Gas and liquid contact apparatus – Fluid distribution – Valved
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-08
2001-10-16
Chiesa, Richard L. (Department: 1724)
Gas and liquid contact apparatus
Fluid distribution
Valved
C137S382000, C261SDIG003, C261SDIG008
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302383
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to gaseous and liquid fuel engines and more particularly to a device for curtailing tampering with the fuel adjustments of such engines.
2. Description of the Related Art
Once the carburetor adjustments or other adjustment screws of an engine using gasoline or natural gas have been properly set for optimum performance commensurate with minimum pollutant emission, it is highly undesirable if these settings are tampered with. Such changing of the settings could both increase the pollutant emissions to an unacceptable level and decrease the efficiency of the operation of the engine.
In an effort to prevent such tampering, various devices have been developed in the prior art. Such devices include a shield which is press fitted in position a housing retaining the adjustment screw as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,828 issued Jan. 12, 1988 to Breeck,et al; a cover for the adjustment screw which is not removable once installed and which includes a slot through which access to the adjustment screw can be obtained only with a special tool as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,271,095 issued Jun. 2, 1981 to Maeda; a wall in the shape of a hollow tube in which the adjustment member is installed having a plug at one end which can only be removed with a special tool such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,308,220 issued Dec. 29, 1981 to Tateno. Other such devices are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,246,929 issued Jan. 27, 1981 to Wakeman; U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,458 issued Jun. 9, 1981 to Ruth, etal.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,470,769 issued Sep. 11, 1984 to Owens; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,148 issued May 19, 1998 to King et al.
The device of the present invention is believed to provide an advantage over these prior art devices by virtue of its simple and economical construction and its capability of providing immediate evidence of actual or attempted tampering with the adjustment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The device of the present invention employs a cap having a “sombrero” shape with a flat top and an indented rim directly beneath the top. The body of the cap has an indented conical shape extending from the rim. Accordingly, a tapered recessed portion is formed in the inner surface of the cap between the top and the rim. The cap fits into a mating aperture formed in the housing for an engine adjustment device, such as, for example the adjustment screw of a carburetor. The cap is positioned directly above the adjustment device with its tapered recessed portion engaging and snapping into a mating rim formed in the top portion of the adjustment device or its housing. While retained in position over the adjustment device, the cap is free to rotate so that it cannot be freed by the use of rotational force.
An anti-pry device formed by a washer installed in the adjuster housing or a shoulder formed in the housing is positioned in close proximity to the outer wall of the inner rim of the cap in a manner such as to prevent prying instruments from reaching under the inner rim in an attempt to remove the cap. The top cap has an a frangible brim portion which is likely to break should one attempt to reach under the cap with a prying instrument such as a screw driver, thus providing evidence of attempted tampering.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a simple and economical device for resisting tampering with an engine adjuster.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved anti-tamper device for installation over an engine adjuster which provides clear evidence that tampering has occurred.
Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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Chiesa Richard L.
Impco Technologies, Inc.
Sokolski Edward A.
LandOfFree
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