Venting lid apparatus for tank opening

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6732878
  • Patent Number
    6,732,878
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, March 13, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 11, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
A lid apparatus for a tank opening that retains fluid within the tank while allowing air to vent into or out of the tank. An air manifold is provided, preferably as part of an installation ring of the apparatus which is mounted to the tank around the tank opening. The air manifold has an outer radial wall and an inner radial wall spanned by an annular base surface. A plurality of angularly spaced openings in the outer radial wall are angularly offset from a plurality of openings in the inner radial wall to be out of angular alignment therewith, and the space above the annular base surface between the outer radial wall openings and the inner radial wall openings provides a plurality of air flow passageways. A cap of the apparatus has a cover portion and a depending mounting member adapted to insert within the installation ring and engage a cap mounting portion of that ring to detachably mount the cap to the installation ring. A plurality of angularly spaced vent openings in the cap mounting member are in angular alignment with the inner radial wall openings when the cap is mounted to the installation ring to promote tank venting through the air manifold. Splash guards inward of the vent openings serve to limit fluid from splashing through the vent openings into the manifold. Additional openings in the manifold inner wall that are angularly aligned with openings in the manifold outer wall are also provided to enhance venting, and the additional openings are separated from the aligned outer wall openings by upstanding diverter plates that also block fluid from splashing radially outward through the manifold.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to tank lids, and, in particular, to a tank lid with venting capabilities.




A wide assortment of tank lids are known which are used to cover access openings in tanks to prevent the tank contents from splashing out, such as when the tanks are being moved from site to site. Many of these prior art lids are designed to provide venting capabilities, whereby air is allowed to pass into and/or out of the tank interior without requiring the lid to be removed from the tank.




One known venting lid apparatus includes an installation ring that is mountable to a tank and which is internally threaded to receive a lid apparatus cover. The cover, which has a diameter of approximately eighteen inches, includes a keyed central opening of approximately four inches in diameter, which opening receives a capping insert that provides the cover with its venting capabilities. In particular, a pair of cylindrical tubes opened at both their top and bottom ends extend downward from the insert, and separate stepped baffles are assembled to the insert within each of the tubes. The stepped baffles provide a circuitous route through which air can pass, but for which fluid will be unlikely to pass through to escape from the tank. The top ends of the baffle-lined tubes open into a venting chamber defined by a protrusion which serves as a grip that allows rotation of the insert to secure it to the remainder of the cover, and exposed openings at diametrically opposite ends of the protrusion allow air to reach the tubes.




In another known venting lid apparatus, an eighteen inch diameter cover is rotatably mounted on a bracket which is hinged to an installation ring that is mountable to a tank. The installation ring is internally threaded to receive the cover. At its upper end, the bracket includes a downwardly extending, externally threaded cylinder with a closed off top end that inserts through a less than three inch diameter central opening in the cover. A separate stepped baffle fits within the cylinder from below and is retained by an annular collar that screws onto the end of the cylinder beneath the cover. When the cover is screwed to the installation ring, air that flows under the bracket can flow through diametrically aligned gaps in an upper surface rim of the cover around the central opening, into the cylinder through diametrically arranged holes in the upper regions of the cylinder wall aligned with the rim gaps, and out through the bottom of the cylinder and into the tank interior after passing through the stepped baffle.




While perhaps of limited utility, the two above-described venting lid apparatuses suffer from shortcomings that reduce their desirability. For example, the multi-part design of their covers may result in higher costs associated with assembly which may be passed along to the end user. Moreover, the number of interconnected parts increases the possibility of part failure over time that can compromise the effectiveness of the product.




In many other types of known venting lid apparatuses, a cover mountable over an opening in the tank is provided with one or more apertures at or near its center, which aperture is provided with a device to limit fluid passage while allowing air venting. For example, in some designs, the cover aperture opens into a tube that is formed integrally with the underside of the cover, and a separate, stepped baffle is secured within the tube and includes a laterally venting top cap portion that extends above the cover and overlays the aperture. In another design, a central aperture is fitted with a rubber member configured to serve as a one-way valve that allows air to enter into the interior of the tank, but prevents fluid from exiting the tank. In still another design, two centrally located, small apertures are covered from below by a single, large flexible disc which prevents materials in the tank from passing vertically through the apertures, but which allows air that enters the cover apertures from above to flow radially along the disc and over the circular periphery of the disc to pass into the tank interior. While these prior art products may be less complicated in design than certain other known venting lid apparatuses, they still possess shortcomings due to the fact that multiple, assembled parts are required to form the cover.




Another dilemma facing the lid manufacturing industry has been to provide a lid with sufficient venting capabilities without unduly comprising the ability of that lid to keep the fluid from splashing out. When a lidded tank is emptied through an outlet, unless enough air is allowed into the tank through the tank lid to replace the emptied volume of fluid, the vacuum effect created can slow the fluid discharge or, in some cases in which the tank is not of sufficient strength, possibly cause the tank to collapse upon itself. Many tank lids simply do not vent well enough for certain applications, such as those requiring large flow rates.




Thus, it would be desirable to provide a venting lid apparatus that overcomes these and other deficiencies of the prior art.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention provides a venting lid apparatus that retains fluid within a tank while allowing air to vent into or out of the tank. The apparatus includes a cap with vent holes spaced around the circumference of its mounting flange to provide a relatively large area through which air may pass to vent the tank, and with splash guards to limit fluid splashing through the vent holes. An annular air manifold, preferably provided on a ring into which the cap inserts, is in communication with the cap vent holes. The manifold defines air venting passageways having openings in the manifold outer wall that are angularly spaced from openings in the manifold inner wall. As a result of the angular spacing of the openings, fluid splashing in a radial direction through an opening in the manifold inner wall that serves as an air outlet strikes the manifold outer wall and does not directly pass through the manifold. Additional openings in the inner manifold wall that are angularly aligned with openings in the manifold outer wall are separated from these aligned openings by upstanding diverter plates that also block fluid splashing radially outward. The manifold passageways allow large volumes of air to flow into and out of the tank with which the lid apparatus is used, while at the same time providing a circuitous pathway for fluid that aids in preventing splashing fluid from escaping from within the tank.




