Patent ID: 8740180
Filing Date: 2014-06-03
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A rotary valve and assembly therefor comprising a valve element engaged with a stem, a rotary valve actuator for actuating the valve element and the stem so as to operate the valve as an automatic valve, a handle directly connected to a top of the stem and directly seated on the stem at a center of the handle so as to operate the valve as a manual valve, said handle comprising said center and a grip portion, said stem being turnable so as to open and close the valve so as to provide open and closed positions thereof, a valve body having a neck and supporting said stem, said neck being integrally formed with the valve body, said neck defining a circumferential top flange integrally formed therewith and extending circumferentially from the neck in a plane that is normal to a vertical axis of the stem and in which said top flange comprises at least two through grooves circumferentially disposed throughout said top flange, each through groove being a receptacle for containing a bolt for mounting said actuator to said top flange and said stem when said handle is not connected to said stem and said valve is operable as an automatic valve through use of said actuator, a latch receiving part being formed at a side periphery of said top flange and each of said through grooves being formed as a groove that passes vertically through said periphery of said top flange so as to form said latch receiving part when said handle is connected to said stem and said valve is operable as a manual valve through use of said handle, a locking member having a latch part pivotably supported-on said grip portion of said handle for locking the valve in said open or closed position, and a biasing member effecting latching of said latch part in said latch receiving part, latching of said latch part of said locking member defining a latched position of said locking member that occurs when said locking member is turned in a horizontal direction that is oriented in a plane that is normal to the vertical axis of said stem so as to engage said latch part at a side periphery of at least one of said through grooves and as such thereagainst a portion of the top flange adjacent the at least one through groove in which said engagement of said latch part locates said latch part along said plane that is normal to the vertical axis of said stem so as to provide said locking of said respective open and closed positions of said rotary valve, said latched position substantially occurring without movement of the locking member in a vertical direction that is parallel to said vertical orientation of said stem, said through grooves being free of said latch part in an unlatched position of said locking member.