Lockout device

• US 6,070,442 A
• Filed: 04/24/1998
• Issued: 06/06/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Neelchine Engineering Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neelchine Engineering Inc.
• Inventors: Neeley, Rocky E., Lane, James N.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRETT, SUZANNE LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US09/066,067
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 70/175-180, 70/188, 70/189, 70/190, 70/149, 70/472, 70/212-223, 70/204, 70/231, 70/422, 70/DIG. 9, 70/432, 292/DIG. 27, 137/384.8, 137/385, 251/230, 251/95, 251/101, 251/104
• US Class Current: 70/175
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 13/001 Covers preventing access to handles or keys
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 13/101 for disconnecting the handle E05B13/103, E05B13/105 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/383 Staples or the like for padlocks; Lock slings; Arrangements on locks to cooperate with padlocks
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 35/06 using a removable actuating or locking member, e.g. a key F16K35/10, F16K35/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 35/10 with locking caps or locking bars
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5615 Valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5628 Valve encasing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5819 Handle-carried key lock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8027 Condition indicators

Abstract

A locking device for use in connection with an energy controlling apparatus, such as a valve, or regulator, to prevent unauthorized persons from changing the position of a rotatable shaft of the apparatus that controls the amount of energy that flows through the apparatus. The locking device includes a handle used to manually set the position of the shaft. It also includes a gear that is rotatably mounted in the handle and is fixed to the shaft of the apparatus. A first locking mechanism carried by the handle mechanically and selectively couples the handle and the gear through a key access to the lock. A spring-biased ratchet mechanism may be provided to permit rotation of the shaft in one direction only. A personal locking mechanism with only a single key is selectively lockable to the handle so that in the locked position it prevents access to the first locking mechanism.

Claims

1. A lockout apparatus for use with an energy controlling device, such as a valve or regulator, having a rotatable shaft that may be manually set at a selected position to control the flow of energy through said device, the apparatus preventing further rotation of the shaft, comprising:

a generally cylindrical handle body having a central axis and opening at a lower end of the body for receiving the rotatable shaft and a second cylindrical opening in the upper end;

a ring gear, having teeth directed radially inward toward the axis of said handle body, connected to the rotatable shaft for fixed rotation therewith;

bearing means mounted within said handle lower opening for rotatively supporting said ring gear;

a key locking mechanism mounted in said second cylindrical opening, radially inward from said teeth, and including a key-actuated center cylinder having a locking dog movable from a first position disengaged from said ring gear to a second position engaged with said ring gear;

whereby when said locking dog is in said first position, the handle body rotates relative to the ring gear and rotatable shaft of the energy controlling device and in the second position is rotatably fixed with said ring gear and rotatable shaft so as to permit rotation of the handle body to effect like rotation of the shaft of the energy controlling device.

2. A lockout apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a ratchet wheel fixedly secured to said ring gear, and a spring-biased pawl mounted in said handle body lower end opening for selective engagement with said ratchet whereby when said handle body is not fixed with said ring gear, the handle body may be rotated in one direction only.

3. A lockout apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the energy controlling device includes a fixed stem and said handle body defines a central bore connecting said lower end opening with said upper end, the apparatus further including means, within said central bore and connected to said stem and to said ring gear, for indicating the position of the rotatable shaft.

4. A lockout apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said means for indicating comprises:

at least two status indicator marks upon said ring gear;

means for transmitting images of said indicator marks for viewing at said upper end of said handle body, said transmitting means comprising a transparent viewing rod, having an image face and a reflector face, coaxially disposed in said bore and connectable to the fixed central stem;

wherein said ring gear is rotatable about said viewing rod manually to set the shaft in a selected position to bring a corresponding one of said indicator marks into radial alignment with said image face, whereby the image of said corresponding indicator mark is reflected from said reflector face for viewing.

5. A lockout apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said means for indicating comprises:

an extender tube having a top end and a bottom end, coaxially disposed within said central bore, said tube attached to and rotatable with said ring gear and extending between said ring gear and approximately said upper end of said handle body;

an extension rod having a top end and a bottom end, said rod disposed coaxially within said extender tube, and said bottom end connectable to the fixed central stem;

at least two status indicator marks upon the top of said extension rod;

a viewing lens secured upon said top end of said extender tube; and

masking means, fixed between said lens and said indicator marks, for partially blocking image transmission from said marks to said lens;

wherein said ring gear is rotatable about said extension rod to manually set the shaft in a selected position, thereby also rotating said extender tube to bring said masking means into radial alignment with one of said indicator marks, whereby the image of at least one indicator mark is blocked by said masking means and another one of said indicator marks is viewable through said lens.

6. A lockout apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising personal locking means selectively engageable with said handle body and including means for preventing access to said key locking mechanism when said personal locking means is engaged.

7. A lockout apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said personal locking means comprises an enclosure engageable with the handle body exterior, said enclosure including a top plate having a portion extending laterally beyond said handle body, said portion having an opening through which the bail of at least one padlock may be inserted, such that when at least one padlock is in the locked condition in said opening, the bail and enclosure prevent removal of the personal lockout device from said handle body and thereby prevents access to said key locking mechanism.

8. A lockout apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said enclosure substantially surrounds said handle body.

9. A lockout apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said handle body defines a circumferential channel therein, said enclosure further comprises a lower lip, and said lip is engageable into said channel.

10. A lockout apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said top plate of said enclosure defines a central viewing aperture alignable with said central bore when said lip is engaged into said channel.

