to effect the keying function.

The key 34, in one system of use, remains locked within the compartment 33 of the disclosed ap paratus when that apparatus is not in use for filling the tank or container with which it is used. \')n the other hand, when the tank or container to be filled. a keyed nozzle such as 28 is inmerted into the filling aperture 21 and effects the release of the key 34. In effecting the release of the key, for the proposed system, the nozzle 28 is locked in place in the filling aperture 21 so that it cannot be removed therefrom until the key is replaced and restored to its normal position within the compartment 30 of the apparatus. With the key 34 thus released, it is free and adapted for use in effecting the release of fiow through a dispensing nozzle from which the tank is to be filled. From this discussion it may be'readily appreciated that by having the nozzle locked into the disclosed apparatus during the dispensing operation and by utilizing the key 34 to eifect the release of flow through the dispensing nozzle, the user of the disclosed apparatus is assured of obtaining full measure since the nozzle cannot be removed during the dispensing operation and the dispensing apparatus cannot be utilized withoutthe key.

Although various types and'forms of mechanisms may be utilized for accomplishing the locking of the nozzle and the release of the key, I have disclosed herein one form of such mechanism which is suited tothe purpose. A key-carrying slide 36 is supported for linear movement longitudinally of the compartment 30 by a pair of channel type tracks 31' and 38 disposed in opposed and substantially parallel relationship within the compartment 30 and extending inwardly from positions adjacent a front opening 39 in the outer shell I3. Both tracks are secured to and supported by the outer shell. At its outer end the slide 36 has an end portion 40 which fits and provides a closure for the opening 33 when the slide is in a retracted position inside the compartment. Resilient means such as a tension spring 42 having one end anchored to a lug 43 on the interior of the compartment and its other end anchored to a bracket 44 on the lower surface of the slide biases the slide to an extended position wherein it projects from the front of the housing, substantially as depicted in Fig. 2. The retracted or closed position of the slide is indicated in Figs. 1, 4 and 5.

In my disclosed structure the key 34 has flanged end portions 45 and 46 substantially parallel to and offset from the body portion of the key by integrally formed shoulder portions 41 and 48 respectively. With a key of the type and form disclosed it may be conveniently carried in a fixed position on the slide 35 by placement in an aperture 49 in that slide which fits the body portion of the key so that the flanged end portions 45 and 46 overlie and project above the upper surface of the slide. The position of the keycarrying aperture 49 is such that the key is entirely enclosed in an inaccessible position within the compartment 30 when the slide is in the retracted position and is exposed to provide access for the removal of the slide when it is in the extended position.

Normally the slide 35 is held in the retracted position against the biasing force of the spring 42 by a latch mechanism 50 which includes a pawl 52 carried for limited rotational movement by a bracket 53 secured to the upper surface of the Slide near the inner end thereof. The pawl 52 has a notched end adapted to latching engagement with a stationary catch 54 secured to the inner surface ofthe outer shell in substantial alignment with the pawl longitudinally of the slide. By preference a spring 55 having one end connected to the pawl and its other end anchored to the slide is utilized to bias the pawl toward a latching position. Thus, when the slide is manually pushed into its retracted position, the pawl 52 is cammed over the end of the catch 54 and moves into latching engagement therewith to retain the slide in that retracted position until the pawl is disengaged from the catch.

In the disclosed embodiment of my invention, the disengagement of the pawl 52 from the catch 54 thereby to effect release of the slide 36,is accomplished by the insertion of a keyed nozzle such as 28 into the complementarily keyed aperture 21 of the collar 26. As an exemplary form of keying for the nozzle and collar, lugs 56 and 51 are formed on the outer surface of the nozzle and project outwardly therefrom at predetermined fixed positions. Complementary axial slots 58 and 59 are cut in the inner surface of the collar 26 so as to open into the aperture 21 at positions for receiving the lugs 56 and 5! respectively on the nozzle. At a predetermined depth below the top of the collar 23 the axial slots open into and are joined by oppositely disposed circumferential channels 60 and 62 so that when the nozzle is inserted to a predetermined depth into the aperture 21 of the'collar, the lugs 55 and 5'! act as stops for the axial movement and the nozzle may be turned with the lugs 56 and 51 moving along the circumferential channels 60 and 62. One of the channels, and in the pres- I out instance the channelGm'terminatesat a 2,475, sea

