Position indicator for valves
First Claim
1. An apparatus for indicating the position of a valve having a reciprocating member arranged for reciprocal motion to open and close the valve, said apparatus comprising:
- a support body including a generally cylindrical indicator bore extending through at least one side thereof along a line oriented generally perpendicular to the line of reciprocal motion of the reciprocating member;
a shaft rotatably disposed within the indicator bore;
means on said shaft forming a pinion;
means connected to the reciprocating member forming a rack, said rack means engaging said pinion means and being disposed for generally linear motion simultaneous and coextensive with motion of the reciprocating member;
means for sealingly isolating said rack means and said pinion means, said isolating means defining a sealed space isolated from fluids within and without said support body, said sealed space being charged with a fluid medium, surrounding said rack means and said pinion means, for protecting and lubricating said apparatus; and
indicator means for providing an indication of valve position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed herein an apparatus forming a part of an actuator for providing a constant visual display of the position of a valve. Such apparatus comprises an indicator shaft rotatably disposed in a bore which is oriented perpendicularly of and offset from an actuator stem, a rack means on the actuator stem, a pinion means on the indicator shaft, and an indicating means engraved on the end face of the indicator shaft and visible from the exterior of the actuator. The apparatus is sealingly enclosed and immersed in a fluid medium. Linear motion of the actuator stem generates angular motion of the indicator shaft, causing the indicating means to provide a visual display of valve position.
48 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for indicating the position of a valve having a reciprocating member arranged for reciprocal motion to open and close the valve, said apparatus comprising:
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a support body including a generally cylindrical indicator bore extending through at least one side thereof along a line oriented generally perpendicular to the line of reciprocal motion of the reciprocating member; a shaft rotatably disposed within the indicator bore; means on said shaft forming a pinion; means connected to the reciprocating member forming a rack, said rack means engaging said pinion means and being disposed for generally linear motion simultaneous and coextensive with motion of the reciprocating member; means for sealingly isolating said rack means and said pinion means, said isolating means defining a sealed space isolated from fluids within and without said support body, said sealed space being charged with a fluid medium, surrounding said rack means and said pinion means, for protecting and lubricating said apparatus; and indicator means for providing an indication of valve position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An actuator for coupling to a reciprocating member arranged for reciprocal motion to open and close a valve;
- comprising;
an actuator stem engaged to the reciprocating member; means for imparting axial force to said stem to cause the reciprocating member to move between the open and closed positions; a housing enclosing said axial force means; a lower closure member, said lower closure member defining a generally axial bore therethrough; an indicator bore in said lower closure member, said indicator bore being open on at least one end thereof to the exterior of said lower closure member and extending generally pependicular to the axial bore, said indicator bore being offset from but intersecting the axial bore; a shaft rotatably disposed within said indicator bore, the diameter of said indicator bore exceeding the diameter of said shaft, defining therebetween an annular shaft space; rack means forming a part of said actuator stem; pinion means forming a part of said shaft, said pinion means engaging said rack means; means for sealingly isolating said rack means and said pinion means from fluids within and without said housing; indicator means on said shaft for providing an indication of valve position; and a pair of bushings, one of said pair disposed at each end of said indicator bore for rotatably supporting said shaft along the axial centerline of said indicator bore. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- comprising;
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13. In an actuator for coupling to a reciprocating member of a valve comprising a body member having an upper end, a lower end, a hollow interior and an exterior an upper closure member sealingly enclosing the upper end of said body member, a lower closure member sealingly enclosing the lower end of said body member, said lower closure member defining a generally axial bore therethrough, and an actuator stem extending generally coaxially within the interior of said body member and through the axial bore in said lower closure member for engagement with the reciprocating member of the valve, the improvement for indicating the position of the valve, comprising:
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an indicator bore in said lower closure member, said indicator bore being open on at least one end thereof to the exterior of said lower closure member and extending generally perpendicular to the axial bore, said indicator bore being offset from but intersecting the axial bore; a shaft rotatably disposed within said indicator bore; a rack means forming a part of said shaft, said pinion means engaging said rack means; means for sealingly isolating said rack means and said pinion means relative to the hollow interior of said body member and relative to the exterior of said body member; and indicator means on said shaft for providing an indication of valve position. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. An actuator for indicating the position of a valve having a reciprocating member arranged for reciprocal motion to open and close the valve, said actuator comprising:
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a support body including a generally cylindrical indicator bore extending through at least one side thereof along a line oriented generally perpendicular to the line of travel of the reciprocating member; an indicator shaft rotatably disposed within the indicator bore, said indicator shaft having first and second ends; first means on said indicator shaft forming a pinion; means connected to the reciprocating member forming a rack, said rack means engaging said first pinion means; means connected to said support body for sensing angular position, said sensing means comprises a potentiometer having a shaft, said potentiometer being arranged to provide an analog output signal which varies with angular position of the potentiometer shaft; and means for coupling said sensing means to said indicator shaft. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification