Patent ID: 11926998
Assignee: LEAKSMART INC.
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC E  F  Y | IPC E  F

Claim 10:
11. A method of converting a manual shutoff valve to an automatic shutoff valve comprising:
providing an automatic valve actuator unit comprising:
an L-shape housing;
an attachment mechanism for securing the housing to the manual shutoff valve or adjacent structure; and
an actuator at least partially supported in the housing and having an output shaft extending from the housing, the output shaft including a locating member supported at a distal end thereof and a valve handle engaging member;

positioning the automatic valve actuator unit over the manual shutoff valve;
centering the automatic valve actuator unit by telescoping the locating member over a handle fastener of the manual shutoff valve such that the output shaft is aligned with a rotational axis of the manual shutoff valve;
securing the automatic valve actuator unit to the manual shutoff valve or other adjacent structure with the attachment mechanism such that the actuator is supported in cantilevered fashion over the manual shutoff valve; and
coupling the valve handle engaging member to a handle of the manual shutoff valve,
wherein the attachment mechanism includes a clamp assembly having first and second cooperating clamp members, the first and second cooperating clamp members being movable within the housing to adjust a point of attachment of the housing, and, wherein the securing includes leveling the automatic valve actuator unit by moving at least one of the clamp members within the housing.