FORM - 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)
Title:
SPILLAGE-PROOF BREATHING MEANS FOR LIQUID
CONTAINERS HAVING CAP AND SPIRAL GROOVED
GASKET ARRANGEMENT
Applicant: MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LIMITED
GATEWAY BUILDING, APOLLO BUNDER,
MUMBAI - 400001,
MAHARASHTRA, INDIA.
Inventors:
RAJESH ALAGAM
NILESH CHORDIA
RAMESH WAGHODE
SACHIN GEJAGE
All Indian Nationals
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.

FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to breathing arrangements for liquid reservoirs in vehicles, particularly to a closure assembly for preventing liquid spillage therethrough during transit and handling of motor vehicles, more particularly to a cap and spiral-grooved gasket arrangement for preventing liquid spillage during transit and handling of motor vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Export of motor vehicles from India is continuously on the rise. The applicants are the manufacturers of different classes of motor vehicles, such as tractors which are increasingly being exported to foreign locations, e.g. through ships. A major concern during such long-distance movement of motor vehicles is maintaining the quality of finish of the manufactured vehicles from the production unit to the point of delivery, e.g. often a foreign country.
We all know that every motor vehicle is equipped with a number of liquid containers, e.g. oils, coolants etc. Often, the reservoirs or tanks storing such liquids contain corresponding liquids even during the transit of vehicles for facilitating testing of various systems, which are left in these containers of the motor vehicles even during transit and handling at the production facility, shipyard as well at the point of delivery. Normally, such reservoirs are provided with breathing means for ease of liquid flow during operation of the vehicles.
The liquids used in motor vehicles normally contain harmful chemicals, which significantly damage the vehicle parts on which they fall on. It was frequently observed that these liquids, e.g. oils and coolants spill out through the breathing means provided on the respective containers due to excessive movement, e.g. during sea transport and this spillage damages the painted metal parts of the vehicles; thereby the quality of motor vehicle dispatched is substantially compromised in terms of the delivered quality thereof at the point of delivery, e.g. at a foreign location.

DISADVANTAGES WITH THE PRIOR ART
For example, during such transit to distant locations, the tractor skids (i.e. tractor without tyre-tubes and wheel discs) are stacked one over the other on metal frame structures (e.g. 6 tractors in one container) and any liquid spilling out through the breathing means provided on the liquid containers falls on the unit stacked under it, thereby damaging the painted sheet metals thereof due to chemical solutions or other additives (e.g. added in oils) present in the liquid.
For the above-mentioned reasons, there is an existing need to improve the construction of breathing means provided in liquid containers fitted on motor vehicles, e.g. tractors skids being moved over long distances, and for prolonged transit period. However, it is also necessary to achieve this without substantially affecting the breathing process of such liquids containers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
It is known that breathing means are provided on the liquid container caps, e.g. caps of recovery bottles, surge tanks, reservoirs by maintaining atmospheric pressure to facilitate coolant flow from the container to the point of use. It is observed that on being moved over uneven roads and/or while handling in transit, the liquid splashes inside such liquid container and is pushed out of the cap. This spilled liquid subsequently falls down on ground and/or on the unit stacked thereunder, thereby harming the environment and also damaging other parts / units disposed below because of chemicals/additives present in liquids, e.g. coolant stored in containers.
In order to overcome this drawback with the existing breathing means provided in liquid containers fitted on motor vehicles, e.g. tractor skids assembled on the metal frame structures and during their removal therefrom using cranes, and a tilting movement of the tractor skid occurs, which also pose the same liquid spillage threat on the tractor kid disposed on the metal frame structure directly thereunder as already discussed above.

