Patent Description:
Refrigerant is essentially used in an air conditioner which is one of the air conditioning devices, and Freon gas used as the refrigerant acts as a factor of global warming.

Therefore, in recent years, refrigerant has been developed, which is not concerned with the global warming, and the newly developed refrigerant does not act as the factor of the global warming, but there is a risk of a fire in the case of refrigerant leakage due to an ignition propensity, and as a result, a valve actuator for automatically actuating a valve for interrupting leakage in the case of the refrigerant leakage has been developed.

As a valve installed between an outdoor unit and an indoor unit of the air conditioner and preventing the refrigerant leakage, a ball valve is primarily used, and as illustrated in <FIG>, a ball valve <NUM> includes a ball <NUM> with a path, a pipe <NUM> into which the ball <NUM> is inserted, a stem <NUM> connected to the pipe <NUM>, a seal member <NUM> installed in the stem <NUM>, and a stem fixation bolt <NUM>.

A valve actuator for controlling the ball valve having such a configuration generally includes a motor and a gear assembly, and controls the valve by controlling rotation of the motor by using a sensor such as a limit switch, etc., or controlling the rotation of the motor by using a step motor.

As an example, Korean Patent Application <CIT> (hereinafter, referred to as "prior patent") discloses a valve actuator configured in such a manner that when a projection portion of an output gear connected to the stem of the ball valve among a plurality of gears provided in the gear assembly rotates at <NUM> degrees or more, an electronic limit switch is pressed to stop the motor.

However, the valve actuator of the prior patent having the electronic limit switch has a problem in that sensors' peculiar instability in a harsh environment.

<CIT> discloses a device for transmitting movement between a first rotating and driving toothed element and a second rotating and driven toothed element within a preset angular range.

The present disclosure provides a valve actuator capable of securing durability and driving stability.

The present disclosure also provides a valve actuator removing instability of an electronic sensor.

The present disclosure also provides a valve actuator which need not include a separate PCB for a motor stop signal.

The objects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects and advantages of the present disclosure that are not mentioned can be understood by the following description, and will be more clearly understood by embodiments of the present disclosure.

Further, it will be readily appreciated that the objects and advantages of the present disclosure can be realized by means and combinations shown in the claims.

The present invention is defined by the appended independent claims <NUM> and <NUM>, and preferred aspects of the present invention are defined by the appended dependent claims. A valve actuator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, but not falling into the same scope of the independent claims, includes: a motor; a gear assembly including an input gear rotated by driving force of the motor, an output gear receiving rotational force of the input gear, and at least one power transmission gear transmitting the rotational force of the input gear to the output gear; a valve output shaft coupled to the output gear and configured to be actuated to close a valve; and a selective power transmission unit for interrupting rotation of the output gear after the output gear is rotated at a predetermined angle by the rotational force of the input gear, and the selective power transmission unit includes a lift member releasing meshing of the first gear and the second gear by moving the first gear to an upper side after the output gear is rotated at the predetermined angle or a friction member provided at the output gear so as to brake the rotation of the first gear by contacting the first gear after the output gear is rotated at the predetermined angle.

The valve actuator further comprises a case in which the gear assembly is installed.

The motor may be installed on or outside the case.

The power transmission gear includes a first gear coupled to the input gear, a second gear coupled to the first gear, and a third gear coupled to each of the second gear and the output gear.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention the selective power transmission unit includes a lift member configured to disengage the first gear from the second gear by the lift member moving and thus pushing the first gear away from the second gear due to interference with a portion of the output gear after the output gear is rotated at the predetermined angle.

The lift member may include a body connected to the valve output shaft on or above an upper side of the output gear and a lever extended from the body and having an end portion positioned on or below a lower side of the first gear.

A projection may be formed on one of the output gear and th body, and a groove portion into which the projection is inserted may be formed at the other one of the output gear and the body. A guide groove guiding vertical movement of the body may be formed at one of the valve output shaft and the body, and a guide portion inserted into the guide groove may be formed at the other one of the valve output shaft and the body.

