Abstract:
A locking Y-valve has branches that can be independently locked open or locked closed. Each branch has a ball valve connected to a rotating valve column. The valve column extends through a lock plate and attaches to a housing that contains a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism has a retractable lock pin that cooperates with two recesses in the lock plate to keep the housing, valve column, and ball valve locked in place. The locking mechanism is attached to a rotatable handle outside the housing. Rotating the handle retracts the lock pin from a recess so that the handle can be moved. Releasing the handle extends the lock pin into a recess, securing the handle in place. One or more of the lock plate and housing may be integral with the Y-valve. In the preferred embodiment, the lock plate is configured to be retrofit onto existing Y-valves, so that a non-lockable Y-valve may be converted into a lockable Y-valve.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a non-provisional application and claims the benefit of copending U.S. Provisional Pat. App. Ser. No. 61/253,427, filed Oct. 20, 2009. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to fluid valves. This invention relates particularly to a mechanism for enabling the branches of a Y-valve to be locked on or off. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    To extinguish a fire, firefighters spray water from a water source through a hose. The water sources are often fire trucks, known as pumpers, which pressurize water flowing from a fire hydrant so that the water has enough force to travel to the end of the hose and be sprayed on the fire. The hoses have couplings on each end that enable the hoses to be joined to other hoses, valves, or the water source. For example, if a hose is too short to reach a fire, hose extensions can be attached to each other with mated couplings. It is common to extend the length of a hose from a pumper by running a single larger diameter hose from the pumper towards the fire, mate the end of the hose to a Y-valve, and attach smaller diameter hose extensions to each branch of the Y-valve. 
         [0004]    The discharge from each branch of the Y-valve is controlled independently, which affords firefighters the ability to control when and where the water is spraying. This is particularly important when the free end of the hose is being carried to the fire, because the pressure of the water being discharged is so great that if discharge happens unexpectedly, a firefighter can be knocked off balance or spray huge volumes of water where it isn&#39;t needed, thereby causing water damage unnecessarily. 
         [0005]    Y-valves for such use are usually ball valves that are gated with handles that rotate around an axis perpendicular to the branch. The handles rotate freely from a closed position to an open position. Unfortunately, handles on known Y-valves do not lock in place, so as the hose is being carried to the desired location for fighting the fire, the valve handles can be knocked on the ground, doorways, or other objects that cause them to open unexpectedly. Conversely, bumping the valve handles around can also cause them to close unexpectedly. The sudden lack of water may allow the fire to engulf the firefighter or the structure. It would be advantageous to be able to keep the valves in their desired open or closed positions until turned on or off by a firefighter. 
         [0006]    Of course, firefighters wear fire-resistant equipment when fighting a fire, including heavy gloves. These gloves make it difficult to make small, precise movements with one&#39;s fingers, however it is often necessary to turn the valves off and on quickly. Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a locking Y-valve that can be opened or closed easily while wearing firefighting equipment. And, such a locking valve system must be designed to withstand adrenaline-charged, strong hands and arms turning it on and off. 
         [0007]    The design of existing Y-valves, particularly for firefighting, is reliable save for the lack of locking branches. Specifically, Y-valves are typically cast in heavy duty steel, and are sized and threaded according to accepted standards. Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a mechanism that can be attached to the existing accepted Y-valve to convert it into a locking Y-valve with the above-described advantages. 
         [0008]    Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a locking Y-valve. It is a further object of this invention to provide a locking Y-valve in which each branch can be independently locked opened or closed. It is another object to provide a locking Y-valve that can be unlocked and opened or closed easily with one hand, yet can be relied upon to remain in a locked open or closed position even in rough handling or inadvertent contact. It is another object to provide an assembly that can be retrofit onto existing Y-valves to convert them into locking Y-valves. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    A locking Y-valve has two branches that can be independently locked open or locked closed. The liquid flow through each branch is controlled by a ball valve connected to a rotating valve column. The valve column extends through a lock plate and attaches to a housing that contains a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism has a retractable lock pin that cooperates with two recesses in the lock plate to keep the housing, valve column, and ball valve locked in place. The locking mechanism is attached to a rotatable handle outside the housing. The handle rotates under tension, retracting the lock pin from the first recess so that the handle can be moved. As the handle is released, the lock pin extends into the second recess, securing the handle in place. In the preferred embodiment, the handle is spring-loaded so that it automatically returns to a pin-down, locked position. Further in the preferred embodiment, the handle can be rotated either way to raise and lower the pin. One or more of the lock plate and housing may be integral with the Y-valve. In the preferred embodiment, the lock plate is configured to be retrofit onto existing Y-valves, so that a non-lockable Y-valve may be converted into a lockable Y-valve. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front top perspective view of the locking Y-valve of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a front bottom perspective view of the locking Y-valve of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a top right perspective view of the locking handle assembly and lock plate, showing the housing open. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a bottom right perspective view of the locking handle assembly and lock plate, showing the housing open. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front right perspective view of the assembled locking handle assembly and lock plate. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a bottom right perspective view of the assembled locking handle assembly and lock plate. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an exploded top perspective view of the preferred locking mechanism. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is an exploded bottom perspective view of the preferred locking mechanism. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is top right perspective view of the locking mechanism seated in the lower portion of the housing. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a bottom perspective view of the lock pin engaged in a recess of the lock plate. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a Y-valve body  5  has two branches. The water flowing through the valve body is controlled by two ball valves (not shown), one inside each branch, as known in the art. Each ball valve is attached to a valve column  6  that rotates around its axis to open and close the ball valve. The locking handle assembly  10  of the present invention is attached to the valve column  6 . The assembly  10  has a handle  11  that rotates around its own axis and around the axis of the valve column  6 . When the assembly  10  is installed on the Y-valve, rotating the handle  11  about the valve column&#39;s  6  axis manipulates the ball valve. In the ball valve&#39;s closed position, the handle  11  is perpendicular to its branch of the Y; in the valve&#39;s open position, the handle is parallel to its branch of the Y as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0021]      FIGS. 3-6  illustrate the components of the assembly  10 . In addition to the handle  11 , the assembly  10  also has a housing  12  that encases substantially all of a locking mechanism  13 . The housing  12  is preferably machined aluminum, but may be another heavy-duty material such as steel or brass. The housing comprises an upper portion  14  and a lower portion  15  that fit together and are adhesively or non-adhesively attached to each other to enclose the locking mechanism  13 . Preferably, the upper portion  14  and lower portion  15  are attached to each other by hex screws (not shown). An axle aperture  26  may be formed into one or both of the upper and lower portions  14 ,  15  at the proximal end to allow the axle  32  of the locking mechanism  13  to pass into the handle  11  as described below. Preferably, a portion of the axle aperture  26  is formed into each portion  14 ,  15  at the proximal end, so that the axle aperture  26  is completed when the two portions  14 ,  15  of the housing  12  are attached to each other. One or more mounting washers  31  are preferably disposed in the axle aperture  26  to create a smooth aperture after the portions  14 ,  15  are joined. 
         [0022]    A column aperture  16  is disposed through the bottom of the lower portion  15  for receiving the valve column  6 . To attach the assembly  10  to the valve column  6 , an attachment device, such as a pin, may be inserted through the wall of the lower portion  15  and into the valve column  6 . A pin aperture  17  is also disposed through the bottom of the lower portion  15  to receive the lock pin  41  described below. The lower portion  15  further may have a tab  18  that extends from the bottom surface  19  of the lower portion  15  and cooperates with the tab channel  24  to limit the range of rotation of the assembly  10  as described below. The lower portion  15  further may have a biasing post  20  that extends into the interior of the lower portion  15  from the distal end of the lower portion  15 . The biasing post  20  is preferably cylindrical, substantially parallel to the main axis of the locking mechanism  13 , and of a suitable length to cooperate with the locking mechanism  13  as described below. Preferably, the biasing post  20  is integral with the wall of the lower portion  15 , but alternatively the biasing post  20  may be permanently or removably attached to the wall. 
