BLAST VALVE ACTUATOR

• US 3,643,583 A
• Filed: 01/21/1969
• Issued: 02/22/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Norman George Fritz
• Inventors: Fritz, Norman George
• Primary Examiner(s): Perlin, Meyer
• Application Number:
  US04/792,263
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 137/463 251/73 98/119
• US Class Current: 454/194
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/221 specially adapted operating means therefor operating means per se F16K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/02 electric F16K31/004 takes precedence; magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/44 Mechanical actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 35/16 with locking member actuated by magnet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 454/902 Air raid shelter ventilation

Abstract

Blast valve assemblies having a rotary or butterfly-type valve member and an actuator including a valve-closing mechanism which is cocked in an inoperative configuration when the valve is open. Pressure on the valve member or a signal to a solenoid incorporated in the actuator unlatches the valve-closing mechanism which slams the valve to its closed position. Reset mechanism is incorporated in the actuator to recock the closure mechanism and reopen the valve.

Claims

1. An actuator for a valve having a valve member movable between open and closed positions comprising resilient biasing means;

a motion transmitting linkage having a rectilinearly movable input member operatively connected to said resilient biasing means and an output member adapted to be operatively connected to the valve member;

retaining means for retaining said resilient biasing means in a compressed configuration, said last-mentioned means comprising a pivotally mounted lever, a plurality of relatively movable elements carried by said lever, one of said elements being engageable with abutment means on the input member of the motion-transmitting linkage, and means for normally maintaining said relatively movable elements aligned along an axis parallel to the direction of movement of said input member to restrain said member and the resilient biasing means against movement; and

means for moving at least one of said movable elements out of alignment with the remainder of said elements to remove the restraint upon the input member and resilient biasing means.

2. The actuator of claim 1, wherein said retaining means further includes means biasing said lever about its pivot axis toward a position in which the relatively movable elements are aligned along the axis parallel to the direction of movement of the input member of the motion-transmitting linkage.

3. The actuator of claim 1, together with means operable by the movement of one of said relatively movable elements in one direction generally at right angles to the direction of movement of the input member of the motion-transmitting mechanism out of its aligned position to displace another of said elements out of its aligned position in the opposite direction.

4. The combination of a pivotally mounted valve member movable between open and closed positions and an actuator for said valve member, said actuator comprising resilient biasing means;

means for retaining said resilient biasing means in a compressed configuration;

a motion-transmitting linkage operatively connected between said resilient biasing means and said valve member which includes a member fixed for rotation with said valve member for displacing said retaining means to permit said resilient biasing means to restore to its uncompressed configuration and concomitantly actuate said motion-transmitting linkage so as to move the valve member from its open position to its closed position;

shock-absorbing means engageable by said fixed member as valve member approaches its closed position to cushion the impact on the components of the valve actuator as the valve member reaches said closed position; and

means for thereafter recompressing said resilient biasing means and resetting said retaining means to the configuration in which it maintains said biasing means in said compressed configuration.

5. The combination of claim 4, together with means for indicating the position of the movable valve member.

6. The combination of a valve member movable between open and closed positions and an actuator for said valve member said actuator comprising resilient biasing means;

means for retaining said resilient biasing means in a compressed configuration;

a motion-transmitting linkage operatively connected between said resilient biasing means and said valve member which comprises first and second relatively movable members, one of said members being engageable with said resilient biasing means and the means for retaining the resilient biasing means in the compressed configuration being connected to the second of said members for movement therewith;

means for displacing said retaining means to permit said resilient biasing means to restore to its uncompressed configuration and concomitantly actuate said motion-transmitting linkage so as to move the valve member from its open position to its closed position; and

means for thereafter recompressing said resilient biasing means and resetting said retaining means to the configuration in which it maintains said biasing means in said compressed configuration, said last-mentioned means including means for moving the second member relative to the first member in a first direction;

means for restoring said retaining means to the position in which it is capable of maintaining the resilient biasing means in a compressed configuration as said second member moves in said first direction; and

means for thereafter moving said first and second members in a second direction to recompress said resilient biasing means.

