US3556467A

US3556467A - Valve actuators

Info

Publication number: US3556467A
Application number: US2235A
Authority: US
Inventors: John J Ziccardi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-01-12
Filing date: 1970-01-12
Publication date: 1971-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 1988-01-19

Abstract

In my former application an angularly movable valve is actuated by a motor driven impact device that imparts a series of hammer blows to the valve handle. In my former application, I utilized a resilient means between the motor and valve to smooth out the motor action by absorbing and storing part of the motor energy for fractions of a second. The present application generally functions on the same principle and differs from my prior structure mainly in the utilization of a simple all-metal mounting bracket for the motor and impact impulse member and a cocking spring which automatically returns the impact member of the actuator to a predetermined position relative to the valve operating lever or point of impact.

Description

United States, Patent [72] Inventor John ,1. Ziccardi,

Evans City, Pa. [21] Appl. No. 2,235 [22] Filed Jan. 12, 1970 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 627,802, Apr. 2, 1967, now Patent No. 3,504,684. [45] Patented Jan. 19, 1971 [73] Assignee William B. Jaspert Swanton, Md. a part interest to [54] VALVE ACTUATORS 7 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 251/76 [51] 1nt.Cl ..F16k31/04, F16k 31/10 [50] Field ofSearch 251/76, 133; 310/40, 78, 84

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,551,445 5/1951 Lindsay et a1 251/76X 2,624,363 1/1953 Boller 251/76X m lllllllll! Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek Attorney-William B. Jaspert ABSTRACT: In my former application an angularly movable valve is actuated by a motor driven impact device that imparts a series of hammer blows to the valve handle.

In my former application, 1 utilized a resilient means between the motor and valve to smooth out the motor action by absorbing and storing part of the motor energy for fractions of a second. The present application generally functions on the same principle and differs from my prior structure mainly in the utilization of a simple all-metal mounting bracket for the motor and impact impulse member and a cocking spring which automatically returns the impact member of the actuator to a predetermined position relative to the valve operating lever or point of impact.

PATENTED JAN 1 9 IBYI SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR. JOHN .Z/c(ARO/ INVENTOR.

JUHNJZICCARD/ BY (ha-"p VALVE ACTUATORS The present invention is a continuation-in-part of an application Ser. No. 627,802, filed Apr. 2, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,504,684.

DISCLOSURE The invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawings constituting a part hereof in which like reference characters designate like parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view partially in cross section of an actuator for plug valves embodying the novel features of my invention.

FIG. 2 is a similar view in side elevation taken 90 from FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view diagrammatically illustrating the relative position of the impact member of the actuator of FIGS. I and 2 and the operating lever of the valve taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. I.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an adjustable type impact member.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the adjustable impact member of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are a top plan and side elevational view respectively of an impact member such as is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are similar views of a modified form of impact member having impact surfaces formed to deliver unequal initial impact to the valve operating lever.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are top plan and side elevational views respectively of still another modified form of impact surface for delivering equal initial impact of greater magnitude than that shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 12 is a wiring diagram of the power circuit of the actuator motor and controls.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The L'shaped bracket 53 may be of light gauge steel or other suitable material and need only be strong enough to support the motor and other parts in approximate alignment with the valve operating means.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the numeral 51 generally designates a reversible electric motor of the universal type supported in approximate alignement with the valve 2 by an L-shaped bracket 53. The armature shaft 54 of the motor 51 is in approximate alignment with the stem 5 of the plug valve 2. Fixed to the armature shaft 54 of the motor 51 is a disc shaped impact member 57, said impact-member having a shoulder which I refer to as an impact surface or surfaces designated by the numeral 58 on the one side, relative to its position with respect to the valve operating lever, and 580 on the opposite side, impact surface 58 being the one to open the valve; 58a being the one to close the valve. The impact member 57 is securely affixed to the armature shaft 54 of the motor 51 by a steel dowel pin 54a.

Mounted on the stem 5 of the valve 2 is an operating lever 8; upon the valve housing 2 is provided a stop lug 10 against which stops 9 and 9a, integrally formed with lever 8 abut thus permitting angular movement of the lever 8 through an arc of 90 more or less. Lever 8 and the

impact surfaces

58 and 58a operate in the same lateral plane and need not be in exact alignment.

