MXPA00000903A - Electric actuator - Google Patents

Abstract

An actuator device (1) for actuating a control mechanism by axially moving an actuating member (2) against a force comprises a housing (3) in which a reversible driving means (4) is arranged with a first rotatable part (5) and a second rotatable part (6) engagable with one another and acting on said actuating member (2) for axially moving it in feed direction (7) to said control mechanism upon rotation in one direction. An electric motor (8) rotates said first rotatable part (5) and said second rotatable part (6) by engagement with said first rotatable part. Rotation preventing means (9) prevent a rotation of at least one of said rotatable parts (6) in a second direction. Releasing means (10) release said rotation preventing means (9) to permit rotation of said at least one rotatable part (6) to permit said actuating member te be axially moved in a direction (11) opposite to said feed direction (7).

Description

ELECTRIC ACTUATOR FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to electrically driven actuator devices for actuating control mechanisms such as valves, throttles or other control mechanisms used in particular for subsea oil or gas production systems. Of course said actuator device can also be used in any remote or inaccessible terrestrial location.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION For actuating the control mechanisms, a driving member of an actuating device is moved axially and in one position the control mechanism is, for example, connected and in another position of the driving member is disconnected. Such actuator devices are disposed within a housing to protect the device against external influences in corresponding terrestrial or aquatic location. Within the housing an electric motor is arranged to rotate a first rotating part and a second rotary part both in engagement with each other. The two rotating parts form a reversible drive means for axially moving the drive member in the feed direction to the control mechanism for operating it. In its operating position the drive member is locked by a preventive means of rotation and to unlock the drive member a release means is provided which allows an axial movement of the drive member in a direction opposite to the feed direction.

U.S. Patent No. 5,195,721 discloses a fail-safe valve actuator with the features of the pre-characterizing portion of claim 1. This valve actuator moves a valve closure member between the two positions. A separate spring means is arranged to push the second drive portion in the direction to move a closure member to a second position where the electrically propelled means prevent a first drive part from rotating in the opposite direction and thus retaining the closure member in Your first position In response to the loss of power supply to the rotating preventive means, the closure member is moved by the spring means to its other direction. Said rotating preventive means comprises the number of sleeves, gears and pinions, and also an electric motor connected by the sleeves, gears and pinions to the driving parts. To release the preventive means of rotation, a disc is lifted by a compressed spring and by deactivating the energy of a solenoid a threaded member is no longer engaged with a groove of one of the sleeves and a wrapped spring is no longer tightly fastened around the sleeves, in such a way that one of the sleeves can be rotated with respect to the other, whereby two driving parts can move relative to one another. Accordingly, the known actuator device of United States Patent No. 5,195,721 is of a very complicated construction with a plurality of parts wherein a separate spring must be provided to force the rotary part rearwardly in position and thereby the The rotary preventive means uses the electric motor in its off mode to create a rotating effect and transmit the same to the actuating member to prevent any rotation thereof. It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a simple construction actuator device that reliably prevents rotation of the drive member without charging the electric motor with a torque to prevent such rotation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This object is solved by an actuator device of the known construction characterized in that said force acting on said actuating member is externally applied by said control mechanism and said preventive means of rotation is arranged between said second rotary part and said housing for rotationally fixing said rotating part to said housing to prevent rotation of said second direction. As the force acting on the drive member is externally applied by the control mechanism, no additional spring or other device disposed within the actuator device is needed. Correspondingly, the construction of the actuator device is simplified. To retain the actuator member in a position where the control mechanism is operated it is no longer necessary to use the electric motor and a rotation torque supplied by it in case it is turned off, but instead the preventive means of rotation is supported by the housing for providing a torque of rotation in a direction opposite to the torque provided by the force of the control mechanism acting on the drive member. A simple embodiment of the reversible drive means comprises an internally threaded screw nut as the first rotating part and an externally threaded screw rod as the second rotating part. For less friction between the nut and the shank, said screw nut and screw shank can form a spherical bolting device with balls between them. In such a case it is also possible to use a high speed rotary torque motor as the electric motor. The housing of the actuator device may be such that the electric motor is disposed within said housing and in particular at one end thereof opposite the control mechanism. In such form the actuator device is compact and can be easily handled. In order to fix the electric motor in a simple form in the housing, it can be fixed to a sleeve-like head member with a longitudinal bore which is fixed to the housing. In addition to the means that transmits the rotating force, a gearbox can be disposed between the transmission means and the electric motor. A means which transmits the rotational force of simple construction is a sleeve in which one end of the spherical screw rod is inserted, wherein the other end of the spherical screw rod extends from the spherical screw nut towards the actuating member . As the means transmitting the rotational force connect the spherical screw nut and the electric motor, said sleeve can be rotatably fixed to the spherical screw nut to transmit any rotation of the motor to the nut. The connection between the sleeve and the spherical screw nut can be in any way that allows a rigid fixation. The sleeve may have a closed end by which it is connected to the electric motor or to the gearbox. It may further have an open end portion protruding from the head member into which the spherical screw nut is inserted. To prevent rotation of the sleeve with respect to the head member in a simple manner in at least that direction used to move the driving member in the direction of the control mechanism, the sleeve can be rotatable with respect to the head member in a direction and rotatably fixed to the head member in the other direction. This can be done by a preventive rotation means disposed between the end portion of the sleeve and an end portion of the head member. A rotational preventive means of simple construction is realized by end portions of the sleeve and the head member of the same outer diameter with a spring wrapped as said preventive means of rotation disposed at least partially in both of these end portions. This coated spring has no influence in case the sleeve is rotated in one direction but tightens if it is rotated in the other direction. In order to rotationally support and hold the sleeve in position the radial and / or thrust bearings may be disposed between the end portion of the sleeve and an inner wall of the housing. To prevent direct contact of the sleeve and the housing, a sleeve bushing can be arranged between these bearings and the inner wall of the housing, wherein this bushing is at least rotatably fixed to the housing. This can also be fixed to the housing in an axial direction, ie in a longitudinal direction of the housing or of the spherical screw shaft. To also rotatably support that part of the spherical screw rod projecting from the spherical screw nut towards the actuator member, an extension member similar to the sleeve can be fixed with respect to the housing with a bore in which that part of the stem of the spherical screw this rotatably supported.