In order to avoid this drawback of breathing means provided in liquid containers, a number of solutions were thought over, e.g. the liquid container, e.g. recovery tank could be made larger. However, this was not feasible due to packaging constraints. It was also thought of blocking the breathing hole in the cap, which would have led to stopping the coolant flow from the tank to the radiator, which is also not desirable.
Therefore, an innovative solution is devised that includes a cap having a gasket configured with a spiral groove to facilitate breathing of the container, however, which does not allow the coolant to spill out of the container, e.g. fitted on the tractor skid stacked on metal frame structures during handling and movement thereof. With this novel spiral grooved gasket also having the breathing hole near the cap center on the spiral grooved rubber gasket, the liquid is made to travel substantially longer distance before coming out of the cap oh liquid container tilting or splashing. The liquid, e.g. coolant is contained or stored within the spiral grooves of the gasket, which otherwise would have come out of cap in the absence of storage volume created by this spiral groove. After the splashing, liquid contained/stored in the groove will fall back inside the tank thru the gasket hole due to gravity and/or vacuum created within the container.
The caps used in this invention can be configured in any shape and type, e.g. rectangular, triangular and/or either as a threaded cap or a press fit type cap etc. Similarly, the size of the gasket's spiral groove and hole and number of turns in the spiral thereof may also vary depending on the size of the liquid container and the type of application thereof. The shaped of the gasket and groove therein may also vary, e.g. rectangular, triangular or in any other shape. The container size and shape may also vary depending on different application thereof. Further, the liquid used in the reservoir can be any liquid, e.g. water, coolant, anti-freeze agents, fuels etc. Accordingly, this set-up can be used in recovery tanks, surge tanks, wind shield washer tanks in the automobiles or in any other liquid storage tanks, where the liquids filled therein are not allowed to spill out during splashes and yet sufficient breathing is allowed to take place in such liquid containers.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Some of the objects of the present invention - satisfied by at least one embodiment of the present invention - are as follows:
An object of the present invention is to provide a breathing means for liquid containers fitted on motor vehicles.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a breathing means which allows desired liquid flow, however prevents any liquid spillage during transit and tilting of the motor vehicles.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a breathing means which prevents spillage due to splashing of liquid inside liquid containers.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when read with the accompanying figures of drawing, which are, however, not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a spillage-proof breathing means for liquid containers including an arrangement of cap and gasket; the arrangement comprises:
- a cap for closing the liquid container;
- a gasket with a combination of profiled grooves; and
- anti-detachment means provided on the cap of the liquid container; wherein the gasket includes a profiled groove starting from a through hole disposed near the gasket periphery, the hole being open to container interior; the other end of the profiled groove being disposed adjacent the cap center connected to a lateral groove, the profiled groove side of the gasket assembled facing the cap base configured with the lateral groove leading to a breathing hole provided on the side of the cap.

Typically, the profiled groove starts at the cap center and is provided with the through hole for entry of splashed liquid and other end of the profiled groove is configured adjacent the cap diversion leading to the lateral groove opening at the breathing hole provided on the cap.
Typically, the anti-detachment means comprises a bridge connecting the cap to a ring which can be inserted on the liquid container neck before capping the container.
Typically, the bridge and the ring are made of a flexible material.
Typically, the cap can be configured in rectangular, triangular and/or any other shape
Typically, the cap can be configured either as threaded cap or a press fit type cap.
Typically, the dimensions of the spiral groove on the gasket and of the hole and number of turns in the spiral groove varies as a function of the liquid container size.
Typically, the dimensions of the spiral groove on the gasket and of the hole and number of turns in the spiral groove varies as a function of the type of application of the liquid container.
Typically, the cap and gasket arrangement is provided on the liquid container containing liquids such as water, coolant, anti-freeze agent, fuel etc.
Typically, the liquid container is a recovery bottle for supplying coolant to the radiator equipped on the tractor skids mounted in stacks on the metal frame structures used for sea transport.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The present invention will be briefly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which include:
Figure 1 shows a conventional cap and gasket arrangement for facilitating breathing in coolant reservoir fitted in different tractor series manufactured by the applicants.
Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the conventional cap and gasket arrangement shown in Figure 1 provided with breathing hole in the cap.
Figure 3a shows a perspective view of the liquid container fitted with a cap having a gasket in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 3b shows the detailed view of the cap with the circular ring connected to it by means of a bridging element.
Figure 3c shows a detailed view of the gasket configured with a spiral groove in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the breathing process by means of the cap and gasket arrangement according to the present invention.
Figure 5 shows an exploded view of the assembly of the cap and gasket arrangement in accordance with the present invention on the liquid container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
In the following, different embodiments of the present invention will be described in more details with reference to the accompanying drawings without limiting the scope and ambit of the present invention in any way.

Figure 1 shows a typical cap and gasket arrangement for facilitating breathing in coolant reservoir, e.g. fitted in 25, 30 and 60 series of tractors manufactured by the applicants. The liquid container cap 10 is fitted with a gasket 12 for facilitating easy coolant flow. However, during handling and tilting of the container during transit, this cap configuration is prone to coolant spillage through breathing hole 14 provided at the center thereof.
Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the conventional cap 10 and gasket arrangement 12 provided with a central breathing hole 14 in the cap 10 shown in Figure 1. This configuration is prone to liquid spillage as discussed above.
Figure 3a shows a perspective view of a liquid container 20 fitted with a cap 22 provided with a spiral-grooved gasket 30 in accordance with the present invention for preventing liquid flow out of the container due to splashing of liquid inside the container during handling and/or transit of the motor vehicles, e.g. by sea. In contrast to the conventional gasket 12 shown in Figure 1, the gasket 30 includes a spiral groove 32 (Figure 3c) for preventing the liquid flow out of the cap. The liquid container 20 supplies liquid, e.g. coolant to the radiator (not shown) via a line 40 emanating from the bottom thereof, which creates a vacuum inside the container, thereby preventing coolant flow to the radiator. Therefore, a breathing hole 36 (Figure 4) is provided on the side of the cap 22 to allow air to enter inside the container 20 to break this vacuum to facilitate coolant flow to the radiator.
Figure 3b shows a perspective view of the cap 20 with the circular ring 26A connected thereto by means of bridge 28. The cap 22 has a cap center 24, which is in fluid connection with the lateral groove 34 leading to breathing hole 36 (see Figure 4). The bridge 28 extends radially away from the cap center 24. The bridge 28 and ring 26A are preferably made of flexible material. The ring 26A attached to the bridge 28 can be connected to a fixed point, e.g. neck 26B (Figure 3a) of the container 20 to prevent loss or detachment of cap from the container 20.

Figure 3c shows a detailed view of the gasket 30, e.g. made of rubber, provided with a spiral groove 32 configured in accordance with the present invention. The spiral groove 32 is made substantially longer for preventing coolant flow through the breathing hole 36 (Figure 4). The spiral groove 32 starts at a through hole 31 disposed near the periphery thereof and continues spirally towards the center 24A. In the assembled condition of the cap 22 and gasket 30, this gasket center 24A is disposed adjacent the cap center 24 leading to the breathing hole 36 on the cap side. This long spiral groove 32 facilitates in delaying the liquid spillage out of the container 20 through breathing hole 36, actually provided for breathing air inside the container to enable ease of coolant flow to the radiator.
Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the breathing process through the cap and spiral-grooved gasket arrangement according to the present invention. In this cap 22 and gasket 32 assembly, the spiral-groove 32 of the gasket 30 is assembled facing the cap base 25 (Figure 3b). On splashing of liquid, e.g. coolant inside the container 20, the splashed liquid flows through hole 31 into the groove 32 and slowly reaches the center 24A adjacent the cap center 24 and could have subsequently spilled out of the container cap through breathing hole 36.
However, this liquid is contained or stored within the spiral grooves of the gasket 32, which otherwise would have come out of breathing hole 36 in the absence of the storage volume created by this long spiral groove. After the splashing, the liquid contained or stored in the groove 32 will fall back inside the container 20 through the gasket hole 31 due to gravity and/or vacuum created inside the container 20 due to liquid, e.g. coolant delivery to the radiator.
Accordingly, this long spiral groove 32 and lateral groove 34 substantially delays the liquid flow out of the container cap, thereby completely preventing liquid spillage from the container 20 during splashing inside the container 20 and/or on tilting of the container fitted on a motor vehicle in transit.

Figure 5 shows an exploded view of the cap 22 and spiral gasket 30 arrangement according to the present invention being assembled on the liquid container 20. The gasket 30 is fitted inside the cap 22 facing cap base 25 and ring 26A is placed over the neck 26B of the liquid container 20 for securing the cap 22 thereto. Subsequently, the cap and gasket assembly is tightened on the liquid container 20. In closed condition, the liquid, e.g. coolant is supplied to the relevant subassembly, e.g. radiator of the motor vehicle and breathing hole 36 (see Figure 4) facilitates air entry into the liquid container 40 to relieve the vacuum generated due to coolant supply via supply line 40, which in turn eases coolant flow to the radiator (not shown).
Working of the Invention:
The coolant splashed inside the tank passes through the hole 31 and passes through the spiral groove 32 and is contained and stored within these spiral groove of the gasket, which splashed coolant otherwise would have come out of cap breathing hole 36 in the absence of storage volume created by this long spiral groove 32 and lateral groove 34. After the splashing, the coolant contained and stored in the groove 32 will fall back inside the container 20 through the gasket hole 31 due to gravity and/or vacuum created in the container 20.
So, the splashed liquid cannot escape the container 20 and therefore, this arrangement of the cap 22 and gasket 30 provided with a spiral groove 32 and lateral groove 34 in accordance with the present invention prevents any liquid being spilled out of the container 20 by splashing inside the container 20 and/or on tilting of the container 20 fitted on a motor vehicle in transit.
Technical advantages and economic significance
The spillage-proof breathing means for liquid container having an arrangement of cap and gasket with spiral groove configured in accordance with the present invention has the following advantages:

