Torque limiter coupling assembly for valve actuators
AssigneeWatts Regulator Co.
InventorMarkus Kröll
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A torque limiting coupling assembly shields a valve actuator from abnormally high levels of torque. In normal operation, an actuator coupling transfers a driving torque from an actuator coupling to a valve shaft coupling and the valve shaft coupling engenders a shaft torque on a shaft of a valve. In torque actuated operation, when a counter torque applied to the shaft coupling exceeds a threshold value, the actuator coupling freely rotates relative to the valve shaft coupling and the driving torque is transferred to a biasing element of the torque limiting coupling assembly rather than to the valve shaft coupling, thereby shielding the valve or the actuator from high levels of torque.
Claims19
A torque limiting assembly for actuated valve assemblies comprising:
- a torque limiting coupling assembly configured to be disposed between a valve shaft and an actuator,
- wherein during over-torque actuated operation, the torque limiting coupling assembly decouples rotation of the valve shaft from rotational force imparted by the actuator when a valve element connected to the valve shaft would otherwise encounter excessive resistance to movement, and
- wherein the torque limiting coupling assembly translates rotational torque applied thereto by the actuator into a linear force that compresses a bias element of the torque limiting coupling assembly to absorb the linear force, and
- wherein the torque limiting coupling assembly includes:
- an actuator coupling for coupling to the actuator, the actuator coupling including a collar extending radially outward relative to a central axis along the valve shaft;
- a valve shaft coupling for coupling to the valve shaft;
- and
- a sleeve surrounding the valve shaft coupling and operatively connected to the valve shaft coupling and the actuator coupling,
- wherein the bias element is disposed between the collar and the sleeve to urge the sleeve away from the actuator coupling and toward the valve shaft coupling.
A torque limiting coupling assembly for a valve assembly having a distal valve element and a proximal actuator for moving the valve element, the torque limiting coupling assembly comprising:
- a valve shaft coupling for connecting to the valve element, the valve shaft coupling forming two opposing helical grooves;
- an actuator coupling for connecting to the actuator and operatively connected to the valve shaft coupling;
- a sleeve slidably mounted on the valve shaft coupling and the actuator coupling, the sleeve forming two radially inward facing distal bosses captured to slide in the respective helical grooves;
- and
- a bias element extending between the actuator coupling and sleeve to bias the sleeve distally,
- wherein during movement in a first direction in a torque actuated operation mode when the valve element requires large force, torque is limited by the actuator rotating with respect to the valve shaft coupling so that the two radially inward facing distal bosses are driven proximally in the two opposing helical grooves to compress the bias element while the actuator coupling rotates with respect to the valve shaft to absorb a portion of the large force.
A torque limiting coupling assembly for a valve assembly comprising:
- an actuator coupling configured to be coupled to a rotational actuator and to receive a rotational driving torque from the rotational actuator;
- a valve shaft coupling configured to be coupled to a valve shaft and to apply a rotational shaft torque to the valve shaft;
- and
- a sleeve configured to connect the actuator coupling and the value shaft coupling;
- and
- a bias element pressing against the sleeve to set a normal operation position,
- wherein:
- in a normal operation mode, the sleeve transfers the rotational driving torque from the rotational actuator to the valve coupling, thereby generating the rotational shaft torque;
- and
- in a torque actuated operation mode, the sleeve translates a portion of the rotational driving torque from the rotational actuator into a linear movement against the bias element which absorbs the portion of the rotational driving torque.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.