FR2918437A1 - Valve for supplying water in public access place, has tamper-proof device comprising removable locking member including orifice for inserting access key and internal mechanism with locking unit activated by key for locking drum - Google Patents

Abstract

The valve (1) has a tamper-proof device (12) authorizing an access to an operating lever stem (11) of a closure device (2). The device (12) has a drum (14) with a distal end connected to a valve body (4) and dissimulating a head body (9) and the stem. The drum is opened at its proximal end. The device (12) has a removable locking member (15) to close the opening of the drum. The member has an orifice (22) for inserting an access key, and an internal mechanism with a locking unit (16) i.e. ball, activated by the key for locking the drum.

Description

The present invention relates to a valve comprising a device

  shutter having at least one shutter function controlled with a shutter member such as including a valve, or a perforated sphere.

  In this field, the valves comprise a shutter device and a valve body. The valve body forms a pipe whose internal volume can be divided into two chambers by the shutter member, respectively said upstream and downstream in the normal flow direction of the fluid. The outer wall of the valve body has a threaded opening for the removable attachment of the screw closure device. The closure device comprises the shutter member, and a head body, in particular in the form of a sleeve, having a thread for fastening by screwing to the valve body. A control rod of the shutter member is rotatably mounted in a through bore of the head body and allows manual control of the shutter member on closing or opening. For this purpose, this control rod has a crank, or can be actuated by means of a suitable element. This type of faucet is commonly used in places of public access, especially as a water supply point for watering, said faucet being equipped, for example, with a male end belonging to a male / female connector for pipe plastic. However, it remains too easily subject to manipulations of untimely openings. The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawback by providing a valve whose manual control on opening and closing is controlled and restricted in particular to an authorized person holding an access key. Another object of the invention is to provide such a faucet, easy to manufacture and at a lower cost. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description which follows, which is given for information only and which is not intended to limit it.

  The invention relates to a valve comprising a closure device having at least one shutter function controlled with a shutter member such as in particular a valve or a perforated sphere, said valve comprising a valve body forming a tubular whose internal volume can be split into two chambers by the shutter member at a communication opening, the outer wall of the valve body having a threaded opening for releasably fixing the shutter device, the shutter device comprising: - a head body having at least one thread for fastening the closure device to the valve body, said head body having a through bore, in particular a threaded bore, - a control rod, actuable by an operating member, said rod being internal to the head body and disposed in the through bore, at least partially, said control rod having in particular a t threaded section to cooperate, in particular by screwing, with the head body, the rotation of the control rod for closing the communication opening by the shutter member. According to the invention, the valve has, in addition, a tamper device provided to allow access to the control rod of said valve, the tamper device comprising at least: - an access key, - a at its end distal to the valve body, concealing the head body and the control rod of the closure device, said barrel being open at its proximal end, a detachable locking member for closing the opening said barrel and having a hole for the insertion of the key and an internal mechanism having at least one locking member to said barrel, actuable by said key. The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, accompanied by the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a valve according to the invention according to one embodiment, FIG. 2 is a view in vertical cross-section of the tap as illustrated in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the shut-off device of the tap as illustrated in FIG. 2, on the one hand, and the operating tool of the control rod of the closure device, on the other hand, - Figure 4 is a perspective view respectively illustrating the barrel, the locking member, and the valve key according to the invention according to one embodiment, - Figure 5 is a top view of the valve as shown in Figure 1, - Figure 6 is a view in section BB, as shown in Figure 5 of the locking member locked to the barrel; FIG. 7 is a view according to section BB of FIG. 5, of the locking member in the barrel, when unlocked by the key, - Figure 8 is a view along the AA section of Figure 5 of the locking member and its barrel as illustrated in FIG. Figure 7. The invention relates to a valve 1 having a closure device 2 having at least one shutter function controlled with a shutter member 3 such as in particular a valve, or a perforated sphere. Said valve comprises a valve body 4 forming a tubular whose internal volume can be divided into two chambers 5, 6 by the shutter member at a communication opening 7. As illustrated in Figure 2, the chamber 5 is said upstream chamber, the chamber 6, said downstream chamber, according to the flow direction of the fluid. According to this example, the shutter member 3 is constituted by a valve having, in addition, a shutter function induced under the action of the discharge pressure, or even a compression spring, to prevent the passage of fluid from the downstream chamber 6 to the upstream chamber 5. The outer wall of the valve body 4 has a threaded opening 8 for the removable fixing of the closure device 2, by screwing. The closure device 2 comprises: - a head body 9, in particular in the form of a sleeve, having at least one thread for fixing the closure device 2 to the valve body 4, said head body 9 having a through bore 10, in particular threaded, - a control rod 11, actuable by an operating member, said rod 11 being internal to the head body 9 and disposed in the through bore 10 at least partially, the control rod 11 can present, as illustrated in Figure 2 a threaded portion to cooperate by screwing with the head body 8. The rotation of the control rod then allows the closing of the communication opening 7 by the shutter member, in particular the flap.