7. The combination of a valve member movable between open and closed positions and an actuator for said valve member, said actuator comprising resilient biasing means;

means for retaining said resilient biasing means in a compressed configuration;

a motion-transmitting linkage operatively connected between said resilient biasing means and said valve member, the motion-transmitting linkage comprising first and second relatively movable members, one of said members being engageable with said resilient biasing means, the second relatively movable member of the motion-transmitting linkage being threaded into a fixed actuator component, and the means for retaining the resilient biasing means in the compressed configuration being connected to the second of said members for movement therewith;

means for displacing said retaining means to permit said resilient biasing means to restore to its uncompressed configuration and concomitantly actuate said motion-transmitting linkage so as to move the valve member from its open position to its closed position; and

means for thereafter recompressing said resilient biasing means and resetting said retaining means to the configuration in which it maintains said biasing means in said compressed configuration, the means for resetting said retaining means and recompressing said resilient biasing means comprising means for moving the second member relative to the first member in a first direction;

means for restoring said retaining means to the position in which it is capable of maintaining the resilient biasing means in a compressed configuration as said second member moves in said first direction; and

means for thereafter moving said first and second members in a second direction to recompress said resilient biasing means, the means for moving said first member comprising drive means for rotating said member.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein said drive means coMprises a motor drive connected to said first member.

9. The combination of claim 7, wherein said drive means comprises means for rotating said first member manually.

10. The combination of a valve member movable between open and closed positions and an actuator for said valve member, said actuator comprising resilient biasing means;

means for retaining said resilient biasing means in a compressed configuration;

a motion-transmitting linkage operatively connected between said resilient biasing means and said valve member which comprises a rectilinearly movable input element engageable by said resilient biasing means, an output member fixed relative to said valve member for rotation therewith, and an intermediate link pivotally fixed at one end relative to said input member and pivotally fixed at the opposite end to said output member;

means for displacing said retaining means to permit said resilient biasing means to restore to its uncompressed configuration and concomitantly actuate said motion-transmitting linkage so as to move the valve member from its open position to its closed position; and

means for thereafter recompressing said resilient biasing means and resetting said retaining means to the configuration in which it maintains said biasing means in said compressed configuration.

11. The combination of a valve member movable between open and closed positions and an actuator for said valve member, said actuator comprising resilient biasing means;

means for retaining said resilient biasing means in a compressed configuration;

a motion transmitting linkage operatively connected between said resilient biasing means and said valve member which comprises first and second relatively movable members, one of said members being engageable with said resilient biasing means and the means for retaining the resilient biasing means in the compressed configuration being connected to the second of said members for movement therewith;

means for displacing said retaining means to permit said resilient biasing means to restore to its uncompressed configuration and concomitantly actuate said motion-transmitting linkage so as to move the valve member from its open position to its closed position; and

means for thereafter recompressing said resilient biasing means and resetting said retaining means to the configuration in which it maintains said biasing means in said compressed configuration which comprises means for moving the second member relative to the first member in a first direction, means for restoring said retaining means to the position in which it is capable of maintaining the resilient biasing means in a compressed configuration as said second member moves in said first direction, and means for thereafter moving said first and second members in a second direction to recompress said resilient biasing means, said last-mentioned means including an electric motor, a first switch means for reversing the direction of rotation of said motor when said first member has moved in the first direction a distance sufficient to effect reset of said retaining means and second switch means for deenergizing said motor when said first and second members have moved a distance sufficient to recompress the resilient biasing means to its compressed configuration.

12. The combination of a valve member movable between open and closed positions and an actuator for said valve member, said actuator comprising resilient biasing means;

pivotally mounted means for retaining said resilient biasing means in a compressed configuration;

a motion-transmitting linkage operatively connected between said resilient biasing means and said valve member;

means for displacing said retaining means to permit said resilient biasing means to restore to its uncompressed configuration and concomitantly actuate said motion-transmitting linkage so as to move the valve member from its open position to its closed position, the means for displacing the retaining means comprising a trigger;

means biasing said trigger toward a Retaining means displacing position;

a latch engageable with said trigger to retain it in an inoperative position against the restraint exerted by said biasing means; and

means for freeing said trigger from the restraint exerted by said latch whereby said trigger will move toward said retaining means to effect a displacement of said retaining means and consequent closing of the valve member; and

means for thereafter recompressing said resilient biasing means and resetting said retaining means to the configuration in which it maintains said biasing means in said compressed configuration, which comprises a fixedly positioned cam and means for so moving said retaining means relative to said cam as to cause said cam to pivotally restore said retaining means to the position in which it is capable of retaining the resilient biasing means in the compressed configuration, said retaining means concomitantly engaging and restoring said trigger to its inoperative position for engagement and retention by said latch.

