Frangible valve handle

Abstract

A torque limiting valve handle for rotating a shaft of a valve is provided. The valve handle includes an elongated arm having a first opening therein adjacent to one end thereof forming an inner surface and a first channel formed in the inner surface. The handle also includes a hub disposed in the first opening and engagable with the shaft. The hub has an exterior surface and a second channel formed in the exterior surface and a drive position relative to the arm wherein the first and second channels cooperate to define a pocket. The handle further includes a shear pin disposed in the pocket for preventing rotation of the hub relative to the arm so that the hub rotates in response to rotation of the arm to apply torque to the shaft to rotate the shaft. The pin is frangible in response to application thereto of a force in excess of a predetermined force to allow relative rotation of the hub and the arm and prevent application to the shaft of a torque greater than a predetermined torque.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.