predetermined position for providing. a stopfor the circumferential .movementxof the nozzle.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4; a crank type lever 63 is mounted for rotational movement in an axial bore 6 1 displaced to onesideof the keyed aperture 21. One end .of the lever 63 extends outwardly from the collar and into the chamber 36 while the other end is disposed within a recess adjoining the aperture :21" and open .to the end of the channel .62. When the nozzle 28 is turned to a positiontsuch that the lug 56 engages the end of the channelifill, the lug 51 engages the end of the lever 63 tomove it from its normal position shown in Fig. 4.

The outwardly extending end of the lever 63 engages a hooked end 66 :of a linearly movable slide bar 61 whichslide 'bar issupported for linear movement by a bracket 68 secured to the top of the outer shell t3 near the collar 26 and a fulcrumed lever 69 supported ;by:.a pin 10 from a bracket 12. Stop lugs 73 on" the surface :of the slide bar 61 engage the surface of the lever 69 so that movement of the slide bar toward that lever effects a resultantwswinging movement of the lever. The end of the lever 69 opposite the slide bar 61 engages a projecting end of the pawl 52 whereby the actuated movement of the lever 69 moves the pawl .52 to. disengage that -pawl from the catch 54, releasing the slide for outward movement to the extendedposition. It may now be readily understood that the turning movement of the nozzle following its insertion into the keyed aperture 2? results in :the release of the slide and its movement tothe extended position in which the key 3-4 is available. It may also be readily understood that as long as :the nozzle is in the position to which it is turned to effect such release of the slide, the lever 69 is held in position such-that it will not permit the pawl to latch with the catch54 so as to .hold the slide in a retracted position. However; after slight movement of the nozzle toward a position for removal, the pawl may move to aslideretaining position.

Another function of the disclosed apparatus is to lock the nozzle 28 in place inthe keyed aperture 21 of the collar 26 when the keyis released for access and to maintain that looked relationship as long as the .key has not returned to its predetermined normal position on the slide 36.

Although there are. various-ways in which the nozzle might be locked ingplace. relative to the collar 26, in the present structure the nozzle is diametrically drilled to provide opposed bores M and 75 therein whichwalign with diametrically opposed bores :16 and I7; respectively in the collar 26 when the nozzle is turned to itsfully inserted and key-releasingposition within the keyed aperture 21.

As shown inFiguzl, a plunger rod 18 normally has one end disposed for linear movement in the bore TI on one side of the .collar 26 with its end retractedrtc a position such that i'tdoes not interfere with the insertionofthe nozzles The other end of the plunger rod .is supported for linear movement by a tubular bearing :19 carried from the outer-shell 13. *by bracketssuch as. and 82. A collar "near the mid-portion of the plunger rod 18 carriesa laterally projecting rod 83 which at its outerend hasranangle-like actuating bar .84 movably connected thereto by means such as a .pin 85. A dependingend B6 of the actuating bar :84 :is normally disposed in position for engagement withthe shoulder ,4! of the key 34 and engages thatxshoulder. when the key is in plac'etand thefslide is in the retracted 6 the slide moves outwardly, the shoulder t! of the key moves with it the actuating bar 84 and the plunger rod I8, so that the plunger rod is moved to a position in which it extends through the aligned bores M and id in the nozzle and into the bores on both sides of the collar 26. This locks the nozzle in place so that it can neither be removed nor turned from its locked position.

The depending end 66 of the actuating bar 84 has secured thereto a laterally projecting strip 8? which normally rides along the upper surface of a cam plate 88 carried within the chamber 3% from an outer wall of the outer shell. The cam 88 thus controls the elevation of the depending end of the actuating bar 84. Alongthe mid-portion of the cam the elevation is maintained at a position such that the depending end of the actuating bar has firm engagement with the shoulder of the key but is normally above the upper surface of the slide. Hence, movements of the slide when the key is removed therefrom, do not actuate the actuating bar when that bar is in any position along the cam flii.

