Underground tank locking and sealing mechanism

Abstract

Disclosed are apparatus and corresponding methodology for securing access to an underground device through use of a locking mechanism to secure the fill cap on underground liquid storage tanks for refined petroleum products such as situated at typical end user fueling stations. A protective shell with integral vapor sealing cap is provided with a three point toggle mechanism, to prevent theft, willful contamination, or other unauthorized access to the underground storage tank fill cap for any purpose while maintaining a vapor seal to prevent the release of the vapor from the tank contents.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . Apparatus for securing access to an underground device through use of a locking mechanism to secure an associated underground liquid storage tank for refined petroleum products, comprising:
 a protective shell;   an associated lock; and   a toggle mechanism with integral vapor sealing cap and configured for operation with the associated lock to prevent unauthorized access to the underground storage tank while maintaining a vapor seal therewith to prevent the release of vapor from the associated tank contents.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said sealing cap includes a locking groove and said associated lock includes a lock bolt for selective engagement with said locking groove for securing said toggle mechanism from movement. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said associated storage tank includes an associated standpipe and associated pipe adapter; and   said toggle mechanism comprises a locking bracket having a rotatable interface for said protective shell, so that said protective shell is secured in a free spinning position relative to such associated pipe adapter, so that such protective shell is rotatable without causing any corresponding displacement of said associated pipe adapter.   
     
     
         4 . Apparatus as in  claim 3 , further including a gasket between said vapor sealing cap and said associated pipe adapter; and
 wherein said locking bracket comprises a three point over center latching mechanism comprising a center bracket having a plurality of toggle links and respectively associated toggle fingers, and pivot pins and retaining rings, whereby said locking bracket is configured for selectively engaging said vapor sealing cap with said gasket while otherwise rotatably securing said protective shell relative to said vapor sealing cap.   
     
     
         5 . Apparatus as in  claim 3 , wherein:
 said protective shell defines an opening therethrough; and   said locking bracket is configured to be receivable below said protective shell, with said lock configured to be receivable through said protective shell opening for securement of said protective shell to said associated pipe adapter.   
     
     
         6 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , further including a gasket between said vapor sealing cap and the associated tank. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said protective shell comprises one of metal and engineered plastic. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said associated lock comprises one of a high security lock and a padlock and associated padlock post. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , further including:
 a weather cap for covering said associated lock, and   a handle assembly associated with said protective shell for lifting and removing said shell from the associated storage tank.   
     
     
         10 . A rotatable locking mechanism for securing access to an underground fuel storage tank of the type having a standpipe topped by a pipe adapter, comprising:
 a high security lock;   a protective shell for physically blocking access to such standpipe and pipe adapter associated with an underground storage tank; and   a locking bracket, for association with said high security lock for selectively securing said protective shell to said pipe adapter, such that said protective shell physically blocks access to such pipe adapter, whereby access to the associated storage tank is protected;   wherein said locking bracket further includes a rotatable interface for said protective shell, so that said protective shell is secured in a free spinning position relative to such associated pipe adapter, so that such protective shell is rotatable without causing any corresponding displacement of an associated pipe adapter.   
     
     
         11 . A rotatable locking mechanism as in  claim 10 , wherein said locking bracket comprises a three point over center latching mechanism including a center bracket and a vapor cap. 
     
     
         12 . A rotatable locking mechanism as in  claim 11 , further including a gasket positioned between said vapor cap and said pipe adapter. 
     
     
         13 . A rotatable locking mechanism as in  claim 12 , wherein said locking bracket center bracket comprises a plurality of toggle links and respectively associated toggle fingers, and pivot pins and retaining rings, whereby said locking bracket is configured for selectively engaging said vapor cap with said gasket while otherwise rotatably securing said protective shell relative to said vapor cap. 
     
     
         14 . A rotatable locking mechanism as in  claim 10 , wherein:
 said protective shell defines an opening therethrough; and   said locking bracket is configured to be receivable below said protective shell, with said lock configured to be receivable through said protective shell opening for securement of said protective shell to said associated pipe adapter.   
     
     
         15 . A rotatable locking mechanism as in  claim 10 , wherein said sealing cap includes a locking groove and said associated lock includes a lock bolt for selective engagement with said locking groove for securing said locking bracket from movement. 
     
     
         16 . A rotatable locking mechanism as in  claim 10 , wherein:
 said protective shell further includes a depending skirt for extending to cover portions of an associated pipe adapter; and   said rotatable locking mechanism further includes a handle secured to said protective shell to facilitate removal thereof from an associated pipe adapter.   
     
     
         17 . A rotatable locking mechanism as in  claim 16 , further including a shell bumper received on said protective shell depending skirt for further limiting unauthorized manipulation of said protective shell. 
     
     
         18 . Methodology for securing access to an underground liquid storage tank for refined petroleum products while maintaining vapor seal for the storage tank contents, such tank of the type having a standpipe topped by a pipe adapter, said methodology comprising:
 providing a protective shell with an associated lock; and   selectively securing such protective shell relative to the associated underground tank through use of a locking mechanism beneath the protective shell, such locking mechanism having an integral vapor sealing cap for creating a vapor seal relative to the storage tank pipe adapter to prevent the release of vapor from the associated tank contents, and having a rotatable configuration for rotatably securing said protective shell relative to said vapor sealing cap, whereby such methodology prevents unauthorized access to the underground storage tank while maintaining a vapor seal therefor.   
     
     
         19 . Methodology as in  claim 18 , further including:
 providing a gasket between said vapor sealing cap and said associated pipe adapter; and   wherein said locking mechanism comprises a three point over center latching mechanism comprising a center bracket having a plurality of toggle links and respectively associated toggle fingers, and pivot pins and retaining rings, whereby said locking bracket is configured for selectively engaging said vapor sealing cap with said gasket while otherwise rotatably securing said protective shell relative to said vapor sealing cap.   
     
     
         20 . Methodology as in  claim 19 , further including:
 providing an opening through the center of the protective shell; and   installing the associated lock through the center of the protective shell, so as to engage a split locking collar associated with said center bracket, to thereby allow said protective shell to rotate freely relative to said center bracket.   
     
     
         21 . Methodology as in  claim 18 , further including:
 providing a selectively removable weather cap for covering said associated lock, and providing a handle assembly associated with said protective shell for lifting and removing said shell from the associated storage tank; and   wherein said associated lock comprises one of a high security lock and a padlock and associated padlock post.   
     
     
         22 . Methodology as in  claim 18 , further including providing said protective shell with a shell bumper for further limiting unauthorized manipulation of the protective shell. 
     
     
         23 . Methodology as in  claim 18 , further including providing the associated storage tank in an accessible spill containment well, surrounded by filler material including one of earth and concrete, and covered with an unsecured containment lid.