US1361888A - Petcock-opener - Google Patents

Description

J. E. MESSENGER.

PETCOCK OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. 1919.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

R g 5 my div PATENT OFFICE.

JACK E. MESSENGER, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

PETCOOK-OPENER.

Application filed. May 5, 1919.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, Jack E. MEssENeEn, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Des Moines, Polk county, Iowa, have invented a new and useful PetcocleOpener, of which the following is a specification.

The object ofthis invention is to provide an improved tool for opening and closing pet-cocks, drain valves and the like that are not readily accessible for manual operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved tool which may be employed for operating pet-cocks or drain valves and for cleaning said cocks or valves to permit the passage of liquid.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating my improved tool. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the operating end of the tool. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the handle end of the tool, taken from the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1.

In the construction of the device as shown a handle 10 is provided, preferably flat and relatively wide, which may well be made of a piece of sheet metal of oblong shape. At its outer end the handle may be formed with a hole 11 by which it may be suspended. At its opposite end the handle is formed with an extension 12 adapted to be bent around the shank 13 of the tool proper. The tool itself is formed of a rod of iron or other suitable material, of the desired length, having one end flattened and contacting with one face of the handle and embraced and engaged near such flattened end by the extension 12, the parts being suitably and rigidly connected as by soldering, welding or the like. Near its opposite end the rod 13 is bent substantially at the point 14 and extends a short distance substantially at right angles to the shank portion and in the same plane as said shank portion and the flat handle 10; then the rod is recurved, at the point 15, outwardly from the plane above defined, and extends parallel with the portion between the bends 14, 15 and slightly spaced from such portion, thereby forming a hook 16 which lies in a plane sub stantially perpendicular to the plane of the shank portion and fiat handle 10 and at one Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

Serial No. 294,788.

side of said shank portion. At a point nearly opposite the bend 1 1 the rod is reduced in diameter to form a slender prong 1.7 which preferably extends a material and considerable distance from the shank portion 13, on the opposite side to the hook 16.

In practical use the tool may be employed to reach pet-cocks, drain valves or the like located in positions not easily accessible by the hand, and be used to open and close said cocks and valves. For instance the petcocks located in the lower side of the crank case of certain motor vehicles, and employed for draining or testing the supply of lubricating oil in such case, may be reached with this tool without requiring the operator to get under, or partially under the vehicle, and prevents soiling of clothes. The hook 16 is caused to engage the flat handle (not shown) of the pet-cock or valve and manual pressure applied torsionally on the flat handle 10 results in a turning of the valve handle to open or close the valve. Thereafter the tool may be disengaged from the valve handle and the attenuated prong 17 inserted in the valve casing to clear the valve of any obstructions which may be present and perniit the flow of fluid therefrom. The prong 17 preferably is of suflicient length to reach entirely through the valve to interior of the receptacle with which it communicates.

The tool, which for the particular purpose indicated need not exceed twenty inches in length, is of such size and shape that it can be readily carried in the tool box or under the seat cushion of the vehicle. If desired the handle end may be employed for insertion in the fuel supply tank, to determine the level of fuel contained therein.

The handle 10, being fiat and relatively broad, is adapted to bear any suitable sort of advertising matter.

I claim as my invention- 1. A device of the class described, comprising an elongated shank having a handle on one end thereof, a recurved hook being formed on the opposite end portion of said shank, the terminal member of the hook being extended beyond the line of the shank and reduced in diameter to form a clearance prong.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a rod forming an elongated shank, said rod being bent laterally adjacent one end and then recurved to form a hook the sides of which are substantially parallel and Very close together whereby said hook may engage the flat sides of the finger-grip of a pet-cock; the terminal member of the hook ending in the plane of the hook whereby said hook is readily engageable and disengageable relative to such finger grip.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a rod forming an elongated shank, said rod being bent laterally adjacent one end and then recurved to form a hook the sides of which are substantially parallel, the terminal member of the hook being in a plane spaced from the plane of the shank and initial member of the hook, the terminal member of the hook being extended beyond the line of the shank and reduced in diameter to form a clearance prong.

4:. A deyice of the class described, comprising a rod forming an elongated shank, a fiat handle formed with an extension at one end adapted to embrace and engage the shank near one end portion thereof and be secured thereto, said rod being bent to form a hook lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said shank and flat handle.

Signed at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, this 19th day of.

April, 1919.

JACK E. MESSENGER.

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