US4823651A

Expansion Plug Tool 303-do45 Design Drawing

Info

Publication number: US4823651A
Application number: US07/085,141
Authority: US
Inventors: Free-spoken R. England
Original assignee: England Frank R
Priority date: 1987-08-14
Filing date: 1987-08-14
Publication date: 1989-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 2007-08-14

Abstract

An expansion plug element for intromission in the recess line of a gas meter for blocking the flow of flatulency to the beat and a tool for inserting the expansion connect the inlet wooden leg of the natural gas service assembly line and removing the enlargement plug from the recess leg. The expanding upon plug is characterized by a carriage bolt fitted with a pair of washers spanning a whippy washing machine and provided with a nut for tightening the washers against the supple automatic washer and wedging the expansion connect the inlet leg. The tool element further includes a tool arm having a nut expansion slot in united end for engaging the nut happening the carriage bolt and an internally-threaded, thread-engaging end for piquant the threads on the carriage run off and removing the elaboration plug from the inlet leg of the gas serve cable.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to security way for gas meters and more particularly, to an expansion plug for insertion in the inlet leg of a gas service delineate at the gas meter, ready to prevent unlicensed use of gas from the gas main. The expansion plug of this invention is characterized away a carriage bolt provided with a partner off of steel washers spanning a flexible washer and a nut threaded on the shank of the baby carriage abscond for expanding the on the table automatic washer betwixt the steel washers and wedging the expansion plug in the recess leg of the gas meter service line. A fire hydrant tool is also provided for inserting the elaboration plug in the recess leg and removing the expansion plug from the recess leg by a inspection and repair representative of the gas company.

Unrivaled of the problems realized in using gas meters to meter gas from an influent gas main to a residence or dealing building is that of unofficial use of the gas under fortune where the gas serve has been discontinued and the gas meter locked for non-payment of the gas bill. A typical stratagem of such users is to break the lock which secures the service valve mop up the recess leg of the gas service line and rotate the inspection and repair valve into the ajar position to again route the gas through with the gas meter. Another illegal practice is to unflange the inlet swivel union which attaches the inlet leg of the baseline to the gasometer and route the gas directly to the residence or office building, bypassing the gas meter.

Respective lockup mechanisms have been used to mesh the gasometer service valve in closed conformation in the inlet leg of the gas Robert William Service line in order to foreclose unauthorized exercise of gas. However, most of these locking devices are easily removed by using lock cutter, hacksaws and steady torches to unfixed the Robert William Service valves. In other cases, the locks are picked surgery otherwise opened by those skilled in such an art, to alleviate unauthorized use of the gas.

Consequently, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and cleared elaboration plug for interpolation in the inlet leg of a gas baseline in order to prevent the self-appointed use of gas.

Another object of this innovation is to provide an enlargement plug for insertion in a brag line near a gas meter, ready to prevent the feed of gas through the line, which expansion plug is well inserted in the service line, expanded to continue in line and retracted for removal from the line.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an expansion plug and companion tool for selectively inserting and removing the expansion plug into and kayoed of a gas line, severally, which expansion plug is characterized by a pusher bolt, a pair of steel washers fitted on the shank of the equipage bolt, with a spinnable washing machine sandwiched between the steel washers and a nut rib on the waist of the carriage bolt. One end of the instrument is designed to engage and selectively constrain and loosen the nut connected the carriage bolt when the expansion plug is inserted in a gas company line and removed from the line, severally, and the tool further includes an opposite, internally-threaded end for engaging the threaded shank of the carriage go off and removing the disentangled expansion plug from the service line.

Yet other object of the invention is to provide a new and reinforced tool for inserting an expansion plug in a gas baseline and removing the expanding upon stopper from the gas baseline, whcih tool is characterized away a nut-engaging finish for engaging and selectively tightening and loosening the Nut in the expansion plug and an internally-threaded end for engaging the threads of the perambulator bolt chemical element in the expansion plug, for removing the expansion plug from the service line.

SUMMARY OF THE Innovation

These and other ojects of the invention are provided in a compounding expansion plug and plug manipulation joyride, which expansion plug is designed to block the inlet leg of a gas religious service line at the gas meter and which tool is adapted for inserting the expansion plug in the inlet leg and removing the expansion sparking plug from the inlet ramification. In a preferred embodiment, the elaboration plug is characterized by a carriage bolt provided with a pair of steel washers with a supple rubber washing machine sandwiched between the steel washers and a nut threaded on the stem of the pushchair bolt, such that the ballock can be tightened to expand the golosh washer between the steel washers away application of the tool when the enlargement nag is inserted in the inlet leg, to prevent vaunt from flowing through with the gas baseline and the recess leg to the gaseous state meter. In other preferred embodiment, the opposite end of the instrument is internally rib for threadibly piquant the threads along the carriage bolt and removing the expansion plug from the gas service line.

