# US 9,752,701 B2 · Valve operator assembly with freewheel and axial friction means > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,752,701 B2 - Document ID: US9752701B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/038,094 - Filed: 2013-11-21 - Published: 2016-10-13 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-21 - Assignees: Aktiebolaget 3Kf - Applicants: Aktiebolaget Skf - Inventors: Jérôme Dubus; Christian Boch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752701B2 ## CPC - F16K 35/04: yieldingly resisting the actuation - F16H 25/2204: {with balls} - F16H 25/2252: {Planetary rollers between nut and screw} - F16H 25/2266: {arranged substantially in parallel to the screw shaft axis (planetary rollers F16H25/2252)} - F16H 25/2454: {Brakes; Rotational locks} - F16K 3/0254: {being operated by particular means} - F16K 31/508: {the actuating element being rotatable, non-rising, and driving a non-rotatable axially-sliding element} - F16H 2025/2071: {Disconnecting drive source from the actuator, e.g. using clutches for release of drive connection during manual control} - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract The valve operator assembly is provided includes a housing, an input member rotatably mounted, and a transmission mechanism including a translating element and a rotating element connected to the input member, said transmission mechanism being adapted to convert applied rotation of the input member into axial translation of said translating element. The assembly further includes a locking mechanism provided with a casing mounted on the transmission mechanism and/or the housing, with a freewheel including a plurality of locking members mounted in radial contact with the transmission mechanism and with the casing, and with friction means axially disposed between the casing and the housing and mounted in axial contact with said housing. The friction means, the freewheel and the casing cooperate together to lock the transmission mechanism with the housing in a static position of said assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Valve operator assembly for valve comprising a valve body and a valve translating member axially moveable, the assembly comprising a housing adapted to be mounted on the valve, an input member rotatably mounted with respect to said housing, and a transmission mechanism comprising a translating element adapted to be connected to the valve translating member of the valve and a rotating element connected to the input member, said transmission mechanism being adapted to convert applied rotation of the input member into axial translation of said translating element, characterized in that the assembly further comprises a locking mechanism provided with a casing mounted on the transmission mechanism and/or the housing, with at least one freewheel comprising a plurality of locking members mounted in radial contact with the transmission mechanism and with the casing, and with friction means axially disposed between said casing and the housing and mounted in axial contact with said housing, the friction means, the freewheel and the casing cooperating together to lock the transmission mechanism with the housing in a static position of said assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Valve operator assembly according to claim 1, wherein the freewheel is arranged in such a way that, in the static position, the locking members are in a locked position in order to generate a braking torque opposite to a backdriving torque of the transmission mechanism. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) Valve operator assembly according to claim 2, wherein the locking members are in the locked position when the input member rotates relative to the housing in the direction of the backdriving torque of the transmission mechanism and wherein the locking members switch in an unlocked position when the input member rotates in the opposite direction of said backdriving torque. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Valve operator assembly according to claim 1, wherein the friction means are adapted to create a friction torque between said friction means and the housing so that the total friction torque of the assembly is greater than or equal to a backdriving torque of the transmission mechanism. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) Valve operator assembly according to claim 4, wherein the friction means are adapted to create a friction torque between said friction means and the housing greater than or equal to said backdriving torque. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Valve operator assembly according to claim 1, wherein the friction means are fixed together with the casing in circumferential direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Valve operator assembly according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises at least one pre-stressing element acting axially on the friction means to maintain the axial contact between said friction means and the housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) Valve operator assembly according to claim 7, wherein the friction means are movable in axial direction relative to the transmission mechanism, to the housing and to the casing under the action of the pre-stressing element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) Valve operator assembly according to claim 7, wherein the pre-stressing element is axially located between the friction means and the casing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) Valve operator assembly according to claim 9, wherein the pre-stressing element is mounted in axial contact with the friction means and with the casing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) Valve operator assembly according to claim 7, wherein the pre-stressing element comprises mechanical actuator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) Valve operator assembly according to claim 1, wherein the casing comprises an inner bushing supporting the friction means and mounted in radial contact with the locking members of the freewheel, and an outer body secured onto said inner bushing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) Valve operator assembly according to claim 7, wherein the pre-stressing element bears axially against the outer body of the casing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) Valve operator assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transmission mechanism further comprises an adapter sleeve connected to the rotating element of said mechanism and onto which is mounted the input member, the locking mechanism being disposed between the adapter sleeve and the housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) Valve operator assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transmission mechanism comprises a screw, a nut surrounding and coaxial with said screw, and a plurality of rolling elements radially disposed between the screw and the nut. ### Claim 16 Valve comprising a valve body, a valve translating member axially moveable and a valve operator assembly for valve comprising a valve body and a valve translating member axially moveable, the assembly comprising a housing adapted to be mounted on the valve, an input member rotatably mounted with respect to said housing, and a transmission mechanism comprising a translating element adapted to be connected to the valve translating member of the valve and a rotating element connected to the input member, said transmission mechanism being adapted to convert applied rotation of the input member into axial translation of said translating element, characterized in that the assembly further comprises a locking mechanism provided with a casing mounted on the transmission mechanism and/or the housing, with at least one freewheel comprising a plurality of locking members mounted in radial contact with the transmission mechanism and with the casing, and with friction means axially disposed between said casing and the housing and mounted in axial contact with said housing, the friction means, the freewheel and the casing cooperating together to lock the transmission mechanism with the housing in a static position of said assembly.