CA1293159C - Auxiliary knob for gas valve to annunciate open condition - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

An electro-mechanical auxiliary knob structure, releasably attachable to a rotatable knob of a valve, to annunciate an open condition of a valve operated thereby. The auxiliary knob pivots relative to its attachment structure to switch electric circuitry carried within the knob to annunciation of last knob motion in the direction causing valve opening. The auxiliary knob is particularly adapted for use on valves of compressed gas tanks used in gas welding.

Description

3-~32-~4~ p 05 ," .~ 15g ~ y inven~on relate~ generally to v~lve ronditlon ann~nc~ators and more p~rtlcu7~rly to an ~uxi.li~ry kn~b th3t ~tt~ches ~o and mahipul~e~ the princip~l knob of a rotatably operated v~lue eo annunci~e 1~19t; knoh motiOn in A ~ralv~
opening direction . The ~ux~ ry knob iæ p1vot~lly carrl~d on - S the b~ck of a "U" sh~ped br~cke~ which i~ rele~bly f~tened to the contsol knob o~ a vQlve. The a~lliar~ kno~ defln~ a ch~mber c~rylng struct~re ~o sense d~re~tion of la~t motion of the a~xiliAry knob r~lative the ~'U" h0pei bracket indie~te open valve oondi~ion and to ~nnunci~e thi~ condit1on ~hen ; 8en9ed, In ~luid mechanlcs ~nd proc~oe~, lt i~ oPtentime~ :
: de~ir~ble or nece~ry to know the condl~ion o~ ~ valve re~ulating fluid ~low. The valve oon~iti~n mAy not be readily appArent from an external inspec~ion, ~specially a YisuH1 ;~5 ob~er~ation, and eve~ wh~n once known ~h~ condltion e~8ily m~y be forgotten, as wi~h the p~ ge o~ ti~e. These probl.~m3 h~vq 1ong been recognized and responsive ~hereto ma~y ~nd vArio~
de~ices ha~e becom~ kno~n to indica~e and ~nn~nciAte condition ~:
of a valve. The in8tent invention ~dd~ A n~w and nove] member to thi~ cl~s~ of device.
Most valve ~truct~tre~ provide 30me type of ~ manu~lly manipul~t~ble element ~ue~ ~3 a h~ndle that is rota~ably moved about 8n 0Xi8 to respons~vely move ~ v~l~ing el~ment r~la~ive to a ~eat for v~1v~ op~ration. Thi~ type o v~lve struc~ure i9 epltomized by the so called ~oonlc" or "pin" valve ~hat i~
~arrie~ by a threated Btem ~hich i~ rotated ln ~ threaded1y en~8ed hou~ing to ~o~e the Y~lve tow~rd or ~y fro~ a e~ope~tlng ~e~t deflned in the v~l~e ~tody. My in~entioll i.3 partl~ula~y ad~pted for use with 3u~h A va1ve, though i~s prlnc-lpl~ well ~y and doe~ ope~e with other types o~ v~lvin ~ ~ `h `

~13-232-~t4~ S~ P.0~
~, .

str~cturea which provlde re~er~lble operation by movln~ 8 handle e~e~ent ln a pi~otal or ~otary f~h~on in oppo~ite d~rec~ions for opening and closing. My lnven~ivn i~ e~peci~lly adspted for u~e on ~rdin~ry rotat~ble valve~ a~ ar~ fommon~y used on compreased 8~ cylinde~r~ to regul~te ~a3 flow t~erefrom.
~ o~t condi~ion ~ndic~tl~g devloe~ ~or valv~s havln~
rot~ting oper~tional elements h~ve ~een cn integral part uf the valve and ~enerally have been c~rr~ ed ln the v~lve Qtr~Cture lts~l~, Thi type o indic~tin~ device i3 ne~ess~rily I im~ t~d to use only wi~h the valve wi~h which lt i~ as~oci~ted~
req~lres sp~ciallzed vslve s~uc~u~e and, gener~lly, ; inst~llation at the time of ~alv~ manua~ture. My invention 19 dis~in~ishable from thls ~ype of inte~r~lly cont~ined condition in~icator ln tha~ n auxili3ry ~r~cture ~hat ls relea~ably fa~en~ble to a p~imary valve knob and may be readily ~astened or rele~sed Qs de~edO My indicator require9 no modl~ic~tlon or specialized ~truetur~ in the ~truc~ure of valYe that it i~ ~o aervice and it may be ~uc~essively us~d on a p~urallty o~ di~}erent valves and est~blished thereon at cny time.
My in~entlon ls a ~elf cont~lned ~nit th~t inLern~lly carries lts own p~wering ~our~e, ~ensin8 elements ~nd annun~iRting mechani~m. Mo3t valve condition indlc~tur~ of the p~ior art hav~ h~d part~ or element~ external of the sen~i.n~
device'~ prim~ry ~ructure ~nd ha~e annunciated at a poin~
diot~nt from the sensed valve. By rea~on o~ thls, ~uch device~
` h~ve requlred svme ~en~or~ commun~atlon between v~lve condition ~en~or and ann~nC~.Qtor~ which o~t~nti.m~s ha~ baen ; ~ delic~te ~nd easil~ damaged or disrupted by acciden~l me~ns or ~y unkno~n or unre~ Rd causes. Thi~ is e3pecially true if i~ ~
~ .

