US 5,223,822 A · Valve position indicator

Abstract

An actuator shaft is journaled for rotation within a housing of the apparatus and is coupled to a rotary shaft projecting through the top of a valve or valve actuator. The actuator shaft is coupled to a drum having graphics information on an outer surface thereof, such as the words "open" and "closed". As the actuator shaft rotates the graphics information is also rotated past a window in a window member such that the words observed indicate the position of the valve. The window member couples to an alignment ring which is keyed to receive the window member. By rotating the alignment ring, the window member can be selectively oriented such that the graphics are viewable from a preferred perspective. Each of the components is keyed to be oriented with one another and constrained as a cartridge assembly which can be quickly removed as a single unit to access internal switches and circuitry, whereby the cartridge can be quickly reattached such that the components cannot be inadvertently incorrectly reassembled. An electronic display provides a visual signal indicative of the rotary shaft position and cooperating with the viewable indicia, and further, provides a visual error signal when the valve is in an abnormal position. The apparatus also contains processing means for intelligently controlling internally located control elements, such as solenoids, in response to sensed parameters of the sensed valve.

Claims38

Dependent claims

Rotary shaft position indicating and display apparatus for use with a device having a rotatable shaft and a planar mounting surface, comprising:

(a) a housing having a base with a transparent cover secured to said base and defining a hollow chamber;
(b) an actuator shaft journaled for rotation in said base and extending through said base into said hollow chamber;
(c) a window member disposed within said chamber having both an opaque portion and an open portion, wherein said window member has a first keying means;
(d) a display member selectively coupled to said actuator shaft and including graphics information viewable through said open portion of said window member and said cover;
(e) coupling means secured to said actuator shaft for coupling said actuator shaft to said rotatable shaft of said device;
and
(f) an alignment member disposed within said chamber and selectively adjustable about an axis of said actuator shaft, said alignment member having a second keying means adapted to couple to said first keying means of said window member for orienting said window member with said alignment member.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Valve position indicator

Life of this patent

Valve position indicator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims38