GB2298001A

GB2298001A - Lockable closure cap

Info

Publication number: GB2298001A
Application number: GB9502838A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Willis Green; Jason Dennis Graham
Original assignee: Green Willis & Co Ltd
Current assignee: Green Willis & Co Ltd
Priority date: 1995-02-14
Filing date: 1995-02-14
Publication date: 1996-08-21
Also published as: GB9502838D0

Abstract

A locking bar 10 is fitted to an exhaust pipe 13. A closure cap 14 which is substantially cylindrical in shape extends over the ends of the locking bar, when the cap is fitted. The barrel of a lock 16 extends along the axis of the closure cap and slightly off centre so that a lock lever 17 can be pushed past the bar 10, on assembly, and then turned to be located behind the bar to prevent withdrawal. Compressible material 18 is located in the closed end of the cap and is of sufficient depth so that when the closure cap is pushed on to the exhaust pipe, the pressure between the material and the end of the exhaust pipe effects a gas seal.

Description

LOCKGBLE CIOSURE CAP The invention relates to a lockable closure cap and a method of releasably capping an exhaust pipe to prevent unauthorised removal of the vehicle.

Previous closure caps have consisted of many parts with a number of moving parts, making them susceptible to wear and in need of maintenance as well as being expensive. Other previous closure caps, particularly PCT application GB93/00307, also has the disadvantage of lack of strength which can lead to unauthorised removal of the closure cap.

PCT/GB93/00307 comprises a closure cap arranged to cooperate with a collar secured to the exhaust pipe with bayonet-type projections on the cap cooperating with grooves on the collar. The cap is locked on the periphery of the collar. Not only are the locking parts exposed to be able to be tampered with but also, with the peripheral location of the lock, the cap can be levered to exert a large moment on the lock and thereby increase the possibility of unauthorised removal of the closure cap.

It is an aim of the present invention to attempt to overcome at least some of the above described disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the present invention a lockable closure cap comprises a cap arranged to be located over, and substantially seal with an exhaust outlet and locking means arranged, in an operative condition, to engage with an abutment to prevent unauthorised removal of the cap, the abutment being located within the exhaust and spaced from the wall of the exhaust.

As the abutment is located within the exhaust pipe the location of the cooperation of the locking means with the abutment is not open to tampering.

Furthermore, any lever effect that may be able to be applied to the cap to attempt to wrench the cap off is restricted in the moment that can be applied as the distance across from any part of the exhaust wall to the abutment of the locking parts is always less than the internal diameter of the pipe.

The locking means preferably communicates with the abutment substantially in the centre of the longitudinal axis of the exhaust pipe.

At the closed end of the closure cap there is preferably a compressible material which, when held in contact with the end of the exhaust pipe, forms a gas seal, preventing gas from leaving the exhaust pipe.

The abutment is preferably arranged so that with the cap removed the exhaust gases can flow freely around the bar.

The abutment may comprise a locking bar and the locking bar may cooperate with opposite sides of the exhaust pipe and may extend through one or more of those sides.

A part of the closure cap may be arranged to be spaced from the external wall of the exhaust whereby a part of the locking bar that projects from the exhaust can be covered by the cap. The portion of the locking bar that projects from the exhaust may be arranged to abut with the part of the closure cap that is spaced from the external wall whereby turning the cap around the exhaust is inhibited.

The locking means is preferably situated off-centre from the longitudinal axis of the exhaust, when the cap is attached, whereby, in use, a locking lever of the lock cooperates with the abutment substantially in the centre of the longitudinal axis of the exhaust.

The locking means preferably comprises a key operated lock, which comprises a locking lever arranged to turn, in use, to be located axially behind or clear of the abutment, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the exhaust pipe.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of releasably capping an exhaust with a lockable closure cap, comprises locating the cap over the end of the exhaust pipe and locking the cap to the pipe by engaging an abutment located within the exhaust at a location spaced from the wall of the exhaust.

The method preferably includes the locking means communicating with the abutment substantially in the centre of the longitudinal axis of the cap.