In one embodiment of the invention, the extension member is fixed to the hub and may in an axial form extend therefrom in the direction of the drive member. According to another embodiment of the invention, a further sleeve-type end member may be disposed between the extension member and the actuating member, wherein the end member is rotatably supported within the housing and the preventive means of rotation is arranged between the end member and the extension member. A rotational preventive means of simple construction can be realized by said extension member comprising an end portion of the sleeve with an external diameter equal to the external diameter of the end member and by a wrapped spring as a preventive means of rotation disposed at least partially on said external surfaces of the end member and the extension member. In case the end member and the extension member are rotatably fixed to each other and to allow an axial displacement of the spherical screw rod relative to the end member and the extension member, the spherical screw rod is capable of displaced axially and is rotatably fixed with respect to the end member. A simple way to rotatably fix the spherical screw rod with respect to the member is by providing a wedge means extending in a radial shape disposed between the spherical screw rod and the end member. This wedge means may protrude from an inner piercing surface of the end member and may be guided in a slot extending longitudinally on an outer surface of the spherical screw shaft. In this form, the spherical screw rod and the end member are rotatably fixed to each other and rotation of the spherical screw rod by the preventive rotation means disposed between the end member and the extension member can be prevented. As the extension member is fixed to the hub or directly to the housing, the end member and, correspondingly, also the spherical screw rod is supported by the housing according to the rotation preventive means disposed between the end member and the end member. extension member. To avoid direct contact between the spherical screw rod and the drive member, a thrust collar means can be placed between them. By this means of thrust collar any relative rotation of the spherical screw rod and drive member can be absorbed. Various embodiments of the actuating member are possible but an actuating rod is advantageous as the actuating member extending in a longitudinal direction of said housing and in particular in a coaxial shape with the spherical screw rod. In combination with this, the thrust collar means may include two parts, one which is fixed to one end of the spherical screw rod and the other supporting one end of the drive rod with thrust bearings between the two parts. The actuator device can have a compact shape and can be easily handled in case the housing is of the tube type. In addition, to obtain a simple access for maintenance or the like, the housing may have end caps capable of being fixed at both ends of the housing. To release the wrapped spring as a preventive means of rotation, different modalities are possible. A simple construction mode can be obtained in case the coated spiral spring has a pin protruding at one end of the spring in an essential radial direction and in case the release means includes a coupling member releasably engaging the pin to push it in a circumferential direction of the spiral spring to release it and to allow rotation of the driving rod in the second direction. A simple and easy to operate drive means for said pin may be a solenoid as an additional part of the release means with a piston capable of moving in the direction of the pin. The piston can directly push the spigot to release the coated bridge, wherein the piston is the coupling member. It is also possible to employ a cam member as the coupling member between the piston and the pin, which is pivotally supported between a coupling position and a release position wherein the cam member contacts and pushes the pin in a coupling position and spacing of the pin in a release position. The cam member is positioned on an axis from a release position to a coupling position by acting the solenoid and driving the piston in the direction of the pin. The cam member may have different shapes adapted for coupling with the piston and the pin. In one embodiment of the cam member, this is in the form of a sector of a circle with a radius assigned to the pin and the other radius assigned to the piston, wherein the pin is pivotally supported at an intersection of the two radii opposite its circumference. As the pin member extends in a radially outward form of the coil member or end member, it is advantageous when the cam member is pivotally supported by a pivot shaft extending parallel and outwardly spaced from the longitudinal axis of the spherical screw shaft or housing.

