Composite remote valve control

An improved remote control assembly ( 10 ) for controlling a valve or similar equipment is provided which includes a case ( 12 ) having an internal, pivotal lever ( 14 ) presenting first and second alternately usable spaced apart lever couplers ( 126, 130, 128, 132 ), together with a shiftable output rod ( 15 ) selectively and alternately connectable with one or the other of the lever couplers ( 126, 130, 128, 132 ). A control handle ( 16 ) is operatively coupled with the lever ( 14 ) and extends out of the case ( 12 ), with the handle ( 16 ) being movable in order to pivot the lever ( 14 ) about an axis ( 18 ) to thereby shift the output rod ( 15 ). The control handle ( 16 ) is located in a first rest position when one lever coupler ( 128, 132 ) is employed, and a second, different rest position when the other lever coupler ( 126, 130 ) is used. The case ( 12 ) is made up of case halves ( 22, 24 ) each differently configured to have differently located rest position stops ( 58, 60 , and 84, 86, 88, 90 ) thereon, so that the assembly ( 10 ) may be assembled or field-modified with the handle ( 16 ) assuming different rest positions and/or handle locked positions, without the need for different or additional component parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1 - 5 , a remote control assembly 10 in accordance with the invention broadly includes a case 12 , a lever 14 within case 12 , a shiftable output rod 15 coupled with lever 14 , and a control handle 16 coupled with the lever 14 and extending out of the case 12 ; the handle is movable for pivoting the lever 14 about a central axis 18 to thereby correspondingly shift output rod 15 . In the form shown, the output rod 15 is connected with a flexible cable assembly 20 which can be secured to a downstream device to be controlled through the medium of assembly 10 . In more detail, the case 12 is made up of a pair of case halves 22 and 24 which are oriented in abutting relationship so as to define a central enclosed area 26 . The case half 22 includes an arcuate outboard sidewall panel 28 having a central, apertured boss 30 receiving an exterior nut 32 , as well as two additional apertured connection bosses 34 , 36 each receiving a corresponding exterior nut 38 , 40 . In addition, the half 22 has a continuous, transverse connection wall 42 presenting an elongated, arcuate slot-defining recess 44 as well as a semicircular output opening 46 . The regions of wall 42 apart from the slot-defining recess 44 and output opening 46 have a stepped configuration 43 as best seen in FIG. 4 . The inner face of panel 28 includes an inwardly extending central circular mount 48 in surrounding relationship to boss 30 , together with an arcuate retainer 50 spaced radially from the mount 48 . A pair of spaced, inwardly extending, annular abutments 52 , 54 are also located adjacent the mount 48 but are spaced therefrom. The inner face of panel 28 has, at the region of slot-defining recess 44 , an inwardly extending, continuous arcuate guide wall 56 interrupted at two locations by radially extending stop openings 58 , 60 . Also, the inner face of panel 28 includes an elongated, rectilinear, inwardly extending continuous guide element 62 . A bifurcated output rod slide guide 64 presenting a pair of inboard arcuate surfaces 65 as well as a terminal guide 66 is located in general alignment with the guide element 62 . The terminal guide 66 includes an inboard segment 68 configured much in the manner of slide guide 64 and having a pair of spaced apart arcuate surfaces 69 , as well as a radially enlarged end segment 70 . The segment 70 terminates with the previously described output opening 46 . Finally, the inner face of panel 28 has three relatively large, inwardly extending support bosses 72 , 74 , 76 which are of a height essentially equal to that of the connection wall 42 . It will observed from a study of the drawings that the case half 22 is integrally formed from a synthetic resin material, with the nut extensions 32 , 38 and 40 permanently placed within the corresponding bosses 30 , 34 and 36 . The opposite case half 24 is in many respects the mirror image of half 22 . Thus, for ease of understanding where the two case halves are merely mirror images of each other the same basic reference numerals are employed, but with the designator “a” as a part of each such number. The case half 24 includes an arcuate outboard sidewall panel 28 a having a central, apertured boss 30 a receiving an elongated bolt 78 which is coupled with nut 32 and defines the axis 18 for the assembly 10 , as well as two additional apertured connection bosses 34 a , 36 a each receiving a corresponding bolt 80 , 82 