US3102660A - Safety radiator cap with lift-type latch - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 3, 1963 E. R. BowDEN SAFETY RADIATOR CAP WITH 'LIFT-TYPE Filed 001'.. 26. 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet l 33 INVENTOR. F. 2 ELDRED R. BownEN 1 g H11/wl HW E. R. BOWDEN m R.D mw w EB V. .9 mR new D A w E Y B 5 2 MN. o n3 .n.0 HH do .l F.. 6 Ih 7.-

SAFETY RADIATOR CAP WITH LIFT-TYPE LATCH Filed Oct. 26, 1960 Sept. 3, 1963 Sept. 3, 1963 l E. R. BowDEN 3,102,660

SAFETY RADIATOR CAP WITH LIFT-TYPE LATCH Filed oct. 2e, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 l INVEN TOR. Fig 6 ELDRED R. BowDEN WMM 23.741101/ Sept. 3, 1963 E. R. BowDEN 3,102,660

Y SFE'IY RADIATOR CAP WITH LIFT-TYPE LATCH Filed Oct. 26, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.A Fig 9 Emmen R. BowoEN Afroyney United States Patent O 3,102,660 SAFETY RADIATOR CAP WITH LIFT-TYPE LATCH Eldred R. Bowden, Connersviile, Ind., assigner to Stant Manufacturing Company, Inc., Connersville, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Oct. 26, 1960, Ser. No. 65,072 6 Claims. (Cl. 22d-40) The present invention relates to a closure cap, primarily intended for use on the filler neck of the cooling system of a conventional automobile engine, said cap involving novel structure which is airm-atively eifective to guard against a long-recognized hazard.

For many years, such cooling systems were conventionally designed to operate at atmospheric pressures; but even in those days, it sometimes happened, for one reason or another that the collant in the system would attain a boiling temperature, thus producing -a superatmospheric pressure in the system. When, under those conditions, a vehicle operator or an attendant inattentively removed the closure lcap from the ller neck of such a system, steam and scalding water would frequently spew forth, sometimes drenching and seriously injuring -anyone in the immediate vicinity.

Today, most such systems are designed to operate under superatmospheric pressures of various values between :about two pounds and about twenty pounds per square inch; and in such systems, of course, the probability of injury upon sudden removal of a closure cap is greatly increased.

For many years, the industry has sought a satisfactory cure for this hazard, but Without substantial success. It is conventional now to `construct the cooperating elements of the retainer means between the filler neck and the closure cap with -an intermediate land or obstruction which, interposing -a slight resistance to removal-rotation just before the cap is fully released from the neck, tends to remind an individual to delay complete removal of the cap so as to give the system time Within which to vent its pressure to the atmosphere; but accidents of the above described type continue to occur though, perhaps, with less frequency.

ccording to the present invention, I provide positive latch means carried by the closure cap and effective armatively to arrest movement of the cap in a direction to release it from the filler neck, at an intermediate position in which the interior of the cooling system is open to the atmosphere through the conventional vent port with which the liller neck is provided, but in -which the mouth of the liller neck is still closed by the cap to prevent egress of hot liquid or of any substantial `amount of scalding vapor which might injure the individual who is manipulating the cap. The novel structure is so constructed and arranged as to require positive action by that individual, in addition to mere rotation of the cap, before the cap can be released from its closing engagement with the mouth of the `filler neck.

The primary object of the present invention, then, is to provide a safety lcap embodying shiftable latch means of the character above indicated which will -guard even the rnost inattentive manipulator against injury by liquid or vapor spewing from a system which has been operating under superatmospheric pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in such a cap, latch means which is resiliently Ibiased to its motion-arresting position, but including manually mtanipulable means readily accessible to an operator Whereby the latch may be retracted, Aby ai'rmative action, to permit removal of the cap.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such 3,102,660 Patented Sept. 3, 1963 rice a structure in which the latch means is provided with a cam surface so constructed and arranged that the cap may -be applied to a conventional liller neck and may be fully seated thereon without manual manipulation of the latch means by the operator.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide latch means of the character described which is supported from the cap and arranged for substantially axial movement with respect thereto between its motionarresting position and its release position.

Still further objects of the invention will appear `as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention maybe embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific rconstructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended :claims is not violated.

