US 11,739,860 B2
Valve position indicators
Dariusz Sapija, Jelcz-Laskowice (PL); and Agata Kurowska, Kowale (PL)
Assigned to GOODRICH CORPORATION, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by Goodrich Corporation, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on Nov. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/530,891.
Claims priority of application No. 20461584 (EP), filed on Nov. 19, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0154845 A1, May 19, 2022
Int. Cl. F16K 31/528 (2006.01); F16K 5/16 (2006.01); F16K 5/18 (2006.01); F16K 31/524 (2006.01); F16K 31/54 (2006.01); F16K 31/60 (2006.01); F16K 37/00 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 31/5284 (2013.01) [F16K 5/163 (2013.01); F16K 5/187 (2013.01); F16K 31/524 (2013.01); F16K 31/54 (2013.01); F16K 31/60 (2013.01); F16K 37/0008 (2013.01); F16K 37/0041 (2013.01); F16K 37/0058 (2013.01); F16K 37/0083 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rotational valve comprising:
a valve closure element;
a shaft linked to the valve closure element, wherein the shaft can rotate between a closed position and a fully open position;
at least one detection element, each detection element comprises an aperture and an indicator element; and
at least one first stop and at least one second stop;
wherein;
the shaft extends through the aperture of at least one detection element, wherein each of the at least one detection elements is in sliding engagement with the shaft;
the shaft can rotate relative to each of the at least one detection elements;
each indicator element can move between a first and a second indicator position;
each indicator element abuts the first stop when in the first indicator position and abuts the second stop when in the second indicator position;
each indicator element is associated with a detection engagement means;
each detection engagement means can determine when its associated indicator element is in one of the first or second indicator positions; and
each detection element is configured to engage with the shaft via at least one engagement mechanism when the rotational position of the shaft relative to the shaft's closed position is in a predetermined angular range;
wherein each engagement mechanism comprises:
a shaft engagement means associated with the shaft; and
a detection engagement means associated with a detection element;
wherein engagement of the shaft and detection engagement means enables the shaft to transmit rotational torque to the detection element via the shaft and detection engagement means; and
wherein the shaft and detection engagement means are configured such that if rotation of the detection element is resisted by a force greater in magnitude than a disengagement force the shaft and detection engagement means will disengage from each other.