US1716536A - Gas-shut-off pull box - Google Patents

Description

Filed March .7; 1927 [NVENZ OR.

AT RN ANDLE PULL H I e/7r BYW Fatented June ll, 1%29.

entree STATES mesa HENRY SIEBEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GAS-SHUT-OFF PULL BOX.

Application filed March 7, 1927. Serial No. 173,689.

This invention is a pull box intended primarily for use in conjunction with munic i pal gas supply systems, and adapted to be installed on the exterior of a building and connected with a shut-off valve of a gas supply for such building in such manner that, in the event of fire, the gas to the building may be expeditiously and readily shut off.

The invention is directed to the pull box per se, and may be associated with any type of gas shut-oil valve which may be closed throughthe application of tension to the operating parts thereof. Such tension is generally applied to the shut off valve by means of a cable which leads from the operating parts of the valve to the pull box through a suitable conduit, the details of which are not here pertinent.

Onev object of the present invention is to provide a pull box which may be easily and expeditiously installed either upon the face of the building wall orset in to such building wall, so as to be substantially flush with the face of the wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide a box embodying novel and efficient means for locking the cover of the box against removal by unauthorized persons. Pull boxes are generally installed in an accessible position on the exterior of the building, and my experience has shown it to be important to so construct the box that it cannot be tampered with by unauthorized persons. It therefore becomes important to so constitute the box that the cover can be removed only by authorized persons, and it is one of the objects of this invention to so construct the box that the cover will have an interfitting relation with the box and will cooperate therewith in such manner as to eliminate all joints into which pointed instruments may be introduced to pry off the cover.

It is further important to so construct the box that rain will not seep into the interior thereof. If rain is allowed to enter the box, it will be very apt to find its way into the conduit and into the operating parts of the structure, and, in the event of cold weather, the water which has seepedin may beintroduced into the joints by unauthorized persons who would pry the box open.

Another object of the invention is to so associate the cover with the box that it will have a sliding engagement with the latter and will have with the box an interfitting relation, which may be normally'mantained by means of a barrel lock positioned adjacent the center of the cover and/or a pad lock for securing the flange of the cover to a lugof the box. v

The box of this invention is relatively simple in construction, may be economically manufactured, is relatively small and compact and is thoroughly eiiicient in the carry ing out of its intended purposes.

Features of the invention, other than those 7 specified, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one practical embodiment of the invention, but

the construction therein shown is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a pull box embodying the-present invention. In this view, portions' of the box are broken away in the interest of clearness and the cover is shown as removed.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1 with the lock barrel shown in elevation. j

Figure 3 is an underneath plan View of the box of Figure 1 with the cover locked in place.

Figure t is a section on the line H of F igure. 3. v

Figure 5 is a perspective View of cable I have adapted to be associated with the box with the locking plate of the handle removed.

Figure 6 shows'said locking plate in perspective.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a box which, for the purpose of this description, is shown as circular. Only in practice it may be of any appropriate shape. The box 1 is provided with a back 2 having holes 8 therein through which screws may be passed to mount the box in place. Said back is further provided with marginal walls 4: to form with the back at an open sided box.

The box is provided with two tapped holes 5 and 6, the former of which leads through the back of the box, while the latter leads through the wall a. A conduit 7 may be screwed into either one of these holes which is most convenient depending upon the manner in which the installation is to be made, and a cable 8 leads from the gas shut-off valve (not shown) through the conduit to the interior of the box, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

A pulley or anti friction roller 8 is mounted within the box contiguous to the two tapped holes therein in order to minimize wear on the cable when the cable is passed through'the open side of the box and tension exerted thereon. The pulley is mounted between lips 9 cast in the box and is supported upon a pin 10 which is introduced through the side of the box and through the lips to provide a spindle upon which the-pulley rotates when the cable is drawn thereover.

The free end'of: the cable 8 is secured to a handle 11 shown in detail in Figures 5 and 6. This handle is cast with a depression 12 therein adapted to receive a locking plate 13, shown in Figure 6. \Vithin the depression, a'pair of tapped bosses 1e are cast and between these bosses is formed a pocket 15. A cover plate has screw holes 17 positioned to register with the bosses 1 1, and also has beads 18 and 18 positioned to register with the pocket 15. The cable 8 is laid into the depression 1.2 as shown in Figure 5 and coiled around the respective bosses after which the locking plate is brought into position and screws passed through the holes 17 and screwed. into the tapped'holes of the bosses 14. hen the cover is screwed down tightly, the beads 18 and 18 will cause portions of the-cable to be forced into the pocket 15 'to form crimps or off sets in the cable in order that the cable may be so tightly secured to the handle that the handle cannot be pulled loose. This is a very eflicientform of construction and constitutes positive means for locking the handle to the cable.

Ext-ending around the upper half of the box and projecting upwardly from the wall at is an undercut flange 20 forming therebeneath a channel 21 which constitutes the female element of the rain shed. In a circular box as shown, this flange and channel should be formed about substantially the upper half of. the box as shown, while in 'boxes of other shape, the rain shed may be of different extent, but, in any event, should extent the full width of the box and preferably down the sides thereof for a distance so as to positively preclude rain from seeping into the upper portion of the box.

The cover for use with the box of Figure 1 isdesignated 22 and is shown as secured to the box by a chain 23 which may be attached to an eyelet 24 formed in the box or may be secured to the pin 10, as indicated in dotted lines. The upper edge 28 of the cover is shaped to extend beneath the flange 20 and into the channel 21 to interflt with these parts and underlie the flange 20 in. such manner as to preclude'seepage.

The lower half of the cover is provided with a flange 24 which is adapted to overlie the outer surface of the box, as shown in Figure 3, and-small bosses 25 are formed on the outer face of the wall 4 to abut the upper ends of this flange 2 and preclude rain from seeping in between the flange and the wall 1. The purpose of this flange is to keep rain out of the box and also to preclude the introduction of a screw driver or other pointed implement into the joint between the cover and the box to pry oil the cover. If the box is of a type to set into a wall, so as to be flush with the face of the wall, the upper portion of the box may have an outwardly extending flange 26 and the cover may be provided with a corresponding extension 27. This flange and extension may, in practice,be made substantially flush with the face of the cover or may be set back from the face of the cover, so that the extension 27 is formed on the flange 24: and.

the flange 26 is formed in juxtaposed position on the wall 4-. The exact positioning of the flange 26 and extension 27 is optional.

t will be noted, however, that the flange 24: is provided at the bottom of the cover with extensions 28 having openings 29 adapted to fit over locking lugs 30 formed at the bottom of the box and small rain guards 31 are formed on the wall at at the lateral edges of said extensions 28. Thus, when positioning the cover on the box, it is placed in face abutting relation with the open side of the box and in a depressed condition wherein the openings 29 of the extensions 28 will'be below the locking lugs 30. Then by upward sliding movement of the cover, the openings 29 are moved up wardly to embrace the lugs 30 and the upper edge of the cover is simultaneously caused to enter the rain shed. After the cover is in place as described, it may be secured in position by passing the bale of a padlock 32 through an opening 33, one of which is provided in each locking lug 29. So long as the padlock is in place, it will be impossible to remove the cover since the cover must be slid in a downward directionin order to be disengaged from the lugs and from the rain shed. This constitutes a very simple mode of attachment of the cover and a very satisfactory and eflicient one since all joints are so formed that the cover cannot possibly be pried ofl.

Instead of employing a padlock to secure the cover in place, I may look the cover to the back of the box by means of a key operated lock. Thus, in Figures 1 and 2, I have shown a lock barrel 34 mounted on the cover and adapted to be operated by a key 35. ith the lock barrel is associated a locking finger 36 which is adapted, through rotation of the barrel, to be engaged with or disengaged from a keeper 87 cast in the base of the box. This keeper embodies a transverse slot 38 in the base of which is mounted a leafspring 39 bumped up at its center and secured in position in any suitable manner as by a countersunk headed screw at one of its ends. As long as the finger 36 is in its locking position, the spring 39 will exert an upward pressure on the cover to hold it in tight engagement with the rain shed, in order to maintain tight joints.

It will of course be understood in practice that either the lock barrel or the pad lock may be used or both may be used if desired. In any event, the cover will be locked firmly on the box and its removal by unauthorized persons will be precluded. It will of course be understood that authorized persons will have a key or keys for opening the box in the event of an emergency, but if such keys are lacking the cover of the box may be broken to permit of immediate access to the handle 11, in order that the gas shut off valve may be closed without delay. To facilitate breakage of the cover under these conditions, the cover is weakened interiorly by grooves 40, as clearly shown in Figure 1.

I have found, in practice, that a box of the character described will exclude the weather, the rain will not seep into the box and the interlocking of the various flanges formed on the cover and on the box will absolutely preclude the removal of the cover by unauthorized persons.

It will be further noted that the locks do not actually hold the cover to the box. The flanges interfit to lock the cover in place and the locks simply preclude such'movement of the cover as is required to disengage the flanges.

I have referred to the flange 24 as extending back over the outer face of the wall 4 of the box. In practice, however, I preferably undercut this flange as shown at 24 and form on the wall of the box a cooperating bead or flange 24 which tapers toward the bottom of the box as shown in Figure 1, so that the flange 24 and the/bead 24 'wi11 also interfit when the cover is slipped into place. 1

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in its preferred, practical form, but the invention is to be under Letters Patent is 1. A gas shut-off pull box provided at its top with an undercut overhang and at its bottom with retaining lugs, a cover shaped at its top to interfit with the undercut over hang and provided at its bottom with apertured extensions adapted to be passed over the retaining lugs, and means forlocking the cover against edgewisemovement with respect to the box.

2. A gas shut-off pull box provided with an open front and having an opening through which a cable may be led into the interior of the box, said box having an undercut overhang at the upper portion of its openfront, and at least one retaining lug at its bottom, in combination with a cover adapted to close the open front of the box and shaped at its top to interfit with the undercut overhang and to interflt at itsbottom with the retaining lug of the box, means for securing the cover against edgewise movement with respect to the box.

