Patent ID: 8210201

Claim:
A regulator valve, comprising: a duct having an inner surface that defines a duct flow passage; a valve element movably disposed within the duct flow passage and movable between a fully-open position, in which fluid is permitted to flow at least substantially freely through the duct flow passage, and a closed position, in which fluid is at least substantially restricted from flowing through the duct flow passage; and an actuator unit coupled to the valve element, the actuator unit configured to at least facilitate movement of the valve element between the closed position and the fully-open position and locking of the valve element in an intermediate position between the closed position and the fully-open position, the actuator comprising: a shaft coupled to the valve element and configured to move therewith; and a locking system coupled to the shaft and configured to be activated when the valve element is in the intermediate position, to thereby at least inhibit movement of the shaft and the valve element, the locking system comprising: a first plate coupled to the shaft and configured to move therewith; a second plate configured to at least inhibit movement of the first plate when the locking system is activated; a locking mechanism configured to couple the first plate to the second plate, to thereby inhibit movement of the first plate, when the locking system is activated; and a protrusion extending from the second plate, the protrusion configured to receive the locking mechanism, to couple the first plate and the second plate together and at least inhibit movement of the shaft and the valve element, when the locking system is activated, wherein: the second plate has a first surface facing toward the first plate and a second surface facing away from the first plate; and the protrusion extends from the first surface and toward the first plate.