US1716535A - Gas-shut-off valve pull box - Google Patents

Description

Jqpe 11, 1929,

H. SIEBEN GAS SHUT-OFF VALVE PULL BOX Filed Jan. 24, 11927 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Hen/y .i/eb r? AT RNEYS.

June 11, 1929. SIEBEN 1,716,535

-GAS SHUT-OFF VALVE PULL BOX Filed Jan. 24, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Bym w A T RNEYS.

June 11, 1929. H. SIEBEN GAS SHUT-OFF VALVE PULL BOX Filed Jam-24, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I. I l l INVENTOR.

Herr/y S/ebe/V A T RNEYS.

Fatented June 11, 1929.

HENRY stream, on NEW YORK,- n. Y.

GAS-SHUT-OFF VALVE PULL BOX.

Application filed January 24, 1927. Serial No. 163,205.

My invention relates to gas shut-off boxes, and has for its primary object to provide certain improvements in the construction of the same, whereby they are adapted for attachment to the exterior of buildings without the necessity for counter-sinking the same in the wall thereof, and yet at the same time presenting a minimum of projection as well as an ornamental appearance.

A further object of the invention is to provide an interior construction of the same, economizing space and presenting a novel means for supporting the operating handle and its parts as well as providing for the 1 attachment of the body of the device to the building wall.

The accompanying drawings illustrate different practical embodiments of the invention, but the constructions therein shown are to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through the lower portion of the wall of a building, showing my improved valve pull box associated with a gas /main and its cutoff valve, the box also being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the building wall showing my box applied thereto.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section through the box attached to the wall, taken on the line III-J11 of Figure 2.

Figure 4c is a view similar to Figure 8, taken to one side of the same.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section of the box, the cable conduit leading therefrom and the operating handle, the latter being shown pulled to position to close thegas valve.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a modified construction in respect to the lead of the operating cable from the box to the gas main.

Figure 7 is an enlarged front elevational view of my improved box, the cover being shown removed and depending therefrom, the cable being shown led therefrom as in Figure 6. v

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the box just above the guide pulley for the cable.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 5 of the modification shown in Figure 6.

Figure 10 is a front elevational view of a modified. form of construction embodying the present invention, the cover, handle and cable being omitted.

Figure 11 is an inside face view of the cover removed from the box.

Figure 12 is a sectionon the line 1212 of Figure 10, showing the cover in position on the box.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a modified form of handle with the removable plate thereof detached.

' Figure 14 shows said removable plate in perspective.

Similar numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views.

In apparatus of this character, it is the object of the same to provide means for operating a valve disposed in the gas main leading into a building, which may be operated from the exterior of the building by a fireman or policeman, quickly to cut off the gas from the building in the event of fire.

In the construction shown in Figures 1 to 5, the reference numeral 1 indicates the front wall of the building, 2 the street gas. main, 3 the gas pipe leading therefrom into the building to the usual meter Land 5 a box containing a suitable valve adapted to be operated to out off the gas passing through the pipe 3. In this, construction leading from the top of the valve box is a conduit 6, which at its upper end is connected with a similar conduit 7 by an elbow 8, the latter conduit passing horizontally through thebuilding wall to the exterior thereof. lVithin the elbow 8 is'a guide pulley 9 around which passes a wire cable 10 which is adapted to control a suitable valve in the box 5, whereby a pull on said cable will operate the valve to close the same.

My improved pull box comprises a base 11 provided with a lower closing plate 12 and upper rear lugs 13, said plate and lugs being apertured to receive screw-bolts 14 adapted to be fastened in the building wall to attach the base thereto. The lugs 13 are formed with horizontal extensions 15 pro jecting toward each other and beveled on their inner faces and adapted loosely to support thereon a handle 16 hereinafter described. -The box 11 is formed with an annular forwardly projecting flange 17 against which a front plate 18 abuts when in position, said flange being formed on each side near its lower end with. semi-circular depressions 19 adapted to receive correspond ing projections 20 on the interior face ofthe cover 18, as best seen in Figure 4. At each upper corner the interior of the box is provided with a cam 21, adapted to be engaged by hooks 22 formed on the interior face of the cover 18, the construction being such that when the cover is applied to the base, the hooks 22 first are engaged under the cams 21, whereupon the semi-circular projections 20 on said cover will fit into the depressions 19 on the flange 17. The back plate 12 is provided with a circular screwthreaded aperture 23 in its upper central portion, the same being interiorly flanged at 2 1, and provided with'a lug 25 in position to be engaged by the tongue 26 of a locking member 27 fixed tothe cover 18 and adapted to be operated by a suitable key to lock the cover in position, as readily will be understood. The base 12 also is provided in its bottom wall with a circular aperture boss 28 internally screw-threaded to receive a pipe or conduit 29, shown in the modified construction of Figures 6 to 9. Disposed immediately above said lug 28 is a guide pulley 30 mounted in ears 31 formed on the interior of the plate 12. The operating cable 10, which extends from the valve mechanism in box 5, is attached to the handle 16, preferably in the manner shown in dotted lines in Figure 9. That is to say, said handle is provided with projecting lugs adapted to receive screws 32 whereby a cover plate 33 is attached to said handle, the cable 10 preferably being looped around said i screw-receiving lugs and fastened thereon.

It will be noted. that the pull box provides an. alternative construction whereby the cable 10 may pass horizontally therefrom through the building wall 1 into the conduit 7, and from thence downward in the conduit 6 to the valve box 5, or, as shown in Figures 6 to 9, may have threaded into the lug 28 the conduit 29 adapted to receive the cable 8 10 and lead it down the exterior of the build ing wall to the box 5, which, in this event is located exterior of the building beneath the pavement, as shown in Figure 6, said cable passing over the guide pulley 30 as it is led intothe conduit 29.

With both of the constructions thus far described, it will be apparent that in the event of fire ina building provided with my improved apparatus, the fireman or policeman who first reaches the building may unlock the cover 18 of my improved pull box, and by grasping the handle 16 and pulling thereon to the position shown in Figures 5 and 9, the cable 10 will be drawn to operate the valve in the box 5, instantly cutting off the flow of gas into the building. 7

In order that the cover 18 may not become lost when removed from the pull box, I provide a chain 34, which is hooked at oneend onto one of the lugs 14, and at its other end is attached to a staple 35 fixed to the interior of the cover 18. lVith this device the cover when unlocked may drop to the posia u I a tlon shown 111 F lgure 7, where it Wlll be retained by the chain 3 1 against loss, and may be replaced when desired.

In order that there may be no delay in the opening of my improved box, I provide the same with a look like the fire alarm box locks of the city in which the device is to be used, the result being that as every fireman and policeman carries a key to these locks, he may use the same in opening my improved boxes. In order to indicate the character of the box and its use, I provide the same with a monogram (not shown) embodying the letters G S 0 indicating gas shut-off.

The modified construction of Figure 10 is, in many respects similar to the construction of the preceding figures. The box is provided, however, with a closed-back plate or base 112, which serves to entirely close the back of the box. It may be extended beyond the forwardly projecting flange 117 to form a flange corresponding to the part 11, but this is not necessary, as the box of Figures 1012 is adapted particularly to be set into a wall rather than to rest upon the outer face of the wall as in the preceding figures.

The box is provided interiorly with h'orizontal extensions 115 projecting toward each other and beveled at their inner faces, whereby they are adapted loosely to support thereon the cable handle in the manner hereinbefore described, the same as in Figure 7. The box is secured in place by passing screws through holes 11 1 formed in the back plate 112, and as shown in Figures 10 and 12, the back plate may be thickened slightly by providing bosses 11st to give greater strength at these points.

The structure of Figures 10 to 12 embodies a cover or front plate 118 having thereon projections 120 adapted to cooperate with semi-circular depressions 119, as hereinbefore described.

It will be noted, however, that instead of providing cooperating cams and hooks, as shown at 21 and 22 in Figures 4 and 7, the structure of Figures 10 to 12 depends upon an interlocking relation directly with the flange 117. Projections 121 extend inwardly from the cover adjacent the side walls of the box, but do not interlock with cam surfaces in the box. They merely serve to preclude edgewise movement'of the upper portion of the cover relative to the box. The flange 117, however, atjthe top of the box is extended forwardly beyond the cor= responding flanges at the sides and bottom of the box to provide an overhang which is designated 117 and serves the purpose of a rain shed. This overhanging portion 117 is undercut as shown at 117 a to provide therein a pocket and the upper edge of the cover 118 is extended to form a lip 118 adapted to extend into the pocket 117 to form, in effect, a tongue and groove joint across the greater portion of the top of the box, so as to shed rain. lVhen positioning the cover on the box, the lip 118 is introduced into the pocket 117 and the cover thereupon brought into position to engage with the free edges of the flanges 117 at the sides and bottom of the box. During this operation, the projections 120 will be broughtinto cooperation with the depressions 119 to properly position the cover and to preclude edgewise movement of the cover with respect to the box in any direction. 4

It will thus appear that the so-called rain shed including the pocket and the interfitting lip serve the same purpose as the cooperating hook shaped projections and cams in the construction of Figure 4, except that the constructions of Figures 10 to 12 serve, in addition, to preclude the entrance of rain at the top of the box.

The back plate 112 of the modified box of Figures 10 to 12 embodies a backplate which is provided with a circular screw threaded aperture 123, the same being interiorly.

flanged at 124, and provided with a lug 125 in position to be engaged by the tongue 126 of the locking member 127 fixed to the cover 118 and adapted to be operated by a suitable key to lock the cover in position.

The circular apertured boss 128 is internally screw threaded to receive a pipe or conduit similar to the conduit 29. It will also be noted that immediately above the lug 128 a guide pulley 130 is provided, the same being mounted in ears 131 formed on the interior of the back plate 112. The parts just described are, it will be apparent, the same as shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9. I have not shown the cable as associated with the box in Figures 10 and 12, as its use in this connection will be apparent from the foregoing description.

It will of course be understood that the cover shown in Figure 11 may be secured to the box by a chain corresponding to the chain 34, and that said box may be used either as shown in Figures 1 or 6.

In Figures 13 and 14, details of a modified form of handle are illustrated. The handle is here shown as made in two parts, namely, the handle proper and a cover plate. In practice, the handle 116 is cast with a depression 116 from the base of which extend lu s or bosses 132, which are provided with tapped holes 13 the cover plate 133 is adapted to overlie the recess 116 and is perforated as at 133', so that the screws may be passed through these perforations and thread into the tapped bosses 132. The cable 110 is preferably looped about the screw re ceiving bosses 132, and, in practice, this looping is generally in the form of a figure eight, as shown in Figure 13. In order to lock the cable tightly in position, the base of the depression 116 is preferably provided with a pocket 36 and the cover plate 133 carries a complementary projection 37 similarly placed, so that when. the cover is screwed on tightly, the projection. 37 will cause a portion of the cable to be forced into the pocket 36 to form a kink or off set in the cable, which will positively lock the cable against slipping. This type of fastening has been approved and is highly efficient for its intended purposes. Only a portionof the construction is shown in Figure 9 and the purpose of Figs. 13 and 14 is to fully show the more desirable looping of the cable around the lugs 132 and the offsetting of the cable by the projection 37 as justdescribed.

In the foregoing detailed description, I have set forth the invention in its preferred practical forms, but the invention is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the character described,

comprising a fiat base having screw-receiving apertures therein, and an aperture for the passage therethrough of a cable, a shallow annular flange on the front face enclosing said screw apertures, acover interfitting with said flange, and a lock for securing said cover to said base.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a base, a shallow annular flange on the front face thereof, hooks projecting inwardly from said flange at one end thereof, oppositely disposed depressions in said flange near the other end thereof, a cover adapted to fit over said flange, cams on the inner face of said cover adapted to interlock with said flange hooks, projections on the inner face of said cover adapted to register with said flange depressions, and a lock on said cover for securing the same to said base.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a base, oppositely disposed extensions on the outer face of said base projecting towards each other, a handle adapted to be supported removably by said extensions,

a cable attached to said handle and passing from the exterior of said base to a valve to be operated, a cover for said base normally enclosing said handle, and a lock for securing said cover to said base.

4. A device of the character described comprising a fiat base having an aperture through the base for the passage therethrough of a cable, a flange extending forwardly from the base, a cover, a keeper on the base, and key operated locking means carried by the cover to engage the keeper.

5. A device of the character described comprising a box having a cover, a screw threaded opening formed in the wall of the box and into which opening a conduit is adapted to thread to permit the leading of a cable into the box, a keeper on the back of the .box, and a key operated lock carried by the cover to engage said keeper for the purpose of maintaining the cover in place on the box. 1 i

6. A device of the character described embodying a box provided near the center of its base with a suitable keeper, :1 cover for said box, and a key operated lock positioned near the center of the cover and adapted to co-, operate with the keeper to lock the cover in place-on the box, and a conduit leading into the box and through which a rod 'or cable may be led into the box.

7 A device of the character described enibodying a box having an aperture therein, a conduit associated with said aperture and through which a rod or cable may be led into the box, a keeper positioned at substantially the center of the back of the box, a cover for the box, and a lock permanently mounted on the cover and cooperating with the keeper to lock the cover in place on the box. 7

8. A device of the character described embodying a box having an aperture therein, a conduit associated with said aperture and through which a rod or cable may be led into the box, anti friction means carriedby and interiorly of the box in juxtaposition with the aperture and with which the cable is adapted to cooperate to minimize wear on the cable, a keeper positioned at substantially the center of the back of the box, a cover for the box, and a lock permanently mounted on the cover and cooperating with the keeper to lock the cover in place on the box.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

HENRY SIEBEN.

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