To provide support for the cam member, a tube-like housing can be provided by extending between the thrust collar means and the extension member wherein the cam member is pivotally supported in a recess provided in a peripheral surface of the housing tube type. The solenoid may also be arranged in the housing of the actuator device. It is also possible to provide a separate housing or housing for the solenoid extending radially from and freely fixed to an outer housing of the actuator device. In order to monitor the actuator device and in particular any movement of the actuator rod, it may be advisable to provide at least one detector means to detect the position of the actuator rod within the housing. Such a detector means may be a proximity switch or any other type of detector that can at least detect the two extreme end positions of the drive rod. Since such actuator devices are used in remote aquatic or terrestrial locations that may be inaccessible, they must have a fail-safe function. This can be easily accomplished by the present actuator device in which the piston is spring loaded in the direction of the cam member to release the wrapped spring by pushing its pin in case the solenoid is de-energized to provide such an actuator device to the actuator. failure test. To prevent any collision within the actuator device or by operating the control mechanism, an absorption means may be movably disposed with the actuator rod. In a simple embodiment such plate-like absorption means surrounds the drive rod and is fixed thereto.

In order to obtain a general maintenance-free actuator device, a lubricant must be filled in the housing to be supplied to all moving parts within the housing, which lubricant can also be used by the absorption means to dampen its movement together with the piston rod. drive. As the actuator device can be operated under different temperatures, the lubricant can have different volumes. Therefore, the compensation means can be connected to the interior of the housing to receive or supply the lubricant from or to the housing. As the actuator device can be operated under extreme environmental conditions, such as submarines, it is advantageous to seal the housing with respect to these conditions. Accordingly, a number of sealing rings can be provided to at least seal the end caps with respect to the housing. Since the actuator device can also be operated under explosive conditions it is also advantageous when an explosion-proof electrical connector is provided in the housing to receive voltage supply means that can be connected to the electric motor. Other advantageous features of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of this specification; including the attached drawings and the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional view in the longitudinal direction through a mode of an actuator device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a view of the actuator device taken along line A-A of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of detail "X" in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a directional view of "Y" shape in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a further embodiment of the actuator device according to the invention with an absorption means disposed in an actuator rod, and Figure 6 is a further embodiment of the actuator device according to the invention with an overdrive means which It can be connected to an electric motor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The actuator device 1 as shown in Figure 1 comprises a tube-like housing 3 of circular cross-section. The open ends of this housing 3 are closed by end caps 46 and 47 both having a circular flange extending in the direction of the housing and inserted therein. Around the periphery of these sealing rings of circular flanges 69 are adapted. The cable cover 46 is provided with a connector 70 for electrically connecting an electric motor 8 adapted in the housing 3 with an external voltage supply. The connector 70 may be explosion-proof or it may be a certified cable entry device sealed in an O-ring. The other end cap 47 also has a circular flange that extends in the direction of the housing and inserts therein with rings. Airtight seal 69 provided in its periphery. This end cap 47 has a central opening in which an end of a driving rod 40 as a driving member 2 is inserted. This base of the drive mechanism 40 is movable in the feed direction 7 and is also retractable in the opposite direction 11 to operate a control mechanism (not shown) such as a valve, throttle, or the type used in inaccessible land or water locations or remote. The cable cover 47 also comprises an essentially half circular flange 75 projecting from the