Attached to the impact member 57v by screw eye 59 is a spring 60 which I call a cocking spring," the other end of which is connected to the valve operating lever 8 by the screw 61.

with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3; assuming the valve is open, the operating lever 8 is in the longitudinal position with the stop 9a abutting the stop lug 10 on the valve body 2; the impact member 57 is held by the tension of the spring 60 so that the

impact surfaces

58 and 58a are each an equal distance from the valve operating lever 8. When the motor 51 is energized, the impact member 57 will travel 30, accelerating and building momentum, from point A in FIG. 3 to point B where it will impact the operating lever 8 moving said lever to point C of FIG. 3. Assuming that just a very short pulse of electricity 7 is sent to the motor, lever 8 will stop at point C and, because the motor is not energized, the impact member 57 will be acted upon by the spring 60 which pulls it back to a position where again the

impact surfaces

58 and 58a are in the same relative position with respect to the valve operating lever 8 as it was at the start even though the valve operating lever is now in a new position.

If the motor 51 is energized for a second or two, there will occur immediately after the initial impact, continuous impulses of force upon the operating lever as a result of the motor, though stalled, trying to overcome the load imposed upon it by the resistance to movement of the valve element in its seat. These impulses move the lever 8 in steplike increments as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 3 from point C to point D, whereupon the operating lever is stopped by the stop lug 10. Of course, the action can be terminated at any desired point between point C and D.

FIG. 4 through 11 illustrate various modifications of impact members which can be interchangeably used with the actuator and FIG. 12 is the wiring diagram of the actuator and controls for effecting valve opening or closing by a single or multiple impulse as will be hereinafter described.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a detail of the impact member 57 as shown on the actuator in FIGS. 1,2 and 3. The

impact surfaces

58 and 58a will travel the same distance in either direction before striking the operating lever 8, exerting a force which is equal in either direction.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate an impact member having impact surfaces formed at different angles with respect to the screw eye 59, the screw eye is centrally disposed with the operating lever by virtue of the tension spring 60. The impact surface 70a will travel a greater distance, accelerate longer thus developing greater momentum than impact surface 70 and therefore, will impart a greater blow to the operating lever. The impact member of FIGS. 10 and 11 have impact surfaces designed for a great amount of free travel to develop greater momentum as compared to the impact element of FIG. 6, for example, and may be substituted for it in the actuator to allow for operation of the valve at a greater working pressure.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an adjustable impact member designated by numeral 80, having threaded holes 81 into which threaded

lugs

82 and 82a may be placed at various distances from the spring attachment screw-eye 59 so that various degrees of travel of the

lugs

82 and 82a constitute the impact can be obtained. The

lugs

82 and 82a constitute the impact surfaces of the impact member 80.

The circuit consists of a stepdown transformer 90, an automobile type direction signal flasher that causes the lights of the automobile to blink on and off; a single pole double throw switch 92 one position for opening the valve and the other position to close the valve; two

relays

93 and 94, one for opening the valve and one for closing the valve; two

limit switches

95 and 96 spaced apart. The limit switches are in the path of movement of the valve operating lever 8. The switches are normally closed. The numeral 97 designates the armature and 98 the field coil of motor 51.

To open the valve with a single impact providing that the motor torque is sufficient to overcome the valve operating lever 8, it would be only necessary to move the single pole double throw switch 92 to the open position. As the switch is closed the current wouldflow through the transformer 90; through the flasher 91; through the opening relay 93 and through the limit switch then back to the ta transformer 90. Because the torque of the motor can overcome the friction and inertia of the valve operating parts the impact member 57 will move the operating lever 8 of the valve immediately to the closed position and in doing so the operating lever 8 strikes that the limit switch 96 and causes it to open thus opening the circuit and stopping the motor 51.

If the torque output of the motor 51 is unable to close the valve 2 in one stroke as above, then the flasher 91 comes into play. The current to the

relay

93 and 94 as the case may be is fed in pulses, each pulse energizing the motor momentarily causing the impact member 57 to strike the operating lever 8.

As the pulse of current is only a fraction of a second the motor 51 is deenergized allowing the cocking spring 60 to return the impact member 57 to its same position relative to the operating lever 8. A second pulse of current to the motor 51 again causes the impact member 57 to strike the operating lever 8. This interplay between the cocking spring 60 and the flasher 91 that produces pulses of electrical current will continue until the operating lever strikes the

limit switch

95 or 96 thus cutting off the current to the motor.

