US2364909A - Valve lock - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 1,2, 1944. R MURPHY' 2,364,909

VALVE LOCK 'E 15 Mur' F11-nj ATTORN EYS.

Patented Dec. 12, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VALVE LOCK Ray Murphy, Wetumka, Okla.

Application July 10, 1941, Serial No. 401,841

1 claim. f

This inventionrelates to improvements in valve mechanisms.

The primary Aobject of the invention is the provision of an improved valve mechanism, embodying a lock, by means oi which the degree of opening of the valve can be regulated.

Further object of this invention is the provision of an improved lock mechanism which is adapted for co-operative application upon conventional gate or globevalves, and by means of which the flow of the medium which the valve controls may be accurately regulated andmaintained. Y

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1

Figure l is a side elevation of the improved valve mechanism looking in the direction of the flow line in which the valve is positioned.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View taken through the improved valve mechanism.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through the lock bolt and valve stem portion of the invention, substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view showing the lock cover removed from the valve hood and with the lock bolt partially withdrawn.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken through the valve cover and tumbler type of lock mechanism associated with the valve.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the, lock bolt.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the bolt cam piece.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8 8 of Figure 5.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of i1- lustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate a valve having any approved characteristics. It may be of the gate or globe type. Upon it aspecial hood B is adapted to be mounted; the latter embodying the improved lock mechanism C.

The valve mechanism A may be of any conventional type. That `shown in the drawing is of a gate valve, including a casing I0 provided with a valve gate II therein. The casing I0 has a bonnet I2 attached thereto, and a detachable stuffing box assemblage I3 embodying any approved characteristics; the bonnet and stuiingy box rotatably receiving the valve stem I4 thereupon. This Jvalve stem has a screw threaded portion I5 which engages a screw threaded socket in the gate II for lifting and lowering the latter, in accordance with well-known construction.

The valve stern I4 is conventional except that it is longer than the usual valve stem and its outer end is provided with a squared portion I6 (preferably reducedl) and presenting four at sides, the opposite sides of which are parallel to each other, and adjacent sides of whichare at angles of degrees. The bolt of the improved lock is adapted to cooperate with these sides in locking the stem in a desired position. The valve stern is provided with a handle or knob 20 of any approved type.

The Vhood B may appropriately be termed an auxiliary bonnet, since it; is recessed inwardly from its lower end at 25, to receive the upper portion of the stuing box and the exposed portion of the conventional bonnet I2 therein. In .this

recess it is provided with screw threads 2l adapted to screw thread upon an external screw threaded portion at the top of the conventional bonnet I2, as shown in Figure 2. This screw threaded portion 2l is in the lower portion of the recess 25, but the hood extends downwardly over the entire bonnet I 2 of the valve when the hood B is in place to entirely enclose the same. Of course, the recess 25 extends upwardly into the hood B sufciently to entirely enclose the stuffing box I3, as shown in Figure 2.

Referring to features of the lock mechanism C, the same includes a supporting portion 30, which may be referred to as a cover. In horizontal cross-section it is L-shaped and adapted to t around slightly less than degrees of the circumference of the upper part of the hood B, as is shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. It is adapted to be Welded, as shown at 3| in Figure 3 of the drawing, to secure it in place upon the upper part of the hood. This supporting cover 30 receives therein a pin tumbler cylinder lock 40. The plug 4I of this lock, shown projecting in Figure 5 of the drawing, is provided with an axially extending bit 42 which is adapted to extend into the slot 43 of a cam cylinder 45. Of course, the hood B is tangentially providedv with a recess to receive the casing of the pin tumbler lock and also to rotatably receive the cam barrel or cylinder 45, as shown in Figure 2. iAlso, the hood B is provided with a radial slot or recess 50 in which the bolt 5l slides.

The bolt 5I, as shown in Figure 2, is bifurcated at one end; the space between the fingers 52 forming the bifurcation being slightly wider than the valve stem I4, at the square portion I6, so as to receive the latter therein in order to lock the stem I4 against turning movement. The bolt 5l is rectangular and slides radially in the recess 50, and can be withdrawn' therefrom.

when the lock cover 30 is removed. The recess 50 is sufficiently long to permit the fingers 52 to be moved away from the sides of the square portion I6, and to permit turning of the valve stem.

The bolt 5l is provided with a notch 60 in its lower side adapted to receive the radial cam extension El upon the cam cylinder 45.

Operation of the lock, in order to permit turning movement of the valve stem, will be apparent from the foregoing. In its locked position, shown in Figure 2, the cam controlled by the pin tumbler cylinder lock will hold the Abolt 5I' in position across the square portion I6 of thev stem and prevent any turning movement of the latter. Insertion of the proper key in the pin tumbler cylinder will permit the plug 4i to be turned, and due to the fitting of the bit 42 in the slotted endofthe cam cylinder 45 the latter may be turned to move the bolt 5l away from the valve stem, and .permit one to turn the latter.

Due to the fact that the stem portion I6 is squared the lock may hold the valve stem at each quarter degree vof turning movement, so as to accurately adjust the open position of the gate. In order to determine the proper position the handle 20 is provided with an arrow l0 and similarly the valve hood B may be provided with arrows H at 90 degrees around the hood.

The improved valve may be used for regulating any fluent materials, such as gas, liquids, vapors, steam, etc.

Changes in detail may be made to the form of the invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

As an article of manufacture; a locking hood structure for receiving the valve stems and bonnet vstructures of valve mechanism comprising an elongated substantially cylindrical-shaped casing structure having an upper portion provided with a small diametered valve stem passageway therethru, lock mechanism carried by said upper portion of the casing including a bolt slidable into valve stem locking relation in the valve stem passageway, said casing below the upper portion thereof wherein the valve stem passageway is provided having an enlarged chamber for receiving the bonnet of a valve mechanism, said chamber at the lower end thereof being provided with an annular flange projecting into the chamber having internal screw threads .for attachment to a bonnet structure, said casing below said screw threaded flange providing a thin walled depending skirt defining la chamber which is rWider than the aforementioned chamber.

RAY MURPHY.

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