Locking filler tube cover apparatus for underground fuel tanks

Claim 2

A locking apparatus for underground fuel tanks having a vertically extending filler tube with a plurality of apertures in the side walls thereof, the locking apparatus comprising: a cover having top and bottom surfaces and a centrally located aperture; an annular flange depending from the bottom surface of the cover, having a plurality of apertures formed in the flange and alignable with the apertures in the fuel tank filler tube;

Claim 3

lock means mounted on the cover and selectively movable between a first locked position and a second unlocked position; a plate mounted on and rotated by the lock means between the first and second positions; a plurality of lock bars, each slidingly received in one aperture on the flange of the cover, the lock bars having first and second ends, with the first end being pivotally mounted on the plate, and the second end being slidingly engagable with an aperture in the filler tube when the lock means and plate are rotated to the first locked position to lock the cover on the filler tube when the lock means and plate are rotated to the second unlocked position to unlock the cover from the filler tube; and first means for removably covering the lock means to prevent access to the lock means, comprising: a first boss mounted on the bottom surface of the cover, the first boss having a bore co-axially aligned with the aperture in the cover and including internal threads extending from an upper end thereof; a disc having external threads on the first boss; engagable with the internal threads on the first boss; a cavity formed in the disc; and a first key means having an outwardly extending projection complementary to the cavity in the disc and insertable into the cavity to permit removal of the disc from the first boss.

Claim 4

lock means mounted on the cover and selectively movable between a first locked position and a second unlocked position; a plate mounted on and rotated by the lock means between the first and second positions; a plurality of lock bars, each slidingly received in one aperture on the flange of the cover, the lock bars having first and second ends, with the first end being pivotally mounted on the plate, and the second end being slidingly engagable with an aperture in the filler tube when the lock means and plate are rotated to the first locked position to lock the cover on the filler tube when the lock means and plate are rotated to the second unlocked position to unlock the cover from the filler tube; and first means for removably covering the lock means to prevent access to the lock means, comprising: a first boss mounted on the bottom surface of the cover, the first boss having a bore co-axially aligned with the aperture in the cover and including internal threads extending from an upper end thereof; a disc having external threads on the first boss; engagable with the internal threads on the first boss; a cavity formed in the disc; and a first key means having an outwardly extending projection complementary to the cavity in the disc and insertable into the cavity to permit removal of the disc from the first boss.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cavity comprises: an annular ring formed in the disc; a sleeve removably insertable into the ring for closing the ring, the sleeve being formed of a magnetizable material; and magnet means for removing the sleeve from the disc to permit insertion of the first key into the cavity in the disc.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 2, further including: a pair of annular rings formed in the disc; a pair of sleeves for removable insertion into the pair of rings; and the first key means including two outwardly extending projections complementary to the configuration of the annular rings in the disc.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1, further including: a second cover means for preventing access to the lock means.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second cover means comprises: a second boss mounted on the bottom surface of the cover, the second boss having a bore extending therethrough co-axially aligned with the aperture in the cover, the second boss including a plurality of internal threads extending from an upper end thereof; and a second disc having external threads threadingly engageable with the threads in the second boss to close the aperture in the cover.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 5, further including: a cavity formed in the second disc; and a second key complementary to the configuration of the cavity for insertion into the cavity to enable the insertion and removal of the second disc from the second boss in the cover.

Claim 10

A locking cover apparatus for underground fuel tanks having a vertically extending filler tube with a plurality of apertures formed in the side walls thereof, the locking cover apparatus comprising: a cover having top and bottom surfaces and a centrally located aperture; an annular flange depending from the bottom surface of the cover, a plurality of apertures formed in the flange and alignable with the apertures with the fuel tank filler tube; a first boss carried by the cover and having a through bore extending therethrough and a plurality of internal threads extending from one end; lock means mounted within the first boss and being selectively movable between a first locked position and a second unlocked position; a plate mounted on and rotated by the lock means between the first and second positions; a plurality of lock bars, each slidingly received in one aperture on the flange of the cover and an aperture in the filler tube; first cover means for covering the lock means, the first cover means including: a first disc having external threads threadingly engageable with internal threads formed in the first boss; a cavity formed in the first disc; first key means having an outwardly extending projection complementary with the cavity in the first disc for insertion into the cavity to permit removal of the first disc from the first boss; and second cover means for covering the aperture in the cover, the second cover means including: a second boss mounted on the cover and surrounding the first boss; a second disc having external threads for threading insertion into the second boss to close the aperture in the cover; a second cavity formed in the second disc; and second key means complementary with the second cavity for selective insertion into the second cavity of the second disc to enable removal of the second disc from the second boss on the cover.

Claim 11

A locking cover apparatus for underground fuel tanks having a vertically extending filler tube with a plurality of apertures formed in the side walls thereof, the locking cover apparatus comprising: a cover having top and bottom surfaces and a centrally located aperture; an annular flange depending from the bottom surface of the cover, a plurality of apertures formed in the flange and alignable with the apertures with the fuel tank filler tube; a first boss carried by the cover and having a through bore extending therethrough and a plurality of internal threads extending from one end; lock means mounted within the first boss and being selectively movable between a first locked position and a second unlocked position; a plate mounted on and rotated by the lock means between the first and second positions; a plurality of lock bars, each slidingly received in one aperture on the flange of the cover and an aperture in the filler tube; first cover means for covering the lock means, the first cover means including: a first disc having external threads threadingly engageable with internal threads formed in the first boss; a cavity formed in the first disc; first key means having an outwardly extending projection complementary with the cavity in the first disc for insertion into the cavity to permit removal of the first disc from the first boss; and second cover means for covering the aperture in the cover, the second cover means including: a second boss mounted on the cover and surrounding the first boss; a second disc having external threads for threading insertion into the second boss to close the aperture in the cover; a second cavity formed in the second disc; and second key means complementary with the second cavity for selective insertion into the second cavity of the second disc to enable removal of the second disc from the second boss on the cover.

Claim 12

The locking cover apparatus of claim 7 wherein each of the locking bars includes: first and second pivotally connected portions, one end of the first portion being pivotally attached to the plate; and the second portion slidingly engaging an aperture in the flange on the cover and an aligned aperture in the fuel tank filler tube.