US2016224A - Weatherproof tank closure - Google Patents

Description

0a. 1, 1935. R. B. BUKOLT 2,016,224

WEATHERPROOF TNK cLosURE Filed Aug. l, 1934 anar/Mag@ Patented Oct. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WEATHERPROOF TANK CLOSURE Roman B. Bukolt, Stevens Point, Wis.

Application August 1, 1934, Serial No. 737,988 'z claims. (o1. zzo- 55) The invention relates to a novel weather-proof closure for various kinds of containers but particularly adapted as a tank closure for use on tank cars and trucks, storage tanks and the like which are exposed to the elements of weather subjecting them to corrosion.

The closure is of the general type disclosed in my pending U. S. application Serial No. 719,961, filed April 10, 1934, in which a lever-and-toggle- 1o action snap disk is sprung inwardly to hold the closure sealed and is sprung outwardly to release the closure. The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved means for protecting the snap disk and any parts associated in with it, said means including a weather excluding cap which provides a fulcrum for the snap disk, the cap being detachably connected with the container but being held against detachment therefrom until the snap disk is re- $0 leased.

A further object is to provide novel operating means for the snap disk having an actuating portion accessible at the exterior of the cap.

Yet another aim is to make novel provision for holding the snap disk actuator against unauthorized release.

With the foregoing and minor objects in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, descrip- 3i) tion being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing one form of construction, the snap disk being in and positively held in its operative position.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view on line 2-.2

of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a different form of construction. f

Preferred structure has been illustrated and will be rather specifically described, with the understanding however that Within the scope of the invention as claimed, variations may be made.

First, see Figs. 1 and 2.

The container or tank 5 is provided with an outwardly projecting neck 6 welded or otherwise secured thereto, the outer end of said neck constituting a sealing ring seat- 1. This neck is provided with circumferentially spaced laterally projecting lugs 8 which interlock with similar lugs 9 on the side wall or flange II) of a heavy metal cap II, so that when the cap is-sufiiciently turned to allow the lugs 9 to pass between the lugs 8, said cap may be removed from the neck. In the present showing, the cap is provided with a central upstanding boss I2 having anopening I3 for a purpose to appear.

Carried within the cap Il, are a sealing ring I4, a metal closure I5 lying upon said sealing ring, and a substantially concave-convex, lever- 5 and-toggle-action snap disk,I6. The closure I5 is somewhat cupped as shown and said closure is provided near its peripheral edge with a pivoting ridge I'I upon which the disk I5 rests. At its peripheral edge, this disk bears against a 1o continuous shoulder I8 in the cap I I, said shoulder constituting a fulcrum for said disk when it is snapped inwardly to the operative position shown in Fig. l.

When the cap I I and the parts therein are ap- 15 plied to the neck 6, the disk I6 is in an outwardly snapped position near the top of said cap II and is thus rather loosely engaged with the fulcrum shoulder I8, and the rim portion of the closure I5, and the latter bears only lightly 20 against the sealing ring I4. Thus, the cap may be easily applied and turned to interlock its lugs 9 with the lugs 8 of the neck 6. A suitable stop I9 may be provided to limit the extent of turning. After application of the cap and parts 2;, therein as described, the snap disk I6 is sprung inwardly to the position shown in Fig. l. This disk thus rocks against the fulcrum shoulder I8 and presses inwardly on the pivoting ridge il, exerting a powerful inward force to hold the seal- 3c ing ring I4 seated upon the seat I, said sealing ring being also compressed by the inward snapping of the disk to establish a iiuid-tight seal.

A novel actuator 20 is provided for snapping the disk I6 inwardly to operative position or 35 outwardly to released position. When disk I6 is in its operative position, it exerts such outward pressure on the cap II that the lugs 8 and 9 are held in such tight frictional engagement with each other that the cap cannot be removed un- 4o til the disk is released. When disk I6 is cutwardly snapped to released position, the friction is relieved and the cap may be easily removed.

