Improvements in a one-way valve cap to allow a homeowner to install the cap without requiring tools. This allows a homeowner to simply remove the existing cap and install the new cap to prevent removal from an unauthorized person. The one-way locking mechanism includes a ramp that prevents a person from unscrewing to cap without a tool. The opening allows a person to insert the tool through the outer housing and into the inner housing to unscrew the inner housing from the valve. A hex key or a custom key design can be used for removing the cap. A seal is inserted in the inner housing and seals the inner housing with the valve. The elastomeric seal prevents intrusion of contamination inside of the valve and also provides an additional seal to the valve to reduce a potential leak of gas from the line.

A securing apparatus for securing a valve lever in a set position comprises a base body; a sliding piece; and a screw element, wherein the base body and the sliding piece each have a clamping surface; wherein the sliding piece is displaceably supported at the base body along a longitudinal axis; and wherein the screw element is rotatably supported at the base body and has a thread that is in engagement with a mating thread of the sliding piece so that a position of the sliding piece relative to the base body along the longitudinal axis is restricted to a maximum spacing between the clamping surfaces that can be changed by a rotation of the screw element in order to clamp the valve lever between the clamping surfaces. Depending on a rotational position of the screw element, a blocking receiver formed at the screw element is aligned with a blocking receiver formed at the base body so that a blocking element, in particular a cable, can engage into both blocking receivers in order to block the screw element in this rotational position.

Improvements in a one-way valve cap to allow a homeowner to install the cap without requiring tools. This allows a homeowner to simply remove the existing cap and install the new cap to prevent removal from an unauthorized person. The one-way locking mechanism includes a ramp that prevents a person from unscrewing to cap without a tool. The opening allows a person to insert the tool through the outer housing and into the inner housing to unscrew the inner housing from the valve. A hex key or a custom key design can be used for removing the cap. A seal is inserted in the inner housing and seals the inner housing with the valve. The elastomeric seal prevents intrusion of contamination inside of the valve and also provides an additional seal to the valve to reduce a potential leak of gas from the line.

A switchbox for monitoring the position of a manual quarter-turn valve has a housing mountable to the valve to be monitored/controlled. A handle-driven shaft extends through the housing, with one end of the shaft couplable to the valve stem such that movement of the shaft moves the valve stem. One or more shaft position sensor switches interact with a cam on the shaft to signal shaft position and/or provide control signals. A plate coupled to the shaft articulates within a recess on the surface of the switchbox to limit motion of the valve to an operable range, such as between full ON and full OFF. The switchbox has a pair of lock tabs with lock apertures. A lock aperture in the plate is alignable with the lock tab apertures to receive a pin or padlock for locking the valve in a selected position. A potentiometer can be utilized in place of a switch as a shaft position sensor. The switchbox may be used with an original or new handle and may feature detents to allow a range of valve settings.