cable cover 47 in a direction opposite the housing for freely fixing said control mechanism, see also Figure 4. Connected to the housing 3 is a compensation means 67 to receive or supply a lubricant from or to the interior 68 of the housing. By this lubricant all the moving parts in the housing are lubricated. The electric motor 8 is fixedly connected to the head member 14 providing an open chamber in the direction of the electric motor 8. In this chamber a gearbox 80 is adapted to transmit the shape of the rotating force of the electric motor 8 to a transmitting member. the rotational force 16. This member that transmits rotational force 16 is formed by a sleeve 17 having a closed end that is rotatably fixed to the gearbox 80. The sleeve 17 is rotatably supported in a bore 15 of the head member 14 A portion of the open end 20 of the sleeve 17 protrudes from the bore 15 of the head member 14 in the direction of the drive rod 40. The diameter of the open end portion 30 is slightly larger than the part of the sleeve 17 inserted therein. perforation 15. The open end portion 20 and the closed portion 22 of the head member 14 have the same diameter An outer portion wherein a wrapped spring 24 is at least partially adapted on the outer periphery of these portions as a preventive means of rotation 21. Within the sleeve 17 an end of the screw rod 13 as a second rotating part 6 is inserted, in where the rod is freely rotatable with respect to the sleeve 17. In the open end portion 20 a screw nut 12 as a first rotary part 5 is rotatably inserted fixed with respect to the open end portion 20. The screw rod 13 is inserted with its end 18 into the sleeve near its closed end where its other end 19 protrudes from the screw nut 12 in direction and coaxially to the actuator device 40. The screw rod 13 and the screw nut 12 are the first and second rotating parts of a driving means 4 used to push the driving rod 40 in feeding direction 7 by a rotated force transmitted to the driving means 4 of the electric motor 8. All the parts already mentioned as well as most of the other parts still by mentioned are arranged along the longitudinal axis 59 of the housing 3 and are symmetrical to this axis. The open end portion 20 of the sleeve 17 is inserted into an opening in a bushing 28 in which the radial bearings 25 and the thrust bearings 26 are disposed in the middle. The bushing 28 has an externally radially extended flange 73 fixed to the housing 3 on its inner wall 27. Adjacent to the bushing 28 a sleeve-like extension member is adapted and fixed together with the hub by screwing or otherwise similar to the housing 3. The extension member 29 also comprises a flange extending radially externally 71 in abutment with the flange 73 of the bushing 28. At least one position along the circumference of the two flanges 73, 71 have through holes in alignment with a lubricant supply line 81. The extension member 29 has a bore 30 in which the other end 19 of the screw rod 13 is rotatably supported. Between the extension member 29 and the screw nut 12, a sealing ring 82 is fitted by pressing the circular flange 83 extending externally of the screw nut 12 against one end of the open end portion. Between the ring member 82 and the extension member 29 the thrust bearing is further adapted. The extension member 29 has a portion of the end sleeve 32 extending parallel to and outwardly of the screw rod 13 and being in abutment with a sleeve-like end member. Both have the same external diameter where a wrapped spring 33 is located. adapted in these portions forming a preventive means of rotation. To rotatably secure the other end 19 of the wrapped spring 13 to a surface of the internal bore 36 of the end member 31 a wedge means 35 is adapted fixed to a surface of the internal bore 36 opposite the outer surface 34 of the extension member. 29 and the end member 31. The wedge means 35 is movable along the slot 37 providing on an external surface 38 of the screw rod 13 and extending in the longitudinal direction 41 or longitudinal axis, respectively. The sleeve-like end member 31 is rotatably supported in a bore of a tube-like housing 62 extending from the flange 71 of the parallel and externally spaced extension member 29 of the nut base 13. Between the tube-like housing 62 and the end member 31 the radial bearings are arranged. On the end face of the other end 19 of the nut base 13 a first part 42 of a thrust collar means 39 is fixed when screwing. A second part 43 of the thrust collar means is of the plate type and rotatably supported with respect to the first part by the thrust bearing 45 disposed therein in the middle. To radially support the thrust collar means 39 a ring 83 is provided which is fixed to a tube-like housing 62.

