GB2301348A - Tamper evident cap - Google Patents

Tamper evident cap Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2301348A
GB2301348A GB9511006A GB9511006A GB2301348A GB 2301348 A GB2301348 A GB 2301348A GB 9511006 A GB9511006 A GB 9511006A GB 9511006 A GB9511006 A GB 9511006A GB 2301348 A GB2301348 A GB 2301348A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
valve
cap
tamper evident
bottle
seal
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
Application number
GB9511006A
Other versions
GB9511006D0 (en
GB2301348B (en
Inventor
Paul O'connell
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
RUSTSUN Ltd
Original Assignee
RUSTSUN Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by RUSTSUN Ltd filed Critical RUSTSUN Ltd
Publication of GB9511006D0 publication Critical patent/GB9511006D0/en
Publication of GB2301348A publication Critical patent/GB2301348A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2301348B publication Critical patent/GB2301348B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C13/00—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
    • F17C13/06—Closures, e.g. cap, breakable member
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
    • F17C2201/01—Shape
    • F17C2201/0104—Shape cylindrical
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
    • F17C2203/06—Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
    • F17C2203/0634—Materials for walls or layers thereof
    • F17C2203/0636—Metals
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
    • F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
    • F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
    • F17C2205/0323—Valves
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
    • F17C2205/05—Vessel or content identifications, e.g. labels
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
    • F17C2223/0107—Single phase
    • F17C2223/0123—Single phase gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Abstract

A tamper evident cap 11 for a fuel gas bottle 2 having a gas outlet valve 8-10 comprises a top wall 12 covering the gas outlet and a cylindrical side wall 14 including a tamper indicating portion (19, figure 2) with release means 20 to actuate the tamper indicting portion, the cap having engagement means to detachably secure it onto the valve. The engagement means preferably comprise a locating ring 15 on the cap top wall and a radially inwardly extending ring 16 on the side wall, the cap being moulded from plastics material in one piece and snapping by force fitting on the valve. The tamper evident porion is preferably defined by two axially extending grooves (17, 18 figure 2) which define a tear strip.

