Patent Abstract:
An actuating device ( 4 ) for actuating valves, having a spindle ( 5 ), wherein the actuating device is designed as a hand wheel ( 4 ) with a locking element ( 32 ) and with an electric feedback device ( 6 ), characterized in that the locking element ( 32 ) is formed in one piece and is arranged integrally in the hand wheel ( 4 ).

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an actuating device for actuating valves having a spindle, wherein the actuating device is formed as a hand wheel having a locking element and a preferably electric feedback device. 
         [0002]    In pipeline construction, valves are used to regulate flow rates of various media. Valves which are formed with hand wheels as actuating devices must be protected against unauthorized actuation by means of locking elements. 
         [0003]    On the basis of this prior art, it is an object of the invention to specify an actuating device which operates as reliably as possible and can be produced as simply as possible. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The object is achieved by an actuating device for actuating valves having a spindle, wherein the actuating device is formed as a hand wheel having a locking element and an electric feedback device, characterized in that the locking element is formed in one piece and is arranged integrally in the hand wheel. 
         [0005]    It is advantageous if the valve cannot be actuated by unauthorized persons. This is achieved by a one-piece locking element being arranged integrally in the hand wheel in a manner interacting with the spindle. The locking element is formed to fix the axial and radial positions of the hand wheel with respect to the spindle. The locking element has at least one resilient finger, formed perpendicularly to the spindle axis, to fix the axial position of the hand wheel with respect to the spindle, and has a slide, formed parallel to the spindle axis, to fix the radial position of the hand wheel with respect to the spindle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    An exemplary embodiment is described with reference to the figures, in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a valve having the actuating device according to the invention, 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the actuating device formed as a hand wheel, 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the locking element and of the upper housing part of the valve in a first end position of the locking element, 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the locking element and of the upper housing part of the valve in a second end position of the locking element, 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the locking element and of the spindle of the valve in the first end position, 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the locking element and of the spindle of the valve in the second end position, 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of an electric feedback device and 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  shows a view of the electric feedback device of  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates a valve  1 , for example a diaphragm valve, in perspective. The valve  1  consists of an upper housing part  2 , a mating lower housing part  3 , an actuating member, illustrated here as a hand wheel  4  having a locking element  32 , an extension  15  of a spindle  5  and an electric feedback device  6 . The lower housing part  3  has three openings, of which only one pipe coupling  7  can be seen in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  illustrates the hand wheel  4  in perspective. The hand wheel  4  has a radially formed cutout  31 , in which the locking element  32  can be accommodated in a radially displaceable manner. 
         [0017]    The locking element  32  is illustrated interacting with the upper housing part  2  in  FIGS. 3 and 4  and interacting with the spindle  5  in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The locking element  32  has a slide  33 , which extends as a perpendicularly arranged and radially displaceable plate from the locking element  32  to the upper side of the upper housing part  2 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates the slide  33  in the radially inserted state with respect to the spindle axis, i.e. in the normal operating state of the valve  1 . The slide  33  has a through-opening  34 , through which the cams  35 , which are formed on the upper side of the upper housing part  2 , pass during the rotational movement of the hand wheel  4 . In the position shown in  FIG. 3 , the valve  1  can be actuated with the hand wheel  4 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 4  illustrates the slide  33  in the radially withdrawn state. In this position, the radial position of the hand wheel  4  is fixed. The hand wheel  4  cannot be actuated and the spindle  5  cannot be rotated in this position. In order to secure the valve in the locked position, the locking element  32  has a bore  36 , into which a padlock (not illustrated here) or any other suitable security device can be introduced. This prevents unauthorized actuation of the valve  1 . 
         [0020]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the locking element  32  further has two resilient fingers  37 ,  38 , which are formed in a manner interacting with the spindle  5 . The resilient fingers  37 ,  38  engage with further cams  39 , which are formed on the periphery of the spindle  5 . The resilient fingers  37 ,  38  prevent unauthorized removal of the hand wheel  4  from the spindle  5 . The axial position of the hand wheel  4  with respect to the spindle  5  is fixed. It is only possible to pull off the hand wheel  4  when the locking element  32  is in the normal operating state, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . It is only by means of a special tool that the resilient fingers  37 ,  38  can be moved away from the spindle  5  towards the outside, so that the hand wheel  4  can be pulled off the spindle  5 . The hand wheel  4  can only be pulled off when the locking element  32  is secured against radial movement. For this purpose, the resilient fingers  37 ,  38  have oblique surfaces  40 , which can be pressed outwards by the special tool. It can be seen in  FIG. 6  how the end of the resilient finger  37  engages in a recess in the cam  39  of the spindle  5 , thereby preventing the hand wheel  4  from being pulled off in this operating position. With the hand wheel  4  described here, having the locking element  32 , the hand wheel  4  can be completely secured both in the radial direction and in the axial direction using a single component. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate the electric feedback device  6  for providing feedback on the position of the hand wheel  4  and thus the position of the shut-off element of the valve  1 . The electric feedback device  6  is arranged in the spindle housing  13  of the upper housing part  2  of the valve  1 . Arranged in the upper housing part  2  is a ring  41 , which is connected to the spindle  5  and has a screw thread  42  formed on the annular rim. The screw thread  42  interacts via a gear wheel  43  with a worm gear mechanism  44 . The worm gear mechanism  44  drives two switching cams  45 , which execute a linear movement. As a result of this, the rotational movement of the hand wheel  4  is converted into a linear movement of the switching cams  45 . The switching cams  45  interact with microswitches  46 , which are able to send electric pulses to a position indicator (not illustrated here).

Technology Classification (CPC): 8