Pressurized can piercing tool

Abstract

A tool to remove the contents from a pressurized can which includes a ring tightened about the can and a radially extending member slidably captivating a piercing sleeve adapted to pierce the can and through which the contents will flow when in fluid connection with the can and to which a tube is adapted to be connected to direct the contents to a reservoir. The piercing sleeve is operated by a lever and toggle means operably connected to the slidably captivated piercing sleeve to advance it from a normal position into piercing engagement with the can.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a tool for opening pressurized cans by piercing them to remove the contents therefrom through a conduit to a reservoir.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the past, there have been numerous types of devices which have been utilized for piercing cans giving eloquent testimony to the problems of removing pressurized contents from cans.

This invention is of an improved can piercing tool which is especially adapted for removing contents from pressurized containers, such as a pressurized container of freon for use an automobile airconditioning system.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide an improved can piercing tool for removing contents from a pressurized container which includes toggle means for operating a can piercing sleeve member and nipple means for connecting to a tube or conduit to direct the pressurized contents to a suitable reservoir.

It is a general object of this invention to provide an improved, simple and inexpensive, easy to operate tool for use in removing contents from pressurized containers in accordance with the description set forth more fully hereinafter.

In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with respect to the accompanying drawings, in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the tool operatively connected to a pressurized can from which the contents are to be removed;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, partly in cross section, and illustrating the tool in a normal position and prior to piercing the can;

FIG. 3 is a view in cross section similar to FIG. 2 which illustrates the tool in piercing engagement with the can;

FIG. 4 is a view in cross section taken on the plane indicated by the line 4--4 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 5 is a view in cross section taken on the plane indicated by the line 5--5 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, the pressurized can is designated by the numeral 12 and it is seen that it is cylindrical. About the can, a ring designated by the numeral 14 is arranged. The ring includes adjustment means to tighten it about the can and in the preferred embodiment, the adjustment means comprises a housing 16 for a threaded bolt 18 the threads of which are adapted to cooperate with a pattern of slots 20 along the ring length to tighten or loosen the ring about the can upon turning of the screw with a screwdriver.

A support member 22 for a purpose to be described extends radially outwardly of the ring and is rigidly secured thereto as by welding at 26, the ring having a through opening as at 28. In the preferred embodiment the support member may comprise a housing generally designated by the numeral 30 with a longitudinally extending passageway 32 and a longitudinally extending guide slot 34 communicating with the passageway. Within the passageway of the support member or housing a piercing sleeve 36, which has a proximal end 38 and a distal end 40, is slidably captivated for radial movement inwardly and outwardly along the support member, the support member having guide means, that is as in the preferred embodiment shown, the longitudinally extending slot 34 in which the piercing member is engaged for sliding movement only.

The piercing member, as seen in FIG. 3, is provided with a longitudinally extending through bore 42; and the piercing sleeve or member includes a piercing means 43 extending radially from its proximal end zone and through which there is an opening in fluid communication with the bore of the sleeve member. The piercing means on the end of the piercing sleeve is normally spaced radially outwardly of the ring and is adapted to be slidingly moved radially inwardly past the ring and into piercing engagement with the can side wall to provide a flow path through the piercing means through opening and the sleeve for the contents of the can to escape from the can.

A lever 44 is provided for moving the piercing sleeve member radially inwardly and outwardly and toggle means generally designated by the numeral 46 are provided to interconnect the operating lever to the slidable sleeve member and to the support member.

Nipple means 50 are provided on the distal end of the sleeve member to connect to a fitting 52 which in turn is adapted to be connected to a hose or tube leading to a reservoir to be filled with the pressurized contents of the can, such as an airconditioner system tank for freon.

Referring to the toggle system, in the preferred embodiment, the sleeve member 36 includes a rigid arm 54 extending through the guide means or slot 34, which arm is spaced between the distal end of the sleeve member and distally of the ring. Also, clevis yoke means 56 are provided on the radially extending support member at a position which is radially outwardly and in axial alignment with the rigid arm on the sleeve member. The lever 44 has a foot 58 which extends away from a pivotal connection 70 with the yoke 56 at an elbow 60 at the proximal lever end 62; and the distal end of the foot is pivotally connected to a pair of links 64 as at 66, and the other end of the links 64 are pivotally connected to the arm 54 of the sleeve member as at 72 whereby, upon manipulation of the lever from the position shown in FIG. 2, the pivot means 66 will move across a line joining the pivotal connections 70 and 72 between the clevis means and the arm into the position shown in FIG. 3 and, in so doing, advance the piercing means into piercing engagement into the can when it is held thereat. On the extending piercing means, an O-ring 74 is peripherally arranged which nests about the opening which is pierced in the can.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A tool for opening and administering the contents of a pressurized cylindrical can having top, bottom and side walls, said tool comprising, ring means for fitting circumferentially about the can wall between the top and bottom walls and including adjustment means to snugly fit the ring about the can wall, a support member extending radially from one side of and rigidly fixed on the ring means and longitudinally extending guide means on the support member, a piercing sleeve member having a proximal end and a distal end and means slidably captivating said sleeve member on the support member and engaged in the guide means, said sleeve member having a longitudinally extending through bore, a piercing means extending radially from the proximal end of the sleeve member and with a through opening in fluid communication with the through bore, said piercing means being normally spaced radially outwardly of said ring means and adapted to be slidably moved radially inwardly past the ring means and into piercing engagement with the can for providing a flow path for pressurized contents in the can through the piercing means through opening and sleeve;

a lever connected to the sleeve member,

toggle means connecting the lever to the sleeve member and to the support member to releasably lock the piercing means in piercing engagement with the can wall, and nipple means connected to the distal end of said sleeve member for conducting material through the tool when the can has been pierced, said support member comprising a housing having a longitudinally extending passageway therethrough and a longitudinally extending slot means in the housing communicating with said passageway, said sleeve member including a rigid arm projecting intermediately from said sleeve and through said slot means, clevis means integral with said housing and disposed outwardly of said rigid arm of said sleeve member, said clevis means and rigid arm each including pivot portions in substantially longitudinal alignment along the path of movement of said sleeve member in said housing, said toggle means comprising a foot on said lever pivoted on said clevis means and extending angularly away from a line passing through said pivot portions, a link pivotally connected to said foot and the pivot portions of said rigid arm so that movement of said lever away from said ring means causes the sleeve member to move away from said ring means and the foot and link to project angularly away from housing outwardly of the line passing through the pivot portions, and movement of the lever toward the ring means causes the lever and link to pivot inwardly beyond the line passing through said pivot portions when the piercing means projects beyond the inner periphery of said ring means and the can is pierced.

2. The tool as set forth in claim 1 including an O-ring about said piercing means and in abutment with said piercing member sleeve, and adapted to be captivated between a can and the sleeve.

3. The tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the adjustment means for said ring comprises a housing on said ring and a screw threadably received in said housing and aligned tangentially to said ring and said ring includes a plurality of slots spaced therealong to cooperate with the threads of said screw for tightening said ring about a can.