No-bolt security latching system

A system for securing a valve actuator to a body of a valve assembly, the system comprising:

• an actuator housing having an axis, a valve end, a sealed pressure chamber, and a plurality of housing lugs spaced apart around a circumference of the actuator housing, the housing defining a plurality of housing slots therebetween;
• a valve stem, a portion of the valve stem being positioned within the actuator housing, and another portion of the valve stem extending from the valve end of the actuator housing and operable to be connected to a valve, the valve stem moving axially between an extended position and a retracted position;
• a body of the valve assembly operable to be connected to the actuator housing, the body having a plurality of body lugs spaced apart around a circumference of the body, the body lugs defining a plurality of body slots therebetween, wherein each of the housing lugs are sized to pass axially through a respective one of the body slots and the sealed pressure chamber is maintained when the actuator housing is in a released position and, after passing through the body slots, the actuator housing being rotatable to a locked position where at least a portion of one or more of the housing lugs is axially aligned with a portion of a respective body lug such that the body lugs prevent axial movement of the actuator housing in at least one direction;
• and
• a securing mechanism selectively preventing relative rotation between the actuator housing and the body, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a movable latch feature positioned within a latch body connected to one of the actuator housing and the bonnet, the movable latch feature being translatable within a passage between an unlocked position that enables relative rotation between the actuator housing and the bonnet and a locked position that prevents relative rotation between the actuator housing and the bonnet;
• wherein the valve stem is unsecured in an axial direction within the actuator housing so that the body is separated from the valve stem when the actuator housing is in the released position and the body is removed from the actuator housing.

A method for securing a valve actuator to a body of a valve assembly, the method comprising:

• providing an actuator housing having an axis, a valve end, a sealed pressure chamber, and a plurality of housing lugs spaced apart around a circumference of the actuator housing, the housing lugs defining a plurality of housing slots therebetween;
• positioning a portion of a valve stem being within the actuator housing, and extending another portion of the valve stem from the valve end of the actuator housing, the valve stem operable to be connected to a valve and moving axially between an extended position and a retracted position;
• passing the valve stem through a bonnet that is operable to be connected to the valve, the valve stem limited in an axial direction by the bonnet, the bonnet having a plurality of bonnet lugs spaced apart around a circumference of the bonnet, the bonnet lugs defining a plurality of bonnet slots therebetween;
• passing each of the housing lugs axially through a respective one of the bonnet slots so that the actuator housing is in a released position with the sealed pressure chamber maintained and, after passing through the bonnet slots, rotating the actuator housing to a locked position where at least a portion of one or more of the housing lugs is axially aligned with a portion of a respective bonnet lug such that the bonnet lugs prevent axial movement of the actuator housing in at least one direction, the actuator housing rotating less than one full revolution between the released and locked positions;
• providing a securing mechanism for preventing relative rotation between the actuator housing and the bonnet, wherein the securing mechanism includes an electric locking mechanism comprising a solenoid, the solenoid having a cylinder that extends outwardly from a solenoid body;
• and
• applying an electrical current to the solenoid to drive movement of the cylinder outwardly from the solenoid body.