FIG. l is a vertical section through the distal portion of a conventional ller neck with a cap embodying one form of the present invention in fully seated position thereon;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a section similar to FIG. l but showing the ,cap in intermediate, arrested position on the filler neck;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a section similar to FIG. l but showing a modified form of my invention;

lFIG. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a `fragmental side elevation of a portion of the cap of FIG. 5, illustrating a detail of construction;

FIG. 8 isa section similar to FIG. 5 -but showing the lcap in intermediate, arrested position; and

FIG. 9 is a horizontal section similar to FIG. 6 but showing the parts in the positions of FIG. 8.

Referring more particularly to the form of invention illustrated in FIGS. l to 4, it will be seen that I have shown the distal fragment of a conventional filler neck 20 having an upwardly opening mouth surrounded by a seat 21 and provided with a downturned, peripherally extending lip 22 which is formed, at its distal edge, with symmetrically arranged cam surfaces 23 and 24 inclining, -in the direction of applying rotation of a iiller cap, -downwardly toward the level of the conventional pres.- sure valve seat 25. The section 26 of the filler neck indicates -any means whereby said l-ler neck is mounted upon, and communicates with the interior of, the iconventional cooling system for an internal combustion engine.

In accordance with conventional practice, the iiller neck 20 is provided with a vent port 2.7 disposed between `the seats 21 and 25, and a conduit 28 conventionally leads from said port to any suitable point at which said conduit is in open communication with the atmosphere.

The reference numeral 29 indicates generally a pressure closure cap which, except in the particulars later to be described, conforms generally to the construction of currently conventional pressure `closure caps. Said cap comprises a cap body 30I provided with a downturned, perimetral llange 31 whose distal edge carries, at diametrically lopposed regions, a pair of retainer lingers 32 and 33 which, as will be seen, are oset from. the plane of the cap body 30 and extend substantially radially with respect thereto.

In accordance with conventional practice, the lip 22 of the iiller neck 2l)` is formed with diametrically opposed notches 34 and 35 through which the iingers 32 and 33 are enterable, whereupon turning movement of the cap in a clockwise direction as viewed from above (a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 4) will move said fingers 32 and 33 into cooperative engagement with the cam surfaces 23 and 24. Hereinafter, such turning movement of thejcap relative to the filler neck will be referred to as forward movemen, while turning movement of the cap in a l'direction to return the fingers into registry with the notches 34 and 35 will be referred to as rearward movement.

As shown, the distal edge of the lip 22 is formed with a slight downward projection 36 at the lforward end of the notch 34, and with a shallow region 37, having a peripheral extent substantially equal to that of the finger 32, immediately forward with respect to said extension 36 and :between said extension and the cam surface 23. This is the land Lor obstruction arrangement of conventional practice as 'described above, and is shown primarily for the purpose of indicating the applicability of the cap of the present invention -to ller necks currently in wide use in Ithe automobile industry. The forward end of the cam surface 23 is guarded by a longer downward projection 38 so arranged that, when the cap 29 attains full seating on .the filler neck 20, the leading end of the finger 32 will be engaged and arrested by said projection 38.

A projection 39, a land 40 and a projection 41 are diametrically opposed, respectively tol the projection 36, the land 37 and the projection 38 for similar cooperation with the finger 33.

A hollow dome or bell 42 is centrally suspended `from the cap body 30 by means of a rivet 43 and is formed, at its lower end, with an outturned fiange 44. A pan 45 is formed with a collar ange 46 which is looselyslidably mounted upon the :dome 42. A spring 47 is confined` between the collar flange 46 and a diaphragm 48 resiliently to resist movement fof the pan 45 toward the cap body 3i) and to urge the collar flange 46 into engagement with the dome fiange 44. Said spring also supports the diaphragm 48 in position for engagement of .the periphery of said diaphragm with the seat 21 surrounding the mouth of the filler neck 20.

A valve carrier 49 is fixed to the pan 45 and supports, on its lower face, a compressible gasket 50'. The parts fare so proportioned and arranged that, when the cap 29 is fully seated on the filler neck 26, the ange 44 is spaced below the lcollar flange 46 whereby the spring 47 resiliently presses the gasket 58 into sealing engagement with the pressure valve seat 25.

In the form of cap illustrated, the gasket 50 and valve carrier 49 are penetrated by a hollow rivet 51 in which is loosely guided the stem 52 of a vacuum-release valve 53 which is normally held in sealing contact with the gasket 50 by means of a spring 54. The interior of the dome 42 is in open communication with the yvent port 27 through one or more slots 55.

