Patent ID: 6748967
Filing Date: 2004-06-15
Classification: F16B,F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
A coupler, actuator, and valve combination comprising:a. a first actuator having actuator mounting holes defined therein about an actuator shaft; b. a first valve having valve mounting holes defined therein about a valve stem; c. a coupler including: (1) opposing mounting sides, (2) a shaft/stem bore extending between the mounting sides, (3) actuator affixment holes extending into at least one of the mounting sides, the actuator affixment holes being arrayed identically to the actuator mounting holes; (4) valve affixment holes extending into at least one of the mounting sides, the valve affixment holes being arrayed identically to the valve mounting holes and being spaced from the actuator affixment holes; (5) surplus affixment holes extending into at least one of the mounting sides, the surplus affixment holes being arrayed differently from both the valve mounting holes and the actuator mounting holes, and wherein the surplus affixment holes are spaced from the actuator affixment holes and the valve affixment holes; wherein fasteners extend: (i) between the actuator affixment holes and actuator mounting holes to affix the first actuator to one of the mounting sides of the coupler, and (ii) between the valve affixment holes and valve mounting holes to affix the first valve to the mounting side of the coupler opposite the mounting side whereupon the actuator is affixed, and wherein one of the first actuator and first valve may be removed from one of the mounting sides to allow a second actuator or second valve to affix to the same mounting side in its place with the second actuator or second valve being affixed to this mounting side by fasteners extending into the surplus affixment holes, and wherein the second actuator or second valve is unable to affix to this mounting side by use of the valve affixment holes or actuator affixment holes used to affix the first actuator and first valve to the coupler.