The actuator 20 includes a sleeve 2i passing 45 rotatably through the opening I3 of the cap boss I2, the inner end of said sleeve being passed also through an`opening 22 in the snap disk IB. 'Ihis sleeve is provided with outer and inner shoulders 23 and 24 respectively, which are disposed 50 at the outer and inner sides of the snap disk I6, said shoulders being spaced apart a distance which is considerably greater than the thickness of said disk, allowing the snap action of the latter without causing it to jerk the entire actuator 20. A threaded stud 25 is suitably secured at 26 to the center of' the closure I6, so that it cannot rotate, and said stud is threaded in the sleeve 2|.

A turning bar 21 is suitably connected at 28 with the outer end of the sleeve 2| and is normally connected by a suitable seal S to a lug 29 on the cap` so that the actuator 20 cannot be operated undetectedly by unauthorized persons. When the seal is removed or broken and the turning bar 2 is used to rotate the sleeve 2| in the proper direction, this sleeve threads upwardly upon the stud 25, thus moving the disk I6 to and slightly past a dead center position. Then the disk quickly snaps upwardly to released position. By rotating thevsleeve 2| in the opposite direction, said sleeve threads downwardly on the stud 25 to move the snap disk I6 to and slightly past dead center so that said disk then quickly snaps to its lowered operative position. When this snap action takes place, the disk IB of course moves downwardly from the upper thrust shoulder 23 and the closure may be left in this condition if desired, so that there is the possibility of any excessive pressure within the container snapping the disk to released position and thus venting said container. However, if desired, after disk I6 has snapped downwardly to operativeposition, the sleeve 2| may be further rotated to bring the shoulder 23 into contact with said disk, thereby locking the latter in operative position.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3, preferably used on containers which carry less internal pressure, the cap I I:L is practically identical with the cap and it is connected detachably by lugs 8' and 9a with the tank neck Se. In this construction, the snap disk I6a rests directly upon the sealing ring I4a and engages the fulcrum shoulder IBB. The disk actuating device 2|)a includes a sleeve 2|a passing rotatably through a central opening |3"L in a boss I2 on the cover Ila, said sleeve having outer and inner shoulders 23a and 24B to limit its endwise movement with respect to said cover. Threaded into the sleeve 2|a is a stud 2liIL which is centrally secured to the snap disk |63.

In the present showing, the inner end of the stud 25EL is provided with a shoulder 30 and with a reduced threaded portion 3| projecting inwardly beyond said shoulder. This portion 3| passes through a central opening 32 in the disk I6a and is provided with a convex nut 33 contacting with the lower side of said disk. A resilient gasket 34 is interposed between the upper side of the disk IGP- and the shoulder 30. This resilient gasket and the shape of the nut 33 allow the necessary changes in shape at the center of the disk when it is snapped inwardly or outwardly. A key 35 on disk I6, ts into a groove 36 in the reduced stud portion 3| to hold stud 25a against rotation.

When disk ||a `is in operative position, the container is tightly sealedand the cap ||a is held against removal. When disk. I6a is snapped to released position, however, what pressure may exist in the container is vented and the cap ||1 may be easily removed with the disk I6, sealing ring Ila and actuating device 20".

It will be seen from theAforegoing that both forms of construction are simple and inexpensive, yet that they will form eiective tank closures which are well protected against weather conditions. While preferred structures have been shown, attention is again invited to the possibility of making variations within the scope of `/the invention as claimed.,V and obviously any appropriate materials maybe employed.

1. A container having an outwardly facing 5 sealing ring seat, a. sealing ring engaging said seat, a snap disk for exerting an inward force to seat said sealing ring, a cap enclosing said sealing ring and said snap disk and providing a fulcrum for the latter, means detachably con- 10 necting said cap with the container, and an actuating devce for snapping said snap disk to active and released positions, said actuating device being operatively connected with said cap and disk and having an actuating portion accessible at 15 the exterior of said cap.