In one form thereof, the present invention provides a venting lid apparatus for a fluid container opening, including a cap and a cap receiving element. The cap includes a cover portion and an insert member depending from the cover portion and which includes a plurality of angularly spaced vent openings. The cap receiving element is either integrally formed with or assembled to the fluid container in registry with the fluid container opening, and includes a portion defining an opening into which inserts the cap insert member. At least one of the cap and the cap receiving element form an air manifold including a first surface and a second surface radially outward of the first surface. The first surface defines a plurality of angularly spaced openings in air flow communication with the plurality of angularly spaced vent openings when the cap is installed on the cap receiving element. The second surface defines at least one opening angularly spaced from the plurality of first surface openings, and the at least one second surface opening is in air flow communication with the plurality of first surface openings for tank venting.




In another form thereof, the present invention provides a venting lid apparatus for a fluid container opening, including a cap and a cap receiving element. The cap includes a cover portion and an insert member depending from the cover portion. The insert member includes a plurality of angularly spaced vent openings. The cap receiving element is either integrally formed with or assembled to the fluid container in registry with the fluid container opening, and includes a portion defining an opening into which inserts the cap insert member. At least one of the cap and the cap receiving element form an air manifold including a first surface extending in an axial direction and a second surface extending in the axial direction and disposed radially outward of the first surface. The first surface defines a plurality of angularly spaced openings in air flow communication with the plurality of angularly spaced vent openings when the cap is installed on the cap receiving element. The second surface defines a plurality of angularly spaced openings that are located in angular alignment with the plurality of first surface openings and in air flow communication with the plurality of first surface openings for tank venting. The manifold includes a plurality of axially extending diverter elements each positioned at a radial location between and in angular alignment with one of the plurality of first surface openings and one of the plurality of second surface openings. Each diverter element has a size and placement to block fluid from passing outward in a radial direction from the one of the first surface openings to the one of the second surface openings.




In another form thereof, the present invention provides a venting lid apparatus for a fluid container opening, including a cap and a cap receiving element. The cap includes a cover portion and a mounting member depending from the cover portion, which mounting member includes at least one cap fastening element. The cap receiving element is one of integrally formed with and assembled to the fluid container in registry with the fluid container opening, and includes a cap mounting portion and an air manifold. The cap mounting portion defines an opening and is adapted to cooperate with the cap fastening element to detachably mount the cap to the cap receiving element when the cap mounting member inserts within the cap mounting portion opening. At least a portion of the air manifold is disposed radially outward of the cap mounting portion, and the manifold includes a first surface and a second surface radially outward of the first surface. The first surface defines a plurality of angularly spaced openings, and the second surface defines at least one opening angularly spaced from the plurality of first surface openings. The at least one second surface opening is in air flow communication with the plurality of first surface openings for tank venting.




In another form thereof, the present invention provides a venting lid apparatus for a fluid container opening, including a cap and a cap receiving element. The cap includes a cover portion and a mounting member depending from the cover portion, which mounting member includes at least one cap fastening element. The cap receiving element is one of integrally formed with and assembled to the fluid container in registry with the fluid container opening, and includes a cap mounting portion and an air manifold. The cap mounting portion defines an opening and is adapted to cooperate with the at least one cap fastening element to detachably mount the cap to the cap receiving element when the cap mounting member inserts within the cap mounting portion opening. The air manifold includes a first surface extending in an axial direction and a second surface extending in the axial direction and disposed radially outward of the first surface. The first surface defines a plurality of angularly spaced openings, and the second surface defines a plurality of angularly spaced openings that are located in angular alignment with the plurality of first surface openings and in air flow communication with the plurality of first surface openings for tank venting. The manifold includes a plurality of axially extending diverter elements each positioned at a radial location between and in angular alignment with one of the plurality of first surface openings and one of the plurality of second surface openings. Each diverter element has a size and placement to block fluid from passing outward in a radial direction from the first surface opening to the second surface opening.




In another form thereof, the present invention provides a venting cap for an opening in a fluid container, including a cover portion for covering the fluid container opening, an annular mounting member depending from the cover portion and having at least one vent opening therethrough, a fastener disposed on the mounting member and adapted to detachably mount the cover portion to a complementary fastener portion in registry with the fluid container opening, and at least one splash guard between the at least one vent opening and a center region of the cover portion.




In still another form thereof, the present invention provides a venting lid apparatus for a fluid container opening, including an installation ring and a cap. The installation ring is attachable to the fluid container with an opening of the ring in registry with the fluid container opening. The installation ring includes a cap mounting portion and an annular air manifold. The air manifold has an outer radial wall and an inner radial wall spanned by an annular base surface. The inner radial wall has a plurality of angularly spaced openings, and the outer radial wall has a plurality of angularly spaced openings each angularly offset from the plurality of openings in the inner radial wall to be out of angular alignment therewith. The space above the annular base surface between the plurality of openings in the outer radial wall and the plurality of openings in the inner radial wall provides a plurality of air flow passageways. The cap has a cover portion and a mounting member depending from the cover portion. The mounting member is adapted to insert within the installation ring opening and engage the cap mounting portion to detachably mount the cap to the installation ring. The mounting member includes a plurality of angularly spaced vent openings in angular alignment with the plurality of openings in the inner radial wall when the cap is mounted to the installation ring.




One advantage of the venting lid apparatus of the present invention is that it may be made in only two parts, or possibly even a single part if the tank with which it is used is made with cover mounting capabilities.




Another advantage of the venting lid apparatus of the present invention is that its molded component part or parts do not require post-molding manufacturing or assembling operations prior to use.




