Receptacles – Closures – Removable closure guided in rotary movement
Reexamination Certificate
1997-08-15
2001-01-16
Cronin, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Closures
Removable closure guided in rotary movement
C220S203120, C220S203270, C220S203290, C220S284000, C220S303000, C220S304000, C220S375000, C220SDIG003, C220SDIG003
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173855
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a tank closing device for a filler neck of a container, in particular of an operating liquid or fuel tank of a transportable work tool such as a disk grinder, a motorised chain saw, an independent cutting tool or similar.
A closing device for a radiator is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,027,043. In this device, a closing member is biassed against the filler neck by a spring and a sealing member is arranged between the closing member and the filler neck. The spring biassing the closing member is braced against a closing cap which can be secured on the filler neck by means of a bayonet fitting. In this design, the closing cap has two radial shoulders, which are used for handling purposes when opening or closing the cap. These shoulders can be used to apply increased torque.
In many cases, however, the mounting design of containers and their filler necks is so restricted in terms of space that radial shoulders can not always be provided on closing caps.
Furthermore, a design which provides only two oppositely lying locking members for the bayonet fastening causes the filler cap to be tilted transversely, which means that the force applied to the filler cap is very uneven. This can cause the closing member to lift at a point on the circumference of the filler neck so that a momentary look is caused in this manner.
The object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a tank closing device for a filler neck of a container of the aforementioned kind, which is easy to operate even if the design is restricted in terms of space, as well as functionally safe and provides a reliable seal under the most varied of operating conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A tank closing device for a container according to the present invention is primarily characterized by:
a filler neck at the container;
a closing member received in the filler neck;
a closing cap securable at the filler neck by a bayonet fitting;
a sealing element arranged at the closing member;
a spring resting at the closing cap and biasing the sealing element against the filler neck;
the closing cap having a top face and a gripping member projecting upwardly from the top face;
the bayonet fitting comprising at least three socket elements at a circumferential surface of the closure cap or the filler neck and comprising at least three dogs cooperating with the at least three socket elements and arranged on an opposing circumferential surface of the closing cap or the filler neck;
wherein the socket elements or the dogs or both the socket elements and the dogs are unevenly distributed over the circumferential surface, respectively.
At least one spacing between two adjacent ones of the dogs in a circumferential direction is different from another spacing between two adjacent ones of the dogs.
At least one spacing between two adjacent ones of the socket elements in a circumferential direction is different from another spacing between two adjacent ones of the socket elements.
At least one of the dogs has a circumferential length that is different from a circumferential length of another one of the dogs.
At least one of the socket elements has a circumferential length that is different from a circumferential length of another one of the socket elements.
Four of the dogs and four of the socket elements are provided.
Diametrically opposed ones of the dogs are of identical design.
Diametrically opposed ones of the socket elements are of identical design.
A spacing between three of the dogs is such that a first spacing between a first and a second one of the dogs extends over an angle of 58° and a second spacing between a second and a third one of the dogs extends over an angle of 72°.
The dogs have a circumferential length of 25°.
Two of the socket elements have a circumferential length of 53°.
Two of the socket elements have a circumferential length of 65°.
A spacing between two adjacent ones of the socket elements is 30°.
Two of the socket elements have an end stop at a rearward end thereof in a closing direction of the bayonet closure.
The socket elements have a run-in slope at a forward end thereof in a closing direction of the bayonet closure, further have a section of maximum height adjacent to the run-in slopes, and further have a bearing section, having a height reduced relative to the section of maximum height, positioned adjacent to the section of maximum height.
Two of the socket elements have an end stop at a rearward end thereof in a closing direction of the bayonet closure, wherein the end stops have an incline at a side thereof facing an adjacent one of the socket elements.
The gripping member comprises a first and second diametrically opposed shoulders, the shoulders having an orifice at front ends thereof.
The closing cap is beaker-shaped and has a bottom comprising a mounting fixture for securing the closing member.
The mounting fixture is comprised of a plurality of ring segments having free ends with radial shoulders.
The closing member has an end face snap-connected to the mounting fixture.
The tank closing device may further comprise a sealing membrane positioned concentrically to the closing member, the sealing membrane sealingly resting on the closing cap and an annular surface of the filler neck.
The filler neck is an annular body adaptable to the container.
The filler neck has an internal diameter and a portion for guiding the closing member, wherein the portion has a length of 0.4 times the internal diameter.
The main advantages of the invention reside in the fact that by arranging a pushing member on the top face of the closing cap, it is not necessary to allow for any space for the structural design other than that of the circumferential surface of the closing cap since there are at least three dogs and socket elements, an even distribution of forces is guaranteed without any tendency to tilt laterally. Due to the fact that the socket elements and/or the dogs are disposed in an uneven distribution around the circumferential surface, the closing cap can only be positioned at a turning angle relative to the median longitudinal axis of the filler neck such that the gripping member assumes a predetermined direction relative to the container or the transportable work tool when the tank closing device is shut. This means that the tank closing device can not be opened unwittingly because when closed, the gripping member does not provide a gripping surface which can be operated in the turning direction.
The uneven layout of the dogs and socket elements relative to the circumferential surface can be achieved simply by making at least one of the spacing distances between two respective dogs in the circumferential direction different in size from another spacing distance. Alternatively, varying the lengths of the socket elements can be used as a means of producing an uneven layout, in which case an advantage can be gained by giving one of the socket elements or dogs in the circumferential direction a different length from another of the socket elements or dogs.
In order to produce as even an application of force across the entire circumference of the filler cap as possible, there is an advantage to be had if four socket elements and dogs are provided. This being the case, it is advantageous to use a distribution such that socket elements or dogs lying opposite one another are of the same design. The desired unevenness is then provided by two differing sections, each arranged in a respective half circumference. A preferred embodiment of this design is one in which a distance of approximately 58° is provided between two successive dogs and the subsequent distance is then approximately 72°, whilst the dogs extend over an angle of approximately 25°.
The socket elements are purposely designed to be of different lengths, so that two socket elements extend over an angle of approximately 53° and the other two socket elements over an angle of approximately 65°. The distances between two successive socket elements will then be approximately 30°.
In order to ensure that the fi
Andreas Stihl AG & Co.
Cronin Stephen K.
Robert W. Becker & Associates
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