Locking cap for an oil gauge pipe
The present invention relates to a cap construction and, more particularly, to a locking cap adapted to be mounted on a filler or oil gauge pipe, with the locking cap having a gauge or measuring rod mounted thereon and an eccentric lever means for bracing or urging the locking cap against a sealing ring so as to sealingly close an inlet of the gauge pipe. 
     In order to facilitate a measuring of oil in a reservoir of, for example, an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, it must be possible to check the oil levels through an oil gauge or filler pipe disposed in an engine area. Since the gauge or filler pipe extends into the oil in the oil reservoir, when the oil level is measured, the oil level in the gauge pipe must be in contact with the atmosphere to avoid a false measurement due to, for example, enclosed air cushions. Moreover, a locking cap for an oil gauge or filler pipe must also be pressure resistant and leakproof since, for example, with an automatic transmission, an excess pressure of about 3 bar may be built up due to a frothing or churning of the oil in the transmission reservoir by the elements of the transmission. 
     It has been proposed to provide a so-called &#34;bottle stopper&#34; arrangement for enabling a checking of oil level through an oil gauge pipe. More particularly, a piece of a rubber tube connected with a stopper and extending into the oil gauge pipe may be axially braced in such a way that any occurring deformation of the piece of rubber tube engages in a circumferential groove provided for this purpose in the oil gauge pipe so as to enable a fixing of the stopper in a form locking manner. A disadvantage of this proposed solution resides in the fact that considerably many parts must be coordinated with each other and the mass of the stopper at the end of the oil gauge pipe tends to carry out uncontrollable vibrations. 
     The aim underlying the present invention essentially resides in providing a locking cap of the aforementioned type for an oil gauge or filler pipe in which the mass of the locking cap is considerable reduced. 
     In accordance with advantageous features of the present invention, an eccentric lever is mounted at the locking cap at a position below the locking cap, with the eccentric lever, in a locking position, reaching or extending under a flange provided at the oil gauge pipe. The locking cap rests against the flange with a seating ring being interposed between the locking cap and the flange. 
     By virtue of the above-noted features of the present invention, a locking means is provided which only includes a locking cap, a sealing ring, and an eccentric lever that can lock the locking cap in position at the oil gauge pipe. The actual gauge round for enabling a measuring of the level of oil in the oil reservoir is inserted into the locking cap and locked in position. 
     Advantageously, in accordance with the present invention, the locking cap and the eccentric lever being manufactured by an injection molding or die-casting product and, with the use of a corresponding material and by means of profiling the two parts may be manufactured so that they are light in weight and inexpensive. 
     By virtue of the disposition of the locking mechanism below a flange that is located at the end of the oil gauge pipe and projects radially to the outside, the locking cap closes the oil gauge pipe so that it is oil tight and resistant to pressure. 
     Advantageously, in accordance with further features of the present invention, the eccentric lever may be formed of two lever parts that extend parallel to each other and reach around the oil gauge part, with the lever parts being connected to each other at an operating end by means of a connecting member forming a handle means for facilitating a displacement of the eccentric lever. 
     The handle means may be fashioned or constructed in such a manner that, in a locking position of the eccentric lever, the handle reaches or extends around the oil gauge part. Holding pins may be provided at the eccentric lever for fixing the eccentric lever so that the locking cap fits with the oil gauge pipe in an attractive manner without any projecting or bulky parts. 
     In order to render it possible to lock the handle in a closing position, in accordance with the present invention, ears or projections may be provided at the lever parts near the handle means for operating the eccentric lever. 
     Additionally, results are possible in accordance with the present invention, to shape stopping projections or ears at free ends of the lever parts of the eccentric lever. 
     The locking cap may be formed of a rectangular configuration and, more particularly, a square, with two wall parts that are disposed opposite to each other reaching or surrounding the oil gauge pipe and forming mounting walls for mounting of the lever parts of the eccentric lever. Stopping pins may be provided af the wall sections for mounting the eccentric lever in an open position, with the stopping pins cooperating with the stopping projections or ears. Consequently, the eccentric lever of the present invention may be locked in the opened position and a center of mass of the locking cap, by means of the mounting of the eccentric lever in accordance with the present invention, is transferred downward in a direction of the mounting of the oil gauge pipe. 
