Patent ID: 6138985
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
A valve assembly for a vessel having an opening, the valve assembly comprising:a body assembly mounted to the vessel opening, said body assembly having a valve seat and a valve throughbore;a valve disk co-acting with said valve seat for opening and closing said valve throughbore;a valve operator assembly in cooperative relationship with said valve disk, said valve operator assembly capable of forcing said valve disk away from said valve seat to open said valve throughbore;a means for locking said valve disk in said valve seat such that said throughbore is maintained in a closed position;a projection rigidly secured to said valve operator assembly for preventing movement of said valve operator assembly when said locking means is in the closed position;wherein said locking means comprises:a receiver member extending from said valve disk, said receiver member having a receiving portion; anda lock member mounted in said body assembly, said lock member capable of being received in said receiver portion to lock said valve disk in a locked position restricting movement of said valve disk relative to said valve seat, said lock member further interacting with said projection, said interaction of said lock member with said projection limiting the range of said valve operator assembly as a consequence of said rigid fastening,wherein in said locked position said lock member impedes the range of motion of said valve operator assembly through interaction with said projection.