US 2025/0102075 A1 · ROTARY VALVE ACTUATOR AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

Abstract

A method and apparatus for actuating rotating valves with fast closing times, high precision, and high force. The invention incorporates a lever arm attached to the valve shaft, accompanied by a housing for one or more cylinder-type linear actuators. A pivot mechanism allows the actuators to comply with movement. Multiple actuators can be attached to the lever arm's shaft, which pivots smoothly with the aid of a bearing. The housing securely bolts to the valve mounting flange, ensuring stability and alignment. A front guard with a position indicator window covers the lever arm, while a rear guard protects the actuators. By enabling longer and shorter strokes than the open and closed positions, multiple actuators can be precisely programmed and synchronized for optimal performance. This approach potentially improves valve actuation, offering enhanced speed, precision, and force for diverse fluid or slurry flow control applications.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An actuator for a rotary valve, comprising:

a lever arm coupled to a shaft of the valve at a first location, the shaft being rotatable between a valve closed position and a valve opened position, the lever arm extending from the first location to a second location spaced apart and radially outward, relative to the shaft, from the first location;
and
one or more linear actuators pivotably coupled to the lever arm at the second location and configured to impart force on the lever arm to cause rotation of the shaft in response to extension, retraction, or both extension and retraction of the one or more linear actuators, the linear actuators extending, in a direction generally perpendicular to the shaft, from the second location to a third location and the linear actuators pivotably anchored to a base or housing at the third location, the base or housing being immobile with respect to the rotary valve.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Rotary valve actuator and associated method

Life of this patent

Rotary valve actuator and associated method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8