Tamper-proof ball valve

• US 6,648,009 B1
• Filed: 06/10/2002
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jomar International, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Jomar International, Ltd.
• Inventors: Pettinaroli, Giulio, Craig, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, George L.
• Application Number:
  US10/167,715
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 137/15.03, 137/15.22, 137/382, 137/385, 137/599.08, 137/599.11, 137/599.13, 137/613, 137/315.41, 137/602, 137/315.06, 137/883, 137/887, 701/78, 701/80, 701/86, 702/03, 732/01, 251/95
• US Class Current: 137/385
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 35/06 using a removable actuating or locking member, e.g. a key F16K35/10, F16K35/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0413 Gas or water meter repairing or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5997 Gas or water meter replacing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6109 Tool for applying or removing valve or valve member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7062 Valve guards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7256 Locks against rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87877 Single inlet with multiple distinctly valved outlets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87909 Containing rotary valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5628 Valve encasing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5637 With padlock

Abstract

A tamper-resistant by-pass valve prevents an unauthorized user from tampering with the valve when it is in the closed position to block gas flow to a meter being replaced or repaired.

Claims

1. A tamper-proof valve, comprising:

a valve body having a valve chamber, and a through passage with an inlet opening and an outlet opening communicating with said valve chamber;

a valve element disposed in the valve chamber and being movable between a valve open position and a valve closed position, said valve chamber being aligned with said through passage when the valve is in said open position;

said valve element having a rotatable stem for turning the valve element between said valve open position and said valve closed position;

the valve body having a by-pass port and a by-pass passage fluidly connecting the by-pass port to the through passage;

a by-pass plug removably mounted in the by-pass port, the by-pass plug being removable by engagement with a tool; and

a locking element mounted on the rotatable stem so as to be movable therewith between a fully open position blocking access to the by-pass plug to prevent removal thereof, and a fully closed position permitting access to the by-pass plug by said tool.

2. A tamper-proof valve as defined in claim 1, in which the locking element is disposed in said fully open position when the valve element is in said valve open position.

3. A tamper-proof valve as defined in claim 1, in which the body has a locking structure fixed thereto, and the locking element is disposed in said fully closed position when the valve element is in the valve closed position, and including a locking device connectable to said locking element and said locking structure to prevent movement of the locking element towards said fully open position.

4. A tamper-proof valve as defined in claim 1, in which the valve body has a shutter valve opening having an inner end opening to the by-pass passage, and a threaded outer end for receiving a shutter valve, and including a tamper-proof cap mounted on the shutter valve opening outer end for blocking access to the shutter valve.

5. A tamper-proof valve as defined in claim 1, in which the body has a protuberance having a first passage laterally aligned with the through passage, the first passage being internally threaded for receiving a shutter valve;

and the protuberance has a second internally threaded passage aligned at right angles to the first passage, for receiving the by-pass plug.

6. A tamper-proof valve, comprising:

a valve body having a valve chamber, and a through passage with an inlet opening and an outlet opening communicating with said valve chamber;

a rotatable valve element disposed in the valve chamber and being movable between a valve open position and a valve closed position, said valve element having a valve passage therethrough, said valve passage being aligned with said through passage when the valve is in said open position;

said valve element having a rotatable stem for turning the valve element between said valve open position and said valve closed position;

the valve body having a by-pass port and a by-pass passage fluidly connecting the by-pass port to the through passage;

a by-pass plug removably mounted in the by-pass port the by-pass plug being removable by engagement with a tool;

a shutter valve mounted in the body adjacent the by-pass passage, and moveable when the valve element is in said closed position, between an open position permitting flow through the by-pass passage and a closed position in which the shutter valve blocks fluid flow through the by-pass passage; and

a locking element mounted on the valve element stem so as to be movable with the valve element between a first position blocking access to the by-pass plug to prevent removal thereof, and a second position permitting access to the by-pass plug by said tool.

7. A tamper-proof valve as defined in claim 6, including a by-pass conduit having one end threadably connected to the by-pass port.

8. A tamper-proof valve, comprising:

a valve body having a valve chamber, and a through passage with an inlet opening and an outlet opening communicating with said valve chamber;

a rotatable ball valve disposed in the valve chamber and being movable between a valve open position and a valve closed position, said ball valve having a valve passage therethrough, said valve passage being aligned with said through passage when the ball valve is in said open position;

said ball valve having a rotatable stem for turning the ball valve between said valve open position and said valve closed position;

the valve body having a by-pass port and a by-pass passage fluidly connecting the by-pass port to the through passage;

a by-pass plug removably mounted in the by-pass port; and

a shutter valve mounted in the body adjacent the by-pass passage, and moveable when the valve element is in said closed position, between an open position permitting flow through the by-pass passage only after said by-pass plug has been removed and a closed position in which the shutter valve blocks fluid flow through the by-pass passage.

9. A method for isolating a gas meter from a gas supply line, comprising the steps of:

providing a valve body having a valve chamber and a through passage communicating with said valve chamber;

disposing a rotatable valve in the valve chamber so as to be moveable therein between a valve open position and a valve closed position;

turning the valve such that the valve chamber is aligned with said through passage to pass a gas to a conduit having a meter to be serviced;

turning a stem connected to said valve from said valve open position to said valve closed position;

providing the valve body with a by-pass port and a by-pass passage fluidly connected to the through passage;

removing a by-pass plug from the by-pass port;

connecting a by-pass conduit to the by-pass port of the valve body;

connecting a locking device to the valve to the valve body to prevent movement of the valve from the valve closed position, whereby gas supplied to the valve body passes to the by-pass conduit; and

disconnecting the locking device from the valve body and the valve, and then turning the valve stem to move the valve to the valve open position and the locking element to a position in which the locking element blocks access to the by-pass port.