GB2101710A

GB2101710A - Lockable valve assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2101710A
Application number: GB08119636A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Roderick Oliver
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-06-25
Filing date: 1981-06-25
Publication date: 1983-01-19
Also published as: GB2101710B

Abstract

The assembly 1 has a rotary actuating spindle 11 rotationally fast with at least one projection 12 transverse thereto. Rotary valve operating means 5 are rotationally fast with spindle drive means 9 co-operable with the projection 12 on selective clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of the operating means 5 to effect rotation of the spindle. The projection 12 and the drive means 9 are arranged such that there is free rotation of the operating means 5 between positions at which they cooperate. A stationary location member 7 and said operating means 5 each have at least one alignable aperture 15, 16 through which a locking means may be inserted to lock the operating means in position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A valve assembly The present invention relates to a valve assembly.

For a number of applications in which valves are used it is desirable that the valve spindle may be positively locked without any possibility of slightest movement at any particular set position. Such locking may be to prevent inadvertent opening or closing of the valve or for security reasons. Lockable val- ves are used for example in power stations.

According to the present invention there is provided a valve assembly having a rotary actuating spindle rotationally fast with at least one projection transverse to the spindle, rotary valve operating means rotationally fast with spindle drive means co-operable with said projection or projections on selective clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of the operating means to effect clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of the spindle, said projection or projections and said drive means being arranged such that there is a free rotation of the operating means between positions at which it effects said clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of the spindle, and a stationery location member for the operating means, said location member and said operating means each having at least one alignable aperture through which aligned aperture locking means may be inserted to lock the operating means in position.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. lisa part-sectional side of one embodiment of valve in accordance with the invention; and Fig. 2 is a part-sectional exploded perspective view of the valve shown in Fig. 1.

The illustrated valve assembly 1 is based on a conventional needle valve construction which includes a valve body 2 housing the needle valve proper (not shown), a bonnet 3, and a rotary actuating spindle 4, rotation of which opens or closes the needle valve proper. The valve assembly 1 additionally includes a handwheel 5 adapted to drive the spindle4 in the manner to be described and a cylindrical casing 6 affixed on and around the bonnet 3 and having an upper radial flange 7. Flange 7 is of the same diameter as handwheel 5 and locates therebeneath.

Handwheel 5 is generally annular and has an annular flange 8 extending around the upper region of its inner peripheral surface. A pin 9 located in a radial aperture 10 of the handwheel 5 projectsforthe inner peripheral surface of handwheel 5.

A head 11 is fixed atop the spindle 4 by a pin 12 which projects radially from the head 11 and which is rotationally fast with spindle 4. The head 11 has an integral terminally threaded extension 13 of lesser diameter than head 11 and defining a shoulder 11 a around the top of head 11. Flange 8 sits on shoulder 11 a and a circlip 14 serves to locate the handwheel 5 on head 11. The distance between the circlip 14 and shoulder 11 a is slightly greater than the thickness of flange 8 to allow free rotation of handwheel 5 rela tire to head 11.

With the handwheel thus located, pin 9 and 12 are at the same level and pin 9 may act against pin 12 on rotation of the handwheel 5 to effect rotation of spindle 4 as described more fully below.

Flange 7 has at least one aperture 15 and at least one aperture 16 of the same diameter is provided in handwheel 5. The flange 7 may be stamped with the open and closure directions for the valve.

A nameplate 17 may be located over the threaded extension 13 and held in position by a nut 18.

The operation of the valve assembly will now be described.

Handwheel 5 may be rotated clockwise or anticlockwise as desired to open or close the valve. Rotation of the handwheel will not however rotate the spindle4 until pin 9 acts against pin 12. Further rotation of the handwheel 5 in the same direction will cause rotation of the spindle 4 thus opening or closing the valve. Once the valve has been opened or closed a desired amount, handwheel 5 may be rotated in the opposite direction without rotation of spindle 4, this being allowed because pin 9 no longer acts against pin 12. The opposite rotation is continued until two apertures 15 and 16 are in register, at which point the shackle of a padlock 19 may be inserted through the apertures 15 and 16 to lock the handwheel 5 and thus ensure that the valve is kept at the present position.

The described valve assembly has a number of advantages. Firstly, the spindle 4 may be locked at any incremented position so that the valve may be opened or closed by any desired amount. Secondly, the valve can be positively locked closed without fear of cracking (i.e. slight opening) even by the slightest amount due to external handwheel actuation or vibration or any other means. Thirdly, the provision of multiple holes 15 and 16 allows the padlock to be located at any one of a number of positions, which may be desirable if space is tight Fourthly, there may be minimum clearance between the padlock shackle and holes 15 and 16 thus preventing undue play in the locked handwheel. Fifthly, the nameplate 17 may be replaced without dismantl ing the valve.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to needle valves and any other rotary actu ated valve may be used. Examples of such other rot ary valves are ball valves, gate valves and globe val ves.