2. A container having an outwardly projecting neck provided with lateral lugs, a sealing ring engaging the outer end of said neck, a snap disk for exerting an inward force to seat said 20 sealing ring, a cap enclosing said neck, sealing ring and snap disk and providing a fulcrum for the latter, said cap having lugs engaged with those of said neck and disengageable therefrom upon turning said cap, and an actuating device 25 for snapping said snap disk to active and released positions, said actuating device being operatively connected with said cap and disk and having an actuating portion accessible at the exterior of said cap. l

3. A container having a neck whose upper end constitutes a sealing ring seat, said neck being provided with outwardly projecting circumferentially spaced lugs, a centrally apertured cap having a top plate and a downwardly projecting continuous side wall, said top plate being upwardly spaced from said sealing ring seat and having a downwardly facing annular fulcrum surface over said seat, said side wall being provided with lugs abutting the lower sides of the 40 lugs of said neck and spaced to pass between` these lugs when the cap is sufliciently turned,

a sealing ring resting on the aforesaid sealing ring seat, a closure disk resting on said sealing ring and having a, continuous pivoting ridge 45 spaced inwardly from its edge, a lever-andtoggle-action snap disk resting on said pivoting ridge and abutting said downwardly facing fulcrum surface on a line spaced outwardly from and concentric with said ridge, whereby down- 50 ward snapping of said snap disk will exert an upward pressure on said cap to hold said lugs in such contact as to prevent turning of said cover to released position, and will exert a downward pressure on said closure disk and 55 sealing ring to compress the latter against its seat, and an actuator for said snap disk connected with this disk and passing through the central aperture of said cap.

4. A container having a neck whose upper end 00 constitutes a sealing ring seat, said neck being provided with outwardly projecting circumferentially spaced lugs, a centrally apertured cap having a top plate and a downwardly projecting continuous side wall, said top plate being 55 upwardly spaced from said sealing ring seat and having a downwardly facing annular fulcrum surface over said seat, said side wall being provided with lugs abutting the lower sides of the lugs of said neck and spaced to pass between 10 these lugs when the cap is sufiiciently turned,

a sealing ring resting on the aforesaid sealing ring seat, a lever-and-toggle-action snap disk resting on said sealing ring and bearing against said downwardly facing fulcrum surface, where- 75 by downward snapping of said snap disk will exert an upward pressure on said cap to hold said lugs in such contact as to prevent turning oi' said cap to released position, and will exert a downwardiorce on said sealing ring to compress said ring upon its seat, and an actuator for said snap disk connected with this-disk and passing through the central aperture of said cap.

In a container having closing means including a resilient snap member and a rigid member stationary with respect to said snap member; relatively tlxed and rotatable actuating elements ior said snap member, said elements being threaded together and being operatively connected with the aforesaid members respectively, said rotatable actuating element being accessible for rotation whereby such rotation may be utilired to move said snap member slightly past a neutral position allowing it to complete its movement by snap action, the operative connection between one ot said members and the actuating element connected therewith being constructed to allow relative sliding of said one member and the element connected therewith when the snap action of said snap member occurs.

6. In a container having closing means including a detachable cover having a central cover having a central opening. and a closure at the inner side of the snap disk to be held against the container by means o1' said snap disk; a rotatable sleeve passing through said openings and having shoulders at opposite sides of said snap disk, said shoulders being spaced n apart a distance greater than the thickness of said snap disk, and a stud secured to said closure and threaded into said sleeve, whereby said snap disk may be moved slightly past a. neutral position by rotating said sleeve and the spacing of said shoulders then allows the disk to snap beyond the position to which it has been moved without jerking said sleeve.

'7. In a container having closing means in' cluding a detachable cover having a central opening, and a snap disk at the inner side of said cover; a sleeve passing rotatably through said opening and having shoulders at the inner and outer sides of said cover, said shoulders 20 ROMAN B. BUKOL'I". ,o

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