Apparatus for locking gas canisters

Abstract

A remotely monitorable selectably removable lock assembly for a fluid valve assembly of a bottled gas canister or other fluid valve assembly, the remotely monitorable, selectably removable, lock assembly including a lockable cover assembly configured for lockable engagement with a fluid valve assembly, a remote monitoring unit fixedly mounted to a locking shaft, arranged for lockable engagement with the lockable cover assembly when the lockable cover assembly is in a closed operative orientation, preventing unauthorized access to the fluid valve assembly and a locking unit which is operative for locking engagement with the locking shaft for retaining the cover assembly in the closed operative orientation, the remote monitoring unit having wireless communication functionality enabling it to communicate with a remote monitoring station for providing monitorable indications both of tampering and of authorized unlocking of the locking unit from the locking shaft.

1 . A remotely monitorable selectably removable lock assembly for a fluid valve assembly of a bottled gas canister or other fluid valve assembly, the remotely monitorable, selectably removable, lock assembly comprising:
 a lockable cover assembly configured for lockable engagement with a fluid valve assembly;   a remote monitoring unit fixedly mounted to a locking shaft, arranged for lockable engagement with said lockable cover assembly when said lockable cover assembly is in a closed operative orientation, preventing unauthorized access to said fluid valve assembly; and   a locking unit which is operative for locking engagement with said locking shaft for retaining said cover assembly in said closed operative orientation,   said remote monitoring unit having wireless communication functionality enabling it to communicate with a remote monitoring station for providing monitorable indications both of tampering and of authorized unlocking of said locking unit from said locking shaft.   
     
     
         2 . A remotely monitorable selectably removable lock assembly according to  claim 1  and wherein said lockable cover assembly comprises first and second generally semi-cylindrical elements. 
     
     
         3 . A remotely monitorable selectably removable lock assembly according to  claim 2  and wherein said first and second generally semi-cylindrical elements are mutually pivotably mounted about an axis. 
     
     
         4 . A remotely monitorable selectably removable lock assembly according to  claim 2  and wherein each of said first and second generally semi-cylindrical elements includes a closed top end wall surface and a bottom end wall surface. 
     
     
         5 . A remotely monitorable selectably removable lock assembly according to  claim 4  and wherein said bottom end wall surface includes a semi-circular cut-out portion. 
     
     
         6 . A remotely monitorable selectably removable lock assembly according to  claim 5  and wherein said semi-circular cut-out portions engage a neck portion of said valve assembly when said lockable cover assembly is in a closed operative orientation. 
     
     
         7 . A remotely monitorable selectably removable lock assembly according to  claim 2  and wherein each of said first and second generally semi-cylindrical elements includes a generally cylindrical locking shaft receiving portion. 
     
     
         8 . A remotely monitorable selectably removable lock assembly according to  claim 7  and wherein said generally cylindrical locking shaft receiving portions are arranged to be coaxial when said lockable cover assembly is in a closed operative orientation. 
     
     
         9 . A remotely monitorable selectably removable lock assembly according to  claim 7  and wherein said generally cylindrical locking shaft receiving portions are configured to slidably receive said locking shaft.