US3575378A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Valve operator mechanism
Assignee: Henry Pratt Co LLC
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Filing: 1969-06-18
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Granted: 1971-04-20
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Expires: 1989-06-18
Abstract
Abstract A valve operator wherein mechanism is provided for moving a valve member selectively between opened and closed positions. The valve member is provided with a valve shaft which is moved by a coupling connecting the valve shaft to a drive shaft which may be driven manually or by a motor as desired. The drive shaft is movably carried in a suitable support which is adjustably positioned and provided with associated stop means to coordinate the position of the drive shaft and valve shaft in at least one extreme position. The drive shaft carrying means may comprise a sleeve having an associated stop element at one end thereof for engagement by a stop element associated with the coupling means to provide the desired accurate positioning in the extreme position of the shafts. The sleeve may have a rough outer surface to permit infinite adjustability thereof in a fixed support.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald G Fawkes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:55
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/44; F16K31/50; F16K31/502; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18568; Y10T74/18576; Y10T74/18752; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20396; Y10T74/20474
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
In a valve operator having a drive shaft for adjustably positioning a valve member carried by a valve shaft, mechanism for accurately controlling the limit of movement of said valve member comprising: first support means for movably carrying the drive shaft; second support means for movably carrying the valve shaft; means for coupling said valve shaft to said drive shaft causing movement of the valve shaft to correspond to movement of the drive shaft; first stop means movable in accordance with said movement of the valve shaft; means adjustably fixing said first support means; and second stop means associated with said first support means to be engaged by said first stop means when said valve member is accurately in an extreme position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a valve operator having a drive shaft for adjustably positioning a valve member carried by a valve shaft, mechanism for accurately controlling the limit of movement of said valve member comprising: first support means for movably carrying the drive shaft; second support means for movably carrying the valve shaft; means for coupling said valve shaft to said drive shaft causing movement of the valve shaft to correspond to movement of the drive shaft; first stop means movable in accordance with said movement of the valve shaft; means adjustably fixing said first support means; and second stop means associated with said first support means to be engaged by said first stop means when said valve member is accurately in an extreme position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The valve operator mechanism of claim 1 wherein said coupling means includes means for selectively connecting the valve shaft to the drive shaft in any one of a plurality of spaced positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The valve operator mechanism of claim 1 wherein said coupling means includes means for selectively connecting the valve shaft to the drive shaft in any one of a plurality of angularly spaced positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The valve operator mechanism of claim 1 wherein said coupling means includes an arm; means for connecting said arm to said valve shaft in any one of a plurality of spaced positions; and means movably connecting said arm to said drive shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The valve operator mechanism of claim 1 wherein said second stop means comprises means fixed to said drive shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The valve operator mechanism of claim 1 wherein said second stop means comprises means retaining said first support means against longitudinal movement relative to said drive shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
150 words
In a valve operator having a drive shaft for adjustably positioning a valve member carried by a valve shaft, mechanism for accurately controlling the limit of movement of said valve member comprising: first support means for movably carrying the drive shaft, said support means including a fixed support, a sleeve movably carrying the drive shaft, and means adjustably fixing the sleeve to the fixed support; second support means for movably carrying the valve shaft; means for coupling said valve shaft to said drive shaft causing movement of the valve shaft to correspond to movement of the drive shaft; first stop means movable in accordance with said movement of the valve shaft; means adjustably fixing said first support means; and second stop means associated with said first support means to be engaged by said first stop means when said valve member and drive shaft are each accurately in an extreme position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
150 words
In a valve operator having a drive shaft for adjustably positioning a valve member carried by a valve shaft, mechanism for accurately controlling the limit of movement of said valve member comprising: first support means for movably carrying the drive shaft, said support means including a fixed support, a sleeve movably carrying the drive shaft, and means adjustably fixing the sleeve to the fixed support; second support means for movably carrying the valve shaft; means for coupling said valve shaft to said drive shaft causing movement of the valve shaft to correspond to movement of the drive shaft; first stop means movable in accordance with said movement of the valve shaft; means adjustably fixing said first support means; and second stop means associated with said first support means to be engaged by said first stop means when said valve member and drive shaft are each accurately in an extreme position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The valve operator mechanism of claim 7 wherein said first stop means comprises a surface portion of said coupling means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
The valve operator mechanism of claim 7 wherein said drive shaft comprises an axially fixed, threaded member rotatable about its longitudinal axis and said coupling means includes a nut threaded on said drive shaft and arm means connecting said nut to said valve shaft for turning said drive shaft as a result of rotation of said drive shaft about said axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The valve operator mechanism of claim 7 wherein said second stop means comprises surface means at one end of said sleeve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The valve operator mechanism of claim 7 wherein said second stop means comprises a collar on said drive shaft at one end of said sleeve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The valve operator mechanism of claim 7 wherein said first support means includes means clamping said sleeve in said fixed support.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The valve operator mechanism of claim 7 wherein said first support means includes a setscrew carried by said fixed support, and engaging said sleeve to lock said sleeve fixedly in any one of a plurality of positions in said fixed support.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The valve operator mechanism of claim 7 wherein said sleeve is provided with a high friction outer surface for positive locked engagement with said fixed support in any one of a plurality of positions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The valve operator mechanism of claim 7 wherein said sleeve is provided with a rough outer surface for positive locked engagement with said fixed support in any one of a plurality of positions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The valve operator mechanism of claim 7 wherein said first support means further includes means at opposite ends of said sleeve locking said sleeve against axial movement relative to said drive shaft while allowing rotation of said drive shaft about the longitudinal axis thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
The valve operator mechanism of claim 7 wherein said sleeve is provided with a rough outer surface for positive locked engagement with said fixed support in any one of a plurality of positions, said first support means including adjustable means for forcibly urging said rough outer surface against said fixed support.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-19 | 1974-10-19 | 1975-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-19 | 1978-10-19 | 1979-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-19 | 1982-10-19 | 1983-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |