Patent Publication Number: US-2023160496-A1

Title: Lockout tagout device and valve

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to lockout tagout devices, and more particularly to a lockout tagout device for a valve. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Lockout tagout devices are used in a variety of applications to lockout access a component of a machine for example during maintenance to prevent release of hazardous energy sources, whether chemical, hydraulic, pneumatic or thermal. Following lockout, a warning tag may be used to indicate that the energy isolating component and the machine being controlled may not be operated until the tag is removed and the component unlocked. One such application may be a semiconductor manufacturing machine in which the component may be a valve that controls the flow of a gas or liquid to, from, or in the machine. During maintenance, the valve may be closed and the lines disconnected or purged to remove hazardous energy contents. 
     Some existing lockout tagout devices have various shortcomings, drawbacks, and disadvantages relative to certain applications. For example, for valve applications the valve may require additional hardware to facilitate a lockout tagout. In some applications, the valve may be locked out only in an open position. Accordingly, there remains a need for further contributions in this area of technology. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a lockout tagout device that is incorporated into the structure of a valve assembly and enables the valve assembly to be locked out in a closed position. According to one aspect of the invention, a valve assembly includes a valve housing; and a handle that is movable about an actuation axis to actuate a valve actuator within the valve housing between an open position and a closed position. The handle has a first opening and the valve housing has a second opening. When the valve actuator is in the closed position the first opening aligns with the second opening to enable receipt of a lockout member that prevents movement of the valve actuator from the closed position to the open position. 
     Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following additional features separately or in combination. 
     When the valve actuator is in the open position the first opening may be out of alignment with the second opening. 
     The first and second openings may extend transverse to the actuation axis. 
     The first and second openings may be oriented perpendicular to the actuation axis. 
     The first and second openings may be oriented at a non-zero angle relative to a horizontal plane perpendicular to the actuation axis. 
     The non-zero angle may be about 2.5 to 3 degrees. 
     The valve actuator may be a multi-turn actuator. 
     The valve assembly may further include an indicator stem configured for slidable movement relative to the handle in response to movement of the handle. The indicator stem may have a third opening. When the valve actuator is in the closed position the first opening may align with the third opening to enable receipt of the lockout member to prevent movement of the valve actuator from the closed position to the open position. 
     When the valve actuator is in the open position the first opening may be out of alignment with the third opening. 
     When the valve actuator is in the open position the first and second openings may be out of alignment with the third opening. 
     When the valve actuator is in the open position the first opening may be out of alignment with the second opening. 
     The indicator stem may have a cam that slides through a vertically extending opening in a wall of the handle as the handle moves to actuate the valve actuator between the closed position and the open position. 
     The handle may have a pair of first openings at opposite sides of the handle and the valve housing may have a pair of second openings at opposite sides of the valve housing. When the valve actuator is in the closed position the pair of first openings, the pair of second openings, and the third opening may be aligned to enable receipt of the lockout member. 
     The first opening may angularly align with the second opening about the actuation axis when the valve actuator is in the closed position. 
     The position of the first opening when the valve actuator is in the open position may be 90 degrees away from the position of the first opening when the valve actuator is in the closed position. 
     The first opening may axially align with the second opening along the actuation axis when the valve actuator is in the closed position. 
     When the valve actuator is in the open position the first opening may be axially above the second opening along the actuation axis. 
     The valve actuator may be a quarter turn actuator. 
     As another feature, the valve assembly can be locked out only when the valve actuator is in the closed position. 
     The foregoing and other features of the invention are hereinafter described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an exemplary valve assembly in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a right side end view of the  FIG.  1    valve assembly. 
         FIG.  3    is a cross sectional view of the  FIG.  1    valve assembly as viewed from the line  3 - 3  in  FIG.  2   , showing the valve assembly in an open position. 
         FIG.  4    is a cross sectional view of the  FIG.  1    valve assembly as viewed from the line  3 - 3  in  FIG.  2   , but with the valve assembly in a closed position. 
         FIG.  5    is a front elevational view of another exemplary valve assembly in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG.  6    is a right side end view of the  FIG.  5    valve assembly. 
         FIG.  7    is a cross sectional view of the  FIG.  5    valve assembly as viewed from the line  7 - 7  in  FIG.  6   , showing the valve assembly in an open position. 
