FLUSH-MOUNTED DOMED LOCKABLE COMPRESSION SEALING PLUG AND REMOVEABLE COMPRESSION KEY
20170291743 · 2017-10-12
Inventors
Cpc classification
Y02W30/80
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
International classification
B65D50/06
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D39/16
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D39/08
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
A reusable, lockable, domed, hermetically sealing, flush-mount compression plug is locked with a removable rotatable locking compression key. Rotation of the compression key causes vertical compression and radial extension of the plug's sealing compression gasket causing pressure of the gasket against the inner walls of the opening preventing movement of the plug. Once the plug is locked in place, the key is removed making the plug un-lockable only to those who have the key and know how to remove the domed cap that is fitted onto the plug after the key is removed. Once the cap is in place, its flush mount design allows unimpeded placement of a man-hole cover. The dome shape of the cap assures that no moisture, liquids or foreign objects will collect on the surface of the cap. The plug has a “quad sealing assembly” comprised of four individual seals to provide hermetically sealing.
Claims
1. A lockable, domed, hermetically sealing, flush-mount compression plug assembly for sealing an opening, said plug assembly comprising: a plug including: a compression gasket capping plate having a bore therethrough; a compression sealing gasket having an opening therethrough; a compression gasket base plate having a threaded bore therethrough; and a threaded bolt having a first end and a second end, and a compression key, said key rotatably engageable with and removable from said first end of said threaded bolt, so that when said second end of said threaded bolt is inserted through said bore of said capping plate and said opening of said compression sealing gasket and threaded through said threaded bore of said compression sealing gasket base plate, the thus-formed plug is installed into an opening to be sealed and said compression key is engaged with said first end of said threaded bolt and rotated urging said compression sealing gasket capping plate and said compression gasket base plate toward each other causing axial compression and radial extension of said compression sealing gasket, a locked, hermetic, compression seal is formed, and then when said key is removed a locked, hermetically sealed, flush-mount compression plug seals the opening.
2. The plug, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a cap, said cap being a domed flush-mount capping plate.
3. The plug, as recited in claim 2, further including that once said key is removed from said plug and said capping plate is positioned on said plug a locked, domed, hermetically sealed, flush-mount compression plug is formed.
4. The plug, as recited in claim 3, wherein said compression sealing gasket is annular, resilient, and elastomeric.
5. The plug, as recited in claim 4, wherein said compression key further comprises a grasping handle attached to the top of a neck attached to a shoulder.
6. The plug, as recited in claim 5, wherein said grasping handle further comprises hand/finger indent friction holds.
7. The plug, as recited in claim 6, wherein said grasping handle further comprises through-apertures.
8. The plug, as recited in claim 7, wherein said shoulder further comprises an outer circumference sized to fit within said bore of said gasket capping plate.
9. The plug, as recited in claim 8, further comprising slot and projection structures on an outer surface of said first end of said threaded bolt.
10. The plug, as recited in claim 9, wherein said shoulder of said compression key further comprises slot and projection structures on an inner circumference for mating with said slot and projection structures on said outer surface of said first end of said threaded bolt.
11. The plug, as recited in claim 10, wherein said first end of said threaded bolt further comprises an outwardly projecting flange positioned adjacent to and below said slot and projection structures on said outer surface of said first end of said threaded bolt.
12. The plug, as recited in claim 11, wherein said compression sealing gasket capping plate further comprises an O-ring accepting recess on a flange of said capping plate forming a seal between said flange and said domed flush-mount cap when said cap is positioned on said flange.
13. The plug, as recited in claim 12, further comprising a sealing gasket that seats on an inner flange of said bore of said compression sealing gasket capping plate forming a seal between said capping plate and said outwardly projecting flange of said threaded bolt when said threaded bolt projects through said bore of said compression sealing gasket capping plate providing protection against entry of a contaminant into said opening of said compression sealing gasket.
14. The plug, as recited in claim 13, wherein said compression seal gasket further comprises a flange that provides a seal formed by said flange and the surface of an opening to be sealed while said plug is in use preventing contaminant entry into the interior of the plug through the boundary between said compression seal gasket flange and the surface of the opening to be sealed.
15. The plug, as recited in claim 13, wherein said flange of said compression sealing gasket further comprises having an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the opening to be sealed by said plug providing for said compression sealing gasket to be supported on the rim of the opening to be sealed, providing support for said flange of compression gasket capping plate, and providing for a compressible, moldable seal between the underside of said flange of said compression sealing gasket and the rim of the opening to be sealed as said flange of compression gasket capping plate conforms to any irregularities present on the surface of the rim of the opening to be sealed, ensuring the formation of a water and air-tight seal.
16. The plug, as recited in claim 13, wherein said compression seal gasket 40 further comprises a seal formed when the elongate body of said compression sealing gasket is compressed by the rotation of said compression key while engaged on said first end of said threaded bolt resulting in vertical, axial compression and horizontal expansion of said compression sealing gasket providing both a seal between said compression sealing gasket and an inner wall of a pipe having an opening to be sealed.
17. The plug, as recited in claim 15, wherein said compressed and extended compression seal gasket further comprises a lock between said compression sealing gasket and an inner wall of a pipe having an opening to be sealed.
18. A process for making a lockable, domed, hermetically sealing, flush-mount compression plug assembly for sealing an opening, said process comprising: providing a plug that includes: a compression sealing gasket capping plate having a bore therethrough; a compression sealing gasket having a bore therethrough; a compression sealing gasket base plate having a threaded bore therethrough; and a threaded bolt having a first end and a second end, and providing a compression key, said key rotatably engageable with and removable from said first end of said threaded bolt, so that when inserting said second end of said threaded bolt through said bore of said capping plate and said bore of said compression sealing gasket and threading said second end of said threaded bolt through said threaded bore of said compression sealing gasket base plate forming said plug and installing said plug into an opening to be sealed and engaging said compression key with said first end of said threaded bolt and rotating said locking urging said compression gasket capping plate and said compression gasket base plate toward each other causing axial compression and radial extension of said compression sealing gasket, forming a locked, hermetic, compression seal and, then removing said key sealing said opening with a locked, hermetically sealed, flush-mount compression plug.
19. The process, as recited in claim 18, further comprising a cap, said cap being a domed capping plate.
20. The process, as recited in claim 19, further including that once said key is removed from said plug and said capping plate is positioned on said plug a locked, domed, hermetically sealed, flush-mount compression plug is formed.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] In order that these and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, may be more fully comprehended, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, and in which:
[0018]
[0019]
[0020]
[0021]
[0022]
[0023]
[0024]
[0025]
[0026]
[0027]
[0028]
A LIST OF THE REFERENCE NUMBERS AND RELATED PARTS OF THE INVENTION
[0029] 2 Grasping handle of compression key 20. [0030] 3 Easy grip hand / finger indent friction holds. [0031] 4 Neck of compression key 20. [0032] 5 Through-apertures of compression key 20. [0033] 6 Shoulder of compression key 20. [0034] 8a Slot and projection structures on inner circumference surface of key shoulder 6 for mating with slot and projection structures 8b of bolt 60. [0035] 8b Slot and projection structures on the outer surface of flange 62 of bolt 60 for mating with slot and projection structures 8a of key shoulder 6. [0036] 10 Reusable, lockable, domed, hermetically sealing, flush-mount compression plug. [0037] 14a Seal mechanism, an O-ring for example. [0038] 14b Groove for accepting seal mechanism 14a. [0039] 20 Compression key. [0040] 22 Outer flange of compression gasket capping plate 30. [0041] 23 Outer rim of outer flange 22 of compression gasket capping plate 30. [0042] 24 Under-side of compression gasket capping plate 30. [0043] 25 Inner flange of compression gasket capping plate 30. [0044] 26 Annular axial bore of compression