Butterfly valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11092242-B2
Application number	US-201816143679-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2018
Priority date	Jul 30, 2013
Publication date	Aug 17, 2021
Grant date	Aug 17, 2021

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to butterfly valves, generally including a body assembly and handle assembly. The body assembly generally includes a body, a disc rotationally disposed inside an opening of the body, a cog, and a stem passing through the disc and the body. The handle assembly generally includes a handle body and a force ring. The stem can be rotationally interlocked relative to the disc and the handle assembly. The cog and the force ring can engage to rotationally secure the disc relative to the body. The handle assembly can include a lever and a grip, the force ring, the lever and the grip being pivotally secured relative to each other. The body can include a male radial protrusion and the body assembly can include a liner with a female radial groove. Methods of assembling and positioning a butterfly valve are also provided.

First claim

We claim:

1. A butterfly valve, comprising:
a body assembly, the body assembly including a body, a disc rotationally disposed inside an opening of the body, a cog, and a stem passing through the disc and the body; and
a handle assembly, the handle assembly including a handle body and a force ring,
wherein the force ring is positioned within a cavity defined by the handle body and at least partially around a boss extending from the handle body, and is configured to move within the cavity to engage and disengage the cog,
wherein the stem rotationally interlocks relative to the disc and the handle assembly,
wherein the cog and the force ring engage to prevent rotation of the disc relative to the body, and
wherein the cog and the force ring disengage to allow rotation of the disc relative to the body.

2. The butterfly valve according to claim 1 , wherein the cog comprises at least one male member and the force ring comprises at least one female member engaging the at least one male member.

3. The butterfly valve according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one male member of the cog and the at least one female member of the force ring are positioned at a 45 degree angle relative to a stem axis.

4. The butterfly valve according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one male member of the cog and the at least one female member of the force ring radially extend 360 degrees around a vertical axis of the cog and the force ring.

5. The butterfly valve according to claim 1 , wherein the cog comprises at least one female member and the force ring comprises at least one male member engaging the at least one female member.

6. The butterfly valve according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one female member of the cog and the at least one male member of the force ring radially extend 360 degrees around a vertical axis of the cog and the force ring.

7. The butterfly valve according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one female member of the cog and the at least one male member of the force ring are positioned at a 45 degree angle relative to a stem axis.

8. The butterfly valve according to claim 1 , wherein the cog and the force ring comprise complementary splines engageable relative to each other.

9. The butterfly valve according to claim 8 , wherein the complementary splines of the cog and the force ring mate by a total of 50 degrees or more.

10. The butterfly valve according to claim 8 , wherein the complementary splines of the cog and the force ring are positioned at a 45 degree angle relative to a stem axis.

11. The butterfly valve according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the cog and the force ring comprises a friction imparting surface.

12. The butterfly valve according to claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly is rotatable within a 90 degrees arc relative to the body assembly.

13. The butterfly valve according to claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly is rotatable within less than a 90 degree arc relative to the body assembly.

14. The butterfly valve according to claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly is rotatable more than a 90 degree arc relative to the body assembly.

15. The butterfly valve according to claim 1 , wherein the cog comprises an integral stop to regulate a rotational path of the handle assembly relative to the body assembly.

16. The butterfly valve according to claim 1 , wherein the force ring defines a male truncated conical shape and the cog defines a complementary female conical shape counter bore.

17. The butterfly valve according to claim 1 , wherein the cog defines a male truncated conical shape and the force ring defines a complementary female conical shape counter bore.

18. The butterfly valve according to claim 1 , wherein the force ring defines a flat cylindrical surface and the cog defines a complementary flat cylindrical surface.

19. The butterfly valve according to claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly is removably attached relative to the body assembly.

20. The butterfly valve according to claim 1 , wherein the disc is actuated relative to the body assembly via a manual actuation.

21. The butterfly valve according to claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly is detachable from the body assembly.

22. The butterfly valve according to claim 1 , wherein the body includes visual indicators detachably secured thereon corresponding to rotational positions of the disc relative to the body.

23. The butterfly valve according to claim 22 , wherein the handle body includes at least one protrusion configured to at least partially surround one of the visual indicators of the body to indicate a rotational position of the disc relative to the body.

24. The butterfly valve according to claim 1 , wherein the handle body comprises a bore configured and dimensioned to receive an insert and at least one key.

25. The butterfly valve according to claim 24 , wherein the at least one key is configured to fracture at a predetermined force level to prevent damage to components of the butterfly valve.

26. The butterfly valve according to claim 1 , wherein the cog comprises a segment complementary to a protruding step of the handle body to regulate an orientation of the handle body relative to the body.

27. The butterfly valve according to claim 26 , wherein the cog is rotated 180 degrees relative to the body to change the orientation of the handle body relative to the body.

28. A method of positioning a butterfly valve, comprising:
providing a body assembly, the body assembly including a body, a disc rotationally disposed inside an opening of the body, a cog, and a stem passing through the disc and the body;
providing a handle assembly, the handle assembly including a handle body and a force ring positionable within a cavity defined by the handle body and at least partially around a boss extending from the handle body, the force ring configured to move within the cavity to engage and disengage the cog, the cog comprising a segment complementary to a protruding step of the handle body to regulate an orientation of the handle body relative to the body;
rotationally interlocking the stem relative to the disc and the handle assembly; and
engaging the cog and the force ring to rotationally secure the disc relative to the body.

29. The method according to claim 28 , comprising disengaging the cog and the force ring to rotate the handle assembly and the disc relative to the body.

30. The method according to claim 28 , comprising rotating the cog 180 degrees relative to the body to change the orientation of the handle body relative to the body.

31. A butterfly valve, comprising:
a body assembly, the body assembly including a body and a disc rotationally disposed inside an opening of the body; and
a handle assembly, the handle assembly including a handle body, a force ring, a lever, and a grip,
wherein the force ring, the lever, and the grip are disposed within a cavity defined by the handle body,
wherein the force ring is positioned at least partially around a boss extending from the handle body and is configured to move within the cavity between a plurality of positions.

32. The butterfly valve according to claim 31 , wherein the force ring, the lever, and the grip are pivotally secured relative to each other at least at two pivot points.

33. The butterfly valve accord

Assignees

• Hayward Ind Inc

Inventors

• Gutmann Paul M
• Hoots Joshua Lee
• Moren Gary A
• Stone Jon Terence

Classifications

• F16K35/025

  said actuating element being operated manually (e.g. a push-button located in the valve actuator) · CPC title

• F16K35/022

  the locking mechanism being actuated by a separate actuating element · CPC title

• G05G1/12

  Means for securing the members on rotatable spindles or the like · CPC title

• F16K15/026

  the valve member being a movable body around which the medium flows when the valve is open · CPC title

• F16K1/224

  Details of bearings for the axis of rotation · CPC title