The present invention may be carried into practice in various ways but one embodiment will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic sectional side view of an exhaust pipe with a locking bar fitted; Figure 2 shows a side cross-section of the closure cap; Figure 3 shows a view of the closed end of the closure cap; and Figure 4 shows a side cross-section of the closure cap in use when fitted to an exhaust pipe.

A locking bar 10 comprising a nut 11, bolt 12 and sealant means 19 is fitted to an exhaust pipe 13, extending substantially diametrically across the exhaust pipe. The pipe extends through openings in the pipe at each side.

The sealant means may be washers, bar (rubber) or sealant compound, for example.

The closure cap 14 is substantially cylindrical in shape with an elongate recess 15 within which, when the cap is fitted, the nut 11 of the locking bar is located and concealed. The recess 15 also allows for the correct angular orientation of the closure cap when it is being fitted to the exhaust pipe and prevents the cap from being twisted by abutment of the sides of the recess with the nut 11.

The barrel of a lock 16 extends along the axis of the closure cap and is slightly off centre (as seen in Figure 3) so that a lock lever 17 can be pushed past the bar 10, on assembly, and then turned to be located behind the bar to prevent withdrawal.

Compressible material 18 in the closed end of the closure cap is fitted around the barrel of the lock. The material 18 is of sufficient depth such that, when the closure cap is pushed onto the exhaust pipe, the pressure between the material and the end of the exhaust pipe, effects a gas seal. The lock lever is held against the locking bar by the action of the compressible material which attempts to return to its uncompressed state.

Any attempt to start the car will be unsuccessful because exhaust gases will not be permitted to issue from the engine for more than a brief moment and so it will not be able to function.

The closure cap is easily removed by simply turning the key to release the lock lever from engagement with the locking bar and pulling the closure cap off the exhaust pipe.

Claims

CLGIMS

1. A lockable closure cap comprising a cap arranged to be located over, and substantially sealed with an exhaust outlet and locking means arranged, in an operative condition, to engage with an abutment to prevent unauthorised removal of the cap, the abutment being arranged to be located within the exhaust and spaced from the wall of the exhaust.

2. A cap as claimed in Claim 1 in which the locking means is arranged to communicate with the abutment substantially in the centre of the longitudinal axis of an exhaust pipe.

3. A cap as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which, at the closed end of the closure cap, there is a compressible material which, when held in contact with the end of the exhaust pipe, forms a gas seal.

4. A cap as claimed in any preceding claim in which the abutment is arranged so that, with the cap removed, exhaust gases can flow freely around the bar.

5. A cap as claimed in any preceding claim in which the abutment comprises a locking bar.

6. A cap as claimed in Claim 5 in which the locking bar is arranged to cooperate with opposite sides of the exhaust pipe.

7. A cap as claimed in Claim 5 or 6 in which the locking bar is arranged to extend through at least one side of an exhaust cap.

8. A cap as claimed in any preceding claim in which a part of the cap is arranged to be spaced from the external wall of an exhaust whereby a part of the locking bar that projects, in use, from an exhaust is covered by the cap.

9. A cap as claimed in Claim 8 in which the portion of the locking bar that is arranged to project from the exhaust is arranged to abut with the part of the closure cap that is spaced from the external wall.

10. A cap as claimed in any preceding claim in which the locking means is arranged to be situated off-centre from the longitudinal axis of an exhaust, when the cap is attached thereto, whereby, in use, a locking lever of the lock cooperates with the abutment substantially in the centre of the longitudinal axis of the exhaust.

11. A cap as claimed in any preceding claim in which the locking means comprises a key operated lock which comprises a locking lever arranged to turn, in use, to be located axially behind or clear of the abutment, with respect to the longitudinal axis of an exhaust pipe.

12. A cap substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in any of the accompanying drawings.

13. A method of releasably capping an exhaust with a lockable closure cap, the method comprising locating the cap over the end of the exhaust pipe and locking the cap to the pipe by engaging an abutment located within the exhaust at a location spaced from the wall of the exhaust.

14. A method as claimed in Claim 13 comprising arranging for the locking means to communicate with the abutment substantially in the centre of the longitudinal axis of the cap.

15. A method of releasably capping an exhaust when using a lockable closure cap as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 12.

16. A method of releasably capping an exhaust substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.