GB2024378A - Key for valve or clockwork mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A key intended for rotation through several revolutions and for attachment to a key ring has a first body member (1) adapted for attachment to a key ring (2) and a second body member (3) adapted to engage the shank of a valve or clockwork mechanism and arranged to be rotated manually relative to the body member (1) about a bearing assembly comprising a pin (6) forming a push fit in the body member (1) and a sleeve (7) forming a push fit in the body member (3), the pin (6) being held captive in the sleeve (7). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Key This invention relates to a key for operating a key-actuable device or mechanism such as, for example, a manual vent valve on the radiator of a water filled contral heating system or for winding a clockwork mechanism.

A key for the purposes mentioned above generally has to be turned through a substantial angle -- frequently through several revolutions.

When such a key is attached to a key ring which has several other keys on it, turning the entire key ring can be very inconvenient, whilst removal of the key concerned from the key ring is time consuming and may result in the key being inadvertently left behind on the device or mechanism, or being other wise mislaid or lost.

The object of the invention is to provide a key which eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages of existing keys for the aforesaid purposes.

According to the invention, a key comprises a first body member adapted for attachment to a key ring; a second body member adapted to engage a key-actuable device or mechanism and arranged for angular displacement with respect to said first body member; and a bearing assembly; said bearing assembly comprising a first bearing element secured to said first body member and a second bearing element secured to said second body member; said body members and bearing elements having a common axis of relative rotation.

The bearing assembly may, for example, be of the anti-friction (i.e. ball or roller) kind, and the said bearing elements may be captively interconnected and form a push fit in a bore in said first and said second body member respectively.

Preferably, however, one of said bearing elements is in the form of a sleeve having a counterbore at its end nearest the bottom of the bore in a said body member, and the other said bearing element is in the form of a pin having a shank.portion, which forms a sliding fit in said sleeve, and an enlarged head portion which forms a sliding fit in the counterbored portion of said sleeve and which is recessed in said counterbored portion.

Especially in the case of a said key for operating a said manual vent valve (which, after venting, has to be firmly closed), a tommy bar is preferably provided for facilitating the application of the requisite torque to the valve, the tommy bar preferably forming a push fit within a bore in said second body member, the axis of said lastmentioned bore being substantially perpendicular to said common axis. Such a push fit is preferably enhanced by the provision of a knurled region intermediate between the ends of the tommy bar for co-operation with said bore within which it forms, and for the purpose of enhancing, said push fit.

For the purpose of attaching the key to the key ring, the said first body member preferably has a bore having an axis substantially perpendicular to said common axis and being so arranged that a key ring can be passed therethrough.

One form of key embodying the invention, especially for operating a said manual vent valve of a water filled central heating system, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows the key in axial section.

Referring to the drawing, the key comprises a first body member 1, which is shown attached to a key ring 2 and a second body member 3, adapted at one end 4 to engage a square-section shank of the vent valve by means of a corresponding square recess 5. The body member 3 is arranged for angular displacement with respect to the body member 1 by means of a bearing assembly which comprises a first bearing element 6 secured to the body member 1, and a second bearing element 7 secured to the body member 3. The body members 1,3 and bearing elements 6,7 will be seen to have a common axis of relative rotation.

The bearing element 7 is in the form of a sleeve forming a push fit in a bore 8 in the body member 3 and has a counterbore 9 at its end nearest the bottom of the bore 8. The bearing element 6 is in the form of a pin forming a push fit in a bore 10 in the body element 1. The pin 6 has a shank portion 11 which forms a sliding fit in the sleeve 7, and an enlarged head portion 12 which forms a sliding fit in the counterbored portion 9 of the sleeve 7. As will be seen in the drawing, the head portion 12 is slightly recessed within the counterbored portion 9, so as to ensure that it does not foul the body member 3 (in the event of the clearance between the sleeve 7 and the body member 3 not being as great as shown in the -- greatly enlarged drawing of the key).

A tommy bar 13 forms a push fit within a bore 14 in the body member 3 and is disposed substantially at right angles to the aforesaid common axis. This push fit is enhanced by a knurled region 1 5 intermediate between the ends of the tommy bar 13, for co-operation with the bore 14.

The body member 1 has a bore 16 having an axis substantially perpendicular to the aforesaid common axis and is so arranged that a key ring of a conventional site can be passed therethrough for the purpose of attaching the key to the key ring 2, for which purpose the bore 1 6 is chamfered at its ends 17 and 18.

The key is assembled by inserting the pin 6 in the sleeve 7, axially juxtaposing the parts 1,3,6 and 7, and exerting axial pressure (e.g. in a vice) to cause the pin 6 to penetrate the bore 10 and simultaneously the sleeve 7 to penetrate the bore 8. Similarly the tommy bar 13 is inserted in the bore 14 by the exertion of pressure axially of the tommy bar 13 and perpendicular to the aforesaid common axis.

In operation of the key, the key ring 2 and body member 1 are held stationary and the body member 3 is rotated with respect to the body member 1 about the bearing assembly 6,7 by the exertion of a manual torque applied to the tommy bar 13.

Claims (9)

1. A key comprising a first body member adapted for attachment to a key ring; a second body member adapted to engage a key-actuable device or mechanism and arranged for angular displacement with respect to said first body member; and a bearing assembly; said bearing assembly comprising a first bearing element secured to said first body member and a second bearing element secured to said second body member; said body members and bearing elements having a common axis of relative rotation.

2. A key according to Claim 1, and of the kind which, in use, is required to be rotated through at least 360 degrees.

3. A key according to Claim 2, and adapted for operating a manual vent valve of a water filled central heating system, or for winding a clockwork mechanism.

4. A key according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said bearing elements form a push fit in a bore in said first and second body member respectively, and are captively interconnected.

5. A key according to Claim 4, wherein one of said bearing elements is in the form of a sleeve having a counterbore at its end nearest the bottom of the bore in a said body member, and the other said bearing element is in the form of a pin having a shank portion, which forms a sliding fit in said sleeve, and an enlarged head portion which forms a sliding fit in the counterbored portion of said sleeve and which is recessed in said counterbored portion.

6. A key according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a tommy bar forms a push fit within a bore in said second body member, the axis of said last-mentioned bore being substantially perpendicular to said common axis.

7. A key according to Claim 6, wherein said tommy bar has a knurled region intermediate between its ends for co-operation with said bore within which it forms, and for the purpose of enhancing, said push fit.

8. A key according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first body member has a bore having an axis substantially perpendicular to said common axis and being so arranged that a key ring can be passed therethrough for the purpose of attaching said key to said key ring.

9. A key for perating a manual vent valve of a water filled central heating system, or for winding a clockwork mechanism, the key being constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.