Abstract:
A lockout system for a receptacle mount is provided that provides an additional locking mechanism to prevent access to a receptacle mount, which may include electrical hardware such as a switch or button. The lockout system includes a first piece comprising a first base section and at least two first arms, wherein at least one of the at least two arms comprises a locking hole for receiving a locking apparatus; and a second piece comprising a second base section and at least two second arms, wherein the at least two second arms of said second piece are affixed to the at least two first arms of said first piece, wherein the second piece rotates between at least first and second positions, and in the first position, said second base section of said second piece prevents a mount receptacle cover from being opened.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Electrical mount receptacles, such as Cam-Lok® receptacles, contain electrical hardware for high power cable connections. The mount receptacles can be a part of heavy duty connectors to safely carry power from generators to electrical equipment. The electrical equipment can be, but is not limited to, switch gear, selective catalytic reduction packages, and traction motors, including mud pumps, draw works, rotary tables, cement pumps, and other offshore applications. Electrical mount receptacles can have covers, such as snap back covers, for assisting in protecting the electric hardware when the hardware is not being used. The cover can be attached to the mount receptacles using a hinge system, which can contain a hinge pivot that is spring loaded such that the cover is forced into the closed position when no external forces prevent it from doing so. 
         [0002]    In some situations, it may be desirable for the cover of a mount receptacle to be lockable, such that the cover cannot be opened at an undesired time. For example, in the event that a hazardous situation was to occur outside of the mount receptacle, it is desirable that the cover be secured in place so as to prevent the hazardous situation from reaching the electrical hardware, and potentially traveling through the electrical hardware, to cause damage. In addition to preventing a hazardous situation from spreading, a secured cover may also prevent unauthorized access to the interior of the mount receptacle, such as the electrical hardware that may be contained therein. In addition, locking a cover is desirable to prevent access to live electrical equipment, such as receptacle contacts, to prevent accidental electrical shock. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Disclosed herein are devices and methods for securing a cover of a mount receptacle in place to prevent the cover from opening at an undesired time. The devices include means for blocking the cover in such a way that it cannot be opened. The devices can include locking holes, suitable for receiving a locking device, such as a padlock which serves to lock the devices in place in order to prevent the cover from being opened. 
         [0004]    More specifically, a lockout system for a mount receptacle is provided which includes, but is not limited to, a first piece comprising a first base section and at least two first arms, wherein at least one of the at least two arms comprises a locking hole for receiving a locking apparatus; and a second piece comprising a second base section and at least two second arms, wherein the at least two second arms of said second piece are affixed to the at least two first arms of said first piece, wherein the second piece rotates between at least first and second positions, and in the first position, said second base section of said second piece prevents a mount receptacle cover from being opened, and in the second position said second base section of said second piece permits the mount receptacle cover to be opened. 
         [0005]    In addition, a lockout system for mount receptacles is provided which includes, but is not limited to, at least a first locking device and a second locking device positioned in series, each of the first locking device and the second locking device comprising: a first piece comprising a first base section and at least two first arms; and a second piece comprising a second base section and at least two second arms, wherein the at least two second arms of the second piece are affixed to the at least two first arms of the first piece, wherein the second piece rotates between at least first and second positions, whereby in the first position, the second base section of the second piece prevents a mount receptacle cover from being opened, and in the second position said second base section of said second piece permits the mount receptacle cover to be opened, and wherein the at least two first arms of the first piece comprises a hole; and a rod comprising at least a first hole near at least a first terminal end of the rod, wherein the rod removeably slides through the locking holes of the first and second locking devices to prevent said second piece from being rotated out of the first position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example lockout device. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a clam shell lockout device. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of a clam shell lockout device at least partially installed. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2C  is a perspective view of a clam shell lockout device at least partially installed. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2D  is a perspective view of the back of the clam shell lockout device of  FIG. 2C . p  FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of another aspect of a lockout device. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of the lockout device of  FIG. 3A  in a closed position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of another aspect of a lockout device in series. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of the lockout device of  FIG. 4A  in a closed position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a cage-like locking device in an open position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of the cage-like locking device of  FIG. 5A  in a closed position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5C  is a perspective view of the cage-like locking device of  FIG. 5A  at least partially installed. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6A  is a side view of another aspect of a lockout device. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6B  is a side view of the lockout device of  FIG. 6A  at least partially installed. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6C  is a side view of the lockout device of  FIG. 6A  at least partially installed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Various locking devices are described below in order to restrict access to electrical connections, switches, or other hardware from unauthorized users.  FIG. 1  demonstrates one exemplary locking device. According to  FIG. 1 , a mount receptacle  101  is included along with a cover  103 . The mount receptacle  101  includes a base section  102  and a housing section  104 , which may include a type of electrical hardware. The base section  102  contains base holes  105  which can be utilized to affix the mount receptacle  101  to an object, such as a panel or other semi-permanent or permanent surface. The cover  103  is attached to the mount receptacle  101  and can pivot about a hinge system which includes hinge arms  106  and a hinge pin  107 . The hinge pin  107  can be spring- loaded such that the cover  103  returns to the closed position (shown in  FIG. 1 ) when no external forces maintain it in the open position. 
         [0021]    In addition, cover  103  and housing section  104  of mount receptacle  101  each have a locking flange  201 . Each locking flange  201  contains a locking hole  202 . When the two holes are in close enough proximity to one another, a locking apparatus can engage both of the locking flanges so as to prevent the cover from being opened. Turning now to  FIGS. 2A-2D , another embodiment is depicted. The locking device of  FIG. 2A-2D  also includes a mount receptacle  101  and a cover  103 . The mount receptacle  101  includes a base section  102  and a housing section  104 . The cover  103  is attached to the mount receptacle  101  and can pivot about a hinge system that includes hinge arms  106  and a hinge pin  107 . The hinge pin  107  can be spring loaded such that the cover  103  returns to the closed position (shown in  FIG. 2A ) when no external forces maintain it in the open position. A cover arm  111  extends from the main body of the cover  103  and interacts with the hinge pin  107 . The design and shape of the cover arm  111 , hinge arms  106 , and the mount receptacle base section  102  forms a recess  108 . The interior  109  of mount receptacle  101  may include a type of electrical hardware. 
         [0022]    The device shown in these figures includes a clam shell locking device  301  that includes two sections  302  that are rotatable with respect to one another about a hinge  303 . When the device is placed around the housing section  104  of the mount receptacle  101  and the cover  103  according to  FIG. 3B , the two sections  302  can be rotated toward one another to enclose the mount receptacle and cover (see  FIG. 2C ). The clam shell locking device  301  includes locking flanges  304 , and each locking flange  304  contains a locking hole  305  that are aligned with one another so that a locking apparatus can engage both locking holes at once, thereby preventing the two sections  302  of the clam shell locking device from rotating. The clam shell locking device  301  also includes a recess flange  306  that engages the recess  108 . The recess flange  306  aids in preventing clam shell locking device  301  from being removed from engaging the mount receptacle  101  and the cover  103  as demonstrated in  FIG. 2D . Thus, when the clam shell locking device  301  is engaged around the mount receptacle  101  and the cover  103 , the cover is prevented from being opened. While not shown, it should be appreciated that the locking apparatus can be a padlock. 
         [0023]    In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B , a mount receptacle  101  and a cover  103  are included. Similar to the description of  FIG. 2A , the mount receptacle  101  includes a base section  102  and a housing section  104 . The cover  103  is attached to the mount receptacle  101  and can pivot by way of a hinge system that includes hinge arms  106  and a hinge pin  107 . The hinge pin  107  can be spring loaded such that the cover  103  returns to the closed position (shown in  FIG. 3A ) when no external forces are holding it in the open position. A cover arm  111  extends from the main body of cover  103  and interacts with the hinge pin  107 . The base section  102  of mount receptacle  101  contains base holes  105  which can be utilized to affix the mount receptacle to an object or hard surface. 