Another advantage of the venting lid apparatus of the present invention is that its venting capabilities accommodate large volumes of fluid entering and exiting the tank with which it is used.




Another advantage of the venting lid apparatus of the present invention is that it can be made out of a single material, which material may be similar in nature to the tank with which the apparatus is used to ensure compatibility with the materials in the tank.




Another advantage of the present invention is that the venting lid apparatus has no moving parts subject to failure.




Another advantage of the present invention is that a venting lid apparatus is provided that can be installed on a tank without requiring any special threads or other attachments be on the tank prior to installation.




Another advantage of the present invention is that the venting lid apparatus has a simple design which achieves a fluid hold-back without the use of a foam or other porous material, and which is easy to clean and has minimal obstructions in the interior of the cover.




Still another advantage of the venting lid apparatus of the present invention is it will vent a tank without requiring any interaction with the person using the tank, as nothing is required to be unscrewed or otherwise actuated for the vent to operate.




Still another advantage of the venting lid apparatus of the present invention is that it can be economically made for large openings on larger sized tanks.











DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES




The above mentioned and other advantages and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following descriptions of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:





FIG. 1

is a diagrammatic perspective view of a venting lid apparatus of the present invention operationally installed on a portable fluid container;





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the venting lid apparatus of

FIG. 1

prior to its mounting to the partially shown fluid container, wherein the cap is shown disengaged from the installation ring;





FIG. 3

is a bottom perspective view of the cap of

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 4

is a front view of the cap of

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 5

is a bottom view of the cap of

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 6

is a cross-sectional view taken along line


6





6


of

FIG. 5

;





FIG. 7

is a top perspective view of the installation ring of

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 8

is a top view of the installation ring of

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 9

is a cross-sectional view taken along line


9





9


of

FIG. 8

;





FIG. 10

is a cross-sectional view, as conceptually taken through the installation ring along line


10





10


of

FIG. 8

, of the venting lid apparatus after the cap has been fastened to the installation ring; and





FIG. 11

is another cross-sectional view of the venting lid apparatus as taken along line


11





11


of FIG.


8


.





FIG. 12

is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the installation ring.











Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent an embodiment of the invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated or omitted in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention.




DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may better utilize the teachings of the invention.




Referring now to

FIG. 1

, there is diagrammatically shown one type of fluid container or tank with which the venting lid apparatus of the present invention, generally designated


25


, may be advantageously employed. Tank


20


is transportable on a vehicle between sites and includes a valve outlet


21


through which the fluid contents of the tank can be emptied. Tank


20


frequently will be constructed from a plastic material that is not affected by the corrosive or otherwise aggressive nature of the chemicals potentially stored in the tank. Venting lid apparatus


25


, which also may be used with tanks constructed of different materials and with different configurations, aids in preventing fluid from splashing out of tank


20


during transport when arranged as shown in FIG.


1


. Apparatus


25


was developed for use with large tanks requiring large access openings, which tanks typically have a capacity to hold 1500 gallons or more, but may be adapted for smaller tanks in which its beneficial venting capabilities are required.




With additional reference to the exploded view of

FIG. 2

, venting lid apparatus


25


in the exemplary embodiment is a two-part assembly formed of a cap


30


and a cap-receiving installation ring


35


. The two-part design allows for installation on any tank without requiring any special threads or other attachments be on the tank around a hole through the tank wall. With fasteners such as self-tapping screws that are not shown in

FIG. 2

, installation ring


35


is attachable to the top wall


22


of tank


20


around a circular wall opening


23


through which fluid and other materials may be introduced into the interior volume of the tank. Apparatus


25


can be adapted for both large and small sized tank openings, but is especially useful with larger diameter openings in tanks, such as within the range of 8 to 24 inches, and more typically within the range of 14 to 24 inches, which larger diameter openings are designed to facilitate rinsing or cleaning of the tank, as well as the introduction of additives, mainly in solid or powdered form, to be mixed in the tank with the liquid being stored in the tank. When cap


30


is screwed downward onto the wall-attached ring


35


, venting lid apparatus


25


serves to impede if not prevent fluid from splashing out of tank


20


through opening


23


, while at the same time, without human intervention, allows air to enter or exit the tank interior to thereby vent the tank. The design of apparatus


25


described below allows it to be made with venting capabilities that accommodate fluid flows from the tank through outlet


21


in the several hundred gallons a minute range.




With additional reference now to the various views of the cap alone in

FIGS. 3

,


4


,


5


and


6


, a preferred configuration of cap


30


is further described. Due to the fact that in the preferred embodiment shown the cap and installation ring are generally of circular shape, to facilitate explanation the terms axial, radial and angular, or derivatives thereof, are used in the application to describe the three different dimensions of spatial location, and such terms alone do not mean that a part is circular, or arcuate or tubular or the like. For example, the terms “radially inward” and “radially outward” refer to a relationship of the positions of the referenced parts relative to a line extending in the axial direction through the center of the article, and do not necessarily mean that either of the parts has a circular shape, or that the parts lie on a single line extending in a radial direction from the axially extending line through the center. In particular, when a first part is spaced a greater distance from the centerline of the object than is a second part, if those first and second parts also lie along a line that transversely extends from the centerline, then the first part is not only radially outward of that second part, but is also in angular and axial alignment with that second part.




Cap


30


is configured to be formed, such as via an injection molding process, with a one-piece or unitary construction. One suitable material of construction is polyethylene plastic, which tank


20


is frequently made from and which therefore does not react with the types of materials contained in such tank.




