Patent ID: 8746655

Claim:
An actuator for butterfly valves, comprising: a) a gearbox having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first side surface and an opposing second side surface, and a hollow interior; b) a stem passing through a hole in the upper surface of the gearbox, through the hollow interior, and through a hole in the lower surface of the gearbox, comprising, arranged axially along the stem from an upper end to a lower end: a seal disc for sealing the hole in the upper surface of the gearbox; a worm assembly with a worm gear; and a stem shaft having a lower end for inserting into and actuating the valve; the stem being integrally formed as a single piece, c) a handle passing through a hole in the first side surface of the gearbox, through the hollow interior, and through a hole in the second side surface of the gearbox, comprising, arranged axially along the stem from a first end to a second end: a knob; an outer shaft portion; a seal disc; an intermediate portion; a worm; and an end portion; the handle being integrally formed as a single piece; and d) a valve attachment on the lower surface of the gearbox.