Apparatus for Securing A Cap On A Tube

Technical. Field

This invention relates to a device for secur- ing a cap on a filler spout/"and more particularly to a device for securing a fuel cap on the fuel intake tube of a fuel reservoir.

Background Art

Many varieties of equipment having exposed spouts are operated or stored under conditions which make it desirable that the spout closures be resistant to unauthorized removal. Automobiles, trucks, tractors and motor driven construction vehicles for example variously have fuel tank caps^ radiator caps and in some instances filler spout caps for hydraulic drive systems, which should preferably be tamper-proof. ^* The theft of fuel and vandalism in the form of introducing foreign materials into the fluid conduits of such equipment is unfortunately a common occurrence. Sub- stantial losses and delays are sustained from such causes in both industrial and private operation of such vehicles.

While a variety of lockable caps have been developed, certain factors have tended to limit the use of such safeguards to specialized situations. Most notably, the prior locking cap structures have been costly to manufacture with the result that the use of such caps as standard equipment on vehicles has been ruled out for economy reasons. In addition, the cap mechanisms heretofore employed .have, been difficult to engage and disengage.

Providing for ease of engagement and dis¬ engagement is complicated in that many spouts, including

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ost threaded spouts, do not have any .projections, or irregularities into which the cap can ^' be locked in a positive manner. Consequently such caps are not designed to provide a strictly positive lock but instead have a double cap structure in which an inner cap, which may be threaded or have other engagement means, is covered by an outer cap. SWhen the closure is engaged on the spout, the outer cover cap is rotatable relative to the inner cap so that someone trying to disengage the closure by turning the outer cover cap does not succeed in applying torque to the inner cap which remains held in place by friction. A lock, generally key operated, is provided with actuating means which couples the outer and inner caps so that an authorized person can apply torque to the inner cap by turning the outer cover.

While this construction accomplishes the intended result, it also prevents the operator from directly holding the inner cap and thereby tends to ^' prevent him from sensing, through touch, the positional relationship between the inner cap and spout. This results in difficulty and delay in the operation of the closure, particularly during engagement of the cap. In • the case of threaded caps, jamming and damage from cross threading are common. This is further aggravated by the nature of the coupling mechanism between the two caps which, in typical prior closures, applies force to the inner cap at a single point offset from the axis thereof. An unbalanced turning force applied in this manner inherently tends to twist the inner cap away from a strictly coaxial relationship to the threads or other engagement means on the spout and thereby results in jamming.

' Still further difficulties have been encounter- ed with closures of this general type, as heretofore constructed, in that the lock operated mechanism for

coupling the inner and outer caps has tended to be prone to malfunction and to rapid wear, and difficulties have been experienced from the plugging of breathing vents in such caps. A solution- to the above problems consists of a strap which is pivotall connected to a band which is secured by a padlock to a flange attached to the filler tube. The strap fits over the cap in the installed position to prevent removal of the cap without first removing the padlock. Such structure has the advantage of using whatever cap structure is available. This structure does, however, have a major disadvantage in that the cap can often be removed without first remov¬ ing the padlock. This occurs because in the process of manufacture the flange is not always exactly located. The flange is welded to the tube which increases the cost of manufacture. It is therefore desirable to have an apparatus for securing a cap on a tube which does not require a welded flange for anchoring, which is easy to manufacture, and which reliably secures the cap to the tube.

Disclosure of Invention

In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for securing a cap member on a tube comprises a band having first and second end portions and a flange portion with an opening therethrough. Means are provided for connecting the first and second end portions together and fastening the band about the circumference of the tube. A strap having a flange with an opening therethrough is moveable between a locking position at which the strap extends over the top of the cap and the flange and strap openings are substantially aligned and an unlocked position at which the strap is displaced from the first position and the cap is free for removal from the tube.

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The present invention solves the problem of an inoperative locking device. A solution is provided by connecting the end portions of the band about the tube thereby eliminating any welding misalignment. By eliminating welding, waste of material and labor is avoided and reliability is increased.

