Adaptor assembly for Jerry cans and storage drums

An adaptor assembly that is designed to enable pumping of liquids, such as fuel, from large capacity drums of the type having openings that are sealable by a threaded bung-type closure; pouring of liquids, such as fuel, from military-type Jerry Cans; pumping of liquids, such as fuel, from military-type Jerry Cans; and pumping of fuels from small capacity commercial-type containers of the type designed to receive internally threaded closure caps. The adaptor assembly, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, comprises a large diameter container cap that is designed for mating with a standardized container opening and a small diameter coupling cap, and for slideably and detachably receiving a tubular spout. The coupling cap carries a pump connector and a tubing connector projecting from each of top and bottom sides thereof, and to which flexible tubing is coupled. The tubing connector and flexible tubing, including clamps for securing same together, are sized so that they may be received within a tubular spout mounting projection of the large diameter cap, when the tubular spout is removed, and a small diameter coupling cap is threaded onto the large diameter coupling cap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an adaptor assembly for threaded openings 
of containers for liquids, and, in particular, to an adaptor assembly for 
use with fuel containers of the type used by the military services for a 
variety of purposes, such as the storage and refueling of mechanized 
equipment in the field, which may serve not only as a container closure, 
but also as both a pouring and pumping adaptor therefor. 
For military purposes, large quantities of fuel are typically stored in 55 
gallon drums, while smaller quantities of fuel are stored in portable 5 
gallon containers of the type commonly known as Jerry Cans. Both of these 
types of containers utilize the same size, internally threaded, opening 
which is sealable by a complementarily shaped, externally threaded 
bung-type closure. Pumps are often utilized to deliver fuel from either of 
these types of containers to either vehicles or fuel powered machinery, 
such as electrical generators. Additionally, Jerry Can type containers are 
also utilized to supply fuel by gravity pouring of the contents of the 
Jerry Can into the fuel tank of a vehicle or other equipment. 
Arrangements for pumping of fuels from containers are known, as are 
adaptors to facilitate pouring of fuel from Jerry Can type containers. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,651,440 discloses a gravity feed type adaptor for Jerry 
type cans, but this adaptor is not utilizable with drum-type containers 
which do not have a handle, nor is this adaptor designed for use with both 
a pour spout and a pumping arrangement. Likewise, a pumping assembly is 
known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,050,218, which utilizes a pumping cap member 
that is attached to an external thread of one size that is located on a 
first end of an adaptor component, which adaptor component has a different 
thread size at an opposite end for engagement within a complementarily 
shaped bung hole type opening in the top of a drum. However, this pumping 
adaptor arrangement is neither intended nor suitable for use with a pour 
spout. 
On the other hand, while dual-cap type closures, which are provided with 
retractable pour spouts, are known for commercial-type small capacity (1 
to 21/2 gallon) portable gas cans from U.S. Pat. No. 3,372,846 and 
commonly assigned, pending U.S. application Ser. No. 259,165, filed Apr. 
30, 1981, such have not, heretofore, been utilized in connection with 
military fuel storage containers, nor have they been designed for use as 
an adaptor for pumping purposes. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an adaptor assembly 
which may be coupled to a standardized container opening in order to 
enable discharge of the contents thereof by way of either pumping or 
pouring from a retractable and detachable spout, and, in particular, to 
provide such an assembly for use with standardized military fuel drum and 
Jerry Can type containers. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an adaptor 
assembly for standardized military fuel containers which have parts that 
are interchangeable with commercial non-military spout assemblies. 
Therefore, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present 
invention, an adaptor assembly is provided which comprises a large 
diameter, container cap that has a top and a bottom externally threaded 
tubular projection extending in axial alignment from opposite sides 
thereof, the top threaded projection being of a lesser diameter than the 
bottom threaded projection. The top projection is also provided with a 
spout mounting projection that is directed internally toward the bottom 
projection. A tubular spout is provided which is sized and shaped for 
retention within the spout mounting projection in a manner permitting 
slideable movement thereof between a retracted position, wherein the spout 
projects outwardly from the bottom projection of the container cap, and a 
pouring position, wherein the spout projects outwardly from the top 
projection of the container cap. With the tubular spout removed, the 
assembly is usable for pumping purposes, by the provision of a small 
diameter, coupling cap that has an internally threaded peripheral wall 
which is sized and shaped for threadingly seating upon the threads of the 
top projection of the container cap. An aperture is provided extending 
concentrically therethrough, and a pump connector and a tubing connector 
project, respectively, from each of top and bottom sides of the coupling 
cap in alignment with this aperture. A flexible tubing is coupled to the 
tubing connector by clamping means, and the pumping connector is designed 
for connection to a pump by appropriate tubing. The flexible tubing that 
is coupled to the tubing connector and the clamping means securing same 
are sized so as to be received within the spout mounting projection of the 
container cap, when the coupling cap is seated upon the top projection 
thereof and the spout removed. 
