GB2240368A

GB2240368A - Security device for standpipes and underground stop valves

Info

Publication number: GB2240368A
Application number: GB8929354A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Albert Fletcher Wigley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-12-30
Filing date: 1989-12-30
Publication date: 1991-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 2009-12-30
Also published as: GB2240368B; GB8929354D0

Abstract

In Figures 1-3 an underground stopvalve (10) for general purposes or service stopvalve for standpipes has an extended spindle (15) with a protective casing (12) secured to the valve and terminates above ground with a padlock cap (18) protecting the operating lever (16). In Figure 4 a lockable control valve (10) connected to a double check valve (32) and vertical standpipe (34) has an elbow discharge outlet and Figure 5 is a short version of the valve unit with a hose union bib tap (42). Both units Figures 4 and 5 are for temporary use, and removed for checking the efficiency of the check valves. Standpipes with service stopvalves (Figures 8-7) have supply pipes and checkvalves connected to control valves surrounded by insulation within a metal casing with the valve spindles operated by an external crutch and cap. When installed in extreme frost conditions compressed air can be injected through a test plug within a lockable cap and with the plug connected to a tube and union nut at the base of the supply pipe, water can be expelled from the pipe system. All standpipes (Figures 1-12) have an air chamber and air circulating apertures through an upper cover of the chamber and around the insulation. <IMAGE>

Description

STANDPIPES AND LOCKABLE CONTROL VALVES New Water Byelaws now require that standpipes and discharge outlets from public water mains shall have double check valves at or adjacent to the point of discharge to prevent pollution from backflow and test points accessible for maintenance. All supplies exposed to frost conditions shall be protected against damage and have service or stopvalves for maintenance and to prevent waste of water. Penalties can be imposed for waste or misuse of water.

Because double check valves prevent air from entering the pipe system and stop valves when closed prevent expansion of water returning to the mains the discharge outlet and connections freeze during continuous frost conditions and fractures occur within the pipe casing. Low level drainage of the pipe below or at ground surface is not allowed and there is difficulty in overcoming the problem. Due to the growing prevalence of vandalism, and the unauthorised use of water from standpipes it is necessary to provide protective measures to prevent any occurrence that could invoke legal action and financial penalties.

In situations such as building sites, restricted areas, allotments and where connections can be made to supplies without authorisation the provision of a visible lockable underground stop valve with or without a protective device on the main supply at a boundary fence with accessibility from the public side ensures that the waste of water could be contained when not required.

According to,the present invention there is provided a system of stopvalves, service valves and standpipes that can be installed independently or connected together as one unit comprising an underground stop valve whith an extended spindle secured by a strap and fasteners to a base of a rigid tube which extends from a specified depth below ground surface and suitable heights above ground and terminates with the spindle secured to a crutch or operating lever enclosed within a hinged vandal proof cap having lugs with aperatures for a padlock. The valve unit can be installed as an independent unit for controlling pipe lines or secured by brackets and fasteners as a service valve to various types of temporary or permanent standpipes with or without rigid casings each having a double check valve.Standpipes with casings and a service valve can be installed with or without a secondary valve operated by an external crutch or weatherproof rotating cap protected by a padlocked cap if required. This type of unit can have pneumatic drainage for the vertical supply pipe by means of a high level air inlet test plug having protective meant incorporated in the protective hinged caps of the service valve.All standpipes with anti vandal casings (preferrably metal) have an air circulating chamber at the base with aperatures in an upper cover of the air chamber providing means of air to circulate between the walls of the casing and external surfaces of insulation units surrounding the supply pipe and supported on the upper cover of the air chamber, removable panels secured by fasteners to a side wall at the bottom of the casing provides access to pipe connections and a similar panel at the top of the casing provides access to pipe connections, internal secondary valve, double check valves and a discharge outlet.

A specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an outline of an underground stop valve having a side inlet and a body 10 with a shouldered centralising disc 11 supporting a vertical rigid tube 12. The stopvalve with headwork and spindle 13 is attached to a rigid connection 14 with an extended spindle 15 terminating at the top of the tube 12 with a crutch head 16 secured to the spindle by a fastener 17.

