Self aligning and self latching mechanical shaft connector

According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a self-aligning connector system for connecting an actuator to a valve body of a valve, comprising an actuator adapter plug having a conical protrusion and a peripheral groove formed in an outer surface of the actuator adapter plug, and a valve adapter sub-assembly comprising an outer housing having a bore configured to receive the actuator adapter plug, and an expansion spring coupled to the outer housing and configured to provide radial pressure on the outer housing to receive the conical protrusion of the actuator adapter plug and latch onto the peripheral groove.

BACKGROUND

Field of Invention

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to actuator driven valves, and more particularly to a releasable connection of an actuator to a valve body in a valve apparatus.

Discussion of Related Art

In valve apparatuses having an actuator, it is sometimes desirable to have the actuator be connected to and/or removed from a valve stem of another operating member of a valve.

SUMMARY

According to principles of the present invention, a self-aligning and self-latching mechanical shaft connector may be used to connect an actuator to a valve body of a valve. In at least one embodiment, the shaft connector has an actuator adapter plug and a valve adapter sub-assembly. The actuator adapter can have a connector mechanism for engaging with an actuator and can have a conical protrusion opposite the connector mechanism and a peripheral groove along the actuator adapter plug body. The valve adapter sub-assembly can include an outer housing having a recessed receptacle for receiving a protrusion from a valve body and a bore for receiving the actuator adapter plug, and an expansion spring placed within the outer housing. The expansion spring can provide radial pressure toward the axis of the outer housing to receive the conical protrusion and latch onto the peripheral groove of the actuator adapter plug.

Aspects in accord with the present invention are directed to a self-aligning connector system for connecting an actuator to a valve body of a valve, comprising an actuator adapter plug having a conical protrusion and a peripheral groove formed in an outer surface325of the actuator adapter plug, and a valve adapter sub-assembly comprising an outer housing having a bore configured to receive the actuator adapter plug, and an expansion spring coupled to the outer housing and configured to provide radial pressure on the outer housing to receive the conical protrusion of the actuator adapter plug and latch onto the peripheral groove.

According to one embodiment, the conical protrusion is configured to interface with the outer housing to self-align the actuator adaptor plug and compensate for axis offset errors when the actuator adaptor plug is inserted into the bore. In another embodiment, the conical protrusion is configured to expand the expansion spring as the actuator plug is inserted into the bore. In one embodiment, the expansion spring comprises at least one protrusion configured to engage with the peripheral groove.

According to another embodiment, the actuator adapter plug further comprises a connector mechanism configured to engage with the actuator. In one embodiment, the connector mechanism is further configured to engage with at least one bracket of the actuator. In another embodiment, the connector mechanism is further configured to engage with at least one of an anti-rotation bracket and a u-bracket of the actuator.

According to one embodiment, the outer housing comprises at least one opening configured to allow the at least one protrusion of the expansion spring to protrude into the bore. In another embodiment, the at least one protrusion of the expansion spring includes a plurality of protrusions and the at least one opening of the outer housing includes a plurality of openings. In one embodiment, the plurality of protrusions includes three protrusions.

Another aspect in accord with the present invention is directed to a method for coupling an actuator with a valve body of a valve, the method comprising engaging a connector mechanism of an actuator adapter plug with the actuator, inserting a conical protrusion of the actuator adapter plug into a bore of a valve adapter sub-assembly coupled to the valve body, providing radial pressure toward an axis of the valve adapter sub-assembly as the conical protrusion is inserted into the bore, and latching the actuator adapter plug to the valve adapter subassembly using an expansion spring of the valve adapter sub-assembly that fits into a peripheral groove of the actuator adapter plug.

According to another embodiment, the method further comprises receiving, with a recessed receptacle of the valve adapter sub-assembly, a protrusion from the valve body. In one embodiment, receiving the protrusion from the valve body includes sliding the protrusion from the valve body into the recessed receptacle.

According to one embodiment, engaging the connector mechanism with the actuator comprises sliding the connector mechanism into at least one bracket of the actuator. In another embodiment, inserting the conical protrusion into the bore of the valve adapter sub-assembly comprises self-aligning the actuator adaptor plug to compensate for axis offset errors as the conical protrusion is inserted into the bore. In one embodiment, inserting the conical protrusion into the bore of the valve adapter sub-assembly comprises expanding the expansion spring as the conical protrusion is inserted into the bore.

At least one aspect in accord with the present invention is directed to a valve assembly comprising an actuator, a valve body, an actuator adapter plug configured to be coupled to the actuator, a valve adapter sub-assembly configured to be coupled to the valve body and comprising an outer housing having a bore configured to receive the actuator adapter plug, and means for self-aligning the actuator adapter plug to compensate for axis offset errors when the actuator plus is inserted into the bore and for coupling the valve adapter sub-assembly to the actuator adapter plug.

According to one embodiment, the actuator adapter plug further comprises means for engaging with the actuator. In another embodiment, the valve adapter sub-assembly further comprises means for receiving a protrusion from the valve body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, in valve apparatuses, it is sometimes desirable to have the actuator be connected to and/or removed from a valve stein of another operating member of a valve. In some valve systems, releasable engagement between an actuator to a valve body may involve manually connecting a valve, having an operating member extending outwardly from the valve body along an axis of the operating member, to an actuator. For example, the actuator can include a latching mechanism to which the operating member of the valve engages and the operating member often includes a “notch” or “protrusion” that is on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the operating member. The latching mechanism of the actuator can have a planar surface that interfaces with a surface of the notch or protrusion to help secure the actuator to the valve body. To engage the notch or protrusion of the valve with the planar surface of the latching mechanism of the actuator, the valve and the actuator must typically be misaligned to insert the valve with the latching mechanism, and then realigned, which can be a difficult and time-consuming process. Such a process may also involve the use of additional tools.

A valve apparatus is provided where the actuator can be operatively connected to a valve stem of another operating member of a valve by a selectively releasable engagement apparatus, such that the actuator can be readily removed from or attached to the valve without the use of additional tools.

FIGS. 1A-Cshow an exemplary embodiment of an outer housing100of a valve adapter sub-assembly in accordance with principles described herein. The outer housing100has a recessed receptacle110. As show inFIG. 1C, the receptacle110allows the outer housing100to receive a protrusion600from a valve body. The outer housing also includes a bore120for receiving the actuator adapter plug300ofFIGS. 3A-C. An expansion spring200(shown inFIG. 2) may be placed within the outer housing100, the expansion spring providing radial pressure on outer housing (e.g., toward the axis140). In at least one embodiment, expansion spring200has three protrusions210a-cthat fit within openings130to protrude into the outer housing bore; however, in other embodiments, the expansion spring200can include any number of protrusions.

FIGS. 3A-Cshow an exemplary actuator adapter plug300for an actuator in accordance with principles described herein. The actuator adapter plug300has a connector mechanism310for engaging with an actuator. In the embodiment shown, connector mechanism310engages with two upper brackets (anti-rotation and u-brackets) of an actuator. The actuator adapter plug300also includes a conical protrusion320opposite the connector mechanism310, and a peripheral groove330along an outer surface of the actuator adapter plug300.

FIG. 4Ashows an isometric view of a valve adapter subassembly400having the outer housing100and expansion spring200mounted on a valve protrusion600of a valve. Actuator adapter plug300is mounted on an actuator500having two upper brackets510(called anti-rotation and u-brackets). Typically, in conventional systems, the valve protrusion600would engage directly with the brackets510. In doing so, the connection would involve engaging the notch or protrusion600of the valve with the planar surface of the latching mechanism500of the actuator. In such a system, the valve and the actuator must typically be misaligned from a common axis to insert the valve with the latching mechanism, and then realigned, which can be a difficult and time consuming process.

In accordance with principles described herein, the actuator adapter plug300slides onto the actuator500. The valve adapter sub-assembly400has the outer housing100that retains the expansion spring200and slides onto the valve protrusion600. The actuator500is driven down to the valve protrusion600until the top adapter300engages the bottom adapter400and the spring200is fully latched. Once engaged the geometry of the mated parts and the corresponding shafts prevents the disengagement of the adapters from each other and from the corresponding shafts. This reduces time and effort required to make a connection. No physical tools are required to engage or disengage the connection.

The conical plug geometry of the actuator adapter plug300interfacing with the outer housing100bore120allows the design to self-align and compensate for axis offset errors in any direction perpendicular to the shaft axes. Conical plug geometry also expands the spring200as shafts are brought closer together during assembly. The spring200then snaps into inner plug groove330and creates the final complete connection when the shafts are the correct distance apart.

FIG. 4Bshows the mounted valve adapter subassembly400engaged with the mounted actuator adapter plug300in accordance with principles of the invention.

Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of this invention in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred version thereof, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only. Further, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations herein, are meant to be open-ended, i.e. “including but not limited to.”