# US 10,371,275 B2 · Actuator having electric drive for actuating a valve device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,275 B2 - Document ID: US10371275B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/513,485 - Filed: 2014-10-10 - Published: 2017-08-31 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-10 - Assignees: OneSubsea IP UK Limited - Applicants: Onesubsea IP UK Limited - Inventors: Norbert Lenz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371275B2 ## CPC - F16K 31/04: using a motor - F16H 25/2252: {Planetary rollers between nut and screw} - F16K 31/504: {the actuating means being rotable, rising, and having internal threads which co-operate with threads on the outside of the valve body} - H02K 16/04: Machines with one rotor and two stators - F16H 2025/2078: {the rotor being integrated with the nut or screw body} - F16K 31/44: Mechanical actuating means - F16K 31/50: with screw-spindle {or internally threaded actuating means} - H02K 7/06: Means for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion or vice versa - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - F16H: GEARING - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) ## Abstract Actuator for actuating a valve device comprising an electric drive (14) being operatively engaged to an actuating element (1) of the valve device, the electric drive (14) comprising at least one torque motor (2) which drives a hollow shaft (3) as an internal rotor, that positions a threaded drive (4) having a screw nut (6) and a threaded spindle (5) for converting the rotational movement of the hollow shaft (3) into a translational movement of the threaded spindle (5), and the threaded spindle (5) acts upon the actuating element (1) for displacing the same, wherein the threaded drive (4) comprises an inverted roller screw (4.1), and the screw nut (6) of the inverted roller screw (4.1) houses the threaded spindle (5) as a push rod. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: providing a torque motor with an internal rotor having a hollow shaft; securing a screw nut with the hollow shaft such that a thread of the screw nut is oriented in a radially inward direction; positioning a threaded spindle within the screw nut and in operational engagement with the screw nut such that rotation of the thread via rotation of the screw nut by the hollow shaft causes linear movement of the threaded spindle; locating at least one passage laterally through a wall of the hollow shaft to enable communication of fluid between an interior and an exterior of the hollow shaft; and coupling the threaded spindle to a linear actuating element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising connecting the linear actuating element to a valve and operating the torque motor to rotate the screw nut so as to cause linear movement of the linear actuator element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising countering axial loading on the linear actuating element via engagement of an outer collar of the screw nut and an inner collar of the hollow shaft. ### Claim 4 A device for actuating a valve, comprising: an actuator engageable with the valve via an actuating element, the actuator having: an electric drive comprising at least one torque motor; a hollow shaft within the torque motor and directly driven by the torque motor for movement in a rotational manner; and a threaded drive which is driven directly by the hollow shaft, the threaded drive comprising a screw nut having an internal thread; and a threaded spindle coupled to the actuating element and movably engaged with the screw nut such that rotation of the screw nut via the electric drive causes the threaded spindle to move linearly which, in turn, moves the actuating element linearly, wherein the hollow shaft is supported radially and axially in an actuator housing for rotation with respect to the actuator housing via the torque motor and further wherein the actuator housing may be filled with a fluid for adjusting internal housing pressure relative to external housing pressure, the hollow shaft having a fluid passage therethrough which allows communication of the fluid between an interior and an exterior of the hollow shaft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device as recited in claim 4, wherein the hollow shaft is formed with a wall having a thickness, in a zone of engagement with the torque motor, of at least one third the diameter of the threaded spindle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The device as recited in claim 4, wherein the internal thread of the screw nut is selected to provide self-locking of the actuator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The device as recited in claim 4, wherein the hollow shaft surrounds the screw nut along an axial extent of the hollow shaft, the axial extent being at least as great as the length of the screw nut. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The device as recited in claim 4, wherein a locking connector is formed between the screw nut and the hollow shaft to ensure the screw nut rotates with the hollow shaft. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The device as recited in claim 4, wherein the threaded spindle is movably engaged with the screw nut via a roller set. ### Claim 10 A system, comprising: an actuator having an actuating element linearly movable between actuating positions, the actuator comprising: a torque motor having a stator and a rotor; a hollow shaft, the rotor being arranged on the hollow shaft to form a combined internal rotor of the torque motor; a screw nut disposed within the hollow shaft and rotatably driven by the hollow shaft, the screw nut having an outer collar engaged with an inner collar of the hollow shaft to counter axial loading on the screw nut, the outer collar further being rotationally locked to the inner collar; a threaded spindle coupled to the actuating element and movably engaged with the screw nut such that rotation of the screw nut via the torque motor causes the threaded spindle to move linearly which, in turn, moves the actuating element linearly and wherein the hollow shaft having a fluid passage therethrough which allows communication of the fluid between an interior and an exterior of the hollow shaft. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the actuator element is configured for coupling to a valve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the outer collar and the inner collar are locked to each other in a rotational direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the screw nut has an internal thread by which the screw nut is coupled with the threaded spindle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the threaded spindle is movably engaged with the screw nut via a roller set. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the internal thread of the screw nut has a helix angle which provides self-locking such that the actuating element is not moved by axial forces acting on the actuating element when power is not supplied to the torque motor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the hollow shaft is formed by a wall having a thickness, in a zone of engagement with the torque motor, of at least one third the diameter of the threaded spindle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the hollow shaft surrounds the screw nut along an axial extent of the hollow shaft, the axial extent being at least as great as the length of the screw nut.