IES20120413A2

IES20120413A2 - Electrical socket safety lockout device

Info

Publication number: IES20120413A2
Application number: IES20120413A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Gerard P Lambert
Original assignee: Gerard P Lambert
Priority date: 2012-09-20
Filing date: 2012-09-20
Publication date: 2014-01-15
Also published as: GB2520469B; IES86339B2; GB201504897D0; GB2520469A; WO2014045269A1

Abstract

An electrical safety lockout device which in this embodiment can be manufactured as one piece to the correct dimensions to suit insertion into pin and sleeve surface mounted sockets which are used in domestic, commercial and industrial applications. The invention is designed to prevent the unauthorised use of pin and sleeve surface mounted sockets and is made from a non-conductive material. /the invention is constructed to have a fixing position to allow it to be locked in place in the socket with the use of a cable tie, electrical isolation HASP and lock or an all-purpose cable lockout device and lock. The device does not make electrical connection with the socket when inserted and when locked into position cannot be removed. The device comprises of a body with alignment guide, insertion stop position, a user handling position, a hollow interior and a fixing arrangement. <Figure 1>

Description

Field of Invention The invention relates to electrical safety lockout devices for use with pin and sleeve electrical sockets (surface mounted or trailing). In particular the invention relates to a new type of electrical safety lockout device which can be inserted into pin and sleeve sockets of various types and locked into position so as the electrical socket cannot be used without authorisation.

Background As part of safe working practices and for commercial cost reasons in domestic, commercial and industrial electrical installations, it is sometimes necessary to prevent the unauthorised use of pin and sleeve surface mounted electrical sockets.

Surface mounted pin and sleeve sockets installed in commercial applications like caravan and 15 camping sites are generally pin and sleeve 16amp 3pin in design, for the use of residents who have paid for a supply of electricity. By locking out the socket, the commercial entity can stop unauthorised electricity usage and can unlock a socket for authorised customers.

Surface mounted sockets installed in industrial applications are generally pin and sleeve in design and are often for temporary electrical supplies or for use with portable equipment and may be installed externally. Controlled use of these sockets can help the safe operation of a facility and can prevent the unauthorised use of these sockets. The lockout device can be inserted into the socket and locked into position, if use ofthe socket is required and authorised, the lockout device can then be unlocked and removed from the socket The terms used for the locking out of an electrical device is LOTO (Lockout Tagout) or The Controi of Hazardous Energy. The purpose of locking out an electrical socket in accordance with a LOTO procedure is to prevent the unauthorised use of a socket.

This electrical safety lockout device in this embodiment designed for use with surface mounted pin and sleeve electrical sockets would give the socket owner the ability to control the use of such sockets. iHT IE 1 20 4 1 3 Statement of Invention This invention comprises of a single moulded body made from a non-conductive material designed to be inserted into a pin and sleeve electrical socket. The invention is constructed to have a fixing segment to allow it to be locked in piace in the socket with the use of a cable tie, electrical isolation HASP and lock or an ail-purpose cable lockout device and lock. These possible fixing accessories will be fit around the hinge of the lid of the socket and through the fixing segment.

This invention can also be inserted into a pin and sleeve trailing socket and locked in piace with the use of a cable tie, electrical isolation HASP and lock or an all-purpose cable lockout device and lock, which is fitted around the cap of the socket and through the fixing hoie. This differs from other trailing socket electrical safety lockout devices in that it is inserted into the socket, where as other designs encapsulate the whole socket.

Brief Description of Drawings The invention will be more clearly understood by the examination of the drawings which gives representation of the device showing.

Figure 1 showing the device and its associated parts.

Figure 2 showing the device aligned for insertion into surface mounted socket.

Figure 3 showing the device inserted into surface mounted socket.

Figure 4 showing the top view of device fixed to surface mounted socket with safety lockout hasp.

Figure 5 showing a side view of the device fixed to surface mounted socket with safety lockout hasp and locked in position.

