US 11,703,140 B2
Relief valve with testing lockout
Steven Castrigno, Chester, NH (US)
Assigned to Watts Regulator Co., North Andover, MA (US)
Filed by Watts Regulator Co., North Andover, MA (US)
Filed on Mar. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/707,404.
Application 17/707,404 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/815,867, filed on Mar. 11, 2020, granted, now 11,421,795.
Prior Publication US 2022/0221072 A1, Jul. 14, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F16K 17/06 (2006.01); F16K 17/04 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 17/06 (2013.01) [F16K 17/042 (2013.01); F16K 17/0413 (2013.01); F16K 2200/304 (2021.08); Y10T 137/7888 (2015.04)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A relief valve comprising:
a valve body;
a plunger assembly coupled to the valve body for selectively opening and closing the relief valve;
a support member secured to the valve body;
a lockout lever having an effort arm and a resistance arm with a vertex between the effort arm and the resistance arm, the lockout lever being mounted to seesaw with the vertex against the support member as a fulcrum plate;
a spring rod coupled to the lockout lever; and
a spring coupled to the spring rod and providing a bias force against the plunger assembly to normally close the relief valve,
wherein in a lockout position, the effort arm of the lockout lever is moved to pivot on the vertex against the support member to further compress the spring, which increases the bias force and, in turn, a cracking pressure of the relief valve.