Stopcock Safety Cover With Multi-Face Adapter for Valve Head Lockout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing securing devices for taps or valves are not adaptable to different head shapes and often require access around the pipe, limiting their versatility and ease of installation.
Innovation Solution
A safety device with a cubic adapter module having multiple housings for various tap head shapes, allowing secure installation on multiple types of taps without needing access to the lower part of the pipe, and featuring retention means to prevent removal, such as gluing or clipping, ensuring the device can be used on various tap configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a safety cover is used to prevent operation of a quarter-turn stop valve, then the valve is secured, but the cover shape must correspond to the specific geometry of the valve head and requires access around the pipe
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter module is designed with multiple faces (at least two opposite faces, preferably 3 to 6 faces), each with a housing for receiving a specific type of tap head. This allows a single adapter module to secure multiple different types of taps with different head shapes, making the safety device universal and adaptable to various valve configurations without requiring access around the pipe.
2Manufacturing precision
If a custom-shaped safety cover is manufactured for each valve type, then precise fit is achieved, but device complexity and inventory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device is divided into modular components: a base element, an outer shell, and an adapter module. The adapter module itself is segmented into multiple faces with different housing configurations. This segmentation allows precise fit for different valve types while maintaining a simple overall device structure and reducing inventory requirements, as one modular adapter module replaces multiple custom covers.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter module serves multiple functions by incorporating housings for different tap head types on its various faces. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple specialized covers, reducing device complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision through standardized modular design.
3Reliability
If retention means are added to prevent device removal, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retention means (such as clipping or locking mechanisms) are integrated into the existing modular structure of the safety device, combining the security function with the adapter module or base element. This merging approach improves device security while minimizing the increase in overall component count and complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~4B
Figure 5A~5E
AI summary
The invention relates to a safety device (10) for preventing the manipulation of a stopcock (4) on a pipeline (9) of axis X, the stopcock having a body (5) and a head (6), the head being able to be pivoted with respect to the body along a manipulation axis A, the device comprising an outer shell (1), a base element (2), received in the outer shell, the safety device comprising retaining means designed to fasten the device to the body and/or head of the stopcock, the outer shell (1) being joined to the base element (2) by a connection that is free to rotate about the manipulation axis A, the outer shell thereby preventing access to and manipulation of the head of the stopcock, the device comprising an adapter module (3) received in the base element (2), with at least one housing (31-36) for enclosing the head (6) of the stopcock.