Manually operable power actuated valve

Claim 2

A power actuated valve selectively operable manually and comprising a valve body defining a flow passage therethrough, a flow control member movably disposed in said body for opening and closing said passage, a rotary control stem connected to said flow control member to actuate the latter and extending from said body, a rotary driving stem, means supporting said driving stem in coaxial relation to said control stem, a valve actuating motor, a speed-reducing transmission connecting said motor to rotate said driving stem, a first coupling member secured nonrotatably to the outer end of said control stem in driving relation thereto, a shiftable coupling member shiftable axially along the common axis of said stems between a retracted disconnect position adjacent said first coupling member and an extended power driving position spaced from said disconnect position and axially overlapping the outer end of said driving stem, the outer end of said driving stem having a noncircular shape in transverse section, said shiftable coupling member having a noncircular recess therein for receiving the outer end of said driving stem when the shiftable coupling member is in said extended power driving position thereof to form a separable driving connection between said driving stem and said shiftable coupling member, one of said coupling members defining thereon a plurality of driving surfaces, the other of said coupling members having thereon a plurality of driving projections extending axially into overlapping relation to said driving surfaces on said one coupling member when said shiftable coupling member is in its extended Driving position to transmit driving torque between said coupling members, and one of said coupling members defining wrench-engaging surfaces shaped for coaction with a removable wrench for manual turning of said control stem independently of said driving stem when said shiftable coupling member is shifted to its retracted disconnect position.

Claim 3

A power actuated valve according to claim 1 including detent means on said shiftable coupling member coacting with one of said projections to releasably hold said shiftable coupling member in its extended power driving position.

Claim 4

A power actuated valve according to claim 1 in which the periphery of said first coupling member is shaped to define a plurality of pairs of parallel wrench-engaging surfaces accessible for wrench engagement for manual turning of said control stem when said shiftable coupling member is in its retracted disconnect position.

Claim 5

A power actuated valve according to claim 3 in which the periphery of said shiftable coupling member conforms in size and shape to the periphery of said first coupling member so that the shiftable coupling member when shifted to its retracted position forms continuations of said wrench-engaging surfaces on said first coupling member.

Claim 6

A power actuated valve according to claim 1 in which the periphery of said first coupling member is shaped to define a plurality of circumferentially spaced spanner wrench-receiving bores.

Claim 7

A power actuated valve selectively operable manually and comprising a valve body defining a flow passage therethrough, a flow control member movably disposed in said body for opening and closing said passage, a rotary control stem connected to said flow control member to actuate the latter and extending from said body, the outer end of said control stem defining on opposite sides thereof flat parallel driving surfaces, a first coupling member internally shaped to fit slidably against said flat driving surfaces to form a rotary driving connection between said first coupling member and said control stem and to allow limited radial displacement of the coupling member relative to the control stem in parallel relation to said driving surfaces, said coupling member defining a pair of stud bores parallel to the axis of said control stem and located generally on diametrically opposite sides of said axis, a pair of driving studs anchored in said stud bores and projecting from said coupling member in parallel relation to said control stem axis, a rotary driving stem, means supporting said driving stem in coaxial relation to said control stem, a valve actuating motor, a speed-reducing transmission connecting said motor to rotate said driving stem, a shiftable coupling member defining bores slidably receiving said driving studs and being shiftable therealong between a retracted disconnect position adjacent said first coupling member and an extended power driving position spaced from said disconnect position and axially overlapping the outer end of said driving stem, the outer end of said driving stem defining on opposite sides thereof flat parallel driving surfaces, said shiftable coupling member being internally shaped to fit slidably against the flat driving surfaces on the outer end of said driving stem and form a rotary driving connection with the driving stem when the shiftable coupling member is in said extended power driving position and the flat driving surfaces on the driving stem are positioned generally at right angles to the flat driving surfaces on the control stem, said shiftable coupling member being internally shaped to provide clearance for radial sliding movement of the shiftable coupling member relative to the driving stem in parallel relation to said driving surfaces thereon, and one of said coupling members defining wrench-engaging surfaces shaped for coaction with a removable wrench for manual turning of said control stem independently of said driving stem when said shiftable coupling member is shifted to its retracted disconnect pOsition.

