Patent Abstract:
A valve security device for releasably securing a fluid flow valve in an inoperable position including an inner body adapted to be disposed about the valve actuator such that rotation of the inner body effects corresponding rotation of the actuator to open and close the valve and an outer body rotatably mounted about the inner body. A valve cap defining a secondary actuator is mounted on the outer body. An operating pin assembly is carried by the outer body which, in an extended position, operatively couples the outer body to the inner body such that the valve can be controlled by the secondary actuator. In a retracted position, the pin assembly uncouples the outer and inner bodies such that the outer body is freely rotatable on the inner body. A lock secures the operating pin assembly in the retracted position thereby releasably securing the valve in an inoperable position.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/758,339 entitled, “VALVE SECURITY DEVICE,” filed Jan. 15, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,920,894. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to valve security devices and, more particularly, to a device that is adaptable for use on a wide variety of fluid flow valves, both liquid and gas, to prevent access to the valve actuating key with varying degrees of security depending on the particular application. 
   Different levels of security are desirable in valve protection devices depending on the nature of the fluid flow line in which the valve is being used. For example, to provide a security device for a valve on a fire hydrant, it generally would be undesirable to employ a security device that could not be forcibly circumvented with conventional equipment such as a heavy-duty bolt cutter. If such a device was used and the only key that could unlock the device to provide access to the actuating key on the hydrant was lost or temporarily misplaced, firefighters could be prevented from accessing the water in a time of acute emergency. However, some form of locking or security device on fire hydrants is desirable in many areas, particularly in areas where the hydrants may be subject to malicious mischief and rural and farming areas where water may be in short supply and great demand. Such situations have led to increasing incidences of water theft. In such areas prone to water theft, some form of protective device that would provide greater security than a simple deterrent to mischief, yet still could be forcibly removed in an emergency, would be desirable. On other water lines which are not used for emergency applications such as firefighting, a greater degree of security would be desirable. Main water valves for residential housing is another example of where an economical yet efficient valve security device would be very desirable in order to prevent non-paying customers from simply disabling the lock typically placed on such valves by the water company with a simple hammer. In hazardous chemical lines and other applications, maximum security protection devices for the valves would be desired wherein the application of virtually any degree of force would still leave the valve disabled and inoperable. It would be highly desirable if a valve security device could be developed that would meet these different needs. Such a device would be readily adaptable for providing different levels of security for different applications. It would also be desirable if such a security device could be readily modified for use with different valve configurations. The present invention provides such a security device. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly, the present invention comprises a fluid flow valve security device that fits about and is secured to the actuating key on a valve head to selectively prevent access thereto and the unauthorized opening of the valve. The security device includes an inner body portion, an outer body portion, a protective sleeve, a valve cap and an operating pin assembly. The inner body portion is disposed about and operatively coupled to the valve actuating key such that rotation of the inner body portion effects corresponding rotation of the key to open and close the valve. The outer body portion of the security device is disposed about and rotatably mounted on the inner body portion. The valve cap is mounted atop the outer body portion for rotational movement therewith and defines a secondary actuating key thereon preferably corresponding in configuration to the actuating key on the valve head. The protective sleeve is secured between and freely rotatable about the interface of the inner and outer body portions and the actuating key on the valve head so as to prevent unauthorized access thereto. 
   The security device of the present invention is controlled by an operating pin assembly that is manually movable between an extended position and a retracted position. In its extended position, the pin assembly couples the outer body portion of the security device to the inner body portion thereof such that the secondary actuating key is operatively coupled to the actuating key on the valve head whereby the valve can be opened and closed by the secondary actuating key. If desired, with the operating pin assembly in the extended position the valve cap can be removed from the outer body portion to disassemble and remove the security device from the valve head. In the retracted position, the outer body portion is uncoupled from the inner body portion of the device and the valve cap is coupled to the outer body portion such that the outer body portion and valve cap are free wheeling on and about the inner body portion and the valve cap can not be removed from the outer body portion. Thus, with the operating pin assembly in the retracted position, the security device can not be removed from the valve head and the secondary key on the valve cap is not operatively coupled to the valve head key, totally disabling the fluid flow valve. The protective sleeve is also freely rotatable about the interface of the inner and outer body portions, preventing one from obtaining unauthorized access to said interface or the valve head actuating key in an effort to remove or overpower the security device. 
