Inline valve position indicator

Claim 2

An inline valve comprising a tubular body having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end in alignment therewith, a valve seat at the outlet, a cylinder supported in said body between the inlet and valve seat being closed at the end adjacent the inlet and open at the end adjacent the outlet and defining with said body a fluid passageway between the inlet and outlet, piston slidably received in said cylinder, valve closure means on said piston coacting with said valve seat and movable with said piston between open and closed positions, means including an actuating chamber in said cylinder for cauSing movement of said piston, valve-position-indicating means responsive to movement of said valve closure means and piston for indicating the position of the valve closure means exteriorly of said valve body, said valve-position-indicating means including an operating lever, spring-loaded ball swivel means for mounting said operating lever on said valve body with the lever extending into the valve downstream of the actuating chamber and into the path of the piston, and readout means receiving the motion of the lever as it is moved by the piston during opening and closing of the valve, wherein said spring loaded ball swivel means seals against leakage.

Claim 3

An inline valve as defined in claim 4, wherein said readout means includes an electric switch and pilot light indicators operable thereby.

Claim 4

An inline valve comprising a tubular body having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end in alignment therewith, a valve seat at the outlet, a coaxially mounted poppet in said body including a piston having a valve disc that coacts with said valve seat to open and close the valve, said poppet having means for pneumatically driving the piston and disc to a position opening the valve and mechanically driving the piston and disc to a position closing the valve, and position-indicating means outside of the valve body for indicating the position of said valve disc relative the valve seat and being responsive to movement of the piston and disc, said position-indicating means including a lever extending through the body with the inner end engaging and movable with the valve piston, a ball socket in the valve body through which the lever extends, ball-shaped means on said lever engaging said ball socket, and means biasing said ball-shaped means into sealing engagement with said socket and towards a neutral position.

Claim 5

An inline valve comprising a tubular body having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end in alignment therewith, a valve seat at the outlet, a coaxially mounted poppet in said body including a piston having a valve disc that coacts with said valve seat to open and close the valve, said poppet having means for pneumatically driving the piston and disc to a position opening the valve and mechanically driving the piston and disc to a position closing the valve, and position-indicating means outside of the valve body for indicating the position of said valve disc relative the valve seat and being responsive to movement of the piston and disc, said position-indicating means including a lever extending through the body with the inner end engaging and movable with the valve piston, a ball socket in the valve body through which the lever extends, ball-shaped means on said lever engaging said ball socket, and means biasing said ball-shaped means into sealing engagement with said socket and towards a neutral position.

Claim 6

An inline valve as defined in claim 3, and readout means responding to the movement of said lever.

Claim 7

An inline valve as defined in claim 4, wherein said readout means includes reference means and indicator means movable relative thereto.

Claim 8

An inline valve comprising a tubular body having an inlet at one end an outlet at the other end in alignment therewith, a valve seat at the outlet, a cylinder supported in said body between the inlet and valve seat being closed at the end adjacent the inlet and open at the end adjacent the outlet and defining with said body a fluid passageway between the inlet and outlet, a piston slidably received in said cylinder, valve closure means on said piston coacting with said valve seat and movable with said piston between open and closed positions, means including an actuating chamber in said cylinder for causing movement of said piston, valve position indicating means responsive to movement of said valve closure means and piston for indicating the position of the valve closure means exteriorly of said valve body, said valve position indicating means including a ball socket in the valve body, a hole in the center of the socket, a lever extending through said hole and into the path of movement of said piston, ball shaped means on said lever in coacting sealing engagement with said socket, spring means loading said lever to normally drive it to a neutral center position, whereby movement of said piston and valve closure means to closed position causes the lever to offset against the force of the spring means, and means reading out the position of the lever thereby reading out the position of the valve. 0010 76 indicator 117 comprise 139

Claim 9

An inline valve comprising a tubular body having an inlet at one end an outlet at the other end in alignment therewith, a valve seat at the outlet, a cylinder supported in said body between the inlet and valve seat being closed at the end adjacent the inlet and open at the end adjacent the outlet and defining with said body a fluid passageway between the inlet and outlet, a piston slidably received in said cylinder, valve closure means on said piston coacting with said valve seat and movable with said piston between open and closed positions, means including an actuating chamber in said cylinder for causing movement of said piston, valve position indicating means responsive to movement of said valve closure means and piston for indicating the position of the valve closure means exteriorly of said valve body, said valve position indicating means including a ball socket in the valve body, a hole in the center of the socket, a lever extending through said hole and into the path of movement of said piston, ball shaped means on said lever in coacting sealing engagement with said socket, spring means loading said lever to normally drive it to a neutral center position, whereby movement of said piston and valve closure means to closed position causes the lever to offset against the force of the spring means, and means reading out the position of the lever thereby reading out the position of the valve. 0010 76 indicator 117 comprise 139