  According to another embodiment not illustrated, the shutter member is a pierced sphere, the control rod 11 being articulated to the head body 9 in a simple rotation. The valve is open when the communication opening and the perforation of the sphere coincide.

  The rotation of the control rod 11 by a quarter of a turn allows the closing of the communication opening 7 by the shutter member 3, in particular the pierced sphere. According to the invention, the valve 1 has, in addition, a tamper device 12, provided to allow access to the control rod 11 of said valve 1, in particular to an authorized person holding an access key 13 This tamper device 12 comprises at least: - said access key 13, - a shaft 14 secured at its distal end 141 to the valve body 4, concealing the head body and the control rod of the device. shutter, said barrel 14 being open at its proximal end 142, - a detachable locking member 15 intended to close the opening of said proximal end 142 of the barrel 14 and having an orifice 22 for the insertion of the key 13 and an internal mechanism having at least one locking member 16 to said barrel, actuable by said key 13. According to an exemplary embodiment, the barrel 14 has an internal groove 17 provided at the inner diameter of said barrel 14. sentenced tion 15 may then comprise: - a body of revolution 18 whose outer diameter is at most equal to said inner diameter of said barrel 14, in particular slightly lower, having a plurality of radial bores 19, - locking members 16 such as balls or similar, able to slide inside said radial bores 19, in limited races, between a locking position in which said locking members 16 project from said body of revolution 18, on the one hand, and a position of erasure in which the locking members are recessed in the radial bores 19, on the other hand, a cam 20 adapted to constrain said locking members 16 in said locking position, or allow said locking members in said position of erase under the action of the key 13. Also, the body of revolution 18 can be inserted at the opening of said barrel 14, at its proximal end. the, in order to apply, to lock, the locking members 16 in the inner groove 17 of said barrel, or allow the unlocking dormers, removing the locking members of said inner groove. According to the embodiment of the figures, the cam 20 of said locking member 15 may have at least one conical section 21 whose axis is coaxial with the axis of said body of revolution. The conical surface of the section is intended to engage with said locking members, such as the balls, said cam 20 being mounted to move relative to the body of revolution 18 in a translation axis parallel to the axis of said body of revolution 18, according to a limited race. In particular, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the cam 20 can have a through bore 24 intended to cooperate in translation with the bearing surface of a guide 38 of the locking member 15. According to this illustrated example, the cam 20 can being constrained to lock by resilient means such as a compression spring or the like.

  The unlocking of the cam 20 can be obtained by the interaction of the key 13 which may have a portion 23 intended to engage, directly or indirectly with said cam 20 to cause its unlocking. According to one example, the body of revolution 18 has at least one bore constituting the orifice 22 for the insertion of the key 13. As illustrated in FIG. 3, this key may consist substantially of a cylindrical rod 25, as well as only by two lugs 27, 28 of the outer diameter of said cylindrical rod 25, with said first lug 27 and said second lug 28. As illustrated, the first lug 27 and the second lug 28 project in a vertical direction relative to the cylindrical rod 25. In addition, the first lug 27 may be located at the free end of said rod 25 and protrude in front of the latter in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical rod 25. According to FIG. this example, said lugs 27, 28 are offset, on the one hand angularly from an angle α, for example 90, relative to each other, and secondly in height by a distance h. This key with double lug 27, 28 is provided to cooperate with a specific orifice 22 comprising at least three successive bores 29, 30, 31, in particular with: a first bore 29 of dimension substantially equal to the external diameter of the cylindrical rod 25 , further comprising a notch 32 for the passage, one after the other, of the two lugs 27, 28 of said key, - a second bore 30 communicating with said first bore 29, larger in size than the latter in such a way as to allow the internal rotation of the lugs 27, 28, one after the other, - a third bore 31 communicating with said second bore 30 of dimension substantially equal to the outside diameter of the cylindrical rod 25, further comprising a notch 33 for the passage of the first lug 27 of said key 13.

