# US 11,906,072 B2 · Lockout tagout device and valve

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- Number: US 11,906,072 B2
- Document ID: US11906072B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/328,970
- Filed: 2023-06-05
- Published: 2023-10-12
- Granted: 2024-02-20
- Earliest claimed: 2022-08-11
- Assignees: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
- Applicants: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
- Inventors: Zachary Spencer Smith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11906072B2

## CPC

- F16K 35/10: with locking caps or locking bars
- F16K 7/16: the diaphragm being mechanically actuated, e.g. by screw-spindle or cam
- F16K 31/508: {the actuating element being rotatable, non-rising, and driving a non-rotatable axially-sliding element}
- F16K 31/52408: {comprising a lift valve}
- F16K 31/52491: {comprising a diaphragm cut-off apparatus}
- F16K 31/60: Handles {(form, features or function of taps or faucet handles for domestic plumbing installations E03C1/04)}
- F16K 35/04: yieldingly resisting the actuation
- F16K 35/06: using a removable actuating or locking member, e.g. a key (F16K35/10, F16K35/12 take precedence)
- F16K 37/0008: {Mechanical means (F16K37/0075 takes precedence)}
- F16K 27/02: of lift valves (for reducing the flow resistance of screw-spindle lift-valves F16K1/06)
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}

## Abstract

A valve assembly including 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A valve assembly, comprising:
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;
wherein the handle has a first opening and the valve housing has a second opening, wherein 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;
an indicator stem configured for slidable movement relative to the handle in response to movement of the handle;
wherein the indicator stem has a third opening, wherein when the valve actuator is in the closed position the first opening aligns 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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein when the valve actuator is in the open position the first opening is out of alignment with the third opening.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein when the valve actuator is in the open position the first and second openings are out of alignment with the third opening.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein when the valve actuator is in the open position the first opening is out of alignment with the second opening.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the indicator stem has 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.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle has a pair of the first openings at opposite sides of the handle and the valve housing has a pair of the second openings at opposite sides of the valve housing, and wherein when the valve actuator is in the closed position the pair of the first openings, the pair of the second openings, and the third opening are aligned to enable receipt of the lockout member.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first opening angularly aligns with the second opening about the actuation axis when the valve actuator is in the closed position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the position of the first opening when the valve actuator is in the open position is 90 degrees away from the position of the first opening when the valve actuator is in the closed position.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first opening axially aligns with the second opening along the actuation axis when the valve actuator is in the closed position.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second openings extend transverse to the actuation axis.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The valve assembly of claim 10, wherein the first and second openings are oriented perpendicular to the actuation axis.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The valve assembly of claim 10, wherein the first and second openings are oriented at a non-zero angle relative to a horizontal plane perpendicular to the actuation axis.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The valve assembly of claim 12, wherein the non-zero angle is about 2.5 to 3 degrees.