Slow closing actuator and valve
AssigneeVictaulic Company
InventorsRichard R. Weston, Terrance M. Carom
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve actuator is disclosed for use with short throw valves. The actuator includes a plate perpendicular to the valve stem that has a slot formed of regions having different radii of curvature centered on the valve stem. An eccentric cam is attached to a handle mounted on the valve stem. The cam extends through the slot and is rotatable for positioning at a radius corresponding to the radius of the different slot regions. When the cam is rotated so that it may traverse a slot region, the handle can be turned to move the valve closing member through an angle subtended by the slot region. This permits the valve to be opened or closed in a step-wise fashion and prevents rapid opening and closing of the valve that can cause a water hammer effect.
Claims21
An actuator for a valve having a stem rotatable about a first axis of rotation, said actuator comprising:
- a plate mountable on said valve substantially perpendicular to said stem;
- a guide slot positioned in said plate, said guide slot having a plurality of regions including at least a first slot region having a first radius of curvature and a second slot region having a second radius of curvature different from said first radius;
- a handle mountable on said stem;
- and
- a cam mounted on said handle and rotatable about a second axis of rotation oriented substantially perpendicular to said plate, said cam being eccentric to said second axis of rotation and extending through said guide slot, wherein rotation of said cam to a first orientation positions said cam at said first radius thereby permitting said handle to be turned along an arc traversing said first slot region, further rotation of said cam to a second orientation positioning said cam at said second radius thereby permitting said handle to be turned along an arc traversing said second slot region.
A valve comprising:
- a stem rotatable about a first axis of rotation for opening and closing said valve;
- a plate mountable on said valve substantially perpendicular to said stem;
- a guide slot positioned in said plate, said guide slot having a plurality of regions including at least a first slot region having a first radius of curvature and a second slot region having a second radius of curvature different from said first radius, said radii having a common center substantially coincident with said first axis of rotation;
- a handle mounted on said stem for opening and closing said valve;
- and
- a cam mounted on said handle and rotatable about a second axis of rotation oriented substantially perpendicular to said plate, said cam being eccentric to said second axis of rotation and extending through said guide slot, wherein rotation of said cam to a first orientation positions said cam at said first radius thereby permitting said handle to be turned along an arc traversing said first slot region, further rotation of said cam to a second orientation positioning said cam at said second radius thereby permitting said handle to be turned along an arc traversing said second slot region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.