US3467274A

US3467274A - Gasoline intake device

Info

Publication number: US3467274A
Application number: US640252A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gervase G Schmitt
Original assignee: GERVASE G SCHMITT
Current assignee: GERVASE G SCHMITT
Priority date: 1967-05-22
Filing date: 1967-05-22
Publication date: 1969-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 1986-09-16

Description

Sept. 16, 1969 e. a. SCHMITT 3,467,274

GASOLINE INTAKE DEVICE Filed May 22, 1967 INVENTOR GERVASE G. SCHMITT AT TORNEY United States Patent 3,467,274 GASOLINE INTAKE DEVICE Gervase G. Schmitt, 1631 Clearview Ave., Lancaster, Pa. 17601 Filed May 22, 1967, Ser. No. 640,252 Int. Cl. B65h 3/00; B67c 3/00 US. Cl. 220-86 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION It is common on cabin cruisers and other power boats to have a gasoline intake located along the deck of the boat. The inlet is usually constructed so that the cap is generally flush with the deck so that people will not trip over it. Usually the cap has relatively close threads and when the cap is securely in place, a water-tight seal results.

One problem is that when gasoline is purchased for the boat, the attendant sometimes does not screw the cap down tightly when he replaces it. Then when the boat is in use, water passing over the boat deck may seep past the cap and into the gas tank. If the water reaches the fuel line to the boat engine, it may cause stopping of the engine. This is particularly hazardous if the engine goes out when the boat is far from land.

Certain designs have been provided heretofore for gasoline intakes for boats to prevent water from entering and for reducing the danger of spilling gasoline on the boat deck. Some devices have filters which will allow gasoline to pass but not Water. Others provide feed-back lines so that when gasoline is being pumped into the boat, if spillage occurs, the spilled gasoline will be trapped and fed to the gas tank and not run onto the boat deck. Some of the present constructions rely on the care and skill of the attendant; others allow for certain errors such as failing to replace a cap properly. But generally such devices are complicated, diificult to manufacture, expensive and then only limitedly effective.

A main object of this invention is to provide an improved gasoline intake device for boats and other applications.

Another object of this invention is to provide a gasoline intake device which positively prevents water from entering the gasoline tank in the case when the attendant fails to screw the cap tightly.

Another object of this invention is to provide a gasoline intake device wherein water might seep past a loose cap is trapped in a reservoir and discharged outside of the inlet structure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a gasoline intake device which is so designed for safety that if there is gasoline spillage, the spilled gasoline will be caught, and conveyed away and kept off of the boat deck.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a gasoline intake device of the character described which achieves the foregoing objectives with a relatively simple design which can be manufactured and sold at relatively low cost.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification and from the recital in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through a gasoline intake device constructed according to this invention and shown applied to the deck of a boat; and FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawing by numerals of reference, 10 denotes the deck of a boat, such as a cabin cruiser. The boat has a side wall 11 and toe rail 12 along the edge of the deck. A cylindrical opening 14 is provided in deck 10 which receives the gasoline intake device 15 of this invention.

Device 15 is preferably made of brass. It comprises a vertically extending pipe 20 having an upper inlet end 21 and a lower outlet end 22. End 22 fits into a conduit 24 which leads to the gasoline tank of the boat, not shown. Surrounding inlet end 21 of pipe 20 is a collar 25 having an inturned bottom portion 26 which joins the periphery of pipe 20 and forms a reservoir R. The reservoir has a bottom opening 28 which receives the threaded end 29 of a drain line 30. The line extends downwardly and laterally from reservoir R and through side wall 11 whereby collected liquid will be discharged outside the boat.

Collar 25 has a portion 32 which extends upwardly relative to the pipe inlet 21 and has a horizontal top flange 34 which seats against the surface of deck 10. Collar portion 32 has a cylindrical threaded opening 35 of greater diameter than pipe inlet end 21. The threads of the opening are located above the center of reservoir R as shown in FIG. 1.

For closing opening 35 a threaded cap 40 is provided. Cap 40 has depressions 41 to receive a spanner-key Whereby the cap may be rotated to thread it downwardly to a position tightly closing opening 35. A lip 36 around cap 40 fits into collar portion 32 and flush with the surface of flange 34.

Cap 40 has a downwardly extending sleeve 42 having an inside cylindrical surface 44 which slidably engages the periphery of pipe inlet end 21. The parts are so proportioned that sleeve 42 engages the pipe inlet even though cap 40 is not threaded all the way down. Thus, if an attendant fails to tighten the cap after gas is pumped into the boat, the pipe 20 is nevertheless secure against the entry of water. If water passing over deck 10 and along the inside of toe rail 12 seeps between collar portion 32 and cap 40, it will be deposited in reservoir R and then exhausted through drain line 30. The engagement of sleeve 42 with pipe inlet end 21 prevents water in reservoir R from splashing into pipe 20.

Also, when cap 40 is removed and gasoline is being pumped, if any gasoline overflows pipe 20, it will run into reservoir R and not along deck 10. Thus, device 15 lessens the danger of gasoline reaching the deck. Overflow gasoline is discharged outside the boat through the drain line 30.

While this invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. A gasoline intake device for a boat deck comprising, in combination, a vertically extending pipe having an upper inlet end and a lower outlet end, said outlet end being received in a fuel tank opening, a collor integral with said pipe extending upwardly in spaced apart relation with respect to said pipe, said collar having an opening above said pipe inlet and, a reservoir surrounding said pipe inlet end and formed between said pipe and said collar, a drain line communicating with a bottom portion of said reservoir, a threaded lip on said collar, said lip defining said collar opening and extending inwardly of A References Cited I said collar toward said pipe inlet end terminating above UNITED STATES PATENTS said reservoir approximately half way across the space between said pipe and said collar, a threaded cap for ,654,095 2/ 7 Ri e 6 closing said collar opening, said cap having a downwardly 1,733,559 10/1929 Sage 220 86 extending sleeve which engages and closes said pipe inlet 5 1 747 424 2/1930 Casey end in sliding close fitting relation when said cap is n threaded in said collar opening, said cap threads and said 2093398 9/1937 Arvmtz 22086 X lip threads cooperating to direct water which might seep 2,344,582 3/1944 A1166 22o86 between said cap and said lip into said reservoir from 10 which it will escape through said drain line and away RAPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Primary Examiner from said pipe.