secured to the nuts 38 , 40 . In addition, the half 24 has a continuous, transverse connection wall 42 a presenting an elongated, arcuate slot-defining recess 44 a as well as a semicircular output opening 46 a . The regions of wall 42 a apart from the slot-defining recess 44 a and output opening 46 a have a stepped configuration 43 a as best seen in FIG. 4 . The inner face of panel 28 a includes an inwardly extending circular mount 48 a in surrounding relationship to boss 30 a , together with an arcuate retainer 50 a spaced radially from the mount 48 a . A pair of spaced, inwardly extending, annular abutments 52 a , 54 a are also located adjacent the mount 48 but are spaced therefrom. The inner face of panel 28 a has, at the region of slot-defining recess 44 a , an inwardly extending, continuous arcuate guide wall 56 a interrupted at four locations by radially extending stop openings 84 , 86 , 88 , 90 . The panel 28 a includes an elongated, rectilinear, inwardly extending continuous guide element 62 a . A bifurcated output rod slide guide 64 a presenting a pair of inboard arcuate surfaces 65 a , as well as a terminal guide 66 a is located in substantial alignment with element 62 a . The terminal guide 66 a includes an inboard segment 68 a configured much in the manner of slide guide 64 a having a pair of spaced apart arcuate surfaces 69 a , as well as a radially enlarged end segment 70 a . The segment 70 a terminates with the output opening 46 a . The inner face of panel 28 a also has three relatively large, inwardly extending support bosses 72 a , 74 a , 76 a which are of a height essentially equal to that of the connection wall 42 a. It will be readily apparent from the foregoing description that the case halves 22 , 24 are designed to be interfitted in an abutting relationship so as to cooperatively define the inner region 26 . In this orientation, the stepped margins 43 , 43 a of the connection walls 42 , 42 a are in mating engagement (see FIG. 4 ) and the support bosses 72 , 74 , 76 and 72 a , 74 a , 76 a are in end-to-end abutment. Also, a continuous arcuate slot is defined between the recesses 44 , 44 a , and a circular output opening is cooperatively presented by the openings 46 , 46 a . The inner faces of the respective slide guides 64 and 66 are also in abutment, thereby defining an elongated, circular rod-receiving pathway therebetween. Finally, the guides 62 , 62 a are in opposed but spaced apart relationship, as are the abutments 52 , 52 a and 54 , 54 a . The guide walls 56 , 56 a are likewise in face to face but spaced apart relationship; however, in this case, the stop openings 58 , 60 in the wall 56 are out of alignment with the stop openings 84 - 90 forming a part of the opposed wall 56 a. The lever 14 includes a central section having a tubular boss 94 and a laterally projecting arm 96 having an elongated, axially extending opening 98 formed therein. A pair of opposed terminal slots 100 , 102 and a pair of oppositely extending lugs 103 are formed in the arm 96 as shown. The lever also has a pair of spaced apart, opposed, somewhat sector-shaped elements 104 , 106 extending radially outwardly from boss 94 . The lever 14 is mounted within case 12 with the tubular boss 94 pivotally received between the boss 30 and mount 48 (case half 22 ) and the boss 30 a and mount 48 a (case half 24 ). The arm 96 receives an elongated, tubular metallic control handle 108 (secured therein by means of transverse coupler 108 a ) which extends radially outwardly through the continuous arcuate slot defined by the recesses 44 , 44 a . As best seen in FIG. 4 , the control handle 108 has an outermost grip 109 and telescopically receives an elongated, metallic, axially shiftable plunger rod 110 which carries a transverse pin 112 . Additionally, a stop ring 113 is positioned on the exterior of control handle 108 . A coil spring 114 is housed within control handle 108 and is in abutment between boss 94 and the inner end of plunger rod 110 . The plunger rod 110 is connected to a shiftable button 116 adjacent grip 109 . In this fashion, depression of the button 116 serves to shift the plunger rod 110 inwardly against the bias of spring 114 ; this in turn serves to correspondingly bias the pin 112 which is important for purposes to be made clear. The lever elements 104 , 106 each include a pair of radially outwardly extending side margins 118 , 120 and 122 , 124 . Moreover, each such element has a pair of elongated coupler slots 126 , 128 and 130 , 132 respectively located adjacent a corresponding sidewall margin as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 7 . A torsion spring 134 having multiple circular convolutions and a pair of spaced legs 136 , 138 is located