GB2185797A - Security device for pipe joints - Google Patents
Security device for pipe joints Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2185797A GB2185797A GB08608460A GB8608460A GB2185797A GB 2185797 A GB2185797 A GB 2185797A GB 08608460 A GB08608460 A GB 08608460A GB 8608460 A GB8608460 A GB 8608460A GB 2185797 A GB2185797 A GB 2185797A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- members
- security device
- container
- recess
- assembled configuration
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000011065 in-situ storage Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000002265 prevention Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L19/00—Joints in which sealing surfaces are pressed together by means of a member, e.g. a swivel nut, screwed on or into one of the joint parts
- F16L19/005—Joints in which sealing surfaces are pressed together by means of a member, e.g. a swivel nut, screwed on or into one of the joint parts comprising locking means for the threaded member
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
- F16B41/00—Measures against loss of bolts, nuts, or pins; Measures against unauthorised operation of bolts, nuts or pins
- F16B41/005—Measures against unauthorised operation of bolts, nuts or pins
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- G01F15/00—Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus
- G01F15/007—Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus comprising means to prevent fraud
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Measuring Volume Flow (AREA)
Abstract
A security device (10) for preventing or indicating the tampering with a joint (22) in a supply pipe, e.g. to a gas meter, comprises two or more members (11, 12) which fit together around the joint (22). The members (11, 12) have mutually interdigitating parts (13) through which a blind bore (17) is provided and which houses a glass phial (24) containing a dye. Displacement of the members (11, 12) from the assembled configuration breaks the phial (24), thereby releasing the dye which stains the members (11, 12) so that the tampering is readily detectable. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Security device
The invention relates to security devices and
in particular to devices for preventing, or at
least indicating, the tampering with line sup
plies of fuel, power or the like. The invention
has particular, but not exclusive, application to I the prevention of undetectable tampering with
the line supply of fuel or the like, for example
gas.
It is an object of the present invention to
provide a security device which is simple and
cheap to manufacture, quick and simple to in
stall requiring little technical skill or the use of
sophisticated tools, but which is effective in
preventing or at least detecting any tampering
with the supply of a liquid or a gas to an
appliance.
The invention provides a security device
adapted to at least partially enclose a joint in
a supply pipe, said device comprising a plural
ity of members and at least one container,
said members having cooperating parts which
are mutually overlapping when said members
are in an assembled configuration, said parts
of said members having recesses therein
which are mutually aligned when said mem
bers are in said assembled configuration, said
container being of a breakable material and
having a marking fluid therein and being
adapted to be received in said aligned re
cesses whereby displacement of said mem
bers from said assembled configuration causes
said container to break and release said mark
ing fluid so as to stain said members.
The device may comprise two members
which may be of a porous material, for
example a porous plastics material. Each
member may have a plurality of parts which
interdigitate with the parts of the other mem
ber or members when said members are in
said assembled configuration.
Said container may be of glass or a plastics
material and said marking fluid may be a col
oured dye.
One embodiment of security device in accor
dance with the invention will now be de
scribed with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view,
Figure 2 is a front view,
Figure 3 is a side view, and
Figure 4 is a front view of the device in situ
adjacent a gas meter.
Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4 there is
shown a security device 10 comprising two
substantially identical members 11, 12. The
members 11, 12 are injection moulded of a
cheap porous plastics material, only one
mould being necessary to produce the two
members 11, 12. Each member 11, 12 has a
plurality of protruding parts 13, two being
provided per side in the embodiment shown although any other number may be provided if desired. The protruding parts 13 are spaced by recesses 14 adapted to receive the protruding parts 13 of the other member, so that the two members 11, 12 fit together, one inverted relative to the other, with the protruding parts 13 interdigitating as shown particularly in Fig. 3.Semi-circular recesses 15, 16 are provided in each member 11, 12 so that when the two members 11, 12 are in the assembled configuration the recesses 15 from a through bore- in the device 10 and the recesses 16 form an annular recess substantially centrally of the device 10.
When the members 11, 12 are in the assembled configuration a blind bore 17 is drilled through each set of interdigitating parts
13. Apertures 18 are provided, communicating with the bores 17.
The safety device 10 is used as follows, reference being made to Fig. 4. A gas meter 19 has a gas inlet pipe 20 and a gas outlet pipe 21 coupled to it at joints 22. Each joint 22 incorporates a nut 23. To prevent the nuts 23 being undone so as to uncouple the inlet and outlet pipes 20, 21 from the gas meter
19 in an attempt to either by-pass the meter
19 or reverse its direction of operation, a safety device 10 is placed around one or each joint 22. In Fig. 4 a device 10 is shown in situ at the joint 22 of the inlet pipe 20. The pipe 20 is received in the recesses 15 in the two members 11, 12 when they are assembled around the joint 22, and the nut 23 is received in the recesses 16. The protruding parts 13 of the members 11, 12 interdigitate as previously described, thereby allowing a dye-containing glass phial 24 (see Fig. 2) to be pushed into each blind bore 17.The phials 24 are of length slightly less than the length of the bores 17 so that they are completely housed therein and cannot be withdrawn once they have been inserted. The device 10 is now in its assembled operational configuration, and such assembly is quick and simple and does not involve the use of sophisticated tools or any technical knowledge on the part of the person assembling the device 10. It may be placed in situ by the meter reader and inspected at each meter reading.
Once in position the device 10 cannot be removed without breaking the glass phials 24, thereby releasing the indelible dye therefrom.