The structure as thus far described is well known in the art.

The `downturned iiange 31 of the cap 29 is, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, formed to provide a pair of diametrically opposed, radially projecting ears 56 and 57, the structure being such that, as is most clearly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the ear 56 includes a spaced pair of substantially radially arranged, vertical walls 58 and 59 providing a guideway.

Guided within said ear 56 for limited reciprocation relative to the cap body 30 upon a line substantially parallel with the axis of said body is a latch element 60` formed to provide a toe 61 so arranged as to extend to a position radially inward with respect to the circle defined by the lip 22. Said latch element is provided with a stem 62 which penetrates an opening 63 in the cap body 30y and carries,l at its distal end, a knob 64 accessible for manipulation from `outside the cap body and acting, as well, as a stop to limi-t movement `of the latch element away from the `cap body under the influence of a spring 65 which is sleeved on said stem 62 and confined between the latch element 60 and the lower surface of' the cap body 30. AS is perhaps most clearly illustrated in FIG. 4, the rearward face 66 of the toe :61 is substantially vertical, while the forward face 67 thereof is inclined or cammed forwardly and upwardly.

Thus, when the latch element 60 is in its lower-most position, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, while the cap is in position on a filler neck 20, the toe 61 traverses the plane of the horizontal fiange 68 from which the lip'22 depends; while, when said latch element is in its uppermost position, said toe is disposed Wholly above said plane.

It will now be seen that, when the fingers 32 and 33 are entered through the notches 34 and 35, respectively, the innermost end of the latch toe 61 will bear upon the upper surface of the flange 68 adjacent the shallow end of the cam surface 23. As the cap is now turned in a forward direction, the finger 32 will move past the eX- tension 36, and as the trailing end 72 of the finger 32 passes the forward end 70 of the extension 36, the latch toe 61 will move past the rearward end 75 of the notch 35 and the latch toe will be moved downwardly by the spring 65 to drop into the notch 35. Now, as forward movement of the cap is continued, the finger 32 will ride down the cam surface 23 and, before the forward end of the finger 32 comes into engagement with the projection 38, the camming surface 67 of the latch toe will engage the forward end 76 tof the notch 35, whereby the latch element will be shifted upwardly to the position of'FIG. l as the finger 32 comes into engagement with the projection 38.

As the cap` is turned in a rearward `direction from the position of FIG. 2, the latch toe 61 Will drop off the ange the end 75 of the notch 35 substantially concurrently with the registry lof the trailing end 72 of the finger 32 with the forward end 701 of the extension 36. Such engagement of the latch face 66 ywith the notch end 75 positively arrests rearward movement of the cap in a position in which the gasket 50` is off the seat 25, as shown in FIG. 3, and the interior of the cooling system is in open communication with the vent port 27. Further rearward movement of the cap to bring the fingers 32 and 33 into registry with the notches 34 `and 35 is positively prevented until the manipulator has affirmatively shifted the latch element 60 upwardly, against the tendency of the spring 65, to move the latch toe 61 to la position wholly above the plane of the flange 68.

In FIGS. 6 to 9, I have illustrated a modified form of latch mechanism in Ithe same general `environment shown in FIGS. l to 4. The cap and its valving parts, and the filler neck shown in FIGS. 5 to 9 are identical with those illustrated in FIGS. l to 4 and described above; but a ldifferent form of latch means is carried by the cap of the modified form.

The cap 88 is provided with ya downturned, perimetral flange 81 which, -at diametrically :opposed points at its peripheral edge, carries yretainer fingers 82 and 83, radially inturned and [offset from the plane of the cap: body for cooperation with the lip 22 of the filler neck 20. The flange 81 is formed to provide op'positely radially projecting ears 84 tand 85, substantially midway between the fingers 82 and 83; .and the ear 84 includes substantially radial side walls 86 and 87. The wall 86 is provided with a vertically elongated slot 88 for a purpose which will appear. y

A leaf spring 89 has one end anchored, as by the rivet 9i), upon the inner surface of the cap body 8i) and extends, in chordal relation to the cap body, beyond the ear wall 86, the `distal end 91 of said spring projecting through the slot S8 and preferably being offset `downwardly beyond said ear wall, as shown.