  It should be noted that said respective notches 32, 33 of said first bore 29 and said third bore 31 are offset, on the one hand angularly by a value equal to the angle a, relative to each other, and on the other hand, in height by a distance equal to h. For example, according to the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the angle α is 90 °, the unlocking action being carried out as follows: - introduce the specific key 13 into the orifice 22, - turn key a quarter turn (clockwise), - press key 13 a second time and make a second rotation clockwise. The second driving operation exerts an action on the cam, in particular conical, which compresses the spring and releases the balls from their stress. For example, for this purpose, the third bore 31 opens on the housing of the cam 20, the first lug 27 being adapted to cooperate abutting with said cam 20. The second rotation of the key allows to remove the locking member 15 by a traction exerted on the key, the first lug 27 and the second lug 28 being made non-coincident with their respective notch 32, 33 for cooperating by hook with the locking member, in particular with the body of revolution 18. L locking member 15 may furthermore have a base 50, non-cylindrical, in particular hexagonal, adapted to cooperate with a corresponding internal conformation of the barrel in order to prevent any rotational movement of the locking member 15, in particular the body of revolution 18, relative to the barrel 14. In addition, the cylindrical rod 25 of the key 13 may have an internal bore 27, longitudinal, the orifice 22 of the locking member having a centering pin 34 adapted to engage with said bore 26 of said cylindrical rod 25. The operating end of the control rod 11 of the closure device 2 may have a polygonal impression 35, such as for example hexagonal, said control rod 11 can be Maneuvered by a tool 36 having a polygonal tip 37, in particular hexagonal, corresponding. The locking action can be carried out as follows: - inserting the locking member 15 in the barrel 14, once the locking member is in place, - apply a thrust on the locking member up to the locking members, in particular the balls, retract when they come into contact with the inside diameter of the barrel 14; -denfoncer the condemnation member, including the body of revolution to the bottom, until the balls meet the inner groove 17 of the shaft 14 within which they relax. From this moment, the locking member 15 is in place and can be removed only with the help of the key. We will now describe the exemplary embodiment of the locking member 15 illustrated in particular in FIGS. 4 and 6 to 8. The illustrated locking member 15 is constituted by a body of revolution 18, the locking members 16 and more. particularly balls, a cam 20, a double-diameter rod combining a guide function 38 for the cam as well as centering pin 34 for the key at its free end, elastic means 42 with a compression spring, and a cover The body of revolution 18 has a substantially equal outer diameter, slightly smaller, to said internal diameter of said barrel, as well as a polygonal base 50 cooperating with a corresponding internal conformation of the barrel to prevent any rotation of the body of the barrel. revolution 18 relative to the barrel in the locking position. The body of revolution 18 has a hole 22 for introducing the key 13 with in particular three bores 29, 30, 31, as previously explained, intended in particular to cooperate with a key having two lugs 27, 28 angularly offset and in height. This orifice 22 opens on a large internal bore of the body 18 forming a housing for the cam 20, substantially of frustoconical shape. The cam 20 has, in addition, a cylindrical upper section 52, coaxial with said frustoconical section, said cylindrical section being provided to abut, constrained by the spring, with the body of revolution 18 received with a small clearance in a bored section of said body 18. This cylindrical section 52, upper, has an internal recess 53, of substantially equal radius, slightly greater than that of the cylindrical rod 25 with the first lug 27. The bottom of this recess 53 constitutes a stop by the key 13 , more particularly by said first lug 27 during unlocking, the radius of the recess 53 allowing the internal rotation of the lug. Radial bores 19, the body of revolution 18 are provided at regular intervals on the circumference of the body 18 and open on the housing of the cam 20. The cam 20 has an internal through bore, intended to cooperate with the wide range of the guide 38, in translation, under the induced action of the spring in compression during locking, and under an opposite action, controlled by the key 13, during unlocking. The bottom cover 51 is fastened by screwing to the lower end of the body of revolution, in particular opposite the orifice 22. The cap 51 has for this purpose a threaded shoulder adapted to cooperate with an internal thread of the body of revolution 18, also constituting a stop by the cam 20 during unlocking .. The rod combining a guide function 38 and centering pin 34 is embedded in particular at a bore of the bottom cover 51, the compression spring, helical, being guided by said rod compressed between the cam and said cover 51.

  The key as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 may have two ends with: - a first end for controlling the locking member 15 of said valve 1, in particular constituted by a cylindrical rod 25 provided with two lugs 27, 28 on the outer diameter of said cylindrical rod 25, said lugs being in particular offset, on the one hand angularly by an angle α, for example 90 relative to the other, and on the other hand, in height d a distance h, - a second end intended for controlling the opening or closing of said valve 1 constituted by a polygonal tip, for example hexagonal. Of course, other modes of implementation, within the reach of those skilled in the art, could still be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

