Manifold valve position indicator and operator alerting system

A detachable valve position indicator comprising an elongate tab having a first end and a second end, a first flexible member having a first and a second end, a second flexible member having a first and a second end, wherein the first end of the first flexible member and the first end of the second flexible member are attached to the first end of the elongate tab, a first connecting means attached to the second end of the first flexible member, and a second connecting means attached to the second end of the second flexible member, wherein the first and second flexible members can be placed around a valve body, the first connecting means can be engaged with the second connecting means to attach the elongate tab to the valve body, and the first connecting means can be disengaged from the second connecting means to remove the elongate tab from the valve body.

A valve assembly comprising a valve base, a valve bonnet attached thereto, a rotatable valve stem extending coaxially through the valve bonnet, a rotatable valve handle attached to the valve stem and having a plane of rotation which is generally perpendicular to the axis of the valve stem, and an indicator tab attached to the valve base or the valve bonnet and extending outward from the valve body or valve bonnet in a direction generally parallel to the plane of rotation of the valve handle, wherein the rotatable valve handle can be disposed in at least a first position and a second position, wherein the rotatable handle when disposed in the first position renders the indicator tab invisible when viewed in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the valve handle, and wherein the rotatable handle when disposed in the second position renders the indicator tab visible when viewed in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the valve handle.

A fluid manifold system comprising

• (a) a plurality of valve assemblies, each valve assembly comprising a valve base, a valve bonnet attached thereto, a rotatable valve stem extending coaxially through the valve bonnet, a rotatable valve handle attached to the valve stem and having a plane of rotation which is generally perpendicular to the axis of the valve stem, and an indicator tab attached to the valve base or the valve bonnet and extending outward from the valve base or the valve bonnet in a direction generally parallel to the plane of rotation of the valve handle, wherein the rotatable valve handle can be disposed in at least a first position and a second position, wherein the rotatable handle when disposed in the first position renders the indicator tab invisible when viewed in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the valve handle, and wherein the rotatable handle when disposed in the second position renders the indicator tab visible when viewed in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the valve handle;
• and
• (b) manifold piping means which interconnect the valve assemblies such that flow of fluid through the valve assemblies and manifold can be controlled by setting the positions of the rotatable handles of the valve assemblies.