Immersible electrohydraulic failsafe valve operator

Claim 2

A valve operator for underwater service comprising: a. a housing containing an opening in the wall thereof, the interior of said housing forming a hydraulic fluid reservoir; b. means for maintaining pressure within the housing at the ambient water pressure level, said means preventing water from entering said housing; c. a slidable actuator rod extending through a seal member mounted within the opening; d. a hollow cylinder in the housing having an inlet and an exhaust end, said exhaust end open to the interior of said housing; e. a piston disposed within the cylinder, slidable therewithin, and connected to the actuator rod; f. means for biasing the piston toward the inlet end of the cylinder; and g. means in the housing for forcing hydRaulic fluid from within the housing into the inlet end of the cylinder in response to an external signal.

Claim 3

A valve operator as defined by claim 1 wherein the means for maintaining pressure within the housing is an impermeable, flexible diaphragm.

Claim 4

A valve operator for underwater service comprising: a. an impermeable housing having a first and a second opening in the wall thereof, the interior of said housing forming a hydraulic fluid reservoir; b. an impermeable, flexible diaphragm sealed to the housing, covering the first opening and preventing water from entering the housing; c. a slidable actuator rod extending through a seal member mounted within the second opening; d. a hollow cylinder in the housing aligned with the rod and the second opening and having an outlet end and an inlet end that has a port containing a seal through which the rod extends, said outlet end open to the interior of the housing; e. a slidable piston within said cylinder and connected to the rod; f. a compression spring within the cylinder between the outlet end and the piston that biases the piston toward the inlet end of the cylinder; and g. means in said housing for forcing hydraulic fluid from within the housing into the inlet end of the cylinder in response to an external signal.

Claim 5

A valve operator for underwater service comprising: a. an impermeable housing having a first and a second opening in the wall thereof, the interior of said housing forming a hydraulic fluid reservoir; b. an impermeable, flexible diaphragm sealed to the housing, covering the first opening and preventing water from entering the housing; c. a slidable actuator rod extending through a seal member mounted within the second opening; d. a hollow cylinder in the housing aligned with the rod and the second opening and having an outlet end and an inlet end that has a port containing a seal through which the rod extends, said outlet end open to the interior of the housing; e. a slidable piston within said cylinder and connected to the rod; f. a compression spring within the cylinder between the outlet end and the piston that biases the piston toward the inlet end of the cylinder; and g. means in said housing for forcing hydraulic fluid from within the housing into the inlet end of the cylinder in response to an external signal.

Claim 6

A valve operator as defined in claim 3 wherein the forcing means includes a pump having an inlet end within the housing and a discharge end connected to the inlet end of the cylinder, and an electric motor for driving the pump.

Claim 7

An underwater valve actuator assembly comprising: a. a housing capable of retaining a hydraulic fluid, the interior of said housing forming a hydraulic fluid reservoir; b. a hydraulic motor disposed within the housing and having an inlet end and an outlet end, said outlet end open to the interior of the housing; c. a pump for injecting the hydraulic fluid from said housing into the inlet end of said motor at a pressure in excess of that in said housing; d means connected to the motor for actuating a valve associated with the actuator assembly in response to injection of the hydraulic fluid into the motor; and e. means for maintaining hydraulic fluid within the housing at a pressure corresponding to the surrounding water pressure, said means preventing water from entering said housing.

Claim 8

An underwater valve actuator assembly comprising: a. a housing capable of retaining a hydraulic fluid, the interior of said housing forming a hydraulic fluid reservoir; b. a hydraulic motor disposed within the housing and having an inlet end and an outlet end, said outlet end open to the interior of the housing; c. a pump for injecting the hydraulic fluid from said housing into the inlet end of said motor at a pressure in excess of that in said housing; d means connected to the motor for actuating a valve associated with the actuator assembly in response to injection of the hydraulic fluid into the motor; and e. means for maintaining hydraulic fluid within the housing at a pressure corresponding to the surrounding water pressure, said means preventing water from entering said housing.