An elastic member pressing the first gear downward may be positioned at an upper side of the first gear.

A friction pad providing frictional force to the first gear may be formed at the lever or the first gear.

A friction protrusion providing frictional force to the first gear may be formed at the lever or the first gear.

The lift member may include a body fixed to a lateral portion of the output gear, and a lever extended from the body and having an end portion positioned on or below a lower side of the first gear.

When the output gear contacts the body, the body may be configured to be deformed so that the lever contacts and pushes the first gear away from the second gear.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the selective power transmission unit includes a friction member provided at the output gear so as to brake the rotation of the first gear by contact with the first gear after the output gear is rotated at the predetermined angle.

The output gear is installed at the valve output shaft to be vertically movable.

A projection portion may be formed at one of the output gear and the case, and an inclined surface on which the projection portion is positioned may be formed at the other one of the output gear and the case.

Threads, which are capalbe of being engaged with each other, may be formed at the output gear and the valve output shaft.

According to the present disclosure, driving force of a motor is transmitted to a valve output shaft through a gear assembly and a valve is closed, and then the driving force of the motor is not transmitted to the valve output shaft by the selective power transmission unit to prevent damage to the gear assembly and/or the motor due to over-torque and apply a motor of a type in which an RPM control is inaccurate.

In addition, since the electronic sensor is not used, the instability of the electronic sensor can be removed, and a separate PCB for a motor stop signal need not be provided, thereby increasing durability, and improving complexity and material cost.

In addition to the above-described effects, the specific effects of the present disclosure will be described below together while describing the specific matters for the present disclosure.

The present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The present disclosure can be realized in various different forms, and is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein.

A part irrelevant to the description will be omitted to clearly describe the present disclosure, and the same elements will be designated by the same reference numerals throughout the specification. Further, some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to illustrative drawings.

When reference numerals refer to components of each drawing, although the same components are illustrated in different drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals as possible. Further, in describing the present disclosure, a detailed description of known related configurations and functions may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the subject matter of the present disclosure.

In describing the component of the present disclosure, when it is disclosed that any component is "connected", "coupled", or "linked" to other components, it should be understood that another component may be "interposed" between respective components or the respective components may be "connected", "coupled", or "linked" through another component.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a coupling state of a valve actuator and a ball valve according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure and <FIG> is an exterior perspective view of the valve actuator illustrated in <FIG>.

As illustrated, in order to install the valve actuator <NUM> in the ball valve <NUM>, a plate <NUM> may be installed above the ball valve <NUM>, and the valve actuator <NUM> may be coupled to the plate <NUM>.

The plate <NUM> may be fixed to an upper end of the ball valve <NUM> by a fastening member such as a fastening screw, etc., and the valve actuator <NUM> may be fixed to the plate <NUM> by the fastening member such as the fastening screw, etc..

The valve actuator <NUM> includes a case <NUM>.

The case <NUM> provides a space in which a motor <NUM> and a gear assembly provided in the valve actuator <NUM> are installed, the motor <NUM> is installed on an upper surface of the case <NUM> outside the case <NUM>, and the gear assembly is disposed in an internal space of the case <NUM>.

The motor <NUM> may be a motor of a type in which RPM control is accurate. However, this is not required, and the motor <NUM> may be a motor of a type in which the RPM control is inaccurate. That is, since the valve actuator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may selectively transmit power by a mechanical structure, damage to the gear assembly may be prevented and the ball valve may be accurately controlled while using the motor of the type in which the RPM control is inaccurate.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view of a valve actuator according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a coupling state of a gear assembly and a lift member illustrated in <FIG>, and <FIG> is a bottom perspective view of the gear assembly and the lift member illustrated in <FIG>.

In addition, <FIG> are diagrams illustrating an actuation state of the valve actuator according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

As illustrated, the gear assembly includes an input gear <NUM> coupled and/or connected to a rotational shaft of the motor <NUM> and receiving the driving force of the motor <NUM>, an output gear <NUM> coupled to a valve output shaft <NUM> and transmitting rotational force of the input gear <NUM> to the valve output shaft <NUM>, and at least one power transmission gear transmitting the rotational force of the input gear <NUM> to the output gear <NUM>.

Hereinafter, it will be described as an example that the power transmission gear is constituted by first to third gears, but the number of power transmission gears may be appropriately changed.

In addition, in the exemplary embodiment, while the rotational force of the input gear is transmitted to the output gear through the power transmission gear, a speed is reduced by the gear assembly or the power transmission gear.

The input gear <NUM> includes a tooth portion 131a.

A first gear <NUM> coupled to the input gear <NUM> includes a first tooth portion 133a physically directly coupled to the toot portion 131a of the input gear <NUM> and a second tooth portion 133b disposed below the first tooth portion 133a on an axis of the first gear <NUM>.

A first tooth portion 134a of a second gear <NUM> is physically directly coupled to the second tooth portion 133b of the first gear <NUM>, and the second tooth portion 134b is positioned above the first tooth portion 134a on the axis of the second gear <NUM>.

In addition, a third gear <NUM> includes a first tooth portion 135a physically directly coupled to the second tooth portion 134b of the second gear <NUM>, and a second tooth portion 135b positioned below the first tooth portion 135a on the axis of the third gear <NUM>.

In addition, a tooth portion 132a of the output gear <NUM> is physically directly coupled to the second tooth portion 135b of the third gear <NUM>, and the output gear <NUM> is coupled to the valve output shaft <NUM>.

The tooth portion 132a of the output gear <NUM> may be formed in an arc shape.

In the exemplary embodiment, after the output gear <NUM> is rotated at a predetermined angle (e.g., <NUM> degrees) by the rotational force of the input gear <NUM>, a selective power transmission unit for interrupting the rotation of the output gear <NUM> includes a lift member that moves the first gear upward and releasing the engagement of the first gear <NUM> and the second gear <NUM>.

In the exemplary embodiment, the lift member <NUM> includes a body 150a coupled to the valve output shaft <NUM> above the output gear <NUM> and a lever 150b extended from the body 150a and having an end portion positioned below the first gear <NUM>.

In addition, in order to move the lift member <NUM> in the vertical direction, a projection portion 132c is formed in the output gear <NUM>, and a groove portion 150c into which the projection portion 132c of the output gear <NUM> is inserted is formed in the body 150a of the lift member <NUM>.

In addition, a guide groove 140a for guiding vertical movement of the lift member <NUM> is formed in the valve output shaft <NUM>, and a guide portion 150d inserted into the guide groove 140a is formed in the body 150a of the lift member <NUM>.

In addition, an elastic member pressing the first gear <NUM> downward, e.g., a coil spring <NUM> is positioned above the first gear <NUM>.

Accordingly, in a state in which the gear assembly <NUM> and the lift member <NUM> are coupled as illustrated in <FIG>, the projection portion 132c of the output gear <NUM> is positioned within the groove portion 150c provided in the body 150a of the lift member <NUM> within a normal actuation range of the valve actuator.

In addition, in this state, the body 150c of the lift member <NUM> is seated on the output gear <NUM>.

Here, the "normal actuation range of the valve actuator" means a state in which driving of the motor <NUM> is stopped and an initial state in which the motor <NUM> is driven in order to close the path by controlling the ball valve <NUM>.

However, when the motor <NUM> is driven in order to close a path by controlling the ball valve <NUM>, the output gear <NUM> is rotated.

In this case, since the projection portion 132c of the output gear <NUM> is positioned within the groove 150c provided in the body 150a of the lift member <NUM>, only the output gear <NUM> is rotated in a state in which the lift member <NUM> is stopped.

However, after the output gear <NUM> is rotated at a predetermined angle, e.g., <NUM> degrees and the path of the ball valve is thus closed, the projection portion 132c of the output gear <NUM> deviates from the groove portion 150c provided in the body 150a of the lift member <NUM> and the lift member <NUM> moves upward while the projection portion 132c starts to deviate from the groove portion 150c provided in the body 150a of the lift member <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>.

