US3700085A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Motor driven positioning apparatus with force-controlled shutoff switches
Assignee: Helmut Baelz GmbH
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Filing: 1971-01-13
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Granted: 1972-10-24
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Expires: 1991-01-13
Abstract
Abstract A drive gear is driven by a motor, the gear positioning the positioned member, such as a valve stem, with predetermined force against an obstruction, such as a valve seat. A torque sensing means is provided sensing excess torque applied by the motor to the gear to disconnect the motor. In the disclosed embodiment, the torque sensing element includes a cage swingable over a shaft and carrying, offset with respect to the shaft, a gear transmitting drive power from the motor to the positioned gear. The cage is restrained from swinging about the shaft by a spring; if the torque transmitted exceeds the restraining spring force, the cage will deflect, deflecting movement causing shut-off of the motor. To end-position the valve stem, spring-controlled frictional force is applied to the drive gear when a terminal position is reached causing axial excursion of the drive gear relative to its housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Jurgen Balz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:27
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/02; F16K31/04; F16K31/047; F16K31/048
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
Motor driven positioning apparatus to place a positioned member with predetermined force against an obstruction, having switch means 34, 36 disconnecting the motor 26 when the force transmitted by the drive to the positioned member 2 exceeds a predetermined value comprising a housing 8; a drive gear 12 coupled to the positioned member; means 9, 10; 14, 15; 16, 17, 18, 19; 20, 21 retaining said drive gear in said housing and permitting axial excursion of said drive gear with respect to said retaining means; spring means 12 maintaining said gear in neutral, central position with respect to the permitted excursion relative to said retaining means; locking means 22, 24, 25 located to be frictionally engageable by said drive gear upon relative axial excursion thereof to apply a drag force on said drive gear, said drag force increasing with increasing axial excursion of the drive gear 12 and locking the drive gear upon full permitted excursion of said drive gear against the force of said spring means 13; gear means 27, 29, 33, 30 interconnecting said motor 26 and said drive gear 12; and means 28, 31, 38 sensing torque transmitted by said gear means and actuating said switch means to interrupt power to said motor upon sensing of torque beyond a predetermined value and independently of the axial force acting on the drive gear.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
225 words
Motor driven positioning apparatus to place a positioned member with predetermined force against an obstruction, having switch means 34, 36 disconnecting the motor 26 when the force transmitted by the drive to the positioned member 2 exceeds a predetermined value comprising a housing 8; a drive gear 12 coupled to the positioned member; means 9, 10; 14, 15; 16, 17, 18, 19; 20, 21 retaining said drive gear in said housing and permitting axial excursion of said drive gear with respect to said retaining means; spring means 12 maintaining said gear in neutral, central position with respect to the permitted excursion relative to said retaining means; locking means 22, 24, 25 located to be frictionally engageable by said drive gear upon relative axial excursion thereof to apply a drag force on said drive gear, said drag force increasing with increasing axial excursion of the drive gear 12 and locking the drive gear upon full permitted excursion of said drive gear against the force of said spring means 13; gear means 27, 29, 33, 30 interconnecting said motor 26 and said drive gear 12; and means 28, 31, 38 sensing torque transmitted by said gear means and actuating said switch means to interrupt power to said motor upon sensing of torque beyond a predetermined value and independently of the axial force acting on the drive gear.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
Positioning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein; said torque sensing means includes a displaceable element 31 being displaced upon transmission of torque beyond said predetermined value, displacement of said element actuating said switch means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
Positioning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said locking means 22, 24, 25 comprises a pair of levers 22; means 24, 25 restraining said levers from rotation; and wherein said drive gear retaining means includes a pair of bearings 9, 10 mounted in said housing for relative axial excursion with respect thereof; said bearings, upon said relative axial excursion, providing axial engagement forces between said levers, said bearings, and said drive gear.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
126 words
Positioning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sensing means includes a cage 31 and a shaft 28 secured to the cage, the cage and shaft being swingably mounted in said housing; a gear 33 rotatably mounted in said cage on an axis remote from the shaft 28; and said gear means comprises a gear 29 interconnecting the motor and the gear 33 on the cage and a gear 30 engaging the drive gear 12 and the gear on the cage 33, said gear on the cage 33 coupling the gear 29 driven by the motor and the gear 30 driving the drive gear 12 together to provide a deflecting force to the shaft 28 upon transmission of torque from the motor to the drive gear.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
Positioning apparatus according to claim 4 including resilient means 37, 38 restraining said shaft 28 from deflection and holding said shaft in a rest position, said resilient means permitting deflection of said shaft when the torque transmitted over gear means exceeds a predetermined value; said switch means being located to be actuated upon deflection of said shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
Positioning apparatus according to claim 4 including resilient means 37, 38 holding said shaft 28 in a rest position and restraining said shaft from deflection, said resilient means and said shaft being mutually engageable by a snap-action coupling having a predetermined snap force.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
Positioning apparatus according to claim 4 inclUding a flat surface 37 rotatable with said shaft; and spring means 38 mounted in said housing and bearing against and engaging said flat surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
Positioning apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the shaft 28 extends through the housing for said apparatus, said switch means being located on said housing to be engageable by said shaft upon deflection thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
Positioning apparatus according to claim 1 including a threaded spindle 7 driven by said drive gear 12 and an engaging threaded member 6 in engagement with the threads on said spindle and restrained from rotation, said threaded member being coupled to the element being positioned.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
Positioning apparatus according to claim 9 in combination with a valve, wherein said positioned member is a valve element movable longitudinally within the valve, against a valve seat, the predetermined force being the seating force of said valve element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1702479A
Cited
GB380350A
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US2208119A
Cited
US2407537A
Cited
US3115791A
Cited
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Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-24 | 1976-04-24 | 1976-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-24 | 1980-04-24 | 1980-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-24 | 1984-04-24 | 1984-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |