US875481A - Safety-closure for receptacles. - Google Patents

Description

N0. 875,481. PATENTED DEC. 31, 1907.

L. A. WILSON;

SAFETY CLOSURE FOR REGBPTAGLES. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1907.

W/TNESSES INVENTOR 2 5 4 Zguzzm fii/zls'aia ATTORNEYS LYMAN A. WILSON, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

SAFETY-CLOSURE FOR RE GEPTACLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 2( ).'1907. Serial No. 358,364.

' Patented Dec. 31, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be' it known that I, LYMAN A. WILsoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and Stateof New York, have invented a new and Improved Safety- Closure for Receptacles, of which the followin is a full, clear, and exact description. his invention relates to certain improvements in closures for receptacles adapted to contain combustible liquids, such as liquid hydrocarbons, alcohol, and the like, and relates more particularly to means whereby the rupturing of the receptacle or ignition of the contents thereof is positively prevented.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved form of closure which will normally prevent the escape of vapors from the receptacle, but which will be opened upon the application of excessive pressure from within and the escaping vapors" automatically ignited to prevent the formation of an explosive mixture in the room or space surrounding the receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to pro 'vide'means whereby the solid impurities are prevented from entering the receptacle, and, at the same time, the ignition of the contents due to back firing, prevented.

The invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts, all of which will be fully set forth hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures, in whic Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through a closure embod my improvement; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the diaphragms constituting a part of said closure. -I r j My improved closure may be, used in connection with a tankprreceptacle of any suitablechara'cter and-applied to any portion in connection withthe filh thereofdesired, but it is preferably utilized opening, whicholpleningI may be a mere t eaded e, t oug the upper wall of'the recepta'c eor may embody my specific improvements illustrated the drawings.

As shown, I providethe tank or rece tacle 10 with a short upwardly extending tu e 11 opening into the tank at. its lower end and rigidly secured thereto by means of an annu lar collar 12, 'L-shaped in cross section. Within the outer end of the tube I secure an annular collar 13 su porting an annular flange 14 serving as a iiinncl to facilitate the pouring of liquid into the tube. The collar 13 preferably carries at its inner end a cylindrical gauze basket 14 fitting the inner wall of the tube 11 and terminating adjacent the inner end of said tube. Within this basket I provide a flat, movable wire gauze diaphragm 15 supporting a conical gauze diaese diaphra ms are secured phragm 16. together and fit closely within the wire bas-' ket and are normally pressed toward the outer end thereof by a coil s ring 17 within the lower portion of said bas et and engaging with the lower surface of the diaphragms.

The collar 13 isprovided with screw threads upon its inner surfaceand serves to sup ort my im roved plug, the innerend of w 'ch norma y engages with the movable diahragm 15 above referred to, and upon the insertion of the plug forces, said diaphra toward the lower portion of the basket against the action of the coil spring 17. All 0 the parts above described, save the plug,

constitute a permanent part of the tank or receptacle 10, and serve to effectively prevent the entrance of any foreign objects, and, at the same time, revent the contents of the receptacle from while the receptacle is being filled.

eing accidentally ignited a My' improved plug preferably comprises a .This head is rovided with an axial passage, preferably 0 smaller. cross sectlonal area than the interior of the cylindrical body portion 18, and within this cylindrical portion and held against the head are a plurality of- .inembers going 'to make up the major fea- ,tures of my invention. Supported adjacent thehead 19 and of av diameter substantially equal-to the interior diameter'of thebody portion 18 is a' perforated diaphragm 20, 1

lustrated in detail in Fig. 2.; This diaphragm serves to close the mner end of the axial passage 21 through the enlarged head,

and the perforations through said diaphragm aliord means of communication from the inguides for the supports of my .au'tomatic igniter. These supports preferably comprise small rods or wires 2323, each having an enlarged inner end 24, whereby its displacement is revented. Secured to the outer ends of t ese supporting rods or wires 23, I provide a pad 25 of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of'the 'assage 21 and com osed of such a material t at the passage of t e gases in contact with said pad will cause the automatic ignition of the former. This pad may, if desired, be formed of very thin wire gauze inclosing platinum sponge, or may be formed of extremely thin platinum or any other suitable agent for accomplishing the desired result.

j phragm 20 in place.

p for the inner end-of the coil sprin Within the body 18 and normally holding the diaphragm 20 in place, I provide a suitable collar 26 of a length somewhat greater than the length of the ,tubes 22, whereby a free space is provided about the inner ends of said tubes. Adjacent the inner end of the collar 26 I provide a very thin diaphragm 27 preferably of soft copper and having the portion adjacent its periphery soldered to a washer 28 closely fitting the inner wall of the body 18. The thickness and strength of the diaphragm 27 are so proportioned that this diaphragm may be ruptured upon the application of a predetermined pressure against one side thereof. The diaphragm would preferably be constructed to rupture and permit the esca e of the gases'from the interior of the tank upon the application of a pressure materially less than that required to open any of the seams of the tank, or strain or distort the same, whereby anysleak might be formed.

Below the washer 28 I provide a coil s ring 29 serving to hold the washer, impe orate diaphragm 27, collar 26, and perforated dia- Adjacent the lower end of the coil s ring I provide a gauze diaphragm -3O, w 'ch latter is held in place by a threaded collar 31 serving-as an abutment holding all of the above mentlone parts in place. The axialmpiassage 21 throu h the head 19 is counters at its outer en and receives a f beveled (plate 32 lying flush with the top of the hea 19 and normall clos' said passage. Thisplate is norma y held in place by a spring clip 33 frictionally engaging with an annular recess 34 in the wall of the passage.