As its axially upper or top surface, cap


30


includes a disc-shaped cover, generally designated


40


, that has a planar, annular region


42


forming its outer radial periphery. Cover


40


may be made in large sizes to cover larger size tank openings, such as about an eighteen inch diameter or a twenty-four inch diameter opening. Although covers for even larger diameter openings are possible, such larger diameter covers may prove unwieldy in the field. Covers


40


may also be made in smaller sizes to cover smaller size tank openings, such as about a ten inch diameter or an eight inch diameter opening, but covers and their associated rings sized for openings having diameters smaller than eight inches would provide a more limited venting that may be inadequate for some applications. Cover


40


also includes a pair of upstanding grips


44


that upwardly project from a bowed upward, central region


45


which is ringed by annular region


42


. The above use of the term annular, as well as its use elsewhere in this application, is intended to refer merely generally to the shape, and therefore references any object or region with a shape having a hole in the middle, which hole, as well as the shape of the outer periphery of such object or region, need not be circular.




Axially depending from the underside of cover


40


is the portion of cap


30


adapted for mounting to the installation ring


35


in the preferred embodiment. In the shown embodiment, a stepped collar, generally designated


46


, directly depends from cover annular region


42


and includes an upper ring


47


with an outward turned lower end


48


from which extends in a substantially radial direction lower ring


49


. The mounting portion of cap


30


is provided with the step collar


46


in a preferred embodiment to provide an additional air flow path to the air manifold as further described below, but such step collar may be eliminated in alternate embodiments. An annular mounting flange


50


in the form of a cylindrical tube section extends downward in an axial direction from the outer extent of lower ring


49


at a location radially inward of the outer edge


43


of cover annular region


42


.




Mounting flange


50


is equipped with a fastener used to secure cap


30


to installation ring


35


. The shown fastener is a set of double lead threads


52


formed on the outer radial periphery of flange


50


, which threads extend continuously around the circumference of flange


50


and along the entire flange height. Other types of fasteners that engage the installation ring, including a different screw design or a bayonet fitting or a latching mechanism that utilizes spring loaded protrusions which nest in undercuts, could be substituted for threads


52


within the scope of the invention, but the threads are preferred in part due to their low cost. In addition, the relative placement of the fasteners on the cap or on the ring may be reversed.




While an internal engagement of the cap mounting flange with the installation ring annular wall is preferred to secure together cap


30


and ring


35


, other fastening systems may be employed. For example, cap


30


could attach to ring


35


above the tank wall, such as with externally accessible hooks or latches, such as an over the center style latch. Cap


30


could alternatively be operatively mounted to the ring by being fastened, such as with a latch, to the tank or a fitting thereon while being positioned on the ring.




To promote venting through the tank opening


23


when cap


30


is attached to ring


35


, vent holes or openings are provided in the mounting member portion of the cap. As best shown in

FIG. 5

, six elongate vent holes


55


that open in an axial direction are formed in lower ring


49


of stepped collar


46


. Vent holes


55


are angularly spaced at even intervals around the circumference of lower ring


49


. As shown in

FIG. 4

, at each angular end of each vent hole


55


, upstanding ribs


56


formed on the upper surface of lower ring


49


and that radially extend between upper ring


47


and mounting flange


50


are provided to decrease the chance that fluid swirling in the tank radially could escape through the lid by helping to limit to a vertical direction the direction in which fluid can travel to exit from beneath the lid.




To limit fluid that may be splashing upward under the center of cover portion


40


during use from entering vent holes


55


, a splash guard is provided for the vent holes


55


. In the shown embodiment, a separate splash guard


60


is provided for each vent hole


55


. Each splash guard


60


includes a baffle section


62


and side wall sections


64


and


66


. Baffle section


62


is provided as a downward extension of upper ring


47


of stepped collar


46


, which extension reaches to the level of the base of mounting flange


50


. While the shown configuration is preferred, shorter or taller baffles may be employed. For example, taller baffles may make fluid escape even more difficult, but such taller baffles increase the height of the lid, which is undesirable when the overall profile of the lid is to be kept low. Side wall section


64


radially extends between a side edge of baffle section


62


and the inner face of mounting flange


50


, and side wall section


66


similarly radially extends between the other side edge of baffle section


62


and mounting flange


50


. As shown in

FIG. 6

, side wall sections


64


,


66


, baffle section


62


and mounting flange


50


together define a venting chamber, or air manifold,


70


opened only at its top end at vent hole


55


and at its bottom end at


72


.




The shown number and arrangement of venting holes is preferred, but may be altered by a skilled artisan within the scope of the invention. For example, provided suitable venting capacity is provided, fewer holes may be used, and similarly additional holes may be used if the rigidity of cap


30


is not compromised. Moreover, the vent holes


55


may be incorporated into annular flange


50


, such as along its upper edge, or, and preferably with the splash guard being moved radially inwardly so as to extend directly from the underside of the cover behind the vent holes, the vent holes may be incorporated into upper ring


46


.




With additional reference now to the various views of the installation ring alone in

FIGS. 7

,


8


and


9


, a preferred configuration of installation ring


35


is further described. Ring


35


has a one-piece or unitary construction that is formed from the same plastic material as cap


30


via an injection molding process. Although shown in the Figures as being one part of a two-part assembly forming venting lid apparatus


25


which is distinct from and attachable to tank


20


, in an alternate embodiment the desired features of installation ring


35


may be integrally formed as part of the tank wall around a tank opening.




Ring


35


includes an annular wall


80


formed of a cylindrical tube section with a central opening in which the lower end of cap


30


is designed to insert. The outer radial periphery of tube section


80


is smooth and is sized to freely insert within tank wall opening


23


during installation of ring


35


onto tank


20


. Tube section


80


is adapted to engage the fastener provided on cap


30


to mount cap


30


to ring


35


. The shape of ring


35


and its central opening is shown as being circular as that shape best suits the screw-type attachment with the cap described below that involves a relative rotation between the parts, but especially when other attachment features are used to mount the cap to the ring, different shapes may be employed.




