# US 11,994,233 B2 · External shaft connection assembly for a vane actuator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,994,233 B2 - Document ID: US11994233B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/110,160 - Filed: 2020-12-02 - Published: 2021-06-03 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-02 - Assignees: Easytork Automation Corporation - Applicants: Easytork Automation Corporation - Inventors: George Wang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994233B2 ## CPC - F16D 1/108: having retaining means rotating with the coupling and acting by interengaging parts, i.e. positive coupling - F16K 31/12: actuated by fluid ({fluid-actuated lift valves F16K1/126} ; fluid-actuated check valves F16K15/00; fluid-actuated safety valves F16K17/00) - F16D 1/06: for attachment of a member on a shaft or on a shaft-end (attachment of marine propellers on shafts B63H23/34) - F16D 2001/102: {the torque is transmitted via polygon shaped connections} - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES - 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)} ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The external shaft connection assembly of claim 1 wherein the connector post forms a mated connection with the vane actuator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The external shaft connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end further defines a set screw hole transverse to a longitudinal axis of the external shaft connector, and the external shaft connector further comprises a set screw to be received through the set screw hole and configured to engage and compress the valve stem against the connector recess. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The external shaft connection assembly of claim 3, wherein the vane actuator further comprises a slot through an exterior housing of the vane actuator aligned with the set screw hole. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The external shaft connection assembly of claim 1, further comprising: an upper shaft engaged the vane actuator opposite the external shaft connector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The external shaft connection assembly of claim 5, wherein the upper shaft is integrated with the vane actuator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The external shaft connection assembly of claim 5, wherein the upper shaft is distinct from the vane actuator and further comprises: a first upper shaft end configured to engage a positioner; and a second upper shaft end comprising an upper shaft post; wherein the upper shaft post configured to be received within the vane actuator, the upper shaft post defining an upper shaft ferrule recess and an upper shaft perimeter having one or more upper shaft expansion slots. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The external shaft connection assembly of claim 7, wherein the upper shaft post forms a mated connection with the vane actuator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The external shaft connection assembly of claim 5, wherein the upper shaft further includes a threaded opening to receive a threaded fastener. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The external shaft connection assembly of claim 1 further comprising a compression ferrule, wherein the compression ferrule is configured to be received in the ferrule recess. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The external shaft connection assembly of claim 10, wherein the compression ferrule further comprises: a lower ferrule region that is tapered from a first diameter at a central portion of the compression ferrule to a second diameter at a lower distal end; and a ferrule thru-hole extending through the compression ferrule from an upper distal end to the lower distal end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The external shaft connection assembly of claim 11, wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The external shaft connection assembly of claim 10 further comprising a connecting fastener, wherein the connecting fastener is configured to be received in a vane shaft of the vane actuator through the external shaft connector, the compression ferrule and received in an upper shaft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The external shaft connection assembly of claim 13, wherein the connection fastener is threaded and configured to draw the external shaft connector towards the vane shaft. ### Claim 15 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. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The external shaft connection assembly of claim 15 wherein the upper shaft is integrated with the vane actuator. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The external shaft connection assembly of claim 15, wherein the upper shaft is distinct from the vane actuator and further comprises: a first upper shaft end configured to engage a positioner; a second upper shaft end comprising an upper shaft post, wherein the upper shaft post configured to be received within the vane actuator, the upper shaft post defining an upper shaft ferrule recess configured to engage the compression ferrule, and an upper shaft perimeter having one or more upper shaft expansion slots where the upper shaft ferrule recess further defines a threaded opening; wherein the connecting fastener is further configured to be received in the upper shaft and configured to compress the upper shaft towards the vane actuator; and wherein the one or more upper shaft expansion slots are configured to expand outward upon compression against the compression ferrule to engage the vane shaft. ### Claim 18 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.