     The wall sections for enabling a mounting of the eccentric lever may be connected with each other by means of third and fourth wall sections with the fourth wall section forming a stop defining an open position of the eccentric lever. 
     Preferably, all the parts forming the locking means of the present invention are made of a plastic or synthetic resinous material. 
     Preferably, the locking cap of the present invention is provided with a central projection which accommodates the gauge rod with the gauge rod being mounted so that it may be rotatable relative to the locking cap. By virtue of these features, when the gauge rod is inserted into the oil gauge pipe, it can more easily adapt itself to a given bend of the oil gauge pipe. 
     The wall sections of the locking cap for enabling a mounting of the eccentric lever are provided with bearing lugs or eyes for accommodating projections of the like provided on the lever parts of the eccentric lever. Additionally, a transverse slot is provided through the projection for enabling an accommodation of the mounting means for the gauge rod. By virtue of these features of the present invention, it is possible to arrange a driving or spring coupling key in the extrusion die for the transverse slot so that the overall manufacture and construction can be simplified considerably. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a locking cap for an oil gauge pipe which avoids, by simple means, shortcomings and disadvantages encountered in the prior art. 
     Another object of the present invention resides in providing a locking cap for an oil gauge pipe which ensures the existence of a leak proof and pressure resistant seal at an inlet opening of the oil gauge pipe. 
     Yet another object of the present invention resides in providing a locking cap for an oil gauge pipe which is simple in construction and therefore relatively inexpensive to manufacture. 
     A further object of the present invention resides in providing a locking cap for an oil gauge pipe which may be mounted on and removed from an inlet opening of the oil gauge pipe in an extremely simple manner. 
    
    
     These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows, for the purposes of illustration only, one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of an oil gauge or filler pipe having mounted thereon a locking cap constructed in accordance with the present invention, with an eccentric lever thereof in an open position; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line II--II in FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line III--III in FIG. 1, with the eccentric lever in a closed position. 
    
    
     Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the various views to designate like parts and, more particularly, to FIG. 1, according to this figure, a locking cap arrangement generally designated by the reference numeral 1 includes a locking cap 4 having a centrally arranged coaxial projection 6 through which extends a longitudinal bore or hole generally designated by the reference numeral 7. The longitudinal bore or hole 7 is adapted to accommodate a portion of a guage or measuring rod 3. The gauge or measuring rod 3 extends into a gauge or filler pipe 2 so as to enable a measuring of a level of oil in an oil reservior of, for example, an automatic transmission for a motor vehicle. An eccentric lever 5, to be described more fully hereinbelow, is pivotally mounted on the locking cap 4. 
     A transverse slot 8 is provided in the longitudinal bore or hole 7, with the gauge rod 3 being fixed in an area of the transverse slot by a fastening or tightening pin 9 so as to enable the gauge rod 3 to rotate relative to the locking cap 4, whereby the gauge rod 3 may more readily be adaptable to bends in the oil gauge pipe 2. 
     A sealing ring 10, providing a seal between the locking cap 4 and gauge pipe 2, is mounted on the coaxial projection 6 in such a manner that one end of the ring 10 rests against a ring-shaped or annular projection 11 of the locking cap 4, with the other end of the ring 10 being supported at a flange 12 provided at an opening or inlet end generally designated by the reference numeral 13 of the gauge pipe 2. 
     As shown most clearly in FIG. 2, the locking cap 4 has a generally rectangular outer configuration and includes two oppositely disposed wall sections 14, 15 which reach or extend around the oil gauge pipe 2. The eccentric lever 5 is mounted in bearing lugs or eyes 16, 17 provided in the respective wall sections 14, 15. Additional oppositely disposed wall sections 18, 19 serve as connecting walls connecting the wall sections 14, 15 to each other. The wall section 19 also functions to serve as a stop means for defining an opening position of the eccentric lever 5. 