         [0024]    In this embodiment, the locking device  400  includes two bent pieces  401  and  402  that together serve as the locking means to prevent the cover  103  from being opened. Both bent pieces ( 401  and  402 ) include a base section ( 403  and  407 , respectively) and two arms ( 404  and  408 , respectively) that extend perpendicularly in the same direction away from the base sections. The base section  403  of the first piece  401  has holes corresponding to base holes  105  of the mount receptacle base section  102  such that the first piece can be fastened to the mount receptacle base section. The arms  408  of the second piece  402  are secured to the arms  404  of the first piece  401  via hinges  406  such that the second piece can rotate between an open position (as seen in  FIG. 3A ) and a closed position (as seen in  FIG. 3B ). When the second piece  402  is in the closed position, the base section  407  of the second piece blocks the cover  103  such that the cover cannot be opened. The first piece  401  includes locking holes  405  positioned in a manner that when second piece  402  is in the closed position, a locking device, such as a padlock  110 , can be employed through one of the locking holes to prevent the second piece from being able to be rotated out of the closed position. The first piece and the second piece may be composed of various materials having a strength sufficient to perform as described herein and not easily broken or manipulated. For example, each piece may be made of a metallic or non-metallic material. 
         [0025]    In still another embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIGS. 4A-4B  illustrate multiple mount receptacles  101  and covers  103  in series. As shown in the earlier figures, each mount receptacle  101  includes a base section  102  and a housing section  104 . A cover  103  is attached to each receptacle  101  and can pivot about a hinge system that includes hinge arms  106  and a hinge pin  107 . The hinge pins  107  can be spring loaded such that each of the covers  103  return to the closed position (shown in  FIG. 4A ) when no external forces are holding them in the open position. The base sections  102  of the mount receptacles  101  contain base holes  105  which can be utilized to affix the mount receptacles to an object or other suitable surface as desired. 
         [0026]    The locking device  500  in the subject figures includes two bent pieces  501  and  502  per mount receptacle  101  that together serve as the locking device  500  to prevent the covers  103  from being opened. Both bent pieces ( 501  and  502 ) of each mount receptacle  101  include a base section ( 503  and  507 , respectively) and two arms ( 504  and  508 , respectively) that extend perpendicularly in the same direction away from each base section. The base sections  503  of the first pieces  501  have holes corresponding to the base holes  105  of the mount receptacle base sections  102  such that each first piece can be fastened to each mount receptacle base section. The arms  508  of each second piece  502  are secured to each arm  504  of each first piece  501  by way of hinges  506  such that each second piece can rotate between an open position (as seen in  FIG. 4A ) and a closed position (as seen in  FIG. 4B ). When every second piece  502  is in the closed position, every base section  507  of each second piece blocks every cover  103 . Consequently, every cover  103  cannot be opened. 
         [0027]    Each first piece  501  includes locking holes  505  which are positioned to receive a rod  509  continuously through each set of locking holes from one end of the series to the other end of the series. When each second piece  502  is in the closed position, the rod  509  can be inserted through all of the locking holes to prevent each second piece from being able rotate out of the closed position. The continuous length of the rod  509  from end to end of the series of mount receptacles restricts access to opening each cover  103 . Furthermore, the rod  509  can only slide in or out of holes  505  in one direction due to the presence of an arm  511  at one end of the rod  509 . Rod  509  has holes  510  at each end. At one end, arm  511  is employed to prevent that end of the rod  509  from being passed substantially through a hole  505 . At an opposite end, a locking apparatus, such as a lock  110 , is used to prevent the rod  509  from being removed from the holes  505  once the second pieces  502  and the covers  103  are in the closed positions. Thus, the rod  509  facilitates restricting the opening of each cover  103  of each mount receptacle  101 . Although typically three to five devices would be in series, the series locking devices can be for one or more covers. It is not limited to the three covers as depicted in  FIG. 4A-4B . As mentioned above, the first piece and the second piece may be composed of various materials having a strength sufficient to perform as described above. For example, the first and second pieces may be made of a metallic or non-metallic material. 