My improved device is especially adapted for use in connection .with asolene tanks carried by automobiles oruse in connection therewith. In the tank the closure is removed and the 0' may be readily poured interior of the tank also serve to 29, andthrough the gauze basket and diaphragm,

"the latter serving to support all solid impun- After the tank-has been filled the 010- ties. sure is screwed in place and a ractically airtight seal thus secured. Sho d the tank become heated externally orif for any other" reason the pressure within the tank should rise to such an extent that there is liability. of the tank being ruptured or the seam strained so as to form a leak, my improved closure serves to relieve this pressure and preserve the tank from injury. The imperorate diaphragm '27 is constructed of such a material and of such a thickness that when the pressure within the tankrises above a predetermined limit, this diaphragm becomes ruptured and the gases may pass through the perforated diaphragm 20 and in contact with the under surface of the plate 32; The internal pressure displaces this plate and the gas or vapor escapes'to the atmosphere.

he upward current of the escaping gas or vapor raises the pad 25 to a position adjacent the upfper surface of the head 19, and the action 0 these gases or vapors upon the catalytic substances constituting or enclosed within the pad, raises the temperature of the latter to a point at which the as or vapor is spontaneouslyignited. The ame not only serves to indicate the fact that the diaphragm 30 has been ruptured, but also prevents the accumulation of an explosive gas in the presence of the tank and thus revents any damage which would be cause by the ignition of a quantity of this gas after it had escaped.

By so suplporting the pad25 that it may be automatica gas, I cause the i point adjacent the outlet from the passage rather than at a point within the same, and thus more effectively prevent back firing y raised by the pressure of the gnition to take place at a into the tank; The plurality of gauze diahragms between the igniting means and the revent an ossiblity of the liquid or gas wit in the tan iiom becomin i 'ted. The plate 32 is normally held in p ace by the means shown, and prevents the admission of any foreign matter to the interior of the lug, but is so supported that it may be rea y displaced by the application of pressure from the interior. By means of the groove or recess 34 I prevent the plate 32 from becoming accidentally displaced except upon the application of excessive pressure.

As previously stated, it isevident that thev improved closure. above described 'maybe used in connection with any suitable filling opening of a tank rather than in connection 125 with the specific tube 11 and the parts supported therein, and it is also evident that" various changes ma be made within the scope of theappen ed claims .without departing from .the spirit of my invention.

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 1 Patent:

1. In combination with a tank having a filling opening therein, a safety closure for said opening, com rising a plug, a frangible diaphragm carrie matic igniter supported adjacent the outer side of said diaphragm.

2. In combination with a tank having a ,filling opening therein, a safety closure for said opening, comprlsing a plug. having an axial passage therethrough, a diaphragm norma matic igniter adjacent the outer end of said passage.

3. In combination with a tank having a filling opening therein, a safety closure for said opening, comprising a- .plug having a passage therethrough, a diaphragmnormally closing said passage,.an automatic igniter adjacent the outer end of said passage, and means adjacent the inner end of said passage for preventing back firing.

4. A safety closure for tanks and the like, comprising aplug having an axial passage therethrough, a frangible diaphragm normally closing said passage, aremovable closure for the outer end of said passage, and an automatic igniter intermediate said closure and said diaphragm.

5. A safety closure for tanks and the like, comprising av plug'having an axial passage therethrough, a frangible diaphragm nor-' mally closingsaid passage, and an automatic igniteradjacent the outer end of said passage, said igniter comprising a catalytic agent.

6. A safety closure for tanks and the like, comprising a plug having an axial passage therethrough, a, removable closure for the outer end of said passage, an automatic igniter comprising a catalytic agent supported within said passa e adjacent said closure, a frangible diap agm normally closing said passage, and means whereby the iglniter may e moved to a position adjacent t e outlet of the passage upon the rupturing of the diaphragm and the displacement of the removable closure.

7. A safety closure for tanks and the like, comprising a plug having an axial passa e therethrough,'a removable plate normally closing the outer end of said passage, a spring clip for normally holding said late in position, a catalytic agent adapte to act as an automatic igniter sup orted within said passage adjacent said p ate and movable to a position adjacent the outlet of the passa e 5 ,upon the removal of said plate, a frangib e thereby, and an autoy closingsaid passage, and an autoadjacent said diaphragm, a movable auto 'matic igniter comprising a pad including a catalytic agent, and means secured to said pad and extending through said perforated plate for supporting the former and limiting its oufiward movement.

9. In combination, a receptacle having a filling opening, 'a wire gauze basket supported within said opening, a gauze partition movable within said basket, means intermediate the bottom of said basket and said partition for normally forcing said partition outward; and a safety closure for said opening comprising a plug adapted to contact with said partition and force the same inward, said plug having an axial passage throughout, a frangible diaphragm for closing said passage, and an, automaticigniter adjacent the outer end of said passage.

10. A safety device for use in connection with the storage of combustible fluids, in-

cluding a frangible diaphragm, and an igniter mounted adjacent thereto.

11. A safety device for use in connection with the storage of combustible fluids, including a closure adapted to permit the passage of fluid upon the application of a fluid pressure in excess of a predetermined limit, and an igniter adjacent the outer-surface of said closure.

12. A safety device for use in connection with the storage of combustible fluids, including a closure adapted to permit the assage of fluid upon the application of a fliiid pressure in excess of a predetermined limit, an igniter adjacent the outer surface of said closure, and means adjacent the opposite

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