     The eccentric lever 5 has a generally U-shaped configuration and includes two spaced lever arms or forks 20, 21 joined by a connecting part 28. Supporting pins 22, 23 are disposed on the respective arms or forks 20, 21 and are adapted to be inserted into the bearing openings or eyes 16, 17. The insertion of the supporting pins 22, 23 into the bearing lugs or eyes 16, 17 is accomplished in a relatively simple manner by virtue of the elasticity of the material of the eccentric lever 5 and wall sections 14, 15, 18, 19, of the locking cap 4. 
     The lever parts 20, 21 of the eccentric lever 5 are fashioned as eccentrics generally designated by the reference numeral 24, 25. When the eccentric lever 5 is in an open position, cylindrical recesses generally designated by the reference numerals 26 and 27 formed on the lever parts 20, 21 surround an outer contour of the oil gauge pipe 2. For this purpose, the cylindrical recesses are coaxial with the outer contour or curved surface of the oil gauge pipe 2. The recesses 26, 27 of the lever parts 20, 21 are adapted to be pushed over the inlet or opening end 13 of the oil gauge pipe 2. 
     As shown most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the other end of the lever parts 20, 21 of the eccentric lever are connected by a handle 28 which reaches or extends around the oil gauge pipe 2. In order to provide for an easier manual operation of the eccentric lever 5, the handle 28 may taper off into protruding projections 29, 30. 
     Holding projections or pins 31, 32 are provided at the lever parts 20, 21 for securing the eccentric lever in a closed position. As shown in FIG. 3, in a closed position of the eccentric lever 5, the holding projections or pins 31, 32 extend around the oil gauge pipe. To secure the eccentric lever 5 in an open position, as shown most clearly in FIG. 1, stopping or holding pins or projections 33, 34 provided at the wall sections 14, 15. The stopping or holding pins or projections 33, 34 are adapted to rest against stopping projections 35, 36 provided at the lever sections 20, 21. 
     The oil gauge pipe 2 at the opening or inlet end 13, as shown most clearly in FIG. 1, expands to an annular flange portion 12, with a side of the flange 12 facing an inside of the pipe serving as a pipe-side axial contact surface for the sealing ring 10. An outside wall generally designated by the reference numeral 37 of the flange 12 serves as a support surface for eccentrics 24, 25 of the eccentric lever 5. The bearing lugs or eyes 16, 17 for the eccentric lever 5, when the locking cap 4 is in place, are located at about 60% of a diameter of the oil gauge pipe 2 below the wall 37. 
     When the eccentric lever is moved into the open position shown in full lines in FIG. 1, the eccentrics 24, 25 are turned. The eccentrics 24, 25 turn from the clamped position below the wall 37 shown in phantom line in FIG. 1 into a stopping or locking position, wherein the stopping projections 35, 36 of the lever parts 20, 21 are stopped by engagement with the stopping or holding pins 33, 34 disposed in the wall sections 14, 15. In this situation, the sealing ring 10 is relaxed and the locking cap 4 with the gauge rod 3 may be removed from the oil gauge pipe 2. 
     After a subsequent re-introduction of the gauge rod 3 into the oil gauge pipe 2 and a resting of the locking cap 4 or sealing ring 10 on an inside wall of the flange 12, the eccentric lever 5 may be turned by about 90° into a closed position (FIGS. 1 and 3), wherein the holding pins or projections 31, 32 extend around the oil gauge pipe 2 in order to secure the eccentric lever 5 in the locked end position. 
     The parts of the locking means 1 may be made of a plastic or synthetic resinous material by, for example, injection molding or injection die casting, in which case the transverse slot 8 is placed in an area of the bearing lugs or eyes 16, 17. 
     While I have shown and described only one embodiment 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 one having ordinary skill in the art and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein, but intend to cover all such modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.