gasket capping plate 30. [0045] 28 Axial neck of compression gasket capping plate 30. [0046] 29 Compression gasket. [0047] 30 Compression gasket capping plate. [0048] 40 Annular elastomeric sealing gasket. [0049] 42 Flange of gasket 40. [0050] 43 Upper side of flange of gasket 40. [0051] 44 Axial opening of gasket 40. [0052] 46 Sleeve of gasket 40. [0053] 50 Compression gasket base plate. [0054] 52 Flange of compression gasket base plate 50. [0055] 53 Borehole of compression gasket base plate 50. [0056] 54 Axial neck of compression gasket base plate 50. [0057] 56 Threads of central bore of compression gasket base plate 50. [0058] 58 Axial, upwardly facing, internal shoulder of compression gasket base plate 50. [0059] 60 Threaded bolt. [0060] 62 Flange of treaded bolt 60. [0061] 66 Threads of threaded bolt 60. [0062] 68 Tapered end of threaded bolt 60. [0063] 88a First optional aperture in tapered end of threaded bolt 60. [0064] 88b Second optional aperture in tapered end of threaded bolt 60. [0065] 89 Anvil stopper. [0066] 90 Flush-domed capping plate. [0067] 92 Outer edge of flush-domed capping plate 90. [0068] 94 Inner sealing rim of flush-domed capping plate 90. [0069] 95 Friction-tight grippers on inner sealing rim 94 of flush-domed capping plate 90. [0070] 100 Manhole casing. [0071] 110 Manhole cover. [0072] 120 Monitoring well casing.
[0073] It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein, but encompasses many embodiments as are discussed throughout the specification.
DEFINITIONS
[0074] Hermetic seal, as used herein, is the quality of something being airtight (excluding passage of air, oxygen, or other gases).
[0075] Keyhole or keyway, as used herein, is a hole or aperture (as in a lock) for receiving a key. Lock keyway shapes vary widely with lock manufacturer, and many manufacturers have a number of unique profiles requiring a specifically milled key blank to engage the lock's tumblers.
[0076] Opening, as used herein, refers to any opening that requires a lockable hermetically sealing plug to secure the opening from unauthorized entrance, including, but not limited to pipes, such as monitoring well or other types of well piping, drain and vent pipes, and in pipes of pipe connections of a plumbing system. The invention is also contemplated for use in conducting mandated pressure tests, plugging bung holes, holes drilled into surfaces, and any type of container requiring plugging.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0077] Referring now particularly to the drawings, it should be noted that the disclosed invention is disposed to embodiments in various sizes, shapes, and forms. It should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that, for example, the shape of the key illustrated could change considerably while still complying with the principles of the inventive concept that require a lock that is easy to grasp, that is easy to carry, such as having a means for carrying the lock on a key chain or the like, and that is fabricated to have a shaped mechanism that controls the locking and unlocking ability of the plug. The shape of the key-hole mechanism, can course, be of many designs and still perform the requirements of the inventive principles. Therefore, the embodiments described herein are provided with the understanding that the present disclosure is intended as illustrative and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments described herein.
[0078]
[0079] The major components of the plug illustrated in
[0080] Annular elastomeric sealing gasket 40 comprises hollow gasket sleeve 46 having axial opening 44 and outwardly extending flange 42 having an outer diameter of larger than the opening to be sealed by plug 10. This provides for the following three advantages. The first is that the size-extended outer diameter of flange 42 provides for gasket 40 to be supported on the rim of the opening to be sealed. Secondly, the size-extended outer-diameter of flange 42 supports flange 22 of compression gasket capping plate 30. The third advantage of the size-extended outer diameter of flange 42 is that it provides for a compressible, moldable seal between the underside of flange 42 and the rim of the opening to be sealed. Compressible flange 42 conforms to any irregularities present on the surface of the rim of the opening to be sealed, ensuring the formation of a water and air-tight seal. Upper side 43 of flange 42 faces under-side 24 of compression gasket capping plate 30. The unflanged end of gasket sleeve 46 faces compression gasket base plate 50, as is described below.