Intermediate its ends, the spring 89* is formed to provide a depending toe 92 the rearward yface 93` of which is substantially vertical and the forward face 9'4 of which is inclined forwardly `and upwardly to define a camming surface. The toe 92 is so positioned, in the length of the spring 89, as to traverse the circle defined by the lip 22 when the cap is in place on the liller neck 2t). The spring 89 is so proportioned `and designed that its distal end tends to move downwardly to engage the bottom wall of the slot 88; but, by manipulation 4of the projecting end 91 of said spring, the spring may be flexed into the position of FIG. 5. When the spring end is in its lowermost position, the toe 92 also traverses the plane of lthe llange 68 of the liller neck 20L When the lingers 82 land 83 0f the cap are projected through the notches 34 and 35 in the lip 22 and the cap is turned forwardly, the fingers 82 rand 83 ride under the projections 36 and 39, and the lowerm'o-st tip of the toe 92 bears against the surface of the flange 63. As the cap is further turned forwardly, the fingers 82 and 83 begin to ride down the cam surfaces 23 and 24, thereby flexing the spring S9 until the toe drops off the rearward end 75 of the notch 351 and into said notch. lust before the lingers 82 and 83 reach their fully seated positions illustrated in FIG. 6, the cammed face 94 of the toe 92 engages the forward end 76 of the notch 35 and, as the cap progresses to the position of FIG. 6, the toe rides up onto the llange 68, thus llexing the spring into the position of FIGS. 5 and 6.

Now, when the cap is turned rearwardly for removal from the liller neck, the toe 92 drops olf the forward end 7 6 of the notch 35 and into said notch. When the fingers 82 and 83 reach the lands 37 and 40', the rearward face 93 :of the toe 92 will engage the rearward end 75 of the notch 35, thereby positively arresting further rearward movement of the cap relative to the liller neck, While the lingers 82 yand 83 :are still firmly engaged with the lip 22. In this condition of the parts, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the valve 50 is off the seat 25 so that the interior of the cooling system is in open communication with the atmosphere through the vent .port 27. -The cap cannot be removed from the liller neck, however, until the distal end 91 :of the spring 89 is manually lifted to llex the spring and raise the toe 92 wholly above the level of the flange 68. In this form of the invention, the manipulable spring end is readily engageable by the thumb or a linger of the hand with which the operator is turning the cap.

I claim as my invention:

l. A safety radiator cap comprising a discoid, generally planar cap body provided with retainer means constructed and arranged for engagement, upon turning movement, with a conventional radiator liller neck lip to retain said cap upon such a neck, and latch means carried by said cap body adjacent the perimeter thereof at a point peripherally spaced approximately 90 from the peripheral midpoint of said retainer means and mounted for movement toward and away from said cap body generally in a line perpendicular to the plane of said cap body, said latch means being resiliently biased against movement toward said cap body, whereby, when said carp is fully engaged with such a liller neck, it may be turned in a disengaging direction to a limited extent, whereupon, before disengagement of said retainer means, such turning movement will be positively arrested until said latch means is manually shifted against its resilient bias.

2. A closure cap comprising a discoid, generally planar cap body having a downturned, perimetral flange, said flange being formed to dene a radially-outwardly projecting ear, an inturned retainer linger adjacent the distal edge of said llange engageable, upon turning movement, with a conventional radiator filler neck lip to retain said cap upon such a neck, the peripheral midpoint of said linger being spaced approximately 90 from the peripheral center of said fear, a latch element received and guided within said ear for limited movement relative to said cap body generally in a line perpendicular to the plane of said cap body, and spring means within said ear engaging said latch element and yieldingly resisting movement of said latch element toward said cap body, whereby, when said cap is fully engaged with such a filler neck, it may be turned in a disengaging direction to a limited extent, whereupon, before disengagement of said retainer means, such lturning movement will be positively arrested until said latch means is manually shifted against its resilient bias.

3. A safety radiator closure cap comprising a discoid, generally planar cap body, retainer means carried adjacent the periphery of said cap body and having a portion ollset from the plane of said body and extending substantially radially relative to the periphery of said body for engagement, upon turning movement, with a conventional radiator filler neck lip to retain said cap upon such a neck, a leaf spring having one end anchored on said cap body and extending in chordal relation to said cap body beyond the periphery thereof, and a projection fixed relative to said spring intermediate the ends thereof, extending away from said cap body and disposed radially just within the periphery of said cap body and angularly spaced approximately from the peripheral midpoint of said retainer means, the portion of said spring a-t which said projection is located being movable toward the plane of said cap body by llexure of said spring in response to manipulation of the distal end of said spring, whereby, when said cap is fully engaged with such a liller neck, it may be turn-ed in a disengaging direction to a limited extent, whereupon, before disengagement of said retainer means, such turning movement will be positively arrested until said latch means is manually shifted against its resilient bias.

