# US 2014/0360422 A1 · Universal indicator post > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0360422 A1 - Document ID: US20140360422A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/288,664 - Filed: 2014-05-28 - Published: 2014-12-11 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-05 - Assignees: NIBCO Inc. - Applicants: Nibco Inc. - Inventors: Philip A. Liles; Ken A. Rinkenberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140360422A1 ## CPC - F16K 37/0008: {Mechanical means (F16K37/0075 takes precedence)} - F16K 37/0058: {Optical means, e.g. light transmission, observation ports (F16K37/0075 takes precedence)} - 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 An indicator post has a head assembly for use with an underground post indicator valve or a wall mounted post indicator valve. The head assembly includes an upper body having a removable cap rotatably supporting an operating stem coupled to an operating rod for engaging the valve. A leading bogie assembly threadably mated to a threaded sleeve of the operating stem and includes open and shut targets slideably supported on the bogie assembly to allow adjustment of the targets for valves that open and shut with different numbers of revolutions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An indicator post for an underground or wall mounted post indicator valve comprising: a head assembly having an upper body with a removable cap; an operating stem rotatably supported by said cap, said operating stem including a threaded sleeve for receiving a leading bogie assembly; a leading bogie assembly including a leading bogie having an aperture threadably coupled to said threaded sleeve of said operating stem, said leading bogie including a pair of alignment ears for engaging inwardly extending guide rails on said upper body such that rotation of said operating stem moves said leading bogie vertically within said upper body; and an operating rod having one end coupled to said operating stem and an opposite end coupled to one of an underground valve and a wall mounted valve for the actuation of the valve coupled to said operating rod. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The indicator post as defined in claim 1 wherein said operating stem includes an end extending through said cap for receiving one of an operating wrench or hand wheel for opening and shutting a post indicator valve coupled to said operating rod. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The indicator post as defined in claim 1 wherein said leading bogie assembly includes adjustable targets for displaying open or shut positions of the post indicator valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The indicator post as defined in claim 3 wherein said upper body includes at least one window for displaying a target of said leading bogie assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The indicator post as defined in claim 4 wherein sad leading bogie assembly includes targets facing opposed directions and said upper body includes a pair of opposed windows for displaying said targets of said leading bogie assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The indicator post as defined in claim 1 wherein said leading bogie includes opposed surfaces orthogonal to said alignment ears and said leading bogie assembly further includes a pair of extension plates coupled to said opposed surfaces, said extension plates each including a guide slot, and wherein said targets include a tab extending in said guide slot for guided movement during adjustment of said targets. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The indicator post as defined in claim 6 wherein said leading bogie assembly further includes a target guide rod extending from said bogie in parallel spaced relationship to each of said extension plates and wherein said tabs of said targets each include a slide aperture for slideably mounting said targets to said target guide rods. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The indicator post as defined in claim 7 wherein said targets include a threaded aperture communicating with said slide apertures and a set screw for engaging said target guide rod for securing said target in an adjusted position along said target guide rods to align the open target with said window of said upper body when the valve is fully open and the shut target with said window of said upper body when the valve is in a fully shut position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The indicator post as defined in claim 8 wherein said extension plates include an inwardly extending ledge at an end opposite said leading bogie for supporting an end of said target guide rod remote from said leading bogie. ### Claim 10 An improved leading bogie assembly for an indicator post comprising: a leading bogie having a threaded aperture for threadably coupling to a threaded sleeve of an operating stem associated with the indicator post, said leading bogie including opposed surfaces for receiving a pair of vertically extending extension plates; said leading bogie further including a pair of alignment ears located in orthogonal relationship to said opposed surfaces for engaging inwardly extending guides on an upper body of the indicator post such that rotation of the operating stem moves said leading bogie vertically within an upper body of an indicator post; a pair of targets for displaying the open and shut condition of an indicator post valve; and a slideable coupling for coupling said targets to said vertically extending extension plates. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The leading bogie assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said extension plates each including a guide slot, and wherein said targets include a tab extending in said guide slot for guided movement during adjustment of said targets. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The leading bogie assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said leading bogie assembly further includes a target guide rod extending from said leading bogie in parallel spaced relationship to each of said extension plates and wherein said tabs of said targets each include a slide aperture for slideably mounting said targets to said target guide rods. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The leading bogie assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein said targets include a threaded aperture communicating with said slide apertures and a set screw for engaging said target guide rod for securing said target in an adjusted position along said target guide rods to align the open target with a window of the upper body of the indicator post when the valve is fully open and the shut target with the window of the upper body when the valve is in a fully shut position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The leading bogie assembly as defined in claim 13 wherein said extension plates include an inwardly extending ledge at an end opposite said leading bogie for supporting an end of said target guide rod remote from said leading bogie. ### Claim 15 A universal indicator post for use for controlling an underground or wall mounted post indicator valve, said universal indicator post comprising: a head assembly having an upper body with a removable cap; said upper body having at least one window for displaying the open or shut status of a post indicator valve; a leading bogie assembly including slideably adjustable targets for displaying the open or the shut positions of the post indicator valve; an operating stem rotatably supported by said cap, said operating stem including a threaded sleeve for receiving said leading bogie assembly; and an operating rod having one end coupled to said operating stem and an opposite end coupled to one of an underground valve and a wall mounted valve for the actuation of the valve coupled to said operating rod. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The indicator post as defined in claim 15 wherein said leading bogie assembly includes a leading bogie having a threaded aperture threadably coupled to said threaded sleeve of said operating stem, said leading bogie including opposed faces for receiving a pair of vertically extending extension plates; said leading bogie further including a pair of alignment ears located in orthogonal relationship to said opposed faces for engaging inwardly extending guides on said upper body such that rotation of said operating stem moves said leading bogie vertically within said upper body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The indicator post as defined in claim 16 wherein said extension plates each including is guide slot, and wherein said targets include a tab extending in said guide slot for guided movement during adjustment of said targets. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The indicator post as defined in claim 17 wherein said leading bogie assembly further includes a target guide rod extending from said leading bogie in parallel spaced relationship to each of said extension plates and wherein said tabs of said targets each include a slide aperture for slideably mounting said targets to said target guide rods. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The indicator post as defined in claim 18 wherein said targets include a threaded aperture communicating With said slide apertures and a set screw for engaging said target guide rod for securing said target in an adjusted position along said target guide rods to align the open target with a window of the upper body of the indicator post when an associated post indicator valve is fully open and the shut target with the window of the upper body when the valve in a fully shut position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The indicator post as defined in claim 19 wherein said extension plates include an inwardly extending ledge at an end opposite said leading bogie for supporting an end of said target guide rod remote from said leading bogie.