Device for use in connection with tapping off fluid from or filling fluid into a container

A device for use in connection with tapping off fluid from or filling fluid into a container through an internally threaded tapping or filling hole (13) provided in a wall (12) of said container and adapted to be closed by means of an externally threaded generally cup-shaped plug (17) having an outwardly open cavity (18) for receiving an implement serving to rotate the plug (17), said device comprising a bell-like housing (10) which is adapted to be removably mounted with an open end thereof over said hole (13) and which is provided, in its wall, with an opening (50) through which fluid may be fed into or discharged from the housing, and a tool (30) for manually operating the plug (17) from a position outside the housing (10), said tool (30) comprising a shaft (31) which extends slidably and rotatably through a portion (32) of the housing, located opposite to the open end of the housing, and which is provided with a handle (33) at the end thereof located externally of the housing (10), while, at its other end, it is provided with a plug holder (34) comprising a body (35, 36) carried by the tool shaft (31), and two gripping jaws (37) which are mounted for limited movement in said body and which are provided with gripping portions (38) insertable into the cavity of the plug and movable between retracted inner end positions and expanded outer end positions, the gripping jaws (37) being arranged to be brought into contact under pressure against two opposite portions of the side wall (20) of said cavity (18) by means of said gripping portions, characterized in that the gripping portions (38) of the gripping jaws (37) are arranged to be moved from their inner end positions to their outer end positions through the action of spring forces applied on the gripping jaws (37) from spring means (45) incorporated in the plug holder (34) and constantly spring-biasing portions (38) of the gripping jaws (37) towards their outer end positions, the gripping jaws (37) being provided with cam surfaces (44) which are facing in directions towards the front end of the plug holder (34) and by means of which the gripping jaws are arranged to cooperate with edge portions of the plug (17), located at the open end of the cavity (18), to permit their gripping portions (38) to be inserted into the cavity (18) of the plug (17) while undergoing an automatic resilient compression.

A device for use in connection with tapping off fluid from or filling fluid into a container through an internally threaded tapping or filling hole (113) provided in a wall (112) of said container and adapted to be closed by means of an externally threaded generally cup-shaped plug (117) having an outwardly open cavity (118) for receiving an implement serving to rotate the plug (117), said device comprising a bell-like housing (110) which is adapted to be removably mounted with an open end thereof over said hole (113) and which is provided, in its wall, with an opening (150) through which fluid may be fed into or discharged from the housing, and a tool (130) for manually operating the plug (117) from a position outside the housing (110), said tool (130) comprising a shaft (131) which extends slidably and rotatably through a portion (132) of the housing located opposite to the open end of the housing, and which is provided with a handle (133) at the end thereof located externally of the housing (110), while, at its other end, it is provided with a plug holder (134) comprising a body (136) carried by the tool shaft (131), and two gripping jaws (137) which are mounted for limited movement in said body and which are provided with gripping portions (138) insertable into the cavity of the plug and movable between retracted inner end positions and expanded outer end positions, the gripping jaws (137) being arranged to be brought into contact under pressure against two opposite portions of the side wall (120) of said cavity (118) by means of said gripping positions, characterized in that the gripping portions (138) of the gripping jaws (137) are arranged to be moved from their inner end positions to their outer end positions through the action of spring forces applied on the gripping jaws (137) from spring means (144) incorporated in the plug holder (134) and constantly spring-biasing portions (138) of the gripping jaws (137) towards their outer end positions (144), the plug holder (134) being provided with manually operable actuating means (151) for the gripping jaws (137) by which the gripping portions (138) of said jaws may be forcibly retracted from the outer end portions to their inner end positions to permit an unobstructed insertion of them into the cavity (118) of the plug (117).