FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to security of wells, and specifically to a device and method for providing security to a well casing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many people rely on wells, both privately owned and publically owned and managed, for providing their water supply, including drinking water, water for washing, and other needs. Well sources for public water utilities are continually relied upon to provide millions of customers with safe potable drinking water. The water wells are characterized by well casings that extend from the earth, sometimes with a concrete well cover at the ground surface. The well casing typically is constructed of steel, extends from deep in the well bore, and terminates above the ground surface.
Unfortunately, conventional water wells are easily accessible and may be located in remote areas that are not routinely monitored. The wells and their precious water supply are thus easily susceptible to vandalism or terrorism. The vandalism may range from neighborhood children dropping rocks or other items into the well to dangerous and terroristic acts such as purposeful poisoning of the well with chemical or radioactive substances. Some well owners, especially public water utilities may go to the expense of erecting a fence around the well, but fences can be easily climbed, cut, or otherwise compromised. Although a padlock can be used to limit access to a well casing, it is simple for a person to remove the padlock by using bolt cutters, metal saws, or a hammer. In fact, most well casing caps are cast metal, held on by easily removing set screws. These caps are easily removed or shattered.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a device and method to protect a well casing, in order to insure a safe and uncontaminated water supply to those millions of people depending on water from wells who unwittingly think their water supply is safe.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a well casing security device and method. The security device includes a cover, and a locking support ring which provides a means for attaching the cover to a well casing or to its concrete slab to render it much more vandal-resistant. The top surface of the locking support ring includes a plurality of braces. Each of the braces includes an arm defining a slot between the arm and the support base. The cover includes a plurality of brackets for engaging the locking support ring. The brackets of the cover and braces of the locking support ring enable rotational engagement of the brackets with the locking support ring. A first embodiment of the well casing security device enables attachment of a secure cover to the well casing at a point above ground level. A second embodiment enables attachment of the well casing security device to the concrete base surrounding a well casing. Locking means are provided on the cover to lock the cover to the locking support ring that is attached to the well casing or its concrete slab. The locking means includes a key operated lock that is resistant to tampering and insures that the well casing cannot be accessed without substantial effort and reconcilable disruption by an intruder. Shielding means are provided on the cover to prevent easy removal of the lock. Stabilizers mounted on the cover or the locking ring stabilize the cover with respect to the well casing. The device provides a level of security for wells to protect the critically important safety and reliability of the water they supply. The device can be easily installed on existing wells where the well casing extends above grade and the well has a pitless adaptor.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
A first object of the invention is to provide a well casing security device to prevent unauthorized access to a well casing.
A second object of the invention is to provide a well casing security device that can be easily adapted to cover a conventional well casing in order to provide security by limiting access to the well casing.
A further object of the invention is to provide a lockable well casing security device that may be easily removed from a well casing by an authorized operator.
Another object of the invention is to provide a secure cover for a well casing that is sturdy and not easily broken off its connection to the well casing or easily removed with ordinary hand tools.
A further object of the invention is to provide a well casing security device enables authorized access via a lock and complimentary key.
Another object of the invention is to provide a well casing security device that includes features for preventing easy removal of the device or its lock by an unauthorized individual.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following description along with reference to the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of a well casing security device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an isometric view the cover portion of the well casing security device of FIG. 1, with a portion of the cover cut away.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the top surface of a locking support ring that forms a portion of the well casing security device in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bottom surface of the locking support ring.
FIG. 5 is a side view of the locking support ring depicting a brace.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the locking support ring depicting a key guard.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the well casing security device taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the top surface of a locking support ring for a second embodiment of the well casing security device.
FIG. 9 is an isometric view the cover portion of the second embodiment of the well casing security device.
FIG. 10 is a side view of the cover depicted in FIG. 9.
FIG. 10A is a sectional view taken along line 10A-10A in FIG. 10.
FIG. 11 is a side view of the cover rotated 90 degrees from the view shown in FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is an end view of a plug that forms a portion of the embodiment of the well casing security device depicted in FIG. 9.
FIG. 13 is a side view of the plug.
FIG. 14 is a side view of a plug removal tool according to the present invention.