Figure 6 showing a top view of the device fixed to surface mounted socket with safety lockout hasp and locked in position Detailed Description Referring now to the drawings showing the device and its associated parts, how it is inserted into a surface mounted or trailing pin and sleeve sockets and how it can be fixed into position to prevent it being removed from the socket and in turn preventing unauthorised use of the socket. The numbering on the drawings is consistent from figure 1 through figure 6 as follows.

IE 1204 13 The invention provides a moulded body portion (1) closed at one iower end and open at the upper end, the upper end manufactured dimensionally correct to allow for insertion into various pin and sleeve socket types. The moulded body portion (1) wiil indude a fixing segment (2) into which fixing accessories such as cable ties, hasps and locks (13,14) will be placed to fix it to the socket. The moulded body portion (1) comprises an outer wail portion (3) which wiil be used for insertion into the socket. It also contains a hoilow interior (4) to receive the socket connection block. The outer wail portion is separated from the rest of the moulded body portion by a raised stop guide (6). This stop guide (6) allows users to ensure that the device has been inserted fully into the socket. An alignment guide (5) is also positioned on the outer wail io portion (3) to allow correct insertion of the lockout device into the socket wall at (12). The fixing segment (2) wili be positioned on the outer wail (3) at 180 degrees from the alignment guide (5). The moulded body portion (1) also contains a holding section (7) to be held by the user during insertion and removal of the device.

Figures 2 and 3 show the insertion process of the lockout device into, in this embodiment, a 15 surface mounted pin and sleeve socket (8). The drawings show the lockout device fully inserted into the surface mounted socket. We can see, in detail, the surface mounted socket (id hinge (9) and the surface mounted socket lid (10). Full insertion of the lockout device will keep the socket lid in an open position. The socket lid hinge (9) is smaller in dimension than the lid (10), therefore allowing a lockout hasp (13) to be fixed around the hinge (9) and through the fixing segment (2) on the lockout device's moulded body portion. Once the hasp (13) is in position, the lockout device can be secured safely using a padlock (14). As can be seen in figures 4,5 and 6, the hasp (13) cannot be pulied over the socket lid (10) removed from around the hinge (9) allow full protection of the surface mounted socket against unauthorised access.

Modifications and alterations can be made to the embodiments of the invention described herein without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, while the embodiments described herein refer to particular features, the invention includes embodiments having different combinations of features. The invention also includes embodiments that do not include all of the specific features described.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims

1. An electrical safety lockout device to prevent the unauthorised use of pin and sleeve surface mounted or trailing electrical sockets comprising: a moulded body portion (1) closed at one lower end and open at the upper end, the 5 upper end manufactured dimensionally correct to allow for insertion into various pin and sleeve socket types, the moulded body portion (1) comprises an outer wall portion (3) which will be used for insertion into the socket and a holiow interior (4) to receive the socket connection block; a fixing segment (2) into which fixing accessories such as cable ties, hasps and locks (13, 10 14) will be placed to fix the lockout device to the socket; a stop guide (6) which allows users to ensure that the lockout device has been inserted fully into the socket; an alignment guide (5) positioned on the outer wall portion (3) to allow correct insertion ofthe lockout device into the socket; 15 a holding section (7) to be held by the user during insertion and removal of the device.

2. An electrical safety lockout device to prevent the unauthorised use of pin and sleeve surface mounted or trailing electrical sockets as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3. A method of preventing unauthorised use of pin and sleeve surface mounted or trailing electrical sockets using the lockout device as claimed in any preceding claim comprising the steps of: opening the surface mounted socket lid (10) to its open position; 25 aligning the alignment guide (5) with the corresponding member on the socket wall (12); inserting the moulded body portion (1) into the surface mounted socket using the holding section (7) ensuring the stop guide (6) has fully reached the socket wali face; IE 1L0 4 1 3 s manipulating the hasp (13) or cable tie through the fixing segment (2) and around the socket lid hinge (9); optionally fixing the hasp (13) in position with the use of a padlock (14) to ensure it cannot be removed from its locked position.