Claim 8

A power actuated valve selectively operable manually and comprising a valve body defining a flow passage therethrough, a flow control member movably disposed in said body for opening and closing said passage, a rotary control stem connected to said flow control member to actuate the latter and extending from said body, the outer end of said control stem defining on opposite sides thereof flat parallel driving surfaces, a first coupling member internally shaped to fit slidably against said flat driving surfaces to form a rotary driving connection between said first coupling member and said control stem and to allow limited radial displacement of the coupling member relative to the control stem in parallel relation to said driving surfaces, said coupling member defining a pair of stud bores parallel to the axis of said control stem and located generally on diametrically opposite sides of said axis, a pair of driving studs anchored in said stud bores and projecting from said coupling member in parallel relation to said control stem axis, a rotary driving stem, means supporting said driving stem in coaxial relation to said control stem, a valve actuating motor, a speed-reducing transmission connecting said motor to rotate said driving stem, a shiftable coupling member defining bores slidably receiving said driving studs and being shiftable therealong between a retracted disconnect position adjacent said first coupling member and an extended power driving position spaced from said disconnect position and axially overlapping the outer end of said driving stem, the outer end of said driving stem defining on opposite sides thereof flat parallel driving surfaces, said shiftable coupling member being internally shaped to fit slidably against the flat driving surfaces on the outer end of said driving stem and form a rotary driving connection with the driving stem when the shiftable coupling member is in said extended power driving position and the flat driving surfaces on the driving stem are positioned generally at right angles to the flat driving surfaces on the control stem, said shiftable coupling member being internally shaped to provide clearance for radial sliding movement of the shiftable coupling member relative to the driving stem in parallel relation to said driving surfaces thereon, and one of said coupling members defining wrench-engaging surfaces shaped for coaction with a removable wrench for manual turning of said control stem independently of said driving stem when said shiftable coupling member is shifted to its retracted disconnect pOsition.

Claim 9

A power actuated valve according to claim 6 comprising a snap ring fitted in a circumferential groove formed in the periphery of said shiftable coupling member and intersecting said stud-receiving bores in the shiftable coupling member, said driving studs defining therein notches opening radially outwardly and positioned to receive said snap ring to yieldably hold said shiftable coupling member in its extended power driving position.

Claim 10

A power actuated valve selectively operable manually and comprising a valve body defining a flow passage therethrough, a flow control member movably disposed in said body for opening and closing said passage, a rotary control stem connected to said flow control member to actuate the latter and extending from said body, a rotary driving stem, means supporting said driving stem in coaxial relation to said control stem, a valve actuating motor, a speed-reducing transmission connecting said motor to rotate said driving stem, a first coupling member secured nonrotatably to the outer end of said control stem in driving relation thereto, a shiftable coupling member shiftable axially along the common axis of said stems between a retracted disconnect position adjacent said first coupling member and an extended power driving position spaced from said disconnect position and axially overlapping the outer end of said driving stem, the outer end of said driving stem having a noncircular shape in transverse section, said shiftable coupling member having a noncircular recess therein for receiving the outer end of said driving stem when the shiftable coupling member is in said extended power driving position thereof to form a separable driving connection between said driving stem and said shiftable coupling member, a plurality of substantially cylindrical driving studs fixed to one of said coupling members and extending therefrom in parallel relation to the common axis of said stems, the other of said coupling members defining a plurality of bores slidably receiving said respective studs to transmit driving torque between said coupling members when said shiftable coupling member is in either its extended position or its retracted position, and one of said coupling members defining wrench-receiving surfaces shaped for manual wrench rotation of said control stem independently of said driving stem when said shiftable coupling member is shifted to its retracted disconnect position.

Claim 11

A power actuated valve selectively operable manually and comprising a valve body defining a flow passage therethrough, a flow control member movably disposed in said body for opening and closing said passage, a rotary control stem connected to said flow control member to actuate the latter and extending from said body, a rotary driving stem, means supporting said driving stem in coaxial relation to said control stem, a valve actuating motor, a speed-reducing transmission connecting said motor to rotate said driving stem, a first coupling member secured nonrotatably to the outer end of said control stem in driving relation thereto, a shiftable coupling member shiftable axially along the common axis of said stems between a retracted disconnect position adjacent said first coupling member and an extended power driving position spaced from said disconnect position and axially overlapping the outer end of said driving stem, the outer end of said driving stem having a noncircular shape in transverse section, said shiftable coupling member having a noncircular recess therein for receiving the outer end of said driving stem when the shiftable coupling member is in said extended power driving position thereof to form a separable driving connection between said driving stem and said shiftable coupling member, a plurality of substantially cylindrical driving studs fixed to one of said coupling members and extending therefrom in parallel relation to the common axis of said stems, the other of said coupling members defining a plurality of bores slidably receiving said respective studs to transmit driving torque between said coupling members when said shiftable coupling member is in either its extended position or its retracted position, and one of said coupling members defining wrench-receiving surfaces shaped for manual wrench rotation of said control stem independently of said driving stem when said shiftable coupling member is shifted to its retracted disconnect position.

