Patent ID: 7681864
Filing Date: 2010-03-23
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A valve actuator comprising: a body with an interior and an exterior, a rotatable, externally threaded drive screw extending through the body and projecting out at least one side of the body, a first sleeve surrounding a first portion of the drive screw, extending into the interior of the body and into the exterior of the body, a first bearing located at the one side of the body and receiving the first sleeve therein, a second bearing in the body and receiving a second portion of the drive screw therein, a nut threadingly captured on the drive screw in the interior of the body, the nut being held against rotation during rotation of the drive screw, so as to cause the nut to travel along a length of the drive screw as the drive screw is rotated in both a first and second rotational direction, the first sleeve having an abutment surface engagable by the nut upon a sufficient rotation of the drive screw in one of the two directions, the first sleeve being threadingly engaged with the drive screw and being slidingly carried in the body such that a load created by the nut pressing against the abutment surface of the sleeve is transferred from the sleeve to the drive screw as a tensile load, and a locking arrangement to lock the first sleeve in a selected axial position relative to the drive screw, the locking arrangement comprising a plurality of diametrical holes, axially spaced apart, in the first portion of the drive screw, at least one slot formed in the first sleeve and a pin received in one of the diametrical holes and in the slot.