US1544206A

US1544206A - Tank thief

Info

Publication number: US1544206A
Application number: US710677A
Authority: US
Priority date: 1924-05-02
Filing date: 1924-05-02
Publication date: 1925-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 1942-06-30

Description

June 30, 1925.

H. C. BEARD INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented June 30, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,544,206 PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY C. BEARD, F SOUB LAKE, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR 0F' ONE-.HALF T0 HBS. N. A.

CRAVENS, 0F

TANK

Application led Kay 2,

To all whom t may conce'm:

Be it known that I HENRY C. BEARD, a Citizen of the Unae states, residing a Sour Lake, in the county of Hardin and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tank Thieves, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to implements used for extracting a sample of liquid from a l0 receptacle and has for its object the provision of a novel tank thief adapted to be lowered to any desired depth in a receptacle and provided with valve means for trapping a sample of the liquid.

An important and more s ecific object is the provision of a device o this character embodying a novel valve structure and manually operable releasing means therefor whereby to eii'ect closing of the device at a desired level within the tank or other container. f

The invention further contemplates the general improvement in the various details of construction and arrangement whereby to produce a device for the purpose specified which will be simple to manufacture, easy to use and operate, positive in action,

and durable in service.

With the above and other objects and advantages in View the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device,

Figure 2 is an elevation of the lower end on a considerably larger scale,

Figure 3 is an elevation at right angles to Figure 2 showing the valve open.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral designates an elongated glass tube located within a protective cage including a ring 11 to which are secured elongated strips 12 which are curved in cross 45 section to conform to the tube and which are connected at intervals by cross members 13. The upper ends of the strips 12 project beyond the top of the glass tube and are connected by a suspension loop 14 to which is connected a cord or other flexible member 15 by means of which the device may be lowered into an oil tank or the like. One strip 12, or both if preferred, is provided with graduations 16.

Secured upon the ring 11y are double sILsBEn, TEXAS.

THIEF.

1924. serial No. 710,677.

guides 17 includin inner open channels 18 and outer closed c annels 19. For closing the lower end of the tube, I provide a valve comprlslng a disk 20 carrying a cking 20 and provided with spaced paral el arms 21 having their free ends located within the open channels 18 and pivotally mounted therein by pivot pins 22 passing through the open channels and through slots 23 1n the arms. By, this construction it will be seen that this valve is free to swing into or out of obstructing relation to the lower end of the ring 11. The slots 23 are important as they permit the valve to be brought up snugly to seal the lower end of the device and retain a sample therein.

Carried by the disk 20 is an elongated leaf spring 24 which is dis sed. against and movable along a, guide strip 25 mounted at one side of the cage. At its free end this leaf spring carries an eye 26.

Mounted below the valve device above described is a ring 27 carried by spaced parallel arms 28 which are slidable through the closed channels 19 and to which are connected coil springs 29 engaged upon hooks 30 or the like at opposite sides of the cage. This ring 27 is adapted to be held in spaced relation to the bottom of the device by means of a pivoted catch 31 which operates as will be described.

The valve releasing means comprises a pair of angularly shaped arms 32 pivoted at 33 on the strip 25 and terminating at one end in extensions 34 and at their other ends in jaws 35. A spring is provided for norma 1y holding these arms in Asuch position that the jaws 35 will be in contact. When the valve is open, the eye 26 is engaged between the jaws 35 .for positively holding the valve against closing movement, the catch 31 holding the disk 27 spaced away from the lower end of the device.

To effect release of the valve, I rovide an elongated plunger 37 slidable t rough `suitable guides 38 on the cage and also slidable through an ear 39 at the upper end of 'the strip 25. This plunger has its upper end formed with a lateral extension 40 to which is connected the fiexible member 15 so that it may be manipulated bythe operator, and the lower end of the plunger is formed with a wedge shaped head 42 adapted to be forced between the extensions 34 for swinging the arms 32 and releasing plunger for normally holding it in retracted position. n

Incase the device is to be used 1n obtaining samples from an oil tank containing a largequantity of B. S. it may be necessarlyl' to provide one or more welghts 44 whic may be secured on the cage at any deslred points and which will operate to insure passagef'of the device down through this heavy matter.

In the operation, it is first necessa to open the device and this is done. by pu ling the disk 27 downwardly and swinging the catch 31 into engagement therewith so that the disk will be positivel held in spaced relationto the lower end o the ring 11 with the springs 29 under tension. The valve 20 is then swung laterally andl into substantially vvertical position and out of obstructing relation tothe lower end of the ring. The leaf spring 24 is thus placed under tension. 'I'he eye 26 is engaged between the jaws 25 and they will operate to hold this valve itively in its open position. The device 1s then lowered into the tank from which the sample is to be extracted, the flexible member 15 permitting lowering. When the device has been sunk to the desired depth, a small weight W is slipped over or onto the flexible member 15 and allowed todescend therealong. When this weight strikes against the lateral extension 40, the plunger 37 will be moved downwardly against the resistance of the spring 43 and the wedge shaped head 42 will be forced between the extensions 34 of the valve holding arms. When this occurs the jaws 35 move apart and the eye 26 is released, thus permitting the spring 24 to throw the valve 20 into its normal position below the lower end of the ring 11. The edge of this valve will strike against the catch 31 and unseat it so that the springs 29 will pull the ring 27 upwardly into forcible engagement wlth the valve, thus holding it firmly against the ring 11 and making an effective seal which will hold the liquid which has entered the tube during its descent in the tank. By pulling upon the flexible member 15 the device is then lifted out of the tank. l

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or t e scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising an elongated tube provided with suspension means, a valve ivoted at the lower end of the tube and adapted to close the same, an elongated leaf spring carried by one edge of said valve and'located against one side of the tube, means engaging said spring for holding the valve open and including a pair of arm members pivoted in cross relation and terminating at one end in jaws for engaging the spring and terminating at the other end in extensions, and means for forcing said extensions apart to release the slpring.

2. device of the character described comprising an elongated tube provided with suspension means, a valve ivoted at the lower end of the tube and adapted to close the same, an elongated leaf spring carried by one edge of' said valve and located against one side of the tube, a device engaging said s ring for holding the vvalve open and inc uding a pair of arm members pivoted in crossed relation and terminating at one end in jaws engaging the spring and terminating at the other end in extensions, and means for forcing said extensions apart to release the spring comprising a plunger slidably mounted through guides on the tube and having a wedge shaped head adapted to be forced between said extensions.

3. A device of the character described comprising an elongated tube provided with suspension means, a laterally swingable valve pivoted at the lower end of the tube and adapted to close the same, an elongated leaf spring carried by one edge 'of said valve and located against one s1de of the tube, means engaging said spring for holding the valve open and including a pair of jaw members, and means for forcing said jaw members apart to release the spring, an upwardly spring moved member slidably mounted at the lower end of the tube and adapted to engage and seat the valve wheny said -spring is released, and means normally holding said last named member inoperative.

4. A device of the character described comprising an elongated tube provided with suspension means, avalve pivoted at the lower end of the tube and adapted to close the same, an elongated leaf spring carried by one edge of said valve and located against one side of the tube, a clamp device engaging said spring for holding the valve open and including a pair of arm members pivoted in cross relation and terminating at one end in jaws for engaging the spring and terminating at the other end. in yextenslons, and means for forcing said extensions apart to release the Spring, an upwardly spring moved member slidably mounted at the -lower end of the tube and adapted to engage and seat the valve when said spring is released, means normally holding said last named member inoperative, consisting of a pivoted catch located in the path of movement of the valve and released upon engagement thereby.

In testimony whereof I oiiix my signature.

HENRY C. BEARD.