Abstract:
A warning sign for use at a site where the risk of hazardous materials is present such as hydrocarbon wells and processing equipment wherein the sign provide satisfying indicia and indicates wind direction and intensity allowing for a soft approach to the site from an upwind position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable 
       REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not applicable 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A warning sign for use around hazardous sites such as hydrocarbon wells and production and processing equipment. In general, the sign includes a frame having a print receiving surface of sufficient size to display location, materials, and site identifying information. The frame is mounted to pivot about a vertical axis whereby, the size and shape of the sign and the location of the pivot axis are arranged to permit, the sign to pivot with wind currents to indicate wind direction to allow an approach to the equipment in a downwind direction from an upwind location. The pivot is designed so that the sign can be supported on a variety of shaped support posts. The sign also includes a wind speed indicator, which provides information regarding the relative danger from gas leaks at the equipment from hazardous materials. 
         [0005]    These and other features and advantages of the present inventions will be more readily appreciated when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which an embodiment of the apparatus is illustrated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0006]    The accompanying drawings are incorporated into and form a part of the specification to illustrate examples according to the current most-preferred embodiments of the present inventions. The drawings are only for illustrating a preferred and alternative example of the inventions and are not to be construed as limiting the inventions to only the illustrated and described example. The drawings include the following figures: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation of the warning sign according to the present inventions; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view warning sign illustrated in  FIG. 1  according to the inventions; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the warning sign taken along lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1  looking in the direction of the arrows according to the inventions; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the warning sign taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3  looking in the direction of the arrows according to the inventions; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an exploded cross section view of the pivot mounting for the warning sign according to the inventions; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an exploded cross section view of an alternative pivot mounting for the warning sign according to the inventions; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged partial section view of the pivot mounting for the warning sign according to the inventions. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Leaks or discharges of toxic gasses at hazardous sites such as oil wells, processing equipment, pipeline pumping equipment, gas storage tanks, and the like present a potentially dangerous situation for personnel working in the area. For example, toxic natural gas can be colorless and odorless. Estimating wind direction and speed is inexact in determining danger levels and approaches. 
         [0015]    Government regulations regarding hydrocarbon well heads require signs be present at the site identifying the particular well. In fields where numerous closely spaced wells are present, identifying a particular well requires approaching the sign to determine the identity of the well. These signs are fixed in place and require an approach facing the sign to read the identifying information. In some wind conditions the approach to the sign can be in a dangerous up wind direction. 
         [0016]    As used herein, corrugated material includes corrugated paperboard or “cardboard” and at least two outer sheets called liners joined together by corrugated shaped sheets called fluting. For example, double wall corrugated material has three separate liners separated by two fluting sheets. The fluting sheet forms a plurality of elongated voids between the liners that extend across the corrugated material. Fluting direction, as used herein, refers to the direction parallel the extension of the voids formed by the fluting sheet. 
         [0017]    As used herein, each of the words “comprise,” “has,” and “include” as well as all grammatical variations thereof are intended to have an open, non-limiting meaning that do not exclude additional elements or steps. It should also be understood that, as used herein, “first,” “one,” “second,’ and “third” are arbitrarily assigned to structure or items and are merely intended to differentiate, as the case may be, and do not indicate any sequence. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the mere use of the term “first’ or “one” does not require that there be any “second,” and the mere use of the word “second” does not require that there be any “third,” etc. Up and down are used in reference to the top and bottom of the referenced drawing and may or may not necessarily refer to the actual directions. 
         [0018]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein reference numbers are used to designate like or corresponding parts, there is illustrated in  FIG. 1  an embodiment of the warning sign assembly  10  of the present invention. The sign assembly comprises a support post  12  and a pivot assembly (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) supporting a rotating sign board assembly  14  from the post  12 . 
         [0019]    In the illustrated embodiment, the post  12  is vertically extending and has a cylindrical external surface, however, as discussed herein, the pivot assembly (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) can be used with non-circular cross section posts, such as T-posts, quadrilateral shaped tubing, channels, angles, and the like. The post  12  can be embedded in the ground, welded, or otherwise supported from the associated equipment such that at least a portion of the post is vertically extending. 
         [0020]    The sign board assembly  14  is illustrated as having two opposed rectangular shaped panel surfaces  16 , however, it is envisioned that other surface shapes would be functional. The panel surfaces  16  are illustrated as being planar and of a size for receiving indicia providing identifying marking and warning information. In the illustrated embodiment, the rectangular shaped panel surfaces  16  are about 14 inches high and 32 inches wide. 
         [0021]    As can be seen in the top plan view,  FIG. 2 , the sign board assembly  14  has a wedge shaped cross section with a converging or front end  18  and a diverging or rear end  20 . The wedge shape enhances or improves the ability of the sign board  14  to orient itself with respect to the wind. However, it is envisioned that a uniform or non-tapered cross section could be used. 
