GB2304843A - Pipe coupling security seal - Google Patents

Pipe coupling security seal Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2304843A
GB2304843A GB9518335A GB9518335A GB2304843A GB 2304843 A GB2304843 A GB 2304843A GB 9518335 A GB9518335 A GB 9518335A GB 9518335 A GB9518335 A GB 9518335A GB 2304843 A GB2304843 A GB 2304843A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
unit
shows
ball bearing
coupling
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9518335A
Other versions
GB9518335D0 (en
Inventor
Kevin Christopher Weet
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.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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 Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB9518335A priority Critical patent/GB2304843A/en
Publication of GB9518335D0 publication Critical patent/GB9518335D0/en
Priority to CA002185045A priority patent/CA2185045A1/en
Publication of GB2304843A publication Critical patent/GB2304843A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F3/00—Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
    • G09F3/02—Forms or constructions
    • G09F3/03—Forms or constructions of security seals
    • G09F3/0305—Forms or constructions of security seals characterised by the type of seal used
    • G09F3/0323—Forms or constructions of security seals characterised by the type of seal used having clamp-like sealing means
    • 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
    • F16L25/00—Constructive types of pipe joints not provided for in groups F16L13/00 - F16L23/00 ; Details of pipe joints not otherwise provided for, e.g. electrically conducting or insulating means
    • 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
    • F16L35/00—Special arrangements used in connection with end fittings of hoses, e.g. safety or protecting devices
    • 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

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
  • Gasket Seals (AREA)

Abstract

The security seal described consists mainly of a single body of material which is fitted around a pipe coupling, and then sealed closed. This prevents access being gained to the coupling by physically preventing a leverage being applied to the coupling. If the fitted sealed unit is gripped and turned it will spin freely around the pipe connection leaving the connection unmoved in any way. The metal stud seals consists of two close fitting plugs and a ball bearing which when crimped together form a tight friction fit, and are used to close and 'seal' the main unit. This is best illustrated by figure 7.

Description

PIPE COUPLING SECURITY SEAL This invention relates to a type of security seal.
Pipe couplings come in various forms, for example, compression joints, unions and many others. There is also a special type of coupling called a meter union which is used on certain types of fuel meters, for example, domestic gas meters. A person with even limited technical knowledge may with the use of a spanner or wrench undo these 'couplings' and therefore easily remove a meter or gain access without authorisation..
Taking the meter union for this example, it is an ideal connection for the fuel supplier as it offers easy removal and installation of meters, unfortunately this means that any unauthorised person may also just as easily remove the meter.
According to the present type of invention there is provided a plastic moulded unit which is used by placing it around the 'union', and then sealing the unit by means of two press fitting stud type seals and a steel ball bearing which are pushed through the tabs which form part of the main moulded unit.
A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:.
Drawing 1 shows, i) a meter union open. ii) the same meter union 'made'.
iii) the meter union fitted with the invention (sealed).
Drawing 2 shows, i) a typical position for meter unions.
Drawing 3 shows the plastic moulded body which forms the obstruction part of the seal.
Drawing 4 shows an enlarged version of the unit, it also shows the press fitting stud type seals.
Drawing 5 shows an enlarged version of the unit and a cross section of the fitted stud seals.
Referring to Drawing 4, Fig 6 shows the main unit 3, two metal stud type fittings 4 and 5, and also a ball bearing 6. The main unit 3 is pulled open to allow it to be placed around the coupling to be sealed, it is then closed with the tabs coming together and the holes in them lining up. The stud fitting 4 is then pushed home through the aligned holes in the tabs, the ball bearing 6 is then placed into the stud fitting 4. The stud fitting 5 is then pushed through the opposite way and into stud 4. The stud fittings 4 and 5 then have to be forced together by applying a suitable crimping tool. The ball bearing 6 is forced into the cavity in stud 5 by this action. The diameter of the ball bearing is larger than that of the cavity in stud 5, therefore the walls of the cavity are forced outwards into stud 4. This results in studs 4 and 5 being securely and tightly fastened together.
The ball bearing 6 also inhibits attempts to drill through the centre of the fixed stud seals 4 and 5, it also inhibits attempts to saw between the tabs of the main unit 3 and on through the fixed stud seals 4 and 5.
The stud type fittings 4 and 5 can either be embossed by the action of crimping or when manufactured, with a suitable logo.
KEY TO DRAWINGS Drawing 1. Fig 1, shows a meter union open.
Fig 2, shows a meter union coupled or made.
Fig 3, shows a meter union that has the invention fitted as described in page 2, paragraph 2.
Drawing 2. Fig 4, shows a typical position for the installation of the invention, indicated by the dotted lines.
Drawing 3. Fig 5 a. shows the side elevation of the main seal unit 3, it also shows the hole through the tabs. Fig 5 b. shows a cross section of the side elevation. Fig 5 c.
shows the plan view of the same unit. Fig 5 d. shows a cross section of the plan view. Fig 5 e. shows a plan view of the same unit in a open position as to allow for fitting.
Drawing 4. Fig 6 shows main unit 3, and metal seal units 4 and 5, also ball bearing 6.
There is also a cross sectional view of 4, 5, and 6 for clarity.
Drawing 5. Fig 7 shows a plan view of the main unit 3 which is closed, and a cross sectional view of the metal seal units 4 and 5, also ball bearing 6, in their fastened state.

