GB2352795A - Security apparatus for valve - Google Patents

Abstract

Valve security apparatus comprises housing means 12 arranged in use to at least partially house a valve stem 38, and securement means movable between a position in which it retains the housing means 12 in position and a release position. In one embodiment the housing means is a tube closed at one end 34 and the securement means comprises an arm 16 pivotally mounted on the tube and co-operating with a fixed plate 14 secured to the tube to attach the apparatus to a pipe 18. A padlock 28 may retain the end of the arm 16 in a hole 26 in the plate 14 and portions of the plate eg 32 may protect the padlock.. An L-shaped shield may be attached to the apparatus to protect the end of the pipe 18. In a second embodiment the arm 16 is fixed to a housing which comprises two pivotally connected sections.

Description

2352795 SECURITY BRACKET The present invention relates to security

apparatus, a method of securing a valve stem and a pipe including a valve stem that has been secured by an apparatus or a method as herein referred to.

In oil storage tanks there is an outlet valve that is operated by a handle attached to a stem that projects above the pipes. Whilst the handle can be removed, unauthorised people can operate the stem to drain oil from the tank either by providing their own handle or by otherwise engaging and rotating the stem. It has been proposed to pass a chain through the handle and to secure the chain with a lock. However, the chain can be broken with bolt cutters and the tank remains vulnerable to unauthorised removal of oil.

It is an object of the present invention to attempt to overcome at least some of the above or other disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the present invention valve security apparatus comprises stem housing means arranged, in use, to at least partially house a valve stem and releasable securement means movable between a securing position arranged, in use, to retain, a stem housing means in position and a release position.

The releasable securement means is preferably arranged, in use,' in the securing position, to extend at least partially, or preferably completely around a pipe when retaining the security housing means in position.

The releasable securement means preferably comprises a first member that is movable relative to a second member and in which the members are arranged to cooperate with s each other, preferably indirectly with each other, in the securing position.

The first member may be arranged to extend through the second member in the securing position and may be arranged to be prevented from returning through the second member by locking means.

Locking means may be arranged to retain the two members in the cooperating position. The locking means may include a movable member arranged, in use, in the securing position, to extend through one of the members to retain the members in the securement position.

The locking means may comprise a lock that is arranged to cooperate with at least one, and preferably both members to inhibit movement of the lock relative to the members in the securing position. Preferably such cooperation is arranged to retain the lock substantially against at least one, and preferably both of said members.

At least one of the members may be pivotal relative to the other.

The stem housing means is preferably movable between a position in which the housing means are open and a position in which the housing means are closed. In the open position the apparatus may be in the release position 3 and in the closed position the apparatus may be in the securing position.

At least in the securing position, the housing means may comprise a substantially hollow member that may be closed at one end. The hollow member may be substantially closed at one end. The hollow member may comprise a tube.

The apparatus may include a shield means arranged, in use, to extend over the end of a pipe to which the apparatus is secured. The shield means may comprise a first part that is arranged to extend in the axial direction of the pipe, away from housing means and then, at a location remote from the housing means, in a generally axial direction across the end of the pipe.

According to a further aspect of the present invention a method of securing a valve stem comprises locating a housing at least partially around a valve stem on a pipe and securing the housing in position.

The method may comprise causing a portion attached to the housing to extend at least partially around the pipe or preferably at least completely around the pipe to prevent the housing from coming off the valve stem.

The method may comprise pivoting the housing when locating the housing around a valve stem to close the housing around the valve stem.

The 'method may comprise removing an operating member from the valve stem prior to locating the housing around the valve stem.

The present invention also includes a pipe having a valve stem that has been secured by an apparatus or a method as herein referred to.

The present invention include any combination of the herein referred to features or limitations.

The present invention can be carried into practice in various ways but several embodiments will now be 10 described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a schematic end perspective view of the security clamp in an open position; is Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 of the bracket in a closed position; Figure 3 is a side view of the bracket with a 20 modif ication, and Figure 4 is a schematic end perspective view of a further embodiment of security clamp in a closed position.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the bracket 10 comprises a hollow cylindrical housing 12 having a fixed plate 14 welded to one side and extending downwardly and an arm 16 pivotally connected at the other side.

With the arm 16 in the open position shown in Figure 1, the bracket can be placed on a pipe 18 with the downwardly facing surface 20 of the housing resting on the upwardly facing surface of the pipe. The plate 14 extends down one side of the pipe and below the pipe. The arm 16 can be pivoted about an axis 22 in a clockwise direction to bring the free end 24 of that arm down, below and across the bottom of the pipe. As shown in Figure 2, the free end 24 passes through an opening 26 in the plate 14. The hasp of a padlock 28 is then fastened through an opening 30 at the free end to secure the bracket in place and prevent unauthorised removal of the bracket.

lo The padlock 28 is rectangular in cross-section and one end face is located adjacent or against the plate 14. The top of the padlock is located beneath a ledge 32 that projects from the side of the plate 14. The padlock is located adjacent to or against that ledge 32. This arrangement prevents easy access to the connection of the padlock to the opening 30 as the ledge 32 and plate 14 obscures that access. Furthermore, the cooperation of the padlock with the ledge and the plate 14 inhibits pivoting of the padlock in a clockwise direction about the opening.

