US1986203A - Locking gas cap - Google Patents

Description

Jan. l? 1935. MA 3,l |VAND|CK 1,986,203

LOCKING lGAS CAP Filed Nov. 22, 1955' zog] //s /4 f l f 72' 2 2/23/8 Patented Jan. 1, 1935 .1,986,203 Loeknve erAsfoAP"v Mathew G: Ivandick, Waukegan, Ill.

Application' Nve'mbefaz, 1933, seyiaxno; easier A3 zzaolaims(olimflsoa v This invention appertains to closure caps, for the `filling necks of tanks, such as gasolinev tanks utilized for supplying fuel vto the'internal com-v l bustionsenginesvof automobiles. A One of the primary objects of my -invention isl lto provide novel means forlocking the closureA cap on the filling neckso thatthe-same can only be removed by the proper person and-,thereby prevent the draining of the tank by unauthorized I persons.

` Another salientV object of Lmy invention is the'- provision of a closure Acap for thev filling, necks of gasoline tanks Aembodying f a ping-tumbler lock having rotatable with the barrel thereof a locking bar movable into and out of locking engagement with the cam flangesof thefllling neck, the cap carrying depending lugsfor fitting inthe notches of the neck so as to prevent rotation of the cap, the engagement of the lockingbarwith the cam flanges` preventing the removalfof' the cap from the neck. t.

A furtherv important object of my inventionris the provision of novel meanswhereby the locking bar can be brought'into and out of alinement withY the lugs on the cap, whereby the locking bar can be introduced withthe lugs vinto the notches of the neck and thereafter rotatedunderthecam flanges ofthe neck by the barrel of the lock to prevent unauthorized removal offthe cap.

Avfurther object of my invention is the provi- Sion of a locking cap for the filling necks of `gasoline tanks, .which is so constructed that the cap can. be utilized with ordinary necks of tanks withf out any additions or changes to the necks.

A further object of my invention is theprovision of novel means for resiliently associating `the lock bar with the barrel of the cap and thebody of. the cap, whereby the lock bar canbe conveniently moved under the .cam flanges Aand act as means for. drawing the capand the gasket carried thereby into sealingl engagement with the neck, whereby loss of gasoline between thezneck and cap is prevented and whereby slight variations in the height of the cam anges will be 4;@ taken Careof. 'f

A still further object vof my invention isto provide a locking cap for the fillingnecks of gasoline tanks, which willv be durable and efficient-in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture 5.0.) and one which can be placed upon the'm'arket at and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing',f,in` which: y i, Figure 1 isa diainetric section through my proved cap showing vthe same applied tofa fillingv neck, the sectionbefing taken substantially on the line 1-1,of,`Figure 2 looking in the direction Of the arrows; f vFigure .2 Vis`.a.Lhorizo'vntal section through .the capl andA neck taken substantially on the line .f2-2 of Figure llooking in the direction of. the arrows, Figure 3 is a, fragmentary section throughthe flllingnecfk illustrating the locking position of the lock barfrelative to thelcam flanges of the neck. VReferring to thedrawing in detail, whereinsim.- ilarA reference'characters ,designate the" correspendingA parts througho'ut the several views, thev letter. A generally. indicates my `improved cap and B the neck of a tank- .withf which-thecap can be associated.y.` .o r The llingneck Bean beofthe usn'ial'construe tion generally employedginconnection' with` the gasoline .storagftanks of automobiles and as shown, the same embodies thecylindricalneck portion shaving 'the iii-turned annuiaryangegc on itsy upper edge'Iiwhi'ch isprovded",witlildia rnetric'ally.l disposed notches `'7 8. The' in# turned'liange 6 Icarriesl depending zalrcuate` .locking cam flangesQ which lie on oppositesides ofther notches '7 and 8. As sloyvngthehigh points of .the cam angesare oppositely `dsposed relative to oneanotherlv f ,.f I Myimproved cap A. can `be constructed from any desiredv material and in anypreferredmanner and embodies a top wallglO .having a depending annular peripheral flange or skirt 1l for snugly engaging about".` the neck B.- YFormed on the axial'enterfofthetop wail 1o andV depending therefrom isa boss'lZwhich is' bored for the`r e. ception of the rotatable'lbarrel A113, of acont/'enj-L, tional pin-,tumbler lock.' barrel Lacan :be:` held against endwise movement Within thefcap in any preferred mannensuchv as; by .the use of a retaining plate 14` connectedwith the barreland engaging the lower face of the boss l2. Y f yf Arranged inspacedrelationtotheskirt il are diametrically disposedlockinglugs orlips 1,5 which are,v adapted to detachably fit-within the notches 7 and 8=of the :neck B, when the capfisldisposed on the neck, to prevent rotation of the cap'relative to the neck." A sealing gasket 16 formedfrom cork ory other fcompressible materiallisznisposed against the inner face of the top wall 10 and is held in position between the skirt ll and the lugs 15. This gasket 16 is adapted to bear against the upper face of the neck when the `cap is in position thereon, so as to prevent loss of gasoline or other liquid contained in the tank between the cap and the filling neck.