   To prevent unauthorized movement of the operating pin assembly from the retracted position to the extended position to open the valve and to inhibit the unauthorized locking of the valve in the operative mode, a channel is provided in an extended portion of the outer body of the device adjacent the operating pin assembly which, with the assembly in the retracted position, is adapted to receive the shackle of a padlock or tamper-proof lock having an inaccessible shackle, depending on the application. With the shackle extending through the channel, the operating pin assembly is held in the retracted position disabling the valve. With the operating pin assembly in the extended position, the channel is blocked by the pin assembly preventing the insertion of a lock shackle and the disabling of the valve. 
   Through the aforesaid configuration, when the valve security device of the present invention is used to secure a valve of the type that might need to be opened in an emergency situation such as a fire hydrant, a conventional padlock could be used to secure the operating pin assembly and a fireman, policeman or other person, in an emergency, could cut or saw through the shackle of the padlock to remove the lock and reestablish control over the valve head. For those applications in which higher security is required, a tamper-proof lock employing, for example, an inaccessible T-shaped shackle could be utilized which would prevent one from overcoming the lock without the key. Thus, the present invention provides a highly versatile locking device for use in a wide variety of applications. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the valve security device of the present invention in place on a valve head. The valve security device is illustrated in  FIG. 1  in the operative position, allowing the valve head to be moved between an open and closed position. 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the locking device of the present invention in place on a valve head in the operative position, utilizing solid and phantom lines to show the movement of the device between a valve open position (solid lines) and valve closed position (phantom lines). 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the valve head without the locking device mounted thereon, utilizing solid and phantom lines to illustrate the movement of the actuating key on the top of the valve head between the valve open position (solid lines) and valve closed position (phantom lines). 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the valve security device of the present invention secured to the valve head and disposed in the operative position. 
       FIG. 5A  is a partial sectional view taken along the line  5 A— 5 A in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 5B  is a partial sectional view similar to  5 A but illustrating the valve security device in the inoperative position. 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the components of the valve security device disposed above a valve head and including alternate embodiments of the valve cap showing the use of a handle and wheel for opening and closing the valve. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the valve head with only the inner body portion of the security device in place thereon. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the locking device of the present invention in place on a valve head with the valve cap removed. 
       FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the components illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the valve security device of the present invention secured on the valve head and locked in the disabled or free spinning or secured position. 
       FIG. 11  is a sectional view taken along the line  11 — 11  in  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 12  is a sectional view taken along the line  12 — 12  in  FIG. 11 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The valve security device  10  is shown in the accompanying drawings secured to a conventional residential angle stop valve head  12  of the type that is widely used by the Department of Water and Power in the Southern California area and elsewhere. It is to be understood, however, that the security device of the present invention is readily adaptable for use with a variety of fluid flow valves. The valve head  12  includes a water inlet  14 , outlet  16  and a key or actuator  18  for actuating the internal valve components (not shown) to regulate the water flow therethrough. The open valve position is illustrated in  FIG. 3  in solid lines and the closed position is illustrated in phantom lines. 
   The individual components of the valve security device  10  are perhaps best illustrated in the exploded view of  FIG. 6 . Those components include an inner body  20  which is adapted to fit over and engage the actuator key  18  on the valve head  12 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , the interior of inner body  20  is configured to engage and, as shown, preferably mate with the surfaces of the valve actuator key  18 . For valves having differently sized and/or configured actuators, the inner body portion  20  of the security device  10  would have correspondingly sized and configured interior contact surfaces. For the valve shown in the drawings, a retention pin  22  and a pair of set screws  24  provide the securement of the inner body  20  to the valve head  12  such that rotation of the inner body  20  effects corresponding rotation of the valve actuator  18 . The retention pin  22  extends through aperture  23  in the inner body portion  20  of the security device and through an aperture  25  formed in the valve actuator  18  to prevent the inner body  20  from being pulled from the valve head. This securement is also illustrated, for example, in  FIG. 4 . The inner body  20  also defines a recess or slot  26  which is adapted to selectively receive the inner head portion  27  of the operating pin  28  to effect an operative coupling of the inner body to the outer body  34  of the security device  10  for rotation of the valve head actuator  18  with the security device  10  in place as will be described. 