Consequently the padlock remains in generally the position shown and it can not be tilted up to afford access to the hasp connection for tampering by an unauthorised person.

The free end of the arm 16 can abut with the underside of the ledge 32 to prevent further rotation about the pivot axis 22. Alternatively or additionally, that pivotal movement could be afforded by an abutment in the region of the pivot axis 22 or by abutment of the arm against the pipe 18.

The 'housing 12 is formed from a tube of metal such as steel. A disc 34 is inserted into the top of the tube and welded thereto to close the upper end of the housing. The pivot axis 22 of the arm is provided by a support 36 that is welded to the side of the housing and that extends down just below the housing. The bottom region of the support 36 is divided, as shown in Figure 3, to receive the arm s and with each side of the support receiving a pivot pin that can be welded at each end to the support 36. The pin extends through an opening in the arm and the arm can move about the pin.

The pipe 18 includes a valve such as a gate valve that controls the flow of fluid such as oil through the pipe. The valve can cause the flow to stop. The valve is operated by a stem 38 that extends upwardly from the pipe. Rotation of the stem operates the valve. A control wheel 40 is mounted on top of the stem. The wheel can be detachably mounted on the stem.

In use, the housing 12 is brought down such that the stem is located within the housing. If desired, the wheel can be removed prior to mounting the bracket on the pipe. With the bracket mounted on the pipe and with the valve operating stem 38 being concealed in a secure manner, unauthorised operation of the valve is prevented. This feature is particularly important at the dispense region of oil for instance and unauthorised removal of oil is prevented. The bracket can be mounted at the inlet or outlet end of a tank, for instance. The bracket also has security applications in preventing unauthorised operation of a valve in a production process, for instance, where such operation could have a harmful effect on the product or even a dangerous effect.

7 As shown in Figure 3, a plate 42 may be welded to the lower region of the housing with the plate extending along and above the pipe. The plate may be bent down to form an end plate 44 that conceals the end of the pipe.

Alternatively a further plate 44 could be welded to the f ree end of the plate 42. The plate 44 may, for instance, inhibit unauthorised tampering with the end of the pipe.

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment. However, this lo embodiment may include any or all of the features described above in relation to Figures 1 to 2. In Figure 4 the arm 16 is f ixed to the housing 12. However, the housing is in two parts 12A and 12B connected to each other by a pivot pin that defines an axis 46 that passes diametrically through the longitudinal axis of the housing. The housing part 12B can pivot about that axis relative to the housing part 12A to the position shown in chain lines to allow the bracket to be located on a pipe over a valve stem as previously described. The two parts 12A and 12B will be dimensional to allow one part to pivot within the other at least in the region of the pivot.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including s any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s). The invention extend to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

9

Claims (25)

1. Valve security apparatus comprising stem housing means arranged, in use, to at least partially house a valve stem and releasable securement means movable between a securing position arranged, in use, to retain a stem housing means in position and a release position.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the lo releasable securement means if preferably arranged, in use, in the securing position, to extend at least partially around a pipe when retaining the security housing means in position.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the releasable securement means comprises a first member that is movable relative to a second member and in which the members are arranged to cooperate with each other in the securing position.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the f irst member is arranged to extend through the second in the securing position.

S. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the first member is arranged to extend through the second member in the securing position and is arranged to be prevented from returning through the second member by locking means.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the locking means are arranged to retain the two members in a cooperating position.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or 6 in which the locking means include a movable member arranged, in use, in the securing position, to extend through one of the members to retain the members in the securement position.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7 in which the locking means comprise a lock that is arranged to cooperate with at least one member to inhibit movement of the lock relative to the members in the securing position.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which the cooperation of the lock with at least one of the members is arranged to retain the lock substantially against at least one of the members.

is

10. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 5 to 9 in which at least one of the members is pivotal relative to the other.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the stem housing means is movable between a position in which the housing means are open and a position in which the housing means are closed.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which, in the open position, the apparatus in the release position and, in the closed position, the apparatus is in the securing position.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which, at least in the securing position, the housing means comprises a substantially hollow member.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 in which the hollow member is closed at one end.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 or 14 in which the 5 hollow member comprises a tube.

16. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim including shield means arranged, in use, to extend over the end of a pipe to which the apparatus is secured.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 in which the shield means comprises a first part that is arranged to extend in the axial direction of the pipe, away from the housing means, and then, at a location remote from the housing means, in a generally radial direction across the end of the pipe.

18. Valve securing apparatus substantially as herein described and with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.

19. A method of securing a valve stem comprising locating a housing at least partially around a valve stem on a pipe and securing the housing in position.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 comprising causing a portion attached to the housing to extend at least partially around the pipe to prevent the housing from coming off the valve stem.

21. A method as claimed in claim 19 or 20 comprising pivoting the housing when locating the housing around a valve stem to close the housing around the valve stem.

22. A method as claimed in any of claims 19 to 21 comprising removing an operating member from the valve stem prior to locating the housing around the valve stem.

23. A method of securing a valve stem substantially as herein described and with reference to any of the accompanying figures.

24. A method of securing a valve stem as claimed in any of claims 19 to 23 when using valve security apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 18.

25. A pipe having a valve stem with the valve stem being 15 secured by an apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 18 or by a method as claimed in any of claims 19 to 24.