Abstract: A barrel lock for locking various utilities devices such as valves, meters, or enclosures associated with the control or distribution of gas, water or electricity includes a shank with a single driven ball that can be forced radially outward from the shank to lock onto a cap-like retainer such that the utilities device is restrained between the retainer and an enlarged head of the shank. Preferably, only a single driven ball is used to concentrate the clamping force at a single point, thereby creating an exceptionally high clamping pressure. For even greater clamping force, an accurately and strategically positioned end stop allows a drive ball to push against the driven ball at an extremely shallow angle of attack while preventing the two balls from accidentally toggling over center and irreversibly locking up. The barrel lock has infinite variable adjustment in an axial direction to fit a wide variety of devices.

Abstract: A barrel lock includes a cylindrical plug with a locking ball actuated by a positive acting threaded pin that is screwed into the plug. The plug slips into a mating cylindrical retainer and is locked in place by the pin forcing the ball to protrude beyond tile exterior of the cylindrical plug. An anti-rotation coupling that includes a key attaches to the plug which makes the barrel lock especially easy to install and operate. A threaded puller assures separation of the plug and retainer even when the barrel lock may be jammed due to earlier tampering. The simplicity of the invention provides for a rugged construction with positive sealing surfaces that protect against contaminants and corrosion.

Abstract: A universal expansion connection (32) couples a water meter (10) to an outlet pipe (30). The expansion connection (32) comprises a threaded expansion tube (36), a threaded packer (38) and a lock case (40). The threaded packer (38) is threaded onto the expansion tube (36), which has been installed on an outlet (34) on the meter (10). The lock case (40) is then positioned over and onto the packer (38) such that a driver dog (63) on the packer (38) matches a driver dog recess (64) in the case (40). By holding the expansion tube (36) from turning, the lock case (40) is turned to unscrew the threaded packer (38) from the tube (36). The unscrewing action forces the packer (38) into the internal surface (68) of the lock case (40), as well as forcing the threads (58) into the threads (54) on the tube (36 ). When the lock case (40) has been sufficiently unscrewed, a fluid-tight seal is formed between the meter (10) and the outlet pipe (30).

Abstract: A threaded packer (40) is inserted into a first enlarged end (52) of an expansion tube (31). Driver dogs (50) on the threaded packer (40) mesh with dog recesses (54) on the expansion tube (31). The threaded packer (40) and the expansion connection (31) are then threaded onto an outlet pipe (30) on a water meter (10) to interconnect the meter (10) to an inlet (26) and outlet pipe (28). By securely holding the meter (10) the expansion tube (31) may be turned away from the tube (31) with a wrench (70), which forces the packer (40) into the tube (31). By forcing the packer (40) into the tube (31), the tube (31) is pushed into the inlet and outlet butt compression joints creating fluid tight joints. A case (37) is then installed over the expansion connection (32) and is secured in place with a locking pin (68 ) and a locking bar (67).

Abstract: A water meter is locked into its housing to prevent tampering by placing a cover over a hexagon nut and a hand nut. Relative rotation between the hexagon nut and the hand nut is necessary to remove the meter from the housing. The cover has a wrench which fits the hexagon nut and prevents relative rotation between the hexagon nut and the cover. The cover has a boss which engages the hand nut and prevents relative rotation between the case and the hand nut. The cover has legs which engage the housing to prevent relative rotation between the cover and the housing.

Abstract: An improved split nut for use in blowout preventers temporarily installed on oil or gas wells is formed by fastening a base and a cap together. Fastening bolts are inserted through holes in the cap and in packing inserts in the base, and threaded into fastening nuts positioned within recesses in the base. Plugs seal the recesses from corrosive materials and hold the fastening nuts in position for convenient assembly. The packing inserts are compressed when the fastening nuts and bolts are tightened to seal the threads of the fastening bolts and nuts from corrosive materials that may seep through the cap holes.