         FIG.  8    is a cross sectional view of the  FIG.  5    valve assembly as viewed from the line  7 - 7  in  FIG.  6   , but with the valve assembly in a closed position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the present invention can take many different forms, for the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein, are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
       FIGS.  1 - 4    show an exemplary valve assembly  10  and lockout tagout device  12  in accordance with one aspect of the invention. The illustrated valve assembly  10  includes a diaphragm type valve suitable for high purity gas/fluid systems such as may be required in semiconductor manufacturing applications. As will be appreciated, the valve assembly  10  and lockout tagout device  12  are not limited to the particular configuration shown in  FIGS.  1 - 4   , and other embodiments are contemplated. For example, the lockout tagout device  12  may be used in conjunction with other types of valve assemblies, as well as in conjunction with components other than valves. Further, although the illustrated valve assembly  10  is actuated manually, it will be appreciated that the valve assembly  10  may be controlled by other or additional types of actuation, including for example electric, pneumatic and/or hydraulic. 
     The valve assembly  10  includes a valve housing  18  that has an inlet port tube  20  and an outlet port tube  22  along a generally longitudinal axis X and a central body  26  along a generally vertical axis Y. The central body  26  includes a valve chamber  30  in which a valve actuator  34  is supported for movement between closed and open positions to respectively close and open the valve assembly  10  as shown in  FIGS.  3  and  4   . A handle  40  is coupled to the valve actuator  34  to move the valve actuator  34  between the closed and open positions. An indicator stem  38 , in turn, is configured for slidable movement relative to the handle  40  in response to movement of the handle  40 . The valve housing  18 , the handle  40 , and the indicator stem  38  have respective openings  44 ,  46 ,  48  that can be moved into and out of alignment by rotation of the handle  40 . As will be described in greater detail below, turning the handle  40  to move the valve actuator  34  to a closed position has the effect of moving the openings  44 ,  46 ,  48  into alignment. In such closed state, as shown in  FIG.  3   , a lockout member such as a lock  50  can be inserted through the openings  44 ,  46 ,  48  (and tagged if desired) to prevent unexpected or unauthorized access to the valve assembly  10 , for example during maintenance thereof. On the other hand, turning the handle  40  to move the valve actuator  34  to any variety of open positions has the effect of moving the openings  44 ,  46 ,  48  out of alignment. In such open states, as shown for example in  FIG.  4   , the valve assembly  10  cannot be locked out. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS.  1 - 4   , the valve assembly  10  can be locked out tagged out in the closed positon, and the lockout tagout feature is incorporated into the valve assembly  10  itself. 
     Referring now in greater detail to  FIGS.  3  and  4   , the valve housing  18  includes a base plate  60  and a valve body  64  mounted thereon. The valve body  64  includes the inlet and outlet port tubes  20 ,  22 , shown respectively in the right and left in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , and an intermediate passage  66  forming a bottom portion of the valve chamber  30 . The central body  26  of the valve housing  18  includes a lower housing  70  and an upper housing  72 , which together define an upper portion of the valve chamber  30 . As will be appreciated, the intermediate passage  66  enables fluid communication between the inlet and outlet port tubes  20 ,  22 . As will further be appreciated, either port tube  20  or  22  can function as an inlet or outlet port tube. The valve housing  18  can be made of any suitable material including polytetrafluoroethylene, stainless steel, or a hard thermoplastic such as ETFE or PVDF. 
     The valve actuator  34 , mounted within the chamber  30 , includes a diaphragm  80  that separates the upper and lower portions of the valve chamber  30 . The diaphragm  80  is supported at its edge by the lower housing  70  above and the valve body  64  below. The diaphragm  80  includes a centrally located plug  82  and is made of a suitable material such as PTFE, PFA, variations thereof, and/or other materials, to enable flexible vertical movement of the plug  82  along the Y axis. The plug  82  is adapted for sealing against a valve seat  88  of the valve body  64 . The plug  82  is moveable between the closed position ( FIG.  3   ) and the open position ( FIG.  4   ) whereat fluid can flow from the inlet port tube  20 , through the intermediate passage  66 , and to the outlet port tube  22 . 
