# US 11,028,938 B2 · Valve actuating system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,028,938 B2 - Document ID: US11028938B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/067,903 - Filed: 2016-12-29 - Published: 2020-08-20 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-14 - Assignees: Festo AG & Co. - Applicants: Festo SE & Co. KG - Inventors: Markus Dreher; Marcel Heimroth; Michael Kanthack - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028938B2 ## CPC - F16K 27/02: of lift valves (for reducing the flow resistance of screw-spindle lift-valves F16K1/06) - F16K 31/1221: {one side of the piston being spring-loaded} - F16K 27/0236: {Diaphragm cut-off apparatus} - F16K 31/1223: {one side of the piston being acted upon by the circulating fluid} - F16K 31/1226: {the fluid circulating through the piston} - F16B 21/186: {external, i.e. with contracting action} - 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)} - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract A valve actuating system including a drive device having an axial extension, and having an actuator with an axial output side provided for coupling to a valve and with an opposing axial rear side, wherein the actuator has an attachment interface on the axial rear side thereof for the attachment of an auxiliary device interacting with the actuator, such as a display module, a control head, a position controller or a stroke-limiting module, wherein the attachment interface has a sectional surface onto which the auxiliary device can be tensioned by means of an axial locking device, wherein the axial locking device has a main body and a collar with a locking edge, with which at least one locking element is in contact on the side facing the actuator in order to tension the auxiliary device on the support surface, wherein the collar is formed by a retaining ring secured on the main body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve actuating system comprising a drive device and an auxiliary device, the drive device having an axial extension and an actuator with an axial output side provided for coupling to a valve and with an opposing axial rear side, wherein the actuator has an attachment interface on its axial rear side for the attachment of the auxiliary device interacting with the actuator, wherein the attachment interface has a support surface, onto which the auxiliary device can be tensioned by means of an axial locking device, wherein the axial locking device has a main body and a collar with a locking edge, with which at least one locking element is in contact on the side facing the actuator in order to tension the auxiliary device on the support surface and wherein the collar is formed by a retaining ring secured on the main body, wherein the retaining ring consists of harder material than the material of the main body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve actuating system according to claim 1, wherein the main body is designed as a connecting piece positioned in the central area of the attachment interface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The valve actuating system according to claim 1, wherein the actuator has an actuator housing, in which an output member drivable to the output movement is arranged. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The valve actuating system according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is a fluid-actuated actuator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The valve actuating system according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary device attached to the attachment interface, tensioned by means of the axial locking device onto the support surface, comprises a display module and/or a position indicator and/or a control head and/or a position controller and/or a stroke-limiting module. ### Claim 6 A valve actuating system comprising a drive device and an auxiliary device, the drive device having an axial extension and an actuator with an axial output side provided for coupling to a valve and with an opposing axial rear side, wherein the actuator has an attachment interface on its axial rear side for the attachment of the auxiliary device interacting with the actuator, wherein the attachment interface has a support surface, onto which the auxiliary device can be tensioned by means of an axial locking device, wherein the axial locking device has a main body and a collar with a locking edge, with which at least one locking element is in contact on the side facing the actuator in order to tension the auxiliary device on the support surface and wherein the collar is formed by a retaining ring secured on the main body, wherein the retaining ring is received in a circumferential annular groove formed on the main body. ### Claim 7 A valve actuating system comprising a drive device and an auxiliary device, the drive device having an axial extension and an actuator with an axial output side provided for coupling to a valve and with an opposing axial rear side, wherein the actuator has an attachment interface on its axial rear side for the attachment of the auxiliary device interacting with the actuator, wherein the attachment interface has a support surface, onto which the auxiliary device can be tensioned by means of an axial locking device, wherein the axial locking device has a main body and a collar with a locking edge, with which at least one locking element is in contact on the side facing the actuator in order to tension the auxiliary device on the support surface and wherein the collar is formed by a retaining ring secured on the main body, wherein the retaining ring is designed as a snap ring. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The valve actuating system according to claim 7, wherein the snap ring is designed as a round wire snap ring and the locking edge is formed from a section of the lateral surface of the round wire snap ring formed convexly to the locking element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The valve actuating system according to claim 7, wherein the snap ring has a shape of a disc and the locking edge is formed from a conical section of the lateral surface of the snap ring tapering in the direction of the support surface.