Brief- Description- of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a view of a cap secured to a pipe by a securing apparatus, with the securing apparatus shown in a locked position;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view taken along line II-

II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view taken along line III-

III of FIG. 1; and FIG. 4 is a somewhat enlarged view similar to

FIG. 1 but showing the securing apparatus in an unlocked position:

Best Mode for Carrying Out The Invention

Referring to FIG. 1, a filler spout or tube 10 of a fluid reservoir 12, such as a fuel tank of a track-type tractor, has a cap 14 attached on the open end thereof to confine the fluid to the reservoir 12.

The cap 14 is secured to the tube.10 in a familiar manner by interlocking slots, threads or the like and vented in a normal manner. The tube 10 is preferably cylindrical but can be of other configurations as desired.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, an apparatus 16 is provided for securing the cap 14 on the tube 10. The apparatus 16 includes a, band 18 which fits around the tube 10 and a strap 20 which fits over the top of the cap 14 and is connected to the band 18.

The band 18 has first and second' end portions

22,24, a flange portion 26 with an opening 28 there

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through. The first and second end portions 22,24 of the band 18 each have an opening 30,32 therethrough and the flange opening 28 is of a size sufficient for receiving the shackle of a padlock 34 therethrough. The flange portion 26 extends from- one of the first and second end portions 22,24 in a direction away from the other of the first and second ¹ * end portions 22,24. The band 18 also has second and third flanges 36,38 extend¬ ing therefrom. Connecting means, such as screw 40 and collar

42 for example, connect the first and second end portions 22,24 together and fasten the band 18 about the circum¬ ference of the tube 10.

Preferably, the flange portion 26 extends from the first end portion 22 and the collar 42 is fastened to the second end portion 24. The collar 42 is preferably internally threaded and positioned about the opening 32 of the second end portion 24 with the internal threads axially aligned with the opening 32. The screw 40 is externally threaded and mateable with the threaded collar 42. The screw 40 fits in the opening 30 of the first, end portion 22 with its head on the flange side of the first end portion 22. The body of the screw 40 extends through the opening 30 to mate with the collar 42. The screw 40 has a recessed ^* slot and a longitudinal axis with the slot being axially accessible only. By having the slot less wide than the head of the screw axial access is the only access possible. The screw 40 is preferably self-locking to prevent accidental loosening.

The strap 20 has first and second end portions 44,46, a middle portion 48, and a flange 50 with an opening 52 therethrough. The first and second end portions 44,46 of the strap 20 are connected to the second and third flanges 36,38 of the band 18 and the strap 20 is pivotally movable relative to the band 18. The strap 20 is moveable between a first locking

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position at which the middle portion 48 of the strap 20 extends over the top of the cap member 14 and the flange opening 28 and strap opening 52 are substantially aligned and a second, unlocked position at which the 5 middle portion 48 of the strap 20 is displaced from the first position and the cap member 14 is free for removal from the tube 10. The screw' O is easily axially accessible and free for removal in response to the strap being in the second, unlocked position. In the Q first, locked position the strap flange 50 blocks axial access to the screw 40. In the locked position, the flange openings 28,52 receive the padlock 34 to securely lock the strap 20 in the second position.

The flange portion 50 of the strap 20 is 5 oriented relative to one of the first and second end portions 44,46 of the strap 20 at an angle ^* of about ninety degrees and extends in a direction away from the other of the first and second end portions 44,46. Likewise, the flange portion 26 of the band 18 is 0 oriented at an angle of about ninety degrees relative to the first and second end portions 22,24 of the band 18.

Industrial Applicability

In operation, the padlock 34 is removed and the strap 20 is moved from the second, locked position to the unlocked position. To lock, the strap 20 is pivoted up over the cap 14 until the flange openings 28,52 are aligned. The shackle of the padlock 34 is then inserted through the openings. In the unlocked 0 position the screw 40 is axially accessible to position the band 18 and strap 20 as desired.

The band 18 may be adjusted along the length of the tube 10 to ^' achieve any degree of tightness desir¬ ed between the middle portion 48 of the strap 20 and 5 the underlying cap 14.

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Other aspects, objects and advantages of this invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims.

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