~, ~

613-2~2-g~
~ 2~3~59 the sensor and annunciator are inter~onn~cted by çlectric~l wire~ or cre 9en8i41y lnterrelated by so~o w~ve-type serlal co~unicQtlon such a3 A radlo device or li~ht ~ensor.
So~ valve condltion indlcatlng ~2vi~c~ hereto$v~e known S have sensed somethin~ other thHn the physical conditlon of a v~lve per. ~e to determine its tate. Some ~u~h d~v~ces have sensed ~luldic p~eB~re on on~ or both 31des of Lhe ~alve, o~hers bave se~sed ~luidic flow on one or both sides of a ~ e ~nd ~ome have sen~ed secondary phys$c~1 conditions 8U~.

as acoustical ~er~, vlbrations or ~he like. All of the devices sensing ~uc~ secondary in~ic~tors of Y~lv~ conditlon may not indlcate the true physical sta~e of the volve ln question and generally m~y be quite ea~i~y influenced by : envi~on~ental condition~ unrel~ed to valve condition. My inYentlon i3 dis~inguishable from ~hi3 c1~9~ 0~ indlcatin8 d~vic~ in th~t ~ inYentlon senses ~n ~c~ual physical condition o~ the con~rol handle o~ ~ service~ valve and, more particul~rl~, the directlon in wh~eh th8t control handle wa~
t mo~ed. This ~lves a poRl~ and cert~in indlc~tion o~
l~e Qta~e th~t i~ not related to ~econdary f~nction~ or condition& and i8, the~efor~, a ~a~ure of a r~llable mech~nical ab~olute, a~ oppo~ed to a le3s reliable messu~e of ~econdary char~cte~ ic.
My invention ~enerally nlay be used interch~ngeabLy ~ith man~ Yal~e8 oper~ted b~ elther pi~otal or ro~at~hl~ motion of control element. My dev~ce ~ relea~bly interconnected exte~nally o~ the prin ipAl control knob o~ a valve to ~e sensed ~nd doe3 not eP~ect the internal ~truc~ur~ or operatio~
of the sensed valve, nor doeA it require sny modificatlons, 30 ch}rgee or ~peci~lized itructur~ In ~he~ v~lve. Moet v~v~ :

~ 3~ 24961-35 condition indicators of the prior art, that have not been inter-nally contained in the valve structure itself, have been useful only with a particular valve, or limited class of valves, or have required modification or changes in the structure of a valve to be serviced, all to readily distinguish such devices.
My invention differs from the prior art not in any one of its structures or functions per se, but rather in the syner-gistic combination of all of them to provide the new, novel and unobvious addition to the class of condition sensing devices for fluidic valves specified and claimed.
A principal object of the invention to create an auxiliary knob type indicator that is releasably attachable to a control knob of a rotatable valve to indicate valve condition by sensing the direction of last motion of the control knob in an opening direction and annunciating that condition.
In a broad aspect, the invention resides in an annunciating device to indicate potential open condition of a valve having a control knob operated by reversible pivotal motion, comprising, in combination, an auxiliary knob carried for limited pivotal motion on the back of a U-shaped fastening member having opposed elongate legs to releasably interconnect with a control knob of a valve to be serviced, and electrical switching means to sense auxiliary knob motion in one direction, associated electric circuitry to annunciate such sensed motion, and means of powering the electrical circuitry.