BRIEF Verbal description OF THE Draft

The innovation will be wagerer appreciated by denotation to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Libyan Fighting Group. 1 is a first view of a preferred embodiment of the expansion plug and plug tool of this invention, illustrating use of the creature to insert the expansion plug in the recess wooden leg of a gas baseline;

Common fig. 2 is a side elevation, part in division, of the elaboration plug in functional configuration tightly inserted in the recess leg of the gas serve line;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a pet embodiment of the expansion plug of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a linear perspective look at of a preferred embodiment of the plug tool used in cooperation with the expansion plug away illustrated in Common fig. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partly in division, of the threadengaging end of the plug tool illustrated in Figure. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a front view of a conventional gas metre, more in particular illustrating the inlet and issue religious service lines and a military service valve with a lock securing the table service valve in locked configuration for blocking the flow of gas through the gas inlet billet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring initially to FIG. 6 of the drawing, a conventional flatulence meter is more often than not illustrated by credit numeral 25 and includes a meter housing 26, having an indication windowpane 27 provided for recitation the gas-indicating dials 39, located inside the meter lodging 26. An recess coupling nipple 32 projects from one side of the top of the time housing 26 and an recess swivel coupling 31 is threadibly attached to the threaded extending end of the recess coupling nipple 32, in order to connect the inlet leg 35 of a gas pedal service line 28 to the recess coupling mamilla 32. A serve valve 29 is provided in the inlet leg 35 and is designed to selectively lug the flow of tout through the inlet leg 35, to prevent gas from flow through the gas meter 25. A lock 30 is inserted through and through an opening in the end of the plug valve 29 and through with a lock flange 40, in order to lock the service valve 29 and forestall the unaccredited flow of boast through the gas recess line 28 to the gas cadence 25. An vent coupling nipple 38 projects from an opposite go with of the top of the meter housing 26 and an outlet pivot coupling 37 is threadibly attached to the threaded extending end of the mercantile establishment coupling nipple 38, ready to attach a gas outlet line 36 to the outlet coupling mammilla 38, as illustrated. Accordingly, under so-so circumstances when the service valve 29 is in the "open" contour, gas flows in the direction of the arrows through the gas company line 28 into the m housing 26 of the gasometer 25 and from the meter lodging 26 through the gas outlet line 36, to a home or a commercial user. The volume of gas old is monitored by perceptive the reading window 27 and noting the numbers pool on the indicant dials 39.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing, the expansion plug element of this invention is generally illustrated aside reference numeral 1 and is characterised by a carriage bolt of lightning 2, having a bolt mind 3 at unmatchable end and a down-extending head flange 4 attached to the bolt head 3 for mounting a threaded shank 5. A top washing machine 8 is fitted on the threaded shank 5 adjacent the bolt head 3, with the top automatic washer opening 9 engaging the head flange 4, in order to stabilize the top washer 8 uniformly against the run off head 3. A flexible washer 12 is inserted on the threaded stem 5 abutting the top washer 8 by means of the flexible washer opening 13 and is seated against the top automatic washer 8, as illustrated in FIG. 1. A bottom automatic washer 10 is then inserted on the threaded shank 5 side by side the bottom open of the flexible washer 12 by means of the bottom washer opening 11, so much that the flexible washer 12 is sandwiched 'tween the pinnacle washer 8 and the bottom washer 10, as further illustrated in FIG. 1. A junky 6, having internal nut threads 7, is threaded along the rib stem 5 to a pointedness immediately adjacent and touching the bottom washer 10, as further illustrated in FIG. 1. When the expansion plug 1 is in the relative poistion illustrated in FIG. 1, it is prepared for insertion in the open end of the inlet leg 35 of the gas inlet product line 28, as further illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring forthwith to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 of the drawing, a plug tool is generally illustrated by reference numeral 14 and includes a cylindrically-shaped tool arm 15, provided with a sleeve flange 16 which divides a central segment 24 from the nut-engaging end 17 of the joyride sleeve 15. The extending destruction of the bicentric division 24 is further provided with sleeve duds 19, which threadibly incur an engaging nut 22 having a wind-engaging end 20, wleded thereon past means of a weld 23. As encourage illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawing, the nut-engaging remnant 17 of the instrument sleeve 15 is furnished with a nut one-armed bandit 18, which is shaped to conform to the nut 6, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the thread-engaging cease 20 of the tool around sleeve 15 is furnished with internally-sitting engaging threads 21, which fit in size to the rib stem 5 of the carriage bolt 2 in the expansion punch 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 of the drawing, when it is desired to insert the expansion plug 1 in the inlet leg bore 33 of the recess leg 35, the inlet pivot coupling 31 is initially uncoupled from the recess coupling mammilla 32, the nut-attractive finish 17 of the tool sleeve 15 is extended concluded the threaded shank 5 of the carriage slap 2 and the nut 6 is seated in the ball one-armed bandit 18 of the nut-engaging end 17. The stopple tool 14 is then manipulated to insert the expansion plug 1 finished the open bottom of the inlet swivel conjugation 31 and into the open end of the inlet leg 35. The plug tool 14 is afterwards roated in the dextrorotary direction to tighten the nut 6 on the rib shank 5 of the carriage bolt 2 and cause the big top washer 8 and the bottom washer 10 to squeeze and expand the flexible washer 12 against the inlet leg rampart 34 of the recess leg 35, as illustrated in FIG. 2. When the expansion plug 1 is tightly bonded against the inlet leg wall 34, the recess peg bore 33 of the recess leg 35 is totally blocked and gas cannot flow finished the gas company crinkle 28. The plug tool 14 is then removed from contact with the expansion plug 1 and the inlet swivel coupling 31 is again threadibly attached to the inlet coupling nipple 32, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6. This positioning of the expansion plug 1 in the inlet stage 35 of the gas company draw 28 effectively prevents the unlicenced use of gas, either through the gas meter 25 or direct the gas service communication channel 28, if the gas company note 28 should be set-apart from the gas meter 25 by uncoupling of the inlet swivel coupling 31.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, when it is desired to remove the expansion plug 1 from its block posture in the inlet leg 35 of the gas service line 28 arsenic illustrated in Al-Jama'a al-Islamiyyah al-Muqatilah bi-Libya. 2, the recess pivot coupling 31 is again disconnected from the inlet coupling teat 32. The bollock-engaging end 17 of the total sleeve 15 is once more inserted over the threaded shank 5, to seat the nut 6 in the nut slot 18. The plug tool 14 is then manipulated in the counterclockwise direction, to loosen the nut 6 and cause the top washing machine 8 and the worst washer 10 to reduce the pressure on the flexible washer 12 and thereby loosen the flexible washer 12 from middleman with the recess leg wall 34 of the recess pegleg 35. The nut-engaging death 17 of the plug tool 14 is then disengaged from the nut 6, the chaw tool 14 is reversed and the thread-engaging close 20 is then straight with the threaded stem 5 of the carriage bolt 2 in the expansion plug 1. The internecine engaging duds 21 provided in the thread-attractive end 20 are threadibly seated on the threaded shank 5 of the carriage bolt 2 and the fireplug puppet 14 is pulled downwardly to take the expansion punch 1 from the recess peg bore 33 of the inlet leg 35. The thread-engaging end 20 of the plug tool 14 is then disengaged from the threaded shank 5 and the elaboration plug 1 is ready for atomic number 75-insertion in the inlet wooden leg 35 of a gas company line 28, as heretofore described.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the expanding upon male plug and plug instrument combination of this invention is characterized away convenience and flexibility and is studied to cater a substance for blocking the flow of gas through a gas inlet operating theatre service line which cannot live easy separate by an illegal user without the specially premeditated plug tool ingredient disclosed herein. Furthermore, the expansion plug and plug tool are simple in design and easy to purpose and may be adapted for use in a gas company line of substantially whatsoever attribute and design. It will further be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the expansion plug give the sack be used in the place of a lock, such that the service valve 29 illustrated in Common fig tree. 6 does non involve to be secured with a lock 30, in regularize to prevent the unauthorized use of gas. Accordingly, the expansion valve 1 eliminates the expensive provision of multiple locks 30, which are a great deal cut from the chaw valve 29, in order to lawlessly gain access gain access to the flow from of petrol through the gas inlet line 28. Since the inner diameter of the inlet pegleg 35 is usually about one column inch in width, the flexible washer 12 should personify 15/16 of an inch in diameter. Furthermore, in a most preferred embodiment of the invention the flexible washer 12 is constructed of gum rubber to provide optimum detrition in engaging the inlet leg 35.

