Valve linkage system

Abstract

A valve linkage comprises valve arrangements each comprising a valve disc disposed in its respective conduit, a valve shaft attached thereto and extending therefrom, and a lever arm attached to the shaft. In one preferred embodiment, certain valve arrangements have an actuating plate attached to their shaft with two adjustable actuating members selectively placeable thereon for selected actuation, and the lever arm is rotatably attached to the shaft adjacent the actuating plate and is further rotatable about the shaft between engagement with the two actuating members, the lever arm adjusts the valve when the lever arm is moved in engagement with an actuating member. A linking rod is pivotally attached to each lever arm of all valve arrangements, and a manually operated handle or a hydraulic cylinder is pivotably mounted to the linking assembly and is movable to simultaneously adjust actuated valve arrangements. In a second preferred embodiment, all valve arrangements have an identical valve disc and shaft to that described above, and lever arms of all valve arrangements are fixedly attached to and pivotable with the valve shafts. A linking assembly is pivotably attached to all lever arms, and is further slidably attached to lever arms of selected valve arrangements. Actuating members are selectively placeable on the linking assembly and engageable with the lever arms of the selected valve arrangements. During movement of the linking assembly, actuating members selectively engage the lever arms to actuate and adjust the selected valve arrangements while all other valve arrangements are adjusted.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.