Stant Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Stant Inc.

John H Evans

Billy G Crute

Phillip L Moore

A locking gas cap for a threaded filler neck having a sealing lip extending peripherally about its axis, the cap comprising a closure member threaded to engage and close the filler neck, a gasket on the closure member for engaging and sealing against the lip, an outer shell providing a hand grip secured to the closure member for rotation thereon, a key-operated lock and at least one lock-actuable bolt connected to the shell for rotation therewith. A race is disposed for rotation in the shell, and a driving connection is provided between the race and the closure member which is torque limited in the direction which advances the closure member on the filler neck and positive in the cap removal direction. A spring is provided for yieldably urging the bolt into engagement with the race. The spring cooperates with a plurality of engaging pockets in the race to provide a positive driving connection between the shell and race in the direction which advances the closure onto the filler neck. When the lock is not in a cap removal position and the shell is rotated in the cap removal direction, the bolt cams out of the pockets against the urging of the spring, allowing the shell to turn with respect to the race to prevent cap removal. When the lock is in its cap removal position, it blocks motion of the bolt out of the pockets to lock the shell to the race.

Locking gas cap with torque override feature

A locking cap for a threaded filler neck includes a closure member for engaging and closing the neck, a shell providing a hand grip and including a key-actuable lock, and a race disposed for rotation between the shell and closure. The race includes axially inwardly opening pockets, and the closure includes flexible pawl fingers for engaging the pockets to provide a driving connection between the closure and race which is positive in the cap-removal direction and torque-limited in the cap-advancing direction. The race also includes a set of peripherally spaced, radially inwardly projecting teeth, and the shell is molded to provide a pair of flexible drive fingers for engaging the peripherally spaced and radially inwardly projecting teeth to provide a driving connection between the shell and race which is positive in the cap-advancing direction and torque-limited in the cap-removal direction for free ratcheting of the cap when it is in position on the filler neck and locked. A lock-controlled bolt member mounted for rotation with the shell is movable by the lock to a cap-removal position. The bolt member engages driving teeth provided within the closure member. The driving teeth are formed such that rotation of the shell in the cap-advancing direction, after the lock has been returned to the cap-locking position, cams the bolt out of engagement with the driving teeth.

Torque override threaded locking cap

A locking cap for a threaded filler neck includes a closure member for engaging and closing the neck, a shell providing a hand grip and including a key-actuable lock, and a race disposed for rotation between the shell and closure. The race includes axially inwardly opening pockets, and the closure includes flexible pawl fingers for engaging the pockets to provide a driving connection between the closure and race which is positive in the cap-removal direction and torque-limited in the cap-advancing direction. The race also includes a set of peripherally spaced, radially inwardly projecting teeth. A lock-controlled bolt member mounted in a hub which is connected for rotation with the shell is movable by the lock to a cap-removal position. The bolt member engages driving teeth provided within the closure member. The driving teeth are formed such that rotation of the shell in the cap-advancing direction, after the lock has been returned to the cap-locking position, cams the bolt out of engagement with the driving teeth. The hub also provides a pair of flexible drive fingers for engaging the peripherally spaced and radially inwardly projecting teeth to provide a driving connection between the shell and race which is positive in the cap-advancing direction and torque-limited in the cap-removal direction for free ratcheting of the cap when it is in position on the filler neck and locked.

A radiator cap for a vehicle cooling system of a basically closed type includes a first valve which is open when the interior of the radiator is at atmospheric pressure, and remains open until fluid flow out of the radiator closes it. A second, or overpressure, valve in the radiator cap functions to vent the radiator only if potentially damaging excessive pressure exists within the radiator. The normal operating pressure range of the radiator is between the closing pressure of the first valve and the opening pressure of the second valve. When a low vacuum exists within the radiator, the first valve opens, permitting a metered flow of liquid coolant from a coolant recovery bottle back into the cooling system radiator. When a high vacuum is present within the radiator, the first valve opens further to permit higher flow rates of coolant back into the radiator.

Radiator cap

A break-away gas cap includes an inner member having a central portion adapted to close and seal an opening in gasoline tanks, such as the gasoline fill neck of an automobile, and an outer shell that engages and is carried by the inner member and provides a hand-engaging surface to be used to insert and remove the gas cap. The inner member includes weakened portions between its closure portion and the portions carrying the outer shell to enhance breakage of the outer shell from the inner member in the event of impact, such as an automobile accident, without affecting the closure and seal of the gasoline tank.

Breakaway gas cap

In a vented cap for closing the filler neck of a liquid containing tank, the cap including a valve housing providing a venting passageway extending therethrough, the improvement comprising a roll-over valve member for closing the passageway when the filler neck is tilted. The valve housing provides a valve seat in the passageway facing inwardly and against which the valve member moves. The housing also provides a tubular portion extending inwardly from the valve seat, the valve member being moveable in that portion between a position in closing engagement with the seat and a position away from the seat. The tubular portion is provided with at least one vent port located between the positions of the valve member, the port being of a size sufficient readily to pass vapor therethrough and insufficient readily to pass liquid therethrough. When liquid enters the port from the tank, a pressure differential is created to drive the valve member into its closing position.

Roll-over gas cap

A cap for closing the filler neck of a vehicle fuel tank, the cap comprising a valve housing, a pressure-vacuum valve assembly disposed in the housing to vent the tank when the pressure in the filler neck drops below a predetermined subatmospheric level and when the pressure in the filler neck exceeds a first predetermined superatmospheric level, a roll-over valve for closing the pressure-vacuum valve assembly when the filler neck is tilted, and an excessive pressure valve for bypassing the pressure-vacuum valve when the pressure in the filler neck exceeds a second and greater predetermined superatmospheric level.

Gas tank cap with roll-over valving

A locking gas cap for a threaded filler neck having a sealing lip extending peripherally about its axis, the cap comprising a closure member threaded to engage and close the filler neck, a gasket on the closure member for engaging and sealing against the lip, an outer shell providing a hand grip secured to the closure member for rotation thereon, a key-operated lock and at least one locking member movable by the lock connected to the shell for rotation therewith. A race is disposed for rotation in the shell, and a driving connection is provided between the race and the closure member which is torque limited in the direction which advances the closure member on the filler neck and positive in the opposite direction, the locking member being movable into and out of engagement with the race selectively to provide a driving connection between the shell and the race. The preferred embodiment includes a frictional driving connection between the race and the shell in the direction which advances the closure member on the filler neck even when the locking member is out of engagement with the race.

A pressure-vacuum valved cap for a vehicle fuel tank having an upwardly extending filler neck formed with a peripherally extending, upwardly facing sealing lip or sealing surface concentric with the longitudinal axis of the neck, the cap comprising a cover, a valve body providing a centrally disposed passageway extending axially therethrough concentric with and in communication with the filler neck, the valve body being connected to the cover to extend downwardly into the filler neck, a seal provided between the valve body and the lip of the filler neck, and a pressure-vacuum valve assembly disposed in the passageway to normalize the pressure in the fuel tank. The improvement comprises a rubber-like insert having a concentric opening extending axially therethrough, an upper portion and a lower portion. The insert is held against the valve body so that the insert upper portion engages and seals against the valve body about the vent opening which is in communication with the passageway. The insert lower portion provides a concentric, axially downwardly facing valve seat, and the cap includes a ball held for movement into closing engagement with the valve seat to close the passageway when the filler neck is tilted downwardly to a predetermined angle.

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Connersville, IN, United States of America

John H Evans