CLAIMS (Filed 24 June 1982) 1. A valve assembly having a rotary actuating spindle rotationally fast with at least one projection transverse to the spindle, rotary valve operating means rotationally fast with spindle drive means

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A valve assembly The present invention relates to a valve assembly. For a number of applications in which valves are used it is desirable that the valve spindle may be positively locked without any possibility of slightest movement at any particular set position. Such locking may be to prevent inadvertent opening or closing of the valve or for security reasons. Lockable val- ves are used for example in power stations. According to the present invention there is provided a valve assembly having a rotary actuating spindle rotationally fast with at least one projection transverse to the spindle, rotary valve operating means rotationally fast with spindle drive means co-operable with said projection or projections on selective clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of the operating means to effect clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of the spindle, said projection or projections and said drive means being arranged such that there is a free rotation of the operating means between positions at which it effects said clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of the spindle, and a stationery location member for the operating means, said location member and said operating means each having at least one alignable aperture through which aligned aperture locking means may be inserted to lock the operating means in position. The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. lisa part-sectional side of one embodiment of valve in accordance with the invention; and Fig. 2 is a part-sectional exploded perspective view of the valve shown in Fig. 1. The illustrated valve assembly 1 is based on a conventional needle valve construction which includes a valve body 2 housing the needle valve proper (not shown), a bonnet 3, and a rotary actuating spindle 4, rotation of which opens or closes the needle valve proper. The valve assembly 1 additionally includes a handwheel 5 adapted to drive the spindle4 in the manner to be described and a cylindrical casing 6 affixed on and around the bonnet 3 and having an upper radial flange 7. Flange 7 is of the same diameter as handwheel 5 and locates therebeneath. Handwheel 5 is generally annular and has an annular flange 8 extending around the upper region of its inner peripheral surface. A pin 9 located in a radial aperture 10 of the handwheel 5 projectsforthe inner peripheral surface of handwheel 5. A head 11 is fixed atop the spindle 4 by a pin 12 which projects radially from the head 11 and which is rotationally fast with spindle 4. The head 11 has an integral terminally threaded extension 13 of lesser diameter than head 11 and defining a shoulder 11 a around the top of head 11. Flange 8 sits on shoulder 11 a and a circlip 14 serves to locate the handwheel 5 on head 11. The distance between the circlip 14 and shoulder 11 a is slightly greater than the thickness of flange 8 to allow free rotation of handwheel 5 rela tire to head 11. With the handwheel thus located, pin 9 and 12 are at the same level and pin 9 may act against pin 12 on rotation of the handwheel 5 to effect rotation of spindle 4 as described more fully below. Flange 7 has at least one aperture 15 and at least one aperture 16 of the same diameter is provided in handwheel 5. The flange 7 may be stamped with the open and closure directions for the valve. A nameplate 17 may be located over the threaded extension 13 and held in position by a nut 18. The operation of the valve assembly will now be described. Handwheel 5 may be rotated clockwise or anticlockwise as desired to open or close the valve. Rotation of the handwheel will not however rotate the spindle4 until pin 9 acts against pin 12. Further rotation of the handwheel 5 in the same direction will cause rotation of the spindle 4 thus opening or closing the valve. Once the valve has been opened or closed a desired amount, handwheel 5 may be rotated in the opposite direction without rotation of spindle 4, this being allowed because pin 9 no longer acts against pin 12. The opposite rotation is continued until two apertures 15 and 16 are in register, at which point the shackle of a padlock 19 may be inserted through the apertures 15 and 16 to lock the handwheel 5 and thus ensure that the valve is kept at the present position. The described valve assembly has a number of advantages. Firstly, the spindle 4 may be locked at any incremented position so that the valve may be opened or closed by any desired amount. Secondly, the valve can be positively locked closed without fear of cracking (i.e. slight opening) even by the slightest amount due to external handwheel actuation or vibration or any other means. Thirdly, the provision of multiple holes 15 and 16 allows the padlock to be located at any one of a number of positions, which may be desirable if space is tight Fourthly, there may be minimum clearance between the padlock shackle and holes 15 and 16 thus preventing undue play in the locked handwheel. Fifthly, the nameplate 17 may be replaced without dismantl ing the valve. It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to needle valves and any other rotary actu ated valve may be used. Examples of such other rot ary valves are ball valves, gate valves and globe val ves. CLAIMS (Filed 24 June 1982)

1. A valve assembly having a rotary actuating spindle rotationally fast with at least one projection transverse to the spindle, rotary valve operating means rotationally fast with spindle drive means co-operable with said projection or projections on selective clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of the operating means to effect clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of the spindle, said projection or projections and said drive means being arranged such that there is a free rotation ofthe operating means between positions at which it effects said clockwise or anticlockwise rotation ofthe spindle, and a stationary location memberforthe operating means, said location member and said operating means each having at least one alignable aperture through which aligned aperture locking means may be inserted to lock the operating means in position.

2. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spindle drive means comprises a projection.

3. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the rotary operating means is an annular wheel.

4. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 3 when dependent on claim 2 wherein the spindle drive projection extends radially inwardly into the central space of the wheel.

5. A valve assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the projection rotationally fast with the spindle is provided on a head mounted on the spindle.

6. A valve assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the stationary location member is a plate.

7. A valve assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the operating means has a plurality of apertures.

8. A valve assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the stationary location member has a plurality of apertures.

9. A valve assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.