     The valve actuator  34  includes a piston  90  and a piston driver  92 . The piston  90  is mounted for slidable movement along the Y axis within a bore  96  of the lower housing  70 . At its lower end, the piston  90  is fixedly connected to the diaphragm  80  so that upward and downward movement of the piston  90  causes upward and downward flexure in the diaphragm  80  and corresponding sealing and unsealing of the plug  82  relative to the valve seat  84 . At its upper end, the piston  90  has a driven thread  100  that threadingly mates with a driver thread  102  of the piston driver  92 . The piston driver  92  is supported for rotational movement by internal surfaces  110 ,  112 ,  114  in the lower and upper housings  70 ,  72 . The handle  40 , in turn, is coupled to the upper end of the piston driver  92 , for example via a spline connection at  118 , so that rotation of the handle  40  causes rotation of the piston driver  92 . Owing to the threaded coupling between the driven and driving threads  100 ,  102  of the respective piston  90  and piston driver  92 , clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the handle  40  serves to drive the piston  90  respectively downward and upward, which, in turn, urges the diaphragm  80  and plug  82  to respectively close and open the valve assembly  10 . 
     The indicator stem  38  has a lower portion that sits within a cavity  126  in the top of the piston  90  and is in slidable abutting contact with a bottom surface  128  of the cavity  126 . The indicator stem  38  extends through an opening  130  in an upper wall  134  of the piston driver  92 . The opening  130  provides sufficient clearance for the indicator stem  38  to rotate within the opening  130  and move axially through the opening  130  relative to the upper wall  134  of the piston driver  92 . A biasing spring  140  is disposed between an upper wall  146  of the handle  40  and an upper ledge  148  of the indicator stem  38  to bias the indicator stem  38  downward toward the bottom surface  128  of the cavity  126 . At its upper end, the indicator stem  38  includes a tab  152  having an oblong rectangular shape that twists slightly to form a spiral cam surface  154  from its lower portion  156  near the ledge  148  to its upper distal end  158 . The upper wall  146  of the handle  40  has a correspondingly shaped opening  160  that enables sliding and rotating, or twisting, of the cam  154  of the tab  152  therethrough. As will be appreciated, as the handle  40  and accordingly the piston driver  92  are rotated to move the piston  90  axially upward along the Y axis, for example from the closed position in  FIG.  3    to the open position in  FIG.  4   , the piston  90 , as it overcomes the bias in the spring  140 , urges the indicator stem  38  upwardly through the opening  130  in the piston driver  92 . As the indicator stem  38  is urged upwardly, the cam  154  of the tab  152  slides along the inside surface of the opening  160  in the upper wall  146  of the handle  40 , which has the effect of rotating the tab  152  and therefore the indicator stem  38  as the tab  152  slides through the opening  160 . As shown in  FIG.  4   , in the open position, the tab  152  of the indicator stem  38  projects above the upper wall  146  of the handle  40 , thus serving to indicate that the valve assembly  10  is open. 
     As best seen in  FIG.  4   , the indicator stem  38  further includes the opening  48 . The opening  48  extends transverse to the axis of vertical movement of the indicator stem  38 , that is transverse to the Y axis in the illustrated embodiment. As best seen in  FIG.  3   , the opening  48  may be at a slight angle A relative to a horizontal plane P that is parallel to the longitudinal axis X. In the illustrated embodiment, the angle A is about 2.5 to 3 degrees. 
     The valve housing  18  and handle  40  likewise include openings  44 ,  46  that extend transverse to the Y axis. The openings  44 ,  46  in the illustrated embodiment are likewise oriented at an angle A of about 2.5 to 3 degrees relative to the horizontal plane P. The openings  44  in the valve housing  18  are disposed at opposite sides of the valve assembly  10  in the upper portion  72  of the valve housing  18 . In the illustrated embodiment, the openings  44  are disposed at the left and right sides of the housing as viewed in  FIGS.  3  and  4   ; in other words, 180 degrees apart when viewed looking down the Y axis, or respectively above the inlet and outlet port tubes  20 ,  22  of the valve assembly  10 . The openings  46  in the handle  40  are disposed at opposite sides of the handle  40 . In the illustrated embodiment, the openings  46  are positioned 180 degrees apart from a view down the Y axis. Rotation of the handle  40  causes the openings  46  in the handle  40  to move into and out of alignment, both angularly about the Y axis and axially along the Y axis, with the openings  44  in the valve housing  18 , and into and out of angular and axial alignment with the opening  48  in the indicator stem  38 . The openings  44 ,  46 ,  48  are suitably sized to receive a lockout member  50 , for example the shackle of a lock. 