Preferably, additional selectively usable lengths of flexible tubing are 
provided for adaption of the assembly for use with containers of different 
heights, and an optional fuel filter is provided for use by connection to 
an end of the flexible tubing or the additional flexible tubing, when 
circumstances of use so warrant. 
Still further, in accordance with preferred embodiments, the bottom 
projection of the container cap is sized for mating with standardized 
military fuel drum and Jerry Can bung holes, while the internal threading 
of the coupling cap corresponds to that of the opening of a non-military 
gas container, whereby the coupling cap can be utilized, without the 
container cap, for pumping from the non-military container, and a standard 
non-military cap is usable on the top projection of the container cap for 
closing same with the spout retained therein. 
These and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention 
will become more obvious from the following description when taken in 
connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of 
illustration only, several embodiments in accordance with the present 
invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
As noted, initially, the adaptor assembly in accordance with the present 
invention is designed to fulfill a variety of purposes, including: (1) 
pumping of liquids, such as fuel, from large capacity drums of the type 
having openings that are sealable by threaded bung-type closures; (2) 
pouring of liquids, such as fuel, from military-type Jerry Cans; (3) 
pumping of liquids, such as fuel, from military-type Jerry Cans; and (4) 
pumping of fuels from small capacity commercial-type containers of the 
type designed to receive internally threaded closure caps. Therefore, in 
the following description, the details of applicants' adaptor assembly 
will be described in connection with the discussion of its manner of use 
in each of the four noted environments. 
FIG. 1 shows the utilization of an adaptor assembly in accordance with the 
present invention, with a standard, large capacity drum, such as a 
standard military 55 gallon drum D. In order to pump fluids from such a 
drum D, the bung closure B is simply withdrawn and the entire adaptor 
assembly, indicated generally at 1, inserted into the bung-hole and 
secured. When so utilized, the adaptor assembly comprises a large 
diameter, container cap 2, a small diameter, coupling cap 3, a pump 
connector 4, which is connected at one end to cap 3 and at an opposite end 
to a tubing 5 communicating with a pump (not shown), a tubing section 6, 
which is connected at one end to the underside of cap 3 and, if conditions 
of usage warrant, at an opposite end to a further tubing section 6' and a, 
likewise, optional fuel filter 7. 
Turning now to FIG. 2, the details of the pumping adaptor assembly 1 will 
be described. 
The large diameter, container cap 2 has top and bottom externally threaded 
tubular projections 10, 11, respectively, which are axially aligned with 
each other. The top threaded projection 10 has a lesser diameter than the 
bottom threaded projection 11. The threads 11 are adapted for mating with 
a standardized thread as utilized on drums and Jerry Cans which comply 
with U.S. military specifications. On the other hand, the threads on the 
projection 10, preferably correspond to that of an externally threaded 
opening as used on commercial, non-military gas containers. In particular, 
a two inch pipe thread of a straight eleven and a half threads per inch 
and a minimum of five full threads is utilized for projection 11, while, 
projection 10 may be approximately an inch and a half in diameter and have 
a heavier buttress type threading, as shown more clearly in FIGS. 5 and 6. 
As also shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the top threaded projection 10 is provided 
with a tubular spout mounting projection 12. This spout mounting 
projection is disposed concentrically within top projection 10 so as to 
project toward the bottom projection 11, internally thereof. 
The small diameter, coupling cap 3 has a peripheral wall that has an 
internal threading that is sized and shaped for threadingly seating upon 
the threads of the top projection 10 of container cap 2. Additionally, the 
top wall of the coupling cap 3 has an aperture 13 extending concentrically 
therethrough. A tubing connector 14, having a threaded upper end and a 
circumferentially ribbed lower end, is passed sequentially through a lower 
washer 15, the aperture 13, and an upper washer 16, and the pump connector 
4 is then threaded onto the upper end of the tubing connector 14. In 
particular, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of FIG. 2, the 
pump connector 4 is a commercially available quick connect-disconnect type 
coupling (such as that manufactured and sold by a Aeroquip Company under 
Model No. FD45 - Series-04), in which case the tubing connector is 
threaded into the end of the male shut-off part 4b of the quick 
connect-disconnect shut-off coupling. Inasmuch as the quick 
connect-disconnect shut-off coupling is a commercially available part, 
which, in and of itself, is not part of the present invention, no detailed 
discussion of the construction of this part will be provided, apart from 
noting that female shut-off part 4a and male shut-off part 4b each assume 
a closed position when these parts are separated from each other, but 
assume an open position when the two parts are engaged with each other. 
The female shut-off part is connected, at its end opposite that which 
couples to male part 4b, to a pump via a fitting 17, which is similar to 
connector 14, and the tubing 5 is secured to the ribbed end of fitting 17 
by a ring clamp or cable tie, 18, for example. Similarly, the tubing 6 is 
connected to the ribbed end of tubing connector 14 by a similar ring clamp 
or cable tie. 
