Security seal and removal tool

A removal tool for disengaging a tamper resistant security device, comprising:

• a body including a cavity capable of receiving a tamper resistant security device comprising a protective cover, a locking pin, and a locking cap;
• a punch pin hole formed in a wall of said body and a punch pin supported by said punch pin hole and axially movable at least partially into said cavity;
• a punch pin actuator communicating with said punch pin and capable of axially moving said punch pin;
• a first alignment pin and a first alignment pin hole positioned in said body and supported by said body and axially movable at least partially into said cavity, with said first alignment pin capable of engaging an alignment hole in said protective cover and operating to retain said removal tool in a predetermined position with respect to said protective cover;
• and
• a second alignment pin and two second alignment pin holes formed in opposite sides of said body, so that during disengagement said second alignment pin resides in said two second alignment pin holes while said second alignment pin traps said protective cover in said cavity of said body, and said protective cover is therefore positioned between a back cavity surface of said body and said second alignment pin;
• wherein said punch pin, driven by said punch pin actuator is capable of punching through said locking cap, dislodging said locking pin from said locking cap, and thereby disengaging said tamper resistant security device.

A method of disengaging a tamper resistant security device using a removal tool, with said tamper resistant security device comprising a protective cover, a locking pin, and a locking cap, said method comprising the steps of:

• engaging at least two alignment pins to hold said removal tool in a predetermined position with respect to said protective cover;
• actuating a punch pin to move axially into contact with said locking cap;
• and
• punching through an endwall of said locking cap to dislodge said locking pin from said locking cap;
• wherein said removal tool provides a punching force sufficient to punch through said locking cap and dislodge said locking pin.

A method of engaging a tamper resistant security device with a closure device in order to lock said closure device, with said tamper resistant security device comprising a protective cover, a locking pin, and a locking cap, comprising the steps of:

• placing said protective cover over said closure device, said protective cover including a closure device cavity that substantially encloses at least a portion of said closure device;
• inserting a locking pin through a locking pin hole in said protective cover, said locking pin being capable of passing through corresponding apertures in said closure device in order to lock said closure device, with a distal end of said locking pin being thereby positioned within a locking cap cavity in said protective cover;
• inserting a locking cap into said locking cap cavity in said protective cover and over said distal end of said locking pin;
• and
• pressing said locking cap onto said locking pin until a snap ring positioned in a groove in said locking cap engages a corresponding snap ring groove in said distal end of said locking pin;
• wherein said protective cover locks and substantially encloses said closure device.