Valve lock
First Claim
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1. A valve lock for removably blocking an access pipe to an underground valve, comprising:
- a cylindrical hollow pipe;
a plurality of closure wedges at the ends thereof having first and second wedge surfaces, said closure wedges each having a semi-cylindrical outer surface;
a base wedge fixed to an end of said pipe, the base wedge having a first closure wedge-engaging surface facing said first wedge surface;
a thrust wedge longitudinally spaced from said base wedge by said plurality of closure wedges, said thrust wedge having a second closure wedge-engaging surface facing said second wedge surface;
an actuation device engaged to said thrust wedge driving said second closure wedge-engaging surface against said second surface and said first surface against said first closure wedge engaging-surface forcing said plurality of closure wedges radially outwardly,whereby said semi-cylindrical outer surfaces of said closure wedges engage an inner wall surface of the access pipe over a significant circumferential extent of the inner wall surface.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a valve lock for blocking access to a valve mounted in an access pipe. The valve lock includes a key housing and a key for actuating a valve lock mechanism. The key housing has a diameter less than the inner diameter of the access pipe. The valve lock mechanism includes semi-cylindrical closure wedges having inclined surfaces that are engaged by wedges. The valve lock mechanism is activated by reducing the distances between the wedges forcing the closure wedges radially outwardly so that the outer semi-cylindrical surface of the closure wedges engage the inner wall surface of the access pipe.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A valve lock for removably blocking an access pipe to an underground valve, comprising:
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a cylindrical hollow pipe; a plurality of closure wedges at the ends thereof having first and second wedge surfaces, said closure wedges each having a semi-cylindrical outer surface; a base wedge fixed to an end of said pipe, the base wedge having a first closure wedge-engaging surface facing said first wedge surface; a thrust wedge longitudinally spaced from said base wedge by said plurality of closure wedges, said thrust wedge having a second closure wedge-engaging surface facing said second wedge surface; an actuation device engaged to said thrust wedge driving said second closure wedge-engaging surface against said second surface and said first surface against said first closure wedge engaging-surface forcing said plurality of closure wedges radially outwardly, whereby said semi-cylindrical outer surfaces of said closure wedges engage an inner wall surface of the access pipe over a significant circumferential extent of the inner wall surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In combination, an access pipe to a water valve and a lock mechanism for blocking said access pipe preventing access to the water valve, the lock mechanism comprising:
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a cylindrical hollow pipe; a plurality of closure wedges at the ends thereof having first and second wedge surfaces, said closure wedges each having a semi-circular outer surface; a base wedge fixed to an end of said pipe, the base wedge having a first closure wedge-engaging surface facing said first wedge surface; a thrust wedge longitudinally spaced from said base wedge by said plurality of closure wedges, said thrust wedge having a second closure wedge-engaging surface facing said second wedge surface; a shaft engaged to said thrust wedge driving said second closure wedge-engaging surface against said second surface and said first surface against said first closure wedge engaging-surface forcing said plurality of closure wedges outwardly, whereby said semi-circular outer surfaces of said closure wedges engage an inner wall of the access pipe over a significant circumferential extent of the inner wall.
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Specification