         [0023]    The bottom surface  19  of the lower portion  15  of the housing  12  abuts the top surface  23  of a lock plate  21 . The lock plate  21  is circular, encircling and being substantially coaxial with the valve column  6 . At least two recesses  22  are formed into the top surface  23  at the outer edge of the lock plate  21 . The number of recesses  22  corresponds to the number of locked positions desired for the ball valve. Preferably there are two recesses  22  corresponding to two ball valve positions—fully open and fully closed. Alternatively, there may be recesses  22  for lock positions between fully open and fully closed, in order to more closely regulate the liquid flow through the ball valve. The shape and depth of the recesses  22  correspond to the shape and length of the lock pin  41 , which extends into one of the recesses  22  when the assembly  10  is locked in place. The lock plate  21  further may have a tab channel  24  formed into the top surface  23  to receive the tab  18 . The tab channel  24  is at least as deep as the tab  18  is long. The tab channel  24  is substantially arcuate about a point on the axis of the lock plate  21 , such that the tab  18  may move through the tab channel  24  when the assembly  10  is rotated about the lock plate&#39;s  21  axis. The arc length of the tab channel  24  determines the range of rotation of the assembly  10 , as the tab  18  arrests the rotation of the assembly  10  when it contacts either end of the tab channel  24 . Preferably, the tab channel  24  allows 90 degrees of rotation of the assembly  10  about the lock plate&#39;s  21  axis, corresponding to the ball valve&#39;s fully open and fully closed positions. Likewise, the preferred recesses  22  are spaced 90 degrees apart. 
         [0024]    In embodiments where the assembly  10  is an integrated component of the Y-valve, the lock plate  21  may be integral with the valve body  5 . In the preferred embodiment, where the assembly  10  is configured to be retrofit onto an existing Y-valve, the lock plate  21  is a separate, washer-shaped component that slides over the valve column  6  and is disposed between the valve body  5  and the assembly  10 . In this embodiment, the assembly  10  replaces the original non-locking handles on the Y-valve. The lock plate  21  may have a projection  25  that extends outward from the bottom surface  26  of the lock plate  21 . The projection  25  serves to anchor the lock plate  21  to the valve body  5  so that it does not rotate as the assembly  10  is rotated. Preferably, the projection  25  is shaped to substantially fill a guide channel  7  in the valve body  5 , the guide channel  7  having previously served to limit the rotation of the original handles in a manner similar to that of the tab channel  24 . See  FIGS. 1 and 2 . When the lock plate  21  is in place, the projection  25  prevents motion of the lock plate  21  by abutting the sides of the guide channel  7 . 
         [0025]    The handle  11  extends proximally from the proximal end of the housing  12 . To make it easy to lock the valve open and closed in emergency situations, particularly for firefighting, the handle  11  must be of a shape that is easy to grasp with a hand covered in a heavy glove. The handle  11  is preferably 3.5 to 4.5 inches long and between 1 and 2 inches in diameter. Preferably the handle  11  is made of aluminum or steel, and is knurled or has a cross-section with corners. The figures herein show a handle  11  with a hexagonal cross section, but square, octagon, or other shape may suffice. Rod handles  11  with T-grips on the end suffice as well. A cavity extends partially or fully though the handle  11  from the distal end, receiving the proximal end of the axle  32  of the locking mechanism  13 . The handle  11  is attached to the axle  32 , preferably by a long screw (not shown), so that when the handle  11  is rotated about its axis, which is coaxial with the axis of the axle  32 , the axle  32  rotates as well. This rotation retracts and extends the lock pin  41  as described below. 
         [0026]    Various locking mechanisms  13  can be used to effect the locking and unlocking of the assembly  10 . In general, the lock pin  41  may be retracted and extended using a trigger, button, lever, or other locking mechanism, but the preferred locking mechanism  13  is illustrated in  FIGS. 7-9 , in which the handle  11  is attached to and coaxial with the axle  32 . The axle has an attachment section  33 , a latching section  34 , and a biasing section  35 , each corresponding to parts that fit over the axle  32  to form the locking mechanism  13 . The attachment section  33  passes out of the housing  12  through the axle aperture  26 , into the cavity in the handle  11 . An axle washer  36  may be attached to the axle  32  in the attachment section  33 . The axle washer  36  is attached so that when it contacts the mounting washer  31 , the attachment points of the handle  11  and axle  32  are aligned to allow a screw to pass through. This firmly affixes the axle  32  in place. 
