GB2049108A

GB2049108A - An attachment for a valve

Info

Publication number: GB2049108A
Application number: GB8002980A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: TRENT VALVE CO Ltd
Current assignee: TRENT VALVE CO Ltd
Priority date: 1979-05-14
Filing date: 1980-01-29
Publication date: 1980-12-17
Also published as: GB2049108B

Abstract

The attachment comprises an adaptor (10) and a valve actuating member (11) mounted on the adaptor. A part (21) projects axially from the adaptor and is axially fixed but rotatable relative to the adaptor. The adaptor has an axially extending hole for receiving a stem (17) of a valve and the valve actuating member is axially movable relative to the adaptor (10) and part (21) between a position in which they are mutually engaged by projections (24, 25) and flats (13, 14) so as to be angularly movable with one another and a position in which they are angularly movable relative to one another. The valve actuating member (11) and part (21) have respectively first and second holes (26, 27, 28) which can be brought into registration when the actuating member is in one of said positions. A security device such as a locking device or security seal, is provided which can pass through the first and second holes when the latter are in registration to prevent unauthorised movement of the valve actuating member from said one to the other of said positions. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An attachment for a valve This invention relates to an attachment for a valve and has an object the provision of such an attachment in a convenient form.

The invention provides an attachment for a valve, comprising an adaptor, a valve actuating member mounted on the adaptor, a part which projects axially from the adaptor and which is axially fixed but rotatable relative to the adaptor, the adaptor having an axially extending hole for receiving a stem of a valve and the valve actuating member being axially movable between a first position and a second position relative to the adaptor and the part, the adaptor and valve actuating member being mutually engageable so as to be angularly movable with one another when the valve actuating member is in said first position, and being angularly movable relative to one another when the valve actuating member is in said second position, the valve actuating member and part having respectively first and second holes which can be brought into registration when the valve actuating member is in one of said positions, and a security device which can pass through said first and second holes when the latter are in registration to prevent unauthorised movement of the valve actuating member from said one position to the other of said positions.

Preferably the adaptor, the valve actuating member and the element are so constructted and arranged that when the valve actuating member is in said other position the security device can pass through said second hole in the part to prevent unauthorised movement of the valve actuating member from said other position to said one position.

The security device may be a locking device, e.g. a padlock, or a security seal.

The valve actuating member may be a handwheel having a central boss mounted on the adaptor.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 is a sectional view of one embodiment of a valve attachment according to the invention, with the valve actuating member in a first axial position relative to the adaptor, Figure 2 is a sectional view of the attachment shown in Fig. 1, but with the valve actuating member in a second axial position relative to the adaptor, and Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line Ill-Ill of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the attachment shown therein comprises an adaptor 10 and a valve actuating member in the form of a hand wheel 11 having a central boss 12. The adaptor 10 is of generally cylindrical hollow construction having on a lower portion thereof a pair of diametrically opposed flats 1 3 and 14 and at its lower end an integral base 1 5.

An upper portion of the adaptor 10 is of circular cross-section having a diameter not exceeding the perpendicular distance between the flats 13 and 14.

A valve stem 1 6 has a portion 1 7 which is of non-circular cross-section and the base 1 5 has a central aperture of matching crosssection. The adaptor 10 is mounted on the stem 1 6 and is held in engagement with a shoulder 1 8 by a lock-nut 1 9 which engages a screw-threaded portion 20 at the free end of the stem 1 6. The bore of the adaptor 10 is stepped to define between its upper and lower ends a shoulder which supports the base of an upstanding pin 21. The base of the pin 21 is held against the shoulder in the bore of the adaptor by a circlip 22 and the pin 21 is rotatable relative to the adaptor 10.

The boss 1 2 of the hand wheel 11 is hollow and open at its lower end. At its upper end the boss has an axially extending integral bush 23 which is coaxial with the boss and which receives the pin 21. Between its ends the boss has a pair of diametrically-opposed, axially aligned, radially inwardly extending projections 24 and 25 which respectively engage the flats 1 3 and 1 4 on the adaptor when the hand wheel is in the first axial position relative to the adaptor (See Fig. 1).

The bush 23 has two diametrically opposite apertures 26 and 27 which can be aligned with a transverse aperture 28 in the pin 21 near the upper end thereof, when the hand wheel is in the second axial position relative to the adaptor (See Fig. 2).

The hand wheel and adaptor can be releasably retained in this latter position by passing the pivotable hook of a padlock (shown in broken lines) through said aligned apertures.

In this position projections 24 and 25, are held out of engagement with the flats 1 5 and 1 4 respectively and the hand wheel and adaptor are coupled for angular movement relative to one another so that the valve is in an inoperable mode.

When it is desired to place the valve in an operable mode, the padlock is removed and the boss 1 2 lowered axially relative to the adaptor 10 until the projections 24 and 25 engage the flats 1 3 and 14 respectively. The hook of the padlock is then passed through the aperture 28 in the pin 21 and this serves to releasably retain the hand wheel in the first axial position relative to the adaptor. In this position the hand wheel 11 and adaptor 10 are coupled for rotation with one another to operate the valve.

To render the attachment suitable for connection to valve stems having portions 1 7 of cross-sectional dimensions within a specific range, a plurality of angularly spaced radial holes (not shown) are drilled and tapped in the base 1 5 of the adaptor 10 for receiving screws which can be screwed into engagement with the portion 1 7 on the stem 1 6.

In some circumstances, it may be desirable to replace the locking device with a security seal.

Instead af connecting the adaptor to the valve stem it may be connected to a bush mounted on the valve stem.

Claims

1. An attachment for a valve, comprising an adaptor, a valve actuating member mounted on the adaptor, a part which projects axially from the adaptor and which is axially fixed but rotatable relative to the adaptor, the adaptor having an axially extending hole for receiving a stem of a valve and the valve actuating member being axially movable between a first position and a second position relative to the adaptor and the part, the adaptor and valve actuating member being mutually engageable so as to be angularly movable with one another when the valve actuating member is in said first position, and being angularly movable relative to one another when the valve actuating member is in said second position, the valve actuating member and part having respectively first and second holes which can be brought into registration when the valve actuating member is in one of said positions, and a security device which can pass through said first and second holes when the latter are in registration to prevent unauthorised movement of the valve actuating member from said one position to the other of said positions.

2. An attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adaptor, the valve actuating member and the part are so constructed and arranged that when the valve actuating member is in said other position the security device can pass through said second hole in the part to prevent unauthorised movement of the valve actuating member from said other position to said one position.

3. An attachment as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the security device is a locking device.

4. An attachment as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the security device is a security seal.

5. An attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve actuating member is a hand-wheel having a central boss mounted on the adaptor

6. An attachment for a valve, substantially as hereinbefore described with and to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

7. A valve including a valve stem and an attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

8. A valve as claimed in claim 7, wherein the valve stem or a bush mounted on the valve stem and an inner wall of the adaptor have mutually engageable non-circular portions, the adaptor being securable to the stem or the bush by a lock nut which co-operates with a screw-threaded end portion of the stem or the bush and engages a shoulder on the adaptor.