FIG. 15 is an end view of the plug removal tool as viewed from the bottom side of FIG. 14.
FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the well casing security device taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 11.
FIG. 17 is an isometric view of the second embodiment of the well casing security device with the cover secured to the locking support ring.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
With reference to FIG. 7 there is shown a well casing security device 20 including a locking support ring 22 and a cover 24 for guarding against unauthorized access to the well casing 26. The locking support ring 22 includes a ring body 28 having a top surface 30, a bottom surface 32. The cover 24 includes a top 34 and a sidewall 36 with an inner surface 37.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the locking ring 22 further includes an opening 38 to accommodate the well casing 26 (see FIG. 7), a plurality of braces 40 extending from the top surface 30 of the ring body 28, and a plurality of positioning brackets 42 extending from the bottom surface 32 of the ring body 28. The braces 40 include a leading end 44 having an arcuate shape to engage the brackets on the interior of the cover 24 (see FIG. 2). The cover is of a radius to tightly slide over the outer radius of the ring body 28. Each brace 40 further includes a cover engagement portion 45, a casing engagement portion 46 and a stiffening portion 48. The casing engagement portions 46 extend to the inner periphery 49 of the body 28. The opening 38 of the ring 22 is sized slightly larger than the outer diameter of the well casing which it will be used in conjunction with, thus the casing engagement portions 46 of the ring will be positioned substantially against the well casing when it is fitted thereto. Ring body 28 further includes a notch 47 therein in the inner periphery 49 of the ring. This notch is provided to accommodate the electrical conduit to supply power to the well pump.
With reference to FIG. 5, a locking screw 50 is threaded within each brace 40 at the casing engagement portion 46. Cover engagement portion 45 of brace 40 includes an undercut 52 that forms a slot 54 between cover engagement portion and ring body 28 at the leading end 43 of each brace 40. Each positioning bracket 42 on the bottom surface 32 of the ring body 28 includes a set screw 56 threaded into an aperture 58 in the positioning bracket. The slot 54 forms a portion of a locking means 60 for securing the cover to the locking ring 22.
As shown in FIG. 6, the locking means 60 further comprises a key lock 62 including a key body 64 extending through the ring body 28 and a latch 66. The key lock 62 includes a key axis 68 and the latch 66 is preferably perpendicular to the key axis and can be rotated 90 degrees with the key. A key slot 70 (see FIG. 4) is located on the bottom surface 32 of the ring body 28. A lock guard 72 is provided on the top surface 30 of the ring body 28, the lock guard 72 including a base 74 and an arm 76 extending over the latch 66 of the key lock. Arm 76 of lock guard 72 provides a recess 78 for protecting the latch 66 during assembly of the well casing security device as the cover 24 is fitted onto the locking support ring 22. The arm 76 includes a top 79 and bottom 80 and includes an outer edge 82 that slopes outward from top to bottom to facilitate fitting of cover to locking support ring during assembly of the well casing security device. Bottom key guards 81 are further provided on the bottom surface 32 of the ring body 28 to inhibit easy chiseling off of key lock 62.
With reference to FIG. 2, the cover 24 includes a rim 84, an inner surface 86, and a plurality of brackets 88 extending from the inner surface and spaced around the inner periphery of the cover. The brackets 88 are substantially L-shaped and include an upper leg 90 and a lower leg 92. As shown in FIG. 7, the cover 24 further includes a plurality of stabilizers 94 at the top end of the lid for stabilizing the lid with respect to the well casing, the stabilizers extending between the top 34 and the inner surface 37 of the sidewall 36 of the cover 24.
Referring to FIG. 7, the present invention includes a method of covering a well casing so that it is secured against unauthorized access. The method includes: (1) placing the cover 24 on the locking support ring 22 and rotating the cover until the brackets 88 of the cover 24 fully engage the slots 54 in the braces 40 of the locking support ring 22, (2) turning the key lock 62 to lock the cover to the support ring, (3) tightening the set screws 56 against the well casing 26 to position the locking support ring 22 with respect to the well casing, (4) unlocking and removing the cover 24, (5) drilling a hole through the well casing at the location of each of the apertures 51 in the braces 40 on the top side of the locking support ring 22, (6) inserting a locking screw 50 through each of the braces 40 and into the newly created holes in the casing to secure the locking support ring 22 to the well casing 26, (7) placing the cover 24 on the locking support ring and well casing assembly, and (9) locking the key lock 62 to prevent rotation of the cover 24 with respect to the locking support ring 22 and well casing 26 assembly. As an alternative installation method, steps (5) and (6) above can be replaced by welding the locking support ring 22 to the well casing 26, thereby avoiding drilling holes in the well casing.
Referring to FIG. 8, a second embodiment of the well casing security device includes a locking support ring 101 in which the ring body 103 includes braces 105 extending from the top surface 107 of the ring body 103. A plurality of apertures 111 are provided in the ring body through which anchor bolts are placed to secure the locking support ring to the concrete slab around the well casing. A stabilizer 113, integral with and substantially perpendicular to each brace 105, extends from the top surface 107 of the locking support ring 101.
As shown in FIG. 9, the second embodiment of the well casing security device 100 (see FIG. 16) includes a cover 115. As in the first embodiment, the cover 115 of the second embodiment includes brackets 88 that are substantially L-shaped and include an upper leg 90 and a lower leg 92. The cover 115 however includes a key lock 62 mounted directly in the sidewall 36 of the cover. As shown in FIG. 16, in the second embodiment the locking ring 101 is bolted directly to the concrete base or concrete slab 117 surrounding the well casing by anchor bolts 118 through apertures 111 in the locking support ring. After securing the cover 115 to the locking support ring 101, the key 62 is locked and latch 66 in the locked position disables rotation of the cover 115 with respect to the ring 101 thus preventing unauthorized removal of the security lid from the well casing.
Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, cover 115 preferably includes a coupler 119 extending from the sidewall 36. Coupler 119 includes an internally threaded socket 121 that will surround the key lock 62. Key lock 62 is mounted interior of the socket threads and is flush against the sidewall 36 of the cover 115. This key lock 62 is recessed within the socket 121. After the cover is secured to the locking ring and the key is locked, a plug 123 is threaded into the socket 121. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, plug 123 includes a threaded shank 127 and the head 125 of the plug includes a triangular recess 126 therein.
With reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, the well casing security device further includes a plug engagement tool 129 for inserting and removing the plug from the coupler. The plug engagement tool 129 includes a handle 131 and a projection 133 for engaging the recess 126 of the plug 123. The embodiment depicted in FIGS. 12-15 shows a triangular recess 126 in plug 123 that accepts triangular projection 133 on tool end 135 of plug engagement tool 129. It is within the scope of the invention to make the recess in the plug and the projection of shapes other than triangular. Also, it is within the scope of the invention to provide the plug with a projection and the plug engagement tool with a recess to match the size and shape of the plug. It is preferred however that the shape and size of the recess and projection do not match any of the conventional tool ends that are commercially available, such as hex wrenches of standard sizes.
With reference to FIG. 16, the second embodiment of the invention further includes a method of covering a well casing so that it is secured against unauthorized access. The method includes: (1) providing a locking support ring 101 including a ring body 103 having a plurality of apertures 111 therein, a cover including a sidewall with an inner surface, a plurality of brackets on the inner surface, a threaded coupler extending from the sidewall, (2) providing a key lock extending through the sidewall at the coupler, (3) providing a threaded plug to close the threaded coupler, (4) drilling a plurality of holes in the concrete base 117 surrounding the well casing, each of the holes coaxial with a corresponding hole in the locking support ring body, (5) attaching the ring 101 to the concrete base 117 surrounding the well casing, (6) placing the cover 115 on the locking support ring 101 and rotating the cover until the brackets 88 of the cover fully engage the slots 54 in the braces 105 on the top side of the locking support ring 101, (7) locking the key lock 62 to prevent rotation of the cover 115 with respect to the ring 101 and the well casing 26, and (8) threading the plug into the coupler to restrict access to the key slot.
Although the description above contains many specific descriptions, materials, and dimensions, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.
Patent Grant
10167692