In this case, the lift member <NUM> moves by a mutual actuation of the guide groove 140a provided in the valve output shaft <NUM> and a guide portion 150d provided in the body 150a of the lift member <NUM>.

Accordingly, since the lever 150b provided in the lift member <NUM> moves the first gear <NUM> upward, the engagement of the second tooth portion 133b of the first gear 133a and the first tooth portion 134a of the second gear <NUM> is released, and as a result, the rotational force of the input gear <NUM> is not transmitted to the output gear <NUM>.

Meanwhile, in order to more effectively achieve upward movement of the first gear <NUM>, at least one of a friction pad 150e or a friction protrusion 150f may be provided at an end portion of the lever 150b, and at least one of the friction pad or the friction protrusion may be provided even on a lower surface of the first gear <NUM>.

Hereinafter, other exemplary embodiments will be described.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a valve actuator according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure and <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an actuation state of the valve actuator according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

In the valve actuator according to the exemplary embodiment, since the remaining configurations except for the lift member are configured in the same or similar manner as the first exemplary embodiment, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the exemplary embodiment, a lift member <NUM>' includes a body <NUM>'a coupled to a lateral portion of the output gear <NUM> and a lever <NUM>'b extended from the body <NUM>'a and having an end portion positioned below the first gear <NUM>.

Accordingly, in a state in which the gear assembly <NUM> and the lift member <NUM>' are coupled, the tooth portion 132a of the output gear <NUM> is spaced apart from the body <NUM>'a of the lift member <NUM>' within the normal actuation range of the valve actuator.

In addition, after the output gear <NUM> is rotated at a predetermined angle, i.e., <NUM> degrees and the path of the ball valve is thus closed, the tooth portion 132a of the output gear <NUM> contacts the body <NUM>'a of the lift member <NUM>', and when the output gear <NUM> is continuously rotated, the lever <NUM>'b is lifted upward while the body <NUM>'a of the lift member <NUM>' is transformed in an arrow direction.

Accordingly, since the first gear <NUM> moved upward by the lever <NUM>'b provided in the lift member <NUM>', the engagement of the second tooth portion 133b of the first gear 133a and the first tooth portion 134a of the second gear <NUM> is released, and as a result, the rotational force of the input gear <NUM> is not transmitted to the output gear <NUM>.

Meanwhile, in order to more effectively achieve upward movement of the first gear <NUM>, at least one of the friction pad or the friction protrusion may be provided at an end portion of the lever <NUM>'b, and at least one of the friction pad or the friction protrusion may be provided even on the lower surface of the first gear <NUM>, as described in the exemplary embodiment described above.

It is described as an example that the selective power transmission unit of the valve actuator includes the lift member and the engagement of the first gear and the second gear is thus released in the above exemplary embodiments, but it is also possible to brake the first gear not to be rotated instead of releasing the engagement of the first gear and the second gear.

Hereinafter, a valve actuator according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to <FIG>.

The valve actuator according to the third exemplary embodiment does not include the lift member according to the first and second exemplary embodiments described above, but includes the friction member provided in the output gear in order to brake the first gear by using the rotation of the output gear.

In the exemplary embodiment, the output gear <NUM> is coupled to the valve output shaft <NUM> to be vertically movable.

To this end, the projection portion 132d may be formed on the lower surface of the output gear <NUM> and an inclination surface 110a at which the projection portion 132d is positioned may be formed in the case <NUM>.

In addition, the friction member such as a friction pad 132e, etc., may be provided in the output gear <NUM>, and the fiction pad such as a friction pad, etc., may be provided even in the first gear <NUM> at a location facing the friction pad 132d of the output gear <NUM>.

In the exemplary embodiment, since a safety rte of the first gear among the first to third gears is the highest, the first gear <NUM> is braked by using the friction pad 132e of the output gear <NUM>.

For example, the input gear <NUM> may have a safety rte of <NUM>, the first gear may have a safety rate of <NUM>, the second gear may have a safety rate of <NUM>, and the third gear may have a safety rate of <NUM>.

According to such a configuration, the projection portion 132d of the output gear <NUM> is positioned on the inclination surface 110a of the case <NUM> within the normal actuation range of the valve actuator.

However, when the motor <NUM> is driven and the output gear <NUM> is thus rotated, the path of the valve is closed, and even then, when the motor <NUM> is continuously driven, the protrusion 132c of the output gear <NUM> moves along the inclination surface 110a, and then deviates from the inclination surface 110a.

Accordingly, the output gear <NUM> moves upward while the protrusion 132c moves along the inclination surface 110a, and as a result, the friction pad 132e of the output gear <NUM> is in close contact with the lower surface of the first gear <NUM> and the first gear <NUM> is thus braked.

Unlike this, as illustrated in <FIG>, threads 140b which are engaged with each other may be formed in the output gear <NUM> and the valve output shaft <NUM>.

In this case, a thread 132f of the output gear <NUM> and a thread 140b of the valve output shaft <NUM> may not be engaged with each other within the normal actuation range of the valve actuator, and the output gear <NUM> may rotate together with the valve output shaft <NUM>.

Accordingly, the thread 132f of the output gear <NUM> and the thread 140b of the valve output shaft <NUM> may be formed with a predetermined height difference within the normal actuation range of the valve actuator.

However, when the motor <NUM> is driven and the output gear <NUM> is thus rotated, the path of the ball valve is closed, and even then, when the motor <NUM> is continuously driven, the thread 132f of the output gear <NUM> and the thread 140b of the valve output shaft are engaged with each other, and as a result, the friction pad 132e of the output gear <NUM> is in close contact with the lower surface of the first gear <NUM> while the output gear <NUM> moves upward, and the first gear <NUM> is thus braked.

Accordingly, the valve output shaft <NUM> is rotated and the path of the ball valve is thus closed, and then the driving force of the motor <NUM> is not transmitted to the valve output shaft <NUM> even though the driving of the motor <NUM> is not stopped, but the motor <NUM> is continuously driven.

Accordingly, the motor and/or the gear assembly are/is prevented from being damaged due to the over-torque.

In addition, since the valve actuator of the present disclosure uses the lift member or the friction member having a simple structure, the durability and the driving stability of the valve actuator are secured.

In addition, since the valve actuator of the present disclosure need not include a separate electronic switch and a separate PCB for the motor stop signal, the instability of the electronic switch or the electronic sensor is removed, and the complexity and the material cost of the device are improved.

Claim 1:
A valve actuator comprising:
a motor (<NUM>);
a gear assembly including an input gear (<NUM>) rotated by driving force of the motor (<NUM>), an output gear (<NUM>) receiving rotational force of the input gear (<NUM>), and at least one power transmission gear transmitting the rotational force of the input gear (<NUM>) to the output gear (<NUM>);
a case (<NUM>) in which the gear assembly is installed;
a valve output shaft (<NUM>) coupled to the output gear (<NUM>) and configured to be actuated to close a valve (<NUM>); and
a selective power transmission unit for interrupting rotation of the output gear (<NUM>) after the output gear (<NUM>) is rotated at a predetermined angle by the rotational force of the input gear (<NUM>),
wherein the power transmission gear includes a first gear (<NUM>) coupled to the input gear (<NUM>), a second gear (<NUM>) coupled to the first gear (<NUM>), and a third gear (<NUM>) coupled to each of the second gear (<NUM>) and the output gear (<NUM>),
characterized in that the selective power transmission unit includes a lift member (<NUM> or <NUM>') configured to disengage the first gear (<NUM>) from the second gear (<NUM>) by the lift member (<NUM>, <NUM>') moving and thus pushing the first gear (<NUM>) away from the second gear (<NUM>) due to interference with a portion of the output gear (<NUM>) after the output gear (<NUM>) is rotated at the predetermined angle.