Actuator for actuating a valve device

A device for actuating a valve, comprising:

• an actuator engageable with the valve via an actuating element, the actuator having:
• an electric drive comprising at least one torque motor;
• a hollow shaft within the torque motor and directly driven by the torque motor for movement in a rotational manner;
• and
• a threaded drive which is driven directly by the hollow shaft, the threaded drive comprising a screw nut having an internal thread;
• and a threaded spindle coupled to the actuating element and movably engaged with the screw nut such that rotation of the screw nut via the electric drive causes the threaded spindle to move linearly which, in turn, moves the actuating element linearly.

A system, comprising:

• an actuator having an actuating element linearly movable between actuating positions, the actuator comprising:
• a torque motor having a stator and a rotor;
• a hollow shaft, the rotor being arranged on the hollow shaft to form a combined internal rotor of the torque motor;
• a screw nut disposed within the hollow shaft and rotatably driven by the hollow shaft, the screw nut having an outer collar engaged with an inner collar of the hollow shaft to counter axial loading on the screw nut;
• and
• a threaded spindle coupled to the actuating element and movably engaged with the screw nut such that rotation of the screw nut via the torque motor causes the threaded spindle to move linearly which, in turn, moves the actuating element linearly.

A method, comprising:

• providing a torque motor with an internal rotor having a hollow shaft;
• securing a screw nut with the hollow shaft such that a thread of the screw nut is oriented in a radially inward direction;
• positioning a threaded spindle within the screw nut and in operational engagement with the screw nut such that rotation of the thread via rotation of the screw nut by the hollow shaft causes linear movement of the threaded spindle;
• and
• coupling the threaded spindle to a linear actuating element.