US2209851A - Tool for applying seal caps - Google Patents

Description

Julyao, 1940. J. w. @HERA 2,209,851

TQL FOR APPLYING SEAL CAPS Filed July 1, 1956 2 Shaets-Shet l ZI-Z/e? for: 7725726720.

J- W. SHERA MNO. 1940.

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Patented July 30, 1940 v 'rooL ron ArrLnNG SEAL cars John w. snera, chicago, nl., assigner t Amencan Flange & Manufacturing Co. Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Illinois Application July 1, 1936, Serial No. 88,308

8 Claims. (0l. 113-18) lily invention relates to a tool for applying seal caps, and it has to do particularly with a tool of the foregoing character adapted for applying seal caps over the beaded end of a flange or neck dening an opening in the wall ofthe container.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved tool for applying seal caps.

Another object is to provide a tool of the foregoing character which is so constructed that the actuating pressure required to contract the skirt of the seal cap over and behind the beaded end of the closure neck or ange is materially reduced, whereby the cap may be securely applied in sealtight fashion without distorting the closure strucl5 ture or the container wall.

' A further object is to provide a toolfor applying seal caps which includes but few parts, which parts are so constructed and arranged that wear is reduced to the minimum and ease in operation I is assured.

Still another object is to provide a tool embodying the foregoing features which is simple 1n construction, is strong and durable, may be assembled and disassembled easily and quickly, and

u which is substantially foolproof in operation,

whereby the ordinary unskilled workman may apply suessive seal caps in a uniform seal-tight fashion.

o A more specific object is to provide a tool of the foregoing character which comprises an improved jaw unit including a disk-like supporting member and a plurality of annularly disposed arcuate jaw members supported thereby and adapted to engage and contract the skirt of the seal cap, the arrangement being such that the jaw members have a line-contact engagement with the supporting disk substantially throughout their width and about which they rock in their con- 40 tracting and expanding movements.

Other objects and advantages, some of which,

lie in the form and relationship of the tool parts, will become apparent as this description progresses and by reference to the drawings wherein- 4,5 Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of one form of tool embodying my invention, the tool being shown in its expanded form ready for securing a seal cap in place;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially 50 on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is another vertical sectional view taken at substantially right angles to Fig. 1, and the tool is shown with its parts in contracted condition with a seal cap secured in place;

I5 Fig. 4 is a detached, perspective view of one of the'jaw members of .the-jaw unit shown in the previous gures;`

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmental section taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmental section taken 5 substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

The tool shown in the drawings is well adapted for applying seal caps to the fllling and/or discharge openingsof containers used for shipping and storing gasoline, oil, and -the like, products. 10 It is to be understood, however, that tools embodying my invention have utility in any other insance Where similar conditions of use are to be me With particular refernce to the drawings, the container illustrated includes a comparatively thin wall I5 (Figs. 1 and 3) having a circular and outwardly-extending ange I6 defining a fill and/or discharge opening. An internally threaded bushing I'I (Fig. 1) is mounted within the 20 flange I6 and its outer end is turned over and upon the outer edge of the ange I6 providing a bead I8 thereat. A closure plug (not shown) is usually screwed into the bushing I1 for primarily closing and sealing the opening. The closure structure just described is further closed and sealed, so as to guard against leakage and undetectable tampering, by a cap I9 having a skirt portion I9 contracted over the bead I8 and upon the iiange I6 therebehind. It is essential, in ap- 3o plying the seal cap I9, that distortion of the container wall I5 and the closure structure as a whole be avoided, otherwise leakage may occur.

My invention takes care -of the condition last stated by providing an improved Itool which is adapted to apply the seal cap without the exertion of pressure in axial direction suflicient to `cause distortion of the thin-walled parts, the arrangement of the tool parts being such that the operating pressure required to contract the skirt I9 of the cap is materially reduced below that required in tools heretofore employed. This reduction in operating pressure is brought about by reducing to a minimum the contact between the mounting means of the jaws and the body mem- -ber of the tool. In this manner friction and i unit 2|, and-which with the jaw unit is confined against axial displacement by an enlarged head 25 on'the lower end of the body member 2|) and a detachable spring ring 26 mounted in a suitably provided groove in the body member 20. The body member 20 further supports a handlemounting member 21 to which the inner ends of handles 28 are pivotally connected by pins 28a. The inner ends of thehandles 28, adjacent the pivot pins 28a, are also connected to the jaw-operating member 23 by suitably provided links 29 and 30 so that downward movement of the outer ends of the handles 28 will result in downward movement of the jaw-operating member 23 and, in turn, contraction of the jaw members 22. Raising of the handles 28 will raise the jaw-operating member 23 and permit expansion of the jaw members 22 in a manner'that will become obvious hereinafter. .The handles 28, their mode of support by the body member 20, and their manner of connection with the jaw-operating member 23 are fully disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,034,776, granted on March 24, 1936, and it will, therefore, be unnecessary to further describe the same in detail herein.

The jaw unit 2| and the parts thereof are so constructed' and arranged that the pressure required to move the jaw members 22 inwardly to fully contract the-skirt I9a of the seal cap (Fig. 3) is reduced to the minimum. This feature not only avoids distortion of the container wall I5 and the closure structure as a whole, but it also reduces wear so that the tool will serve its purpose efficiently over a long period of time. Specically, the jaw unit 2| (Figs. 1` and 3) includes a disk-like member 3| rotatably supported by the body member 20, between the centering head 24 and spring ring 26 and having an annular groove 3|a of substantially rectangular shape in cross section in its peripheral edge. The disk 3| supports the jaw members 22 each of which is of identical size and is of transverse arcuate shape with its side edges tapering radially inward so that when all of the jaw members 22 are arranged in annular fashion and contracted they will fit snugly together along their side edges forming a substantially complete circle.

The jaw members 22 are supported by the disk 3| in the following manner (Figs. l, 3 6): Each of the jaw members 22 has a lower or skirt portion 22a. The upper boundary of the skirt portion is established by a chord-like land or ledge 32 which projects inwardly from the inner surface of the body member and extends substantially throughout the width of the same. This ledge 32 is of such Width that it is adapted to fit rather snugly within ythe peripheral disk groove 3|a and the lower projecting corner 33 of this ledge (Fig. 4) is squared away in such a manner that it engages the lower side 3|b of the disk groove 3|@ along a line contact 34 (Figs. 1 and 3) extending substantially tangentially to the bottom 3|c of the groove 3|EL (Figs. 1, 5 and 6). The upper edge of the ledge 32 is counter-cut as at 35 and the disk 3| above the groove 3 Ia is reduced in diameter so that the upper end of the jaw member (above the groove 3 la) may rock inwardly toward the disk 3| even though the ledge 32 may fit rather snugly within the groove 3Ia.

The upper ends of the jaw members 22 are urged radially inward and they are also normally held pressed together incircumferential direction as a self-contained unit by a spring ring 36 conned in a groove 31 in the outer upper end portions of the jaw members. The spring ring 36 also holds the jaw member ledges 32 engaged within the disk groove 3| with the lower outer corners of the ledges 32 engaging the lower side of the groove along the line contact 34 about porting member 21 upon the threaded end 39 of the body member 20, and this uppermost position is preferably such that the bell member 23 determines the extent of expansion of the jaw members, independently of any stopping action afforded by the engagement with each other of the upper ends of the jaw members 22 when the skirt portions 22a thereof are in their fully expanded condition. In this Way, the limit of expansion of the tool may be definitely fixed and slight manufacturing variations'in the jaw members and associated parts will not affect the operation of the tool.

The lower or jaw ends 38 of the jaw members 22 are provided with inwardly-extending ledges 40 providing jaw faces adapted, upon contraction of the jaws, to engage the side wall or skirt I9a of the seal cap I9. The tool as a whole is centered in the proper position upon the cap I9 by the centering head 24 which is provided with a squared rim portion 4I adapted to seat upon the peripheral edge portion of the cap I9, which peripheral edge portion may, in some cases (as shown), be offset.

In the operation of the tool, the seal cap I9 .is rst applied over the closure structure, preferably, with a gasket 42 (Fig. l) disposed between its inner peripheral edge portion and the top of the bead I8. The tool is then placed in the position shown in Fig. l, and the outer ends of the handles 28 are moved downwardly, in turn moving the member 23 downwardly causing the jaw members 22 to rock about their line contacts 34 and move the lower or jaw faces 40 vof the jaw members 22 inwardly to engage and contract the skirt I9L of the cap I9 as shown in Fig. 3. Due to the fact that the jaw members 22 rock about a line contact with a minimum of friction, the pressure required to move the handles 28 downward and contract the cap skirt is materially reduced. The line contact 34 may shift very slightly during this action, but, if so, the action is negligible so' far as the foregoing results are concerned. As the jaw members 22 are simultaneously rocked and contracted to similar extent by the member 23, the lower ends of the jaw members move together with a uniform circumferential contracting movement and, in their finally contracted position (Fig. 3), the lower edges of the jaw members substantially abut each other at their sides. In this operation the skirt of the seal cap I9 is completely and uniformly contracted over and behind the bead I8 and the cap I9 is depressed and secured in such a way as to provide a closure which is not only air and liquid-tight, but it is also proof against undetectable tampering.

When the cap I9 is fully applied, the handles 28 -76 bers to the position of Fig. 1.

