Removable and interchangeable valve actuator system

A valve assembly comprising:

• a valve body defining an internal passage and including a valve member for controlling flow of fluid through the passage, wherein the valve member is mounted to a valve stem movably mounted to the valve body for providing movement of the valve member, wherein the valve stem includes a connector portion accessible from the exterior of the valve body;
• an actuator assembly including a motor having an output and a drive mechanism;
• and
• a mounting arrangement for mounting the actuator assembly to the valve body, including a latching member provided on the valve body, latch structure provided on the actuator assembly and releasably engageable with the latching member for releasably securing the actuator to the valve body, and mating engagement structure provided on both the actuator assembly and the valve body, separate from the latching member and the latch structure, for locating and maintaining the actuator assembly in a predetermined position relative to the valve body.

In a valve including a valve body defining an internal passage, a valve member, a valve stem pivotably mounted to the valve body and to which the valve member is mounted, and an actuator assembly including a motor having an output drive gear, a method of controlling the direction of operation of the valve member, comprising the steps of:

• providing an adaptor plate for connection to the valve body;
• providing a first drive gear having gear teeth facing in a first direction;
• providing a second drive gear having gear teeth facing in a second direction opposite the first direction;
• pivotably mounting a selected one of the first and second drive gears to the adaptor plate such that the selected drive gear is interconnected with the valve stem;
• mounting the motor to the adaptor plate such that the output drive gear of the motor engages the gear teeth of the drive gear, wherein the gear teeth of the first drive gear engage one side of the output drive gear for providing movement of the first drive gear in a first direction in response to operation of the motor, and wherein the gear teeth of the second drive gear engage a side of the output drive gear opposite the side of the output drive gear engaged by the first drive gear for providing movement of the second drive gear in a second direction opposite the first direction in response to operation of the motor.

In a valve including a valve body defining an internal passage, a valve member, a valve stem pivotably mounted to the valve body and to which the valve member is mounted, and an actuator assembly including a motor having an output drive gear a method of controlling the direction of operation of the valve member, comprising the steps of:

• providing an adaptor plate for connection to the valve body;
• providing a first drive gear having gear teeth facing in a first direction;
• providing a second drive gear having gear teeth facing in a second direction opposite the first direction;
• pivotably mounting a selected one of the first and second drive gears to the adaptor plate such that the selected drive gear is interconnected with the valve stem;
• mounting the motor to the adaptor plate such that the output drive gear of the motor engages the gear teeth of the drive gear, wherein the gear teeth of the first drive gear engage one side of the output drive gear for providing movement of the first drive gear in a first direction in response to operation of the motors and wherein the gear teeth of the second drive gear engage a side of the output drive gear opposite the side of the output drive gear engaged by the first drive gear for providing movement of the second drive gear in a second direction opposite the first direction in response to operation of the motor;
• and
• removably connecting the adaptor plate to the valve body such that the actuator assembly can be engaged with and disengaged from the valve body by providing engagement structure on an arm provided on the adaptor plate, wherein the arm is mounted to the adaptor plate for movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position, and providing an engagement member on the valve body with which the engagement structure is engaged when the arm is in its engaged position for securing the actuator assembly to the valve body, wherein movement of the arm to its disengaged position releases engagement of the engagement structure with the engagement member to disengage the actuator assembly from the valve body.

In a valve including a valve body defining an internal passage, a valve member, a valve stem pivotably mounted to the valve member and to which the valve member is mounted, a method of controlling the direction of operation of the valve, comprising the steps of:

• providing a first actuator assembly including a motor having an output and a first drive member engaged with the motor output, wherein operation of the motor functions to move the first drive member in a first direction;
• providing a second actuator assembly including a motor having an output and a second drive member engaged with the motor output, wherein operation of the motor functions to move the second drive member in a second direction opposite the first direction;
• and
• connecting either the first actuator assembly to the valve body such that the first drive member is interconnected with the valve stem, or connecting the second actuator assembly to the valve body such that the second drive member is interconnected with the valve stem, wherein operation of the motor of the first actuator assembly pivots the valve stem in a first direction of rotation when the first actuator assembly is connected to the valve body, and wherein operation of the motor of the second actuator assembly pivots the valve stem in a second direction of rotation opposite the first direction of rotation when the second actuator assembly is connected to the valve body.

In a valve including a valve body defining an internal passage, a valve member, and a valve stem pivotably mounted to the valve body and to which the valve member is mounted for movement between an open position for providing flow of fluid through the passage and a closed position for preventing flow of fluid through the passage, and an actuator assembly including a motor having a drive member engaged with the valve stem and a spring for biasing the valve member, through the drive member, in a first direction so as to normally position the valve member in either its open position or its closed position, wherein operation of the motor moves the valve member in a second direction opposite the first direction against the force of the spring, the improvement comprising:

• providing a removable connection arrangement between the actuator assembly and the valve body;
• removing the actuator assembly from the valve body;
• and
• connecting a second actuator assembly to the valve body, wherein the second actuator assembly includes a motor having a second drive member engaged with the valve stem and a second spring for biasing the valve member, through the second drive member, in the second direction opposite the first direction to normally position the valve member in either its closed position or its open position, and wherein operation of the motor of the second actuator assembly moves the valve member in the first direction against the force of the second spring.