         [0028]    Another embodiment of the present disclosure is depicted in  FIGS. 5A-5C . Similar to the preceding aspects, a mount receptacle  101  and a cover  103  are included, wherein the mount receptacle  101  includes a base section  102  and a housing section  104 . In this embodiment, a cage-like locking device  601  partially encloses the mount receptacle  101  and the cover  103  to prevent the cover from being opened. The cage-like locking device  601  includes two base sections  602  that rotate between an open and a closed position about a hinge  603 . Each section  602  has a first arm  604  that extends in a direction perpendicular to each base section  602  but parallel to one another. Each first arm  604  has a second arm  605  that extends away from the end of each first arm and generally towards one another. When the base sections  602  of the cage-like locking device  601  are in the closed position and the device is engaging the mount receptacle  101  and the cover  103 , the ends of each second arm  605  are next to one another such that, together, the two second arms are in the shape of a bar (seen in  FIG. 5B ) that extends across the length of the cover and prevents the cover from being opened (as demonstrated in  FIG. 5C ). 
         [0029]    In an opposite direction from the hinge  603 , the locking device  601  includes a third arm  606 . The third arm  606  extends in a direction perpendicular to base sections  602  but parallel to the first arm  604 . The third arm  606  is joined to a fourth arm  607  that extends perpendicular to the third arm  606  and towards the second arm  605  (and planar with the second arm  605  when ends ( 609 ) of the arms  605 ,  607  meet). The third arm  606  is attached to one of the two base sections  602  via a hinge  608 , such that the third arm  606  can rotate from the perpendicular position to a position parallel to the base section. Both of the base sections  602  near the hinge  603  are shaped in such a way that when placed together, they form recess flange  611  (shown in  FIG. 5B ) that fits within the recess  108  when assembled. The recess flange  611  aids in preventing the cage-like locking device  601  from being removed from engaging the mount receptacle  101  and the cover  103 . The ends of both second arms  605  and the end of the fourth arm  607  each have a locking flange  609 . Each locking flange includes a locking hole  610  that align together such that a locking apparatus can engage all three holes at the same time. When engaged and locked in this manner, the cage-like locking device  601  is unable to be opened and removed from the mount receptacle  101  and the cover  103 . One example of a locking apparatus is a padlock of a suitable size to fit through and engage the locking holes  610 . 
         [0030]    In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in  FIGS. 6A-6C , a lid enclosure  701  partially encloses the mount receptacle  101 , particularly the housing section  104 , and encloses the cover  103 , thereby preventing the cover from being opened. The lid enclosure  701  comprises a main body  702  and a rectangular portion  708 . The main body  702  is generally rounded which coincides with the outer shape of the cover  103 . The shape of the main body  702  and the rectangular section  708  allow the lid enclosure  701  to fit over the housing section  104 , the cover  103  as well as the hinge arms  106 . 
         [0031]    The lid enclosure  701  also includes a rotatable lever arm latch  703  that rotates between an unlocked position (as seen in  FIGS. 6A and 6B ) and a locked position (as seen in  FIG. 6C ) about a hinge system. The hinge system includes two lid hinge arms  705  that extend outward from the rectangular section  708  of the lid enclosure  701 . The hinge system includes a hinge pin  704  that can be spring loaded such that when no external forces are being applied to the lever arm latch  703 , it springs to the closed position. The lever arm latch  703  has a flange  706  that extends into the recess  108  of the mount receptacle  101  when the lever arm latch  703  is in the locked position, and thus prevents the lid enclosure  701  from being removed from the mount receptacle and the cover  103 . In addition, the lever arm latch  703  includes a locking hole  707  through which a locking apparatus can be installed. When installed, the lid hinge arms  705  act as a stop and restrict or prevent the lever arm latch  703  from being rotated when the locking apparatus is installed.