Patent ID: 8777178

Claim:
An actuator for moving a valve gate between open and closed valve positions within a valve body, the actuator comprising: a. an actuator housing comprising a pressurizeable chamber with an inlet port and an unpressurized chamber, the actuator housing having a distal end and a proximal end; b. a plate positioned within the actuator housing and with a proximal side and distal side positioned between the pressurized and unpressurized chambers; c. a downstop having a proximal side and distal side, the distal side abutting the proximal side of the plate and the proximal side having a protrusion adapted to receive a drift adjuster, the drift adjuster at least partially surrounding the protrusion and the drift adjuster having a proximal and distal end; d. an operator shaft having a proximal end and distal end, the distal end affixed within the a bore located on the proximal side of the downstop, the operator shaft further defining a shaft axis; g. a bonnet in connection with the proximal end of the actuator housing; the bonnet having an internal bore adapted to receive a packing retainer having a proximal and distal end, the packing retainer being affixed to the internal bore of the bonnet; and wherein the drift adjuster and the packing retainer are along the shaft axis and there is a distance between the proximal end of the drift adjuster and the distal end of the packing retainer when the pressurizeable chamber is unpressurized, and wherein the distance may be increased or decreased by movement of the drift adjuster in a longitudinal direction relative to the downstop.