GB1102146A - Fluid flow valve mechanisms - Google Patents

Abstract

1,102,146. Valves; ratchet gearing. N. E. WILLIS. 3 June, 1965, No. 23762/65. Headings F2Q and F2V. A valve actuator for a valve member having a movable member such as an apertured rotary disc (not shown) includes motor means 73 with a driving member 74 capable of moving in either of two directions from a rest position and double acting ratchet means 60, 65 driven by the member 74 to rotate the apertured disc, the motor means comprising a double acting piston spring biased to an intermediate position and stop means 78a, 79a for limiting the piston travel in either direction. The valve is of similar construction to that described in Specification 1,030,766 and the valve spindle is connected by worm gearing 54, 55 to the output shaft of the pawl and ratchet, the pawl being spring biased about a pivot 66 and having cam faces 69a, 70a on its teeth 69, 70 which cooperate with pins 62 on the ratchet wheel. A pilot valve 88 actuated by a pair of solenoids 92, 96 controls the admission of fluid, which may be gas or liquid, to opposite sides of the piston 74, energization of the solenoids being controlled by manually operated press buttons for forward and reverse actuation or by a remote control electric circuit or a wireless transmitter. The remote control circuit contains a delay device to prevent the transmission of signals at a higher rate than that to which the valve operator can respond and a counter to indicate the number of actuating impulses transmitted. The number of impulses received may be indicated by a second counter receiving signals generated by movement of the ratchet wheel. If the second counter is at a remote location from the valve a further wireless transmitter and receiver may be employed to actuate it. If the valve is to be actuated manually, a pin 110 rotated by as haft (not shown) swings the pawl 65 clear of the ratchet wheel, the pin being carried on one end of a shaft having a spring-loaded ball to locate it in alternative angular positions. In a further construction, the movements of the piston 74 (Fig. 12, not shown) are controlled by a rotary valve (175) connected in series with an electrically-driven pump (172) and a reservoir (170). The changes in pressure in the valve actuate electric switches (178, 179) for a counter (183). When the valve is used to regulate the flow in an oil well the control system may be mounted on a stationary platform over the well or be carried by a floating barge (185).