From the above descriptionof the two methods of operation of the impact member it is evident that if the pulse of electric current to the motor is of sufficient duration the valve will be opened or closed with one impact. The second method using an automobile type flasher 91 in the circuit brings out the important function of the cocking spring 60. When there is current fed to the motor 51 the tension of the spring 60 is overcome; when the current to the motor 51 ceases then the tension of the spring moves the impact member 57 and the arma ture of the motor back to its normal position relative to the valve operating lever.

By means of the modified impact members of FIGS. 4 through 11, in cooperation with the cocking spring 60, impact blows of greater magnitude in a preferred direction may be obtained. For example, it requires more force to open a plug valve than is required to close it under the same conditions. Therefore, it would be desireable to have impact surfaces on the impact member that are relative to the operating lever of the valve so that one impact surface travels further than the other when the actuator is energized to open the valve, allowing for greater momentum, and consequently a stronger blow upon the valve operating lever in this desired direction.

it is also apparent that the impact device may be adjusted after it is installed to meet changes in the operating conditions. For example, if the pressure at which the valve is operating is not satisfactory, and is increased, an adjustment of the impact surface of the impact member may be made to allow for more free travel and thus more impact force. Such adjustment may obviate the need for replacing the actuator with one of larger size. Likewise, if the line pressure is reduced or other conditions change which would require less force to operate the valve, the actuator can be adjusted to meet the new requirements. Under such circumstances, the impact surfaces will be adjusted to travel a shorter distance, therefore, developing less impact force.

The same fundamental motor characteristics as referred to in my earlier application Ser. No. 627,802, are employed here, namely, the ability of a series wound motor to develop several times its rated power output when stalled or nearly stalled, and by utilizing a cocking spring and abutments on either side of the impact member and adjusting the relative position of these abutments with respect to the valve operating lever, I can obtain very close control of the impact delivered to the operating lever which makes the present embodiment of the invention a very good actuator for modulating control.

The time period between impacts may be a fraction of a second, or length of time. Thus the valve may be opened very rapidly or very slowly and to any degree, depending upon the number of impacts and the time intervals between impacts.

The valve stops moving the very instant the current to the motor is stopped. These facts make this actuator well suited to control systems that may be programmed for repetitive actions.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the principles herein set forth.

lclaim:

1. An electric valve actuating mechanism comprising:

a reversible electric motor having the characteristic of developing several times its rated power output when stalled or nearly stalled;

an impact member mounted to rotate with the armature shaft of said motor having spaced impact surfaces;

a valve in alignment with said impact member having an operating lever for engagement by said spaced impact surfaces; and

a cocking spring connected to said operating lever and to said impact member to maintain a fixed relation of said lever and impact surfaces when the motor is deenergized whereby to provide successive blows of predetermined force on said operating lever throughout its length of travel.

2. An electric valve actuating mechanism as set forth in claim 1 in which the valve operating lever is movable between limit switches for breaking the motor circuit at the end of its valve opening or closing movement.

3. An electric valve actuating mechanism as set forth in claim 1 in which the motor is connected to a transformer in an electric current having a pair of relays, a single pole double throw switch and a current pulsating device to subject said lever to successive pulses.

4. An electric valve actuating mechanism as set forth in claim 1 in which the spacing of the impact surfaces of the impact member determines the intensity of the impact blow.

5. An electric valve actuating mechanism as set forth in claim 4 in which the spacing of the impact surfaces is adjustable and variable.

6. An electric valve mechanism as set forth in claim 1 in which one end of the cocking spring is secured to the extended end of the valve operating lever and the other end is connected centrally of the impact surfaces of said impact member.

7. An electric valve mechanism as set forth in claim 1 in which the valve operating lever is movable throughout an angle between spaced lugs on said lever and a fixed stop on said valve housing.

Claims

1. An electric valve actuating mechanism comprising: a reversible electric motor having the characteristic of developing several times its rated power output when stalled or nearly stalled; an impact member mounted to rotate with the armature shaft of said motor having spaced impact surfaces; a valve in alignment with said impact member having an operating lever for engagement by said spaced impact surfaces; and a cocking spring connected to said operating lever and to said impact member to maintain a fixed relation of said lever and impact surfaces when the motor is deenergized whereby to provide successive blows of predetermined force on said operating lever throughout its length of travel.