~11 2~

In a more specific embodiment, the invention resides in an auxiliary knob structure to be releasably carried by a control knob of a rotatably operated valve to annunciate potential open condition of that valve, comprising, in combination, an auxiliary knob pivotally carrying an associated fastening structure, stop means limiting pivotal motion of the associated fastening structure, and means to operate a position sensing switch, a "U"
shaped fastening structure, pivotally carried by the auxiliary knob with opposed legs extending from the auxiliary knob, said legs having means of releasably fastening to a control knob of a valve to be serviced, and sensing structure including a sensor board carried adjacent the auxiliary knob by the fastening structure to pivot therewith. The sensor board carries a position sensitive switch to sense pivotal motion of the auxiliary knob in one direction and electrical circuitry including a power source communicating through the position sensitive switch to a timing device which communicates to an annunciator to annunciate the condition sensed by the position sensitive switch.
Other and ~urther objects of my invention will appear from the following specification and accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. In carrying out the objects of my invention, however, it is to be understood that its essential features are susceptible of change in design and structural arrangement with only one preferred and practical embodiment being illustrated in ~31 2~

the accompanying drawings as is required.
In the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein like numbers of reference refer to similar parts throughout:
Figure 1 is an orthographic surface view of my inven-tion, attached upon an ordinary commercial valve in operational position on a partially shown compressed gas tank, showing its various parts, their configuration and relationship.
Figure 2 i5 an expandecl partial cross-sectional view through my invention, taken as on line 2-2 of Figure 3, in the direction indicated by the arrows thereon.
Figure 3 is an orthographic view looking upwardly at the auxiliary knob structure of Figure 1, taken as on line 3-3 on Figure 1, in the direction indicated by the arrows thereon.
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, looking upward-ly at the lower surface of the auxiliary knob, but with other attached structure removed to show the lower surface of the auxiliary knob.
Figure 5 is a diagram, in normal symbology, of the electrical circuitry of my invention.
Figure 6 is an illustration of a fastening bracket as used in my invention.
My invention generally comprises auxiliary knob 10 carried - 7a -,.

p ll ~i3-~3~-æ44 3~5~

for llmited pivotal motion on fastenin~ br~cket 11 ~hich i.n t~rn carrie~ ~ensing ~truc~ure 12 to ~n8e directlon o~ the las~ ~ivotal motion of the auxili~ry knob.
Auxiliary knob 10 la formed by ~uct~r~lly lntercommunicating top 13 and vertically dependin~ cy1in~ric~l aide 14. The outer peripheral sur~30e o~ ~lde 14 i9 ~i ~ed, And provided wl~h altern~ting indent~ion~ 15 And pro~ber~nces 16 to ~id gra~plng and mahu~l manipula~ion thereof. The medi~
portion of kno~ ~op ~0 define3 ~xi~lly aligned fas~enin~ bolt I0 hole 17 extending therethro~gh to ~llow m~chanica~
~nterconnectlon of the f~stening br~ck~t therewi~h~
Both knob top 13 ~nd verCicRl aide 14 are relatively thin el~menta, as illustrated, to ~eflne medi~l knob cha~ber 18 on th~ under~ide o~ th~ auxili~ry knob~ when ~h~t knob bo normally 1~ oriented ~ strQted. Lower surf~ce 19 of top l~ provides four ~paced, angularly arrAyed a~ops 20 depending ~ ~paced di~tahce bela~ ~he undersurf~ce o~ top lY to ~ocept f~stening :~
bracke~ ll between the diametrica11y oppo~ed p~irs of 3~0p~ to ; . limlt angular moelon of the auxlll~ry knob rela~ive to the br~cke~, within limi~s of ~pproxim~tely thirty de~ree~
Dla~etrlc~lly oppo~ed cylindsic~l lug~ 58 depend ~edi~lly ~etween pai~s of stop~ a dl3t~noe somewha~ le~s ~hHn that ~
the stop~ ~o cooper~e ~ith interfitSinB holes 57 ~e~ined ~n the upper surfa~e of the fa~tenin~ b~cket to indicate rotRry ; 25 po~tion of the knob in a counter clock-wise dlrection rela~lve to the fa~tenln~ ~acket and aid in releQsably ~lnt~inin~ th~t position. Depen~lnx ~ylindric~l ~upport~ 59 extend below lower surf~ce l9 of cap top 13 the s~me di~t~nce ag lu~s 5~ to ~id the support of the ~uxili~r~ knob on ~he f~3t~ning br~ckst, when the elements be in the opposi~e ~ngul~r relationship with the fastenin~ bracket again~t the other pair of 9~0pS 20.