within case half 22 in surrounding relationship to the mount 48 and within retainer 50 , with the legs 136 , 138 on opposite sides of the proximal lug 103 and one of the abutments 52 or 54 . If desired, the spring 134 could be located similarly within the case half 24 , as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 . The output for the device 10 includes a tubular metallic fixture 140 having a groove 142 adjacent its inner end. As shown in FIG. 2 , the fixture 140 is secured within the enlarged end segments 70 , 70 a of the case halves by means of bolt 82 which extends through the bosses 36 , 36 a and is seated within the groove 142 ; in this way, the fixture 140 may rotate, but is held against axial shifting movement. An elongated output rod 15 has a longitudinal axis and is selectively and alternately connectable to the elements 104 , 106 by means of crosspin 144 which extends through an appropriately sized opening in the inner end of rod 15 and through either the aligned opening pairs 126 , 130 or 128 , 132 provided in the lever elements. The bifurcate configuration of elements 104 , 106 enables the control rod 15 to pass between the elements, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 . and to translate along a linear path defined by the longitudinal axis of the rod 15 , thus avoiding a lack of precision due to wear after extended use. The outboard ends of the pin 144 are also received within the opposed guides 62 , 62 a to complete this connection. The pin 144 thus both interconnects the output rod 15 with the lever 14 but also provides a connection between the lever 14 and the case 12 in both the configurations shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and also FIGS. 7 and 8 . The crosspin 144 is not permanently connected to any other component, thus facilitating reconfiguration of the control as desired. The output rod 15 is connected to the cable assembly 20 . In the form shown, the assembly 20 includes a flexible synthetic resin tubular sheath 146 which receives an internal, axially shiftable cable (not shown) connected to the outer end of output rod 15 . It will thus be appreciated that fore and aft axial movement ofthe output rod 15 effects corresponding movement of the cable, while the fixture 140 remains stationary. Of course, the outer end of the cable assembly 20 is connected to a device or system to be controlled, such as a valve unit. In order to prevent entrance of contaminants into the confines of case 12 , an arcuate, apertured slider 148 is mounted on control handle 108 for movement therewith. In particular, the slider 148 has an outwardly extending segment 150 presenting an aperture 152 therethrough. The handle 148 passes through the aperture 152 , and the stop ring 113 is used to maintain the slider in position. As best seen in FIG. 2 , the slider is of a length to completely cover the slot defined between the recesses 44 , 44 a. 
 Operation In its broadest aspects, the control assembly 10 is designed for the selective control of a remote device such as a valve or the like. During such use, the control handle 108 is grasped and, by the procedure described below, manipulated so as to pivot the lever 14 and thereby translate output rod 15 , thereby moving the cable forming a part of the assembly 20 . However, owing to the specific construction of assembly 10 , the user or assembler may configure the component parts of the assembly 10 to alternately locate the control handle 108 in two distinct rest positions, namely a first rest position wherein the handle 108 is generally parallel with the rod 15 ( FIG. 1 ), and a second rest position where the handle 108 is obliquely oriented relative to the output rod 15 ( FIG. 6 ). In addition, the assembly 20 allows a user to configure the assembly 10 so that the control handle is locked or maintained in its first or second rest position, and upon unlocking and shifting thereof, is urged back towards such rest position; alternately, the user may elect to configure the assembly 10 so that the control handle is unlocked in the first or second rest position, and may be shifted in opposite directions from the rest position and there locked in position. Each of these different operating functions may achieved by alternate positioning ofthe same component parts of the assembly 10 . Turning now to FIGS. 1 - 4 , the assembly 10 is illustrated with the output rod 15 and lever 14 in a first rest position wherein the rods are generally parallel; moreover, the assembly 10 is configured so that, in the rest position, the control rod is locked in place. In particular, it will be observed that the pin 112 carried by plunger 110 is located so as to cooperate with guide wall 56 forming