The second part 43 of the thrust collar means 39 has a recess in its surface directed to the rod of the drive mechanism 40. This is an adjustment with its end 44 with this recess correspondingly with the second part 43 of the thrust collar means 39 To hermetically direct the base of the drive mechanism 40 in the end cap 47 a number of sealing rings 69 are adapted in between. Opposed to the compensation means 67 a solenoid 50 is adapted in a housing 63 wherein the solenoid is part of the release means 10 for releasing the wrapped spring 33 to allow rotation of the screw nut 12 in a second direction opposite to the first direction of compliance with the base that the drive mechanism 40 is pushing in the feed direction. The housing 63 is freely fixed to the outer surface of the housing 3. A piston 51 of the solenoid 50 protrudes into the interior 68 of the housing and is supported with a cam member 52 as a coupling member 49. This cam member 52 is disposed between the end of the piston 51 and the tang 48, see also Figure 2 of the coated bridge 33. The cam member 52 is supported as a pivot in a recess 60, see again Fig. 2 of the tube-like housing 62. In addition adapted in the housing 3 are two proximity switches as sensing means 64 used to detect the position of the driving rod 40 by monitoring any movement of the first part 42 of the thrust collar means 39. By these two proximity switches the final positions end portions of the drive rod 40 are detected. In Figure 2 a section of the actuator device 1 according to Figure 1 along the line A-A is illustrated.