4. A closure cap comprising a disco-id, generally planar cap body having a downturned, perimetral llange formed with a slot therein elongated in a direction perpendicular r yto :the plane of said body, an inturned retainer finger adjacent the distal edge of said flange engageable, upon turning movement, with a conventional radiator liller neck lip to retain said cap upon such a neck, a. leaf spring having one end anchored to the inner, planar surface of said body and extending in chordal relation thereto through said lslot and beyond said llange, and a projection lixed relative to said spring intermediate the ends thereof, extending inwardly therefrom and located radially just within the circle delined by the major portion of said flange, the distal end Kof said spring being manipulable t0 move said spring toward the plane of said body by llexure of said spring, whereby, when said cap is fully engaged with such a liller neck, it may be turned in a disengaging direction to a limited extent, whereupon, before disengagement of said retainer means, such turning movement will be positively arrested until said latch means is Inanually shifted against its resilient bias.

5. The combination with a filler neck of a lluid system designed to operate under superatmospheric pressure, said liller neck having a mouth, an internal valve seat facing said mouth, a peripherally-extending lip surrounding said mouth and providing a cam surface inclining toward said seat as it progresses peripherally in a forward direction, said lip being interrupted by a notch, and a vent port between said seat and said mouth, of a closure cap for said filler neck comprising a cap body constructed and arranged to close said mouth, a pressure valve suspended from said cap body for limited reciprocation toward and away from said body, spring means conlined between said cap body and said valve and yieldably resisting movement of said valve toward said cap body, retainer means carried by said cap body adjacent the periphery thereof and having a portion offset from the plane of said body and extending substantially radially relative to the periphery of said body, said retainer means being enterable lthrough said lip notch and thereupon engageable, by forward turning movement of said cap body, with said lip cam surface, said parts being so constructed and arranged that, when said retainer means is engaged with that portion of said cam surface nearest the level of said seat, said valve is sealingly engaged with said seat and said lip and a second position wholly above said lip, and

spring means yieldably urging said latch means toward said iirst position, said latch means being so angularly spaced from said retainer means that, as said cap body is turned rearwardly. from engagement with that portion of said cam surface nearest the level of said seat, said latch means 'will engage said lip at the rear edge of said notch B to hold said body against further rearward turning movement, before said retainer means attains registry with said notch.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which the rearward face of said -latch means is substantially vertical while the forward face thereof inclines forwardly and in the direction of latch movement toward said second position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,534,286 Maitzen Dec. 19, 1950 2,968,421 Eshbaugh Jan. 17, 196,1 2,990,971 Enell July 4, 19'61

Claims (1)

1. A SAFETY RADIATOR CAP COMPRISING A DISCOID, GENERALLY PLANAR CAP BODY PROVIDED WITH RETAINER MEANS CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED FOR ENGAGEMENT, UPON TURNING MOVEMENT, WITH A CONVENTIONAL RADIATOR FILLER NECK LIP TO RETAIN SAID CAP UPON SUCH A NECK, AND LATCH MEANS CARRIED BY SAID CAP BODY ADJACENT THE PERIMETER THEREOF AT A POINT PERIPHERALLY SPACED APPROXIMATELY 90* FROM THE PERIPHERAL MIDPOINT OF SAID RETAINER MEANS AND MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID CAP BODY GENERALLY IN A LINE PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OF SAID CAP BODY, SAID LATCH MEANS BEING RESILIENTLY BIASED AGAINST MOVEMENT TOWARD SAID CAP BODY, WHEREBY, WHEN SAID CAP IS FULLY ENGAGED WITH SUCH A FILLER NECK, IT MAY BE TURNED IN A DISENGAGING DIRECTION TO A LIMITED EXTENT, WHEREUPON, BEFORE DISENGAGEMENT OF SAID RETAINER MEANS, SUCH TURNING MOVEMENT WILL BE POSITIVELY ARRESTED UNTIL SAID LATCH MEANS IS MANUALLY SHIFTED AGAINST ITS RESILIENT BIAS.

Images