Valve actuation mechanism

A method of assembling an of a valve, the method comprising:

• coupling a torque spring to an actuation pin by inserting a first end of the torque spring into a slot in the actuation pin;
• mounting the actuation pin and torque spring within a housing, wherein a second end of the torque spring extends into a slot within the wall of the housing;
• coupling a locking element to the housing;
• engaging a retaining element with the actuation pin and rotating the retaining element so that the actuation pin rotates to load the torque spring;
• engaging the retaining element with the housing so that the housing prevents the retaining element and actuation pin from rotating under the load of the torque spring;
• locking the locking element to prevent disengagement of the retaining element from the actuation pin and the housing;
• and
• coupling the actuation mechanism to the valve, the first position of the actuation pin corresponding to a closed state of the valve and the second position of the actuation pin corresponding to an open state of the valve.

A valve actuation mechanism comprising:

• a housing;
• an actuation pin rotatably mounted within the housing;
• at least one torque spring coupling the actuation pin to the housing for biasing the actuation pin from a first, inoperative rotational position towards a second, operative rotational position;
• an actuation pin retaining element for selectively retaining the actuation pin in its first position, the retaining element being engageable with the actuation pin and the housing when the retaining element is in a retaining position so as to prevent rotation of the actuation pin towards its second position, and selectively disengageable from the housing to permit rotation of the actuation pin towards its second position;
• and
• a locking element for selectively preventing disengagement of the retaining element from the housing,
• wherein the housing comprises a housing key formation for receiving a corresponding retaining element key formation on the retaining element when the retaining element is in its retaining position,
• wherein the locking element comprises a locking element key formation selectively alignable with the housing key formation and the retaining element key formation to permit the retaining element to disengage from the housing,
• wherein the locking element key formation comprises an opening through which the retaining element can pass when the locking element key formation and retaining element key formation are aligned,
• wherein the locking element comprises a securing element configured to retain the locking element in at least one of a locked position and a release position, in which the release position allows the retaining element to disengage from the housing.