Valve control mechanism and method
AssigneeKyphon SARL
InventorBRIAN DONOVAN
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve controller includes a housing, and a lever extending from the housing. The lever includes a protrusion rigidly attached to the lever, and the lever is biased to an initial position. A switch has an open and a closed position. A linkage is pivotally connected to the switch, and the linkage includes a centrally disposed slot configured to receive the protrusion such that movement of the switch controls movement of the linkage and the lever such that moving the switch to the closed position closes a valve controlled by the lever regardless of a position of the lever.
Claims20
A valve controller, comprising:
- a housing;
- a lever extending from the housing and pivotally connected thereto to control a valve, the lever including a protrusion rigidly attached thereto, and the lever being biased to an initial position;
- a switch having an open position and a closed position, the switch being pivotally connected to the housing;
- and
- a linkage pivotally connected to the switch, the linkage including a centrally disposed slot configured to receive the protrusion such that movement of the switch controls movement of the linkage and the lever wherein moving the switch to the closed position closes a valve controlled by the lever regardless of a position of the lever.
A valve controller, comprising:
- a housing;
- a lever extending from the housing and pivotally connected thereto to control a valve, the lever including a protrusion rigidly attached to the lever and being biased to an initial position by a tension cable;
- a switch having an open position and a closed position, the switch being pivotally connected to the housing at a centrally disposed pivot point and the linkage being pivotally connected to the switch at an end portion;
- a linkage pivotally connected to the switch, the linkage including a centrally disposed slot configured to receive the protrusion such that movement of the switch controls movement of the linkage and the lever wherein moving the switch to the closed position closes a valve controlled by the lever regardless of a position of the lever, and wherein the slot is dimensioned and configured to:
- engage the protrusion to permit full extension of the lever in the initial position and permit the linkage to rotate about a pivot point connected to the switch when the lever is activated;
- move the switch from the closed position to the open position upon activation of the lever;
- cause the lever that has been activated to be stopped and in need of resetting, when the switch is moved from the open position to the closed position;
- and
- cause the switch to move from the open position to the closed position at an end of a stroke of the lever where the lever is maintained at the end of the stroke until the switch is moved to the open position.
A method for controlling a valve, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a valve controller having a housing;
- a lever extending from the housing and pivotally connected thereto to control a valve, the lever including a protrusion rigidly attached to the lever and being biased to an initial position;
- a switch having an open position and a closed position, the switch being pivotally connected to the housing;
- and a linkage pivotally connected to the switch, the linkage including a centrally disposed slot configured to receive the protrusion such that movement of the switch controls movement of the linkage and the lever;
- closing the valve upon one of releasing the lever or switching the switch to the closed position regardless of a position of the lever;
- and
- permitting the valve to be opened upon activating the lever.
A method for controlling a valve, wherein permitting the valve to be opened upon activating the lever includes:
- engaging the slot with the protrusion to permit full extension of the lever in the initial position and permitting the linkage to rotate about a pivot point connected to the switch when the lever is activated.
A method for controlling a valve, wherein permitting the valve to be opened upon activating the lever includes:
- moving the switch from the closed position to the open position through the linkage upon activation of the lever.
A method for controlling a valve, wherein closing the valve includes:
- causing the lever which has been activated to be stopped and in need of resetting, when the switch is moved from the open position to the closed position.
A method for controlling a valve, wherein closing the valve includes:
- causing the switch to move from the open position to the closed position at an end of a stroke of the lever, where the lever is maintained at the end of the stroke until the switch is moved to the open position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.