METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR ACTUATION
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An actuator arrangement comprising:
- a first piston assembly moveable between a first position and a second position; and
a second piston assembly moveable between a third position and a fourth position;
the second piston assembly being selectively movable between the third position and the fourth position when the first piston assembly is in the first position; and
wherein the first piston assembly moves the second piston assembly to the fourth position when the first piston assembly moves to the second position.
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Abstract
The present application relates to an arrangement for selectively providing a plurality of output forces, such as for example, a higher and a lower output force or a predetermined, time dependent output force. In one embodiment, a first piston assembly is moveable between a first and a second position and a second piston assembly moveable between a third and a fourth position. When the first piston assembly is in the first position, the second piston assembly is selectively movable between the third position and the fourth position. When the first piston assembly moves the second position, it moves the second piston assembly to the fourth position.
33 Citations
40 Claims
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1. An actuator arrangement comprising:
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a first piston assembly moveable between a first position and a second position; and a second piston assembly moveable between a third position and a fourth position; the second piston assembly being selectively movable between the third position and the fourth position when the first piston assembly is in the first position; and
wherein the first piston assembly moves the second piston assembly to the fourth position when the first piston assembly moves to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An actuator arrangement comprising:
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a first actuator; and a second actuator engageable by the first actuator; wherein the second actuator is capable of supplying a first amount of force independent of the first actuator; and wherein the first actuator, acting through the second actuator, is capable of selectively supplying a second amount of force, which is greater than the first amount of force. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A valve assembly, comprising:
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a first actuator comprising; a first housing portion defining a first compartment; and a first piston assembly slideably disposed in the first compartment; a second actuator engageable by the first actuator, the second actuator comprising; a second housing portion coupled to the first housing portion, the second housing portion defining a second compartment; and a second piston assembly slideably disposed in the second compartment; a valve body assembled with the second actuator, the valve body defining a flow path, and a sealing member engageable with the valve body to seal the flow path; wherein the second actuator is capable of selectively applying a first amount of force, independent of the first actuator, to the sealing member to seal the flow path; and wherein, the first actuator is capable of selectively applying a second amount of force, through the second actuator, to the sealing member to seal the flow path. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of controlling a valve, comprising:
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using a first amount of actuation force for closing the valve to control fluid flow through the valve; and using a second amount of actuation force for maintaining the valve in a closed position; wherein the first amount of actuation force is greater than the second amount of actuation force. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 25, 26, 27)
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24. A method of supplying output force from an actuator, comprising:
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moving a first movable actuator member out of engagement with a second movable actuator member; moving the second movable actuator member independent of the first moveable actuator member to supply a first amount force; and moving the first movable actuator member into engagement with the second movable actuator member to move both the first and second movable actuator members to supply a second amount of force.
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28. A method of controlling an actuator, comprising:
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providing a first amount of output force from the actuator in response to a first input signal; and providing a second amount of output force from the actuator after a predetermined period of time after receiving the a first input signal. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of operating a pressure actuated device, comprising the steps of:
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supplying a first amount of pressure to an actuator to move the device to a first position; reducing the amount of pressure to a second amount to move the device to a second position; and reducing the pressure from the second amount to a third amount while the device is generally maintained in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. An arrangement for operating an actuated device, comprising:
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a pressure driven actuator adapted to cycle between a first position and a second position; a pressure retention device for maintaining an amount of pressure in the actuator when the actuator is in the second position; and a vent path capable of releasing pressure from the actuator maintained by the pressure retention device while the actuator remains in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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40. An arrangement for use with a high cycle frequency valve, the system comprising an actuator,
a pressure source capable of pressurizing the actuator; -
a vent path capable of releasing pressure from the actuator; a switching device for selectively placing the actuator in fluid communication with the pressure source and the vent path to move the actuator between a first and second position; a pressure retention device for limiting the amount of pressure released from the actuator through the vent path; and a leak path for releasing the pressure retained in the actuator by the pressure retention device.
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Specification