US 4,234,157 AGranted

Lift-turn valve and actuator assembly

AssigneeDaniel Valve Company

InventorsHerbert H. Hodgeman, Syed S. Ali

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Abstract

A lift-turn valve and actuator mechanism incorporating a valve plug and slip assembly that is movable with both axial and rotatable components of movement during opening and closing. Rotational movement is accomplished during lifting by cooperative relationship between opposed cam grooves defined in valve stem means and a pair of opposed rotatable cam follower elements that are supported by an actuator housing. The actuator housing is a fabricated structure incorporating threaded structure for receiving replaceable cam follower bearing mechanisms. The cam follower elements cooperate with the opposed cam grooves to provide efficient balanced force transfer through the valve actuator mechanism.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A valve mechanism for controlling the flow of fluid, said valve mechanism comprising:

a valve body structure defining a valve chamber and inlet and outlet flow passages intersecting said valve chamber;
a valve element being located within said valve chamber and being movable with both axial and rotatable components of movement for controlling flow of fluid through said flow passages;
said valve element including an elongated generally cylindrical valve stem connected in nonrotatable relation to said valve element and extending in sealed relation through said valve body;
an elongated actuator stem having a circular cross section being interconnected in nonrotatable relation with said valve stem, the outer surface of said actuator stem being formed to define a pair of opposed cam grooves each of said cam grooves defining a pair of linear end portions connected by an intermediate rotary portion of helical form, said linear portions of each cam groove being offset 90.degree. relative to the circumference of the actuator stem from one another and being disposed in parallel relation with the axis of said actuator stem, said actuator stem defining cam surfaces along at least a portion of the sides of said cam grooves;
actuator housing means being connected to said valve body and defining an elongated passage through which said elongated actuator stem means extends;
a pair of opposed cam follower elements being rotatably supported by said actuator housing means and being positioned on opposite sides of said actuator stem, said cam follower means having cam engaging portions thereof extending within respective ones of said cam grooves, said cam follower elements reacting with said cam surfaces of at least the intermediate rotary portions of said opposed cam groove means to induce 90.degree. rotary movement of said actuator stem, valve stem and valve element when said actuator stem is reciprocated;
and
means for imparting linear reciprocal movement to said actuator stem means and allowing rotary movement of said actuator stem means responsive to interaction between said cam follower elements and said helical rotary portions of said cam grooves.

5 more elements

A valve mechanism for controlling the flow of fluid, said valve mechanism comprising:

a valve body defining a valve chamber and inlet and outlet flow passages intersecting said valve chamber;
a valve element being located within said valve chamber and being movable with both axial and rotatable components of movement for controlling flow of fluid through said flow passages;
a valve stem extending in non-rotatable relation from said valve element and extending in sealed relation through said valve body;
an elongated actuator housing being connected to said valve body and defining a stem passage receiving said valve stem;
an elongated actuator stem having a circular cross section being located within said stem passage of said actuator housing and having one extremity thereof non-rotatably connectable to said valve stem, the outer surface of said actuator stem being formed to define a pair of opposed cam grooves each having linear portions offset substantially 90.degree. from one another relative to the circumference of the stem and extending in substantially parallel relation with the axis of said actuator stem and an intermediate rotary portion of generally helical form and extending in angular relation to the axis of said actuator stem and interconnecting an end portion of said linear portions, said actuator stem defining side cam surface means along at least said intermediate rotary portion of said cam grooves;
opposed bearing support means being defined by said actuator housing;
bearing means being received by said bearing support means;
a pair of cam follower pin means being rotatably supported by said bearing means and defining cam engaging means extending into said stem passage and being received within respective ones of said cam grooves, said cam engaging means interacting with said linear end portions of said cam grooves to allow linear movement of said actuator stem and maintain predetermined orientation of said actuator stem and, upon linear movement of said helical rotary portion of said cam grooves past said cam follower pin means, said cam engaging means establishes rolling camming engagement with said side cam surface means and causes said actuator stem to be rotated substantially 90.degree. and induces similar rotation of said valve stem and said valve element when said actuator stem is linearly reciprocated;
and connection means being defined by said actuator housing for receiving a valve actuator that imparts linear movement to said actuator stem.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A valve mechanism for controlling the flow of fluid, said valve mechanism comprising:

a valve body structure defining a valve chamber and inlet and outlet flow passages intersecting said valve chamber;
a valve element being located within said valve chamber and being movable with both axial and rotatable components of movement for controlling flow of fluid through said flow passages;
said valve element including an elongated generally cylindrical valve stem connected in nonrotatable relation to said valve element and extending in sealed relation through said valve body;
an elongated actuator stem having a circular cross section being interconnected in nonrotatable relation with said valve stem, the outer surface of said actuator stem being formed to define a pair of opposed cam grooves each of said cam grooves defining a pair of linear end portions connected by an intermediate rotary portion of helical form, said linear portions of each cam groove being offset 90.degree. relative to the circumference of the actuator stem from one another and being disposed in parallel relation with the axis of said actuator stem, said actuator stem defining cam surfaces along at least a portion of the sides of said cam grooves;
actuator housing means being connected to said valve body and defining an elongated passage through which said elongated actuator stem means extends;
a pair of opposed cam follower elements being rotatably supported by said actuator housing means and being positioned on opposite sides of said actuator stem, said cam follower means having cam engaging portions thereof extending within respective ones of said cam grooves, said cam follower elements reacting with said cam surfaces of at least the intermediate rotary portions of said opposed cam groove means to induce 90.degree. rotary movement of said actuator stem, valve stem and valve element when said actuator stem is reciprocated;
and
means for imparting linear reciprocal movement to said actuator stem means and allowing rotary movement of said actuator stem means responsive to interaction between said cam follower elements and said helical rotary portions of said cam grooves.

5 more elements