Rotatable with the barrel 13 of the lock is a diametrically extending rigid locking bar 17. This locking bar is of such a length as to engage under the cam flanges 9 of the neck, when the barrel of the lock is rotated by the key to its locked position. My novel means of associating the locking bar with the barrel of the lock and the body of the cap forms an important partof my invention, as by this means I am enabled to pro,- vide in effect a fioating lock bar, the advantages of which will be hereinafter more fully set forth. As shown, the retaining plate 14 carries depending guide pins 1s and the hub A.19- of the iokin'g` bar 17 isprovided with openingsfor receiving the pins. l and away from the barrel of the lock and 4the pins form a guide thereof.

IFormed integral with theopposite `sides of the boss 12 are studs 20, which extend below the boss and these studs have rfitted against the same a retaining disc 21 which is held in place bymeans of screws 22 which .extend throughthe plate and into threaded bores formed in the studs. An expansion spring 23 is placed between'the retaining disc 22 and the hub 10 of the locking bar and this springnormally functions .to holdthe locking bar in a'raised position. If desired, the hub 19 ofthe lock bar can have formedthereon a projectionf24 which forms a seat for retaining the spring 23 in place. It is to be alsoA noted that the lock` bar is disposed between the studs 20and thus; `these 35 studs serve to limitthesvvinging movementY of the lock bar. f'

In use of my improved'closure cap, the key'l 25y f for the lock'is insertedin the barrel so as to releasethe barrel from the boss 12 for f ree'rotation,

after which the barrel 13fis turned soas to `a1ine the arms ofthe lock barwith the locking lugs 15 casted on the cap. The cap isnow inserted on theviillin'g neck B andthe lugs 15 andthe lock bar 17will ride into the'notches 7 and 8,A Upon rotation ofithebarrel4 13 by the key, the arms of the lock barrel will first engage under` the low points ofthe cam flanges'l 9v and upon continued rotation of the barreLthe lock bar will gradually ,y ride up the inclined faces of said flanges. When 5U the barrel has been turned tov its'lockedposition with the lock bar 17 disposed substantially at right angles to the locking lugs, the key is re-j moved and manipulation of the lockisthen prevented 4by unauthorizedV persons. Obviously, the position of the lugs 15 within the .notchesv 7 and 8 will prevent rotation of the cap. An outward pull on the cap is vresisted by the engagement of the lock `bar under the cam flanges 9. Thus, the removal ofthe cap other thanby they person possessing the correct key is prevented. j 1

. Bymy means'of 4mounting the -lock bar 1 7 in position, thelockbarfis permitted to give relative to the flanges 9 and variation in these flanges be taken'care of by the downward movement of the lockf'bar. Fur ther, the continued'upward thrust ofthe'lock bar on the flanges tends to hold the cap tight down on the neck, allowing the gasket 17 to form a' seal with the neck to preventV any loss of liquid between theV` neck and thecap;

'In orderv to furtherhelp the movement ofthe This allows the locking bar to slide toward -tank having an in-turned flange provided with lock bar under the cam flanges 9, the top face of the arms of the lock bar can be curved transversely, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3.

By my construction of the cap, the parts can be readily assembled and the entire cap can be manufactured at a low cost.

Obviously, when it is desired to remove the cap from the neck, the key is reinserted in the barrel and thebarrel is again turned to aline the arms of the locking bar with the notches of the neck, after which the cap can be pulled upward and oft' of the neck due to the fact that the arms ofthe lock bar and the lugs will all be in alinementwith the notches of the neck.

'Changes in details may be made without de- 1. 'I'he combination with the filling neck of a diametrically disposed notches and depending cam flanges arranged between the notches, Aof a removable closure cap for the neck including depending rigid locking lugs for engaging in said notches when' the cap is disposed on the neck, an Aaxially disposed boss having a bore formed on the cap, a lock including a barrel rotatably mounted in the boss, spaced depending pins'ca'rried by the inner end of the barrel of the lock, a'lock bar having openings for slidably receiving the pins, studs formed on the boss extending below the boss, a retaining disc secured to the studs, and an expansion spring arranged between the lock bar and the retaining disc.

2. A closure cap for the filling necks of tanks comprising a body having a top Wall and a dependingk skirt, diametrically disposed locking lugs formed on the body in spaced relation to the skirt, a gasket disposed against the inner face of the top-wall and disposed-betweenV the skirt and the lugs, an axially disposed boss formed on the top wall having a bore, a key-operated lock including a barrel rotatably mounted in said bore, securing studs formed on the body and extending below the boss, a lock bar rotatable with the barrel into and out of alinement with the lugs including radially extending arms and a hub, the hub being provided with openings, depending pins connected with the barrel slidably received in said openings, a .retaining disc, means securing the retaining disc to the studs and an expansion spring interposed between the retaining disc and the hub of the lock bar, the upper faces of the arms of the lock bar being curved transversely.

3. The combination with the filling neck of a tank having an inturned fiange provided with oppositely disposed notches and cam flanges lying. on opposite sides of the notches; of a removable closure cap for the neck including a body having depending locking lugs for engaging in the notches to prevent rotation of the cap on the neck, a key-operated lock carried by the cap including a rotatable barrel, a Vdiametrically extending lock bar, means slidably and non-rotatably connecting the lock bar with the barrel whereby the lock bar is freely rotatable with the barrel and movable toward and away from the barrel, a retaining member disposed below the bar, means securing the retaining member to the body, and an expansion spring `disposed between the lock bar and the retaining member.

MA'II-IEW G. IVANDICK.

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