Description

"A Tamper Evident Seal" Introduction The invention relates to a tamper evident seal and more particularly to a tamper evident seal for a pressurised fuel gas bottle of the type having a cylindrical metal bottle and a valve extending upwardly from one end thereof, the valve including a fuel gas outlet for delivery of fuel gas from the bottle; a gas retention valve means for allowing controlled release of fuel gas from the gas outlet; and a key operated release means for holding the gas retention valve means in position on the bottle.
It is relatively easy to tamper with pressurised fuel gas bottles to steal some of the fuel gas from the bottle. This is a particularly difficult problem as for safety reasons such gas bottles are often stored in locations which are particularly accessible to the public. It is known to provide various types of seals such as heat shrunk sleeves over the valves of such gas bottles however conventional sealing arrangements are often easily tampered with and do not provide a sufficient tamper proof guarantee for the consumer.
There is therefore a need for an improved tamper evident seal for such fuel gas bottles.
Statements of Invention According to the invention there is provided a tamper evident seal for a pressurised fuel gas bottle of the type comprising a cylindrical metal bottle and a valve extending upwardly from one end of the bottle, the valve including a fuel gas outlet for delivery of gas from the bottle; a gas retention valve means for allowing controlled release of fuel gas from the gas outlet; and a key operated release means for holding the gas retention valve means in position on the bottle; the tamper evident seal comprising a cap having engagement means for detachably securing the cap on the valve, the cap having, a top wall covering the fuel gas outlet; a generally cylindrical side wall; a tamper indicator on the cap side wall for indicating removal of the cap; and release means for the tamper indicator to actuate the tamper indicator and disengage the cap from the valve.
Ideally the cap is of resilient material moulded in one shot.
In one arrangement the tamper indicator is a tear away strip of the cap side wall.
Preferably the tear away strip is defined by at least one groove extending axially along the cap side wall to form a weakened portion.
Ideally the tear away strip is defined by two spacedapart axially extending grooves in the cap side wall.
Preferably the engagement means includes a locator for positioning the tamper evident seal on a valve.
Preferably the locator is an inwardly extending ring on the cap top wall for engaging a valve.
Preferably the engagement means is formed for snap-fit engagement with a valve.
Ideally the engagement means includes a radially extending retaining ring extending inwardly from the cap side wall.
In one embodiment the retaining ring has a weakened portion for facilitating actuation of the tamper indicator.
In a preferred arrangement the release means is provided by a ring pull on the tear-away strip.
Ideally the seal is of a plastics material.
Preferably the cap is a force fit on a fuel gas bottle valve.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a fuel gas bottle having a tamper evident seal of the invention.
In another aspect the invention provides a method for filling and sealing a pressurised fuel bottle comprising the steps of: weighing an empty fuel gas bottle to establish a tear weight; filling fuel gas into the bottle through an inlet valve; weighing the bottle as it is being filled by the fuel gas; stopping filling when the weight of the bottle filled with the fuel gas less the tear weight is equal to a target fill weight; testing the integrity of the seal; positioning the valve of the filled fuel gas bottle under a seal applying head; applying a seal of the invention to the valve; and force fitting the seal to the valve.
Ideally the force fitting is by applying a downward pressure force to the seal to apply the seal to the valve.
Detailed Description The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a partly cut-away perspective view from below of a tamper evident seal according to the invention; Fig. 2 is perspective view from above of the tamper evident seal of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is another perspective view of the seal from below; Fig. 4 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrows IV - IV of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a partially cut away view of the seal of Figs. 1 to 4 in position on a gas cylinder; Fig. 6 is a perspective partially cut away view similar to Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 5 showing the tamper evident seal being removed from the gas cylinder; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the tamper evident seal fully removed from the gas cylinder.
Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a tamper evident seal according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 for a pressurised gas bottle of the type comprising a generally cylindrical metal gas-containing bottle 2 having a valve 3. In this case the valve 3 has a gas outlet provided by a hole 4 in a dust cap 5 for delivery of gas from the bottle 2 and gas retention means provided by a springloaded self sealing valve carrying a plunger 7 for engaging the hole 4 and controlling release of fuel gas.
The valve 3 also has a key operated release means provided in this case by a locking ring 8 carrying a rubber ring 9 for holding the self sealing valve in position and includes a lower circumferentially extending recess 10.
The tamper evident seal 1 is provided in this case by a plastics cap 11 having a top wall 12, an open lower end 13 and a generally cylindrical side wall 14. The cap 11 has engagement means for locating and detachably securing the cap 11 on the valve 3.
The engagement means includes a locator provided by ring 15 which extends inwardly from the top wall 12 of the cap 11 to locate the cap 10 on the valve 3 by engaging the dust cap 5. The engagement means also includes a retaining ring 16 extending inwardly from the cap side wall 14 adjacent the open end 13 for engaging in the recess 10 of the valve 3. The cap 11 is positioned on the valve 3 by application of downward force alone to provide a snap-fit engagement with the valve 3 and does not require the use of hazardous heat shrink equipment.
The cap 11 has two axially extending parallel grooves 17, 18 along part of the side wall 14 which form weakened portions and define a tear away strip 19. The tear away strip 19 defines a tamper indicator for indicating removal of the cap 11. The retaining ring 16 also has a portion of reduced cross section to ease removal of the tear away strip 19.
A release means provided by a ring pull 20 extends outwardly from the tear away strip 19. This allows the cap to be formed from a single piece of lightweight plastics material which is easily removed from the valve 3 by the action of a single finger of a user. It also ensures that cap and tamper indicator remain as a single piece after removal, facilitating visual checking of the cylinders and accelerating the refill process.
In use, to apply the cap 11 the gas bottle 2 moves along a conveyor belt (not shown) to a position in which the valve 3 is directly below the open end 13 of the cap 11.
Downward force is applied and the cap 11 is pressed down. The cap 11 continues to move down until the inwardly extending spacer ririp 13 is located on the gas outlet hole 4 and engages the dust cap 5 and the retaining ring 16 engages the recess 10 beneath the rubber ring 9. This ensures that the cap 11 is accurately positioned on the bottle 2 by a simple downward motion of a cap applicator allowing for automatic seal placement. The retaining ring 16 engaged in the recess 10 prevents the cap 11 from moving back up along the valve 3 and the inwardly extending spacer ring 15 prevents operation of the self sealing valve 6 by the top wall 12.
When it is required to remove the tamper evident seal 1 from the valve 3 a user places a finger in the ring pull 20. As the ring pull 20 is pulled the tear away strip 19 is torn along the parallel grooves 17, 18 allowing the cap 11 to be lifted off the valve 3. As the grooves 17, 18 are weakened along only portion of the side wall 14, the tear away strip 19 does not fully detach from the cap 11 but remains at an angle to it making it immediately apparent when a cap 11 has been removed.
It will be appreciated that key operated release means may be replaced by a suitable retaining nut and that any suitable valve mechanism may be used with or without a dust cap seal.
It will also be appreciated that the spacer ring provides a significant improvement in the rigidity of the tamper evident seal.
It will be noted that the tamper evident seal presents a smooth exterior surface to make it difficult to grip thus preventing tampering.
The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described which may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims (19)

Claims
1. A tamper evident seal for a pressurised fuel gas bottle of the type comprising a cylindrical metal bottle and a valve extending upwardly from one end of the bottle, the valve including a fuel gas outlet for delivery of gas from the bottle; a gas retention valve means for allowing controlled release of fuel gas from the gas outlet; and a key operated release means for holding the gas retention valve means in position on the bottle; the tamper evident seal comprising a cap having engagement means for detachably securing the cap on the valve, the cap having, a top wall covering the fuel gas outlet; a generally cylindrical side wall; a tamper indicator on the cap side wall for indicating removal of the cap; and release means for the tamper indicator to actuate the tamper indicator and disengage the cap from the valve.
2. A tamper evident seal as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cap is of resilient material moulded in one shot.
3. A tamper evident seal as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the tamper indicator is a tear away strip of the cap side wall.
4. A tamper evident seal as claimed in claim 3 wherein the tear away strip is defined by at least one groove extending axially along the cap side wall to form a weakened portion.
5. A tamper evident seal as claimed in claim 4 wherein the tear away strip is defined by two spaced-apart axially extending grooves in the cap side wall.
6. A tamper evident seal as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the engagement means includes a locator for positioning the tamper evident seal on the valve.
7. A tamper evident seal as claimed in claim 6 wherein the locator is an inwardly extending ring on the cap top wall for engaging a valve.
8. A tamper evident seal as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the engagement means is formed for snap-fit engagement with a valve.
9. A tamper evident seal as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the engagement means includes a radially extending retaining ring extending inwardly from the cap side wall.
10. A tamper evident seal as claimed in claim 9 wherein the retaining ring has a weakened portion for facilitating actuation of the tamper indicator.
11. A tamper evident seal as claimed in any of claims 3 to 9 wherein the release means is provided by a ring pull on the tear-away strip.
12. A tamper evident seal as claimed in any of claims 2 to 11 wherein the seal is of a plastics material.
13. A tamper evident seal as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the cap is a force fit on a fuel gas bottle valve.
14. A tamper evident seal for a fuel gas bottle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
15. A fuel gas bottle having a tamper evident seal as claimed in any preceding claim fitted thereto.
16. A method for filling and sealing a pressurised fuel bottle comprising the steps of: weighing an empty fuel gas bottle to establish a tear weight; filling fuel gas into the bottle through an inlet valve; weighing the bottle as it is being filled by the fuel gas; stopping filling when the weight of the bottle filled with the fuel gas less the tear weight is equal to a target fill weight; testing the integrity of the seal; positioning the valve of the filled fuel gas bottle under a seal applying head; applying a seal as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13 to the valve; and force fitting the seal to the valve.
17. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the force fitting is by applying a downward pressure force to the seal to apply the seal to the valve.
18. A method for filling and sealing a pressurised fuel gas bottle substantially as hereinbefore described.
19. A pressurised fuel gas bottle whenever filled and sealed by a method as claimed in any of claims 16 to 18.
GB9511006A 1995-05-25 1995-05-31 A Tamper Evident Seal and Pressurised Fuel Gas Bottle Expired - Lifetime GB2301348B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IES950381 IES66410B2 (en) 1995-05-25 1995-05-25 A tamper evident seal

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9511006D0 GB9511006D0 (en) 1995-07-26
GB2301348A true GB2301348A (en) 1996-12-04
GB2301348B GB2301348B (en) 1999-12-08

Family

ID=11040766

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9511006A Expired - Lifetime GB2301348B (en) 1995-05-25 1995-05-31 A Tamper Evident Seal and Pressurised Fuel Gas Bottle

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2301348B (en)
IE (1) IES66410B2 (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6854616B2 (en) * 2002-04-30 2005-02-15 Alliance Plastics Protective valve cap
GB2405869A (en) * 2003-09-12 2005-03-16 Calor Teoranta A tamper evident cap for gas cylinders
EP1917904A1 (en) * 2006-10-31 2008-05-07 Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. Attachment apparatus for an endoscope
US8141578B2 (en) 2006-09-15 2012-03-27 Protective Industries, Inc. Gas bottle valve stem protective sleeve
US8464749B2 (en) 2006-09-15 2013-06-18 Protective Industries, Inc. Gas bottle valve body protective device
CN104776265A (en) * 2014-06-14 2015-07-15 杨小平 Liquefied gas cylinder valve sealing sleeve with sanitation function

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD739500S1 (en) 2014-03-06 2015-09-22 Hyperkinetics Corporation Valve cover

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2097768A (en) * 1981-04-06 1982-11-10 Smiths Containers Ltd Bottle and like container closures
GB2182915A (en) * 1985-11-18 1987-05-28 Eurobung Limited Protective cap
US4712705A (en) * 1987-01-30 1987-12-15 Stoffel Seals Corporation Tamper indicating cap seal for container valves
EP0364857A1 (en) * 1988-10-13 1990-04-25 Messer Griesheim Gmbh Origin-proof cap for gas bottle valves

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2097768A (en) * 1981-04-06 1982-11-10 Smiths Containers Ltd Bottle and like container closures
GB2182915A (en) * 1985-11-18 1987-05-28 Eurobung Limited Protective cap
US4712705A (en) * 1987-01-30 1987-12-15 Stoffel Seals Corporation Tamper indicating cap seal for container valves
EP0364857A1 (en) * 1988-10-13 1990-04-25 Messer Griesheim Gmbh Origin-proof cap for gas bottle valves

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6854616B2 (en) * 2002-04-30 2005-02-15 Alliance Plastics Protective valve cap
GB2405869A (en) * 2003-09-12 2005-03-16 Calor Teoranta A tamper evident cap for gas cylinders
GB2405869B (en) * 2003-09-12 2005-10-26 Calor Teoranta A tamper evident cap
US8141578B2 (en) 2006-09-15 2012-03-27 Protective Industries, Inc. Gas bottle valve stem protective sleeve
US8464749B2 (en) 2006-09-15 2013-06-18 Protective Industries, Inc. Gas bottle valve body protective device
EP1917904A1 (en) * 2006-10-31 2008-05-07 Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. Attachment apparatus for an endoscope
CN101172032B (en) * 2006-10-31 2011-06-22 伊西康内外科公司 Attachment apparatus for an endoscope
US8747304B2 (en) 2006-10-31 2014-06-10 Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. Attachment apparatus for an endoscope
CN104776265A (en) * 2014-06-14 2015-07-15 杨小平 Liquefied gas cylinder valve sealing sleeve with sanitation function
CN104776265B (en) * 2014-06-14 2017-04-05 杨小平 Liquefied gas bottle valve sealing sleeve with hygienic function

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9511006D0 (en) 1995-07-26
IES950381A2 (en) 1995-12-27
IES66410B2 (en) 1995-12-27
GB2301348B (en) 1999-12-08

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PE20 Patent expired after termination of 20 years

Expiry date: 20150530