Fluid metering valve
AssigneeWoodward Governor Company
InventorsBarry T. Brinks, Dana Nova Joyce Wolverton, Delbert Dwight Cannon, Gary F. McDaniel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid metering valve includes a gear rack which is slidable on a valve stem in which a spring counteracts the force of an actuator to maintain a constant load on the gear mechanism to prevent backlash. Corresponding stop mechanisms between the gear and the shaft of a rotary actuator come into engagement with each other near a fully closed position of the fluid metering valve for zero calibration purposes upon power loss to the actuator. A single valve member and a single actuator of the fluid metering valve provides for both a shut-off function and a metering function.
Claims26
A valve assembly comprising:
- a valve housing defining a flow passageway;
- a valve member arranged along the flow passageway for regulating flow therethrough, a valve stem extending from the valve member, a stop being provided along the valve stem;
- an input gear slidably disposed on the valve stem toward and away from the stop;
- and
- an actuator driving an output gear that acts upon the input gear, wherein when the actuator drives the output gear in a first direction, the input gear engages the stop and drives the valve member in said first direction, and wherein when the actuator drives the output gear in a second direction the actuator does not drive the valve member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.