Abstract:
A valve and actuator assembly includes a valve body, an actuator and a bracket that snap fits onto the valve body. The bracket includes a plate on which an actuator can be installed. In one form, the bracket is saddle shaped with depending legs that snap over a part of the valve body. Means such as bolts are provided to apply a gripping force to the legs so that the bracket is clamped onto the valve.

Description:
This appln claims benefit of 60/326,980 Oct. 4, 2001. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates generally to valve and valve actuator assemblies. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and structure by which a valve actuator is snap fit installed on a valve body without any disassembly of the valve. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Valves can be broadly classified as being actuated either manually, such as with a handle, or with a valve actuator. Valve actuators can take many forms including but not limited to pneumatic and electric actuators. Depending on the size and type, valve actuators can be quite heavy, weighing about ten to fifteen pounds or more. Therefore, a valve actuator is typically mounted on a valve body using a mounting bracket. 
   Valves are designed with one or more valve body seals to ensure that the valve operates in a leak proof manner. In a valve body, the body seals are optimally compressed and form strong seals against pressure upon initial assembly of the valve. However, some actuator installations, and specifically the mounting bracket, require at least a partial disassembly of the valve in order to attach the mounting bracket to the valve body. Even a partial disassembly must be performed carefully so as not to compromise the valve seals. 
   The need exists, therefore, in some valve designs for a mounting bracket that can be used to support a valve actuator on a valve body and that can be installed on the valve body without disassembling any part of the valve that could compromise valve body seal integrity. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention contemplates in one embodiment an apparatus for mounting a valve actuator to a valve body. In this embodiment, a valve and actuator assembly includes a valve body, an actuator and a bracket that snap fits onto the valve body. The bracket includes a plate on which an actuator can be installed. In one form, the bracket is saddle shaped with depending legs that snap over a part of the valve body. Means such as bolts are provided to apply a gripping force to the legs so that the bracket is clamped or otherwise installed onto the valve. A method of installation is also contemplated for a snap on type actuator support bracket. 
   These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated and understood from the following detailed description of the invention in view of the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective of one embodiment of the invention; and 
       FIG. 2  is another perspective of the assembly of  FIG. 1  in an assembled condition. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the present invention is directed to providing a mounting arrangement for a valve actuator A onto a valve B. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the mounting arrangement provides a way to install the actuator A on the valve B without having to partially or otherwise disassemble the valve B, thereby preventing possible compromise of any seals in the valve B assembly. Although the invention is described herein with particular reference to a ball valve and a pneumatic actuator, such description is intended to be exemplary in nature and should not be construed in a limiting sense. The present invention may be realized with many different valve and actuator designs with modifications only needed for specific valve body/actuator configurations. 
   In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a mounting bracket or frame  10  is provided that serves as a platform to support an actuator A on the valve B. By way of example, the actuator A may be a pneumatic or electric valve actuator as is well known in the art. The valve B may be a ball valve for example, such as a  60  series valve available from SWAGELOK® COMPANY. The invention may be used with any suitable valve and actuator combination however. 
   The bracket  10  may be made of any suitably strong material such as aluminum or steel, and in one embodiment is in the form of a saddle. The bracket  10  includes an upper base or plate  12  that is provided with a plurality of bolt holes  14 . A series of corresponding bolts or screws (not shown) are used to mount the actuator A to the bracket  10  via the bolt holes  14  and aligning holes (not shown) in the bottom of the actuator A. The actuator A and the valve B in this example are operationally coupled via a drive coupling C. The coupling C interconnects an output drive of the actuator A (not shown) to the valve stem D of the valve B. In this manner the actuator A can operate the valve B. 
   The bracket  10  includes a central hole  16  in the upper plate  12  which accommodates the stem D. The saddle-like bracket  10  further includes a pair of support legs  18   a ,  18   b  that extend from the upper plate  12 . Preferably although not necessarily the bracket  10  is made as an integral single piece such as from formed sheet metal or other suitable process. As best illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the legs  18   a,b  are rigid enough to fully support the weight of the actuator A. Each bracket leg  18   a  and  18   b  includes an end portion, tab or stirrup  20 . These stirrups  20  are formed with a radially inward curve so as to engage the valve B as will be described herein. 
   In this example, the valve B includes a valve body E and two opposed end flanges F and G. These flanges are held on the valve body E by a series of bolts H. As is known in the art, when the valve B is assembled, the end flanges are sealed by a number of body seals within the valve B (not shown). It is desired to mount the actuator A on the valve B without having to loosen or disassemble the valve B thereby avoiding any possibility of compromising the body seals. 
   The curved stirrups  20  of the bracket  10  are thus spaced apart by a selected distance so as to have a “snap on” mounting arrangement with the valve body B. In this example, the stirrups  20  spread apart slightly as they are snapped over the bolts H on the valve B. The stirrups  20  then are received in corresponding recesses  22  below the bolts H. Thus the stirrups  20  are rigid enough to support the actuator A on the valve B, yet slightly flexible enough to permit them to snap over the valve body E. 
   After the bracket  10  is installed on the valve B, a pair of bracket clamp bolts  24  are used as a means to securely mount the bracket  10  onto the valve body E by applying a clamping force to the legs  18   a ,  18   b . The clamp bolts  24  extend through respective holes  28  in the bracket legs  18   a ,  18   b  and when the bolts  24  are tightened with respective nuts  30 , a clamping force is applied to the legs  18   a  and  18   b  as well as the stirrups  20 , drawing the stirrups  20 , which are in tension towards one another to clamp them against the valve body E (see FIG.  2 ). This completes the assembly of the bracket  10  to the valve B. The actuator A may be installed on the bracket  10  first, and then the bracket  10  installed on the valve, or the bracket  10  may be installed on the valve B first, with the actuator A installed thereafter. Other techniques may be used to securely clamp or install the bracket on the valve B if so required for a particular application. 
   The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.