To correspond to the cap configuration of

FIGS. 3-6

, the radially inner surface of tube section


80


is formed with threads


82


configured to engage cap threads


52


. Threads


82


are continuous around the circumference of tube section


80


except for interruptions at six angular locations evenly spaced around that circumference, which interruptions result in six angularly spaced segments


84


of tube section


80


being without threads along their entire axial heights. Threadless tube section segments


84


are radially spaced from portions of cap threads


52


angularly and axially aligned therewith to provide an air venting path as described further below. Each threadless tube segment


84


is shown as spanning approximately the same portion of the circumference as each of the six segments of the tube section threaded at


82


. In alternate embodiments, although less desirable from an air venting standpoint, the thread interruptions may be smaller in circumference or eliminated altogether.




An inwardly slanted wall section


86


extends from the lower end of tube section


80


and terminates at its own lower end with a radially inwardly extending annular lip


88


. Wall section


86


and lip


88


project inwardly beyond the innermost extent of threads


82


and are formed to include eight curved notches


90


spaced evenly around their circumferences. Wall section


86


and lip


88


serve to support the top rim of a not shown mesh basket that can be inserted into installation ring


35


from outside of the tank


20


and filled with materials that are to be dissolved into the liquid to be introduced and stored in the tank. Notches


90


accommodate ribs extending from the basket top rim which form the framework on which the mesh of the basket is secured.




A projecting lip


92


extends generally radially outward from the upper end of tube section


80


and is used to mount installation ring


35


to tank


20


. Mounting lip


92


forms an annular surface that overlays and is supported by the tank top wall


22


around opening


23


. A not shown annular gasket that provides a fluid tight seal may be positioned between the underside of lip


92


and tank wall


22


. Eight angularly spaced and countersunk holes


94


through mounting lip


92


receive not shown fasteners, such as self-tapping screws or rivets, that extend downward into or through tank wall


22


to fixedly secure installation ring


35


to tank


20


. When self-tapping screws are used as the fasteners, top wall


22


need not be formed with screw holes around wall opening


23


, but top wall


22


normally will include preformed rivet-accommodating holes (not shown) around wall opening


23


when rivets are used as the fasteners. Other configurations that allow tank mounting of tube section


80


, such as fastener receiving ears that radially project from tube section


80


, may alternatively be employed.




In the shown embodiment, lip


92


forms a base of an annular manifold, generally designated


100


, through which venting air passes into and out from the tank via apparatus


25


. Air manifold


100


includes an inner radial wall


102


at the inner periphery of mounting lip


92


which upwardly extends therefrom in alignment with the inner surface of annular wall


80


. In alternate embodiments, inner radial wall


102


may be differently located, such as inward of the inner surface in embodiments where the threads are differently constructed or fasteners other than threads are used to mount the cap. Manifold wall


102


is formed by a series of upstanding arcuate ribs


103


that are spaced around the lip circumference at one of two distances apart to define rectangular gaps or openings through which air may pass during use. Six of the wall openings, each designated


105


, are defined by ribs


103


that are spaced apart the shorter of the two rib separating distances. Openings


105


are angularly spaced around the manifold circumference such that a different opening


105


is aligned above each of the circumferential segments of tube section


80


that is threaded at


82


. Openings


105


are preferable circumferentially centered above threaded sections


82


. A second set of inner wall openings includes six larger openings, each designated


107


, which are each defined by ribs


103


spaced apart the larger of the two rib separating distances. Openings


107


are equally angularly spaced around the manifold circumference such that openings


107


and openings


105


are arranged in an alternating fashion around the inner wall periphery, with each opening


107


being centered between adjacent openings


105


. A different opening


107


is aligned above each of the threadless circumferential segments


84


of tube section


80


.




The threaded attachment between cap


20


and ring


35


is configured such that when cap


20


is fully tightened down on installation ring


35


for use, vent openings


55


in cap


20


are brought into registration with inner wall openings


107


such that vent openings


55


are disposed in angular alignment with, and preferably angularly centered on, wall openings


107


to provide air flow communication.




Air manifold


100


further includes a set of six, circumferentially spaced diverter elements, each referenced at


110


, that function to interfere with splashout of fluid from within the tank which may reach manifold


100


at openings


105


. Each diverter element


110


is formed by an arcuate ridge that upwardly extends from the annular top surface


93


of lip


92


at a radial position between walls


102


and


115


and in angular alignment with a different manifold wall opening


105


. Each diverter element


110


has a sufficiently large angular length to cover the angular span of opening


105


in that no portion of the angle spanned by opening


105


is not also spanned by its corresponding diverter element


110


.




The radially outer wall of annular manifold


100


is formed by an annular ridge


115


that upwardly extends from the outer periphery of mounting lip


92


. Openings


117


through outer wall


115


are provided to allow air to enter into and escape from the manifold air passageways during tank venting. The shown embodiment employs six openings


117


evenly angularly spaced around the manifold circumference, but so long as sufficient space is provided for an acceptable quantity of air flow, fewer or greater number of openings may be employed. The six openings


117


are each angularly spaced from openings


107


so fluid which may reach opening


107


cannot pass directly radially outward to escape from manifold


100


.




Openings


117


are formed in the shown embodiment by downwardly extending notches in the upper edge


118


of wall


115


, which notches do not extend the entire wall height so as to leave a lip section


119


that upwardly extends above top surface


93


of mounting lip


92


. Lip sections


119


aid in holding back fluid which may collect on top surface


93


after reaching air manifold


100


from tank


20


. At each opening


117


, the outer wall portions defining the ends of the openings are each formed with an inwardly angled segment


121


to divert fluid which might enter the area by the outer wall


115


from moving toward opening


117


.




With additional reference to the cross-sectional views of

FIGS. 10 and 11

, in which lid apparatus


25


is shown fully assembled for covering use, inner wall


102


, diverter elements


110


and outer wall


115


of manifold


100


are all the same height and are generally flush with the underside of cover


40


when cap


30


is secured to installation ring


35


. Cover


40


thereby forms a top wall of manifold


100


so as to enclose the manifold air passageways in the preferred embodiment.




