GB2176578A

GB2176578A - Valve protector

Info

Publication number: GB2176578A
Application number: GB8603671A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geok Hwee Chng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-06-17
Filing date: 1986-02-14
Publication date: 1986-12-31
Also published as: GB2176578B; GB8603671D0; GB8515296D0

Abstract

A valve protector includes sealing means actuable automatically by closing a valve cover such that access cannot subsequently be gained without breaking the seal. Preferably the protector comprises a front body portion (5) and a rear body portion (4) which snap fit together to form a substantially annular member which surrounds a gas-cylinder valve in use. A rear cover (1) is hinged to the rear body portion (4) and a front cover (2) is hinged to the front body portion (5) and the front and rear covers are connected together by a seal (3) which must be broken in order to pivot the front cover (2) and gain access to the valve. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Valve protector This invention relates to a valve protector for protecting and sealing the valve of a gas cylinder, in particular a cylinder for storing a liquefied hydrocarbon gas, such as liquid petroleum gas, so as to prevent accidental actuation thereof.

According to the invention there is provided a device for preventing actuation of a cylinder valve, which device includes a movable cover and sealing means comprising a sealing member for preventing movement of the cover, the sealing means being actuable automatically by closing the cover, such that a user cannot subsequently gain access to the valve without breaking the sealing member.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a cylinder valve, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a valve protector in accordance with the invention, for use with the cylinder valve of Fig. 1, Figure 3 is a side view, partly in section, of the valve protector of Fig. 2, Figure 4 is a front elevational view of a rear cover of the valve protector of Fig. 2, Figure 5 is a top plan view of the rear cover of Fig. 4, Figure 6 is a section taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 5, Figure 7 is a front elevational view of a front cover of the valve protector of Fig. 2, Figure 8 is a rear elevational view of the front cover of Fig. 7, Figure 9 is a top plan view of the front cover of Fig. 7, Figure 10 is a section taken on the line X-X of Fig. 9, Figure 11 is a front elevational view of a seal of the valve protector of Fig. 2, Figure 12 is a top plan view of the seal of Fig. 11, Figure 13 is a section on the line XIII-XIII of Fig. 12, Figure 14 is a front elevational view of a rear body portion of the valve protector of Fig. 2, Figure 15 is a top plan view of the rear body portion of Fig. 14, Figure 16 is a section on the line XVI-XVI of Fig. 15, Figure 17 is a rear elevational view of a front body portion of the valve protector of Fig. 2, Figure 18 is a top plan view of the front body portion of Fig. 17, Figure 19 is a section on the line XIX-XIX of Fig. 18.

Figure 20 is a perspective view of a valve protector, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 21 is a perspective view of a valve protector in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, with the seal removed and the front cover open.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Fig. 2, the cylinder valve protector, which is shown actual size, comprises a rear cover 1, a front cover 2, a rear body portion 4 and a front body portion 5, each of which comprises nylon or an aluminium alloy, and a seal 3, which comprises a plastics material.

The rear cover 1 is hingedly connected to the rear body portion 4 and the front cover 2 is hingedly connected to the front body portion 5 and adapted to snap fit to the rear cover 1, as can be seen in Fig. 3. As can also be seen in this Figure, the seal 3 extends through an aperture in the front cover 2 and includes a resilient portion such that when the front and rear covers have been snap-fitted together the resilient portion of the seal 3 engages behind a depending part of the rear cover 1. Preferably the seal 3 automatically engages with the depending part of the rear cover 1 when the front and rear covers 2,1, are snap-fitted together, the seal 3 being forced through the aperture in front cover 2 and thus engaging behind rear cover 1.

Referring now to Figs. 14 to 19, the front and rear body portions are adapted to snap fit together so as snugly to accommodate the cylinder valve therebetween. The lower part of the rear cover 1 (see Fig. 4) and the rear body portion 4 (see Fig. 14) are cut away to accommodate a radially extending member of the cylinder valve, such as an inlet/outlet pipe or a pressure release valve.

