Lockout device

• US 6,324,877 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2001
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall, Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US09/819,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20010027666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 252 Days
• Field of Search: 701/75--80, 701/88, 701/89, 701/49, 704/72, 702/18, 702/21--23, 701/90, 702/04, 702/31, 704/22, 70D/IG.9, 704/55, 704/23--28, 137/384.8, 137/385, 251/230, 251/95, 251/101, 251/104, 292/DIG.27
• 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 70/7949 Yielding or frangible connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/796 Portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8649 Keyhole covers

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.

Claims

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

a handle body and a central bore in said handle body comprising a shoulder;

a first locking means mounted in said handle body;

a second locking means comprising a lockout cap comprising;

a flat plate of generally similar configuration to the upper surface of the handle body and overlying said upper surface, said plate having an upwardly projecting cylindrical housing fixed thereto, said housing having a transversely extending opening;

a shaft also having a transverse cylindrical opening, said shaft receiving in said upwardly projecting housing and including a shaft portion projecting downwardly through said plate and to which is affixed an eccentrically mounted locking collar receivable in the central bore of the handle body;

whereby when the transversely oriented openings are aligned, the collar engages the shoulder in the central bore in the handle body so as to prevent the lockout cap from removal so as to prevent access to said first locking means; and

at least one lock with a bail received in said transverse openings.

2. The lockout device of claim 1 wherein said lock with a bail comprises a padlock with a bail received in said transverse openings so as when in the locked position, to prevent rotation of said shaft of said second locking means relative to said upwardly projecting housing of said plate, thereby preventing disengagement of said collar from said shoulder and preventing access to said first locking means.

3. The lockout device of claim 1 wherein said lock with a bail comprises a scissors-like bail comprising a pair of pivotally connected arms each having at one end one half of a ring that is insertable in said transverse openings and at the other end an enlarged end portion with a plurality of holes which when the scissors-like bail is closed, with the ring end halves closed and engaged in said transverse openings, the holes in the enlarged end portions are aligned so that each hole may receive the bail of a separate padlock.

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

a handle body;

a central bore in said handle body comprising a shoulder;

a first locking means mounted in said handle body; and

a second locking means for receiving a plurality of personal locking devices selectively mountable on said handle body so as to prevent access to the said first locking means, said second locking means comprising;

a first flat plate of generally similar configuration to the upper surface of the handle body, said plate having an arcuate section with a plurality of openings, said plate having a downwardly depending cylindrical housing for receiving a shaft;

a second flat plate of generally similar configuration to the first flat plate including a similar arcuate section and a plurality of openings, said second flat plate having a fixedly mounted shaft projecting through said first flat plate cylindrical housing and having a locking collar fixedly mounted to the shaft with its axis offset from the axis of said first flat plate cylindrical housing and said handle bore when said sections are substantially aligned; and

whereby when said first and second flat plates are rotated so that said openings are in registry, said locking collar engages said shoulder in said bore of said handle so as to prevent the second locking means from removal, thereby preventing access to said first locking means.

5. The lockout device of claim 4 further comprising at least one padlock with a bail received in one of said plurality of openings in said arcuate sections of said first and second plates to prevent relative rotation of said first and second plates, thereby preventing disengagement of said collar from said shoulder and preventing removal of said second locking means, thereby preventing access to said first locking means.