GB2183188A

GB2183188A - Stop cock key

Info

Publication number: GB2183188A
Application number: GB08528585A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James David Kiteley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-11-20
Filing date: 1985-11-20
Publication date: 1987-06-03
Also published as: GB2183188B; GB8528585D0

Abstract

A stop cock key, for use for example by plumbers and water board employees for the operation of water stop cocks has a head 4 which includes, each at axially distinct positions 7,8,11, two or more pairs of radially spaced opposed internal surfaces, the radial spacing of each pair of surfaces being different from the radial spacing of the or each other pair of surfaces, and the radial spacing of each pair of surfaces being such as to permit the positioning between the opposed surfaces of a non-circular stem, or a cross-bar of a stem, of a rotary component such as a stop cock in such a manner as to provide a rotary keying engagement between the opposed surfaces and the non- circular stem or cross bar. As shown, the head includes square section recesses 7,8 (which may be outwardly flared) to receive different size square stems of stop cocks, and a pair of opposed flanges 9,10, with outwardly flared inner surfaces, to receive the cross bar of a stop cock stem. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Stop cock key This invention relates to the kind of tool which is commonly used by, for example, plumbers and water board employees for the operation of water stop cocks. Whilst the invention will be described herein in relation to such use, it will be clear that the use of the key is not restricted to water stop cocks, and that it may be used for operation of other rotatable components of suitable shape and cross section and dimensions.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved stop cock key which is not, as hitherto, limited to use in association with only a single shape and size of stop cock stem, but which can be used at choice for engagement with and operation of a plurality of different shapes and sizes of stop cock stem.

According to the present invention a stop cock key for the purpose described comprises a head which includes, at axially separate positions, two or more pairs of radially spaced internal surfaces, the spacing of each pair of surfaces being different from the spacing of the or each other pair of surfaces, and the spacing of each pair of surfaces being such as to receive between the surfaces a non-circular stem, or a stem cross-bar, of a rotary component such as a stop cock, in such a manner as to provide a rotary keying engagement with the stem or cross-bar.

In a preferred form of construction, the pair of surfaces at or adjacent to a free end of the head are provided on opposed axially projecting flanges, suitably for engagement with any form of cross-bar of suitable width.

Advantageously, the pair of surfaces of smaller radial separation, or the pairs where more than one such are provided, are the opposed wall surfaces bounding recesses of square cross-section in the head.

The opposed surfaces of the pair need not be parallel, and could be advantageously slightly outwardly flared towards a free end of the head.

In a preferred form of construction, the head comprises, taken in order from a first end towards a second free end, a first internal square-section recess of a first lesser crosssectional dimension, a second co-axial internal square-section recess of a second somewhat greater cross-sectional dimension, and a pair of radially opposed flanges bounding a gap of a still greater cross-sectional dimension. In such a construction, the respective dimensions of the two recesses would be selected to receive, with clearance, squared stems of two different sizes of stop cock, and the spacing of the flanges would be selected to receive a cross-bar of a stop cock.

The key advantageously comprises at least a shank for the head, and preferably also a handle on the shank. The head may be secured permanently on the shank, or may be removably carried (but rotatably keyed) on the shank. In a convenient practical embodiment, the head is cast in metal and is welded to a shank welded to a cross-bar handle.

In order that the nature of the invention may be readily ascertained, an embodiment of water turn cock key in accordance therewith is hereinafter particularly described with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the key; Figure 2 is an end elevation viewed from "A" The key comprises broadly a head 1, a shank 2 and a handle 3. The head is advantageously a solid metal component welded at 4 to the shank 2, and the latter is welded at 5 to the handle 3. The shank 2 is of any convenient length, and is immaterial to the characteristics of the invention.

The head comprises a first innermost recess 7 which is of square cross-section and of suitable axial length to receive the square stem of a first size of stop cock. The head also comprises a second outer outermost recess 8 which is of square cross-section and of a suitable axial length to receive the square stem of a second greater size of stop cock.

At its free end, the head comprises a pair of opposed parallel flanges 9, 10 which between them define a gap 11 suitable to receive the cross-bar of a third kind of stop cock stem.

The inner faces of the flanges 9, 10 are preferably slightly divergent towards the free end, as illustrated. The inner surfaces of the recesses 7 and 8 have been shown as parallel, but it will be appreciated that in practice they could likewise be slightly divergent towards the free end of the head.

