Anti-tear device for protecting a cap mounted on the neck of a container

Abstract

The invention relates to an anti-tear device (18) for protecting a cap (16) mounted on the neck of a container (10), characterized in that it comprises an annular shield (20) extending around a principal axis (A) and including a lower radial base (22) for fixing to the container (10) around the neck, and a sleeve (30) extending axially along the principal axis (A) from said base (22) and defining a housing (32) for the cap (16) to be protected, and a means for fixing the base (22) to the container (10). (Fig. 2)

Description

Title of the invention: Anti-tear device for protecting a stopper mounted on the neck of a container. Field of the invention

[0001] The present patent application relates to the field of protective devices for caps mounted on the neck of a container, and more particularly to the protection of caps mounted on a tank of a tractor-type machine.

[0002] The present invention will find advantageous applications in the field of road transport, in particular by equipping a tractor for semi-trailer. State of the art

[0003] An articulated vehicle is a combination consisting of a road tractor and a semi-trailer, the tractor being the motorized vehicle that pulls the semi-trailer.

[0004] The semi-trailer is connected to the tractor by means of connecting elements, such as hydraulic hoses, pneumatic hoses and electrical cables.

[0005] Also, the tractor is generally equipped with a container, for example an oil tank, which is arranged in the vicinity of the semi-trailer.

[0006] To allow the container to be filled, the upper face of the container is provided with a filling neck closed by a removable cap.

[0007] During rotational movements between the tractor and the semi-trailer, it is observed that these connecting elements can tear off or shear the filling plug of the container.

[0008] The number of plugs torn off or damaged during the life of a tractor is estimated to be about ten.

[0009] Removing the stopper can cause the liquid enclosed in the container to leak, which can in particular lead to pollution. Description of the invention

[0010] The object of the present invention is to solve the problems mentioned above, by proposing an anti-removal device for the protection of a stopper mounted on the neck of a container.

[0011] Another objective of the invention is to provide an anti-tear device that is quick to implement on a container and that does not require any modification of the existing cap or container to be protected.

[0012] These objectives, as well as others which will become apparent from the following description, are achieved with an anti-tear device for protecting a cap mounted on the neck of a container, characterized in that it comprises: • an annular shield extending around a main axis and comprising a lower radial base intended to be fixed to the container around the neck, and a sleeve extending axially along the main axis from said base and defining a housing for the cap to be protected, and • a means of attaching the base to the container.

[0013] Thus, the anti-tear device according to the invention offers mechanical protection which makes it possible to protect the cap mounted on the container from the movements of hydraulic hoses or any other moving element likely to damage the cap.

[0014] According to other optional features of the invention, taken alone or in combination:

[0015] - the shield includes a deflector-forming skirt that extends around said sheath, The skirt has a generally truncated conical shape to form a protective ramp for the plug. The skirt forms a protective ramp for the plug which helps to deflect impacts from hydraulic hoses or any other moving part;

[0016] - the skirt extends from a free axial upper end of said sheath. This feature offers optimum protection for the cap;

[0017] - the means for fixing the base comprises a plurality of screws which are provided to be screwed each onto the container and through the base. The fixing screws have the advantage of being removable and allow optimum tightening of the shield onto the container;

[0018] - the base comprises a plurality of inserts, each of which is designed to accommodate one of the said fixing screws;

[0019] - the anti-pull-out device includes an annular sealing gasket which is provided to be interposed between the base and the container. The seal aims to ensure a seal between the shield and the container, the seal between the cap and the shield being ensured by the cap;

[0020] - The shield is made from molded plastic material. This This feature allows the shield to be manufactured in one piece, particularly to enhance the shield's mechanical resistance.

[0021] The invention also relates to a container which has a neck fitted with a stopper and which is equipped with an anti-tear-off device for the protection of said stopper of the type described above.

[0022] According to another feature, the shield of the anti-tear device extends axially at least to an upper free end of the cap to be protected;

[0023] According to another feature, the container is a tank suitable for being fitted on a road tractor. Brief description of the drawings

[0024] Other features, purposes and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, for the understanding of which reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0025] [Fig-1] is a perspective overview with tear-off which represents a container equipped with an anti-tear-off device for the protection of the cap, according to the invention;

[0026] [Fig.2] is a detailed view of [Fig.1] with tear-off, which illustrates the device anti-tear;

[0027] [Fig.3] is a perspective view that illustrates the anti-removal device of the [Fig.l];

[0028] [Fig.4] is a top view which illustrates the anti-tear-off device of [Fig.1];

[0029] [Fig.5] is an axial sectional view along axis 5-5 of [Fig.4], which illustrates the anti-removal device of the [Fig.l].

[0030] In the description and claims, the terms "radial" and "axial" shall be adopted without limitation with reference to the vertical axis A of [Fig. 1].

[0031] Also, the expressions "superior" and "inferior" will be used without limitation in reference to the upper and lower parts respectively of [Fig.1].

[0032] Throughout all these figures, identical or similar elements are identified by identical or similar reference signs.

[0033] Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

[0034] Figure [Fig.1] shows a container 10 which forms an oil reservoir intended to be mounted on a road tractor (not shown) associated with a semi-trailer.

[0035] The container 10 has an upper face 12 which is equipped with a filling neck 14 closed by a removable cap 16.

[0036] The term "neck" here refers broadly to an opening intended to receive a stopper, the neck being able to be a simple hole made in a wall or a cylindrical neck for example.

[0037] In this embodiment of the invention, the neck 14 is formed by a simple hole which passes through the upper face 12 of the container 10 and the cap 16 is of the breather cap type.

[0038] The cap 16 and the neck 14 extend around a vertical axis A, called the main axis A.

[0039] Also, as can be seen in detail in figures 2 and 3, the container 10 is equipped with an anti-tear device 18 for the protection of the cap 16.

[0040] The anti-tear device 18 includes an annular protective shield 20 which extends around the main axis A and which is fixed to the container 10.

[0041] For this purpose, the shield 20 includes a lower radial base 22 which extends parallel to the upper face 12 of the container 10.

[0042] With reference to figures 4 and 5, the base 22 is axially traversed by six vertical holes 24 which are regularly distributed angularly around the main axis A and which are each provided with a reinforcing insert 26.

[0043] Each of the inserts 26 cooperates with an associated screw 28, visible in [Fig.3], which is screwed through the upper face 12 of the container 10, the six screws 28 forming a means of fixing the base 22 to the container 10.

[0044] In addition, the shield 20 includes a sheath 30 which has a generally cylindrical shape delimiting a housing 32 for the plug 16 to be protected.

[0045] The sheath extends axially along the main axis A from the lower base 22 to an upper free end 36.

[0046] Advantageously, the free end 36 of the sleeve 30 of the shield 20 extends at least to an upper free end of the plug 16, so that the plug 16 is flush with the shield 20, to promote the protection of the plug 16.

[0047] Also, the shield 20 includes a skirt 34 forming a deflector which extends around the sheath 30.

[0048] The skirt 34 has an overall truncated conical shape to form a protective ramp for the plug 16 which makes it possible to counter the blows made by hydraulic hoses or any other moving element.

[0049] As can be seen in [Fig.2], the skirt 34 extends from the upper axial free end 36 of the sleeve 30, almost to the upper face 12 of the container 10.

[0050] In this embodiment of the invention, the shield 20 forms a hollow shell, so that the skirt 34 is delimited by an outer skin 38 and by an inner skin 40.

[0051] The shield 20 is made from material by a plastic material molding process, for example by a polyethylene rotomolding process.

[0052] By way of non-limitation, the shield 20 can be produced by other types of manufacturing processes, in particular by an aluminium molding process, in which case the shield 20 has only one skin.

[0053] With reference to figures 2 and 3, the anti-tear device 18 includes an annular sealing gasket 42 which is interposed axially and which is pinched between the base 22 of the shield 20 and the upper face 12 of the container 10.

[0054] The sealing gasket 42 is pierced by six holes 44 for the passage of the fixing screws 28.

[0055] It should be noted that the base 22 of the shield 20 is equipped with a drainage hole 46 visible in [Fig.4], which is intended to allow the flow of wash water or rainwater out of the shield 20.

[0056] The drainage hole 46 is drilled following the molding of the shield 20.

[0057] By way of non-limitation, the base 22 of the shield 20 can be equipped with a plurality of drainage holes.

[0058] Finally, as can be seen in particular in figures 2 and 4, the skirt of the shield 20 delimits six recesses 48 which are provided to reinforce the mechanical resistance of the shield 20 and to facilitate the demolding of the shield 20.

[0059] Mounting the anti-tear device 18 according to the invention on the container 10 consists successively of removing the cap 16 from the container 10, fixing the shield 20 on the container 10 by means of the screws 28 provided for this purpose by interposing the sealing gasket 42 between the base 22 and the upper face 12 of the container 10, and then remounting the cap 16 on the container 10.

[0060] Naturally, the invention is described above by way of example. It is understood that a person skilled in the art is able to carry out different embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Anti-tear device (18) for the protection of a cap (16) mounted on a neck (14) of a container (10), characterized in that it comprises: • an annular shield (20) which extends around a principal axis (A) and which includes a lower radial base (22) provided for being fixed on the container (10) around the neck (14), and a sleeve (30) which extends axially along the principal axis (A) from said base (22) and which delimits a housing (32) for the cap (16) to be protected, and • a means of fixing (28) the base (22) on the container (10).

2. Anti-tear device (18) according to claim 1, characterized in that the shield (20) comprises a skirt (34) forming a deflector which extends around said sheath (30), the skirt (34) having an overall frustoconical shape to form a protective ramp for the plug (16).

3. Anti-tear device (18) according to claim 2, characterized in that the skirt (34) extends from a free axial upper end (36) of said sleeve (30).

4. Anti-tear device (18) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for fixing (28) the base (22) comprises a plurality of screws (28) which are provided to be screwed each onto the container (10) and through the base (22).

5. Anti-pull-out device (18) according to claim 4, characterized in that the base (22) comprises a plurality of inserts (26) which are each provided to accommodate one of said fixing screws (28).

6. Anti-tear device (18) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an annular sealing gasket (42) which is intended to be interposed between the base (22) and the container (10).

7. Anti-tear device (18) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shield (20) is made from molded plastic material.

8. Container (10) which has a neck (14) fitted with a stopper (16) and which is equipped with an anti-tear device (18) for the protection of said stopper (16), according to any one of the preceding claims.

9. Container (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that said shield (20) of the anti-tear device (18) extends axially at least to an upper free end of the cap (16) to be protected.

10. Container (10) according to any one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the container (10) is a tank suitable for being fitted on a road tractor.