External shaft connection assembly for a vane actuator
AssigneeEasytork Automation Corporation
InventorGeorge Wang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure generally relates to an external shaft connection assembly. In particular, an external shaft connection assembly for use with vane actuators is disclosed. In various aspects, the disclosed assembly includes an external shaft connector to connect a valve to the vane actuator, an upper shaft to connect a positioner the vain actuator and a compression ferrule to ensure a tight fit with the vane actuator in order to overcome mechanical slop and inefficiencies in motion transmission due to variances in manufacturing tolerances.
Claims18
An external shaft connection assembly for a vane actuator, comprising:
- an external shaft connector configured to engage the vane actuator and a valve stem, the external shaft connector further comprising:
- a first end defining a connector recess configured to receive the valve stem;
- a second end defining a connector post configured to be received within the vane actuator, the connector post defining a ferrule recess and a perimeter of the connector post having one or more expansion slots;
- and
- a thru hole in communication with the connector recess and the ferrule recess.
An external shaft connection assembly for a vane actuator, comprising:
- an external shaft connector configured to engage the vane actuator and a valve stem, the external shaft connector further comprising:
- a first end defining a connector recess configured to receive the valve stem;
- a second end defining a connector post configured to be received within the vane actuator, the connector post defining a ferrule recess and a perimeter of the connector post having one or more expansion slots;
- and
- a thru hole in communication with the connector recess and the ferrule recess;
- an upper shaft engaged to the vane actuator opposite the external shaft;
- a compression ferrule configured to be received in the ferrule recess, the compression ferrule further comprising:
- a lower ferrule portion that is tapered from a first diameter at a central portion of the compression ferrule to a second diameter at a lower distal end;
- a ferrule thru-hole extending through the compression ferrule from an upper distal end to the lower distal end;
- a connecting fastener configured to be received in vane shaft through the external shaft connector, the compression ferrule and received in the vane actuator;
- wherein the connection fastener is threaded and configured to compress the external shaft connector towards the compression ferrule and the vane actuator;
- and
- wherein the one or more expansion slots of the external shaft connector are configured to expand outward upon compression against the compression ferrule to engage the vane shaft.
An external shaft connection assembly for a vane actuator, comprising:
- an external shaft connector configured to engage the vane actuator and a valve stem, the external shaft connector further comprising:
- a first end defining a connector recess configured to receive the valve stem, the first end further defining a set screw hole transverse to a longitudinal axis of the external shaft connector;
- a second end defining a connector post configured to be received within the vane actuator;
- and
- a set screw to be received through the set screw hole and configured to engage and compress the valve stem against the connector recess;
- wherein the vane actuator further comprises a slot through an exterior housing of the vane actuator aligned with the set screw hole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.