Bottom outlet valve open and closed indicator

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention an open and closed position indicator assembly is provided for use with a bottom operable tank car valve assembly. An operating shaft for the lading valve extends downwardly through the outlet chamber and includes a connection portion at its lower end. An indicator housing is integrally connected to that portion of the outlet chamber above the connection portion which surrounds the operating shaft. An indicator member located within the indicator housing is internally threaded and engages an externally threaded portion of the outlet chamber. The indicator member includes a lower non-round opening which is adopted to be driven by a cooperating non-round portion of the operating shaft. Rotation of the operating shaft with an operating handle will move the lading valve between open and closed positions and will also move the indicator member downwardly to a position below the indicator housing to a position viewable by the operator when the lading valve is in the open position, and will move the indicator member upwardly to a position within the indicator housing which is not viewable by the operator when the valve is in the closed position. In addition the extent to which the indicator member extends below the indicator housing may be used as a measure of the extent to which the lading valve is moved toward the open position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.