13. The combination of a valve member movable between open and closed positions and an actuator for said valve member, said actuator comprising resilient biasing means;

means for retaining said resilient biasing means in a compressed configuration;

a motion-transmitting linkage operatively connected between said resilient biasing means and said valve member;

means for displacing said retaining means to permit said resilient biasing means to restore to its uncompressed configuration and concomitantly actuate said motion-transmitting linkage so as to move the valve member from its open position to its closed position, the means for displacing the retaining means comprising a pivotally mounted trigger;

means biasing said trigger toward a retaining means displacing position;

a latch engageable with said trigger to retain it in an inoperative position against the restraint exerted by said biasing means; and

means for freeing said trigger from the restraint exerted by said latch whereby said trigger will move toward said retaining means to effect a displacement of said retaining means and consequent closing of the valve member, said trigger having a first leg provided with means engageable by said latch to retain the trigger in the inoperative position;

a second leg engageable with said retaining means to displace it from the position in which it retains said resilient biasing means in the compressed configuration; and

a third leg, said biasing means being engaged with said third leg; and

means for thereafter recompressing said resilient biasing means and resetting said retaining means to the configuration in which it maintains said biasing means in said compressed configuration.

14. The combination of claim 13, wherein said retaining means includes a plurality of relatively movable elements displacement of any one of which from a position in which it is aligned with the remainder of the elements will free said retaining means for displacement from the position in which said retaining means retains said resilient biasing means in the compressed configuration and wherein the displacement effecting means on said second leg comprises a projection engageable with one of said relatively movable elements to displace said element upon pivotal movement of said trigger under the influence of the biasing means associated therewith.

15. The combination of claim 13, wherein the latch engageable means of said first trigger leg comprises a recess in the end thereof opposite that at which the trigger is pivoted and wherein said latch comprises a pivotally mounted member adjacent said recessed end of said first trigger leg and a detent carried by said latch and located opposite said recess, and means for pivoting said latch about its pivot axis to seat said detent in the recess in the trigger leg.

16. The combination of a valve member movable between open and closed positions and an actuator for said valve member said actuator comprising resilient biasing means;

means for retaining saId resilient biasing means in a compressed configuration;

a motion-transmitting linkage operatively connected between said resilient biasing means and said valve member;

means for displacing said retaining means to permit said resilient biasing means to restore to its uncompressed configuration and concomitantly actuate said motion-transmitting linkage so as to move the valve member from its open position to its closed position, the means for displacing the retaining means comprising a trigger;

means biasing said trigger toward a retaining means displacing position;

a latch engageable with said trigger to retain it in an inoperative position against the restraint exerted by said biasing means; and

means for freeing said trigger from the restraint exerted by said latch, whereby said trigger will move toward said retaining means to effect a displacement of said retaining means and consequent closing of the valve member, said last-mentioned means comprising a pivotally mounted double-armed crank having one arm engageable with said trigger to free it from the restraint exerted by said latch and means so operatively connecting said motion-transmitting linkage to the other arm of said crank that movement of the valve member toward its closed position exceeding a minimum magnitude will through said linkage move said one arm of said crank a distance sufficient to free said trigger from the restraint exerted by said latch; and

means for thereafter recompressing said resilient biasing means and resetting said retaining means to the configuration in which it maintains said biasing means in said compressed configuration.

17. The combination of a valve member movable between open and closed positions and a actuator for said valve member, said actuator comprising resilient biasing means;

means for retaining said resilient biasing means in a compressed configuration;

a motion-transmitting mechanism operatively connected between said resilient biasing means and said valve member which comprises an input member engageable by said resilient biasing means, an output member operably connected to said valve member, an intermediate link disposed between said input and output members, first means operably connecting said intermediate link to said output member, and second means so connecting said intermediate link to said input member as to permit limited relative movement therebetween, whereby overpressure-generated movement of said valve member will effect movement of said intermediate link irrespective of the absence of movement of said input member;

