LOCKING DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a locking device according to the preamble of the independent claim. The locking device is intended to be used at discharging places to prevent unauthorized from getting access to fluids, gases, etc. These fluids and gases can refer to, for example, oil based products, air and also water. The locking device is adapted to co-operate with different types of quick couplings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A quick coupling comprises means for making it possible to connect, in a simple and fast way, a hose provided with a quick coupling. The quick coupling is arranged to quickly and easily be able to be disconnected. This type of coupling is arranged to be in two positions or states, one locking and one disconnecting position.

Different types of quick couplings are previously known for, in a quick manner, being able to connect for example watering hoses, water driven tools, etc. to a water ejector. Other quick couplings are used making it possible to connect different types of pneumatic tools to a compressed air discharging place. Also discharging places for gas can make use of quick couplings.

Quick couplings has primarily - as the word gives expression to - the advantage of allowing quick changes of connected hoses, tools, etc. The disadvantage of these types of quick couplings, are primarily that they also, just as quickly and easily, can be used by unauthorized people. For example in a jointly-owned garage, one or more water outlets provided with quick couplings being available for caretaking, can on the other hand sometimes be utilized for unauthorized washing of cars, which means financial losses for the house-owner. Pressurized air can often be used as a mere driving source for pneumatic tools and the use of quick couplings has the result in that anyone can use this driving source for his own purposes, if the person has a suitable connection to the quick coupling. Great financial losses can in this way arise, particularly where companies having a large number of

similar outlets, provided with quick couplings, at several places being difficult to supervise.

The object of the present invention is to improve known quick couplings, an at the same time maintaining the significant advantage, namely the quickness when used by an authorized person, and substantially making unauthorized use of the quick couplings more difficult, irrespectively of the location of the latter.

SE-502295 relates to a locking device for discharging places, provided with a quick coupling. In a locked state, the locking device is designed to prevent access to the discharging place. The locking device comprises among other things a stopping means, which, inserted in the quick coupling, is arranged to co-operate with a casing, threaded on the quick coupling. One part of the stopping means is protruding outside the casing, and a U-link of a padlock can be inserted in an aperture on said part, to lock the stopping means to the casing.

The device according to SE-502295 has the drawback that the locking device, for example in form of a padlock, and a part of the stopping means, is openly accessible, which render damage of them possible, to get access to the discharging place.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the possibility to destroy the locking device to get access to the discharging place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above-mentioned object is achieved by the invention as defined by the independent claim.

Preferred embodiments are set forth by the dependent claims.

A general advantage with the locking device according to the present invention is that it provides for sealing even in cases when the shut-off

device of the discharging place is not working, and that it fits all types of standard quick couplings.

The locking device according to the invention makes it considerably more difficult for unauthorized people to get access to the discharging place, by totally enclosing the stopping means within the casing. Furthermore, the locking device is easy to use, especially since it comprises only two parts, the locking device and the casing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 schematically shows a quick coupling, and the locking device and casing according to the present invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views showing the locking device and the casing according to the present invention. Fig. 4 shows a number of perspective views of the locking device according to the present invention.

Figs. 5 and 6 show two different applications of the present invention.

In the figures the same reference sign consistently refers to the same detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE

INVENTION

With reference to the upper part of figure 1 , a previously known quick coupling will be described. Quick coupling refers to any type where a female part and a male part are joined and locked together, according to previously known techniques, and that a sealing takes place between the female and male parts in a simple way. The quick coupling can be made from different types of plastic material alternatively different types of metals and metal alloys.

The sealing of the locking coupling is preferably arranged for in the female part, alternatively in the male part, according to any known technique, for example by use of a circular o-ring.

The quick coupling is made in standardized dimensions.

The quick coupling is generally mounted in a suitable position, for example threaded on a tap on a wall, comprising for example a part 4 provided with

threads, an adjustable locking and disengaging means 3 being axially adjustable between two states, which generally is urged by a spring to a locked state, to said quick coupling part 2 and a plurality of balls 5, alternatively locking shoulders, achieving the locking by letting the inside of the locking and disengaging means 3 press said balls 5 against the outside of a male part arranged for instance on a hose, through which the required liquid or gas flows after being connected. The male part, which normally is arranged on the hose, is not shown in the figure.

Furthermore, with reference to figure 1 , the locking device comprises, according to the present invention, a stopping means 1 and an interacting locking casing 6. The stopping means comprises a male part 7, interacting with the above described quick coupling (the female part), this interaction occurring in an identical way as the interaction between a male part, e.g. arranged on a hose, and the quick coupling. The stopping means further comprises a locking part 8 arranged to interact with the locking casing.

