Pressure cooker lid latch and lock

Apparatus for securing a lid of a pressure vessel over an opening thereof, the pressure vessel having a catch located on the body of the vessel, comprising:

• a bar pivotally connected at a first end to the vessel and engaging the lid at a location along the length of the bar;
• latching means carried on a second, free end of the bar for biasing the bar against the lid to force the lid into a secure position over the opening of the vessel, a portion of the latching means engaging the catch on the body of the vessel for latching the bar and associated lid over the opening;
• means carried by the latching means for applying tightening force to the bar and lid;
• and,
• adjustment means carried by the latching means along a portion thereof for adjusting the degree of tightening force which can be applied to the bar and lid by the last mentioned means.

Apparatus for securing a lid of a pressure vessel over an opening thereof, the pressure vessel having a catch located on the body of the vessel, comprising:

• a bar pivotally connected at a first end to the vessel and engaging the lid at a location along the length of the bar;
• and,
• latching means carried on a second, free end of the bar for biasing the bar against the lid to force the lid into a secured position over the opening of the vessel, the latching means being capable of a canting motion relative to the bar, the latching means comprising an elongated spindle carried in and extending through a recess in the free end of the bar, the spindle terminating at one end in a hook element which is adapted to engage the catch on the body of the vessel for latching the bar and associated lid over the opening, the other end of the spindle having a threaded portion, and a hub having a threaded bore extending therethrough and matingly receiving at least a portion of the threaded portion of the spindle therewithin, the hub being rotatable to cause the spindle to be displaced longitudinally within the threaded bore by virtue of the action of the mating threads of the bore and spindle to displace the hook element relative to the catch for latching or unlatching the bar and associated lid over the opening of the vessel;
• and,
• adjustment means carried on the spindle along a portion thereof between the bar and the hook element for adjusting the tightening force capable of application to the bar and lid on rotation of the hub, the adjustment means comprising an annular sleeve carried on the spindle and movable thereby and means carried by the sleeve for fastening the sleeve to the spindle in a predetermined location.

Apparatus for securing a lid of a pressure vessel over an opening thereof, the pressure vessel having a catch located on the body of the vessel, comprising:

• a bar pivotally connected at a first end to the vessel and engaging the lid at a location along the length of the bar;
• and,
• latching means carried on a second, free end of the bar for biasing the bar against the lid to force the lid into a secured position over the opening of the vessel, the latching means being capable of a canting motion relative to the bar, the latching means comprising an elongated spindle carried in and extending through a recess in the free end of the bar, the spindle terminating at one end in a hook element which is adapted to engage the catch on the body of the vessel for latching the bar and associated lid over the opening, the other end of the spindle having a threaded portion, and a hub having a threaded bore extending therethrough and matingly receiving at least a portion of the threaded portion of the spindle therewithin, the hub being rotatable to cause the spindle to be displaced longitudinally within the threaded bore by virtue of the action of the mating threads of the bore and spindle to displace the hook element relative to the catch for latching or unlatching the bar and associated lid over the opening of the vessel, the hub being provided with at least one slot in an exterior wall thereof;
• and,
• locking means carried by the bar and disposed adjacent to the hub for inhibiting the rotation of the hub during the existence of hazardous pressure conditions within the pressure vessel, the locking means comprising a pin mounted for horizontal movement to engage a distal end of the pin within the slot to inhibit rotation of the hub, and means engaging an anterior end of the pin for exerting pressure on the pin to displace said pin into engagement with the hub, the pressure exerting means being responsive to pressure conditions existing within the pressure vessel.

Apparatus for securing a lid of a pressure vessel over an opening thereof, the pressure vessel having a catch located on the body of the vessel, comprising:

• a bar pivotally connected at a first end to the vessel and engaging the lid at a location along the length of the bar;
• latching means carried on a second, free end of the bar for biasing the bar against the lid to force the lid into a secured position over the opening of the vessel, the latching means comprising an elongated spindle carried in and extending through a recess in the free end of the bar, the spindle terminating at one end in a hook element which engages the catch on the body of the vessel for latching the bar and associated lid over the opening, and a hub carried by the spindle at the other end of said spindle, and cooperating means formed on the spindle and on the hub for displacing the spindle relative to the hub on rotation of the hub to displace the hook element relative to the catch, thereby to latch or unlatch the bar and associated lid over the opening of the vessel, the hub being provided with at least one slot in an exterior wall thereof;
• and,
• locking means carried by the bar and disposed adjacent to the hub for inhibiting the rotation of the hub during the existence of hazardous pressure conditions within the pressure vessel, the locking means comprising a pin mounted for horizontal movement to engage a distal end of the pin within the slot to inhibit rotation of the hub, and means engaging an anterior end of the pin for exerting pressure on the pin to displace said pin into engagement with the hub, the pressure exerting means being responsive to pressure conditions existing within the pressure vessel.

Apparatus for securing a lid of a pressure vessel over an opening thereof, the pressure vessel having a catch located on the body of the vessel, comprising:

• a bar pivotally connected at a first end to the vessel and engaging the lid at a location along the length of the bar;
• latching means carried on a second, free end of the bar for biasing the bar against the lid to force the lid into a secured position over the opening of the vessel, the latching means comprising an elongated spindle carried in and extending through a recess in the free end of the bar, the spindle terminating at one end in a hook element which engages the catch on the body of the vessel for latching the bar and associated lid over the opening, and a hub carried by the spindle at the other end of said spindle, and cooperating means formed on the spindle and on the hub for displacing the spindle relative to the hub on rotation of the hub to displace the hook element relative to the catch, thereby to latch or unlatch the bar and associated lid over the opening of the vessel, the hub being provided with at least one slot in an exterior wall thereof;
• and,
• locking means carried by the pressure vessel and disposed adjacent to the hub for inhibiting the rotation of the hub during the existence of hazardous pressure conditions within the pressure vessel, the locking means comprising a pin mounted for horizontal movement to engage a distal end of the pin within the slot to inhibit rotation of the hub, and means engaging an anterior end of the pin for exerting pressure on the pin to displace said pin into engagement with the hub, the pressure exerting means being responsive to pressure conditions existing within the pressure vessel.

Apparatus for securing a lid of a pressure vessel over an opening thereof, the pressure vessel having a catch located on the body of the vessel, comprising:

• a bar pivotally connected at a first end to the vessel and engaging the lid at a location along the length of the bar;
• latching means carried on a second, free end of the bar for biasing the bar against the lid to force the lid into a secure position over the opening of the vessel, a portion of the latching means engaging the catch on the body of the vessel for latching the bar and associated lid over the opening;
• adjustment means carried by the latching means along a portion thereof for adjusting tightening force applied to the bar and lid by the latching means;
• and,
• means for mounting the latching means to the bar for canting motion relative to the bar.

Apparatus for securing a lid of a pressure vessel over an opening thereof, the pressure vessel having a catch located on the body of the vessel, comprising:

• a bar pivotally connected at a first end to the vessel and engaging the lid at a location along the length of the bar;
• latching means carried on a second, free end of the bar for biasing the bar against the lid to force the lid into a secure position over the opening of the vessel, a portion of the latching means engaging the catch on the body of the vessel for latching the bar and associated lid over the opening, the latching means further comprising an elongated spindle carried in and extending through a recess in the free end of the bar, the spindle terminating at one end in a hook element comprising the catch-engaging portion, a hub mounted with the other end of the spindle, and cooperating means carried by the other end of the spindle and the hub for displacing the spindle and the hook element relative to the catch to latch or unlatch the bar and associated lid over the opening of the vessel;
• and,
• adjustment means carried by the latching means along a portion thereof for adjusting tightening force applied to the bar and lid by the latching means.