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Torque measuring apparatus for valve operating system

  • US 4,787,245 A
  • Filed: 05/13/1987
  • Issued: 11/29/1988
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1987
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. In combination:

  • a stem driving gear mounted for rotation within a valve actuator housing about an axis of rotation, said stem driving gear including an inner surface in driving communication with a valve stem and an outer surface, said outer surface defining, at least, a gear engaging portion;

    a worm driven by a worm shaft and in driving communication with said gear engaging portion of said outer surface of said stem driving gear,a stationary member mounted to said actuator housing;

    a load measuring means mounted to said stationary member at a determinable distance from said axis of rotation of said stem driving gear for measuring a force generated thereat;

    a moving member mounted for rotation about said axis of rotation of said stem driving gear, said moving member including, at least, a gear interfacing means for effecting rotation of said moving member with said stem driving gear, and said moving member further comprising load cell engaging means for engagement with said load measuring means at some point along the path of rotation of said moving member and at a determinable distance from said axis of rotation of said stem driving gear, and for generating, in cooperation with said stationary member and in response to said engagement, counter-rotation force at said load measuring means, which counter-rotation force resists rotation of said moving member about said axis of rotation,whereby the driven worm gear effects rotation of the stem driving gear about its axis of rotation, which effects rotation of the moving arm assembly about the axis of rotation and engagement of the moving arm assembly with the load measuring means and generation of force measured at the load measuring means.

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