613-232-~4~ P.l~
i ~ 29~5~ :

The inner surace of ~uxiliRry knob ~ide 14 ~rrie~
elong~te per~nent magnet 43, immedi~tely ~djacent one co~n~r of a sen~lng board carrled ln the knob ~hamber, to opernte ~ :
po31tion sen~i~ive magnetic Rwitch carri~ by the sensing ~oard aQ hereinafter ~rther specifled. The confi~uratiDn o~ thi3 ms net ~9 not critical hut it mu~t be po~tion~ a~ lndicated for my device to be operative.
The auxillary knob ls formed of rigid mQt~rial of reasonable strength ~nd durability appropriA~e ~o p~rform the functlon~ requlred o~ it, commonly metal or a ~ea50nably ri~id polymeric or ~e~inous materlal of ~ppropria~e stren~h. The exac~ ~onfigur~tion And sizing of the auxiliar~ knob i3 not crltical, but it~ external surface ~hould b~ suc.h ~9 to allow re~dy 3nd con~orm grasping for manual manipulatlon by an aYera~ operator, Pre~er~bly the various external corner~ ~nd ed~es of the knob are rounded to ~ld thelr gr~ping in a comfortable manner. The size of the internal chamber ~nd of the dependlng ~tope ag~in i~ not cri~ical so long ~ the rela~ed p~ts lnterfit and move a peci~ied, but wlth ordlnary ma~erials ~nt norm~l ~unctioning they should be ~i2ed configured ~pproxim~tely 83 illu~trated in the dra~ing~.
Fas~enlng bracket ll compri~es a "U" ~haped cla~p formed 4y structur~lly interconneoted back ~2 and si~ilar opposed, perpendioul~rly extendin~ l~gs 23. Th~ area of communic~tion Z4 of le~s 23 with baek 22 i~ prefer~bly somewh~t rounded to pro~ide addition~l strength, rigidity ~nd sppropriate :~
configuration to a~cept ~ ~nsor b~rd between ~he l~gs a3 hereinaf~er specified. Fastenln~ bolt hole 31 is defined ln the medi~l part of back 22 vf the fas~enins bre~k~t in a po~ition that allgno ~ith hole 17 of the ~xlli~ry knob top ~hen the br~cket ~e operatively posi~ioned relative thereto as ~13-23~-~44~ P. 13 12~3!3~S~3 illu~tra~ed, ~he top al~o defineg two holes S7 appropri~tely ~i~ed and po~itioned to acoept lugs 58 o th~ auxlli~ry knob top to indicate and r~lessably m~int~in ~ngul.ar po 1eioning o~
the knob in A v~lve openin~ direction relatave the fa~tenin8 brQcket~
Th~ low~r portlon of eaeh of the fastenlng braoket 108s i8 oonfi~ured to de~lne silnilar c:onvex yrot~berance~ ~5 to ~n8age and confor~ably fit a~out the periphery of ~ con~rol knob of g~a valYe to be servic~d. The~ medi~1 port:lon~ of each leg define simil~r ~ ned, cooperuting tl~htenin~ bolt hol~ 27 to a~cept tightenlng ~olt ~8 therebe~we~n w~th ~hraadedly en~ged win~ nu~ 29 on the outer ~urfaoe of one le~, a~l to Qllow ad ju~table motion of the leg~ ~o~rd each o~her re~pon~ive ~o nut ~anipulation, ~or rele~sably fa3tenin~ of the bracket on a lS v~lve knob to be ~er~iced. PreEer~bly washers 30 are interposed between ~h~ outer -Rurf~e of eaoh leg and the outwQrdly adjacent bolt-nu~ RtrucSure~ ~or ease of oper~ion.
F~tening bolt 55 iB en~aged ~hrou~h bolt hole 17 in the top o~ the auxiliary knob, f~stenln~ hol~ 31 i~ ehe ~astenln~
breekeS, and ~hrvu~h a ~en~or board hçrein~fter de~crlb~d, with nut 56 threadedly engaged thereon bene~th ~he lower aide o~ the ~en~or board to mechan!cally intereonneet these elenlents in relaasablu pivot~l ~a~hlon a~ illu3~rated in Flgure 2, Spacing washers 5~ are o~rried on bol~ 32 between the lower fQqtenin8 br~cket 8urface ~nd the ~engor board top to malntain sp~cing of these element~ and Ald their pivot~l mation rel~ive each other. Cylindric~l compre~sion spring ~0 ~ith w~her 61 on i~B lower ~urface are both c~rried on f~tenin~ bolt 55 immedl~tely below the ~en~or board. ~pring oO must allow 8uffieient vertiç~l motion o~ ~he 8uxiliary knob a~y from ~he ~as~ening br~cke~ ~o allow lu s 58 ~o be removed from 613~ 2-~4~ P.14 .2~3~5~