Surrounding the crutch head an anti-vandal hinged cap 18 with a lug 19 having a padlock aperature, diametrically opposite a hinged lug 20 is secured to a matching lug 21 with a central pin. The lug 21 Figure 1A is secured to an annular band 22. Surrounding the tube 12 and secured thereto by fasteners 23 opposite to hinged lug 21 a padlock lug with aperature 24 is secured to the annular band 22, the tube 12 having a central disc 25 with a spindle aperature is secured to the tube by fasteners. In figure 2 the body of the stopvalve 10 is surrounded by a pre-formed strap secured to the external surfaces of the tube 12 by fasteners 17. At the top of the tube the Cap 18 is shown in a low level position above ground surface as compared to Figures 1-3 where the valve could be used as a control valve for discharge or as a lockable device to a standpipe having an independent control valve.

Referring to Figure 4 the stop valve unit is described in Figure 1 (part numbers 10-25) is shown as a control unit to a temporary standpipe in a frost free area with the stopvalve outlet of the body 10 connected by threaded means 30 to an elbow 31 with the outlet connected to a double check valve 32 having a threaded outlet 33 for a vertical standpipe 34. A cover top of a rigid casing is secured between threaded parts of connections 33-34 by means of side flanges and fasteners 36 to rigid casing 35 - Figure 5 which surrounds and protects the double check valve from damage and torque pressures. The sides of the awing are secured by fasteners 38 to the side wall of the stop valve tube 12 with a bottom and base of the casing 35 supporting the stop valve 12 and elblow 31.With the standpipe secured in the threaded connector 34 it terminates with angled elbows 39 and a hose union connector 40. In order to provide for climatic changes and discharge control, a different type of unit is shown in Figure 5 with stopvalve 10 having independent and lockable control of discharge from a bibtap 42 the stopvalve is distanced from the discharge outlet in cases where frost conditions occur and protection against damage and misuse is provided by the installer. In such cases the pipe connector 30 and protective casing 35 are extended and brackets 44 removed. When the temporary unit is removed from its location it can be checked and re-issued for further use.

Referring to Figure 6 a stopvalve unit with a stopvalve 10 as described in Figure 1 is attached by a threaded connector 50 to an elbow and supply pipe 51 centralised within a rigid casing 52 by an air chamber cover 53 secured by fasteners to the casing 52. Supported on the cover 53 is a preformed insulation unit 54 surrounding the supply pipe 51 and fittings within the casing. A union nut 55 connects the supply pipe to a double check valve 56 having a union nut 57 connected to a side outlet control valve 58 with headwork and spindle 59 - Figure 8 secured to a crutch head 60 to which is attached a rotating cap 61 secured to the spindle 59 by a threaded fastener 6?. The cap 61 rotates around the walls of a weatherproof upstand 63 with a flange secured by fasteners 64 to a cover of the casing 52. A side outlet 65 of the control valve has a hose union outlet 66 - Figures A-B-C-D-E surrounded by a cover shield 69 secured to an access panel 70 - Figure 7. At the base of the casing a second access panel 71 is secured by fasteners to the casing 52. External brackets 72 and fasteners secure the stop valve unit to the casing 52 - Figure b. Within the air chamber 53 a threaded union nut 74 with a small diameter pipe 75 is secured to the pipe connector 50 with the pipe 75 extending within the insulation 54 terminating in an external plug 76 secured by threads and connections to the casing 52. Protecting the plug from unauthorised use is a cover 77 welded to the hinged cap of the stop valve unit.With the stop valve closed and the plug removed the double check valve can be tested by a U tube attached to the discharge outlet 66 and pressurised water applied. When frost conditions occur and with the stop valve closed, the plug removed,a small quantity of low pressure air will expel all water from the standpipe and with the cap and padlock in position the unit is vandal and frost proof. Where hosepipes are in continual use the control valve 58 can have double outlets with one side the standard hose connector 66 and the opposite side a bib tab 78 - Figures B-C. Both are self draining. The symbol V Figure 8 indicates the limit of pressurised water within the system with the control valve closed.