The protector may also comprise gripping means 6, (see Fig. 20) positioned in the portion of the protector that is cut away to receive the radially extending member of the cylinder valve, which grips the radially extending member and so secures the protector on the cylinder valve.

Fig. 20 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The front cover 2 comprises an extension 7 which, when the protector is shut, extends across the top of the protector, and is snap-fitted to the rear cover 1. The seal 3 is positioned on top of the rear cover 1, extending through an aperture 8 in the extension 7. When the seal 3 is broken, by lifting the seal 3 and breaking the relatively narrow neck portion thereof, access to the cylinder valve can be gained by lifting the extension 7 away from the top of rear cover 1 (in the direction of the arrow), and then moving front cover 2 away from rear cover 1.

Fig. 21 shows a third embodiment of the present invention in which front cover 2 is hingedly connected to rear cover 1.

In all embodiments, it is preferred that the seal 3 is positioned in line with, or recessed into, front cover 2, to prevent the seal 3 being accidentally snagged and broken.

In use, the seal 3 is inserted through the front cover 2 and the front cover 2 is snap fitted to the rear cover 1. The front and rear covers cannot then be disengaged without breaking the seal 3. To do this, a finger is inserted behind the seal 3 and the seal 3 is lifted, out of engagement with rear cover 1, in order to break the relatively narrow neck portion thereof. The front cover 2 can then be pivoted forwards in order to gain access to the cylinder valve by depressing the top of the rear cover 1 with a finger and moving the front cover 2 in the direction of the arrow (see Figs. 2 and 9).

Claims

1. A device for preventing actuation of a cylinder valve, which device includes a movable cover and sealing means comprising a sealing member for preventing movement of the cover, the sealing means being actuable automatically by closing the cover, such that a user cannot subsequently gain access to the valve without breaking the sealing member.

2. A device according to Claim 1, which comprises a body portion which is fixable with respect to a cylinder valve and relative to which the cover is movable.

3. A device according to Claim 2, wherein the body portion comprises at least two discrete portions which can be connected together in order to fix the same with respect to a cylinder valve.

4. A device according to Claim 3, wherein the at least two discrete portions can be snap-fitted together.

5. A device according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the cover is pivotable relative to the body portion.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a further cover which is adapted to engage the cover in a closed position thereof.

7. A device according to Claims 2 and 6, wherein the further cover is movable relative to the body portion.

8. A device according to Claim 7, wherein the further cover is pivotable relative to the body portion.

9. A device according to any one of Claims 6 to 8, wherein the further cover and the cover can be snap-fitted together.

10. A device according to any one of Claims 6 to 9, wherein the sealing means is actuated by engagement between the cover and the further cover.

11. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing means is mounted on the cover and comprises a compressible resilient portion such that, during closure of the cover, the compressible portion is compressed and then allowed resiliently to expand, whereby opening of the cover is resisted by abutment between the compressible portion and abutment means.

12. A device according to Claim 11, wherein the sealing means extends through an aperture in the cover.

13. A device according to Claims 10 and 12, wherein the compressible portion is compressed, in use, by being passed through an aperture defined between the cover and the further cover, and the abutment means is integrally formed with the further cover.

14. A device for preventing actuation of a cylinder valve, which device comprises a body portion which is fixable with respect to a cylinder valve, a cover which is movable relative to the body portion, means for engaging the cover in a closed position thereof, and sealing means for preventing movement of the cover in the closed position, the sealing means being actuable automatically by closing the cover, wherein the sealing means is mounted on the cover and comprises a portion which is disposed outside the device and a portion which is disposed inside the device and is adapted resiliently to engage the engaging means during closure of the cover, such that a user cannot subsequently gain access to the valve without breaking the sealing means.

15. A valve protector, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figs. 2 to 21 of the accompanying drawings.

16. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.