cont~inin~ hole~ 57 ~o that the knob may bP pivot~lly ~oved from an angular null po~ltion to ~n ex~reme positlon ~g~in~t either opposed pair of luga ~0. The n~t~re o~ these el~ment~
and their ~olnder by bolt-nuS com~inatiun 55, 56 ~hould be such S ~3 to me~h~nlcally interconnect the elements but yet allow the motions spe~lfied of ~he auxlliary knob relative to the fa~tening ~ructure. :~
Th~ dim~n~lonin~ and confi~ur~tion of the fa~ening structure ls not critlcal ~o lon~ c~ it fulfill ~he purpo~e~
~pecified. The diameter of tsp 22 and the distsnce betwe~n f~tenlng bracket legs ~3 in thelr upper por~ion ~ust be ~ch 89 to allow pivotal moti~n of the br~cke~ ~ithln ~nt ern~
- chamber 1~ defined ~y the ~uxlliary knob. Pref~rably the upp~r pottion of e~e fa~tenin~ bracke~ wlll ~e nearly the slze of that intern~l chamber to incre~se ~trength, dsr~bility ~nd ri.~idity of the entire ~qvlce. The di~tnnce between inner ~ur~aces ~f leg protuberances 2S ~nd ~he l~nRth o~ tlghtenin~ ::
bolt 2B ~ust be o~ch as to ~llow the control knob of a ~erYiced ~alv~ to be c~rried b~tween the protuberanoes. Pref~ra~ly fas~enln~ structur~ 11 is for~d~ ~ubs~ntially ~s lllustr~ed, from ~ild steel ~trip, thou~h undoubtetly other ~aterials o~
~sfficlent stren~th ~nd rigidity mi~ht serve the purpo~es of my invention, if not co well. It is con~enient i~ the m~teri~l of the bracke~ has ~ome elas~ic resillqnce and be ~ormed wi~h a : 25 sllghtly ~re~ter dlstance betweq~ inner ~urfaces of protuberance~ 2S ~han the di~meter of a v~lv~ h~ndle to be ~
servlced. ~' Sen~lng ~tructure 11 provides relaeively ~hin, shee~-like ~ensor board 32 of ~qu~re confi~uration wl~h ~r~nc~ted corners 33. The sen~lor boRrd 1~ dimensloned so ~h~t truncated corner~

33 ~ill Elt in plvot-l ~d~cency wlth ~he lnner rurEacr 613-23Z-S44~ P, 15 ~1.2~

defining the medial ch~mber in ehe au~iliary knob, as tr3ted partlcul~rly in Fl~ure 2.
'rhe ~en~or bo~rd de~ine~ medi~l fa~teDin~ bolt hole 34 et ~ cen~er. Its wid~h is sli~htly ~reater than the dist~nce betw~en internel ~urfaces of the upper po~tions of legs 23 o~
the fsstenlng br~cket wi~h bracket leg notoh~s 54 d~fined in oppo~ed sides of the bo~rd to receive the br~cket leg~ 90 that the sensor bo~rd ~ay be non-pi~otally csrried thereb~t~een a~ :
~ tr~ted par~lcula~ly ln Figure 3. l`he sen~Pr board is po~itionslly maintsined by f~stening bolt S5 ~nd ~ssociated nut 56 ~arried therebelow ~8 herelnbefore de~cribed.
Th~ sensor bvard ~pports the vario~s sensin~ ~nd ~nnunclating element~ of my inventlon. B~tt~ry 3fi is releasa~ly c~rried b~ resllien~ly deformable clip 54 which i~
mechan~c~lly ~astened to the sen~or board. One pole o the b~tery communlc~te~ electrically by connector wire 37 with on~
pole of norm~lly open, m~gnetlcally operable~ po3ition ~en~ing r~ed switch 38. Th~ ~ther second pole of ~he re~d swi~ch communicat~ by line 3~ to ~olid sta~e timing device 40 which ~ in turn Co~unics~es ~ith ~nnunci~tor 41. This annunci~tor ln : ~urn Com~unicste~ wi~h the ~econd pole of th~ battery by connect~r lLne 4~ to co~plete the circultr~. This circuitry provides ~ll of it~ elements in serie~ conneCtioQ ~o that when reed switch 38 clo~es to pass current, ~nnunciator 41 will ~nnunci~te, in ~he ca~e illu~rat~d audibly, ~t perlodic inter~al~ dete~lned by ~imin~ tevice 40.
Reed ~w:Ltch 38 i~ of ~ t~pe h~ving magneticslly permeable reed elements th~t are norm~lly ~pen but moved to close in a magnetic f~eld. Such a m~gne~ic ~ield 1~ provided by par~nen~
ma~net 43 carr~ed on ~he inner ~urface of side 14 of th~

auxiliary knob. The reed ~witch is physic~lly po~itioned in 61:~-232-S440 P. 1~
æ~5~

immediste proximity ~o the corner of the ~en~or bo~rd that i most proximate to ~he a~sociated magnet, ~3 illust~ated especially in Figure 2. As the reed switch pivot~ to appraach ~agnet 43 t~ ~ill be closed thereby, against it~ bl~s, ~o pa~s ~urrent and ~3 lt leaYe~ the field of that ~net it will be bia e~ to i~s norm~lly open bt~tc. Thi3 type of mognetically operated ~witch i8 know~ ~ h the exi~tlng electro-mech~nlc~l ~rt~ and is therefore neither illue~rat~d nor ~pecified in detail. The electro~ic timin~ device thB~ pn~e~ perlodic pul~es of c~rrent re~pon~lve to a eontin~ous current ~upply ls al80 well known ln th~ prior ~rt, and there~ore not specified in detail.
Ha~in~ ~husly dc3cribed the struc~ure of my inventlon, lt~
oper~tion may be unders~ood.
A typical comprc~sed ~a~ cylinder ~nd ~s~oolated valving : struct~r~ are ~hown in ~lgur~ 1. Ga~ cylinder 44 define~
intern~l chHmber 45 fQr gAS containment an~ upper ~edl~l neck 4O which i~ th~eaded to receive Bas v~lve 47. ~he trs~itlon~l valve 47 for compre~sed ~ ankg ~ known in the prior art provides body 48 which i~ threadedly en~geable upon neck 4~ of 8~s cylinder 44 in o gas-ti~ht fiS. Control knob 4~ ~s irro~atably c~rr~ed on ~tem 50 which ie thre~dedly eng~ged ln the valv~ body to mo~e line~rly relative thereto upon rotary mOt10n~ GAS exit conduit 51 communicat~ through and from the 2S Yalve body ~o ~s~ociated ~elivery conduit 5~/ co~monly ~
pressurized ~9 ho~e, which tran mi~s the rel~ed gas for further u~e ~ a di~t~nce~ This much of the g~B valvlng structure is eommon to mo~t compre~ d ~as vslves no matcer how the valving C:tructure i~self operates. Most ~uch valves are of ~: 30 the conio type, some are b~ alves, ~nd ~ome ma~ be 8~te or butterfly velve3, but eener~lly ~11 oper~te reRpon~lvely ~o th~

:

613-~3Z-84'10 ~.2 ~3~ ~

rotstion of some type of Q knob, commonly A disk-like knob of the type illustr~d. My in~entlon i~ op~rative ~lth ~ue~
v~lve knob3 no matt~r what th~ nature of the ~ual valving mcchanism ~ssoeia~ed therewith may be.
To use my lnvention, a s~ructure is crei~ted ~c~ordlng to th~ foregolng ~peciflc~tion ~nd assembled ~ indicsted.
F~tenln~ nu~ 29 i~ loo~ened to allow pl~cem~nt o~ control knob 49 of valve 47 to be servieed ~ithin prot~berances 25 i~nd beLwe~n fastenlng leg3 2~ of my dev1ce. The f~tening legs preferably ~aYe sufficien~ eli~stic re3ille~ce to allow them to expand ~y fro~ each other a~ th~ fi~s~ening bolt nut is s~rewed out~rdly on the fa~tenlng bolt, but if not, the leg9 are appropr~ately man~ally manlpulated to i~llo~ such placement.
A~ter place~ent of my ~nYention~ i~ is m~nually ~alnt~in~d in ~e position ~fores~id, wlth dlametrically oppo~ed portions of prlm~ry valv~ knob 4~ between protuberances Z5 defin~d by thæ fa3tenin8 legs, ~nd the fa~tenin~ nut 2~ hen tigbtened :~ :
to releasobly f~st~n the ~evice on the control knob of the ~lve to be serviced. ~hen so f~ened, my invention i~ r~dy for u~e.
To ~9e g~s ~rom cyl~nder 44, v~lve ~t~ueture ~7 i~ :
ope~sted ~y m~nu~lly ma~ipulating auxiliar~ knob 10 of my inventio~. The auxiliary knob in lt~ null or closed coDdition :~
normall~ will be in it~ extreme clockwise positlon (a~ viewed 2~ ~ro~ above) relative to the f~6tenln~ br~cket. ~nd ln thl~
po~ition the bracket bac~ will be at ~ sp~ed di3t~nee beneath the under~urf~ce of the auxlllary knob with knob ~upport~ 5 contacting the br~cket baek to ~alntain thi~ po~ition ag~in~t bias of ~pring 60. When the auxiliary knob i~ turned in a ;30 dl~ection to open the associ~ted valYe, norm~lly ln a counter-clockwi~e direction when vic~ed ~rom abo~e, 1uxillary knnb 10 P.l~
613~ 440 11293~5~

w~ll pivot relative to ~enQOr board 32, qnd ~a~tenin8 ~truct~re 11 carryln~ ie. until ~he ~uxillary knob i~ stopped by the bac~
of t~e fastening br~cke~ comlng lnto cont~ct with 8~0p~ 2 dependin~ from ~he knob top. At th~ pOi~e the f~teolng br~cket back will h~ve mo~ed Prom suppor~ on supports 59 ~nd lugs 5~ will have mo~ed o~er hole~ 57 ln the br~k~t b~ck. By rea~on of bias of spring 60, the auxill~ry kno~ qn~ f~stenlng bracket wlll ~ove towar~ eac~ other Qnd into lnlmedlate ~dJacency to malntqln this angulqr positlon o~ the el~ment.s 1~ un~il knob lug~ 5~ flll moved Out of holes 57 a~ain3t the bia~
o~ Bp~ing 60. This provldes ~ sa~ty fe~ture ~or my Yalve to :
hinder accidental dl~lodgement rom ~n oper~tlYe qnnuncla~ing po~ition.
A~ the ~ounter clock-wise mo~ion o the auxiliary knob occurs~ reed switch 3~ will ~pproach magnet 43 and ~ the ~w~tch enters the field o~ that ma~ne~, the ~witch will ch~n~e from its nor~al~ open conditlon to a closed con~ition. A~ the swltch ch~nge~ sta~e, electric current will pa~a from batt~ry 36 through the reed swit~. to timlng device 40 and t~ence ~0 through annunciator 41 ~ permitted by ~he tt~in~ device. A~
th~ o~curs~ the Qnnunclat~r wlll function periodically, R~
determlned by tl~in~ devioe 40, to ~nnunci~te ~he ~pen conditlon o~ primary g~ valve 47.
It is to be not~d that if auxiliary knob 10 la ~oved in a ~S directlon to open sn associ~ted ~a~ valve ~tructure, my ~vice will annunci~3te no m~tter whether the vslve ha~ been opened or how much i~ has been opened ~nd it will, ther~fore. ser~e as aR :~
indlc~tor ~1~30 of ~he parti~lly op~n ~ondition of tne valve and the pas~age Or potentl~l passRge of ga~ through it.
When ie b~ desired to shut off p~s~Qge of gas through gas P.lg 3-23~-~44~
` ~3~5~ :
Y~l~e 9tructure 47/ this ag~ln 1~ ~ccompliehed by appropriate manual manipulRtion o auxili~ry kno~ 10. A~ th~ auxiliary kno~ is r~i~ed upwardly a8~n~ lts sprln bi~s ~nd lu~ $8 dcpendin~ ~rom the auxiliary knob are mo~ed out of hole~ 57 in ;~
S the ~ack o~ the f~t~ning bracket, it m~y be turned in Q
dire~ion to ~hut o~f the ~ssoclated prim2ry v~lve, no~lly :~
clockwiss a~ v~e~d fro~ abo~ hen thi~ occur~ nl~ a~xillary knob 10 wiIl ~aln pivot rel~l:ive to fAstenin8 struc~ure lI
carrying it, ~o th~t reed 6wit~h 38 wil1. move most di~t~lly ;~
from ~net 4~ ~o be ~ree oP the influen~e o itg ma~neti~
fielt ~nd as~ume its normally biased open conditlon. T~e ~witch ~ill op~n to stop the pMS~a8e of electric curren~ to the ~:
annunoictor and thu~ly cause the BnhunciAtion to ceBse oper~tion.
The l~ and ~upport s~ru~ture 57, 58, 59 carried by ~he fAstening brac.ket ~nd auxillary knob r~specti~ely will tend to maintMin these elements in ~n ex~e~e ~n~ul~r positi~n in the dlre~tion ln ~hi~h the knob ~ust mo~e to open ~ ~lve to be ser~iced to le~en any potenti~llty of ~csidental di3pl~cement, The ~truct~re ~lso ~ill tend ~o allo~ ~ u~er to know th~t an ~:
extreh7e posltion h~7s been re~ched or exi~ts ~lnce the knob must be moved ~7xially ag~in~t lts sprln~ bia~ to allow tt to ~e ~:
mo~ed from a valve opening direction. ~
A b~7tterg ~ondition warn~ng devlce ~not- sho~n~, o type ~;
known in the prior art, ~ay be ln~t~711ed in the ~lect~i~al circui~ry o~ my invent~on, if desired, ~o indic~te b~ttery conditlon. ~his obviously i~ h~t nece~ry to ~he oper~ion of ~y lnventlon a9 th~ inYent~on req~ire~ ~n oper~le b~ttery and la~k o~ operation i~ norn7~11y re~dily d~erminable.
It ls to be p~rticularly noted from the ~oregoin~
de~criptlon that my $nventlon requi~e~ no sp~ci~ ed 1~ ~
~::

~13-~3Z-~44~ p,~0 .~.2~315~

~t~uctUre, modif~tlon or ~heng~ in ~ ga~ valve which it is to ser~ice ~ It rsther i9 an ent~rely self ~ont~ined devic~ th~t ~y be rele~3ably a~tache~ to a ga~ ~alve.
It 1~ further ~o be no~ed tha~ my inventi~n ~ay be u~ed with most types of 8R5 v~lves thR~ opera~e by ~ reYer~ible pivot~l motlon of a knob or h~ndle ~o long a~ th~ fa~tenln~
struct~e of my l~vention be appropri~tely adoptod and configured to lnterconnect with the structure ca~lng v~lve :~
oper~tlon, Normally, however, in most existin~ gA8 val~e~, ~t stru~t~re cau~in~ ope~ation will be ~ round knob sized ~nd configur~d for manual manipulation, rhe foregoing description of my inven~iOn i8 ~CegB~rily ::~
o~ a detalled nature 90 that a specific embodiment of it might be set for~h ~s required, but lt i~ ~o be understood th~t lS v~rious modiflcations of detail, reQrrangement and ~:
multiplic~tion of part~ ~ight be r~so~ted to without dep~r~in~ ~
~rom its spirit, es~en~e or S~Ope. ~ ;

Claims (5)

1. An annunciating device to indicate potential open condition of a valve having a control knob operated by reversible pivotal motion, comprising, in combination:
an auxiliary knob carried for limited pivotal motion on the back of a U-shaped fastening member having opposed elongate legs to releasably interconnect with a control knob of a valve to be serviced; and electrical switching means to sense auxiliary knob motion in one direction, associated electric circuitry to annunciate such sensed motion, and means of powering said electrical circuitry.

2. The invention of Claim 1 further characterized by:
the electrical switching means comprising a magnetically sensitive switch that operates responsive to proximity to a source of magnetic energy.

3. An auxiliary knob structure to be releasably carried by a control knob of a rotatably operated valve to annunciate potential open condition of that valve, comprising, in combination:
an auxiliary knob pivotally carrying an associated fastening structure, stop means limiting pivotal motion of the associated fastening structure, and means to operate a position sensing switch;
a "U" shaped fastening structure, pivotally carried by the auxiliary knob with opposed legs extending from the auxiliary knob, said legs having means of releasably fastening to a control knob of a valve to be serviced;
and sensing structure including a sensor board carried adjacent the auxiliary knob by the fastening structure to pivot therewith, said sensor board carrying a position sensitive switch to sense pivotal motion of the auxiliary knob in one direction and electrical circuitry including a power source communicating through the position sensitive switch to a timing device which communicates to an annunciator to annunciate the condition sensed by the position sensitive switch.

4. An auxiliary knob structure releasably positionable upon the control knob of a valve, that pivots in opposite directions to cause valve operation, to annunciate the potential open condition of that valve, comprising in combination:
an auxiliary knob defining a downwardly opening internal chamber with stops depending from the knob top into the chamber to limit the pivotal motion of an associated fastening structure relative thereto, magnetic means carried by the chamber defining knob surface to operate a position sensing switch, and means of fastening an associated fastening structure thereto for limited pivotal motion;
A "U" shaped fastening structure, having a flat back portion pivotally carried partially in the internal chamber of the auxiliary knob with similar spaced fastening legs extending from the back, said fastening legs having medial cooperating tightening bolt holes with a tightening bolt and threadedly engaged nut extending operatively therebetween, and similar outwardly convex protuberances in their lower portions to aid releasable fastening about a control knob of a valve to be serviced; and sensing structure including a rigid sensing board, carried in the internal chamber of the auxiliary knob and between the fastening structure legs to pivot therewith, said sensor board carrying a normally open, magnetically operable switch adapted to close in proximity to the magnetic means carried by the auxiliary knob, and associated sensing and annunciating circuitry including an electric powering source communicating with the magnetically operable switch, a timing proximity of the said switch to the said magnet means, said circuitry elements all mounted in series.

5. The invention of claim 4 further characterized by:
the means pivotally fastening the auxiliary knob and the fastening structure comprising a bolt and nut combination and compression spring therebetween biasing aid knob and fastening structure toward each other, the auxiliary knob and fastening structure having lugs and accommodating holes defined on adjacent surfaces of said structures to releasably maintain the structures in a valve opening direction unless moved both axially and pivotally against the bias of the aforesaid spring.