Fuel tank lock assembly

Abstract

A lock assembly for use in a fuel tank filling neck includes a body for insertion into the neck; a cylindrical lock and a plunger beneath the lock slidable and lockable in one position in the body; and a cam on the bottom end of the plunger for pushing latches outwardly against the bottom of the filling neck to prevent removal of the assembly from the filling neck.

1 . A fuel tank lock assembly for sealing a vehicle fuel filling neck having open top and bottom ends comprising:
 tubular barrel means for mounting in said neck, said barrel means being adapted to close said neck and having a length similar to the length of the neck;   seal means for sealing the barrel means in the tube;   lock means slidable in said barrel means between a release position in which the barrel means can be removed from the neck and a locked position in which the barrel is locked in a neck sealing position;   latch means movable on a bottom end of said barrel means between a locked position in engagement with the filling neck to lock the barrel means in the neck, and a release position permitting removal of said barrel means from the neck;   plunger means slidable in said barrel means engageable by said lock means for movement with said lock means between the release and locked positions; and   cam means on a bottom end of said plunger means for moving said latch means from the release position in which the barrel means can be removed from the filling neck and the locked position in which the barrel means is locked in the neck.   
     
     
         2 . The lock assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said latch means include a plurality of discs pivotally mounted on the bottom end of the barrel means for rotation between the locked position against a bottom edge of the filling neck and the release position. 
     
     
         3 . The lock assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said latch means includes a resilient band interconnecting said discs for biasing said discs to the release position. 
     
     
         4 . The lock assembly of  claim 1  including spring means in said barrel means for returning said lock means, plunger means and cam means from the locked position to the release position. 
     
     
         5 . The lock assembly of  claim 4  including stop means in said barrel means for limiting movement of said lock means, plunger means and cam means from the release to the locked position. 
     
     
         6 . The lock assembly of  claim 4 , including bushing means carrying said lock means, said bushing means being slidable in said barrel means for movement between said release and locked positions. 
     
     
         7 . The lock assembly of  claim 1  including a cap connected to a top end of said barrel means for connecting the barrel means to a top end of the fuel filling neck. 
     
     
         8 . The lock assembly of  claim 7  including a top plate connected to the top of said barrel beneath said cap; and a metal plate sandwiched between said top plate and said barrel. 
     
     
         9 . The lock assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said barrel is formed of plastic. 
     
     
         10 . The lock assembly of  claim 9 , including a metal insert in said barrel for receiving a bolt of said lock. 
     
     
         11 . The lock assembly of  claim 10  including a groove in said insert for slidably receiving the lock bolt, and a recess at a bottom end of said groove for receiving the lock bolt in the locked position.