GB2249276A

GB2249276A - Stop cock key

Info

Publication number: GB2249276A
Application number: GB9023848A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James David Kiteley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-11-02
Filing date: 1990-11-02
Publication date: 1992-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 2010-11-02
Also published as: GB2249276B; GB9023848D0

Abstract

A stop cock key comprises a shank 2 having at one end a receptor 4 between or within which is positioned a head 8. The head is displaceable or removable from its location within the receptor and includes, at axially separate positions, two or more pairs of radially spaced internal surfaces. The spacing of each pair of surfaces is different from the spacing of the or each other pair of surfaces, and the spacing of each pair of surfaces being such as to receive between the surfaces a non-circular stem, or stem cross-bar, of a rotary component such as a stop cock. <IMAGE>

Description

Stop Cock Key This invention relates to keys commonly used by, for example, plumbers and water board employees for opening and closing water stop cocks. Whilst the invention will be described herein in relation to such use, it will be clear that the use of the key is not restricted to water stop cocks, and that it may be used for operation of other rotable components of suitable shape and dimensions.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved stop cock key which is not, as hitherto, limited to use in association with only a single shape and size of stop cock stem, but which can be used selectively for engagement with and operation of a plurality of different shapes and sizes of stop cock stem.

My United Kingdom Patent No. 2183188 discloses and claims a stop cock key whose head includes, at axially separate positions, two or more pairs of radially spaced internal surfaces, the spacing of each pair of surfaces being different from the spacing of the or each other pair of surfaces, and the spacing of each pair of surfaces being such as to receive between the surfaces a noncircular stem, or stem cross-bar, of a rotary component such as a stop cock.

Whereas stop cock keys constructed in accordance with my earlier Patent have met with considerable commercial success, one potential drawback is that the key is limited in use to the particular sizes of stop cocks for which the key is designed. It is recognised that, particularly overseas, stop cock sizes differ from those adopted in the United Kingdom and one object of the present invention is to provide an improved key which is capable of being used to turn a greater number of stop cock stems.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stop cock key adapted to be fitted with one of a series of heads each having spaced surfaces of different dimensions and/or shape to other heads of the series.

According to the present invention in one aspect, there is provided a stop cock key comprising a shank having at one end a receptor between or within which is positioned a head, the head being displaceable or removable from its location within the receptor and including, at axially separate positions, two or more pairs of radially spaced internal surfaces, the spacing of each pair of surfaces being different from the spacing of the or each other pair of surfaces, and the spacing of each pair of surfaces being such as to receive between the surfaces a non-circular stem, or stem cross-bar, of a rotary component such as a stop cock.

The receptor may comprise a pair of spaced arms between which the head is mounted for turning movement about an axis generally normal to the two arms or, atlernatively, may comprise a closed figure, e.g. a cylinder, in which the head can be inserted with either one or the other pair of radially spaced surfaces closest to the free end of the receptor.

The opposed surfaces of the arms and/or opposed pairs of surfaces need not be parallel, and could advantageously diverge at a shallow angle.

The head may be secured to the arms of the shank by a screw which passes through an aperture in one arm and engages a complementary threaded aperture in the other arm. The head may be releasably secured between the arms and more than one head may be provided, each head being formed with two or more pairs of surfaces as described whose spacings and/or dimensions differ from those of other heads.

In another aspect, there is provided a stop cock key having a head releasably mounted between a pair of arms extending from one end of a shank of the key. The key may be supplied with more than one head, each head being so dimensioned and/or shaped to fit onto one of several differently sized and/or shaped stop cock key stems.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stop cock key in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the key illustrated in Figure 1; Figures 3 and 4 are sections taken along lines III III and IV-IV respectively of Figure 2; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternative key in accordance with the invention.

The key comprises a head 1, a shank 2 and a handle 3.

The shank 2 is formed at one end with a solid metal yoke comprising a pair of spaced arms 4. The head 1, also of metal, is secured to the arms 4 by a screw 5 which passes through apertures formed in one arm and the had to engage complementary threads of an aperture inclujded in the other arm. The yoke may be welded to the shank 2 and the latter may be of any convenient length.

The head comprises a first recess 6 of square crosssection and suitable axial length to receive the square stem of a first size of stop cock. The head also comprises a second recess 7 again of square cross-section and suitable axial length to receive the square stem of a second stop cock of greater size. The arms 4 extend generally parallel one to another and are spaced to define a gap 8 suitable to receive the cross-bar of a third kind of stop cock stem. The inner faces of the arms 4 may diverge at a shallow angle towards the free end of the yoke. The inner surfaces of the recesses 6 and 7 have been shown as parallel: it will be appreciated, however, that these surfaces could diverge at a shallow angle towards the free ends of the head.

As shown in Figure 1, the outrmost end of the head 1 is positioned generally flush with the ends of the arms 4.

