US 10,473,233 B2Granted

Actuator for slide valves

AssigneeTapcoEnpro, LLC

InventorsJeremy Lynn Meadows, Eric Dewayne McCorkle

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Actuators for fluid catalytic cracking unit slide valves and similar valves are disclosed. The actuator frame is assembled by bolting, allowing for standardized configurations that permit stocking of parts and avoids prior art problems of dealing with actuators designed for each individual project, allowing for rapid assembly of new actuators on demand that suit each project by varying the incorporated components, as well as permitting for more-rapid servicing when necessary. Additionally, the instrumentation for the actuator is contained within the actuator frame, better protecting the instrumentation from damage such as from being struck. The actuator includes a new manual engagement system, providing for better engagement of manual controls to actuate the actuator and the accompanying valve when necessary.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An actuator for a fluid catalytic cracking unit slide valve, comprising:

a hand-operated wheel operatively connected to a threaded drive shaft such that turning the hand-operated wheel causes the threaded drive shaft to rotate;
a traveling block having an engagement system encompassing the threaded drive shaft, the traveling block comprising:
a manual engagement lever;
a first engagement shaft extending from the manual engagement lever on a first side of the threaded drive shaft, the first engagement shaft being operatively engaged with a first cam;
a second engagement shaft extending substantially parallel to the first engagement shaft on a second side of the threaded drive shaft, the second engagement shaft being operatively engaged with a second cam;
an engagement shaft linkage extending between the first engagement shaft and the second engagement shaft and being operative to translate a rotation of the first engagement shaft into a coordinated rotation of the second engagement shaft;
a split nut comprising:
a first half disposed in the traveling block on the first side of the threaded drive shaft;
and
a second half disposed in the traveling block on the second side of the threaded drive shaft;
a first cam follower extending from the first cam to the first half of the split nut;
and
a second cam follower extending from the second cam to the second half of the split nut;
whereby operating the manual engagement lever causes the first engagement shaft and the second engagement shaft to rotate, operating the first cam and the second cam to force the first half of the split nut and the second half of the split nut together around the threaded drive shaft or to release the first half of the split nut and the second half of the split nut from the threaded drive shaft.

11 more elements

An actuator for a fluid catalytic cracking unit slide valve, comprising:

a hand-operated wheel operatively connected to a first threaded drive shaft and a second threaded drive shaft such that turning the hand-operated wheel causes the first threaded drive shaft and the second threaded drive shaft to rotate;
a traveling block having an engagement system encompassing the first threaded drive shaft and the second threaded drive shaft, the traveling block comprising:
a manual engagement lever;
a first engagement shaft extending from the manual engagement lever on a first side of the first threaded drive shaft, the first engagement shaft being operatively engaged with a first cam and a second cam;
a second engagement shaft extending substantially parallel to the first engagement shaft on a second side of the second threaded drive shaft, the second engagement shaft being operatively engaged with a third cam and a fourth cam;
an engagement shaft linkage extending between the first engagement shaft and the second engagement shaft and being operative to translate a rotation of the first engagement shaft into a coordinated rotation of the second engagement shaft;
a first split nut comprising:
a first half disposed in the traveling block on the first side of the first threaded drive shaft;
and
a second half disposed in the traveling block on the second side of the first threaded drive shaft;
a second split nut comprising:
a first half disposed in the traveling block on the first side of the second threaded drive shaft;
and
a second half disposed in the traveling block on the second side of the second threaded drive shaft;
a first cam follower extending from the first cam to the first half of the first split nut;
a second cam follower extending from the third cam to the second half of the first split nut;
a third cam follower extending from the second cam to the first half of the second split nut;
and
a fourth cam follower extending from the fourth cam to the second half of the second split nut;
whereby operating the manual engagement lever causes the first engagement shaft and the second engagement shaft to rotate, operating the first, second, third, and fourth cams to force the first half of each of the first split nut and the second split nut and the second half of each of the first split nut and the second split nut together around the first threaded drive shaft and the second threaded drive shaft or to release the first half of the first split nut and the second half of the first split nut and the second split nut from the first and second threaded drive shafts.

17 more elements

An actuator for a fluid catalytic cracking unit slide valve, comprising:

a first side plate;
a second side plate;
a first end plate bolted to the first side plate and the second side plate;
and
a second end plate bolted to the first side plate and the second side plate;
a hand-operated wheel operatively connected to a first threaded drive shaft and a second threaded drive shaft such that turning the hand-operated wheel causes the first threaded drive shaft and the second threaded drive shaft to rotate;
a traveling block having an engagement system encompassing the first threaded drive shaft and the second threaded drive shaft, the traveling block comprising:
a manual engagement lever;
a first engagement shaft extending from the manual engagement lever on a first side of the first threaded drive shaft and on a first side of the second threaded drive shaft, the first engagement shaft being operatively engaged with a first cam and a second cam;
a second engagement shaft extending substantially parallel to the first engagement shaft on a second side of the first threaded drive shaft and on a second side of the second threaded drive shaft, the second engagement shaft being operatively engaged with a third cam and a fourth cam;
an engagement shaft linkage extending between the first engagement shaft and the second engagement shaft and being operative to translate a rotation of the first engagement shaft into a coordinated rotation of the second engagement shaft;
a first split nut comprising:
a first half disposed in the traveling block on the first side of the first threaded drive shaft;
and
a second half disposed in the traveling block on the second side of the first threaded drive shaft;
a second split nut comprising:
a first half disposed in the traveling block on the first side of the second threaded drive shaft;
and
a second half disposed in the traveling block on the second side of the second threaded drive shaft;
a first cam follower extending from the first cam to the first half of the first split nut;
and
a second cam follower extending from the third cam to the second half of the first split nut;
a third cam follower extending from the second cam to the first half of the second split nut;
and
a fourth cam follower extending from the fourth cam to the second half of the second split nut;
whereby operating the manual engagement lever causes the first engagement shaft and the second engagement shaft to rotate, operating the first, second, third, and fourth cams to force the first half and the second half of the first split nut together around the first threaded drive shaft and to force the first half and the second half of the second split nut together around the second threaded drive shaft or to release the first half and the second half of the respective split nuts from the respective threaded drive shafts.

23 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/716,798Filed 27 Sep 2017
Published: US 2019/0093789 A128 Mar 2019
Granted: 12 Nov 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

F16K 31/53
Mechanical actuating means: with toothed gearing
F16K 3/00
Gate valves or sliding valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closing members having
F16K 3/0254
With flat sealing faces; Packings therefor: being operated by particular means
F16K 27/003
Construction of housing ; Use of materials therefor: housing formed from a plurality of the same valve elements