Compound express actuator connection

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

• an actuator housing having an actuator axis, a valve end and an opposite outer end, and a plurality of housing lugs spaced apart around a circumference of the actuator housing, the plurality of housing lugs protruding radially to define a plurality of housing slots therebetween;
• a valve stem, a first portion of the valve stem having a valve stem nub with a nub shoulder, and a second portion of the valve stem operable to be connected to a valve;
• a cylinder assembly located within the actuator housing, the cylinder assembly having an inner cylinder sealingly engaging an outer cylinder, the outer cylinder axially moveable relative to the inner cylinder by a change of pressure within a piston chamber of cylinder assembly;
• a receptacle located at an end of the outer cylinder, the receptacle having an opening and a lip adjacent to the opening, the lip sized to engage the nub shoulder, transferring axial movement of the receptacle to axial movement of the valve stem when the valve stem is positioned within the opening;
• a bonnet connectable to the valve end of the actuator housing and having a plurality of bonnet lugs spaced apart around a circumference of the bonnet, the plurality of bonnet lugs protruding radially to define a plurality of bonnet slots therebetween, wherein each of the plurality of housing lugs are sized to pass axially through a respective one of the plurality of bonnet slots when the actuator housing is in a released position, the actuator housing being rotatable to a locked position while maintaining an axial position of the housing relative to the bonnet where at least a portion of one or more of the plurality of housing lugs is axially aligned with a portion of a respective bonnet lug such that the plurality of bonnet lugs prevent axial movement of the actuator housing in at least one direction when the actuator housing is in the locked position.

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

• providing an actuator housing having an actuator axis, a plurality of housing lugs spaced apart around a circumference of the actuator housing, the plurality of housing lugs protruding radially to define a plurality of housing slots therebetween, and a cylinder assembly located within the actuator housing, the cylinder assembly having a connector;
• locating a valve stem nub of a first portion of a valve stem within a connector opening of the connector so that the connector engages a nub shoulder of the valve stem nub and axial movement of the connector can be transferred to axial movement of the valve stem, the valve stem having a second portion operable to be connected to a valve;
• providing a bonnet having a plurality of bonnet lugs spaced apart around a circumference of the bonnet, the plurality of bonnet lugs protruding radially to define a plurality of bonnet slots therebetween;
• and
• passing the plurality of housing lugs through the plurality of bonnet slots and rotating the actuator housing from a released position to a locked position while maintaining an axial position of the housing lugs relative to the bonnet lugs where at least a portion of one or more of the plurality of housing lugs is axially aligned with a portion of a respective bonnet lug such that the plurality of bonnet lugs prevent axial movement of the actuator housing in at least one direction.