At its ends the cam 88 has portions 8d and $19 which slope upwardly away from the surface of the slide. Those upwardly sloping cam portions are of sufficient height that they move the actuating bar upwardly about the axis of the pin to a height sufficient to clear the upper surface of the key. The cam portion 89 is disposed in a position such that iteffeets disengagement oi the actuating bar from the shoulder '31 of the key after the plunger rod 78 has been moved to its locking position and before thekey has completely emerged from the chamber 3d of the housing.

In order to assist the action of the end portion 853 of the cam in efiecting release of the shoulder d! of the key from the depending end of the actuating bar, a compression spring 92 is mounted on the plunger rod adjacent one end of an enlarged portion 93 on the rod, which spring is of a length such that it engages the-outer surface of the collar 26 to move the plunger rod back a position. Thus, as

, short distance when the depending end of the actuating bar is released from the shoulder ll of the key. The plunger rod and its actuating bar remain in the locking position until the slide carrying the key M is manually moved toward its retracted position against the force of the spring $2. With the key in place, movement of the slide with the key therein from its fully 631-- tended position toward the retracted position effects engagement of the depending end of the actuating bar with the inner end surface of the key; it being recalled that the spring 92 has moved the plunger rod and its actuating har back to a position in which the laterally projecting strip 37 on the actuating bar is of the upwardly curved portion 89 of the cam. Whenthe depending end of the actuating is engaged by the end surface of the key, the inward movement of the slide retracts the plunger rod 78 to a position in which the nozzle is dis-- engaged. Upon effecting such actuation of the plunger rod to a retracted position, a spring 9 3 on the plunger rod at the other end of the enlarged portion 93 of the rod engages the end of the bearing is at the time the cam portion {iii effects the release of the depending end of the actuating bar from the end surface of the key. Upon such release, the spring 94 moves the plunger rod and the actuating bar to a position in which the dependingend of the actuating bar. is againengaged. by the shoulder 41 of the key. The

nozzle may then be removed, upon the commencement of which motion the latch mechanism 50 is freed to lock the slide in its retracted position.

From the foregoing descri tion of the illustrated structure and its operation it may be readily understood that a properly keyed nozzle is required to effect the release of the slide and key although a tank or the like with which the apparatus is used may be filled from any nozzle which will fit into the keyed aperture 21. The introduction of a properly keyed nozzle into the keyed aperture of the collar 26 effects the release of the key-carrying slide 36, the outward movement of which slide automatically operates a locking mechanism to secure the nozzle in place. While the key 34 is removed from the slide, the slid-e may be manually moved back and forth between its retracted and extended positions but it is preevnted from being locked in the retracted position and the slide along, without the key, has no effect upon the locking mechanism which holds the nozzle in place. When the key is removed from the slide, it may be used to effect the release of a dispensing valve or mechanism and may even be used to print the designated customers name on the receipt when used in the dispensing mechanism. After being returned to its position in the slide, the key actuates the locking mechanism upon the return movement of the slide to the retracted position to release the locked nozzle, whereupon the slide may be locked in its retracted position. It is to be noted that the depending end of the plunger rod actuating bar 84 is moved to a position of re-engagement with the shoulder 41 of the key as soon as the plunger rod is retracted from the nozzle so that any subsequent outward movement of the slide will relock the nozzle.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the'scope of the appended claims.

Hasing thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. Closure apparatus for tanks and the like adapted to use with a keyed nozzle and comprising, in combination, a housing having inlet and outlet ports therein, said housing being open to flow between the ports and having partitioning means therein providing a compartment segregated from the flow between the ports, and said housing having an opening therein at one end of the compartment, collar means secured, to said housing at the intake port and providing a keyed aperture adapted to receive the keyed nozzle, means on the housing at the outlet port for looking the housing to a conduit, opposed tracks carried within said compartment in substantial alignment with said opening, a slide extending through said opening and carried by said tracks for linear movement between a retracted position in the housing and an extended position projecting from the exterior of the housing, said slide having means on the outer end thereof for closing said opening when the slide is in the re tracted position and having a key-carrying aperture therein, a key carried in said aperture and having portions spaced longitudinally of the slide which project above the surface of the slide, resilient means for biasing the slide to the extended position, releasable latch means for holding the slide in the retracted position, means adapted to be actuatedb'y movement of the keyed nozzle into place in the keyed aperture of said collar means for effecting release of said latch means, and means actuated by one of said portions of the key during movement of the slide to the extended position for locking the nozzle in place in the keyed aperture of said collar means.

2. Closure apparatus for tanks and the like adapted to use with a keyed nozzle and comprising, in combination, a housing having walls and provided with inlet and outlet ports, said housing being open to flow between the ports and having partitioning means therein providing a compartment segregated from the flow between the ports, and said housing having an opening in one of said walls opening into said compartment, collar means secured to said housing at the intake port and providing a keyed aperture adapted to receive the keyed nozzle, opposed tracks extending into said compartment from positions adjacent said opening, a slide extending through said opening and carried by said tracks for linear movement between a retracted position in the compartment and an extended position projecting from the housing, said slide having means on the outer end thereof for closing said opening when the slide is in the retracted position and having a key-carrying aperture therein, a key carried in said aperture and having a portion projecting from the surface of the slide, resilient means for biasing the slide to the extended position, releasable latch means for holding the slide in the retracted position, means adapted to be actuated by movement of the keyed nozzle into place in the keyed aperture of said collar means for effecting release of said latch means, means actuated by said projecting portion of the key during movement of the slide to the extended position for locking the nozzle in place in the keyed aperture of said collar means, and means for effecting release of the last mentioned means from said projecting portion of the key at a predetermined position in the outward movement of the slide.

3. Closure apparatus for tanks and the like adapted to use with a keyed nozzle and comprising, in combination, a housing having walls and provided with inlet and outlet ports, said housing being open to flow between the ports and having partitioning means therein providing a compartment segregated from the flow between the ports, and said housing having an opening in one of said walls opening into said compartment, collar means secured to said housing at the intake port and providing a keyed aperture adapted to receive the keyed nozzle, opposed tracks extending into said compartment from positions adjacent said opening, a slide extending through said opening and carried by said tracks for linear movement between a retracted position in the housing and an extended position projecting from the housing, said slide having means on the outer end thereof for closing said opening when the slide is in the retracted position and having a key-carrying aperture therein at a position such that it moves to the exterior of the housing when the slide moves to the extended position, a key carried in said aperture and having a portion projecting from the surface of the slide, resilient means for biasing the slide to the extended position, releasable latch means for holding the slide in the retracted position, means adapted to be actuated by movement of the keyed nozzle into place in the keyed aperture of said collar means for effecting release of said latch means, mova- -9 blemeans' actuated by's'aid ing movement of the slide to the-extended posi tion forlocking the nozzle in place in the keyed aperture of said collar means while the slide is in the extended position, means for effecting releaseofsaidmovable means from said portion of the key at a predetermined position in the outward movement of the slide, and said movable means being actuated by said portion of the key during inward movement of the slide to the retractecl position for effecting release of the nozzle lock. I

4. Closure means for tanks and the like as defined in claim 3 wherein said latch means is retained in a position for efiecting release of the slide until said nozzle lock is released.

5. Closure apparatus for tanks and the like adapted to use with a keyed nozzle and comprising, in combination, means having an inlet port, said means being open to flow through the inlet port and having an opening therein displaced from said port, collar means secured to said means at the intake port and providing a keyed aperture adapted to receive the keyed nozzle, movable means extending through said opening and movable between a retracted position within the first mentioned means and an extended position projecting from the exterior of the fi st mentioned means, said movable means having means thereon for closing said opening when the movable means is in the retracted position and having a key-carrying aperture therein at a position such that it is exposed when the movable means is in the extended position, a key carried in said aperture and having a portion projecting from the surface of the movable means, resilient means for biasing the movable means to the extended position, releasable latch means for holding the movable means in the retracted position, means adapted nozzle into place in the keyed aperture of said collar means for effecting release of said latch means, and means actuated by said portion of the key during movement of the movable means to the extended position for locking the nozzle in place in the keyed aperture of said collar means.

