US2375671A - Tank lock - Google Patents

Description

INVENTOR W I 85 BY A oRNr-:Ys

'May 8, 1945. l M MALLUK 2,375,671

TANK LOCK Filed April l5, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 cars, and similar vehicles. y

An object of this invention is tn provide a lock tem whereby not only showingmy improved lock,`

' t Figure 3 is `an end view. of my lock with the locking arms inlocked position. l i i ing the locking arms.

arms on the operating shaft.

Patented May 8, 14945 l UNITED STATES? TANKlLooK `Assad M. Malick, New York, N. Y. Application `Aprilia,` '1943,.Serial No.` 482,861

` 'comme (cmo-"168) This invention relates to locks for necks of fuel tanks and while not limited to such is particularly directed to locks for fuel tanks of planes,

system which may not only prevent tampering with the contents of the tank but which will pre vent the caps from becoming loose duc to vibration, shock or the sharp turning of the vehicle.

4With airplanes, which for .the most part .are kept under guard, the key` lock is not always necessary. However, due to the vibration. of Iiightythe sudden turns and stresses, a positive lock which will prevent the cap from becoming unscrewed is highly `desirable.` It is,` therefore, one of the objects of this invention to provide a key lock which operates ony the same principle and also to provide a complete tanksecuritysysthe lling neck butthe drainage plug will be adequately protected. i Since no tanklock can be `100 percenteffective unless the tank drainis also protected, I provide in .combination with `a necklock means for preventing the draining of the tankbyjthe removal ofthe drainage plug, andthe resultant combina- 2 tion completely protectsthe car or. other vehicle so that t'is impossible to remove the gasoline therefrom without havingthe keys...V f V i In the accompanyingdrawings, i Figure 1. is a side elevation in `cross section f Figurezis `a side elevation partly in.` section taken .at right angles to Figure 1. l

Figure 4 is aview taken `on the `line 4-4 of Figure `1 with locking arms in the unlocked position, 1 Figure 5 is a detailed view of the housing cover- Figure 6 is a estan view of the spindle with the housing removed. Figure 7 is a detailed view ofrone of the locking Figure 8 is a side elevation in cross section of a modification of my device foruse with a key.

Figure 9 isa bottom view showing locking arms fin locked position.

Figure 10 isV a view similar to Figure 9 with Uthe locking arms in register.

Figure 11 is a detailed View of a modified lockingarm. Y. a i l improved plug lock.

Figure 12 is a sectional side elevation ofrny 5 I8 and openings l9and 20 adjacent tothe end `of each cammed-face. Lugs 52 and 53 are provided at the end of each cam face.` j

My improved cap 2| is provided with an ex# terior cap member 22, the lower part `of which may be providedwith a washer 23 which will `i'nsure tight contact with the mouth 24 of the 'neck I5. Depending from the cap member 22 is a shank 2 5 `fastened to the underside of the cap member by means of `the screws 28. The shank 25 is widened at itslowere'nd to providean enlarged member 21 which bears the iixed locking arm 28 screwed to the bottom thereof by means of the screws 29. ItCmay also be provided with the abutments 3 0 and 3| to limit the movement of the movable locking arm hereinafter described. Mounted within the shank 25 is a shaft 35 having its lower end 36 cut with a high pitched spiral 0 groove 31. Freely mounted thereon is abushing" 38 which is provided with internal lugs tc engage saidgroove. `Bushing 38 bears a movable locking arm 39. The shaft extends notonly through the shank `25 but through the cap portion 2:2 into V the handle 40 whichis rotatable upon the cap 4| fixes theshaft in place in member 22. A pin @the handle. y Y

Rotation of the operating handle 4 0 isgoverned by a spring release 42` comprising the lever 43 pivoted at 44 and engaging the pin45 which in turn is normally depressed bythe spring 46; The pin registers with a plurality of depressions 41 to lock the operating handlein place.

1It may be seen that by depressing the f lever 43, `fthe operating handle 40 may then be turnedto .transmit rotation to the shaft 35.

`In order to prevent the movablelocking arm 39 from falling on' at the end of .the shaft, a bushing 48 is provided andheldby the'upin` .43

through the shaft. Thepitch of the spirallgroove 31 is such that it and theweight of the arm 39.

will tend to cause the movable with the shaft when it is turned. i A second housing 50 may be provided tocover arm 39 to rotate `and protect the end of the shaft and the locking PATENT OFFICE N l plug used to` cover `In order to prevent possible loss arms and to aid in centering the cap. The housing 50 isv provided with L-shaped openings 5| to allow the movement of the movable locking arms.