a) Liquid spilling out of the container on tilting thereof during transit is completely eliminated.
b) Liquid spilling out of the container due to splashing of liquid inside is prevented.
c) By preventing the liquid spillage through breathing hole in cap, no damage is caused to surface finish provided at the production site even after reaching distant locations, e.g. via sea transport, as is prevalent in the conventional cap and gasket arrangement.
Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", shall be understood to implies including a described element, integer or method step, or group of elements, integers or method steps, however, does not imply excluding any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or method steps.
The use of the expression "a", "at least" or "at least one" shall imply using one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as used in the embodiment of the disclosure in order to achieve one or more of the intended objects or results of the present invention.
The exemplary embodiments described in this specification are intended merely to provide an understanding of various manners in which this embodiment may be used and to further enable the skilled person in the relevant art to practice this invention.
Although, only the preferred embodiments have been described herein, the skilled person in the art would readily recognize to apply these embodiments with any modification possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention as described in this specification. Therefore, innumerable changes, variations, modifications, alterations may be made and/or integrations in terms of materials and method used may be devised to configure, manufacture and assemble various constituents, components, subassemblies and assemblies according to their size, shapes, orientations and interrelationships.

The description provided herein is purely by way of example and illustration. The various features and advantageous details are explained with reference to this non-limiting embodiment in the above description in accordance with the present invention. The descriptions of well-known components and manufacturing and processing techniques are consciously omitted in this specification, so as not to unnecessarily obscure the specification.
While considerable emphasis has been placed on the specific features of the preferred embodiment described here, it will be appreciated that many additional features can be added and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the invention. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.

We claim:
1. Spillage-proof breathing means for liquid containers including an
arrangement of cap and gasket; the arrangement comprising:
- a cap for closing the liquid container;
- a gasket with a combination of profiled grooves; and
- anti-detachment means provided on the cap of the liquid container;
wherein the gasket includes a profiled groove starting from a through hole disposed near the gasket periphery, the hole being open to container interior; the other end of the profiled groove being disposed adjacent the cap center connected to a lateral groove, the profiled groove side of the gasket assembled facing the cap base configured with the lateral groove leading to a breathing hole provided on the side of the cap.
2. Spillage-proof breathing means as claimed in claim 1, wherein profiled groove starts at the cap center and is provided with the through hole for entry of splashed liquid and other end of the profiled groove is configured adjacent the cap diversion leading to the lateral groove opening at the breathing hole provided on the cap.
3. Spillage-proof breathing means as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the anti-detachment means comprises a bridge connecting the cap to a ring which can be inserted on the liquid container neck before capping the container.
4. Spillage-proof breathing means as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the bridge and the ring are made of a flexible material.
5. Spillage-proof breathing means as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the cap can be configured in rectangular, triangular and/or any other shape.

6. Spillage-proof breathing means as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the cap can be configured either as threaded cap or a press fit type cap.
7. Spillage-proof breathing means as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the dimensions of the spiral groove on the gasket and of the hole and number of turns in the spiral groove varies as a function of the liquid container size.
8. Spillage-proof breathing means as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the dimensions of the spiral groove on the gasket and of the hole and number of turns in the spiral groove varies as a function of the type of application of the liquid container.
9. Spillage-proof breathing means as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the cap and gasket arrangement is provided on the liquid container containing liquids such as water, coolant, anti-freeze agent, fuel etc.
10. Spillage-proof breathing means as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid container is a recovery bottle for supplying coolant to the radiator equipped on the tractor skids mounted in stacks on the metal frame structures used for sea transport.