Combination diaphragm piston actuator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for actuating a valve, the apparatus comprising:
- a cylindrical housing having a valve end, a cap end, and a sidewall defining an inner diameter (“
ID”
) of the housing;
a cap connected to the cap end of the housing with an inlet located in the cap;
a plate positioned within the housing, the plate having a center portion and an outer diameter (“
OD”
) that slidingly engages the ID of the housing, the OD of the plate being located axially nearer the valve end of the housing than the center portion, the plate moving between an extended position and a retracted position in response to pressure media from the inlet, the plate being nearer the valve end in the extended position than in the retracted position;
an outer diameter sidewall seal located between the ID of the housing and the OD of the plate sealing all flow paths between the ID of the housing and the OD of the plate;
a diaphragm, the diaphragm being fully supported by the plate and the housing when the plate is in the extended position;
a retainer connected to the plate, the retainer operable to engage an inner diameter orifice of a the diaphragm; and
a down stop in contact with the plate, the down stop being urged toward the valve end of the housing when the plate moves toward the extended position, and the down stop being operable to be connected to a valve stem for actuating a valve.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An actuator for operating a linear valve, such as a gate valve, includes a sealing plate that extends across the diameter of a housing. A diaphragm is located on, and fully supported by, the plate. When pressure media urges the diaphragm and sealing plate downward, the sealing plate urges a step downward to actuate a valve. A hub and an annular support plate can be assembled to form the plate, and the plate can be different sizes by selecting different sized annular support plates.
29 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for actuating a valve, the apparatus comprising:
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a cylindrical housing having a valve end, a cap end, and a sidewall defining an inner diameter (“
ID”
) of the housing;a cap connected to the cap end of the housing with an inlet located in the cap; a plate positioned within the housing, the plate having a center portion and an outer diameter (“
OD”
) that slidingly engages the ID of the housing, the OD of the plate being located axially nearer the valve end of the housing than the center portion, the plate moving between an extended position and a retracted position in response to pressure media from the inlet, the plate being nearer the valve end in the extended position than in the retracted position;an outer diameter sidewall seal located between the ID of the housing and the OD of the plate sealing all flow paths between the ID of the housing and the OD of the plate; a diaphragm, the diaphragm being fully supported by the plate and the housing when the plate is in the extended position; a retainer connected to the plate, the retainer operable to engage an inner diameter orifice of a the diaphragm; and a down stop in contact with the plate, the down stop being urged toward the valve end of the housing when the plate moves toward the extended position, and the down stop being operable to be connected to a valve stem for actuating a valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for actuating a valve, the apparatus comprising:
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a cylindrical housing having a valve end, a cap end, and a sidewall, the sidewall defining an inner diameter (“
ID”
) of the housing;a cap connected to the cap end of the housing with an inlet located in the cap; a plate positioned in the housing, the plate having a center portion and an outer diameter (“
OD”
) that slidingly engages the ID of the housing, the OD of the plate being located axially nearer the valve end of the housing than the center portion, the plate moving between an extended position and a retracted position in response to pressure media from the inlet, the plate being nearer the valve end in the extended position than in the retracted position;a down stop operatively connected to the plate such that the plate urges the down stop toward the valve end of the housing when the plate moves to the extended position, the down stop being operable to engage a valve stem; an outer diameter sidewall seal located between the ID of the housing and the OD of the plate sealing all flow paths between the ID of the housing and the OD of the plate; a retainer connected to the plate, the retainer being operable to engage a valve stem; a diaphragm having an outer diameter portion forming a seal between the cap and the housing and an inner diameter forming a seal between the retainer and the plate, the diaphragm being fully supported by the plate and the housing when the plate is in the extended position; and a retainer seal circumscribing an outer diameter of the retainer and spaced apart from the diaphragm, the retainer seal sealing between the outer diameter of the retainer and an inner diameter of the plate. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for actuating a valve, the apparatus comprising:
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a cylindrical housing having a valve end, a cap end, and a sidewall defining an inner diameter (“
ID”
) of the housing;a cap connected to the cap end of the housing with an inlet located in the cap; a plate connected to a down stop, the down stop being operable to be connected to a valve stem, the plate having a center portion and an outer diameter (“
OD”
) that slidingly engages the ID of the housing, the plate moving between an extended position and a retracted position in response to pressure media from the inlet, and the plate not extending axially past the cap end of the housing;a retainer connected to the plate, a diaphragm having an outer diameter portion forming a seal between the cap and the housing and an inner diameter forming a seal between the retainer and the plate, the diaphragm not extending axially past the plate in each of the retracted and extended positions; and an indicator stem connected to the plate and protruding through the cap. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification