Badger Meter, Inc.
Valve Providing Supplemental Feedback During Operation

Abstract:

A ball valve for use in a hydraulic supply system is described. The ball valve includes a valve body defining a fluid passage including an inlet and an outlet, a ball having an opening therethough and having an open position and a closed position within the fluid passage and a normal operating range between the open position and the closed position, a manual valve operation mechanism, an input shaft connected to the manual valve operation mechanism, and a gearing assembly including an output shaft, the gearing assembly connected to the input shaft and the output shaft connected to the ball. Rotation of the manual valve operation mechanism causes rotation of the ball along a full operating range within the valve body and the gearing assembly includes a feedback mechanism that is actuated after the ball has rotated outside of the normal operating range.