According to a preferred embodiment, the locking part of the stopping means is provided with a socket for locking with securing plates 9 arranged at one end of the locking casing. The other part of the stopping means, the male part, is arranged to interact with different types of quick couplings. The stopping means is arranged to seal in order to avoid leakage in the coupling. The sealing preferably takes place in the male part, preferably by way of o- rings (not shown), alternatively by a sealing in the female part. Inserted in the quick coupling, the stopping means will be able to rotate freely, whereby the locking devices of the quick coupling only is holding the stopping means in place in the vertical direction.

Figure 4 shows a number of perspective views of the stopping means according to the present invention. The upper row shows the quick coupling with the male part 7 and the locking part 8, in views obliquely from below and from below. The socket for the securing plate is clearly shown. The middle row shows the stopping means from the side and the lowest row shows the stopping means obliquely from above and from above.

According to one alternative embodiment, the stopping means may comprise a through aperture (not shown) for the case an application requires the passing of liquids or gasses, for example oil based products, air or water. The aperture can also be provided with a safety valve being able to withstand a predetermined overpressure.

Locking between the stopping means and the locking casing is done by a locking device comprising the securing plate 9 and an activation member 10 on the short side of the locking casing. The activation member is activated (locked/ opened) by for example a key.

The locking casing covers a considerable part of the shut-off device at the discharging place, the quick coupling and the stopping means. The distance between the locking casing and the quick coupling shall be with the least possible tolerance so that the stopping means can rotate freely when it is locked in the locking casing and arranged in the quick coupling. The tolerance shall be as close so that it is impossible to insert any object between the locking casing and the quick coupling hindering the rotation of the stopping means. This means that the inner diameter of the locking casing shall be very closely adapted to the outer diameter of the quick coupling.

When the locking casing is locked to the quick coupling through the stopping means, it is able to rotate freely in the quick coupling because the securing plate in the locking casing locks the stopping means. The stopping means can accordingly rotate in the female part of the quick coupling without releasing, thanks to the locking shoulders in the lock of the quick coupling. This locks and prevents unauthorized people from getting access to the discharging place.

The locking mechanism is an integrated part of the locking casing for locking the stopping means to the locking casing in such way that the stopping means entirely is positioned inside the locking casing.

In use, the quick coupling is mounted in connection to the shut-off device at the discharging place, if this has not been done before. The stopping means is then pushed into the quick coupling. The locking casing is pushed over

the complete locking connection comprising the quick coupling and the stopping means, and possibly one part of the shut-off device at the discharging place. The securing plate of the locking member is activated by the activating member, for example a key, and locks the stopping means to the locking casing.

Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views showing the stopping means and the locking casing according to the present invention.

In figures 3 and 4 are shown an example of how the locking part 8 may be designed. According to this embodiment the locking part is provided with a socket for interaction with the securing plate 9, which by locking is turned to bear on a support 1 1 (see figure 1). A person skilled in the art appreciates that the locking of the locking member to the locking part may be achieved in a plurality of different ways. For example, the securing plate may instead include locking shoulders, which are moved outwards bearing against the support 1 1 to achieve the locking function.

Figure 5 shows an application of the invention according to a first embodiment. An ejector 12, preferably a water tap, is provided with threads 14 interacting with the threads 4 on one end of the quick coupling 10. The other end is provided with locking and disengaging means, which at normal use is locking a male part arranged on for example a water hose. To prevent unauthorized people from using the water tap, the stopping means 1 is inserted into and locked by the locking and disengaging means, and the locking casing is locked to the stopping means, as described above.

Figure 6 shows an application of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, comprising a quick coupling 16 interacting with the locking device as described above. The quick coupling then comprises, in the end opposite to the end where the stopping means is arranged, i.e. the end referred to as 4 in figure 1 , a second locking and disengaging means 20 equivalent to the one designated 2, 3, 5 in figure 1.

The quick coupling 16 is accordingly provided with locking and disengaging means at both ends. The second locking and disengaging means is intended

to interact with a male part 18 on an ejector 12, preferably a water tap, and that the activation of the second locking and disengaging means is made impossible by the locking casing 6 when it is locked to the stopping means 1. Further is the locking casing preventing that the male part 18 can be unscrewed from the ejector, since the locked casing is able to rotate together with the quick coupling and additionally covers the threaded part of the male part.

According to a variant of this alternative embodiment of the quick coupling the stopping means 1 is firmly arranged in the quick coupling, e.g. weld together.

According to a further alternative embodiment of the present invention (see figure 5), the quick coupling 10 is screwed onto a tap. When the stopping means 1 is inserted to and held in place by the locking and disengaging means of the quick coupling 10, it is normally necessary to use two hands to release the stopping means from the quick coupling. Since the stopping means also has a sealing function, no water (or other liquid) will emerge although the tap is opened. The stopping means may function as a childproof lock to prevent children from turning the tap on.

The present invention is not limited to the above described preferred embodiments. Different alternatives, modifications and equivalents can be used. The above mentioned embodiments shall therefore not be regarded to as limiting the extend of protection of the invention, which is defined by the enclosed patent claims.