Referring to Figures 9-12 an individual standpipe unit without a stopvalve attached has identical fittings and structure as the standpipe unit described in figures 6-7-8 but with the following variations:- a threaded inlet supply 80 is secured by threaded means to a side wall of a casing 81 and a pipe connector to an elbow 82 having connectors to a supply pipe 83. The remainder of the unit has fittings and structure detailed as aforesaid. This unit has an unprotected control valve cap or crutch head as shown in Figures 6-8 but when security is required a hinged metallic vandal proof casing or cover 85 - Figures 9-12 can be secured to the casing cover 86 by fasteners and when in the closed position is secured by a hasp and padlock staple 87

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Stand pipes and lockable control valves comprising a system of stopvalves, service stopvalve and satndpipes that can be installed independently or connected together as one unit comprising an under ground stopvalve with an extended spindle secured by a strap and fasteners to a base of a rigid tube preferably steel which extends from a specified depth below ground surface to suitable heights above ground and terminates with the spindle secured to a cruth or operating lever enclosed within a hinged vandal proof cap having lugs with apertures for a padlock. The valve unit can be installed as an independent unit to control pipe lines or secured by brackets and fasteners as a service stopvalve to various types of temporary or permanent standpipes with or without rigid casings each having a double check valve.

Standpipes with casings and a service stopvalve can be installed with or without a secondary valve operated by an external crutch and a weatherproof rotating cap protected by a padlock cap if required. This type of unit can have pneumatic crainage of the vertical supply pipe and fitting by means of a high level air inlet test plug having protective means incorporated in the protective hinged lockable caps of the service valve. All standpipes with anti-vandal casing (preferably metal) have an air circulating chamber at the base with abertures in an upper cover of the air chamber providing means for air to circulate between the walls of the casing and insulation units surrounding the service pipe and supported on the upper cover of the air chamber.

Removable panels secured by fasteners to a side wall provides access to pipe connections and a similar panel at the top of the casing provides access to pipe connections, internal secondary valve, double check valves and test plug.
2 Standpipes and lockable control valves as claimed in Claim 1 wherein an underground stopvalve with an extended spindle 15 connected by straps and fasteners to a rigid metallic tube terminating above ground surface with the spindle secured to a crutch or operating lever within a hinged vandal proof cap having lugs with apertures tor a padlock.
3. Standpipes and lockable control valves as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 wherein an underground service stopvalve can e attached t various types of standpipes with or without security padlock arrangements.
4. Standpipes and lockable control valves as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a temporary standpipes with an open discharge point or hose union bibtap is connected at the base to a double chec'. valve an an underground service stopvalve as claimed in Claim 2.
5. Standpipes and lockable control valves as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a permanent Standpipe within a natal casing Figures F- having a double check valve, an angled control valve with a vertical spindle attached to an external crutch or operating lever enclosed within a vandal proof hinged cap, a side outlet discharge point with a nose connection, a supply pipe attached to an underground service stop valve and a test plug/air inlet connection within te protective cap ajove ground level connected t a tube to the outlet connection of the underground stopvalve, When compressed air is injected through the test plug all water within the standpipe is excelled through the discharge outlet This feature is for installation in situations where severe and continuous frost conditions can occur
6.Standpipes and lockable control valves as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 5 wherein the compressed air drainage system is omitted from the unit and a service stopvalve as claimed in Claim 3 is connected to the standpipe unit by threaded means and casings by brackets and fasteners this coupling becomes the standard standpipe and control valve unit with or without padlock caps on the standpipe.
7, Standpipes and lockable control valves as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a a standpipe Figures 9-12 is connected to an existing underground stopvalve or pipe line a lockable padlock cap to the operating control valve lever is standard to this unft,
8.Standpipes and lockable control valves as claimed in any preceding claims wherein all standpipes with metallic casinos n-ave an air circulating chamber at the base with apertures in an upper cover of the air chamber providing means for air to circulate between the walls of the casing and external surfaces of insulation units surrounding the supply pipe and supported on the upper cover of the air chamber, removable panels secured by fasteners provide access to control valve, double check valve, testplug and internal pipe connections.
9. Standpipes and lockable control valves substantially as described herein wit references to Figures 5 of the accompanying drawings.