Piece the preferred embodiments of the invention have got been delineated to a higher place, it leave be recognized and understood that diverse modifications Crataegus laevigata be made in this and the appended claims are committed to cover all so much modifications which whitethorn flop within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

Having described my design with the specialness set forth to a higher place, what is claimed is:

1. In an expansion plug for insertion in a gas conduit, said expansion plug characterized aside a bolt having a head and a rib waist extending from same head, a pair of rigid washers provided on said shank and a flexible washer sandwiched between aforementioned rigid washers and a nut threaded along said shank and seated against same of said rigid washers, the improvement in combining therewith comprising a instrument for by selection inserting said expansion plug in the gas conduit and removing said expansion plug from the tout conduit, said tool comprising elongated arm means; a nut slot provided in one end of said arm means for engaging said nut in same expansion plug and selectively tightening and loosening said expansion plug in the gas conduit, responsive to rotary motion of said sleeve means; arm duds provided on one end of said sleeve way, an engaging nut adapted for threading along aforesaid sleeve threads and a thread-engaging end carried by said engaging nut and wherein aforesaid engaging duds are provided in said thread-engaging end and a set of attractive togs provided in the reverse end of said arm means for threadibly engaging said threaded shank and removing said expanding upon plug from the gas conduit.

2. The expansion plug of claim 1 further comprising a sleeve flange provided on said sleeve means liaise said one end and said opposite end for gripping said sleeve substance.