Claim 12

Valve control means for operating a valve selectively by power or manually, comprising a first rotary coupling member defining therein a control stem receiving recess of noncircular shape that is elongated in a predetermined transverse direction, said coupling member defining a pair of stud bores parallel to the axis of rotation of said control stem and located generally on diametrically opposite sides thereof, a pair of driving studs anchored in said stud bores and projecting from said coupling member in parallel relation to said axis of rotation thereof, a rotary driving stem, means supporting said driving stem in generally coaxial relation to said axis of rotation of said coupling member, a valve actuating motor, a speed-reducing transmission connecting said motor to rotate said driving stem, a shiftable coupling member defining bores slidably receiving said driving studs and being shiftable therealong between a retracted disconnect position adjacent said first coupling member and an extended power driving position spaced from said disconnect position and axially overlapping the outer end of said driving stem, the outer end of said driving stem defining on opposite sides thereof flat parallel driving surfaces, said shiftable coupling member being internally shaped to fit slidably against the flat driving surfaces on the outer end of said driving stem and form a rotary driving connection with the driving stem when the shiftable coupling member is in said extended power driving position and the flat driving surface on the driving stem are positioNed generally at right angles to said predetermined transverse direction of elongation of said recess in said first coupling member, said shiftable coupling member being internally shaped to provide clearance for radial sliding movement of the shiftable coupling member relative to the driving stem in parallel relation to said driving surfaces thereon, and one of said coupling members defining wrench-engaging surfaces shaped for coaction with a removable wrench for manual turning of said coupling members independently of said driving stem when said shiftable coupling member is shifted to its retracted disconnect position.

Claim 13

Valve control means for operating a valve selectively by power or manually, comprising a first rotary coupling member defining therein a control stem receiving recess of noncircular shape that is elongated in a predetermined transverse direction, said coupling member defining a pair of stud bores parallel to the axis of rotation of said control stem and located generally on diametrically opposite sides thereof, a pair of driving studs anchored in said stud bores and projecting from said coupling member in parallel relation to said axis of rotation thereof, a rotary driving stem, means supporting said driving stem in generally coaxial relation to said axis of rotation of said coupling member, a valve actuating motor, a speed-reducing transmission connecting said motor to rotate said driving stem, a shiftable coupling member defining bores slidably receiving said driving studs and being shiftable therealong between a retracted disconnect position adjacent said first coupling member and an extended power driving position spaced from said disconnect position and axially overlapping the outer end of said driving stem, the outer end of said driving stem defining on opposite sides thereof flat parallel driving surfaces, said shiftable coupling member being internally shaped to fit slidably against the flat driving surfaces on the outer end of said driving stem and form a rotary driving connection with the driving stem when the shiftable coupling member is in said extended power driving position and the flat driving surface on the driving stem are positioNed generally at right angles to said predetermined transverse direction of elongation of said recess in said first coupling member, said shiftable coupling member being internally shaped to provide clearance for radial sliding movement of the shiftable coupling member relative to the driving stem in parallel relation to said driving surfaces thereon, and one of said coupling members defining wrench-engaging surfaces shaped for coaction with a removable wrench for manual turning of said coupling members independently of said driving stem when said shiftable coupling member is shifted to its retracted disconnect position.

Claim 14

Valve control means according to claim 9 comprising a snap ring supported in a circumferential groove formed in the periphery of said shiftable coupling member and intersecting said stud-receiving bores in the shiftable coupling member, said driving studs defining therein notches opening radially outwardly and positioned to receive said snap ring to yieldably hold said shiftable coupling member in its extended power driving position.