11. A lockout apparatus for use with an energy controlling device, such as a valve or regulator, having a fixed central stem and a rotatable shaft, which shaft may be manually set at any one of a plurality of selected positions to control the flow of energy through said apparatus, the apparatus preventing further rotation of the shaft, comprising:

a handle body defining a central bore and having an opening at a lower end of the body for receiving the rotatable shaft and a second cylindrical opening in an upper end of the body;

engagement means connected to the rotatable shaft for fixed rotation therewith;

bearing means mounted within said handle lower opening for rotatively supporting said engagement means;

a key locking mechanism mounted in said second cylindrical opening in said upper end of said handle body and having a locking dog movable from a first position disengaged from said engagement means to a second position engaged with said engagement means; and

means, within said central bore and connected to said stem and to said engagement means, for indicating the position of the rotatable shaft;

whereby when said locking dog is in said first position, the handle rotates relative to the engagement means and rotatable shaft of the energy controlling device and in the second position is rotatably fixed with said engagement means and rotatable shaft so as to permit rotation of the handle to effect like rotation of the shaft of the energy controlling device.

12. A lockout apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said engagement means comprises a sprocket gear having teeth directed radially outward from the axis of said handle body.

13. A lockout apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said engagement means comprises a ring gear having teeth directed radially inward toward the axis of said handle body.

14. A lockout apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising a ratchet wheel fixedly secured to said sprocket gear, and a spring-biased pawl mounted in said handle body lower end opening for selective engagement with said ratchet whereby when said handle body is not fixed with said sprocket gear, the handle body may be rotated in one direction only.

15. A lockout apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said means for indicating comprises:

at least two status indicator marks upon said engagement means;

means for transmitting images of said indicator marks for viewing at the top of said handle body, said transmitting means comprising a transparent viewing rod, having an image face and a reflector face, coaxially disposed in said bore and connectable to the fixed central stem;

wherein said engagement means is rotatable about said viewing rod manually to set the shaft in a selected position to bring a corresponding one of said indicator marks into radial alignment with said image face, whereby the image of said corresponding indicator mark is reflected from said reflector face for viewing.

16. A lockout apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said means for indicating comprises:

an extender tube having a top end and a bottom end, coaxially disposed within said central bore, said tube attached to and rotatable with said engagement means and extending between said engagement means and approximately the top of said handle body;

an extension rod having a top end and a bottom end, said rod disposed coaxially within said extender tube, and said bottom end connectable to the fixed central stem;

at least two status indicator marks upon the top of said extension rod;

a viewing lens secured upon said top end of said extender tube; and

masking means, fixed between said lens and said indicator marks, for partially blocking image transmission from said marks to said lens;

wherein said engagement means is rotatable about said extension rod to manually set the shaft in a selected position, thereby also rotating said extender tube to bring said masking means into radial alignment with one of said indicator marks, whereby the image of the one indicator mark is blocked by said masking means and another one of said indicator marks is viewable through said lens.

17. A lockout apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising personal locking means selectively engageable with said handle body and including means for preventing access to said key locking mechanism when said personal locking means is engaged.

18. A lockout apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said personal locking means comprises an enclosure engageable with the handle body exterior, said enclosure including a top plate having a portion extending laterally beyond said handle body, said portion having an opening through which the bail of at least one padlock may be inserted, such that when at least one padlock is in the locked condition in said opening, the bail and enclosure prevent removal of the personal lockout device from said handle body and thereby prevents access to said key locking mechanism.

19. A lockout apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said handle body defines a circumferential channel therein, said enclosure further comprises a lower lip, and said lip is engageable into said channel.

20. A lockout apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said top plate of said enclosure defines a central viewing aperture alignable with said viewing lens when said lip is engaged into said channel.

21. A lockout apparatus for use with an energy controlling device, such as a valve or regulator, having a rotatable shaft that may be manually set at a selected position to control the flow of energy through said device, the apparatus preventing further rotation of the shaft, comprising:

a handle body comprising an upper end and a lower end, and a central bore between said upper end and said lower end;

a ring connected to the rotatable shaft; and

means within said central bore for indicating the position of the rotatable shaft.

22. A lockout apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said means for indicating comprises:

at least two status indicator marks upon said ring; and

means for transmitting images of said indicator marks for viewing at said upper end of said handle body.

23. A lockout apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said transmitting means comprises a transparent viewing rod, having an image face and a reflector face, coaxially disposed in said bore and connectable to the fixed central stem.

24. A lockout apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said ring is rotatable about said viewing rod manually to set the rotatable shaft in a selected position to bring a corresponding one of said indicator marks into radial alignment with said image face, whereby the image of said corresponding indicator mark is reflected from said reflector face for viewing.

25. A lockout apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said means for indicating comprises:

an extender having a top end and a bottom end, coaxially disposed within said central bore, said tube attached to and rotatable with said ring and extending between said ring and approximately said upper end of said handle body.

26. A lockout apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the lockout apparatus comprises a fixed stem, and said means for indicating further comprises an extension rod having a top end and a bottom end, said rod disposed coaxially within said extender tube, and said bottom end connectable to the fixed central stem.

27. A lockout apparatus according to claim 26 further comprising at least two status indicator marks upon the top of said extension rod.

28. A lockout apparatus according to claim 27 further comprising a viewing lens secured upon said top end of said extender tube.

29. A lockout apparatus according to claim 28 further comprising masking means, fixed between said lens and indicator marks, for partially blocking image transmission from said marks to said lens;

wherein said ring is rotatable about said extension rod to manually set the shaft in a selected position, thereby also rotating said extender tube to bring said masking means Into radial alignment with one of said indicator marks, whereby the image of at least one indicator mark is blocked by said masking means and another one of said indicator marks is viewable through said lens.

30. A lockout apparatus according to claim 21 further comprising personal locking means selectively engageable with said handle body and including means for preventing access to said key locking mechanism when said personal locking means is engaged.