Bonnet locking system for a valve
OwnerJohn P. Scaramucciinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bonnet is locked to the body of a valve into which the bonnet screws by a sheet metal bonnet lock which includes a portion that will mate with facets on the bonnet or with the sides of the valve body. Another portion of the bonnet lock is then deformed to mate with the other of the bonnet facets or valve body sides. The portion of the bonnet lock that mates with the facets on the bonnet circumscribes the bonnet such that one portion of the bonnet lock is fixed to the bonnet and the other portion is fixed to the valve body following deformation of the bonnet lock to prevent the bonnet from turning relative to the valve body.
Claims7
A bonnet lock for a valve having a valve body and a bonnet that screws into the valve body between opposed sides of the valve body, said bonnet characterized as having a plurality of angularly related facets formed thereon parallel to the screw axis of the bonnet into the valve body, comprising:
- a first locking member adapted to engage and mate with one of the facets on the bonnet and the sides of the valve body;
- and
- a second locking member, formed unitarily with the first locking member via stamping the bonnet lock from sheet metal, the second locking member adapted for deformation into engagement with the other of the facets on the bonnet and the sides of the valve body to fix the orientation of the bonnet on the valve body in a locking configuration of the bonnet lock on the valve wherein the facets on the bonnet and the sides of the valve body are both engaged by portions of the bonnet lock;
- and
- wherein portions of the bonnet lock engaging the bonnet in the locking configuration of the bonnet lock on the valve are characterized as having an aperture formed therethrough to receive the bonnet and other portions of the bonnet lock are folded to engage the sides of the valve body in the locking configuration of the bonnet on the valve.
A bonnet lock for a valve having a valve body and a bonnet that screws into the valve body between opposed sides of the valve body, said bonnet characterized as having a plurality of angularly related facets formed thereon parallel to the screw axis of the bonnet into the valve body, comprising:
- a circular tube sized to circumscribe the bonnet whereby said tube can be placed on the bonnet in any orientation about the screw axis of the bonnet into the valve body;
- and
- a flange formed unitarily with the tube and having a pair of downturned opposing wings spaced to engage the sides of the valve body when the tube is placed on the bonnet with the flange abutting the valve body;
- and
- wherein the bonnet lock is characterized as being formed of sheet metal such that said tube can be crimped into engagement with facets of the bonnet flowing placement of the bonnet lock on the valve to fix the orientation of the bonnet with respect to the valve body.
A bonnet lock for a valve having a valve body and a bonnet that screws into the valve body between opposed sides of the valve body, said bonnet characterized as having a plurality of angularly related facets formed thereon parallel to the screw axis of the bonnet into the valve body, comprising:
- a sheet metal plate having an aperture formed therethrough on a diameter insufficient to circumscribe the bonnet whereby said plate can be forced onto the bonnet only via deformation of portions thereof surrounding said aperture so as to fix the orientation of the plate on the bonnet;
- and
- a pair of wings formed unitarily with the plate and depending from the plate on opposite sides of the aperture through the plate, said wings spaced to engage the sides of the valve body whereby the bonnet can be secured to the valve body via engaging the wings with the valve body and forcing the bonnet through the aperture formed through said plate.
A bonnet lock for a valve having a valve body and a bonnet that screws into the valve body between opposed sides of the valve body, said bonnet characterized as having a plurality of angularly related facets formed thereon parallel to the screw axis of the bonnet into the valve body, comprising:
- a polygonal tube shaped to mate with the facets of the bonnet to fix the position of the bonnet lock in relation to the bonnet via placing the tube on the bonnet;
- and
- a circular flange formed unitarily with the polygonal tube such that portions of the flange can be bent into engagement with the sides of the valve body to fix the bonnet lock in relation to the valve body, thereby fixing the bonnet in relation to the valve body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.