In this Figure the rotationally symmetrical construction of the actuator device 1 and in particular the housing 3 with all its internal parts is apparent. As a first part in the housing 3 the flange 71 of the extension member 29 is adapted. Then a periphery surface 61 of the tube-like housing 62 with an end member 31 and a thyme rod 13 are all illustrated symmetrical to the longitudinal axis 59 of the housing 3. Between the end member 31 and the screw rod 30 the means of wedge 35 is adapted. At one end of the wrapped spring 33 the pin 48 extends radially externally and is a support with a side surface of the cam member 52. In Figure 2 the cam member 52 is in its engaging position 53 by means of which a corresponding release position 54 is shown in dotted lines. The cam member 52 has the shape of a sector of a circle with its two lateral surfaces formed by spokes 55 and 56. At an intersection 57 of the two spokes 55 and 56, the cam member 52 is supported as a pivot near the axis of pivot 58 opposite its curved circumference. The cam member 52 is supported as a pivot in the recess 60 of the tube-like housing 62. In Fig. 3 an enlarged view of the detail X of Fig. 1 is illustrated. In this figure it is shown in which form the flanges 71 and 73 of the extension member 29 and the bushing 28, respectively, are fixed to the housing 3 by screwing or in a similar manner. In Figure 4 a view of the direction Y of the actuator device 1, see Figure 1 is illustrated. The semicircular flange 75 extends along the outer periphery of the housing 3 to form an internal thrust element in which a final end of the control mechanism (not shown) can be inserted and then screwed to the end surface of the cover. end 47. In the end cap 47 an opening is provided by which the drive rod 40 in its bore 74 is visible. In Figure 5 another embodiment of the actuator device 1 is illustrated. In this embodiment the end cap 47 is not fixed directly to the housing 3. In its place, an intermediate housing 79 is adapted in the middle and fixed to the housing 3 and to the end cap 47. In the intermediate housing 79 an absorbent means 65 is adapted. The absorbent means 65 is adapted adjacent an end wall 78 of the intermediate housing housing 79 of closure 3 and providing a through hole through which the actuator rod 40 is guided. The absorbent means 65 is fixed to the actuating rod 40 with a plug means 77 by which an annular plate 76 is held. By moving the actuator rod 40 in the feed direction 7 or in the opposite direction 11, see FIG. 1, the movement of the actuator rod 40 is damped by the simultaneous movement of the annular plate 76 and the displacement of any lubricant filled in the intermediate accommodation. In Figure 6 a further embodiment of the invention is disclosed. Here, the end cap 46 has a longer length in the longitudinal direction 41 compared to Figure 1 with an additional opening in the center day cap. In this opening a saturation means 66 is adapted which can be brought to fit with the electric motor 8. Similar to Figure 1 an explosion-proof connector 70 can be provided in the end cap 46. Next the work of the device The actuator according to the invention is briefly summarized. The electric motor 8 is a high-speed low-torque motor that drives the gearbox 80. The motor may or may not be reversible. In one embodiment of the invention, it only operates the gearbox 80 in a counter-clockwise direction. The gearbox 80 handles the sleeve 17, which is rigidly attached to the screw nut 12. It should be noted that the screw nut 12 the screw rod 13 can be a spherical screw nut and a spherical screw rod with balls adapted in the middle. The upper part 14 is rigidly attached to the outside of the housing 3, thus it can not rotate. The wrapped spring 24 rotatably closes the sleeve 17 to the upper part 14. The wrapped spring 24 is wound in the clockwise direction of rotation. This will allow the sleeve 17 to rotate freely in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the head member 14, which is rigidly attached to the housing 3. The spring 24, however, will not allow the sleeve to rotate in the clockwise direction of rotation. The rotary directions fixed above and below are specified by looking at the electric motor 8 downwards in the direction of the drive rod. Because the screw nut 12 is rigidly attached to the sleeve 17, it can only rotate in the opposite direction to the time. The bushing 28 and the extension member are rigidly attached to the housing, thus they can not rotate. The screw nut 12, the sleeve 17 and the thrust plate or the ring member 82 are axially and radially secured by the bushing 28 and the extension member 29. The radial and thrust bearings 25, 26 enable the Screw nut 12 rotate, but have no axial movement. The threaded spherical screw rod 13 is rotatably fixed within the end member 31 by the wedge means 35. The longitudinal key slot or the slot 37 in the base 30 allows axial movement of the base within the end member 31.

The end member 31 is rotatably fixed to the extension member 29 by the wrapped spring 33, which is wound against the schedule. This will allow the end member 31 and the rod 13 to rotate freely in the clockwise rotation direction, but close the end member to the extension member 29 to prevent rotation against the timing of the rod 13. In operation, the electric motor 8 turns the spherical nut 12 in the opposite direction to the schedule. The screw threaded rod 13 is in a way that prevents rotation against the schedule. The spherical screw nut 12 and the threaded screw rod 13 have a rotation thread to the right. Thus, the counter-clockwise rotation of the nut 12 tends to push the nut up and the rod down. Because the nut is of a shape that prevents axial movement, and the key slot 37 in the base 13 allows axial movement, the result is a downward movement of the screw rod 13. These forces of the collar means of push 39 push the base of the drive mechanism 40 downwards. A combination of the spherical base such as the spherical screw nut 12 and the threaded screw shank 13 is extremely efficient and will check (in reverse) if it is not restricted. The upward thrust force on the base of the drive mechanism 40 will try to reverse handle the spherical nut-spherical base combination. To do this, one of these two things has to happen. First, the spherical nut 12 must rotate clockwise, which can not be done due to the wrapped spring 24, second the screw threaded rod 13 must rotate counter to the schedule, which can not be done due to the wrapped spring 33. Thus, the driving rod 40 is closed in its extended position, which opens a fail-safe valve as an example for the control mechanism.

