Valve actuator

A combination valve and valve actuator, comprising:

• a mechanical actuator having a closed position and an open position and moveable over a mechanical actuator travel distance to and between said closed position and said open position, said mechanical actuator having a resistance to movement over said travel distance between said closed position and said open position that must be overcome to move said mechanical actuator between said closed position and said open position, said mechanical actuator comprising:
• an input actuator positioned to receive user input and moveable over an input actuator range of motion, whereby a user can supply an input force to move said input actuator over the input actuator range of motion;
• an intermediate actuator mechanically linked to said input actuator, said input actuator positioned and arranged to receive the input force transmitted from the input actuator and move over an intermediate actuator range of motion in response to the input force;
• a signal generator secured relative to said intermediate actuator;
• a motor communicatively connected to said mechanical actuator;
• and
• a valve body moveable in a conduit between a valve body closed position and a valve body open position, said motor positioned and arranged to drive said valve body to and between said valve body closed position and said valve body open position, said mechanical actuator triggering a signal from the signal generator to energize said motor to drive said valve body based on a position of the mechanical actuator such that movement of the mechanical actuator to the closed position triggers a signal to the motor to drive the valve body to the valve body closed position, movement of the mechanical actuator to the open position triggers a signal to the motor to drive the valve body to the valve body open position and movement of the mechanical actuator to a position between the closed position and the open position triggers a signal to the motor to drive the valve body to a corresponding position between the valve body closed position and the valve body open position, whereby the position of the mechanical actuator between the closed position and the open position is proportional to the position of the valve body between the valve body closed position and the valve body open position.