Patent ID: 6254058
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: F16K

Abstract:
A method of operating a rotary diverter valve comprising:(a) connecting a sun gear to a drive motor;(b) forming a set of planetary gears each having a first and second coaxial set of teeth of different pitch diameter and disposing said gears on a planetary carrier and driving said second set of teeth with said sun gear;(c) engaging said first set of teeth with a fixed ring gear;(d) connecting an output ring gear to the rotary diverter valve and driving said output ring gear with said second set of teeth;(e) connecting one reaction end of a torsion spring to said planetary carrier and energizing said motor and moving said diverter valve from an initial position to a flow diverting position and winding said torsion spring;(f) de-energizing said motor and applying a torque from said spring to said planetary carrier and rotating said carrier and returning said valve to said initial position.