       FIGS.  3  and  4    show the valve assembly  10  in respective closed and open positions. As shown in  FIG.  3   , turning the handle  40  to close the valve assembly  10  positions the openings  46  in the handle  44  into angular and axial alignment with the openings  44  in the valve housing  18 , and into angular and axial alignment with the opening  48  in the indicator stem  38 . In  FIG.  3   , the openings  44 ,  46 ,  48  align along an alignment axis L. As will be appreciated, the alignment axis L corresponds to the angle A at which the openings  44 ,  46 ,  48  are disposed in the respective housing  18 , handle  40 , and indicator stem  38 , which in the illustrated embodiment is about 2.5 to 3 degrees relative to the horizontal plane P. With the openings  44 ,  46 ,  48  so aligned, a lockout member such as the lock  50  can be inserted through the openings  44 ,  46 ,  48 . As will be appreciated, the shackle of the lock  50  prevents rotational movement of the handle  40  and thus locks the valve assembly  10  in the closed positioned. The lockout member  50  can prevent unexpected or unauthorized access to the valve assembly  10 , for example during maintenance thereof. The lockout member  50  can be tagged for appropriate identification of a lockout procedure or the like. 
     The valve assembly  10  can be opened by removing the lockout member  50  and turning the handle  40 . Turning the handle  40  for example to the position shown in  FIG.  4    urges the piston  90  and indicator stem  38  upward along the Y axis. It is noted that in the  FIG.  4    open position, which is a 360 degrees turn of the handle  40  from the closed position, the openings  46  in the handle  40  are in angular and axial alignment with the openings  44  in the valve housing  18 . However, as the indicator stem  38  is urged upward, the tab  152  of the indicator stem  38  slides through the opening  160  in the upper wall  146  of the handle  40  and, owing to the tab&#39;s spiral cam surface  154 , rotates the indicator stem  38 . As such, the opening  48  in the indicator stem  38  rises above and thus out of axial alignment with the openings  46  in the handle  40  and the openings  44  in the valve housing  18 . As will be appreciated, turning the handle  40  to any open position for example as shown in  FIG.  4    has the effect of moving the opening  48  in the indicator stem  38  out of axial alignment along the Y axis with the openings  46  in the handle  40  and the openings  44  in the valve housing  18 . As the openings  44 ,  46 ,  48  are out of alignment, the valve assembly  10  cannot be locked for example by the lockout member  50 . Attempts to insert a lockout member  50  will be obstructed by for example the outer wall of the handle  40  or the body of the indicator stem  38 . The tab  152 , projecting upward relative to the upper wall  146  of the handle  40 , serves as an indicator that the valve assembly  10  is open and unable to be locked. 
     The handle  40  can be turned to other open positions as well, for example, to 90 degrees or 180 degrees from the closed position. At 90 degrees, the outer wall of the handle  40  angularly between the openings  46  of the handle  40  blocks the openings  44  in the valve housing  18  and thus prevents insertion of a lockout member  50 . At 180 degrees, the openings  46  in the handle  40  switch sides such that instead of the openings  46  declining from left to right in  FIG.  3    (where the openings  46  are in alignment with the openings  44 ,  48  to permit lockout) the openings  46  incline from left to right. As such, the center of the left side opening  46  in the handle  40  falls below and thus out of axial alignment with the center of the left side opening  44  in the valve housing  18 , and the center of the right side opening  46  in the handle  40  rises above and thus out of axial alignment with the center of the right side opening  44  in the valve housing  18 , thus causing the openings  46  in the handle  40  to be out of axial alignment along the Y axis with the openings  44  in the valve housing  18 , and preventing insertion of a lockout member  50 . 
     The valve assembly  10  of  FIGS.  1 - 4    may be a multi-turn actuation type valve assembly. For such a valve assembly, the handle  40  can be turned greater than 360 degrees between the closed position and any number of open positions. It will be appreciated that for such a multi-turn actuation type valve the openings  46  in the handle  40  will angularly and axially align with the openings  44  in the valve housing  18  every 360 degrees, or full, turn of the handle  40  from the closed position. As noted above, however, when the valve assembly  10  is opened to such a 360 degrees position, although the openings  46  in the handle  40  align with the openings  44  in the valve housing  18 , the opening  48  in the indicator stem  38  does not. The indicator stem  38 , rather, is in a raised position for example as shown in  FIG.  4   , with its opening  48  axially above and thus out of axial alignment with the openings  46  in the handle  40  and the openings  44  in the valve housing  18 . As such, attempts to insert a locking member  50 , although capable of passing through the aligned openings  44 ,  46  in the handle  40  and valve housing  18 , will nonetheless be obstructed by the body of the indicator stem  38 . Thus, the valve assembly  10  of  FIGS.  1 - 4    having such an indicator stem  38  can only be locked out when the valve assembly  10  is in the closed position; in the open position, the indicator stem  38  will not permit locking, and misalignment in the openings  46  in the handle  40  relative to the openings  44  in the valve housing  18  will also not permit locking. 
     It will be appreciated that the valve assembly  10  need not be limited to the configuration shown in  FIGS.  1 - 4   , and other embodiments are contemplated. For example, the valve assembly  10  may be a partial turn actuation type valve in which the handle  40  and the valve actuator  34  are only partially rotatable, that is less than 360 degrees, in moving the valve assembly from a closed position to a fully open position. For such a partial turn actuation type valve, in the closed position, the openings  44 ,  46 ,  48  align along the alignment axis L to permit lockout. In an open position, however, that is with the handle  40  turned to for example 90 degrees or 180 degrees, the openings  46  in the handle  40  move out of angular and axial alignment with the openings  44  in the valve housing  18  and the opening  48  in the indicator stem  38 , thus preventing lockout. It will be appreciated that for such a partial turn actuation type valve, the indicator stem  38  can be omitted, since the handle  40  alone can enable lockout in the closed position and prevent lockout in the open positions. Thus, where the valve assembly  10  is structured as a partial turn actuation type valve, here too the valve assembly  10  can only be locked out in the closed position; in the open position, misalignment in the openings  46  in the handle  40  relative to the openings  44  in the valve housing  18  will not permit locking. The indicator stem  38 , if provided in such a partial actuation type valve, will also not permit locking in the open position. 
     The valve assembly  10  of  FIGS.  1 - 4    has its openings  44 ,  46 ,  48  each disposed at an angle A of 2.5 to 3 degrees relative to the horizontal plane P. It will be appreciated that the valve assembly  10  need not be limited as such. In an embodiment, the openings  44 ,  46 ,  48  may be oriented at an angle of zero degrees relative to the horizontal plane P, that is perpendicular to the Y axis. For such a valve, the openings  46  in the handle  40  will angularly and axially align with the openings  44  in the valve housing  18  every 180 degrees, or half, turn of the handle  40 . When the valve assembly  10  is closed, the openings  44 ,  46 ,  48  will angularly and axially align with one another, that is horizontally align for an angle A of zero degrees, to permit insertion of a lockout member  50 . When the valve assembly  10  is opened as by turning the handle  40  for example 180 degrees, however, although the openings  46  in the handle  40  align with the openings  44  in the valve housing  18  where the angle A is zero degrees, the opening  48  in the indicator stem  38  does not. As the handle  40  is turned to open the valve, the indicator stem  38  and its opening  48  rise above and thus out of axial alignment with the openings  46  in the handle  40  and the openings  44  in the valve housing  18 . As such, attempts to insert a locking member  50 , although capable of passing through the aligned openings  44 ,  46  in the handle  40  and valve housing  18 , will nonetheless be obstructed by the body of the indicator stem  38 . Thus, where the valve assembly  10  is structured such that the angle A is zero, here too the valve assembly  10  can only be locked out in the closed position; in the open position, the indicator stem  38  will not permit locking. Misalignment in the openings  46  in the handle  40  relative to the openings  44  in the valve housing  18  will also not permit locking. 
     Turning now to  FIGS.  5 - 8   , another exemplary embodiment of a valve assembly  210  is illustrated. The valve assembly  210  of  FIGS.  5 - 8    is in many respects similar to the above-referenced valve assembly  10  of  FIGS.  1 - 4   , and consequently the same reference numerals but indexed by 200 are used to denote structures corresponding to similar structures in the valve assembly  10 . In addition, the foregoing description of the valve assembly  10  of  FIGS.  1 - 4    is equally applicable to the valve assembly  210  of  FIGS.  5 - 8    except as noted below. Moreover, it will be appreciated upon reading and understanding the specification that aspects of the valve assemblies  10 ,  210  may be substituted for one another or used in conjunction with one another where applicable. 