Claims (3)

1 If the unit 3, studs 4 and 5, and ball bearing 6 are fitted to a pipe connection in the way described on page 2 paragraph 1, it will be seen that leverage on the connection in the usual way with a spanner or wrench is not possible, and so without removing the unit 3 and so breaking the seal the pipe connection cannot be tampered with.
2 The main unit 3 as claimed in claim 1, may also be manufactured from materials other than that described on page 1, for example it can also be fabricated from metal if so required.
3 The metal seals 4 and 5, and ball bearing 6 may be replaced by any suitable locking or sealing device which effectively closes the main unit 3, and acts as a seal, as long as the main unit 3 remains around the pipe connection, the pipe connection remains inaccessible.
GB9518335A 1995-09-08 1995-09-08 Pipe coupling security seal Withdrawn GB2304843A (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9518335A GB2304843A (en) 1995-09-08 1995-09-08 Pipe coupling security seal
CA002185045A CA2185045A1 (en) 1995-09-08 1996-09-09 Door lock and latch mechanism

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9518335A GB2304843A (en) 1995-09-08 1995-09-08 Pipe coupling security seal

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9518335D0 GB9518335D0 (en) 1995-11-08
GB2304843A true GB2304843A (en) 1997-03-26

Family

ID=10780380

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9518335A Withdrawn GB2304843A (en) 1995-09-08 1995-09-08 Pipe coupling security seal

Country Status (2)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2185045A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2304843A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19852122A1 (en) * 1998-11-12 2000-05-18 Grohe Kg Hans Anti-theft fastening for sanitary fitting has union nut or sleeve with counter thread, and protective sleeve completely covering nut

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB203490A (en) * 1922-08-09 1923-09-13 Henry John Joscelyne Improved fastening means for handles, door knobs and the like
GB325743A (en) * 1929-04-17 1930-02-27 Walter Stich Improvements relating to name plates and number plates
GB2014680A (en) * 1978-02-11 1979-08-30 United Gas Industries Ltd Collar Preventing Access to Nuts
GB2162606A (en) * 1984-08-02 1986-02-05 British Gas Corp Anti-tampering device for a pipe joint
GB2185797A (en) * 1986-01-28 1987-07-29 Wayne Michael Marsden Security device for pipe joints
GB2218050A (en) * 1988-02-05 1989-11-08 James David Millard Nut security seal
GB2277134A (en) * 1993-03-17 1994-10-19 Richard Davis Lockable female coupling

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB203490A (en) * 1922-08-09 1923-09-13 Henry John Joscelyne Improved fastening means for handles, door knobs and the like
GB325743A (en) * 1929-04-17 1930-02-27 Walter Stich Improvements relating to name plates and number plates
GB2014680A (en) * 1978-02-11 1979-08-30 United Gas Industries Ltd Collar Preventing Access to Nuts
GB2162606A (en) * 1984-08-02 1986-02-05 British Gas Corp Anti-tampering device for a pipe joint
GB2185797A (en) * 1986-01-28 1987-07-29 Wayne Michael Marsden Security device for pipe joints
GB2218050A (en) * 1988-02-05 1989-11-08 James David Millard Nut security seal
GB2277134A (en) * 1993-03-17 1994-10-19 Richard Davis Lockable female coupling

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19852122A1 (en) * 1998-11-12 2000-05-18 Grohe Kg Hans Anti-theft fastening for sanitary fitting has union nut or sleeve with counter thread, and protective sleeve completely covering nut
DE19852122C2 (en) * 1998-11-12 2001-12-20 Hansgrohe Ag Connection device for a sanitary object

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9518335D0 (en) 1995-11-08
CA2185045A1 (en) 1997-03-09

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)