What is claimed is:
1. A tamper resistant valve locking assembly adapted for use with a valve which includes a handle and handle stop, comprising:
a locking assembly front end, a rear end and a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge extending therebetween which define a shroud;
a first lateral support extending downward from said first lateral edge, and a second lateral support extending downward from said second lateral edge;
a forward support member extending downwardly from said front end of said locking assembly and comprising a handle aperture adapted to receive at least a portion of the valve handle;
at least one handle stop engagement means positioned on at least one of said first lateral support and said second lateral support, and which is adapted to contact the valve handle stop, wherein said locking assembly is substantially impeded from at least one direction of travel; and
at least one aperture positioned in at least one of said first lateral support and said second lateral support which is adapted to receive a securement device which can be selectively interconnected to said locking assembly, wherein when said securement device is interconnected to said locking assembly the valve handle is substantially prevented from rotation.
2. The locking assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one handle stop engagement means comprises a cut-out sized to receive said valve handle stop.
3. The locking assembly of claim 1, wherein said securement device comprises a padlock.
4. The locking assembly of claim 1, wherein said shroud comprises a substantially planar upper surface which covers any attachment hardware used to interconnect said valve handle to said valve.
5. The locking assembly of claim 1, wherein said shroud, said first lateral support and said second lateral support substantially enclose the valve handle.
6. The locking assembly of claim 1, wherein said locking assembly is adapted for interconnection to the valve with the valve in either an open or a closed position.
7. The locking assembly of claim 1, wherein said rear end of said locking assembly further comprises a rearward support member which extends substantially downwardly to substantially restrict access to any valve attachment hardware.
8. The locking assembly of claim 1, wherein said locking assembly is comprised of a one-piece metallic material.
9. The locking assembly of claim 1, wherein said securement device comprises a bolt with a keyed lock member.
10. A tamper resistant valve locking assembly adapted to be used with a valve which includes a handle and first and second handle stops, comprising:
a locking assembly front end, a rear end and a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge extending therebetween which define a shroud;
a first lateral support extending downward from said first lateral edge, and a second lateral support extending downward from said second lateral edge;
a forward support member extending downwardly from said front end of said locking assembly, said forward support member comprising a means for receiving a portion of the handle of the valve;
a first handle stop cut-out positioned in said first lateral support which is adapted to contact the first handle stop to lock the valve in a closed position, and a second handle stop cut-out positioned in said second lateral support which is adapted to contact the second handle stop to lock the valve in an open position; and
at least one lock aperture positioned in said first lateral support and said second lateral support, wherein said at least one lock aperture is adapted to receive a securement device which can be selectively interconnected to said locking assembly to prevent removal from said valve.
11. The locking assembly of claim 10, wherein a center of said first handle stop cut-out is spaced apart a first lateral distance from said at least one lock aperture, and wherein said center of said second handle stop cut-out is spaced apart a second lateral distance from said at least one lock aperture, and wherein said first lateral distance is not equal to said second lateral distance.
12. The locking assembly of claim 10, wherein said first handle stop cut-out includes a first shoulder and said second handle stop cut-out includes a second shoulder.
13. The locking assembly of claim 12, wherein first shoulder is spaced apart a first lateral distance from said at least one lock aperture, and wherein said second shoulder is spaced apart a second lateral distance from said at least one lock aperture, and wherein said first lateral distance is not equal to said second lateral distance.
14. The locking assembly of claim 10, wherein said means for receiving a portion of the handle of the valve comprises an aperture in said forward support member.
15. The locking assembly of claim 10, wherein said securement device comprises a padlock.
16. The locking assembly of claim 10, wherein said shroud, said first lateral support and said second lateral support substantially enclose the valve handle.
17. The locking assembly of claim 10, wherein said rear end of said locking assembly further comprises a rearward support member which extends substantially downwardly to substantially restrict access to any valve attachment hardware.
18. The locking assembly of claim 10, wherein said securement device comprises a bolt with a keyed lock member.
19. A method of selectively securing a valve in a first open position or a second closed position, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism comprising a locking assembly front end, a rear end, and a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge extending therebetween which define a shroud;
a first lateral support extending downward from said first lateral edge, and a second lateral support extending downward from said second lateral edge;
a forward support member extending downwardly from said front end of said locking assembly and comprising a handle aperture adapted to receive a handle of the valve;
a first handle stop cut-out positioned in said first lateral support which is adapted to contact a first handle stop on the valve to lock the valve in a closed position, and a second handle stop cut-out positioned in said second lateral support which is adapted to contact a second handle stop on the valve to lock the valve in an open position; and
at least one aperture positioned in said first lateral support and said second lateral support which is adapted to receive a securement device;
(b) inserting the handle of the valve into the handle aperture of the forward support member;
(c) sliding the handle into handle aperture and moving the shroud into position until the first handle stop cut-out contacts the first handle stop to lock the valve in a closed position, or until the second handle stop cut-out contacts the second handle stop to lock the valve in an open position; and
(d) securing a securement device through the at least one aperture positioned in said first lateral support and said second lateral support.
20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the securement device comprises a padlock.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A power generator, comprising:
a first terminal;
a second terminal substantially surrounding the first terminal;
a plurality of piezoelectric elements, disposed radially around the terminals, each element comprising a first end connected to the terminals;
a plurality of masses connected to second ends of the elements; and
an external electronic device;
wherein the terminals supply voltage from the piezoelectric elements to the external electronic device, and wherein at least one of the terminals comprises a contact surface that is in contact with the external electronic device, and a contact bar that is in contact with the piezoelectric elements; and the contact surface is wider than the contact bar.
2. The power generator as defined in claim 1, further comprising a case, comprising receivers in which the masses are housed.
3. The power generator as defined in claim 2, wherein the receivers restrict movement of the masses when vibration is applied to the masses.
4. The power generator as defined in claim 1, wherein the first terminal is connected to surfaces of the piezoelectric elements that generate a positive voltage, and supplies the positive voltage to the external electronic device, and the second terminal is connected to surfaces of the piezoelectric elements that generate a negative voltage, and supplies the negative voltage to the external electronic device.
5. The power generator as defined in claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric elements each comprise a plurality of piezoelectric sub-elements connected in series.
6. The power generator as defined in claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric elements each comprise a plurality of piezoelectric sub-elements connected in parallel.
7. The power generator as defined in claim 1, further comprising:
a diode that converts a positivenegative AC voltage from the terminals into a positive AC voltage; and
a capacitor and a Zener diode that convert the positive AC voltage to a DC voltage.
8. The power generator as defined in claim 7, wherein the capacitor converts the positive AC voltage to a DC voltage in a range of 0 to 50 V, and the Zener diode converts the positive AC voltage output to a DC voltage in a range of 0 to 36 V.