     The valve assembly  210  includes a valve housing  218  that has an inlet port tube  220  and an outlet port tube  222  along a generally longitudinal axis X and a central body  226  along a generally vertical axis Y. The central body  226  includes a valve chamber  230  in which a valve actuator  234  is supported for movement between open and closed positions to respectively open and close the valve assembly  210  as shown in  FIGS.  7  and  8   . A handle  240  is coupled to the valve actuator  234  to move the valve actuator  234  between the open and closed positions. The valve housing  218  and the handle  240  have respective openings  244 ,  246  that can be moved into and out of alignment by rotation of the handle  240 . As will be described in greater detail below, turning the handle  240  to move the valve actuator  234  to a closed position has the effect of moving the openings  244 ,  246  into alignment. In such closed state, as shown in  FIG.  8   , a lockout member such as a lock (as shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   ) can be inserted through the openings  244 ,  246  (and tagged if desired) to prevent unexpected or unauthorized access to the valve assembly  210 , for example during maintenance thereof. On the other hand, turning the handle  240  to move the valve actuator  234  to any variety of open positions has the effect of moving the openings  244 ,  246  out of alignment. In such open states, as shown for example in  FIG.  7   , the valve assembly  210  cannot be locked out. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS.  5 - 8   , the valve assembly  210  can be locked out tagged out in the closed positon, and the lockout tagout feature is incorporated into the valve assembly  210  itself. 
     Referring now in greater detail to  FIGS.  7  and  8   , the valve housing  218  includes a base plate  260  and a valve body  264  mounted thereon. The valve body  264  includes the inlet and outlet port tubes  220 ,  222 , shown respectively in the left and right in  FIGS.  7  and  8   , and an intermediate passage  266  forming a bottom portion of the valve chamber  230 . The central body  226  of the valve housing  218  includes a lower housing  270  and an upper housing  272 , which together define an upper portion of the valve chamber  230 . As will be appreciated, the intermediate passage  266  enables fluid communication between the inlet and outlet port tubes  220 ,  222 . As will further be appreciated, either port tube  220  or  222  can function as an inlet or outlet port tube. The valve housing  218  can be made of any suitable material including polytetrafluoroethylene, stainless steel, or a hard thermoplastic such as ETFE or PVDF. 
     The valve actuator  234 , mounted within the chamber  230 , includes a diaphragm  280  that separates the upper and lower portions of the valve chamber  230 . The diaphragm  280  is supported at its edge by the lower housing  270  above and the valve body  264  below. The diaphragm  280  includes a centrally located plug  282  and is made of a suitable material such as PTFE, PFA, variations thereof, and/or other materials, to enable flexible vertical movement of the plug  282  along the Y axis. The plug  282  is adapted for sealing against a valve seat  288  of the valve body  264 . The plug  282  is moveable between the open position ( FIG.  7   ) and the closed position ( FIG.  8   ) whereat fluid can flow from the inlet port tube  220 , through the intermediate passage  266 , and to the outlet port tube  222 . 
     The valve actuator  234  includes a piston  290  and a piston driver  292 . The piston  290  is mounted for slidable movement along the Y axis within a bore  296  of the lower housing  270 . At its lower end, the piston  290  is fixedly connected to the diaphragm  280  so that upward and downward movement of the piston  290  causes upward and downward flexure in the diaphragm  280  and corresponding sealing and unsealing of the plug  282  relative to the valve seat  284 . At its upper end, the piston  290  abuts the piston driver  292 . The piston driver  292  is mounted for slidable movement along the Y axis within a bore  298  of the upper housing  272 . The handle  240 , in turn, is coupled to the upper end of the piston driver  292 . The handle  240  is axially and rotatably movable within an opening  304  in the upper housing  272 . A biasing spring  340  is disposed between an outer ledge  346  of the piston  290  and an upwardly facing annular surface  348  of the lower housing  270  to bias the piston  290  and the piston driver  292  upward toward the bottom of the handle  240 . The upper housing  272  has an interior ramp or cam med surface  350 . The piston driver  282  has a corresponding exterior ramp or cammed surface  352  that slides angularly upward and downward against the interior cam med surface  350  as the handle  292  and piston driver  292  are rotated. As will be appreciated, owing to the sliding surface contact between the cammed surface  352  of the piston driver  292  and the cam med surface  350  of the upper housing  272 , and the upward bias of the spring  340 , clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the handle  240  serves to drive the piston driver  292  and the piston  290  respectively downward and upward, which, in turn, urges the diaphragm  280  and plug  282  to respectively close and open the valve assembly  210 . The driver piston  292  and upper housing  272  can include cooperating notches or the like that provide a tactile indication and slight resistance to rotation of the handle  292  into and out of the closed position. 