In a valve including a valve body defining an internal passage, a valve member, and a valve stem pivotably mounted to the valve body and to which the valve member is mounted for movement between an open position for providing flow of fluid through the passage and a closed position for preventing flow of fluid through the passage, and an actuator assembly including a motor having a drive member engaged with the valve stem and a spring for biasing the valve member, through the drive member, in a first direction so as to normally position the valve member in either its open position or its closed position the improvement comprising:

• providing a removable connection arrangement between the actuator assembly and the valve body by providing an engagement member on the valve body and providing movable engagement structure on the actuator assembly for movement between an engaged position in which the engagement structure is engaged with the engagement member for securing the actuator assembly to the valve body and a disengaged position in which the engagement structure is disengaged from the engagement member for enabling the actuator assembly to be removed from the valve body;
• removing the actuator assembly from the valve body;
• and
• connecting a second actuator assembly to the valve body, wherein the second actuator assembly includes a motor having a second drive member engaged with the valve stem and a second spring for biasing the valve member, through the second drive member, in a second direction opposite the first direction to normally position the valve member in either its closed position or its open position.

A valve actuator for use with at least two different valve bodies, wherein a first one of the valve bodies includes first external engagement structure, a first valve member, and a first valve stem to which the first valve member is mounted, wherein the first valve stem is movable through a first range of operating positions for moving the first valve member between first and second positions, and wherein a second one of the valve bodies includes second external engagement structure, a second valve member, and a second valve stem to which the second valve member is mounted, wherein the second valve stem is movable through a second range of operating positions different from the first range of operating positions for moving the second valve member between first and second positions, the valve actuator comprising:

• engagement structure on the valve actuator which is engageable with both the first external engagement structure of the first valve body and with the second external engagement structure of the second valve body for securing the valve actuator to either the first or second valve body, wherein the engagement structure includes a movable engagement member which is movable between an engaged position for engaging either the first or the second engagement structures for securing the valve actuator to either the first or the second valve body, and a disengaged position in which the engagement member is disengaged from either the first or the second engagement structures for enabling the valve actuator to be removed from either the first or the second valve body;
• a motor having an output;
• and
• a drive mechanism drivingly engaged with the motor output and with the valve stem of the first valve body when the valve actuator is mounted thereto and with the valve stem of the second valve body when the valve actuator is mounted thereto, wherein the drive mechanism functions to move the first valve stem through the first range of operating positions when the valve actuator is mounted to the first valve body and functions to move the second valve stem through the second range of operating positions when the valve actuator is mounted to the second valve body.

A valve actuator for use with at least two different valve bodies wherein a first one of the valve bodies includes first external engagement structure, a first valve member, and a first valve stem to which the first valve member is mounted, wherein the first valve stem is movable through a first range of operating positions for moving the first valve member between first and second positions, and wherein a second one of the valve bodies includes second external engagement structure, a second valve member, and a second valve stem to which the second valve member is mounted, wherein the second valve stem is movable through a second range of operating positions different from the first range of operating positions for moving the second valve member between first and second positions, the valve actuator comprising:

• engagement structure engageable with both the first external engagement structure of the first valve body and with the second external engagement structure of the second valve body for securing the valve actuator to either the first or second valve body;
• a motor having an output;
• a drive mechanism drivingly engaged with the motor output and with the valve stem of the first valve body when the valve actuator is mounted thereto and with the valve stem of the second valve body when the valve actuator is mounted thereto, wherein the drive mechanism functions to move the first valve stem through the first range of operating positions when the valve actuator is mounted to the first valve body and functions to move the second valve stem through the second range of operating positions when the valve actuator is mounted to the second valve body;
• and
• a removable connection arrangement interposed between the valve actuator and each of the first and second valve bodies for providing removable interconnection of the valve actuator with each valve body, wherein the removable connection arrangement includes a latching member provided on each valve body, latch structure provided on the valve actuator and engageable with the latching member of each valve body for securing the valve actuator to the valve body, and mating engagement structure provided on the valve actuator and each of the valve bodies for locating and maintaining the actuator in a predetermined position relative to the valve body to which the valve actuator is mounted;
• wherein the first valve body comprises a two-way valve body having a pair of internal openings, wherein the first valve member is movable between a closed position in which the first valve member is located over one of the internal openings for preventing flow of fluid through the valve body and an open position establishing communication between the pair of internal openings to allow flow of fluid through the valve body, and wherein the second valve body comprises a three-way valve body having three internal openings, wherein the second valve member is movable between a first position in which the second valve member is located over a first one of the internal openings to allow flow of fluid between the other two internal openings and a second position in which the second valve member is located over a second one of the internal openings to allow flow of fluid between the other two internal openings.