         [0027]    The latching section  34  is substantially cylindrical, but is wider than the attachment section  33  as shown. A latch post  37  extends distally from the distal surface  38  of the latching section  34 . The latch post  37  is offset from the axis of the axle  32 , is substantially parallel to the axis of the axle  32 , and cooperates with the biasing post  20  and the spring  42  to apply tension to the handle  11  as described below. The latching section  34  receives a teardrop-shaped cam  38  having an inner radius substantially equal to the radius of the latching section  34 , so that the cam  38  fits tightly on the latching section  34 . From the elongated part of the cam  38 , a cam post  39  extends proximally, passing through and vertically suspending a pin mount  40  positioned over the pin aperture  17 . The pin mount  40  is free-floating with respect to the cam  38 , such that it retains it orientation as it is raised when the cam  38  is rotated. The pin mount  40  is preferably a rectangular block of aluminum or steel having a length such that it nearly touches the wall of the housing  12  on both sides. The lock pin  41  may be integral with the pin mount  40 , or may be permanently or removably attached to the point mount  40 . The lock pin  41  extends down from the pin mount  40  through the pin aperture  17  and, when the assembly is in a locked position  10 , the lock pin  41  extends into a recess  22  in the lock plate  21 . 
         [0028]    The biasing section  35  of the axle  32  has a smaller radius than the other sections  33 ,  34  and is coaxial with the attachment section  33 . A spring  42  fits over the axle  32  in the biasing section  35 , and is held in place against the distal surface  38  of the latching section  34  by one or more retention washers  43  and a cap  44 . The spring  42  is a small compression spring with partially straightened ends that extend away from the spring  42  to form prongs  45 . The prongs  45  have a length that allows them to contact both the latch post  37  and the biasing post  20  laterally as shown. The cap  44  fits into a recess in each portion  14 ,  15  of the housing  12 , stabilizing the locking mechanism  12  and allowing the axle  32  to rotate about its main axis, with which the attachment section  33 , biasing section  35 , axle washer  36 , cam  38 , spring  42 , and cap  44  are coaxial. 
         [0029]    In the preferred embodiment, the handle  11  can be rotated about its lengthwise axis in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, so that no time is spent trying to figure out which way to turn the handle  11  to raise the lock pin  41 . Further, preferably the handle and latch system are designed to be sturdy enough to survive adrenaline-charged, strong hands and arms turning valves on and off. From a locked position, in which the lock pin  41  is extended into a recess  22  as shown in  FIG. 10 , the handle  11  is rotated about its axis, causing the axle  32  to rotate. Consequently, the cam  38  rotates, pulling the pin mount  40  upward and retracting the lock pin  41 . Simultaneously, the latch post  37  engages a prong  45  of the spring  42  and rotates the prong  45 . This causes the other prong  45  to engage the biasing post  20 . The biasing post  20  arrests the movement of this prong  45 , and the force pulling the prongs  45  apart compresses the spring  42 . The resistance of the two prongs  45  puts the handle  11  rotation under tension. The handle  11  is limited in its rotation by one or more of the maximum compression of the spring  42 , or the contact of the pin mount  40  against the axle  32  as it rises. This prevents over-twisting of the handle  11  so that the lock pin  41  cannot become disengaged from the pin aperture  17 . When the lock pin  41  is sufficiently retracted, the handle  11  is rotated about the axis of the valve column  6  to its next position, again prevented from over-rotation by the cooperating tab  18  and tab channel  24 . At its next position, the handle  11  is released. The decompression of the spring  42  forces the lock pin  41  to extend into the next recess  22 , securely locking the assembly  10  into place. The preferred assembly  10  is resistant to lock disengagement by accidental bumping or rough treatment due to the lock pin  41  and handle  11  remaining under tension by the spring  42 . 
         [0030]    While there has been illustrated and described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that this invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of this disclosure.