In practice, the kind of stop cocks with which the key of the present invention is intended for use have a valve-operating stem which is axially long enough to permit the squared end of the stem to enter into the recess 7 or 8 without the remainer of the head fouling any part of the stop cock. Where the stop cock is of the kind which comprises some form of cross-bar, instead of a squared end to the stem, the cross-bar can fit between the flanges 9 and 10 and a keying action will be obtained, even if the transverse cross-section of the cross-bar varies within relatively wide limits. As the space defined between the flanges 9 and 10 is open-ended, the length of any crossbar encountered is immaterial.

It happens that the very large majority of the water stop cocks in use in the United Kingdom have squared stems which will fit into one, or other of the recesses 7 and 8, or have a cross-bar which will fit between the flanges 9 and 10. By way of example, the recess 7 could have a width of nine-sixteenths of an inch, and the recess 8 could have a width of thirteen-sixteenths of an inch. The spacing of the free ends of the flanges 9 and 10 could be one and one-sixteenths inches.

The device is not limited to such dimensions, and any dimensions could be selected to be appropriate to the stop cocks with which it is to be used, e.g. it may comprise metric dimensions.

It has hitherto been conventional for users of stop cock keys, e.g. plumbers, water-board employees and the like, to need to carry a set of individual keys each adapted for use with only a single one of the various sizes of stop cock stem, or cross-bar, likely to be encountered. Such keys are necessarily large and weighty, and thus are cumbersome to carry about. They are also relatively costly. It frequently happens in practice that a plumber or water board employee arrives at a job, only to find that the particular key needed for operation of a stop cock is not available.

With the improved key of the present invention, a single key is available for use with substantially any kind of stop cock which the user is likely to encounter. Only a single key is needed, so that there is a saving of weight of tools to be carried, and a very considerable saving in initial outlay.

Claims

1. A stop cock key comprising a head which includes, each at axially distinct positions, two or more pairs of radially spaced opposed internal surfaces, the radial spacing of each pair of surfaces being different from the radial spacing of the or each other pair of surfaces, and the radial spacing of each pair of surfaces being such as to permit the positioning between the opposed surfaces of a non-circular stem, or a cross-bar of a stem, of a rotary component such as a stop cock, in such a manner as to provide a rotary keying engagement between said opposed surfaces and said non-circular stem or said cross bar.

2. A stop cock key, as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one opposed pair of internal surfaces are outwardly flared towards a free end of the head.

3. A stop cock key, as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, wherein at least one opposed pair of surfaces bound a respective recess of square cross section in the head.

4. A stop cock key, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the head comprises at a free end a pair of spaced axially projecting flanges on each of which is a respective internal surface of a pair.

5. A stop cock key, as claimed in either of Claims 1 and 2, wherein the head comprises, taken in order axially from a first end towards a second and free end, a first internal squaresection recess of a first cross-sectional dimension, a second coaxial internal square-section recess of a second and greater cross-sectional dimension, and a pair of spaced axially projecting flanges having respective opposed internal surfaces bounding a gap of a third and still greater dimension.

6. A stop cock key, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an axial -shank on which the head is carried.

7. A stop cock key, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the head is secured on the shank.

8. A stop cock key, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the head is carried removably on the shank and is keyed for rotation therewith.

9. A stop cock key, as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, comprising a handle on the shank.

10. A stop cock key substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

CLAIMS Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: Claims 1-5 above have been deleted or textually amended.

New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows: Claims 6-10 above have been re-numbered as 2-6 and their appendancies corrected.

1. A stop cock key comprising a head which includes, each at axially distinct positions taken in order from a first end towards a second and free end, a first internal squaresection recess of a first cross-sectional dimension, a second coaxial internal square-section recess of a second and greater cross-sectional dimension, and a pair of radially-spaced axial projecting flanges having respective opposed internal surfaces bounding a gap of a third and still greater dimension, the respective radial spacing of the opposed internal surfaces of the first and second recesses being such as to permit the positioning between those surfaces of a square-section stem of a stop cock, and the radial spacing of the opposed surfaces of the flanges being such as to permit the positioning between those surfaces of a cross-bar of a stem of a stop cock, to provide a rotary keying engagement between the head and the stem or cross-bar.