Retrofit motorized actuator for remote fluid control

• US 10,591,080 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2016
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fortune Brands Water Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Flo Technologies, Inc. (Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc.)
• Inventors: Halimi, Henry M., Scilingo, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaudry, Atif H
• Application Number:
  US15/165,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20160348802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/042 with electric means, e.g. for controlling the motor or a clutch between the valve and the motor
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/043 characterised by mechanical means between the motor and the valve, e.g. lost motion means reducing backlash, clutches, brakes or return means
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/055 for rotating valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0647 Spindles or actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0652 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0491 Valve or valve element assembling, disassembling, or replacing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7065 With means for accommodating a detachable actuator

Abstract

A retrofit motorized actuator assembly is attachable to a portion of a fluid pipe having a manually actuated valve connected in series. The valve includes a cantilevered valve handle manually rotatable about a valve axis. The retrofit motorized actuator assembly includes a motorized actuator including a drive shaft extension rotatably controllable by the motorized actuator about a drive shaft axis. A mounting assembly is configured to fixedly attach to the portion of the fluid pipe and also fixedly position the motorized actuator wherein the drive shaft axis of the motorized actuator is aligned with the valve axis. A quick connect clamp is configured to fixedly attach together both the drive shaft extension and the cantilevered valve handle. The quick connect clamp is configured to be attachable and removable with just the use of a user'"'"'s hands without the need for auxiliary tools.

Claims

1. A retrofit motorized actuator assembly comprising a plurality of separate components attachable to a portion of a fluid pipe extending along a longitudinal direction having a manually actuated fluid valve connected in series along the portion of the fluid pipe, the fluid valve including a cantilevered valve handle manually rotatable about a valve axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction for opening and closing the fluid valve, the retrofit motorized actuator assembly comprising:

a first and second pipe clamp each configured to fixedly attach to the portion of the fluid pipe on either side of the fluid valve;

a first and second adjustable bracket fixedly attachable to their respective first and second pipe clamps, each adjustable bracket translatably adjustable in relation to the pipe clamp in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;

a mounting plate including a first set of bracket mounting apertures disposed at one end of the mounting plate and a second set of bracket mounting apertures disposed at the other end of the mounting plate, the first and second set of bracket mounting apertures used to fixedly attach to their respective adjustable brackets with fasteners, the mounting plate also including a set of actuator mounting apertures;

a motorized actuator fixedly attachable to the mounting plate with additional fasteners through the use of the set of actuator mounting apertures, the motorized actuator including a drive shaft extension rotatably controllable by the motorized actuator, the drive shaft extension extendable through the mounting plate;

a drive lever connectable to the drive shaft extension, the drive lever configured to be adjacently disposed in parallel to the cantilevered valve handle;

a quick connect clamp configured to fixedly attach together both the drive lever and the cantilevered valve handle, wherein the quick connect clamp is attachable and removable with just the use of a user'"'"'s hands;

wherein the set of actuator mounting apertures provide at least two positions for the motorized actuator to be fixedly attached to the mounting plate, the at least two positions being disposed along the longitudinal direction.

2. The retrofit motorized actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the quick connect clamp is configured to be attachable and removable without the use of external tools or devices.

3. The retrofit motorized actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the quick connect clamp is a separate part from the drive lever.

4. The retrofit motorized actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the quick connect clamp is part of the drive lever.

5. The retrofit motorized actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the quick connect clamp is a ring configured to slide over and couple together the drive lever and the cantilevered valve handle.

6. The retrofit motorized actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the quick connect clamp is a U-shaped structure with a hand-releasable locking fastener.

7. The retrofit motorized actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the quick connect clamp is a two-part assembly held together with at least one hand-releasable locking fastener.

8. The retrofit motorized actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second pipe clamp each comprise two parts held together with at least one fastener.

9. The retrofit motorized actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the set of actuator mounting apertures includes a centered slot elongated along the longitudinal direction.

10. The retrofit motorized actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the set of actuator mounting apertures includes a plurality of thru holes disposed along the longitudinal direction.

11. The retrofit motorized actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the drive lever includes a drive shaft key aperture configured to match the shape of the drive shaft extension.

12. The retrofit motorized actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the motorized actuator includes at least one set of wires connectable to controlling electronics and/or devices.

13. The retrofit motorized actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the motorized actuator includes a wireless communication system connectable to controlling electronics and/or devices.

14. The retrofit motorized actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the set of actuator mounting apertures provide a plurality of positions for the motorized actuator to be fixedly attached to the mounting plate, the plurality of positions being disposed along the longitudinal direction.

15. A retrofit motorized actuator assembly comprising a plurality of separate components attachable to a portion of a fluid pipe extending along a longitudinal direction having a manually actuated fluid valve connected in series along the portion of the fluid pipe, the fluid valve including a cantilevered valve handle manually rotatable about a valve axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction for opening and closing the fluid valve, the retrofit motorized actuator assembly comprising:

a motorized actuator including a drive shaft extension rotatably controllable by the motorized actuator about a drive shaft axis;

a mounting assembly configured to fixedly attach to the portion of the fluid pipe and also fixedly position the motorized actuator wherein the drive shaft axis of the motorized actuator is aligned with the valve axis;

a drive lever connectable or connected to the drive shaft extension, the drive lever configured to be adjacently disposed in parallel to the cantilevered valve handle;

a quick connect clamp configured to fixedly attach together both the drive lever and the cantilevered valve handle, wherein the quick connect clamp is attachable and removable with just the use of a user'"'"'s hands, wherein the quick connect clamp is a ring configured to slide over and couple together the drive lever and the cantilevered valve handle, wherein the ring of the quick connect clamp is a single ring or a rigid ring.

16. A retrofit motorized actuator assembly comprising a plurality of separate components attachable to a portion of a fluid pipe extending along a longitudinal direction having a manually actuated fluid valve connected in series along the portion of the fluid pipe, the fluid valve including a cantilevered valve handle manually rotatable about a valve axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction for opening and closing the fluid valve, the retrofit motorized actuator assembly comprising:

a motorized actuator including a drive shaft extension rotatably controllable by the motorized actuator about a drive shaft axis;

a mounting assembly configured to fixedly attach to the portion of the fluid pipe and also fixedly position the motorized actuator wherein the drive shaft axis of the motorized actuator is aligned with the valve axis;

a quick connect clamp configured to fixedly attach together both the drive shaft extension and the cantilevered valve handle, wherein the quick connect clamp is attachable and removable with just the use of a user'"'"'s hands, wherein the quick connect clamp is a ring configured to slide over and couple together the drive lever and the cantilevered valve handle, wherein the ring of the quick connect clamp is a single ring or a rigid ring.

17. A retrofit motorized actuator assembly comprising a plurality of separate components attachable to a portion of a fluid pipe extending along a longitudinal direction having a manually actuated fluid valve connected in series along the portion of the fluid pipe, the fluid valve including a cantilevered valve handle manually rotatable about a valve axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction for opening and closing the fluid valve, the retrofit motorized actuator assembly comprising:

a first and second pipe clamp each configured to fixedly attach to the portion of the fluid pipe on either side of the fluid valve;

a first and second adjustable bracket fixedly attachable to their respective first and second pipe clamps, each adjustable bracket translatably adjustable in relation to the pipe clamp in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;

a mounting plate including a first set of bracket mounting apertures disposed at one end of the mounting plate and a second set of bracket mounting apertures disposed at the other end of the mounting plate, the first and second set of bracket mounting apertures used to fixedly attach to their respective adjustable brackets with fasteners, the mounting plate also including a set of actuator mounting apertures, wherein the set of actuator mounting apertures includes a centered slot elongated along the longitudinal direction;

a motorized actuator fixedly attachable to the mounting plate with additional fasteners through the use of the set of actuator mounting apertures, the motorized actuator including a drive shaft extension rotatably controllable by the motorized actuator, the drive shaft extension extendable through the mounting plate;

a drive lever connectable to the drive shaft extension, the drive lever configured to be adjacently disposed in parallel to the cantilevered valve handle;

a quick connect clamp configured to fixedly attach together both the drive lever and the cantilevered valve handle, wherein the quick connect clamp is attachable and removable with just the use of a user'"'"'s hands.