   A threaded aperture  30  is provided in an upwardly projecting boss  31  on the inner body  20  which is adapted to receive an Allen screw  32  for securement of the outer body  34  to the inner body  20 . A washer  36  is disposed between boss  31  and the head of fastener  32 . Alternatively, the head of screw  32  could be enlarged to effect the securement of the outer body of the security device  10  to the inner body. A free spinning protective cylindrical metal sleeve  38  is provided between the valve head  12  and the outer body  34  to prevent unauthorized access to valve head area  40  (see  FIG. 6 ) which might otherwise be gripped by a suitable tool and forcibly rotated to effect unauthorized opening of the valve head  12 . An anti-friction disc  41  formed of Teflon® or similar low friction material is provided on the annular flat surface  43  of the inner body  20  for reasons to be noted later herein. A valve cap  42  is secured to the upper end of the outer body  34  to prevent unauthorized disassembly of the valve security device and to provide a secondary key or actuator  44  for the opening and closing the valve head  12 . The valve cap  42  is secured to the outer body by a threaded fastener  46  and by means of a cap retaining pin  48 . The secondary actuator  44  carried by cap  42  can be of the identical configuration as the valve head actuator  18  or, if desired, of an elongated or circular configuration (also shown in  FIG. 6 ), or of any other desired shape. 
   As perhaps best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the valve cap retaining pin  48  projects from the underside of the valve cap  42 , through an aperture  50  in the upper end of the outer body  34  and into an interior area  52  proximate the slot  26  in the inner body  20 . The outer body  34  of the security device  10  additionally includes a hollow, radially projecting arm portion  54  defining an elongated interior chamber  56  communicating with interior area  52 . The operating pin  28  is slidably disposed within chamber  56  and area  48  as seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . A lubrication nipple  58  threadably engages the extended end of arm portion  54  so as to close the outer end of chamber  56  such that a coil spring  62  can extend between the lubrication nipple  58  and a seat  64  formed in outer end portion  65  of the operating pin  28 . So disposed, the coil spring  62  continually urges the operating pin  28  to the inner or extended position seen in  FIG. 5 . A handle  66  for selectively moving the operating pin  28  between an inner and outer position is threadably secured to the operating pin. An L-shaped slot  68  is provided in the arm portion  54  of the outer body  34  to accommodate handle  66  and hold the operating pin  28  in the outer or retracted position when the handle is pushed downwardly into the offset portion  68 ′ of slot  68 . 
   The operating pin  28  defines a reduced diameter portion  70  between its head portion  27  and end portion  65 . Similarly, the vertically disposed cap retaining pin  48  defines a reduced diameter portion  72  intermediary of its ends. The reduced diameter portion  72  of the cap retention pin  48  is disposed within the interior area  52  of the outer body as seen in  FIG. 4 . In the fully extended position illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5A , the head portion  27  of the operating pin  28  projects into the slot  26  in the inner body  20 , operatively connecting the outer body  34  to the inner body  20 . In the fully retracted position, see FIGS.  5 B and  10 – 12 , the head portion of the operating pin is withdrawn from slot  26 , allowing the outer body  34  to rotate freely about the inner body  20 . 
   Referring again to  FIGS. 4 and 5A , the outer body  34  is secured to the inner body  20  by virtue of the projection of the head portion  27  of operating pin  28  into the slot  26  in the inner body. The valve cap  42  is in turn secured to the outer body by virtue of threaded fastener  46  and cap retaining pin  48 . Accordingly, engaging the actuator  44  defined by valve cap  42  with the appropriate tool and rotating the cap will effect corresponding rotation of the outer body  34  and inner body  20 . The engagement of the valve head actuator  18  by the inner body  20  effects corresponding rotation of the valve head actuator  18  such that the valve head  12  can be effectively operated by the actuator  44  on the valve cap  42 . As indicated above, the key-shaped actuator  44  could be replaced by a suitable handle, valve wheel or other configuration as seen in  FIG. 6 . 
   In the above described operative mode, the valve cap  42  can be readily removed to disengage the security device  10  from the valve head  12  for repair and replacement purposes. This is accomplished by simply unscrewing the threaded fastener  46  and lifting the valve cap vertically off the outer body  34 . Such removal is permitted due to the positioning of the reduced diameter portion  70  of the operating pin  28  relative to the reduced diameter portion  72  of the cap retaining pin  48  such that the operating pin does not obstruct the upward movement of the retaining pin. If the larger diameter head portion  27  of the operating pin were in the path of pin  48 , as is the case in the inoperative mode when the operating pin is in the retracted position (see  FIG. 5B ), the head of the operating pin would prevent withdrawal of the retaining pin  48  preventing removal of the valve cap  42 . 
