Spring loaded locking handle for angle cock or the like
AssigneeWestinghouse Air Brake Company
InventorsJohn B. Carroll, Robert T. Sarsfield
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spring loaded locking handle assembly for an angle cock or the like wherein the helical windings of a torsion type spring are mounted on a fulcrum pin about which the handle proper of a two-piece, locking style handle assembly is pivotally connected to the handle socket. One leg of the torsion spring is fixed to the socket via a pilot hole therein and an aligned index hole in the fulcrum pin to properly locate and secure the fulcrum pin in place. The other leg of the torsion spring bears against the handle proper under tension to positively maintain the handle member in its locked position and to prevent accidental operation of the angle cock.
Claims16
For a valve device having valve means in the body thereof rotatably operable by a handle member to open and closed valve positions delimited by stop means formed on said body, there is provided a locking handle assembly comprising:
- (a) a socket member fixed to a stem of said valve means that projects from said body;
- (b) a mounting lug formed on said socket member;
- (c) a fulcrum pin on said mounting lug;
- (d) said handle member being pivotally connected by said fulcrum pin to said mounting lug to permit raising said handle member from said body to an unlocked position and lowering said handle member toward said body to a locked position;
- (e) a lug on said handle member engageable with said stop means in said locked position of said handle member and disengageable from said stop means in said unlocked position of said handle member;
- and
- (f) a helical torsion spring carried on said fulcrum pin comprising:
- (i) a coil portion having at least one helical winding through which said fulcrum pin passes;
- and
- (ii) first and second legs extending from said coil portion, said first leg being fixed relative to said socket member and said second leg engaging said handle member to urge said handle member toward said locked position under tension.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.