US1348364A - Valve-lock for automobiles and the like - Google Patents

Description

I. E. KOEBEL.

VALVE LOCKFOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICA-[ION FILED APR. I4, I9I9. I I 1,348,364, Patented Aug. 3,1920.

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i472 @LS UNITED STATES JOHN F. KOEBFL, oF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

VALVE-LOCK FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed April 14. 1919.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN F. KOEBEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Valve-Locks for Automobiles and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to devices for preventing the theft of' automobiles. the same belonging to the class comprising a cut-off valve located in the fuel-feed pipe of the carbureter and a suitable lock for said valve under the control of the owner of the car or other authorized person. The locking device vis however equally applicable to the corresponding valve of a motor boat, aswell as various other valves liable to be tampered with by unauthorized persons.

Ther Vobiect of my invention is the provision of a strong and reliable valve-lock of this character which is simple, light and compact in construction and which can be produced at comparatively small cost.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of the lock applied to the feed pipe of a carbureter. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of the, lock on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 4 4, Fig. 3, showing the valve unlocked and open. Fig. 5 is a similar section showing the valve locked in its closed position.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

10 indicates the fioat-chamber of an ordinary carbureter and 11 the usual fuel feed pipe leading thereto. This pipe contains a cut-off valve 12 of any suitable construction for shutting oli' the supply of fuel to the carbureter when the automobile is parked or left where it is liable to be stolen. In the preferred construction shown, the valve has the conventional rotary plug 13 terminating in a square or flat-sided stem 14. The valve-case has integral branches 15, one of which has a union 16 for coupling it to said feed pipe 11, while the other is connected with the float chamber by an elbow 16", or other suitable connection.

A strong metallic box or housing 17 of rectangular or other suitable form incloses the valve 12 and the lock hereinafter described.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. '3, 1920.

serial No. 289,942.

plug is an operating lever 20 for opening y and closing it, the-lever having a corresponding opening 21 for receiving said stem. The lever extends through a horizontal slot 22 formed partly in the cover of the housing and partly in'one of its side walls. This slot is of the proper length to permit the lever to be turned from the closed position of the valve shown in Figs. l, 2 and 5 tothe open position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the ends of the slot forming stops for the lever which predetermine the open and closed positions of the valve. In addition to the opening 21, the lever is provided in its inner portion with a locking loop or aperture 23 l adapted to receive the bolt 24 of a lock 25 having the usual guide 25 for the bolt, the preferred lock shown in the drawings being of the well-known cylinder type operated by a flat key, although any other appropriate lock may be used, if desired. As shown, the cylindrical portion of the lock extends through an opening 26 in the cover. The locking aperture 23 of the lever is preferably in the form of a transverse slot or loop of the proper dimensions to fit the locking-bolt as closely as practicable, the slot being arranged to register with the bolt when the lever is turned at right angles'to the feed pipe 11 to close the valve, and said bolt being movable parallel with the axis of the valve.

To lock the valve, the lever is turned to the position just mentioned, after which the bolt is projected into the loop of the lever by the use of a proper key. Under these conditions, unauthorized persons will find it impossible to turn on the gasolene-supply and operate the car. Upon unlocking the lever by the withdrawal of the lock-bolt, the lever can be freely turned to open the valve and admit fuel to the carbureter.

By providing the lever with such a locking oop or aperture, a very strong connection'is obtained between the lever and the bolt of the lock on account of the large contact surface between the parts. It will be observed that if it be attempted to turn the locked lever out `oi`-`that position, its loop will bear against the bolt at diagonally opposite points, and as the 4loop is closed on all sides it possesses the necessary strength to withstand such strains.:

As the valve-stem, as well as the valve, is wholly within the box, it is inaccessible and cannot be operated, except by the lever when unlocked. The several parts, including the lock, are Iall inclosed in a single boxor housing, and as this unitary box is located under the automobile hood adjacent to the carbureter, 1t 1s exceedingly diflicult for unauthorized persons to tamper with the look wit-hout attracting attention `and running great risk of detection.

As the rectangular base-portion 25 of the cylinder-lock is relatively thin or shallow, the upper' part of the box may be made shal- Alower than the lower part containing vthe valve, as shown. This reduces 'the weight of the vdevice and renders it ymore compact. l lAside `from'being strong and reliable, this loek has the advantages of lightness, `simplicity of 'construction and 4low cost.

he construction shown yhas the further advantage that it does not require a special valve but permits the vuse of a standard or stock-valve which can be readily renewed when worn out without requiring replacement of the entire device.

I claim as my invention:

l. The combination of a housing, a valvecase separate from said housing., a valve in said caseV having a stem, an operating lever forV said stem arranged adjacent to said valve and extending through the wall ol said housing, and a lock having a locking bolt movable parallel with the axis of said valve to engage said lever, said valve and said lock being both-located within said housing.

2. The combination of a valve-case having oppositely-extending branches, a unitary housing inclosing said valve-case and having openings in its walls for the passage of said branches, a valve in said case having a stem, kan operating lever applied to said stem and extending through the wall ot Vsaid "housing, and a lock arranged above said valve and vhaving a locking bolt movable 'parallel withthe axis of said valve'to engage said lever, said valve, said lock and the part of said valve-stem between the valve and vthe lock being located Wholly within said casing.

JOHN F. KOEBEL.

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