US1853427A

US1853427A - Tank cap lock

Info

Publication number: US1853427A
Authority: US
Inventors: Willoughby F Hollister
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1930-03-22
Filing date: 1930-03-22
Publication date: 1932-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 1949-04-12

Description

W. F. HOLLISTER April 12, 1932.

TANK CAP LOCK Filed March 22, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l snow/boa 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 12, 1932. w. F. HOLLISTER TANK CAP LOCK Filed March 22,

I If R\ K. r 9 1 m \l... 4/ 2 J g 2 P 2 5 '0 f a a m 2 c 2 n a w 2 9 "J 5 2 e f 2 5 I l 9 "w 2 A I I- 6 27. T J 3 8 2 6 0 z E 2 kw 0 a z w a z -1 f h 7 z a Patented Apr. 12, 1932 PATENT OFFICE WILLOUGHBY F. 'HOLLISTER, OF (JOWEN', WEST VIRGINIA TANK GAP LOCK Application flledfMarch 22, 1930. Serial No. 438,155.

The invention relates to a new and improved lock for the filling neck cap of a conventional automobile fuel tank. The invention relates particularly to assemblagesin which the filling neck of the tank is provided with opposed arcuate flanges of substantially right angular cross section extending inwardly from the outer end of the neck and having inclined edges which (mad; with a pair of arms on the cap, for the purpose of securing the latter to the neck when said cap is turned in the proper direction.

It is one object of the invention to provide the aforesaid flanges with ratchet teeth and to mount aspring-pressed dog on the cap for coaction with said teeth in holding the cap against being turned in a direction to remove it, releasing means being provided for the dog, operable from the exterior of'the cap.

The dog-releasing means is "preferably key-actuated and it is a further aim to provide novel means for holdin the abovenamed dog in its released posltion after it has once been released by the key, novel provision being made whereby the means for holding the dog in said released position may itself be released when it is desired to again have the dog project to operative position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved lock structure of simple and inexpensive nature and one which may have fields of use other than in connection with tank caps.

With the foregoing-in View, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a fuel tank and the invention. applied to the filling cap thereof.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view online 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 3. a

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 5+5of Fig.

Fig.6 is a disassembled perspectiveview' of a number of the lock parts.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view showing the lock applied to a door.

The construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 will first be described. In these views, T denotes a fuel tankof an automobile, said tank havinga filling neck N provided with a flanged cap C. The outer end of the neck N is provided with opposed arcuate inwardly projecting flanges F of substantially-right angular cross section, said flanges having free inclined edges E which are co-opera-ble with two arms A carried by the cap, for'the purpose of securing the latter to the neck. These arms are integral with a central plate P which is secured within the cap C in a conventional manner as illustrated in Fig. 5. hen the cap is applied, the arms A pass through the gaps G between the flanges F and then upon turning of the cap in theproper direction, said arms engage the edges E and draw the cap firmly into position and securelyhold it.

All of the parts so far described are of well known form and constitute nopart of the present invention except in relation with went with said teeth for the purpose of holding the cap against turning in a direction to remove it. The dog or bolt could be of any desired form and any appropriate operating means could be provided for releasing said. dog or bolt to allow removal of the cap. The preferred construction however has been illustrated and will now be described.

A sleeve 10 projects centrally outward from the cap C and is preferably secured to the plate P as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. A A look body 11 in the form of a block, lies against the inner side of'the plate P and is itself provided with an outwardly projecting sleeve 12 which passes throughthe sleeve 10. A collar -13 is shown on the outer end of sleeve 12 abutting theouter end of sleeve 10 to hold the former against inward sliding from the latter, and to hold said sleeve 12 and the body The bolt 9 is provided with a beveledtooth 19 adapted to co-act with a spring arm 20 for the purpose of holding said bolt in retracted position, said spring arm being secured to the lug '18 and lying against the inner side of said bolt. An appropriate spring 21 is provided for normally projecting said bolt, and in the present disclosure, said spring is housed within the bolt and abuts a pin 22 carried by the body 11 and the guide 17 the bolt being slotted at 23 to receive said pin.

Projection of the bolt, if not limited by contact with one of the flanges F, is limited by a stop stud or the like 24 with which it is provided, said part 2 1 being adapted to abutthe guide 16.

