GB2402719A

GB2402719A - Hydrant security device

Info

Publication number: GB2402719A
Application number: GB0411768A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin James Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-06-13
Filing date: 2004-05-26
Publication date: 2004-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2024-05-26
Also published as: GB2402719B; GB0313611D0; GB0411768D0

Abstract

A hydrant security device comprising an anchor element (10) fixedly attached to the hydrant (20) and a cover element (26) configured to inhibit access to at least the hydrant valve actuating means (32) in its installed position, and cover retaining means (24) which is releasably engageable with the anchor element (10) to secure the cover (26) in its installed position. Additional locking means (65) may be provided. A release tool (44) is preferably required to remove the hydrant security device from the hydrant (20).

Description

1 2402719 Title: Water Hydrant Security Means

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to security means for a water hydrant.

The present invention aims to provide a useful means of preventing unauthorized access to a water hydrant.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a hydrant security device comprising an anchor element fixedly attached to the hydrant and a cover element configured to inhibit access to at least the hydrant valve actuating means in its installed position, and cover retaining means which is releasably engageable with the anchor element to secure the cover in its installed position.

More preferably the cover is also configured to inhibit access to the water outlet part of the hydrant and/or to the fixing means for the anchor element. A preferred cover element comprises a base plate having an aperture to receive part of the anchor element, which part projects through said aperture in the installed position. More preferably the base plate includes an aperture to receive part of the valve actuating spindle. The base plate preferably comprises an elongate channel having a base connecting a pair of spaced side walls that depend downwardly from the base in its installed position.

More preferably still the cover element comprises a housing disposed overlying at least said aperture for the anchor element and preferably also the aperture for the valve actuating spindle. The cover retaining means is wholly accommodated within said housing. The housing has an open end through which the cover retaining means is inserted for installation purposes and through which it is subsequently removed to release the cover.

The preferred cover retaining means comprises a spring clip. More particularly it conveniently comprises a substantially U-shaped element having a base connecting two spaced apart locating limbs. The free ends of the limbs are received in respective holes formed in the anchor element. To aid engagement the free ends are tapered. Furthermore the limbs are notched at a distance inset from the ends thereof. In the installed position the notches align with the anchor plate and shoulders of the notch which abut the anchor plate and in conjunction with the resilience of the clip to prevent the cover retaining means from being withdrawn without deflection of the retaining means to position the limbs in a release position. To that end the housing has, at least one and preferably two, apertures formed therein to receive clip actuating means of a release tool.

In a preferred embodiment, the resilience of the retaining means act to urge the limbs apart and the housing has apertures outwardly of said limbs to receive two actuating means. In an alternative, where the limbs are biased towards one another, the apertures may be disposed between the two limbs.

Preferably the apertures in the housing comprises two opposing slots, one in each side wall of the housing, and the release tool comprises a generally V- shaped element that has the actuating means, in the form of tabs, at the end of each limb. Conveniently a link element is slidably connectible with the limbs of the release tool and can be pushed along the limbs to hold the release tool in its position of engaged with the limbs of the retaining means.

Because the cover retaining means is accommodated wholly within the housing, it has to be removed with a special tool. Access to the cover retaining clip via the aforesaid opening is partially hindered by a cross bar fitted across the opening. This is provided to prevent the access of bolt cutters or a saw blade to the cover retaining means. The preferred release tool comprises an elongate element having a claw at one end to engage with the retaining member whereby a pivotal movement of the tool serves to move the retaining means out of alignment with the cross bar and draws it from engagement with the anchor element - when the release tool is in position.

The other end of the tool is configured for use in pushing home the cover retaining means and includes a spigot insert from the end which is secured in recess of the cover to act as a fulcrum part for the tool. The end of the tools acts as the base of the cover retaining means to inject into position.

Additionally, the hydrant security device of the invention may be provided with additional security devices. A preferred first security device enables the hydrant security device of the invention to be further secured with a padlock. Particularly vulnerable hydrants could also be further secured with second additional security device, comprising a sacrificial element that is affixed to either the cover element and/or the first additional security device.

In a most preferred embodiment of the invention, the sacrificial element is welded in situ.

V

Accordingly, the invention may provide three levels of security for a hydrant, namely; Level 1 - Hydrant accessible using dedicated tools only.

Level 2 - Hydrant accessible using dedicated tools and a padlock key.

Level 3 - Access to hydrant requires the sacrificial element to be cut away, a padlock key and dedicated tools.