A dual ribbed end connector 19 may be connected to the opposite end of 
cable 6 by a similar ring clamp or cable tie in order to facilitate 
connection of tubing 6 to a further length of tubing 6', where the height 
of the container is such that tubing 6 (because it is of a length suitable 
for use with smaller containers, such as Jerry Cans and 1 to 21/2 gallon 
gas cans), is inadequate. Likewise, when conditions of use warrant the use 
of a fuel filter, the fuel filter 7 may be connected, either directly to 
the end of tubing 6, or to the end of tubing 6', by a reduction fitting 
19', a small section of hose 20 and another tie 18, as is illustrated in 
FIG. 3. 
When the adaptor assembly 1 is to be utilized for gravity discharge pouring 
of the contents of, for example, a standard military Jerry Can, a tubular 
spout 21, of a size and shape designed for retention within the spout 
mounting projection 12, is inserted therein so as to be slideable between 
a retracted position (solid line position, FIG. 4) wherein the spout 
projects outwardly from the bottom projection 11 of the container cap 3, 
and a pouring position (dot-dash line, FIG. 4), wherein the spout projects 
outwardly from the top projection 10 of the container cap. Spout mounting 
projection 12 may be sized for either receipt of a spout 21 of a size 
designed to comply with government regulations concerning nozzles for a 
vehicle operating on leaded gasoline (FIG. 5), or a size corresponding to 
that required for nozzles used for filling unleaded gasoline into vehicles 
(FIG. 6). In this regard, it is noted that the construction of the 
flexible tubing, tubing connector and clamping means shown in FIG. 2 takes 
into consideration the fact that the minimum inner diameter of a 
projection 12 for use with an unleaded fuel spout will be approximately 
0.9 inches, since they must be received within or pass through this spout 
mounting projection 12 when the adaptor assembly 1 is to be utilized in 
the FIG. 2 configuration for pumping purposes, after removal of the spout 
21. 
The use of the adaptor assembly 1 for pumping of the contents of a Jerry 
Can is essentially the same as that for pumping the contents of a drum, 
except, as shown in FIG. 7, the extra length of tubing 6' and, optionally, 
also the fuel filter 7, are removed. 
Still further, by designing the internal threading of the coupling cap 3 to 
correspond to that of a cap C, used to close the opening of a standard 
non-military gas container G (FIG. 8), the coupling cap 3, with the 
connectors 4, 14 and tubing 5, 6 attached, can be utilized, without the 
coupling cap 2 in order to pump-out the contents of such a standard gas 
container. Furthermore, on the other hand, the cap C can be used on the 
top projection 10 of the coupling cap 2 for closing same with the spout 21 
retained therein in its retracted position. It is also pointed out that it 
is particularly advantageous to have the coupling cap 3 interchangeable 
with the closure cap of a dual-cap type closure of the type provided with 
a retractable pour spout as in the above-referenced co-pending U.S. 
application Ser. No. 259,165, in which case, not only it is possible to 
interchangeably utilize the closure cap and coupling cap, but also it 
would be possible to interchangeably utilize the same spout 21 with both 
the dual-cap on a standard non-military gas can and with the container cap 
of the present invention, since, in both instances, the spout would have a 
diameter designed to conform with government regulations for the size of 
nozzles to be utilized for dispensing leaded or unleaded fuel into a motor 
vehicle. 
It is also noted that, while FIGS. 7 and 8 have been described with 
reference to the embodiment of FIG. 2, these figures actually illustrate 
the modified embodiment of FIG. 9. That is, in accordance with the adaptor 
assembly embodiment of FIG. 9, a quick connect-disconnect type shut-off 
coupling is not utilized. Instead, the tubing connector 14 is threaded 
into one end of a threaded sleeve 25, while a threaded end of a fitting 26 
is passed through washer 16, aperture 13 and washer 15, and then threaded 
into the opposite end of sleeve 25. Fitting 26 is of a conventional design 
and has a threaded upper portion which terminates in a tapered surface. 
This tapered surfaces receives, in a known manner, the flaired end of a 
tubing 5' which is received within a ring nut 26. Ring nut 26 is threaded 
onto the threads of fitting 26 so as to hold the flaired surface of tubing 
5' in sealed relationship to the tapered end of fitting 26, for the 
purpose of establishing a connection to a pump (not shown). Since, with 
this embodiment, no shut-off valve arrangement is provided, in order that 
dirt will not enter into a container to which the assembly 1' is attached, 
when the tube 5' and nut 27 are removed, a conventional cap nut (not 
shown) would then be threaded onto the upper end of fitting 26. 
From the foregoing, it should be readily apparent that the adaptor assembly 
of the present invention provides a simple and inexpensive means for 
achieving all of the objects noted above. 
While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with 
the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited 
thereto, but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as known 
to those skilled in the art, and we, therefore, do not wish to be limited 
to the details shown and described herein, but intend to cover all such 
changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended 
claims.