A rotatable and slidable, key-actuated spindle 25 is shown for releasing the bolt 9,

the'inner end of said spindle having a pinion 26 meshing with rack teeth 27.011 one edge of said bolt. I have shown a sleeve 28- surrounding and secured to the spindle 25, said sleeve being slidable and rotatable within the sleeve 12 and the opening 15. A screw 29 (Fig. 5)is illustrated for securing the

parts

25 and 28 together, but other desired means couldbe provided for this purpose, and if de- 7 sired,'any appropriate arrangement of keycontrolled tumblers could be employed for normally locking the spindle against rotation. For illustrative purposes, however, the spindle 25 and the sleeve 28 are merely shown as provided with registering

slots

30 and 31 to receive an operating key. It will be observed that the inner end of the groove 30 is closed and that the inner end of the spindle 25 lies against the spring arm 20. Hence, after this spring arm has engaged the tooth 19' of the bolt '9 to hold the latter retracted, an inward push 011 the key or perhaps directly uponthe spindle, will inwardly spring said arm 20 from engagement with said tooth 19, allowing the bolt to again be projected under the influence of its spring 21. I A cap 32 is preferably provided to normally protect the outer end of the lock structure; In the present showing, this cap is threaded-upon the outer end of the sleeve 10, but it might of course be mounted in some other appropriate way. At 33, the cap 32 may be provided with a'vent for allowing entrance of air to the-fuel tank as the fuel is withdrawn. I

' Upon removal of the cap 32 and insertion of the proper key into the groove and slot 3031, the spindle may be rotated to retract the bolt 9 and incident'to such retraction, the beveled tooth 19 will snap over the spring arm 20, the latter then holding the bolt in retracted position and allowing turning of the cap 0 to remove it. vVhen the cap is again applied, inward push on the spindle 25 either with the key or by hand, will slide said spindle and sleeve 28 inwardly, thereby releasing the spring arm 20 from the tooth 19 and allowing projection of the bolt 9 to its operative position, under the influence of its spring 21,

I wish it understood that any desired lock means may be employed for the purpose of effecting release of the bolt 9, and that the particular bolt-releasing means herein disclosed, is to therefore be considered as illus trative-rather than limiting, this being also true of. a number of specific details of construction which Ihave disclosed.

.Moreover, it maybe stated thatif desired,

all working parts at the innerside of the cap C'may be housed within an appropriate casing (not shown) The lock structure above described is not restricted to use with caps. By mounting it within an appropriate casing 3 1 (Fig. 7 and makingminor variations, it may be used upon a door D. When such an application is required, the spindle 25will be provided with an extension 35 provided with a knob 40 at the. inner side ofihe casing 34. Hence, the

bolt 9 and the spring arm 20 may be controlled from the interior as well as from the exterior of the door, the proper key being of course necessary in order to operate the look from the outside. a I cl m:

1. An assemblage of the class described comprising a tank filling neck having two o I posed arcuate inwardly projecting flanges at its outer end, said flanges being of substantially right angular cross section and having'helically pitched edges presented toward the inner'end of said neck, the inner sides of said flanges being provided with ratchet teeth; aflanged'cap applicable to said neck and. having arms to engage said inclined flangeedges when the cap is turned a spring} pro ected dog mounted on and disposed at the inner side of said cap, said dog being adapted to engage said ratchet teeth to hold the cap against turning in adirection to remove it, and releasing-means for said dog operable from the exterior of said cap.

An assemblage of the class, described comprising a tank filling neck having two opposed 'arcu-ate-inwardly projecting flanges at its outer end, said flanges-being of substantially rightangular cross section and having helically pitched edges presentedtd ward the inner end of said neck, the-inner side of said flanges being provided with ing means being releasable by inward sliding of said key-operated means.

3. An assemblage of the class described comprising a flanged cap having a central sleeve projecting outwardly beyond the outer side of the cap, a lock body lying against the inner side of the cap, and provided with a second sleeve passing through and projecting beyond the outer end of said first named sleeve, said body having an opening alined with said second sleeve, a locking bolt carried by said body, and key-actuated operating means for said bolt carried by said body and having an operating portion 'ex- 7 tending outwardly through said opening and through and beyond the outer end of said second sleeve.

4. A lock comprising abody, a spring-pro jected locking bolt slidably mounted on said body, a. spindle slidably and rotatably mounted on said body, said spindle being operatively connected with said bolt for retracting the latter when the spindle is turned in one direction, and a self-applied latch mounted on said body for holding said bolt in retracted position, said latch having a releasing portion postioned to be struck by said spindle when the latter is inwardly slid, thereby releasing said latch and allowing projection of said bolt.

5. A lock comprising a body, a springprojected locking bolt slidably mounted on said body, a spindle slidably and rotatably mounted on said body, said spindle being operatively connected with said bolt for retracting the latter when the spindle is turned in one direction, and a spring arm secured to said body and lying against said bolt, the latter having a tooth for co-action with said spring arm in holding the bolt retracted, said spring arm being positioned to be struck by said spindle upon inward sliding of the lat ter, thereby releasing said spring arm from said tooth and allowing projection of the bolt.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

WILLOUGHBY F. HOLLISTER.