The dye will seep into the porous plastics material of the members 11, 12, and also run out of the apertures 18 to stain the outside of the members 11, 12. In consequence, any attempt to tamper with the gas member 19 and the inlet and/or outlet pipes 20, 21 can be detected since the device 10 will either not be present or will be stained if replaced.
Although the device 10 is described in relation to its use with a gas supply, it may be used in other circumstances, for example with liquid fuel supply lines or in chemical plants. In the latter case the device may be regarded purely as a safety device whereas in the cases of gas or liquid fuel the device is both a safety and a theft prevention security device.
In either case the deterrent effect can serve to prevent accidents caused by tampering with equipment by unauthorised and unskilled persons.
Other configurations of the members 11, 12 will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art. For example two members may be hingedly attached to each other at one side of the device 10 and have a single phial 24 housed in a recess 17 provided in the mutually overlapping part 13 of the members at the opposed side of the device 10. Alternatively more than two members may be provided which fit together and house one or more breakable phials in bores passing through at least two of the members. The phials may be of any readily breakable material such as a plastics material if desired.
When assembled, the device 10 should preferably be a loose fit around the nut 23 so as to preclude any possibility of the nut 23 being turned by turning the device 10.
As a further safeguard, since the nut 23 is not visible or accessible when the device 10 is fitted, at least a part of the device 10 may be of a material which reacts on contact with the fluid passing through the pipe 20 so as to change colour and indicate any leakage of fluid from the joint 22.
Claims (17)
1. A security device adapted to at least partially enclose a joint in a supply pipe, said device comprising a plurality of members and at least one container, said members having cooperating parts which are mutually overlapping when said members are in an assembled configuration, said parts of said members having recesses therein which are mutually aligned when said members are in said assembled configuration, said container being of a breakable material and having a marking fluid therein, and being adapted to be received in said aligned recesses whereby displacement of said members from said assembled configuration causes said container to break and re
lease said marking fluid so as to stain said
members.
2. A security device according to claim 1 comprising two members.
3. A security device according to claim 2 wherein said members are of substantially like form.
4. A security device according to any one
of claims 1 to 3 wherein said members are of
a porous material.
5. A security device according to any one
of claims 1 to 4, wherein said members are
of a porous plastics material.
6. A security device according to any one
of claims 1 to 5 wherein each of said members has a plurality of parts which interdigitate with the parts of the other member or members when said members are in said assembled configuration.
7. A security device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said container is of glass.
8. A security device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said container is of plastics material.
9. A security device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said marking fluid is a coloured dye.
10. A security device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein each member has a recess therein which forms with the recess in the or each other member a through bore in said device when said members are in said assembled configuration.
11. A security device according to claim 10 wherein each member has a second recess therein which forms with the second recess in the or each other member an annular recess disposed substantially centrally of said device when said members are in said asembled configuration.
12. A security device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein said aligned recesses are formed by a blind bore.
13. A security device according to claim
12 wherein a plurality of apertures are provided in a side of said device, which apertures communicate with said blind bore.
14. A security device according to claim
12 or claim 13 wherein said blind bore has a length greater than that of said container.
15. A security device according to any one of claims 1 to 14 comprising two members which are hingedly secured to each other at one side of said device andt have a container housed in a recess provided in the mutually overlapping parts of said members at the opposed side of said device.
16. A security device according to any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein at least a part of said device is of a material which reacts so as to change colour on contact with a fluid passing through said supply pipe so as to indicate leakage of said fluid from said pipe.
17. A security device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CA000528249A CA1277873C (en) | 1986-01-28 | 1987-01-27 | Security devices |
EP87300662A EP0235915A3 (en) | 1986-01-28 | 1987-01-27 | Security devices |
US07/007,667 US4777901A (en) | 1986-01-28 | 1987-01-28 | Security marking fluid device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB868602086A GB8602086D0 (en) | 1986-01-28 | 1986-01-28 | Gas security block |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB8608460D0 GB8608460D0 (en) | 1986-05-14 |
GB2185797A true GB2185797A (en) | 1987-07-29 |
GB2185797B GB2185797B (en) | 1989-12-06 |
Family
ID=10592096
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB868602086A Pending GB8602086D0 (en) | 1986-01-28 | 1986-01-28 | Gas security block |
GB8608460A Expired GB2185797B (en) | 1986-01-28 | 1986-04-07 | Security device |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB868602086A Pending GB8602086D0 (en) | 1986-01-28 | 1986-01-28 | Gas security block |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (2) | GB8602086D0 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2221041A (en) * | 1988-07-22 | 1990-01-24 | Craig Taylor | Security device for gas meter |
GB2304843A (en) * | 1995-09-08 | 1997-03-26 | Kevin Christopher Weet | Pipe coupling security seal |
-
1986
- 1986-01-28 GB GB868602086A patent/GB8602086D0/en active Pending
- 1986-04-07 GB GB8608460A patent/GB2185797B/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2221041A (en) * | 1988-07-22 | 1990-01-24 | Craig Taylor | Security device for gas meter |
GB2304843A (en) * | 1995-09-08 | 1997-03-26 | Kevin Christopher Weet | Pipe coupling security seal |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2185797B (en) | 1989-12-06 |
GB8602086D0 (en) | 1986-03-05 |
GB8608460D0 (en) | 1986-05-14 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
732 | Registration of transactions, instruments or events in the register (sect. 32/1977) | ||
PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |