Patent ID: 6860469

Claim:
A valve actuator for a rotary valve that has a valve seat and a movable valve member movable relative to the valve seat between an open position enabling fluid flow through the valve and a closed position blocking fluid flow through the valve, said valve actuator comprising: a spring biasing the movable valve member toward the closed position; a handle for receiving actuating force, said handle being supported for rotation relative to the valve seat in an opening direction and in a closing direction about an axis; a first cam fixed in position relative to the valve seat; and an axially movable second cam engageable with said first cam and rotatable in response to rotation of said handle in the opening direction to effect movement of the movable valve member from the closed position toward the open position against the bias of said spring in response to the application of actuating force to said handle; said second cam being movable axially relative to said handle; each one of said first and second cams having a cam surface defining a circumferentially extending cam profile.