3. A gas shut-off pull box having an open front and provided at the upper portion of its open front with an inwardly extending flange, and at least one outwardly extending retaining lug at the bottom ofthe box, in combination with a cover, the upper portion of which is shaped to extend beneath the flange of the box and the lower portion-of which is provided with an apertured flange to pass over the retaining lug, and means for securing the cover against edgewise move ment with respect to the box..

4. A gas shut-off pull box having an open front, an inwardly extending flange in the upper portion of the open front of the box, at least one retaining lug projecting outwardly at the bottom of the box, a cover, the upper portion of which is shaped to underlie said flange of the box, and a flange on the cover adapted to embrace the sides of the box and formed with an apertured I extension shaped to fit over the retaining lug of the box, and means for securing the cover to the box against edgewise movement relative thereto. 7

5. A gas shut-off pull box having an open front provided in its upper portion with an inwardly extending flange, a cover seated against the open front and the upper portion of which cover is shaped to extend behind the flange of the box to form therewith a rain shed, male and female members carried by the box and cover and in the lower portion of both to interfit when the cover is in position on the box, and means for securing the cover against ed'gewise movement relative to the box to preclude disengagement of the cover from the flange on the box and to preclude disengagement of the male and female members with respect to one another.

6. A gas shut-01f pull box having a back and walls extending. forwardly from said back to form an open front box, said box having an opening therein through which a cable may be led into the interior of the box, a flange formed on the wall of thebox and extending over the :top of the box for the full width thereof and projecting in an inward direction, in combination with a cover, seated against the front edges of the walls the upper portion of which cover is shaped to extend behind said flange, a flange on the cover extending rearwardly therefrom and overlying the sides of the box, and complementary male and female 7 members carried by the box and eover and adapted to be interfltted with one another when the cover is moved edgewise into engagement with the flange of the box, and means for precluding retrograde edgewise movement of the cover.

7. A gas shutoff pull box having a back and walls extending forwardly from said back to form an open front box, said box having. an opening therein through which a cable may be led into the interior of the box, a flange formed on the wall of the box and extending over the top of the box for the full width thereof and projecting in an inward direction over the open front, in combination with a cover, the upperportion of which is shaped to extend behind said flange while the lower portion of the cover seats against the front edges of the walls of the box, a flange on the cover extending rearwardly therefrom and overlying the side walls of the box, complementary male and female members carried by the box and cover and adapted to be interfltted with one another when the cover is moved edgewise into engagement with the flange of the box, means for precluding retrograde edgewise movement of the cover and a finishing flange formed conjointly on the cover and box and extending in an outward direction to produce a finished appearance when the box is associated with masonry. I

8. A gas shutoff pull box having a back and walls extending forwardly from said back to form an open front box, saidbox having an opening therein through which a cable may be led into the interior of the box, flange formed on the wall of the box and extending over the top of the box for the full width thereof and projecting in an inward direction, a flange extending outwardly from the wall of the box atthe side thereof beneath the lower ends of the in wardly extending flange, and said outer flange beingof progressively decreasing Width in a downward direction, and retain ing lugs extending downwardly from the bottom of the box, in combination with a cover, the upper portion of which is adapted to extend behind the inwardly projecting flange of the box when the cover is led over the open side of the box, rearwardly extending flanges formed on that portion of the cover below the portion ofthe cover which interfits with the inwardly projecting flange of the box, said rearwardly extending flanges of the cover being undercut to engage with the outvvardly extending flanges of the box when the cover is slid edgewise to bring the upper portion of the cover behind the in wardly extending flange of the box, pressure members carried byethe cover and adapted to fit over the retaining lugs of the box when the cover is shifted as specified, and means for securing the cover against retrograde edgewise movement with respect to the box.

9. A gas shutoff pull box provided at its top with an undercut overhang and at its bottom with retaining lugs, the back of. the box being provided witha keeper positioned interiorly of the box, a cover shaped at its.

top to interflt with the undercut overhang and provided at its bottom with apertured extensions'adapted to be passed over the retaining lugs, anda lock carried by the cover and provided with a Locking member adapted when operated to engage and disengage the keeper on the back of the box.

10. A gas shut offpullbox open at one side and provided at its top with an undercut overhang forming a rain shed, a cover for the open side of the box provided with a projection adapted to extend into the undercut of the overhang, a keeper in the box, and a key operated lock on the cover to engage the keeper to lock the cover in position on the box. I

11. A gas shut oif pull box provided with a base adapted to be secured in upstanding position to a wall, flangesextending forwardly of the base to form the side, top and bottom walls of the box and the top wall being undercut to form a rain shed, a cover adapted to close the open front of the box and. provided with a projection extending into interfitted relation With the undercut being undercut to form a rain shed, a cover top, and means for securing the cover in adapted to close the open front of the box 10 box closing position. I o and formed to interfit with the undercut 12. A gas shut off pull box provided With top, and means for securing the cover in box 5 a base adapted to be secured in upstanding closing position.

position to a Wall, flanges extending for- In testimony whereof I have signed the wal'dly of the base to form the side, top and foregoing specification.

bottom Walls of the box and the top Wall HENRY SIEBEN.

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