   To lock the valve security device  10  such that the valve head cannot be opened without authorization, the operating pin  28  is urged outwardly against the force of spring  62  by means of handle  66 , disengaging the head portion  27  of pin  28  from the slot  26  in the inner body portion  20 . By pressing the handle  66  downwardly in the retracted position, the handle will move into the offset portion  68 ′ of the L-shaped slot  68  so as to hold the operating pin  28  in its retracted position. Because of the reduced diameter portion  72  of the cap retaining pin  48 , pin  48  does not obstruct the outward movement of the operating pin  28  as just described. With the operating pin in the retracted position, the locking channel  80  formed in the arm portion  54  of the outer body  34  is no longer partially obstructed by the end portion  65  of the operating pin  28  as is the case when the pin is in the extended position (see  FIGS. 5A and 5B ). This allows the bar, pin or shackle  82  on a lock  84  to be inserted through channel  80  and locked in place as seen in  FIGS. 10–12 . For low security applications, a conventional padlock would be used with the valve security device and the shackle of the lock would be inserted through the locking channel  80  as is shown in the drawings. It is to be understood that higher security locks would be utilized with security device  10  for higher security applications, as will be later discussed. The operation of the valve security device  10  will be discussed with reference to a lock  84  and its associated locking bar  82  although it is to be understood that the term “locking bar” or “bar” is intended to include shackles, pins, locking bolts, etc. so as not to unduly restrict the types of locks with which the security device  10  of the present invention can be used. 
   With the lock  84  in place, the outer body  34  of the security device, the lock  84  and the valve cap  42  are free wheeling about the inner body  20 . Thus, rotation of the actuator  44  on the valve security device  10  simply rotates the outer body  34  of the device but does not effect corresponding rotation of the inner body  20 . The outer body  34  and lock  84  cannot be lifted from the inner body  20  due to the threaded engagement of the hidden fastener  32  which, while allowing relative rotation between the inner and outer bodies, holds the outer body to the inner body. Upon removal of the exposed threaded fastener  46 , the valve cap  42  is still held in place, preventing access to fastener  32 , due to the interference created between the head portion  27  of the operating pin  28  and the cap retaining pin  48 . The cap retaining pin  48  is prevented from being withdrawn from outer body  34  through aperture  50  therein by the larger diameter head portion of the operating pin as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . Because of the interference created by the operating pin, the cap cannot be removed and thus the valve head  12  is effectively disabled due to the free spinning cap and outer body and the lack of any operative engagement of the cap  42  to the inner body  20 . 
   The inclusion of the low friction disc  41  on the flat annular surface  43  of the inner body will prevent one from being able to operate the valve head by using an elongated lever arm on actuator  44  and attempting to torque one side of the cap  42  and outer body  34  downwardly with respect to the inner body  20  such that underside of the outer body would bear against surface  43  with sufficient force to enable one to actually turn the inner body and thus circumvent the security device. With the low friction disc  41  covering inner body surface  43 , sufficient friction could not be generated on the inner body to operate the valve head in such a manner. 
   In order to reconnect the operative engagement between the valve security device  10  and the valve head  12 , it is necessary to remove the lock  84 . With the lock in place, the locking bar  82  prevents the larger diameter outer end portion  65  of the operating pin  28  from passing thereby and thus prevents any inward movement of the pin  28  into engagement with the inner body  20 . With the lock removed, the coil spring  62  will urge the operating pin  28  against the inner body  20 . By simply rotating the outer body  34  relative to the inner body, the head portion  27  of the operating pin will come into alignment with the slot  26  in the inner body  20 , whereupon the coil spring  62  will urge the head  27  of the operating pin  28  into slot  26 , reestablishing the operative connection between the inner and outer bodies of the security device. 
   The removal of lock  84  from device  10  can be accomplished in its intended way through the use of the lock key. Alternatively, in an emergency situation, a fireman, policeman or other person, could cut or saw through the locking bar of the lock to remove the lock and reestablish control over the valve head  12  assuming that a lower security lock such as a convention padlock were used to secure device  10 . The ability to reestablish such a connection when the key is not available is quite important in many applications where an emergency situation dictates reactivation of the valve head. For those applications in which higher security is required, a tamperproof lock employing, for example, a T-shaped locking bar could be utilized which would prevent one from overpowering the lock without the key without destroying the valve as well. Such applications would be for very high security applications where the use of the key was deemed absolutely necessary by the end user. 
   Various changes and modifications also may be made in carrying out the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Insofar as these changes and modifications are within the purview of the appended claims, they are to be considered as part of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5