Patent ID: 6957801

Claim:
A valve assembly, comprising: a valve body having at least a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet; a valve element disposed at least partially within the valve body and moveable between (i) an open position, in which the valve body fluid inlet is in fluid communication with the valve body fluid outlet, and (ii) a closed position, in which the valve body fluid inlet is not in fluid communication with the valve body fluid outlet; an actuator assembly coupled to the valve element, the actuator assembly including: a housing, a torque source disposed within the housing, the torque source adapted to receive one or more position control signals and operable, in response thereto, to supply a drive force, a position sensor disposed within the housing, the position sensor coupled to receive the drive force and operable, in response thereto, to supply a signal representative of valve position, and an output shaft disposed at least partially within the housing and coupled to the valve element, the output shaft further coupled to receive the drive force from the torque source, to thereby selectively move the valve element, upon receipt of the drive force, between the open and closed positions; and a gear train disposed within the actuator assembly housing and coupled between the torque source and the position sensor, whereby the drive force from the torque source is coupled to the position sensor.