It is'believed that the vobjects and advantages' et my invention above ilrst stated will be obvious from the foregoing description. The tool is quite f simple inconstruction and it is composed of a minimum number of parts which may be con- -structed quite inexpensively. A tool embodying my invention is substantially foolproof and may be operated even by 'unskilled workmen without danger of distorting the container wall which, if it should occur, vmight result in leakage.

It is to be understood that, although I have shown only one form of tool embodying my invention, other changes in details and arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit'and scope of my invention as dened by the claims that follow.

I claim:`

1. In a tool of the class described, a body member, a jaw supporting member thereon, a plurality of jaw members, means providing a-line contact engagement between said supporting member and said jaw members and about which said jaw members rock for expansion and contraction movements, means engaging said jaw members on one side of said line'contact means and constantly tending to expand said jaw members, and means engaging said jaw members on the other side of said line contact means and operable to contract said jaw members in opposition to said first means.

2. In a tool of the class described, a body member, a jaw supporting disk carried by said body, a plurality of jaw members of transverse arcuate shape annularly fitted around the periphery of said disk, line-contact means between each of said jaw members and said disk and about which said jaw members rock in expanding and contracting, means constantly tending to expand said jaw members, and means carried by said body and operable to contract said jaw members in opposition to said expanding means.

3. In a tool of the class described, a body member, a circular jaw supporting member carried by said body member, a plurality of jaw members each having a skirt portion of transverse arcuate shape tting around the periphery of said jaw supporting member, means for supporting said jaw lmembers on said jaw supporting member including a lateral chord-like element on each said jaw member having a straight edge adapted to engage said supporting member along a line contact about which said jaw members rock, spring means engaging said jaw members constantly urging said skirt portions about said line contact toward an expanded position, and means carried by said body member for contracting said skirt portions in opposition to said spring means.

4. In a tool of the class described, a body member, a jaw supporting disk carried by said body member and having a continuouseircumferential groove in its peripheral edge, a plurality of jaw members each having a skirt portion of transverse arcuate shape annularly arranged around said disk with each of said jaw members having a chord-like land or ledge of rectangular shape in cross-section extending substantially throughout the width of the jaw member and received within said disk groove, said ledge having a squared corner adapted to engage one of the surfaces of said groove along a line contact about which said jaw members rock in expanding and contracting, means engaging said jaw members on one side of said line contact and constantly tending to expand said jaw members, and means yengaging said jaw members on theother side of said line contact and operable to contract saidl jaw members in opposition to said spring means.

5. In atool for applying seal caps, a body member; a disk-shaped jaw supporting member carried by said body member; a plurality of Jaw members of arcuate shape transversely of their i length; means for mounting said jaw members on said disk-shaped member, with a part thereof projecting above said disk-shaped member, and including a chord-like land or ledge of rectangular cross-section intermediate the ends of each said jaw member, a continuous and rectangularly-shaped groove in the peripheral edge of said disk-shaped member in which said chord-like. ledge is received, and ,spring means engaging I said parts of said jaw members above said diskshaped member and tending to rock said jawv members upon their said ledges in expanding direction; and means carried bysaid body member and operable to move said jaw members in contracting direction.

6. In a tool for applying seal caps, a body memf ber, a disk-shaped member carried by said body member and having a, continuous rectangularlyshaped groove in its peripheral edge, a-plurality of jaw members of arcuate shape transversely of their length and each having a transverse chordlike element intermediate its ends entering said v groove and engaging a side surface thereof along a line contact, said chord-like element projecting from said jaw member suiciently for it to enter and engage said groove substantially throughout the entire width of each of the jaw members, spring means engagingsaid jaw members at one end and constantly urging said jaw members in expanding direction about said line contact, said groove-and-element relationship together withA said spring means serving to hold said diskshaped member and jaw members assembled as a self-contained unit independently of other supporting devices, and means carried by said body member and operable to move said jaw members about said line-contact in contracting direction.

7. In a tool for applying seal caps, a body member, a disk-shaped member carried by said body member and having a continuous groove in its peripheraledge, a plurality of jaw members of arcuate shape transversely, each of said jaw members having a chord-like ledge extending substantially throughout the width of the jaw members and received in said groove in substantially -tangential relation to the bottom of the latter, said i ledge having its lower corner squared so that its lower corner engages the lower side wall of said groove along a, line contact about which said jaw member rocks in expanding and contracting movements of its lower end, means Aengaging the upper ends of said jaw members and tending to 'rock the Alower ends of said jaw members about that its lower corner engages the lower side wall 7K5 means and groove-and-ledge relationship serving to hold said jaw members operatively connected to said disk-shaped member, and means engaging said Jaw members below their said line contacts and operable to rock said Jaw members 5 about their line contacts in a contracting direction.

JOHN W.. SHERA.

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