The shown configuration of air manifold


100


advantageously provides circuitous, internal air passageways between the area where ring


35


and cap


30


are connected, and an area opened to atmospheric air at the exterior of tank


20


. The design of the air passageways allows large volumes of air to be moved therethrough while at the same time providing a winding passageway to limit fluid splashout. Other manifold designs with different numbers and shapes of walls and wall openings, as well as diverter plates, may be employed.




The structure of venting lid apparatus


25


will be further understood in view of the following explanation of its use. After installation ring


35


is mounted to tank


20


, fluid can be introduced through the central opening of ring


35


and tank opening


23


until the tank is filled to an appropriate level. When tank filling is complete, a user screws cap


30


down onto installation ring


35


, such that apparatus


25


is configured as shown in

FIGS. 10 and 11

.




When tank


20


is transported, fluid may splash upward in tank


20


. Any fluid which splashes upward toward the underside of cover


40


in the space radially inward of splash guards


60


, or the inner surface of flange


50


between guards


60


, has no ability to pass outward and drops downward. Along the circumferential areas of tube section


80


which are threaded at


82


, fluid which may splash upward into the space between cylindrical tube section


80


of ring


35


and annular wall


50


of cap


30


encounters a threaded engagement between ring threads


82


and cap threads


52


. This threaded engagement is not air or fluid tight, but provides a highly circuitous route for fluid to escape upward. Any fluid which does reach the top of section


80


through the threaded engagement and passes radially outward through an opening


105


is not free to splash directly radially outward through opening


117


in the outer wall, as diverter plate


110


blocks such path, and the fluid collects on top surface


93


of lip


92


. Along threadless portions


84


of tube section


80


, any fluid which splashes upward between wall section


80


and the cap annular wall


50


, or which splashes upward through vent chambers


70


and vent openings


55


, may reach a height at which it may pass radially outward through opening


107


. Such fluid also collects on top surface


93


as it cannot splash directly radially outward due to the presence of outer manifold wall


115


. Lip portions


119


form a retaining ring around the outer periphery of lip


92


to hold back fluid collected on surface


93


, and collected fluid may flow under gravity back through the various openings


105


and


107


to drain back into tank


20


.




When a site is reached where tank


20


is to be emptied, a user can drain the tank via outlet


21


without adjusting venting lid apparatus


25


. During tank emptying, outside air vents through lid apparatus


25


to fill the tank interior volume previously occupied by the outlet fluid. The air vents through apparatus


25


into the tank in the following manner, generally shown by the arrows in

FIG. 8

, which arrows are representative of the air intake at each of the six outer wall openings


117


in air manifold


100


. Specifically, air flows radially inward at


130


through openings


117


and enters the annular chamber of manifold


100


. Air flows within the chamber along the top surface


93


of lip


92


and under cap cover


40


. The portion of the inlet air which travels between the diverter plates


110


and ribs


103


at


132


passes through inner wall opening


105


. Air passing through opening


105


is free to pass downward between the cap and the installation ring over the threaded engagement therebetween as shown at


134


, or, alternatively, can travel in a not shown fashion in an angular direction within the annular volume between the manifold inner wall


102


and the not shown cap collar


46


to vent openings


55


described below. The portion of the inlet air which does not bend around diverter plate


110


and which flows at


134


passes through openings


107


. Air passing through openings


107


is free to pass downward at


136


either through the gap between the cap and installation ring along the threadless segment


84


of tube section


80


, or through vent openings


55


and then vent chambers


70


down into the interior of the tank.




The foregoing design allows for high air flow due to the large cross-sectional area of the venting passageways of the manifold. This venting area is less a function of the dimensions of the openings in the inner and outer walls of the manifold than the dimensions of the restrictions that define portions of the passageway within the manifold, due to the fact that unless the manifold is made with a wide radial dimension, the wall openings can be designed larger than the passageway portions defined by the restrictions. In the preferred embodiment, to maximize air flow, the cross-sectional area of the air flow passageway portion between diverter elements


110


and inwardly angled segments


121


is approximately the same as the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the passageway portions formed by diverter elements


110


with ribs


103


, and inwardly angled segments


121


with ribs


103


. Since frictional forces resisting air flow have a more marked effect with flows in a smaller cross-sectional area than with flows in a larger cross-sectional area, it is more preferable for the sum of the cross-sectional areas formed by elements


110


and ribs


103


and by ribs


103


and segments


121


to be slightly larger than the area formed by elements


110


and segments


121


to offset potential frictional effects.




An alternate embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG.


12


. The ring


35


′ is similar to the installation ring


35


depicted in

FIG. 8

; however, this alternate embodiment employs a vent deflection rib


150


instead of the rib


103


and wall opening


105


of the prior embodiment. The deflection ribs


150


are angularly spaced around the manifold circumference such that the deflection ribs


150


are preferably circumferentially centered above threaded sections


82


. The vent deflection rib


150


includes outwardly angled segment


151


at each end. The segments


151


are spaced apart to define a set of inner wall openings


167


. Like the ribs, the openings


167


are equally angularly spaced around the manifold circumference, with each opening preferably aligned above a corresponding threadless circumferential segment


84


.




The vent deflection rib


150


prevents fluid escaping through openings


117


′, while maintaining the vent to the atmosphere. Angled segments


151


divert fluid toward outer wall


115


′, which forces the fluid to follow a circuitous path toward opening


117


. Likewise, vented air follows the same circuitous path, with no “line of sight” along the path. Specifically, air flows radially inward at


160


through openings


117


′ and enters the annular chamber of ring


35


′ and manifold


100


′. The air flow must then change direction to a circumferential path when deflected by the diverter element


110


′. The flow travels along the top surface


93


of lip


92


and under cap cover


40


. The portion of the inlet air which travels between the vent deflection rib


150


and the outer wall


115


′ at


161


passes through inner wall opening


170


. Air passing through openings


170


is free to pass inward and downward at


162


either through the gap between the cap and installation ring along the threadless segment


84


of tube section


80


, or through vent openings


55


as shown in

FIGS. 5-6

and down into the interior of the tank.