[0081] Compression gasket capping plate 30 supplies counter support for gasket 40 when gasket 40 is in the state of compression. Axial neck 28 of compression gasket capping plate 30 extends into opening 44 from lower side 24 of compression gasket capping plate 30. The diameter of the outer-surface of neck 28 is complementary to the diameter of the inner-surface of hollow sleeve 46 of gasket 40. Constructed as a unitary molded piece, annular inner-surface of flange 42 and annular inner-surface of the hollow gasket sleeve 46 receive support from the annular outer-surface of axial downwardly facing internal first shoulder 28 providing lateral support for gasket 40 especially while gasket 40 is under compression (which compression is discussed more fully below). It should be noted here that axial downwardly facing internal neck 28 is manufactured integrally, that is, it is constructed as a unitary molded piece with compression gasket capping plate 30. Flange 22 of compression sealing gasket capping plate 30 sits on and is supported by upper side 43 of flange 42. The outer rim 23 of flange 22 like the outer rim of flange 42 has its diameters greater than the opening in the part to be sealed, thereby permitting the plug to rest of the rim of the opening to be sealed (see
[0082] Plug 10 has a “Quad sealing assembly”, that in the example described herein, comprises: (1) the seal that is formed when O-ring 14a (see
[0083]
[0084] Once the plug is locked, the key, in this example, is removed and replaced by cap 90 as seen in
[0085] Plug 10, key 20 and cap 90 are reusable. Moreover, plug 10 is easily and inexpensively manufactured by injection molding using a variety of thermoplastics, including, but not limited to, polyvinyl chloride, Teflon, Nylon and glass filled Nylon, Valox and glass filled Valox.
[0086] Annular resilient elastomeric sealing gasket 40 is also reusable, if desired. Sealing gasket 40 is easily and inexpensively manufactured by injection molding using a variety of thermoplastic materials having appropriate properties, such as hardness, resiliency, resistance to heat and cold, and resistance to the corrosive effect of certain liquids. The thermoplastics that can be used, include, but not limited to, Santoprene, natural or man-made rubber, Viton and Buna Nitrile. The preferred embodiment of gasket 40 was manufactured with the required hardness as measured by a durometer, wall thickness, and length to obtain maximum compression and to achieve the maximum contact area between sleeve 46 of gasket 40 and the interior surface of the device whose opening is to be sealed in order to ensure the formation of a hermetic seal and to prohibit the sealing plug from becoming dislodged from forces incurred during use.
[0087] Compressible sealing plug assemblies made according to this invention may be of any suitable size and configuration required to achieve a hermetic seal with an opening in a part, as required or desired.
[0088] The compressible plug assemblies according to the invention cannot be dislodged from an opening by the expanding gas, liquid, or solid forces within a heated or cooled part with an opening to be sealed. In addition, the elastomeric, resilient, compressible sealing gasket can form a hermetic seal with an opening even when the opening is threaded; because the gasket is made of material which can conform to the spaces inherent in a threaded surface.
[0089] Although the embodiment discussed above was described as used to seal a monitoring well pipe, the invention is contemplated to be used to hermetically seal a number of different openings, including, but not limited to drain and vent pipes and in the pipe connections of a plumbing system. The plug according to the present invention would be most useful in conducting mandated pressure tests, to plug bung holes, holes drilled into surfaces for various reasons, bottles, and end of pipe and other part openings that need to be coated with a material that cannot, for whatever reason, be applied onto the interior surface of the part to be coated. Another contemplated use in for sealing those pipes that are used for transporting items that are especially well-stored in pipe-like containers. This use would be especially useful for locking the pipe-like containers that so often must be left standing out in the open, such as when the pipe-like containers are anchored on the top of a truck meant to carry piping supplies, when that truck is parked in the street for some length of time. Accordingly, the ways that the domed, lockable, hermetically sealing compression plug for an opening are used are limited only by the imagination of the user.
[0090] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific and defined nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the specific embodiment of the lockable compression plug are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made to the features, embodiments, and methods of making the embodiments of the invention described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the described methods, embodiments, features or combinations of features but include all the variation, methods, modifications, and combinations of features within the scope of the appended claims. The invention is limited only by the claims.