Patent ID: 6408886
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: B60R,F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
A retrofit electro-mechanical actuator assembly for the remote operation of a manually operable tank drain valve installed on a recreational vehicle, the drain valve having a housing enclosing a linearly sliding gate with an open and a closed position at the extremes of its travel and a manually operable T-shaped valve handle attached thereto which slides in a linear, bi-directional manner to move the sliding gate between its open and closed positions, the assembly comprising:a. resilient housing comprising a back wall and connected side walls arranged in channel-shape in horizontal cross-section and having inward detents along the distal ends of the side walls, the detents comprising attachment means for removably securing the housing to the drain valve; b. a rack reciprocally supported by the housing; c. a reversible electric drive motor selectively powered to produce clockwise or counter-clockwise rotational drive, and unpowered to place it in a stationary, disabled state, the motor having a pinion engaging the rack and adapted to impart reciprocal drive thereto and supported by the housing; d. a handle-securing fastener at the upper end of the rack comprising a base adapted to fit against the underside of a wing of the T-shaped handle and a resilient clip having an end hinged to the base and adapted to swing over the top of the wing and having a latch at the other end of the clip adapted to snap closed under the underside of a portion of the base to enclose the wing and attach the rack to the handle.