  1. Faucet (1) comprising a closure device (2) having at least one controlled shutter function with a shutter member (3) such as including a valve or a perforated sphere, said valve comprising a valve body (4). ) forming a tubular whose internal volume can be divided into two chambers (5, 6) by the shutter member (3) at a communication opening (7), the outer wall of the valve body (4) having a tapped opening (8) for releasably fixing said closure device (2), said closure device comprising: - a head body (9) having at least one thread for fixing the closure device (2) at the valve body (4), said head body (9) having a through bore (10), in particular threaded, - a control rod (11), actuable by an operating member, said rod (11) being internal to the head body (9) and disposed in the through bore (10), at least partially , said control rod (11) having in particular a threaded portion for cooperating, in particular by screwing, with the head body (8), the rotation of the control rod for closing the communication opening (7) by the shutter member (3), characterized in that the valve has, in addition, a tamper device (12) provided to allow access to the control rod (11) of said valve (1), the device tamper evident (12) comprising at least: an access key (13), a barrel (14) secured at its distal end to the valve body (4), concealing the head body (9) and the stem control (11) of the closure device (2), said barrel (14) being open at its proximal end; - a detachable locking member (15) intended to close the opening of said barrel (14) and presenting a orifice (22) for inserting the key (13) and an internal mechanism having at least one locking member (16) audi t barrel, operable by said key (13).   2. Tap according to claim 1 wherein the barrel (14) has an inner groove (17) provided at the inner diameter of said barrel (14), the locking member (15) comprising: - a body of revolution (18) ) whose outer diameter is at most equal to said internal diameter of said barrel (14), having a plurality of radial bores (19), - locking members (16) such as balls or the like, capable of sliding at the interior of said radial bores (19), according to limited races, between a locking position, on the one hand, wherein said locking members (16) project from said body of revolution (18), and an erase position of on the other hand, in which the locking members (16) are recessed in the radial bores (19), - a cam (20) able to constrain said locking members (16) in their locking position, or allow said members latch (16) in their effective position acement under the action of the key (13), and wherein the body of revolution (18) can be inserted at the opening of said barrel (14), at its proximal end, to apply, to lock, the locking members (16) in the inner groove (17) of said barrel (14), or allowing, upon unlocking, the removal of the locking members (16) of said inner groove (17).   3. Tap according to claim 2, wherein the cam (20) of said locking member (15) has at least one conical section (21) whose axis is coaxial with the axis of said body of revolution (18), said conical surface of said section (21) being intended to engage with the locking members (16), such as the balls, said cam (20) being mounted movable relative to the body of revolution (18) in a translation of axis parallel to the axis of said body of revolution (18) and in a limited race.   4. Tap according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the cam (20) has a through bore (24) for cooperating in translation with the bearing of a guide (38) of the locking member (15).   5. Valve according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein lacame (20) is constrained to lock by elastic means (42) such as a compression spring or the like, said key (13) having a portion (23). ) intended to engage, directly or indirectly, with said cam (20) to cause the unlocking of said cam (20).   6. Tap according to one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the body of revolution (18) has a base (50) non-circular, for example hexagonal, intended to cooperate with a corresponding inner conformation of said shaft (14), provided for prohibit relative rotation of said body of revolution (18) relative to said barrel (14) once the locking member (15) in place.   7. Tap according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said key (13) consists substantially of a cylindrical rod (25), and by two lugs (27, 28) of the outer diameter of said cylindrical rod (25). ), with said first lug (27) and said second lug (28), said lugs (27,28) being offset, on the one hand, angularly by an angle α, for example 90, one relative to the other. other, and secondly in height a distance h, and wherein the orifice (22) for the insertion of the key comprises at least three successive bores (29,30,31), with: - a first bore (29) of dimension substantially equal to the outer diameter of the cylindrical rod (25), further comprising a notch (32) for the passage, one after the other, of the two lugs (27,28) said key, - a second bore (30) communicating with the first bore (29), of greater dimension than the latter in such a way as to allow the internal rotation of the spur s (27,28), - a third bore (31) communicating with said second bore (30) of dimension substantially equal to the outer diameter of the cylindrical rod (25), further comprising a notch (33) for the passage the first lug (27) of the key (13), and wherein said respective notches (32,33) of said first bore (29) and said third bore (31) are offset, on the one hand angularly, by a value equal to the angle a, one relative to the other, and secondly in height by a distance equal to h.   8. Tap according to claim 7, wherein the third bore (31) opens on the housing of the cam (20), the first lug (27) 5 being adapted to cooperate abutting with said cam (20).   9. Valve according to claim 7 or 8 wherein the cylindrical rod (25) of the wrench (13) has, in addition, an internal bore (26), longitudinal, the orifice (22) of the locking member ( 15) having a centering stud (34) adapted to engage with said bore (26) of said cylindrical rod (25).   10. Tap according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the operating end of the control rod (11) of the closure device (2) has a polygonal impression (35), such as for example hexagonal, said control rod (11) being operable by a tool (36) having a corresponding polygonal tip (37).