6. Closure apparatus for tanks and the like adapted to use with a nozzle and comprising, in combination, means having an inlet port, said means being open to flow through the inlet port and having an opening therein displaced from said port, collar means at the intake port and providing an aperture adapted to receive the nozale, movable means supported adjacent said opening for movements between a retracted position within the first mentioned means and an extendad position projecting from the first mentioned neans, said movable means having means therein for closing said opening when the movable means is in the retracted position and having a :ey-carrying aperture therein at a position such bet it is exposed when the movable means is in he extended position, a key carried in said aperure and having a portion projecting from the uriace of the movable means, means for biasing he movable means to the extended position, reeasable latch means for holding the movable deans in the retracted position, means adapted o be actuated by movement of the nozzle into lace in the aperture of said collar means for efecting release of said latch means, and means ctuated by said portion of the key during move- 1ent of the movable means to the extended potion for locking the nozzle in place in said aperire of the collar means.

portion of the key durto be actuated by movement of the keyed s *7. In "closure apparatus "for tanks and the like adapted to use with a control instrumentality and a dispensing nozzle and comprising, in combination, means providing a nozzle-receiving port, a housing adjoining said means and having an opening therein displaced from said port, movable means supported adjaoentsaid' opening for movements between a retracted position substantially within the housing an'dan'extended position projecting outwardly of said openin in the housing, said movablemeansproviding ax'closure for said opening when in the retractedpositi'on and providing means for releasably carrying; afcontrol instrumentality at a fixed position such that it is enclosed when the movable means is in the retracted position and exposed when the movable means is in the extended position, means for biasing the movable means to one of said positions, releasable latch means for retaining the movable means in the other of said positions, a movable supportedelement having a portion extending into said housing and a portion in position for engagement by said nozzle, means interconnecting said element and said latch means to eifect release of the latch means when the nozzle is seated in said port, and means having a portion in position for actuation by said control instrumentality during movement of the movable means from one position to the other, the last mentioned means including a nozzle-locking part for locking the nozzle in the port when the movable means is in one of said positions.

8. In closure apparatus for tanks and the like adapted to use with a control instrumentality and a dispensing nozzle and comprising, in combination, means providing a nozzle-receiving port, a housing adjoining said means and having an opening therein displaced from said port, movable means supported adjacent said opening for movements between a retracted position substantially within the housing and an extended position projecting outwardly of said opening in the housing, said movable means providing a closure for said opening when in the retracted position and providing means for releasably carryin a control instrumentality at a fixed position such that it is enclosed when the movable means is in the retracted position and exposed when the mov able means is in the extended position, means for biasing the movable means to one of said positions, releasable latch means for retaining the movable means in the other of said positions, a movably supported element having a portion extending into said housing and a portion in position for engagement by said nozzle, and means interconnecting said element and said latch means to efiect release of the latch means when the nozzle is seated in said port.

9. In closure apparatus for tanks and the like and adapted to use with a, keyed connecting element and as a part of a system utilizing an individualized control instrumentality, the combination comprising, means providing a flow connection for a connecting element, a housing adjoining said means for normally retaining the control instrumentality and having an opening therein through which the control instrumentality is accessible, movable means for closing said opening, locking means for holding the movable means in a closing position relative to said opening, and a movable element supported relative to the first mentioned means in position for actuation by the keyed connecting element for controlling said locking means.

10. In closure apparatus for tanks and the like 11 12 and adapted to use with a keyed connecting eleconnecting element, in place relative to the first ment and as a, part of a system utilizing an indimentioned means. vidualized control instrumentality, the combina- 7 WILLIAM A. CREWS. tion comprising, means providing a flow connection for a connecting element, a housing adioin- 5 REFERENCES CITED ing said means for normally retaining thecontrol Thef'fono'wmg referents/es are of record in the instrumentality and having an opening therein file of this patent; through which the control instrumentality is accessible, movable means for closing said opening, UNITED STATES PATENTS locking means for holding the movable means in 10 Number Name Date a closing position relative to said opening, and a, 535,330 d n M r, 19, 1395 movable element actuated by said movable means 641,846 Davenport et a1. Jan. 23, 1900 and including a loo-king element for holding the

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