Claims:We Claim:
1. A cap (10) to close an opening (22) in a pump (24), said cap (10) comprising:
- a first holding member (11) ;
- a second holding member (13);
- a resilient member (15) fitted to both said first holding member (11) and said second holding member (13) and forcing a clasping portion (12) of said first holding member (11) and a clasping portion (14) of said second holding member (13) together to hold said opening (22),
characterized in that:
said clasping portion (12) of said first holding member (11) and said clasping portion (14) of said second holding member (13) are hemispherical.
2. The cap (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and said second holding members (11,13) are identical in size and shape.
3. The cap (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second holding members (11,13) have extensions (16(a), 16(b)) each, such that, said resilient member (15) is connected between said extensions (16(a), 16(b)) of said first and second holding members (11,13) .
4. The cap (10) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said resilient member (15) is a spring (20) connected to said first and second holding members (11,13) of said cap (10).
5. The cap (10) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said resilient member (15) is held by a pin (18).
6. The cap (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein when said cap (10) is pressed at one end, said first and second holding members (11,13) are pulled away from each other at another end.
7. The cap (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein size of said cap (10) is designed corresponding to size of said opening (22) of said pump (24).
8. The cap (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second holding members (11,13) are pressed against each other at one end of said cap (10) to close said opening (22) of said pump (24).
, Description:Complete Specification:
The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
Field of the invention
[0001] This invention relates to a cap to close an opening in a pump.

Background of the invention
[0002] The more vulnerable elements of machines and machine parts require protection during transportation. This is particularly true of threaded, serrated and similarly formed sockets and the like, which should have their threads or similar forms protected and their openings guarded against entry of dirt, moisture, etc. Therefore, protective caps for such parts have been made of metal/plastic and conventionally threaded to cooperate with the threaded member to be protected. Such metal/plastic caps were costly and consumed time in their applications. Protection caps that cover openings of the machines like high-pressure pump or engine is often used to restrict the entry of the foreign material and liquids getting inside the machines.

[0003] Prior art patent application US20110070053 discloses a universal safety end cap including a body, provided therein with a receiving portion. The receiving portion has a plurality of segments of different diameters and lengths. The segments are arranged such that, the segment having the least diameter is closest to a close end of the receiving portion while the segment having the greatest diameter is farthest from the close end and open to an open end of the receiving portion, so that the receiving portion is capable of fittingly receiving sharp ends of different specifications therein.

Brief description of the accompanying drawing
[0004] Different modes of the invention are disclosed in detail in the description and illustrated in the accompanying drawing:

[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a cap for a pump in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 illustrates a cut side view of a cap for the pump in accordance with the embodiment of the invention; and
Figure 3 illustrates the cap fitted onto an opening of the pump.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a cap 10 to close an opening 22 in a pump 24 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The cap 10 comprises a first holding member 11 and a second holding member 13. The cap 10 further comprises a resilient member 15 fitted to both the first holding member 11 and the second holding member 13 and forcing a clasping portion 12 of the first holding member 11 and a clasping portion 14 of the second holding member 13 together to hold the opening 22. The clasping portion 12 of the first holding member 11 and the clasping portion 14 of the second holding member 13 are hemispherical.

[0007] Further the construction of the cap 10 and the components of the cap 10 is explained as follows. The first and the second holding members (11, 13) are identical in size and shape. The clasping portions (12, 14) of the first and the second holding members (11, 13) are of same size and shape such that, when the holding members (11, 13) held together, the corresponding clasping portions (12, 14) covers the opening 22 of the pump 24 completely. As disclosed above, the shape of the clasping portions (12, 14) is not restricted to hemispherical shape, but can be any shape that completely covers the opening 22 of the pump 24. The first and second holding members (11,13) have extensions (16(a), 16(b)) each, such that, the resilient member 15 is connected between the extensions (16(a), 16(b))of the first and second holding members (11,13). The extensions (16(a), 16(b)) are towards the end of the cap 10, away from the clasping portions (12, 14) of the holding members (11, 13). The extensions (16(a), 16(b)) of the holding members (11, 13) are also identical in shape and are placed parallel to the clasping portions (12, 14) of the holding members (11, 13). The resilient member 15 is same as in the claims a spring 20 connected to the first and second holding members (11, 13) of the cap 10. The spring 20 is held by a pin 18 in the cap 10 as shown in the figure 2. The resilient member 15 is connected to the extensions (16(a), 16(b)) of the holding members (11, 13) of the cap 10, to closely hold the first and second holding members (11, 13). The size of the cap 10 is designed corresponding to the size of the opening 22 of the pump 24.

[0008] The cap 10 is pressed and fitted on the opening 22 of the pump 24 as shown in the figure 3. When the cap 10 is pressed at one end, the clasping portions (12, 14) of the first and second holding members (11, 13) are pulled away from each other at another end. The spring 20 is compressed in between of the extensions (16(a), 16(b)). The cap 10 is fitted onto the opening 22 of the pump 24 in the above-disclosed position. When the cap 10 is tightly secured on the opening 22 of the pump 24, the force applied on the first and second holding members (11,13) at the end where the extensions (16(a), 16(b)) are present is slowly reduced. When the force reduces, the spring 20 expands making the clasping portions (12, 14) of the first and second holding members (11, 13) to move towards each other. When the spring 20 between the extensions (16(a), 16(b)) is in completely expanded position, the clasping portions (12,14) of the first and second holding members (11,13) comes closer thus tightly fitting onto the opening 22 of the pump 24.

[0009] With the above disclosed cap 10, the conventional vacuum method to close the opening of the pump 24 is avoided. The cap 10 disclosed, provides a cost-effective and robust solution for a secure sealing of the opening 22 of the pump 24. The damage to the cap 10 while transferring the pump 24 from one place to another place is reduced. Since, the vacuum effect is not used to seal the opening 22, the cap 10 can be easily removed during assembling, by applying force at one end to the first and second holding members (11,13).

[0010] It should be understood that embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.