Valves and valve actuation – With means for blocking or disabling actuator – Released by non-valving actuator motion
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-09
2001-08-21
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)
Valves and valve actuation
With means for blocking or disabling actuator
Released by non-valving actuator motion
C251S093000, C251S096000, C251S288000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276662
ABSTRACT:
In general, this invention concerns valves or taps for the distribution of fluids, both liquid and gas, and, in particular, refers to a valve or tap with means for blocking its stopper in the open or closed position, as required as well as the means for such blockage.
Various systems for fluid distribution regularly use valves or taps with a stopper, usually round, that can rotate between an open and closed position by means of a control rod equipped with a throttle or grip lever. This throttle or grip lever for manoeuvring the valve is usually fixed to the stopper rod by means of a screw. Likewise, it has two shoulders, at an angle to each other, which are blocked, alternately, by a catch located on one side of the valve body, thereby defining the open and closed positions for the stopper.
For specific applications and/or to prevent tampering and/or accidental movements of the valve, especially with regard to gas supply, or to allow just qualified or authorised personnel to manoeuvre the valve, it is necessary for the stopper to be blocked in either an open or closed position. Furthermore, the blockage must be secure and non-reversible, except by use of the proper means or tool in the possession of the authorised personnel.
At present, such valves are blocked in the desired open or closed position by means of a cylinder lock, which is a device added on later and which is often both bulky and expensive.
Meanwhile, it is the aim of this invention to propose and construct a blocking device for said valves by using, more simply and preferably, certain incorporated parts of each valve, which, although specifically made, do not resort to additional means.
According to the invention, such an aim is achieved by blocking the rotation of the stopper, using the throttle or grip lever and the fastening screw of said throttle or lever on the control rod of the stopper. Therefore, on the one hand, the throttle or grip lever is equipped with at least one, but better two, locating and blocking notches, designed to interact, as required, with a catch incorporated within the valve body, so as to select and maintain an open or closed position for the valve stopper, and on the other hand, the fasting screw of the throttle or lever on the stopper control rod has a special head which allows it to be screwed or unscrewed only by means of a specific key for blocking and unblocking the throttle or lever, returning it to a position where it is possible to rotate the stopper again.
For this reason, when the valve is blocked in the open or closed position, as required, it cannot be moved accidentally or tampered with in an attempt to change the blocking condition and use the valve normally, without the use of the access key for the fastening screw.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 3010693 (1961-11-01), Lamar
patent: 4813455 (1989-03-01), Iqbal
patent: 5236006 (1993-08-01), Platusich et al.
patent: 5246200 (1993-09-01), Barker
patent: 6170799 (2001-01-01), Nelson
Bonderer D A
McGlew and Tuttle , P.C.
Shaver Kevin
Valvosanitaria Bugatti S.P.A.
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