Claim 15

Valve control means for operating a valve selectively by power or manually, comprising a rotary driving stem, a valve actuating motor, a speed-reducing transmission connecting said motor to rotate said driving stem, a first coupling member rotatable about the axis of said driving stem in spaced relation to said driving stem, said first coupling member having thereon valve control stem driving means, a shiftable coupling member shiftable axially along the axis of said driving stem between a retracted disconnect position adjacent said first coupling member and an extended power driving position spaced from said disconnect position and axially overlapping the outer end of said driving stem, the outer end of said driving stem having a noncircular shape in transverse section, said shiftable coupling member including a noncircular element for coacting with the noncircular outer end of said driving stem when the shiftable coupling member is in said extended power driving position thereof to form a separable driving connection between said driving stem and said shiftable coupling member, one of said coupling members defining thereon a plurality of driving surfaces, the other of said coupling members having thereon a plurality of driving elements extending axially into overlapping relation to said driving surfaces on said one coupling member when said shiftable coupling member is in its extended driving position to transmit driving torque between said coupling members, one of said coupling members defining wrench-receiving surfaces shaped for manual wrench rotation of said first coupling member independently of said driving stem when said shiftable coupling member is shifted to its retracted disconnect position, and detent means on said shiftable coupling member coacting with one of said driving elements to releasably hold said shiftable coupling member in its extended power driving position.

Claim 16

Valve control means for operating a valve selectively by power or manually, comprising a rotary driving stem, a valve actuating motor, a speed-reducing transmission connecting said motor to rotate said driving stem, a first coupling member rotatable about the axis of said driving stem in spaced relation to said driving stem, said first coupling member having thereon valve control stem driving means, a shiftable coupling member shiftable axially along the axis of said driving stem between a retracted disconnect position adjacent said first coupling member and an extended power driving position spaced from said disconnect position and axially overlapping the outer end of said driving stem, the outer end of said driving stem having a noncircular shape in transverse section, said shiftable coupling member including a noncircular element for coacting with the noncircular outer end of said driving stem when the shiftable coupling member is in said extended power driving position thereof to form a separable driving connection between said driving stem and said shiftable coupling member, one of said coupling members defining thereon a plurality of driving surfaces, the other of said coupling members having thereon a plurality of driving elements extending axially into overlapping relation to said driving surfaces on said one coupling member when said shiftable coupling member is in its extended driving position to transmit driving torque between said coupling members, one of said coupling members defining wrench-receiving surfaces shaped for manual wrench rotation of said first coupling member independently of said driving stem when said shiftable coupling member is shifted to its retracted disconnect position, and detent means on said shiftable coupling member coacting with one of said driving elements to releasably hold said shiftable coupling member in its extended power driving position.

Claim 17

A power actuated valve selectively operable manually and comprising a valve body defining a flow passage therethrough, a flow control member movably disposed in said body for opening and closing said passage, a rotary control stem connected to said flow control member to actuate the latter and extending from said body, a rotary driving stem supported in proximate relation to said control stem, a valve actuating motor connected to rotate said driving stem, a first coupling member secured nonrotatably to said control stem in driving relation thereto, a shiftable coupling member shiftable between a disconnect position and a power driving position spaced from said disconnect position, said driving stem and said shiftable coupling member having means thereon mutually coacting to establish when said shiftable coupling member is in said power driving position thereof a separable driving connection between said driving stem and said shiftable coupling member that is broken upon shifting of the shiftable coupling member to said disconnect position thereof, mEans on said first coupling member and said shiftable coupling member mutually coacting to transmit torque therebetween when said shiftable coupling member is in said power driving position thereof, one of said coupling members defining tool-engaging surfaces shaped for coaction with a removable tool for manual turning of said control stem independently of said driving stem when said shiftable coupling member is shifted to its disconnect position, wherein said first coupling member and said shiftable coupling member are mutually interconnected to preclude relative rotation and to transmit torque therebetween by a plurality of studs mounted in one of said coupling members and extending into slidable overlapping relation to the other of said members even when said shiftable coupling member is in its power driving position, said studs defining therein stress focusing recesses located proximate to one of said coupling members when said shiftable coupling member is in its power driving position to limit the bending load bearing capacity of the studs and thereby release the driving stem for continued turning when torsional resistance to turning of the control stem exceeds a predetermined safety limit.

