Back to results
US 12,630,356 B2Granted
Gauge hatch with spring compressor
AssigneeJayco Vent Valve, Inc.
InventorWilliam L. Schlatter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gauge hatch has a base with an opening and an annular seal surface, a lid having a body and a pusher, a plunger positioned between the base and the lid and having an annular seal surface, a pressure seal member supported by a plunger, and a vacuum seal member supported by the plunger. The pressure spring positioned between the pusher and the plunger and the pusher movably mounted to the body so the pusher is movable between a first position wherein the pressure seal is sealingly disengaged from the annular seal surface of the base and the pressure spring is in a substantially non-compressed condition, and a second position wherein the pressure seal member is sealingly engaged with the annular seal surface of the base and the pressure spring is in a compressed condition.
Claims18
A gauge hatch for a storage tank, comprising:
- a base attachable to the storage tank around an aperture in the storage tank, the base having an upper end, a lower end, and an opening extending therethrough from the upper end to the lower end to provide access to the storage tank, the upper end having an annular seal surface;
- a lid hinged to the base wherein the lid is movable between an open position wherein the opening of the base is exposed to provide access to the storage tank and a closed position wherein the opening is covered;
- a pressure seal assembly comprising a plunger positioned between the base and the lid and having a lower end with an annular seal surface, a pressure seal member supported by the plunger wherein the pressure seal member is sealingly engageable with the annular seal surface of the base, and a pressure spring positioned between the lid and the plunger;
- a vacuum seal assembly supported by the plunger of the pressure seal assembly, the vacuum seal assembly comprising a vacuum seal member, wherein the vacuum seal member is sealingly engageable with the annular seal surface of the plunger,
- wherein the lid comprises a body and a pusher with the pressure spring positioned between the pusher and the plunger, the pusher movably mounted to the body wherein the pusher is movable relative to the body between a first position wherein the pressure seal is sealingly disengaged from the annular seal surface of the base and the pressure spring is in a substantially non-compressed condition, and a second position wherein the pressure seal member is sealingly engaged with the annular seal surface of the base and the pressure spring is in a compressed condition.
2 more elements
A gauge hatch in combination with a storage tank having a top with an access opening, the gauge hatch comprising:
- a base attached to the storage tank around the access opening in the storage tank, the base having an upper end, a lower end, and an opening extending therethrough from the upper end to the lower end to provide access to the storage tank, the upper end having an annular seal surface;
- a lid hinged to the base wherein the lid is movable between an open position wherein the opening of the base is exposed to provide access to the storage tank and a closed position wherein the opening is covered;
- a pressure seal assembly comprising a plunger positioned between the base and the lid and having a lower end with an annular seal surface, a pressure seal member supported by the plunger wherein the pressure seal member is sealingly engageable with the annular seal surface of the base, and a pressure spring positioned between the lid and the plunger;
- a vacuum seal assembly supported by the plunger of the pressure seal assembly, the vacuum seal assembly comprising a vacuum seal member, wherein the vacuum seal member is sealingly engageable with the annular seal surface of the plunger,
- wherein the lid comprises a body and a pusher with the pressure spring positioned between the pusher and the plunger, the pusher movably mounted to the body wherein the pusher is movable relative to the body between a first position wherein the pressure seal is sealingly disengaged from the annular seal surface of the base and the pressure spring is in a substantially non-compressed condition, and a second position wherein the pressure seal member is sealingly engaged with the annular seal surface of the base and the pressure spring is in a compressed condition.
2 more elements
A lid assembly for a gauge hatch, comprising:
- a lid hingedly connectable to a base having an opening extending therethrough and an annular seal surface wherein the lid is movable between an open position wherein the opening of the base is exposed and a closed position wherein the opening is covered;
- a pressure seal assembly comprising a plunger positioned between the base and the lid when the lid is hingedly connected to the base and having a lower end with an annular seal surface, a pressure seal member supported by the plunger wherein the first seal member is sealingly engageable with the annular seal surface of the base, and a pressure spring positioned between the lid and the plunger;
- a vacuum seal assembly supported by the plunger of the pressure seal assembly, the vacuum seal assembly comprising a vacuum seal member, wherein the vacuum seal member is sealingly engageable with the annular seal surface of the plunger,
- wherein the lid comprises a body and a pusher with the pressure spring positioned between the pusher and the plunger, the pusher movably mounted to the body wherein the pusher is movable relative to the body between a first position wherein the pressure seal is sealingly disengaged from the annular seal surface of the base and the pressure spring is in a substantially non-compressed condition, and a second position wherein the pressure seal member is sealingly engagable with the annular seal surface of the base and the pressure spring is in a compressed condition when the lid is in the closed position.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.