Spring return valve handle

A valve assembly comprising:

• a valve body defining an interior cavity extending to a bonnet portion;
• a valve stem including a valve element retained in the interior cavity of the valve body and an end portion extending beyond the bonnet portion, the valve stem being rotatable between a first limit position and a second limit position;
• and
• a spring return handle arrangement including:
• a user graspable valve handle;
• a stem adapter having a first end portion secured to the valve stem and a second end portion secured to the valve handle;
• and
• a return spring having a first end portion secured to the valve body, an intermediate spring loaded portion, and a second end portion secured to the stem adapter to apply a torsional load to the stem adapter for returning the valve stem to the first rotational limit position, wherein the second end portion of the return spring comprises a second end collar secured to an outer surface of the stem adapter.

A method of installing a spring return handle arrangement on a valve having a valve stem extending from a bonnet portion of a valve body, the method comprising:

• securing a first end portion of a stem adapter to the end portion of the valve stem having first and second rotational limit positions, wherein a second end portion of the stem adapter is secured with a user graspable valve handle;
• securing a first end portion of a return spring to the valve body;
• and
• securing a second end portion of the return spring to the stem adapter, such that an intermediate spring loaded portion of the return spring applies a torsional load to the stem adapter for returning the valve stem to the first rotational limit position.