In use the movable arm and the stationary arm are held in register by the spring release 42 when the cap is out of the neck. The cap is inserted into the neck with the arms passing through the openings I9 and 20. The cap is then turned and tightened into position with the fixed locking arm 28 engaging the cam faces I1 and I8 of the collar I6 thus tightening the washer 23 against the mouth 24 and providing a. tight fit. The spring release is then pressed down with the finger andA the handle 40 turned in a clockwise direction. This causes the locking arm 39 to rotate with the shaft until it contacts the abutments 30 and 3| when it can rotate no further. As the shaft con tinues to rotate the locking arm then must rise on the shaft until it is brought into positionagainst thehousing 50 and behind the depending lugs 52 and 53 as shown in Figure 3. This locks the entire cap into position so that it may notI be rotated to loosen the permanent locking arms grip on the' cam faces I1 and I8 and no amount of vibration can loosen the cap. The handle is l -held against turning by the spring release 42.

When it is desired to remove the cap, spring release lever 43 is pressed and the handle 49 turned in a counter-clockwise direction. This will drive the arm 38 downwardly on the shaftI until the lugs 52 and 53 are cleared, when the arm will again rotate until it again engages the abutments 30 and SI `at which point they will ,be

.in register with the permanent locking arm 28.

The entire cap can then be rotated until the locking arms register with the openings I9 and 20 when the `cap may be removed.

of the cap, a groove 55 with a ring 5E attachedfto a chain 51 seated inthe groove 55 may be provided. It will -be understood that the kring 56 will rotate in the groove so that the chain 51 will not restrict the operation of the cap. The other end of the chain 51 may be fastened to any convenient fixture.

In the form shown in Figures 8, 9, and l thek identical principle is involvedl except that the shaft is rotated by a key. This form is adapted to the ordinary automobile tank neck GII which Ais provided with internal cam faces 6I and 62 terminating in lugs |53y and 64. The cap '55 instead of having a long shank as shown vin the form 'heretofore described, engages a housing BS which is fastened by means of the screws 6,1 to the bottom of the cap. The same screws fasten the permanent locking arm B8 to the bottom of the housing 66. f I The shaft 69 extends through the housing and has a` table 'I at the top thereof, which table is provided with a key 1I adapted to engage the bottom of the lock mechanism 12, controlled by the key 13. The bottom of the shaft 69 is pro-vided with a spiral groove 'I4 and the movable locking arm 15 mounted on the bushing 'I6 engaging `said groove. The bushing 11 holds the arm on the shaft. When the cap is inserted in the neck they arms are placed in register and the fixed. vlocking arm `Eiengages the cams @I and 62. After the cap is in place, key 13-is turned causing the movable locking arm to turn in a clockwise direction until it has cleared the lugs 63 and 64 and engages the abutments 8l] and 8| and then to ride upwardly behind the lugs S3 and 64 to lock the cap against rotation. The key may then be removed and the key hole covered bythe cap 18.

When the cap is to be removed, the key 13lis inserted and turned until the movable arm drops clear ofthe lugs 63 and 64 and then ro of my cap may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention and that my invention resides primarily in the provision of a xed locking arm adapted to hold the cap firmly within the neck against the cam faces and the further pro- `vision of a movable arm adapted to register with thev xed arm when the cap is unlocked and to rotate and move upwardly behind the lugs when l the cap is in a locked position.

Every tank such as the tank Itl is provided with a plug drain consisting of a housing lill adapted to receive the plug IGZ, these plugs ma).Y vary in diameter` such as the plugs |53 and |04. I providev plugs adapted to fit any of the standard sizes with varying sized shanks but with a standard head and with a standard annular portion I.

My `lock |61 consists of a base plate |68, a side member |09 and an additional side member III) hinged to the member |99 at III, a spring latch hook I2 is pressed outwardly by a spring I I3 connected by means of a rod II4 tothe-lock H5 which is seated in the grooved portion I Iof the member |09. A catch member II1 is adapted to engage the spring latch II2 to holdthe lock in a closed position. The member Il has a lower -wall IIB and an upper wall I I9 both of which ex 40 tend inwardly, the lower wall H8 contacting the base IIIB while the upper wall forms with the member |09 an annular opening adapted to-engage the annular face |06 of the plug.

