Dual end stop actuator rotary drive and method

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates generally to rotary valve actuators and, more particularly, to apparatus and methods for a dual end stop actuator adjustment.

#2. Description of the Background

#FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partially in section, of a stop assembly housing or adaptor plate in accord with the present invention shown in a first rotational stop;

#FIG. 2 is an elevational view, partially in section, of the stop assembly housing or adaptor plate of FIG. 1 in a second rotational stop position;

#FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a drive shaft mounted on a stop assembly housing in accord with the present invention;

#While the present invention will be described in connection with presently preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents included within the spirit of the invention.

#Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 8, there is shown a dual end stop 10 in accord with the present invention. Dual end stop 10 includes adaptor plate or stop assembly housing 12 which preferably is used to house the various dual end stop components. Stop assembly housing 12 also acts as an adaptor plate to provide a connection or mounting between actuator housing 14, shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7, and the various types of valves (not shown) which actuator 16 may be mounted to.

#It is well known that actuator pistons (not shown) within actuator housing 14 may be used to activate rotary drive element 18, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, to rotate in one direction, such as for a quarter turn, and then in the other direction by the same amount to thereby effect opening and closing of the valve. Mounted to or monolithic with rotary drive element 18 is cam member 20 which acts as a stop element affixed to rotary drive element 18. Other shapes and configurations of a stop element such as cam member 20 could also be used. Essentially, a stop element or stop element assembly for dual end stop 10 should comprise at least two stop surfaces, such as first stop surface 22 and second stop surface 23. Rotary drive element 18 and cam 20 then may rotate between a first rotational position as shown in FIG. 1, and a second rotational position as shown in FIG. 2. First and second rotational positions of cam 20 correspond with an open/closed position of the valve. For instance, the position of FIG. 1 may correspond to an open valve and the position of FIG. 2 may correspond to a closed valve.