The arms may, however, extend to positions beyond the end of the head; alternatively, the end of the head may extend to a position beyond the ends of the arms. When the arms of the key are to be used to turn a stop cock, the head may either be removed from the key or turned through 900 by lowering the screw 5. Of course, if the arms extend beyond the end of the head, it may not be necessary to remove or turn the head.

Two or more heads may be provided, each having recedsses of different dimensions and/or shape to the other(s), one head readily being replaced by another simply by releasing the screw 5.

In practice, the kind of stop cocks with which the key of the present invention is intended for use have a valve-operating stem which is axially long enough to permit the squared end of the stem to enter into the recess 6 or recess 7 without the remainer of the head fouling any part of the stop cock. Where the stop cock is of the kind which comprises some form of cross-bar, instead of a squared end to the stem, the cross-bar can fit between the arms 4 -and a keying action will be obtained, even if the transverse cross-section of the cross-bar varies within relatively wide limits. As the space defined between the arms 4 is open-ended, the length of any cross-bar encountered is immaterial.

It happens that the very large majority of the water stop cocks in use in the United Kingdom have squared stems which will fit into one or other of the recesses 6 and 7, or have a cross-bar which will fit between the arms 4. By way of example, the recess 6 could have a width of ninesixteenths of an inch, and the recess 7 could have a width of thiteen-sixteenths of an inch. The spacing of the free ends of the arms 4 could be one and one-sixteenths inches.

The device is not limited to such dimensions, and any dimensions could be selected to be appropriate to the stop cocks with which it is to be used, e.g. it may comprise metric dimenions.

The stop cock key illustrated in Figure 5 (in which like integers to those illustrated previously have been given the same reference numerals) differs from that illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 essentially in that the arms 4 extend to positions beyond the end face of the head 1, each of these arms 4 including projections 9. The forwardly extending arms 4 enable the key to be used to turn additonal stop cocks without the need firstly to remove or pivot the head. Also, the projections 9 are so dimensioned to enable the key to be used for operating gate valves whose dimensions are such as to preclude the use of the arms 4 for this purpose.

It has hitherto been conventional for users of stop cock keys, e.g. plumbers, water-board employees and the like, to need to carry a set of individual keys each adapted for use with only a single one of the various sizes of stop cock stem, or cross-bar, likely to be encountered. Such keys are necessarily large and weighty, and thus are cumbersome to carry about. They are also relatively costly. It frequently happens in practice that a plumber or water board employee arrives at a job, only to find that the particular key needed for operation of a stop cock is not available.

With the improved key of the present invention, a single key is available for use with substantially any kind of stop stock which the user is likely to encounter.

Only a single key is needed, so that there is a saving of weight of tools to be carried, and a very considerable saving in initial outlay.

It is to be understood that the foregoing is merely exemplary of stop cock keys in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto-without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A stop cock key comprising a shank having at one end a receptor between or within which is positioned a head, the head being displaceable or removable from its location within the receptor and including, at axially separate positions, two or more pairs of radially spaced internal surfaces, the spacing of each pair of surfaces being different from the spacing of the or each other pair of surfaces, and the spacing of each pair of surfaces being such as to receive between the surfaces a noncircular stem, or stem cross-bar, of a rotary component such as a stop cock.

2. A stop cock key as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the receptor comprises a pair of spaced arms between which the head is mounted for turning movement about an axis generally normal to the two arms.

3. A stop cock key as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the receptor comprises a closed figure in which the head can be inserted with either one or the other pair of radially spaced surfaces closest to the free end of the receptor.

4. A stop cock key as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the receptor is cylindrical.

5. A stop cock key comprising a shank having at one end a receptor between or within which is positioned a head, the head being displaceable or removable from its location within the receptor and including, at axially separate positions, two or more pairs of radially spaced internal surfaces, the spacing of each pair of surfaces being different from the spacing of the or each other pair of surfaces, and the spacing of each pair of surfaces being such as to receive between the surfaces a noncircular stem, or stem cross-bar, of a rotary component such as a stop cock.

6. A stop cock key as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the opposed surfaces of the arms and/or opposed pairs of surfaces diverge at a shallow angle.

7. A stop cock as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein the head is secured to the arms of the shank by a screw which passes through an aperture in one arm and engages a complementary threaded aperture in the other arm.

8. A stop cock key as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 7 wherein the head is releasably secured between the arms.

9. A stop cock key as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 8 wherein more than one head is provided, each head being formed with two or more pairs of surfaces as described whose spacings and/or dimensions differ from those of other heads.

10. A stop cock key having a head releasably mounted between a pair of arms extending from one end of a shank of the key.

11. A stop cock key as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the key is supplied with more than one head, each head being so dimensioned and/or shaped to fit onto one of several differently sized and/or shaped stop cock key stems.

12. A stop cock key substantially as herein described and as described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.