means for displacing said retaining means to permit said resilient biasing means to restore to its uncompressed configuration and concomitantly actuate said motion-transmitting linkage so as to move the valve member from its open position to its closed position, the means for displacing the retaining means comprising a trigger;

means biasing said trigger toward a retaining means displacing position;

a latch engageable with said trigger to retain it in an inoperative position against the restraint exerted by said biasing means; and

means for freeing said trigger from the restraint exerted by said latch whereby said trigger will move toward said retaining means to effect a displacement of said retaining means and consequent closing of the valve member, the means for freeing the trigger from the restraint exerted by the latch comprising a pivotally mounted double-armed crank having one arm engageable with said trigger to free it from the restraint exerted by said latch and means so operatively connecting said motion-transmitting linkage to the other arm of said crank that movement of the valve member toward its closed position exceeding a minimum magnitude will through said linkage move said one arm of said crank a distance sufficient to free said trigger from the restraint exerted by said latch, the means operatively connecting the pivotally mounted crank to the motion-transmitting mechanism comprising means pivotally connecting said other arm of said crAnk to said intermediate link; and

means for thereafter recompressing said resilient biasing means and resetting said retaining means to the configuration in which it maintains said biasing means in said compressed configuration.

18. The combination of claim 17, together with means operatively disposed between said input member and said intermediate link and biasing said link in a direction in which said link tends to maintain said valve member in a fully open position and to maintain said one arm of said double-armed crank out of engagement with said trigger.

19. An actuator for a valve having a valve member movable between open and closed positions comprising resilient biasing means;

a motion-transmitting linkage having a rectilinearly movable input member operatively connected to said resilient biasing means and an output member adapted to be operatively connected to the valve member;

retaining means for retaining said resilient biasing means in a compressed configuration, said last-mentioned means comprising a pivotally mounted lever, a plurality of relatively movable elements carried by said lever, said relatively movable elements being rollers oriented with their longitudinal axes at right angles relative to the direction of movement of the input member of the motion-transmitting mechanism with the end portions of said rollers disposed in cooperating grooves in said lever so configured as to permit relative movement between the rollers and the lever and one of said elements being engageable with abutment means on the input member of the motion-transmitting linkage, and means for normally maintaining said relatively movable elements aligned along an axis parallel to the direction of movement of said input member to restrain said member and the resilient biasing means against movement; and

means for moving at least one of said movable elements out of alignment with the remainder of said elements to remove the restraint upon the input member and resilient biasing means.

20. The actuator of claim 19, wherein the abutment means on the input member of the motion transmitting mechanism comprises a shoulder on said member and a cylindrical member fixed to said input member in juxtaposition to said shoulder, the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical member lying in the same plane as the axes of the relatively movable rollers with the retaining means in the position in which it retains the resilient biasing means in the compressed configuration.

21. An actuator for a valve having a valve member movable between open and closed positions comprising resilient biasing means;

a motion-transmitting linkage having a rectilinearly movable input member operatively connected to said resilient biasing means and an output member adapted to be operatively connected to the valve member;

retaining means for retaining said resilient biasing means in a compressed configuration, said last-mentioned means comprising a pivotally mounted lever, a plurality of relatively movable elements carried by said lever, one of said elements being engageable with abutment means on the input member of the motion-transmitting linkage, and means for normally maintaining said relatively movable elements aligned along an axis parallel to the direction of movement of said input member to restrain said member and the resilient biasing means against movement;

means for moving at least one of said movable elements out of alignment with the remainder of said elements to remove the restraint upon the input member and resilient biasing means; and

means operable by the movement of one of said relatively movable elements in one direction generally at right angles to the direction of movement of the input member of the motion-transmitting mechanism out of its aligned position to displace another of said elements out of its aligned position in the opposite direction, said last-mentioned means comprising a member mounted for rocking movement along an axis parallel to the direction of movement of the input memBer of the motion-transmitting mechanism, first and second members disposed between said rockable member and different ones of said relatively movable elements, said first and second members being on opposite sides of the axis about which said rockable member rocks, and means biasing said rockable member into engagement with said first and second members and said first and second members into engagement with the associated relatively movable elements, whereby movement of one of the elements associated with said first and second members in said one direction out of its aligned position will effect movement of the other of the relatively movable elements associated with said first and second members out of its aligned position in said opposite direction.