     The valve housing  218  and handle  240  each include an opening  244 ,  246  that extends transverse to the Y axis. The openings  244 ,  246  in the illustrated embodiment are oriented at an angle of zero degrees relative to a horizontal plane that is parallel to the longitudinal axis X. In other words, the openings  244 ,  246  are oriented perpendicular to the Y axis. The openings  244 ,  246  are suitably sized to receive a lockout member  50 , for example the shackle of a lock (as shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3    for example). 
       FIGS.  7  and  8    show the valve assembly  210  in respective open and closed positions. Referring first to  FIG.  8   , turning the handle  240  to close the valve assembly  210  causes the handle  240  to move downward along the Y axis and to rotate about the Y axis, owing to the threaded coupling between the handle  240  and the internal thread  304  of the upper housing  272 . The downward movement of the handle  240  along the Y axis has the effect of axially lowering the opening  246  in the handle  240  to the Y axis height of the opening  244  in the valve housing  218 . The rotational movement of the handle  240  about the Y axis has the effect of moving the opening  246  in the handle  240  into angular alignment with the opening  244  in the valve housing  218 . With the openings  244 ,  246  so aligned, a lockout member such as the lock  50 , can be inserted through the openings  244 ,  246 . As will be appreciated, the shackle of the lock  50  prevents rotational movement of the handle  240  and thus locks the valve assembly  210  in the closed positioned. The lockout member  50  can prevent unexpected or unauthorized access to the valve assembly  210 , for example during maintenance thereof. The lockout member  50  can be tagged for appropriate identification of a lockout procedure or the like. As will be appreciated, for such a quarter turn actuation type valve, the valve assembly  210  can only be locked out in the closed position. 
     The valve assembly  210  can be opened by removing the lockout member  50  and turning the handle  240 . Turning the handle  240  to open the valve assembly  210  causes the handle  240  to move upward along the Y axis and to rotate about the Y axis, again owing to the sliding surface contact between the cammed surface  352  of the piston driver  292  and the cammed surface  350  of the upper housing  272 , and the upward bias of the spring  340 . The upward movement of the handle  240  along the Y axis has the effect of raising the opening  246  in the handle  240  to above the Y axis height of the opening  244  in the valve housing  218 . The rotational movement of the handle  240  about the Y axis has the effect of rotating the opening  246  in the handle  240  out of angular alignment with the opening  244  in the valve housing  218 . As will be appreciated, turning the handle  240  to any open position for example as shown in  FIG.  7    has the effect of moving the opening  246  in the handle  240  out of axial and angular alignment with the opening  244  in the valve housing  218 . As the openings  244 ,  246  are out of alignment, the valve assembly  210  cannot be locked for example by the lockout member  50 . Attempts to insert a lockout member  50  will be obstructed by the outer wall of the handle  240 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS.  5 - 8   , the valve assembly  210  is a quarter turn type valve and the alignment of the openings  244 ,  246  follows such quarter turn scheme. Thus, the handle  240  is rotated a quarter turn, or 90 degrees, counterclockwise about the Y axis to urge the valve actuator  234  from the closed position in  FIG.  8    to the open position in  FIG.  7   , thereby opening the valve assembly  210 . As the handle  240  is rotated a quarter turn counterclockwise, the axis H of the opening  246  in the handle  240  likewise rotates a quarter turn to a position at right angles, that is 90 degrees, relative to the axis V of the opening  244  in the valve housing  218 . Similarly, the handle  240  is rotated a quarter turn, or 90 degrees, clockwise about the Y axis to urge the valve actuator  234  from the open position in  FIG.  7    to the closed position in  FIG.  8   , thereby closing the valve assembly  210 . As the handle  240  is rotated a quarter turn clockwise, the axis H of the opening  246  in the handle  240  likewise rotates a quarter turn to align with the axis V of the opening  244  in the valve housing  218 . 
     Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described elements (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such elements are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any element which performs the specified function of the described element (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment or embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been described above with respect to only one or more of several illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments, as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.