Selective valve actuating mechanism for vessels

Claim 1

IN A VALVING SYSTEM FOR A VESSEL HAVING A VALVE CHAMBER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF NORMALLY CLOSED DISCHARGE VALVES, A MECHANISM FOR OPENING SAID VALVES INDIVIDUALLY COMPRISING, AN ACTUATING ELEMENT CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID VALVES AND ADAPTED TO OPEN THE VALVES, RESPECTIVE CONTROL MEANS FOR EACH OF SAID VALVES INCLUDING A ROTARY ELEMENT FOR EACH ACTUATING ELEMENT AND CONNECTED TO EACH VALVE ACTUATING ELEMENT, A VALVE OPERATING LEVER COUPLED TO EACH OF SAID ROTARY ELEMENTS, WHEREBY UPON SWINGING MOTION OF THE LEVER IN VALVE OPENING DIRECTION, THE VALVE IS SHIFTED TO AN OPEN POSITION, AND SHIFTABLE SELECTOR MEANS INTERCONNECTED WITH SAID ROTARY ELEMENTS AND NORMALLY LOCKING SAID OPERATING LEVERS IN VALVE CLOSING POSITION, SAID SELECTOR MEANS COMPRISING RECIPROCABLE MEANS HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED APART LOCKING LUG PORTIONS, ONE LOCKING LUG PORTION HAVING LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH EACH RESPECTIVE ROTARY ELEMENT, SAID SELECTOR MEANS ADAPTED TO MOVE ONE OF SAID LUG PORTIONS OUT OF REGISTRY WITH A COMPLEMENTAL ROTARY ELEMENT TO RELEASE ONE OF SAID ROTARY ELEMENTS UPON BEING SHIFTED TO A SELECTED RELEASE POSITION, THEREBY ADAPTING THE SELECTED LEVER AND VALVE TO BE SHIFTED TO AN OPEN POSITION.