The means for closing the valve, the release means, will be described below. The valve as a control mechanism contains a strong spring, which continuously tries to close the valve by pushing the drive rod 40 upwards. The wrapped spring 33, which prevents the shape of the threaded screw rod rotating against the schedule, has the tang 48 in the lower part of its coil. If this pin is pushed in the opposite direction to the downward viewing time, it will allow the end member 31 and the threaded screw rod 13 to turn against the schedule, see Figure 2. Please note that Figure 2 is a top view not from below. Thus, the counter-clockwise rotation in Figure 2 is a clockwise rotation in the notation in accordance with Figure 1, and vice versa. The cam member 52 has a pivot shaft 58 about which it can be rotated to push against the pin 48. The Solenoid 50 contains a loaded spring piston 51, which acts against the cam member 52. The solenoid activated 50 holds the loaded spring piston away from the cam member. To close the error-proof valve as the control mechanism, the electrical power is such that it removes the solenoid 50. This allows the loaded spring piston 51 to push against the cam member 52, which in turn forces this to rotate. from its release position 54 to its engaging position 53. This action pushes on the pin 48 which releases the covered spring 33 and allows rotation against the screw shank time 13. Because the spherical screw will check, the force of the spring in the fail-safe valve will cause the rotation in the opposite direction to the screw shank 13 and will allow the closing of the valve. The thrust sleeve means 39 utilizes the thrust bearing 45 to allow rotation of the screw rod 13 even when the drive rod 40 does not rotate.

It is also noted that any loss of power to the 50 solenoid, intentional or accidental, will cause the fail-safe valve as the control mechanism for closing. Thus, the actuator device according to the invention is truly fail-safe.

Claims (40)

1. An actuator device (1) for actuating a control mechanism by axially moving a drive member (2) against a force comprising: • a housing (3) in which a reversible drive means (4) is disposed. ) with a first rotating part (5) and a second rotating part (6) capable of coupling with one another and acting on said actuating member (2) to move it axially in the feeding direction (7) towards said mechanism of control when turning in one direction; • an electric motor (8) for rotating said first rotating part (5) and said second rotating part (6) by coupling with said first rotating part; »• a preventive means of rotation (9) to prevent rotation of at least one of said rotating part (6) in a second direction, and • releasing means (10) to release said preventive means of rotation (9) for allowing the rotation of at least one rotating part (6) to allow said actuating member (2) to be moved axially in a direction (11) opposite said feeding direction (7), characterized in that said force acting on said actuating member (2) is externally applied by said control mechanism and said rotary preventive means (9) is adapted between said second rotary part (6) and said housing (3) to rotatably fix said rotary part (6) to said housing to prevent rotation in said second direction.

The actuator device according to claim 1, further characterized in that said first rotating part (5) is an internally threaded bolt nut (12) and said second rotary part (6) is an externally threaded bolt rod (13) .

The actuator device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said screw nut (12) and screw rod (13) form a spherical device that screws (12, 13) with balls between them.

The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electric motor (8) is arranged inside said housing (3) in particular at one end thereof opposite said control mechanism.

The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electric motor (8) is fixed to said housing (3) by a sleeve-like member (14) with a longitudinal bore (15) to through which it extends a means that transmits rotational force (16) to rotatably connect said spherical screw nut (12) with the electric motor (8).

The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means transmitting the rotational force (16) is a sleeve (17) in which one end (18) of said spherical screw rod ( 13) is inserted, wherein the other end (19) of said spherical screw rod (13) extends from said spherical screw nut (12) in the direction of said actuating member (2).

The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sleeve (17) is rotatably fixed to said spherical screw nut (12).

The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an open end portion (20) of said sleeve (17) protrudes from said head member (14), wherein said spherical screw nut (12) is inserted right there.

The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sleeve (17) is rotatable with respect to said head member (14) in one direction and rotatably fixed to said head member in the other direction. address.

The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a preventive means of rotation (21) is disposed between the end portion (20) of said sleeve (17) and an end portion (22) of said head member (14).

The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end portions (20, 22) of said sleeve (17) and said upper part of the member (14) have the same external diameter (23). ) with a wrapped spring (24) as said rotation preventive means (21) disposed at least partially in both end portions (20, 22).

The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radial and / or thrust bearings (25, 26) are adapted between said end portion (20) of said sleeve (17) and a inner wall (27) of said housing (3).

The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a bushing (28) is adapted between the bearings (25, 26) and said inner wall (27) of said housing (3) wherein said bushing (28) is rotatably fixed to said housing.

The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sleeve-like extension member (29) is fixed with respect to said housing (3) with a bore (30) in which said rod Spherical screw (13) is rotatably supported.

The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said extension member (29) is fixed to said bore (28) and axially extends therefrom in the direction of said actuating member (15). 2).

The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sleeve end member (31) is adapted between the extension member (29) and the actuator member (2) with said preventive means. rotation (9) adapted between the end member and the extension member.

The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said extension member (29) comprises an end portion of the sleeve (32) with an external diameter equal to the external diameter of said end member ( 31) and a wrapped spring (33) as said rotation preventive means (9) is at least partially adapted on said outer surfaces (34) of the end member (31) and the extension member (29).

The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said spherical screw rod (13) is displaced axially and rotatably fixed with respect to said end member (31).

The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a radially extending wedge means (35) is adapted between said spherical screw rod (13) and said end member (31). ).

20. The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said wedge means (35) protrudes from a surface of the internal bore (36) of said end member (31) and is guided in a slot ( 37) extending longitudinally on an external surface (38) of the spherical screw rod (13).

The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thrust collar means (39) is disposed between said spherical screw rod (13) and said actuating member (2).

22. The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said drive mechanism (2) is a rod of the drive mechanism (40) extending in a longitudinal direction (41) of said housing (3) and in particular coaxially with said spherical screw rod (13).

23. The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said thrust collar means (39) includes two parts (42, 43) one of which is fixed to one end of the spherical screw rod (13) and the other end supporting one end (44) of the rod of the piston rod (13). drive mechanism (40) with the thrust bearing (45) between the two parts (42, 43).

The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said housing (3) is a tube type with end cap (46,47) that can be fixed at both ends.

25. The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said coiled winding spring (33) has a spigot (48) protruding at one end of the spring in essentially a radial direction and said release means ( 10) includes a coupling member (49) freely adjusting said pin (48) to push it in the circumferential direction of said coil spring (33) to release it to allow the rotation of said drive rod (40) in said second one. address.

26. The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said release means (10) further includes a solenoid (50) with a piston (51) movable in the direction of said pin (48).

27. The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling member is a cam means (52) is adapted between said piston (51) and said pin (48), said cam member (52) being supported in the form of a pivot between a coupling position (53) and a release position (54), wherein said cam member (52) contacts and pushes said pin (48) in a coupling position and is spaced from said pin in the release position.

The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cam member (52) is in the form of a sector of a circle with a radius (55) assigned to the spigot (48) and the another radius (56) assigned to the piston (51) wherein the cam member (52) is supported in a pivoting manner at an intersection (57) of the two spokes (55,56) opposite its circumference.

29. The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cam member (52) is supported in the form of a pivot by a pivot shaft (58) extending in parallel and externally spaced with respect to said longitudinal axis (41) of said spherical screw rod.

30. The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cam member (52) is supported in the form of a pivot in a recess (60) provided on a periphery surface (61) of the tube type housing. (62) extending between the thrust collar means (39) and the extension member (29).

The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said solenoid (59) is arranged in a housing (63) that extends radially and freely from and freely fixed to said housing (3) .

32. The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one detector means (64) for detecting a position of said rod of the drive mechanism (40) is disposed in said housing (3) .

33. The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said piston (51) is spring loaded in the direction of said cam member (52) to push it in the direction of said pin (48). ) in case the solenoid (50) is deactivated to provide the fail-safe function.

34. The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an absorption means (65) is movably adapted with said rod of the actuating mechanism (40).

35. The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plate type absorption means (65) surrounds said actuator rod (40) and is fixed thereto.

36. The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an override means (66) can be connected to the electric motor (8).

37. The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a lubricant is filled in the housing and is supplied to all moving parts in the housing.

38. The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a compensation means (67) is connected to the interior (68) of the housing (3) to receive and supply the lubricant.

39. The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a number of sealing rings (69) is provided to at least seal the end caps (46,47) with respect to the housing (39). 3).

40. The actuator device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an explosion-proof electrical connector is provided in the housing (3) for receiving a voltage supplying means that can be connected to the electric motor (8). ).