A preferred embodiment of the invention shall now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the anchor element; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the anchor element in situ; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the cover element being offered up to a hydrant fitted with an anchor element; Figure 4 shows a cut-away plan view of the retaining means engaging with both the anchor and cover elements; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the cover element; Figure 6 shows the retaining means being released using a specially adapted tool; Figure 7 shows a plan view of the retaining means; Figure 8 shows a first additional security device for the apparatus whereby it can be locked using a padlock; Figure 9 shows a cross-section of the apparatus with the first additional security device installed; Figure 10 shows a second additional security device in the from of a sacrificial plate; Figure 11 shows a cross-section of the second additional secrity device installed; Figure 12 is a schematic section through the cover element showing how the spring clip is levered out using a tool; and Figure 13 shows a second perspective view of the first and second additional security devices installed.

Figure 1 shows an anchor element 10 according to the invention, comprising an L-shaped base 12 and an upright 14. The base 12 has apertures 16 therein for engagement with the capping bolts 18 of a hydrant 20. The upright 14 also has apertures 22 therein for engagement with the retaining means 24.

Figure 2 shows how the anchor element 10 is engaged with a hydrant 20 by way of securing the hydrant 20 capping bolts 18 through the base apertures 16.

Figure 3 shows the cover element 26, which is fabricated from a generally U-shaped channel fabricated of folded metal sheet. The cover element 26 has a slot 28 that is arranged to accept the upright 14 of the anchor element 10. The cover element 26 also has a spindle aperture 30 adapted to receive the spindle 32 of the hydrant 20. The spindle aperture 30 has a square tube 34 welded thereto for reinforcement.

Figure 4 shows in plan view, how the cover element 26 fits over the hydrant and engages both the spindle 34 and the upright 14 of the anchor

Q

element. The clearance between the tube 34 and the spindle 32 is insufficient to enable the spindle 32 to rotate and therefore operate the hydrant. The retaining means 24 is a U-shaped spring clip that is inserted from the direction indicated by arrow A to surround the spindle 32 on three sides and to engage with the apertures of the upright 14 of the anchor element.

Also shown in Figure 4 is a housing 36 that inhibits access to the spring clip 24. The housing 36 is open-ended, but crossbars 38 & 55 are installed there across to further inhibit access to the spring clip 24. The housing 36 has apertures 40 therein proximate to the upright 14 of the anchor element, whose use shall become apparent later.

Figure 5 of the drawings shows a perspective view of the cover element 26 showing the housing 36 and the apertures 40.

Figure 6 shows the security means being removed from a hydrant 20 using two tools 42 and 44. The first tool 42 comprises a generally V-shaped spring clip having tabs 46 at the ends thereof. The tabs 46 are arranged to coincide with the apertures 40 of the housing 36 on either side of the cover element 36. An inwards force, as indicated by the arrows B causes the spring clip 24 to disengage with the upright of the anchor element 10. Whilst an inwards force B is being applied to the first tool 42, a second tool 44 is being used to lever the spring clip 24 out of the housing 36. The second tool 44 has a hooked end that engages with the spring clip 24. A downward force as indicated by arrow C, applied to the end of the second tool 44, levers the spring clip 24 up and over the lower crossbar 38 and out of the housing 36. it,

Figure 7 shows some detail of the spring clip 24, which has chamfered ends 48 for ease of insertion. The spring clip 24 is also provided with notches that engage with the apertures 22 of the upright 14 of the anchor element 10. The distance x between the notches 50 and the cross member 52 of the spring clip 24 is substantially the same as the distance between the upright 14 of the anchor element 10 and far side of the tube 34 surrounding the spindle aperture (see Figure 4). The notches 50, therefore coincide with the apertures 22 of the upright 14 of the anchor element 10, so that the stepped edge 53 and 54 engage with opposite faces of the upright 14. Inward pressure B applied to the spring clip 24 enables the stepped edges 53 and 54 to disengage with the upright, thereby permitting the clip 24 to slide out.

Turning now to Figure 8, which shows a first additional security device 56 for the apparatus enabling the cover element 26 to be locked in situ. The first additional security device 56 has a generally L-shaped body 56a with a pair of prongs 57 & 58 depending therefrom. The prongs 57 & 58 are spaced apart, and their separation y conveniently enables them to overlie the limbs of the locking element 24. This prevents the locking element 24 from being lifted, and thus extracted, thereby un-locking the apparatus from the hydrant 20.

The first additional security device 56 is also fitted with a lock guard 59 to inhibit access to a padlock (not shown), thereby preventing the ring of the padlock from being cut to release it.

Figure 9 of the drawings shows the first additional security device 56 installed. The body 56a is arranged to close the opening of the housing 36 and the prongs 57 & 58 pass between the crossbars 38 & 55 to overlie the locking element 24. It is secured in situ using a padlock 66 that is affixed to the cover element 26 through a padlock aperture 65 - the padlock 66 being arranged to prevent the first additional security device 56 from sliding in the direction indicated by arrow E. Figure 10 shows a preferred embodiment of the second additional security device 60 of the invention, which comprises a top plate 60a and screw threaded shank 61. The shank 61 is arranged to engage with a nut 62 and a washer 63 is provided on the shank 61 to inhibit access thereto.

Figures 9 and 11 and show the second additional security device 60 installed whereby it is secured to the housing 36 by passing the shank 61 through an aperture in the housing 36. The washer 63 is used to prevent the shank 61 from being vandalised or cut using a saw. The top plate 60a is welded 64 to the first additional security device 56. Accordingly, the second additional security device 60 is sacrificial, since it needs to be cut away (along the weld 64) to enable the first additional security device 56 to be removed.

Figure 12 shows how a tool 44 is inserted beneath the crossbar 38. A downward pressure C on the tool 44 causes the tool to engage with locking element 24 and to lever it up and out of the gap between the crossbars 38 & 55.

Finally, Figure 13 shows a second perspective view of the first and second additional security devices installed, wherein the padlock aperture 65 is visible.

Claims

Claims: 1. A hydrant security device comprising an anchor element fixedly

attached to the hydrant and a cover element configured to inhibit access to at least the hydrant valve actuating means in its installed position, and cover retaining means which is releasably engageable with the anchor element to secure the cover in its installed position.
2. A hydrant security device as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the cover is also configured to inhibit access to the water outlet part of the hydrant.
3. A hydrant security device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein, the cover is also configured to inhibit access to the fixing means for the anchor element.
4. A hydrant security device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the cover element comprises a base plate having an aperture to receive part of the anchor element, which part projects through said aperture in the installed position.
5. A hydrant security device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the base plate includes an aperture to receive part of a valve actuating spindle associated with the hydrant.
6. A hydrant security device as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the base plate comprises an elongate channel having a base connecting a pair of spaced side walls that depend downwardly from the base in its installed position.
7. A hydrant security device as claimed in any of claims 4, 5 or 6, wherein the cover element comprises a housing disposed overlying at least said aperture for the anchor element.
8. A hydrant security device as claimed in any of claims 5, 6 or 7, wherein the housing also overlies the aperture for the valve-actuating spindle.
9. A hydrant security device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cover retaining means comprises a spring clip.
10.A hydrant security device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the spring clip is a substantially U-shaped element having a base connecting two spaced apart locating limbs.
11.A hydrant security device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the free ends of the limbs are received in respective holes formed in the anchor element.
12.A hydrant security device as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the free ends of the limbs are tapered.
13.A hydrant security device as claimed in any of claims 10, 11 or 12, wherein the limbs are notched at a distance inset from the ends thereof, such that in the installed position, the notches align with the anchor plate and shoulders of the notch, which abut the anchor plate.
14.A hydrant security device as claimed in any of claims 7 to 14 wherein, the housing has at least one aperture formed therein to receive clipactuating means of a release tool.
15.A hydrant security device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the hydrant security means is provided with means for attaching a padlock thereto.
16.A hydrant security device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 15, further secured with a sacrificial element that is affixed to either the cover element and/or the first additional security device.
17.A hydrant security device as claimed in claim 16 wherein, the sacrificial element is welded in situ.
18.A hydrant security device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 17, further comprising a release tool for releasing the hydrant security device of any of claims 13 to 16, comprising an elongate element having a claw at one end to engage with the retaining member whereby a pivotal movement of the tool serves to move the retaining means out of alignment with the cross bar and draws it from engagement with the anchor element.
19.A hydrant security device as claimed in claim 18, wherein an end of the release tool is configured for use in pushing home the cover retaining means
20.A hydrant security device as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the release tool further comprises a spigot insert from the end which is secured in recess of the cover to act as a fulcrum part for the tool.
21.A hydrant security device substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.