a part of case half 22 . Thus, the pin 112 is seated within the stop recess 60 , and is held therein by the action coil spring 114 . In this configuration, the rod 15 is coupled between the lever elements 104 , 106 , particularly with the pin 144 extending through the aligned coupling openings 128 , 132 . Also, the torsion spring 114 is disposed so that the legs 136 , 138 thereof are located on opposite sides of the adjacent lug 103 , and also on opposite sides of the abutment 52 . When it is desired to either advance or retract the output rod 15 and thereby the cable assembly 20 , the user grasps handle 109 and first depresses button 116 . This causes the plunger 110 to be moved radially inwardly against the bias of spring 114 until the pin 112 clears the stop opening 60 , permitting the pin to ride along the outer surface of the wall 56 . The user next then pivots the control handle 108 within the case slot and in a desired pivotal direction from the stop opening 60 , thereby moving the lever elements 104 , 106 . As this occurs, the output rod 15 is moved axially owing to the interconnection between the rod 15 and these lever elements. Simultaneously, the spring legs 136 , 138 are separated because of the action of lug 103 there against as the handle 108 is pivoted. It will thus be appreciated that as the handle 108 is moved in either direction from its rest position corresponding to stop opening 60 , the torsion spring 134 exerts an increasing return force tending to urge the control handle 108 back to the rest position. Movement of the control handle 108 from the first rest position is depicted in FIG. 3 . Specifically, movement of the control handle 108 in one direction is shown in full lines, whereas movement in the opposite direction is depicted in phantom. In both cases, as the control handle 108 is so moved, the legs of the torsion spring 134 are separated to generate the described return force. If it is desired to employ the assembly 10 in its second rest position as shown in FIG. 6 , it is only necessary to partially disassemble the apparatus and move the control handle 108 to a rest position corresponding to stop opening 58 . In this orientation, the legs 136 , 138 of the spring 134 are disposed on opposite sides of the lug 103 and abutment 54 . Moreover, the output rod 15 is connected between the lever elements 104 , 106 , using the opposed coupler opening pairs 126 , 130 . The operation of assembly 10 in this second rest position corresponding to stop opening 58 is identical with that described previously. As indicated above, it is also possible to configure the assembly 10 so that, at the first and second rest positions, the control handle 108 is not locked, but rather is locked only at end positions on opposite sides of the rest positions. In order to employ the assembly 10 in this manner, use is made of the guide wall 56 a forming a part of case half 24 , rather than guide wall 56 of case half 22 . Attention is directed to FIG. 7 which illustrates the apparatus of assembly 10 in this mode of use, particularly where the control handle 108 is in its second rest position oblique to the output rod 15 . Thus, in this style of use, the pin 112 is shifted to a position opposite to that shown in FIG. 4 , so as to engage the wall 56 a . As shown in FIG. 7 , in the second rest position the pin 112 rides against the inner surface of the wall 56 a and is not locked or restrained in this rest position. It is therefore unnecessary to first depress the button 116 to operate the control handle 108 . Rather, the user simply grasps the handle 108 and moves it in the desired direction. However, at either end of the movement stroke stop openings are provided so that the handle 108 is locked at those end positions. For example, in the FIG. 7 orientation the handle 108 can be moved towards stop opening 84 until the pin 112 , under the influence of spring 114 , moves into the stop opening. In like fashion, if the handle 108 is moved in the opposite direction, at the end of its stroke the pin 112 seats within stop opening 86 . The same situation occurs when the handle 108 is moved to its first rest position in alignment with rod 15 . As illustrated, the pin 12 in such rest position is midway between stop openings 88 , 90 . Of course, when the handle 108 is moved to the first rest position, the torsion spring 134 is positioned about abutment 52 a , and the rod 15 is connected via coupling openings 126 , 130 . In the FIG. 7 configuration (or when the control handle is moved to its first rest position), the user must depress button 116 in order to move the control handle from its extreme end positions defined by the stop openings 84 , 86 or 88 , 90 , respectively.