GB595086A - Improved means for preventing or hindering the unauthorised operation of angularly movable members - Google Patents

Abstract

595,086. Stoppers. RAY, F. F. April 7, 1945, No. 8631. [Class 125 (iii)] [Also in Group XXV] Means for hindering the unauthorised operation of devices having angularly movable members such as closure caps for motor vehicle petrol tanks or radiators or locking devices for electric lamp bulb sockets, comprising an actuating member retained to but freely rotatable about the angularly movable member to which it is adapted to be connected by a coupling member is characterised by the actuating member or a further member interposed between it and the angularly movable member being provided with at least one " through hole or slot through which the coupling member may be inserted to connect the actuating and angularly movable members and with a plurality of "blind" holes engageable by the coupling member but through which it cannot be so inserted. The outer cover 13 of a fuel tank cap, Fig. 1, may be formed with a depending skirt in which are formed one through hole 16 and a large number of blank holes 17. An inner angularly movable member 12 comprising a locking arm 14 adapted to engage the lip of the filler tube 11, a cover plate and a disc 18 having peripheral slots 19, pivots freely around the spindle 15. Each of the holes 16 and 17 is identified by a character formed on the cap 13 and the inner parts may be operatively engaged with the cap by inserting a pin through the hole 16 and engaging it with one of the slots 19. In modifications (1) several rows of holes may be formed in the skirt (2) all the holes may be through holes all but one being blanked off by an internal split ring having a detent engaged in one of the holes for locating it (3) the holes may be formed in a flange on the underside of the cap, for engagement by a hooked wire. In the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the cap is capable of limited axial movement against a spring 26 and carries a pin 28 for engaging holes 19 formed in the inner member through a hole 16 in a loose ring 27 which also has a number of blank holes 17. The hole 16 is engaged by turning the cap 13 until the detent 29 thereon engages the detent 27<1> on the ring 27 and then turning back through a known angle. A pointer 30 may be provided on the ring 27 to facilitate this. In the form shown in Fig. 8 a cut is made through the skirt in the plane of the centres of the holes 16, 17, the bottom part of the skirt being retained by a suitable flange. The two halves of the through hole 16 must-then be aligned before the pin can be inserted to engage the slot 19. Alternatively, a rotatable rim 13' may be formed around the edge of the cap 13 and having a through hole and blind holes, the through hole being brought into register with an inner one on the cap 13 before a pin can be inserted. The difficulty of finding the through holes by inspection may be increased by forming them at varying angles instead of radially.