Universal retrofit valve actuator and system
First Claim
1. A valve actuator in a system for driving a valve stem to open or close a valve, said actuator being anchorable in a fixed position with regard to the valve opposed to the valve stem, said actuator including a drive gear, means to drive said drive gear, said drive gear being rotatable and including at least one elongated drive cam having a first driving surface and a second driving surface, a lug including at least one drive cam having a first driven surface and a second driven surface, said lug being mounted on the valve stem for rotation therewith, said drive cam being engagable with said driven cam when said actuator is anchored in fixed position opposed to said lug, said first surfaces of said drive cam and of said driven cam being engagable to rotate said lug in one direction, said second surfaces of said drive cam and of said driven cam being engagable to rotate said lug in another direction, and all said respective surfaces of said drive cam and said driven cam being spaced apart from each other when not engaged, whereby there is play between all said surfaces, said actuator including a bottom portion open to the valve stem, said bottom portion having a periphery with at least one slotted opening having a lock notch for selective stationary mounting of said actuator on the valve.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An actuator has a drive gear set to interact with a driven lug to rotate the lug and whatever the lug is fixed to. The actuator must be separately anchored to interact with the lug. The drive gear and the lug have cams that are spaced apart, so that when the lug is fixed to an object which is off its linear axis, there is play in the gear relationship to allow rotation to function. In a system with an actuator, such as a thermostat, temperature can be controlled by turning a valve on a radiator on and off. End of travel is sensed by a current surge stopping the acutation. The system is ideal to operate radiators in a steam heat system.
23 Citations
18 Claims
- 1. A valve actuator in a system for driving a valve stem to open or close a valve, said actuator being anchorable in a fixed position with regard to the valve opposed to the valve stem, said actuator including a drive gear, means to drive said drive gear, said drive gear being rotatable and including at least one elongated drive cam having a first driving surface and a second driving surface, a lug including at least one drive cam having a first driven surface and a second driven surface, said lug being mounted on the valve stem for rotation therewith, said drive cam being engagable with said driven cam when said actuator is anchored in fixed position opposed to said lug, said first surfaces of said drive cam and of said driven cam being engagable to rotate said lug in one direction, said second surfaces of said drive cam and of said driven cam being engagable to rotate said lug in another direction, and all said respective surfaces of said drive cam and said driven cam being spaced apart from each other when not engaged, whereby there is play between all said surfaces, said actuator including a bottom portion open to the valve stem, said bottom portion having a periphery with at least one slotted opening having a lock notch for selective stationary mounting of said actuator on the valve.
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14. A valve actuating system for operating a valve having stationary structure and a stem rotatable thereon for opening and closing the valve and from which a manually operable valve handle has been removed, said system comprising:
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a body adapted to be mounted on the stationary structure of the valve; lug means mounted on the stem and including first cam means; annular gear means rotatably mounted on said body and including second cam means engageable with said first cam means; mounting means for releasably fixing said body on the stationary structure of the valve, said mounting means including; a centering cap overlying the stationary structure; an integral annular skirt encompassing the stationary structure; and a plurality of first screw fastener threadedly engaged with said annular skirt at circumferentially spaced locations and extending to terminal ends with the stationary structure; and drive means on said body operably engaged with said annular gear means for rotating said annular gear means; whereby, with rotation of said annular gear means, said second cam means engages said first cam means to rotate the stem of the valve. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification