Patent ID: 6116278
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
A lockout valve, comprising a valve body with an upstream inlet passage and a downstream outlet passage which are fluidly interconnected; a flow interrupter device slidably received within said valve body and moveable between a first closed position which interrupts fluid flow from the inlet passage to the outlet passage, a second intermediate position which allows restricted fluid flow through a bleed aperture in the flow interrupter device from the inlet passage to the outlet passage, and a third open position which allows fill fluid flow through a flow aperture in the flow interrupter device substantially unimpeded from the inlet passage to the outlet passage; and a latch device which normally engages said valve body and prevents said flow interrupter device from being moved from said second position to said third position, wherein the flow interrupter device can be manually manipulated to bring the latch device out of engagement with said valve body to allow said flow interrupter device to move from said second position to said third position, and wherein said flow interrupter device further includes a flat slide having opposite ends terminating in stop flanges to limit movement of said flow interrupter device with respect to said valve body, a reinforcement piece extending along one side edge of the flow interrupter device and interconnecting said stop flanges to provide structural reinforcement of said flow interrupter device, and a spring finger forming the latch device extending along another side edge of the flow interrupter device for normally engaging said valve body to prevent said flow interrupter device from moving from said second position to said third position, but which can be manually manipulated away from engagement with said valve body to allow said flow interrupter device to be moved from said second position to said third position.