In orderto protect the lock, I provide an elastic cover I 2D adapted to fit the entire lock l Ill. In applying my lock a ,plug` of the proper size is inserted into the housing Il) I The cover |20 is then placed with its opening I2! over the bolt and the lock |01 snapped about the head 0f the plug. The elastic cover IZII is thenI drawn over the lock IDI and the entire plug andlock are protected from.

tampering. The annular edges |22 and |23 form an opening slightly larger than the annular face IIII so that any rotation of the lock will not cause l a loosening of the plug and it will be impossible to drain gasoline from the tank unless the person so doing has a key for thetank.

Itmay be seen that I have provideda means for complete security for fluid tanks whereby not only the neck of the tank but the drainage plug is protected.

I claim :v

l. The combination with a neck having internal camfaces and lugs adjacent to said Jfaces, of a cap, said cap' having a fixed armadapted to en gage said cam faces, a movable arm adapted to engage said lugs and means for rotating said movable arm and causing it to ride upwardly behind said lugs to engage them.

- 2. The combination with a neck havingr internal cam faces and lugs adjacent said canizfaces. of a cap therefor, `said cap having affixed locking arm adapted to engage said cam faces, a movable arm adapted to register With said xed arm when said cap is in unlocked position and means for ro* Y through said cap,

tating and elevating said` movable arm to lock said movable arm behind said lugs, said means being operable externally of the cap.

`3. A tank closureincluding a neck having an internal iiange,` openings in said `ian'ge, lugs` on said flange, a closure cap, means von said closure cap to engage said flange and `rotatable and upwardly movable means on said cap to engage:

said lugs to prevent movement of the cap.`

`4:. The combination with a neck havinginternal flanges and lugs adjacent to said flanges of a'cap therefor, said cap having a` xed locking arm adapted to engage said angeaa shaft extending a spiral groove in the end of said shaft, a second locking arm` having internal lugs engaging said groove mounted on said shaft and means operable from the top of said cap to rotate said shaft and tocause said arm torotate andride upwardly on said shaft.`

5. The combination of alneckhavinginternal cammed surfaces and lugs adjacent to said movable arm mounted on the lower end of said i shaft having lugs engaging said groove, an abutment limiting the rotation of said arm, said abutment being soplaced with relation to said lugs as to prevent the rotation of. said arm beyond said lugswhensaid shaft is rotatedand to cause said l arm to move upwardly on said shaft `behind said lugs.

'7. Aftank closure including a neck having a pair of lateral cammed surfaces, lugs adjacent tion.

`spiralgroove on said shaft, a ing lugs engaging said groove mounted on said shaft, stop means limiting the rotation of said said cammed surfaces, a closure cap therefor, said closure cap having projections adapted to engage said cammed surfaces to hold said cap in place, a shaft extending through said closure cap, a spiral groove on said shaft, a movable arm having lugs engaging said groove mounted on said shaft, stop means limiting the rotation of said arm whereby said arm will rotate with said shaft until it engages said stop means when it will rise upwardly on said shaft behind said lugs and a handle member on the for rotating said shaft.

8. A tank closure includinga neck having a pair of lateral cammed surfaces, lugs adjacent said cammed surfaces, a closure cap therefor said closure cap having projections adapted to engage said cammed surfaces to hold `said cap in place, a shaft extending throughsaid closure cap, a movable arm havarm whereby said armwill rotate with said shaft until it engages said stop means whenit will rise upwardly on said shaft behind said lugs and key controlled means for rotating said shaft.

9.,A tank closure including a neck having a pair of lateral cammed surfaces, lugs adjacent said cammed surfaces, a closure cap therefor, said closure cap having projections adapted to engage said cam-inedsurfaces to hold said cap in place,

'a shaft extending through said closure cap, a

spiral groove on said shaft, a movable arm having lugs engaging said groove mounted on said shaft, stop means `limiting the rotation of said arm whereby said arm `will rotate with said shaft until it engages said stop means when it willrise upwardly on said shaft behind said lugs and a handle member on the extension of said cap for rotating said shaft, said handle memberhaving a releasable catch to prevent its accidental rota- AssAD M.

exterior of' said cap f

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