In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the air manifold with the circuitous venting passageways may be defined by parts of the cap instead of the installation ring. For example, the apertured inner and outer radial walls of the manifold, and the splashout preventing diverter elements between these walls, may be formed as depending flanges on the underside of the cover. For such an embodiment, the air manifold base or bottom wall may be an annular lip of the installation ring, or may be the top wall of the tank, such as if the tank wall around its opening was suitably formed to engage the cap and the installation ring was eliminated. In still another embodiment, different portions of the air manifold apertured walls and diverter elements, or different ones of the apertured walls and diverter elements, may be formed on the cap and the installation ring.




While this invention has been shown and described as having multiple designs, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. For example, the walls or projections that define the inner and outer radial walls of the air manifold, and the diverter elements, need not be arcuate or concentrically arranged. These parts may be otherwise formed, such as straight or angled, and can be arranged such that no straight path exists between openings in the inner and outer radial walls. In an alternate embodiment, the inner wall can be formed of the inward ends of a series of ribs, which ribs extend outwardly at an angle relative to the radial direction, and which may lead to diverter members arranged orthogonally to the inner wall ribs. With such inner wall, the outer wall can be formed of the outward ends of a series of outer ribs, which outer ribs extend inwardly at an angle relative to the radial direction and toward the length of the inner wall ribs so as to provide herringbone arrangement. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.