         [0022]    In the illustrated embodiment the pivot assembly and its vertical post  12  are eccentrically located closer to the converging end  18  than the diverging end  20  of the sign board  14 . In  FIG. 1 , the sign board dimension “d” is illustrated as being less than the dimension “D”. In the illustrated embodiment the dimension “d’ is proportioned to be about one half of the dimension “D”. This eccentric location of the pivot also enhances or improves the ability of the sign board  14  to orient itself with respect to the wind. 
         [0023]    A wind speed warning indicator assembly  22  is mounted on the sign board  14 . The indicator  22  comprises a wind plate  24  pivotally mounted on a pivot shaft  26 . Pivot shaft  26  is supported from the sign board  14  adjacent to the diverging end  20 . The pivot axis, created by the shaft  26 , generally extends horizontally. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the wind plate  24  has wind engaging surfaces and is bifurcated to form flanges  28  making the wind plate generally “U” shaped. The wind plate flanges  28  are positioned on opposite sides of the diverging end  20 . As shown, the bifurcated portion is attached to the shaft  26  to allow the wind plate to pivot horizontally. The wind plate is designed to be off balance. The outer plate edge  30  is heavy with respect to the pivot, so that gravitational forces will cause the outer wind plate edge  30  to assume the declining position, shown in  FIG. 1 , with the edge  46  of the wind plate  24  resting against the outer surface of diverging end  20  to limit downward rotation of the edge  30 . When wind currents act on the sign, the sign will rotate about the pivot so that the converging end  18  faces upwind. Also the wind plate  24  will rotate clockwise (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) about axis  26  proportioned to wind velocity The wind plate  24  is off balance so that it will be lifted (moved toward horizontal) in proportion to wind velocity. Indicia  48  can be provided on the sign board  14  calibrated to wind speed and danger levels of gas exposure. While an off balance wind plate configuration has less moving parts, a resiliently urged wind plate can be used. 
         [0024]    Interior details of the sign assembly  10  are illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4 . The sign board  14  is comprised of two sign panels  32  (forming the panel surfaces  16 ); upper, lower, converging front end, and diverging rear end caps  34 ,  36 ,  38 , and  40 , respectively. The upper and lower caps are triangular shaped and support the panels  32 . The converging end cap  38  abuts the ends of the panels  32  and closes off the seam formed between them at the tapered end. The caps are joined together and form a frame to which the panels  32  are joined. The method of assembly shown is by bonding, however, any suitable manner could be used to form the rigid sign board. The diverging end cap  40  closes off the diverging end  20  and includes a tubular support  42  through which the shaft  26  extends and is supported. A recess can be formed in the upper cap  34  for receiving a compass  44 . 
         [0025]    Details of the sign board pivot assembly  50  are illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . A cylindrical sleeve  52  is mounted to extend between the upper and lower caps  34  and  36 , respectively. In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , a circular opening  54  is formed through the lower cap and sleeve  52  extends through the opening and a short distance below it. Upper and lower bushings  56  and  58 , respectively, are located in the sleeve  52 . These bushings are dimensioned to fit snugly in the sleeve  52  and have an internal diameter to receive the post  12  therein, for rotational movement. Alternatively, the sleeve  52  is of a size and shape to fit and rotate in the sleeve without the pressure of bushings  56  and  58 . A curved (in the illustrated embodiment semi-circular) shaped pivot assembly cap  60  is connected to the upper end of the post  12 . This pivot assembly cap  60  rests on the underside of upper cap  34  to support the sign board assembly  14 . As shown in  FIG. 7  a threaded set screw  62  can be installed in the sleeve  52  to engage a anular groove  63  in the post  12  to hold the sign assembly in place axially while allowing it to rotate. 
         [0026]    An alternative embodiment of a sign board pivot assembly is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . In this embodiment, the post  66  is non-circular and is illustrated by example as being a “t” shaped drive post  66 . A cylindrical sleeve  68  is provided with an interior opening of a size and shape to fit over the “t” post  66 . The sleeve  68  is sized to fit in the bushings  56  and  58  to allow the sign board  14  to rotate. The sleeve has a cap (not shown) formed or installed on its upper end that is similar to the pivot assembly cap  60 . Alternatively, the sleeve  68  is of a size to fit and rotate in the sleeve  52  without the presence of bushing  56  and  58 . 
         [0027]    When the sign has been installed at a hazardous site, such as a hydrocarbon well head, the sign will rotate to a position indicating the wind direction and speed. Personnel can approach the site from a direction facing the sign board panels  32 . This direction is cross wind from the well and is relatively safe under most wind conditions. When close enough to read the indicia  48  on the panel, the individual can verify the identity of the site and whether hazardous materials are present. An approach from a downwind direction from an upwind location can then be made to the site to avoid hazardous leaks on the downwind side. 
         [0028]    It is to be understood that numerous modifications, alterations, and changes can be made in the inventions without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions as set forth in the appended claims. It is the intention to cover all embodiments and forms of the inventions within the allowable scope of the claims.