Power actuated valve

In combination with an actuator for a valve, said valve including a valve body having a valve member disposed in said valve body with a first gear attached to said valve member, said actuator being of the type including:

• a second gear means for drivingly engaging said first gear to operate said valve;
• moving means for selectively moving said second gear means into and out of engagement with said first gear;
• power means for driving said second gear means;
• support member means constructed for attachment to said valve body;
• frame means, rotatingly connected to said support member means so that said valve body may rotate relative to said frame means, said frame means also being attached to said moving means;
• and
• locking means for selectively locking said frame means to said support member means prior to the operation of said valve to prevent said support member means from rotating relative to said frame means;
• the improvement which comprises said locking means including biasing means for biasing said locking means toward an unlocked position.

In combination with an actuator for a valve, said valve including a valve body having a valve member disposed in said valve body with a first gear attached to said valve member, said actuator being of the type including:

• a second gear means for drivingly engaging said first gear to operate said valve;
• moving means for selectively moving said second gear means into and out of engagement with said first gear;
• power means for driving said second gear means;
• support member means constructed for attachment said valve body;
• frame means, rotatingly connected to said support member means so that said valve body may rotate relative to said frame means, said frame means also being attached to said moving means;
• and
• locking means for selectively locking said frame means to said support member means to prevent said support member means from rotating relative to said frame means, said locking means including:
• a locking ring, attached to said support member means, said locking ring having a plurality of holes disposed therein, said holes being located on a circle concentrically disposed about an axis of rotation of said support member means;
• and
• plunger means, connected to said frame means, for selectively engaging and disengaging one of said holes in said locking ring;
• the improvement which comprises said locking means including biasing means for biasing said plunger toward a disengaged position.

In combination with an actuator for a valve, said valve including a valve body having a valve member disposed in said valve body with a first gear attached to said valve member, said actuator being of the type including:

• a second gear means for drivingly engaging said first gear to operate said valve;
• moving means for selectively moving said second gear means into and out of engagement with said first gear;
• power means for driving said second gear means;
• support member means constructed for attachment to said valve body;
• frame means, rotatingly connected to said support member means so that said valve body may rotate relative to said frame means, said frame means also being attached to said moving means;
• and
• locking means for selectively locking said frame means to said support member means to prevent said support member means from rotating relative to said frame means, said locking means including:
• a locking ring, attached to said support member means, said locking ring having a plurality of holes disposed therein, said holes being located on a circle concentrically disposed about an axis of rotation of said support member means;
• and
• plunger means, connected to said frame means, for selectively engaging and disengaging one of said holes in said locking ring, said plunger means including a plunger guide cylinder attached to said frame means and a cylindrical plunger slidingly received in said guide cylinder;
• the improvement which comprises:
• said plunger guide cylinder including a first inner cylindrical bore, a second inner cylindrical bore of greater diameter than said first bore, and an annular shoulder connecting said first and second bores, said annular shoulder facing away from said locking ring;
• said cylindrical plunger including a first outer cylindrical surface slidingly received in said first bore of said plunger guide cylinder, and a shoulder at an end of said first outer cylindrical surface furthest from said locking ring, said shoulder of said cylindrical plunger facing toward said locking ring;
• and
• biasing means, connected between said annular shoulder of said plunger guide cylinder and said shoulder of said cylindrical plunger, for biasing said plunger means toward a disengaged position.