Claims
  • 1. A venting lid apparatus for a fluid container, comprising:a cap including a cover portion and an insert member depending from said cover portion, said insert member including a plurality of circumferentially spaced vent holes; a cap receiving element being associated with the fluid container, said cap receiving element defining an aperture into which said cap insert member is located; wherein said cap receiving element defines an air manifold including a first surface and a second surface radially outward of said first surface, wherein said first surface defines a plurality of first openings, and radially outwardly angled surfaces at opposite sides of each of said plurality of first openings, said plurality of first openings being in air flow communication with and aligned with said vent holes when said cap receiving element and said cap are in interfitting engagement, said second surface defining at least one second opening being in air flow communication with and offset from said plurality of first openings.
  • 2. The venting lid apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one second opening includes a plurality of second openings.
  • 3. The venting lid apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first and second surfaces define a circumferential channel therebetween in communication with said plurality of first openings and said plurality of second openings; and said air manifold includes a plurality of circumferentially extending diverter elements disposed within said channel, each said diverter element being in alignment with and radially inward of a corresponding one of said second openings.
  • 4. The venting lid apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cap receiving element is integrally formed with the fluid container.
  • 5. The venting lid apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cap receiving element is separate from and attachable to the fluid container.
  • 6. The venting lid apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second surface defines radially inwardly angled surfaces at opposite sides of said at least one second opening.
  • 7. The venting lid apparatus of claim 6, wherein said radially inwardly angled surfaces diverge relative to each other at said opposite sides of said at least one second opening.
  • 8. The venting lid apparatus of claim 1, wherein said radially outwardly angled surfaced converge toward each other at said opposite sides of each of said plurality of first openings.
  • 9. A venting lid apparatus for a fluid container, comprising:a cap including a cover portion and an insert member depending from said cover portion, said insert member including a plurality of circumferentially spaced vent holes; a cap receiving element being associated with the fluid container, said cap receiving element defining an aperture into which said cap insert member is located; and wherein said cap receiving element defines an air manifold including a first surface and a second surface radially outward of said first surface, wherein said first surface defines a plurality of openings and a plurality of gaps, said plurality of openings being aligned with and in air flow communication with said vent holes, said second surface defining at least one second surface opening being aligned with and in air flow communication with said plurality of gaps, said plurality of gaps being offset from said vent holes when said cap is in interfitting engagement with said cap receiving element.
  • 10. The venting lid apparatus of claim 9 wherein said cap receiving element is integrally formed with the fluid container.
  • 11. The venting lid apparatus of claim 9 wherein said cap receiving element is separate from and attachable to the fluid container.
  • 12. The venting lid apparatus of claim 9 wherein said at least one second surface opening comprises a plurality of second surface openings.
  • 13. A venting lid apparatus for a fluid container, comprising:a cap including a cover portion and an insert member depending from said cover portion, said insert member including a plurality of circumferentially spaced vent hole; a cap receiving element being associated with the fluid container, said cap receiving element defining an aperture into which said cap insert member is located; wherein said cap receiving element defines an air manifold including a first surface and a second surface radially outward of said first surface, wherein said first surface defines a plurality of openings and a plurality of gaps, said plurality of openings being in air flow communication with and aligned with said vent holes, said second surface defining at least one second surface opening being aligned with and in air flow communication with said plurality of gaps, said plurality of gaps being offset from said vent holes when said cap is in interfitting engagement with said cap receiving element; and wherein said manifold comprises a plurality of diverter elements each structured and arranged to block fluid from passing outward in a radial direction from said plurality of gaps to said at least one second surface opening.
  • 14. A venting lid apparatus for a fluid container, comprising:a cap including a cover portion and a mounting member depending from said cover portion, said mounting member including at least one cap fastening element; and a cap receiving element being associated with the fluid container, said cap receiving element including a cap mounting portion and defining an air manifold structured and arranged to deter the escape of liquids from the fluid container, said cap mounting portion defining an opening and adapted to cooperate with said at least one cap fastening element to detachably mount said cap to said cap receiving element when said cap mounting member is interfittingly engaged with said cap mounting portion, at least a portion of said air manifold disposed radially outward of said cap mounting portion, said air manifold including a first surface and a second surface radially outward of said first surface, wherein said first surface defines a plurality of openings and a plurality of gaps, said second surface defining at least one second surface opening being in air flow communication with and aligned with said plurality of gaps for tank venting, said at least one second surface opening being offset from at least one of said plurality of openings.
  • 15. The venting lid apparatus of claim 14 wherein said cap receiving element is integrally formed with the fluid container.
  • 16. The venting lid apparatus of claim 14 wherein said cap receiving element is separate from and attachable to the fluid container.
  • 17. The venting lid apparatus of claim 16 wherein said manifold second surface comprises an axially extending surface that forms an outer radial periphery of said manifold, wherein said at least one second surface opening comprises a plurality of second surface openings, each of said plurality of second surface openings being located in said second surface at a position disposed axially above a base of said manifold over which air flows between said plurality of gaps and said plurality of said second surface openings, wherein a portion of said second surface disposed between said base and each said second surface opening forms a lip to aid in retaining within said manifold fluid that collects on said base.
  • 18. The venting lid apparatus of claim 16 wherein said mounting member includes a plurality of vent holes in air flow communication and aligned with of said plurality of openings when said cap is mounted to said cap receiving element.
  • 19. The venting lid apparatus of claim 18 wherein said cap further comprises a plurality of splash guards axially extending below said cover portion, each of said plurality of splash guards disposed radially inward and in alignment with a different one of said plurality of vent holes.
  • 20. The venting lid apparatus of claim 19 wherein each of said cap and said cap receiving element comprises a one piece construction from plastic.
  • 21. A venting lid apparatus for a fluid container, comprising:a cap including a cover portion and a mounting member depending from said cover portion, said mounting member including at least one cap fastening element; a cap receiving element being associated with the fluid container, said cap receiving element including a cap mounting portion and defining an air manifold, said cap mounting portion defining an opening and being adapted to cooperate with said at least one cap fastening element to detachably mount said cap to said cap receiving element when said cap mounting member is inserted within said cap mounting portion opening, said air manifold including a first surface extending in an axial direction and a second surface extending in an axial direction and disposed radially outward of said first surface; wherein said first surface defines a plurality of first surface openings and a plurality of gaps, and said second surface defines a plurality of second surface openings being aligned with and in air flow communication with said plurality of gaps for tank venting, each said second surface opening being offset from a said first surface opening; wherein said manifold includes a plurality of axially extending diverter elements each positioned at a radial location between one of said plurality of gaps and one of said second surface openings, each said diverter element being structured and arranged to block fluid from passing outward in a radial direction from one of said gaps to one of said second surface openings.
  • 22. The venting lid apparatus of claim 21 wherein said second surface comprises an axially extending cylindrical surface that forms an outer radial periphery of said manifold, wherein said first surface comprises an axially extending cylindrical surface that forms an inner radial periphery of said manifold.
  • 23. The venting lid apparatus of claim 22 wherein said mounting member comprises a tubular section having a cylindrical outer periphery, and said at least one cap fastening element includes threaded portion on said cylindrical outer periphery that engages at least one thread on an inner surface of said cap mounting portion, and wherein said at least one thread is interrupted at a plurality of circumferential locations to form a plurality of threadless inner surface segments, each threadless inner surface segment being aligned with and disposed axially below a different one of said plurality of first surface openings.
  • 24. The venting lid apparatus of claim 21 wherein said gaps are offset from said vent holes when said cap mounting member is inserted in said cap mounting portion opening.
  • 25. The venting lid apparatus of claim 21 wherein said mounting member includes a plurality of vent holes aligned with said plurality of first surface openings in said first surface when said cap is mounted to said cap receiving element.
  • 26. A venting cap for an opening in a fluid container, comprising:a cover portion for covering the fluid container opening; an annular mounting member depending from said cover portion, said annual mounting member including a plurality of vent holes circumferentially spaced around said annular mounting member; a fastener disposed on said annular mounting member and adapted to detachably mount said cover portion to a complementary fastener portion associated with the fluid container opening, said complementary fastener portion including a base portion structured and arranged to facilitate air flow from the fluid container to and through said plurality of vent holes; and at least one splash guard disposed on said annular mounting member between each of said plurality of vent holes and a center region of said cover portion.
  • 27. The venting cap of claim 26 wherein said at least one splash guard comprises a plurality of baffle portions, wherein a different one of said baffle portions is aligned with each of said plurality of vent holes.
  • 28. The venting cap of claim 27, wherein said base portion further comprising a plurality of first and second walls, wherein a radial gap between each of said baffle portions and said annular mounting member is spanned by a different one of said first walls and a different one of said second walls, wherein said first walls, said second walls, said baffle portions and said annular mounting member are arranged to define a plurality of axially extending vent chambers when said cover portion is detachably mounted to said fastener portion, each said venting chamber having an outlet port in a lower axial end, each said vent chamber being in air flow communication with a different one of said plurality of vent holes.
  • 29. The venting cap of claim 26 wherein said fastener comprises at least one thread, and wherein said plurality of vent holes is located at a height between said cover portion and said at least one thread.
  • 30. The venting cap of claim 26 wherein said annular mounting member is spaced radially inward from an outer radial periphery of said cover portion.
  • 31. The venting cap of claim 26 wherein said cover portion, said annular mounting member, said fastener, and said at least one splash guard are integrally formed in a one piece construction.
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/628,153, filed on Jul. 28, 2000, now abandoned entitled “Venting Lid Apparatus For Tank Opening.”

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Entry
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Photographs, “Vent Caps, photographs marked as Fig. 1A, Fig. 1B, Fig. 1C, and Fig. 1D,”.
Photographs, “Vent Caps, photographs marked as Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B,”.
Photographs, “Vent Caps, photographs marked as Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B,”.
Photographs, “Vent Caps, photographs marked as Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B.,”.
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Continuation in Parts (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/628153 Jul 2000 US
Child 09/804823 US