Lockout device

• US 6,209,365 B1
• Filed: 08/11/1999
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• 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:
  US09/372,685
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 70/175-180, 70/188, 70/189, 70/149, 70/472, 70/218, 70/190, 70/221-223, 70/204, 70/231, 70/422, 70/DIG. 9, 70/455, 70/423-428, 70/200 , 70/203, 70/209, 70/211, 70/212, 70/232, 70/164, 70/DIG. 43, 70/DIG. 56, 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 lockout device to prevent tampering with the manually set position of a valve or regulator or other device having a rotatable shaft for adjusting, for example, the flow of fluid through the device, from a position intially set to some other position. The lockout device is usable with a wide range of standard valves and regulators which have a drive stem and includes a drive gear that engages the drive stem and a key locking device mounted in a generally cylindrical handle of the lockout device and being selectively movable from a first position in which the handle free-wheels relative to the drive stem of the valve so as to prevent unauthorized moving of the rotational position of the valve stem by any person not having a key to an engaging position in which the handle is locked to the drive stem to permit ordinary rotational movement and setting of the valve stem position.

Claims

1. In a lockout device in combination with an energy controlling apparatus to prevent unauthorized access to an energy controlling apparatus, and having a generally cylindrical handle body with an opening in a lower portion thereof for receiving a gear rotatably mounted in the opening and fixed to a rotatable shaft on the apparatus, the rotatable shaft angular setting controlling the amount of energy passing through the apparatus, and a first locking mechanism carried by the handle body for selectively coupling the shaft to the handle body to permit the handle body to rotate the shaft when coupled and permitting the handle body to free-wheel when uncoupled, the improvement comprising:

a second locking mechanism, comprising a single shell slideably and selectively engagable with the handle body so as to prevent access to the first locking mechanism, said shell having a plate portion overlying said first locking mechanism, wherein a portion of said plate portion extending radially beyond said handle body defines an opening therein for receiving a padlock.

2. The combination of claim 1, further comprising a padlock for selectively locking said shell to said handle body.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said shell slideably and selectively engages with a perimeter of said handle body.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said shell comprises a housing covering only a portion of said handle body.