Claim 18

A power actuated valve selectively operable manually and comprising a valve body defining a flow passage therethrough, a flow control member movably disposed in said body for opening and closing said passage, a rotary control stem connected to said flow control member to actuate the latter and extending from said body, a rotary driving stem supported in proximate relation to said control stem, a valve actuating motor connected to rotate said driving stem, a first coupling member secured nonrotatably to said control stem in driving relation thereto, a shiftable coupling member shiftable between a disconnect position and a power driving position spaced from said disconnect position, said driving stem and said shiftable coupling member having means thereon mutually coacting to establish when said shiftable coupling member is in said power driving position thereof a separable driving connection between said driving stem and said shiftable coupling member that is broken upon shifting of the shiftable coupling member to said disconnect position thereof, mEans on said first coupling member and said shiftable coupling member mutually coacting to transmit torque therebetween when said shiftable coupling member is in said power driving position thereof, one of said coupling members defining tool-engaging surfaces shaped for coaction with a removable tool for manual turning of said control stem independently of said driving stem when said shiftable coupling member is shifted to its disconnect position, wherein said first coupling member and said shiftable coupling member are mutually interconnected to preclude relative rotation and to transmit torque therebetween by a plurality of studs mounted in one of said coupling members and extending into slidable overlapping relation to the other of said members even when said shiftable coupling member is in its power driving position, said studs defining therein stress focusing recesses located proximate to one of said coupling members when said shiftable coupling member is in its power driving position to limit the bending load bearing capacity of the studs and thereby release the driving stem for continued turning when torsional resistance to turning of the control stem exceeds a predetermined safety limit.

Claim 19

A power actuated valve selectively operable manually and comprising a valve body defining a flow passage therethrough, a flow control member movably disposed in said body for opening and closing said passage, a rotary control stem connected to said flow control member to actuate the latter and extending from said body, a rotary driving stem supported in proximate relation to said control stem, a valve actuating motor connected to rotate said driving stem, a first coupling member secured nonrotatably to said control stem in driving relation thereto, a shiftable coupling member shiftable between a disconnect position and a power driving position spaced from said disconnect position, said driving stem and said shiftable coupling member having means thereon mutually coacting to establish when said shiftable coupling member is in said power driving position thereof a separable driving connection between said driving stem and said shiftable coupling member that is broken upon shifting of the shiftable coupling member to said disconnect position thereof, means on said first coupling member and said shiftable coupling member mutually coacting to transmit torque therebetween when said shiftable coupling member is in said power driving position thereof, one of said coupling members defining tool-engaging surfaces shaped for coaction with a removable tool for manual turning of said control stem independently of said driving stem when said shiftable coupling member is shifted to its disconnect position, wherein rotation of said shiftable coupling member relative to said first coupling member is precluded by driving elements carried by one of said coupling members and extending into slidable overlapping relation to the other of said coupling members, said driving elements defining detent notches therein, the other of said coupling members carrying a biased retaining element coacting with said detent notches when said shiftable coupling member is in said power driving position thereof to releasably hold said shiftable coupling member against displacement from said power driving position.

Claim 20

A power actuated valve selectively operable manually and comprising a valve body defining a flow passage therethrough, a flow control member movably disposed in said body for opening and closing said passage, a rotary control stem connected to said flow control member to actuate the latter and extending from said body, a rotary driving stem supported in proximate relation to said control stem, a valve actuating motor connected to rotate said driving stem, a first coupling member secured nonrotatably to said control stem in driving relation thereto, a shiftable coupling member shiftable between a disconnect position and a power driving position spaced from said disconnect position, said driving stem and said shiftable coupling member having means thereon mutually coacting to establish when said shiftable coupling member is in said power driving position thereof a separable driving connection between said driving stem and said shiftable coupling member that is broken upon shifting of the shiftable coupling member to said disconnect position thereof, means on said first coupling member and said shiftable coupling member mutually coacting to transmit torque therebetween when said shiftable coupling member is in said power driving position thereof, one of said coupling members defining tool-engaging surfaces shaped for coaction with a removable tool for manual turning of said control stem independently of said driving stem when said shiftable coupling member is shifted to its disconnect position, wherein rotation of said shiftable coupling member relative to said first coupling member is precluded by driving elements carried by one of said coupling members and extending into slidable overlapping relation to the other of said coupling members, said driving elements defining detent notches therein, the other of said coupling members carrying a biased retaining element coacting with said detent notches when said shiftable coupling member is in said power driving position thereof to releasably hold said shiftable coupling member against displacement from said power driving position.