Improvements in Fittings for Oil and the like Liquid Transport Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd June, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 16th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 23rd Dec.,
1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
1. Improvements in Fittings for Oil and the like Liquid Transport
Vehicles.
THOMAS DAVIES, 30, Strand Street, Liverpool, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the fittings of road transport vehicles,
and has for its object, firstly, to reduce to a minimum the weight of the vehicle
secondly, to facilitate the working, and thirdly, to reduce the cost of the pro-
duction.
It has been found of late years more economical to convey oils, especially
petroleum from place to place in bulk, for this purpose a large number of road
transport vehicles (or what are frequently known as tank waggon tanks) are
being used.
These tank waggon tanks are usually drawn by one or two horses, for this
reason it is essential that they be as light as possible.
These tank waggon tanks have a recessed manhole cover which is bolted in
an oil tight manner to the tank, in the centre of which cover is a cast iron
collar riveted on: the upper edge of this collar is faced and sometimes screwed
to receive a cast iron plug, in the centre of this plug is a vent cock, which allows
air to flow in when oil is being drawn off. In place of the screwed bung a hinged
bung has been found preferable and an oil tight joint is made by pressing down
the cover on to a rubber or similar joint. Now by this invention I do away
entirely with the cast iron ring and make the jointing surface on the cover by
forming the cover by hydraulic pressure so that it takes the place of the cast
iron ring. I do not limit myself to the exact shape of the ring or cover as it
will be clearly seen that there are a considerable number which would do equally
well.
The upper portion of the cover I prefer either to form out of one piece of
sheet metal, or more, as the case may be, the essential feature about this bung
is that it has a concentric recess into which the rubber jointing ring fits, when
the bung is pressed out of sheet metal, I usually attach the hinges by rivetting.
In some cases I cast the bung in brass or other suitable metal, this casting
then includes the hinges, also the seating and guides for a vent valve.
The style of valve I prefer to use is a spherical one, such for instance as an
ordinary toy marble.
This spherical valve is suspended in a tube or chamber in the bung casting
and should by any chance the barrel turn over the valve will roll against its
seat and no oil will flow out.
Provision is also made that no rain can get into the barrel through this vent.
The outlet pipes of these tank waggon tanks are supported by gun metal
brackets. Now. in order that these brackets may be lightened, at the same time
giving additional strength, and that they may be produced at a smaller cost I
make them out of mild sheet steel pressed into the required shape. The bracket

page_text: and clip for the pipe is then only in two pieces which are secured to the pipe by
bolts; the bracket is riveted to the body of the tank.
Dated this 31st day of May 1898
Improvements in Fittings for Oil and the like Liquid Transport
Vehicles.
THOMAS DAVIES, 30, Strand Street, Liverpool, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement;
This invention relates to improvements in the fittings of road transport vehicles
and has for its object, firstly, to reduce to a minimum the weight of the vehicle,
secondly, to facilitate the working, and thirdly, to reduce the cost of pro-
duction.
It has been found of late years more economical to convey oils, especially
petroleum from place to place in bulk, for this purpose a large number of road
transport vehicles (or what are frequently known as tank wagon tanks) are
being used.
These tank wagon tanks are usually drawn by one or two horses for this
reason it is essential that they be as light as possible.
This invention will be more clearly understood by the aid of the accompanying
drawings in which.
Figures 1 and 2 are sectional elevation and plan respectively of a form of screw
bung which has been used for some time.
Figures 3 and 4 are sectional elevation and plan respectively of a form of
hinged bung which is now in use.
Figures 5 and 6 are sectional elevation and plan of my new cover.
Figures 7 and 8 are fragmentary views shewing the vent valve.
Figures 9 and 10 are sectional elevation and plan shewing a modification of
my new cover.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 these tank wagon tanks have a recessed manhole
cover A which is bolted in an oil tight manner to the (collar of the) tank, in the
centre of the cover A is a cast iron collar B riveted on, the upper edge C of
, the collar B. is faced and screwed at D'internally to receive a cast iron bung E
in the centre of this bung is a vent cock F which allows air to flow in, when oil
is being drawn off.
Owing to the thread f of the plug and collar becoming worn and defective
with constant use it was found preferable to adopt a hinged bung E1 (shown in
Figures 3 and 4) in this case the same cast iron collar B is used and the bung E¹
is hinged at e, the hinged piece el is secured by bolts through the cast iron
collar B, on the opposite side of the bung E is a forked lug G which is pressed
down by the thumbscrew H.
I is a packing ring which comes in contact with the faced edge C of the collar B,
the vent cock F' is placed on one side of the raised portion J of the bung E¹, as
it is less likely to be damaged.
It will be clearly seen that when the thumbscrew H is screwed down on to the
hinged bung E1, an oil tight joint will be made between the face C of the collar B
and the hinged bung E. Now my improved cover' (Figures 5 and 6) entirely does
away with the cast iron collar B (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) by so forming the plate or

page_text: cover A by hydraulic pressure (or otherwise) that it takes the place of the cast
iron collar B, that is, I flange the cover at K as shewn on the drawing and face
up the edge L so that when the jointing ring I is pressed down on the face L
an oil tight joint is made.
The hinged bung El is similar in many respects to that shewn in Figures 3
and 4, it is hinged at e, to the hinge piece e¹ which is bolted direct to the cover A,
e2 is a steady pin, H is a thumbscrew G is the forked lug, provision is made by
the knuckle joint M so that the thumbscrew H and bolt may fall down out of
the way while the hinged bung is being raised, N is a projection or stop which
prevents the cover opening too far.
In the centre of the hinged bung E and forming part of the same casting is
a vent valve which operates automatically and takes the place of the vent
cock F P is a cylindrical chamber, Q is a spherical valve held in the chamber
by the split pin R, S is the valve seating, S¹ are air passages communicating with
the chamber P.
Now it will be easily seen how this valve operates, so long as the valve is in
a more or less vertical position there is a clear air passage into the tank, this
will enable the oil to be drawn off without any vacuum being caused, on the
other hand should an accident happen causing the tank wagon tank to be turned
completely, or nearly completely over, the spherical valve Q would by specific
gravity and the pressure due to the head of oil in the tank, fall to the seating S.
and no oil would flow out.
Figures 9 and 10 shew a modification of the cover and hinged bung, the faced
edge L in this case is turned over as shewn at L¹ Figure 9, so as to have a larger
jointing surface (to prevent the packing being cut) I wish it to be understood
that I do not limit myself to the exact forms shewn in the drawings, as I may
adopt a considerable number of modifications without deviating from the nature
of my invention.
In some cases I find it advantageous to make the hinged bungs of mild steel
as shewn in Figures 9 and 10.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
Claim 1. A manhole cover for oil and the like transport vehicles having a
flanged annular rim formed on the cover, for the purpose of making a jointing
surface, substantially as shewn and described.
Claim 2. A hinged bung (or cover) for manhole covers of oil and the like trans-
port vehicles having an annular recess for a packing ring and an automatic vent
valve substantially as shewn and described.
Claim 3. In a manhole cover for oil and the like transport vehicles the com-
bination of a dished cover with a flanged rim K faced for a jointing surface, a
hinged bung E1 with an automatic vent valve 0 in the centre, the hinge e and
thumbscrew piece H, bolted direct to the cover A substantially as shewn in
Figures 5 and 6.
1
.
1000
THOMAS DAVIES
30, Strand Street, Liverpool.