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US3884446A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Low profile control valve actuator

Assignee: G W DAHL CO Inc
•
Filing: 1973-12-10
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1993-12-10
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Abstract

Abstract A control valve actuator consisting of a rectangular frame cut squarely from a rectangular steel tube. the valve is mounted adjacent the outside center of one of the longer sides of the frames. A sheet metal case is formed into a pie-plate shape and is mounted on the inner side of one of the longer sides of the frame with the flat portion of the pie-shape abutting said frame side and with the annular skirt of the pie-shape extending away from said side. A rubber diaphragm is positioned in the case and locked in by a steel ring mounted along the inner edge of the annular skirt. An adaptor is passed through a central opening in the diaphragm, and a rigid metallic disc or plate is mounted on the adaptor and locked in place to clamp the adaptor assembly to the diaphragm. An actuating rod extends from the adaptor assembly to the valve. A heavy coil spring surrounds the rod and extends from the opposite side of the frame to the disc to bias the disc and diaphragm toward the inner surface of the pie-plate case. When air under pressure is introduced to said diaphragm through vent means mounted outside the frame adjacent said case (as by an actuating signal), the diaphragm moves the disc against the spring and moves the rod to either open or close the valve. Release of the pressure allows the spring to push the disc and diaphragm back to its original non-operative position.

Inventors

  • 👤 Linwood P Erickson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 10:45
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/12; F16K31/126; F16K31/1262

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 128 words
A valve actuator comprising a unitary, rigid steel, foursided tubular frame of generally rectangular cross section, a valve mounted exteriorly on one side of said frame, an actuating rod connected to said valve and extending through said one frame side, said rod being axially movable to open or close said valve, a flexible diaphragm mounted within said frame in a plane substanTially normal to the axis of said rod and connected thereto, housing means secured to the inside of said frame cooperating with said diaphragm to define a sealed chamber, means for introducing fluid under pressure into said chamber to flex said diaphragm and hence impart axial movement to said rod, and a coil spring mounted in said frame and normally urging said diaphragm to its non-flexed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 128 words
A valve actuator comprising a unitary, rigid steel, foursided tubular frame of generally rectangular cross section, a valve mounted exteriorly on one side of said frame, an actuating rod connected to said valve and extending through said one frame side, said rod being axially movable to open or close said valve, a flexible diaphragm mounted within said frame in a plane substanTially normal to the axis of said rod and connected thereto, housing means secured to the inside of said frame cooperating with said diaphragm to define a sealed chamber, means for introducing fluid under pressure into said chamber to flex said diaphragm and hence impart axial movement to said rod, and a coil spring mounted in said frame and normally urging said diaphragm to its non-flexed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 117 words
In the valve actuator of claim 1, said housing comprising a rigid metallic case having a flat wall with an annular skirt defining a generally pie-plate, dished shape, said flat wall being secured to the inside of said frame with said skirt extending inwardly and with the plane of said flat wall being normal to the axis of said rod, and a lock ring mounted at the inner peripheral edge of said skirt securing the marginal edge of said diaphragm to the edge of said skirt in sealing relation therewith, and aligned openings in said flat wall and the frame side to which said wall is secured for permitting entry of said pressurized fluid into said chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 105 words
In the valve actuator of claim 2, a fitting extending through said aligned apertures and secured to said adjacent frame side, said flat wall being secured to said fitting so as to be maintained in abutting relation with the inner surface of said adjacent frame side, an adaptor having a central threaded opening, said adaptor being secured to the center of said diaphragm, a rigid plate secured to said adaptor and covering a substantial portion of the exposed outer surface of said diaphragm, said spring extending between said plate and the opposite side of said frame, said actuating rod being threaded into said adaptor opening.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US571833A Cited
US1236216A Cited
US1560656A Cited
US2564569A Cited
US2678662A Cited
US2892608A Cited
US3012751A Cited
US3103855A Cited
US3241805A Cited
US3321173A Cited
US3593958A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-05-19 1978-11-18 1979-05-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-05-19 1982-11-18 1983-05-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-05-19 1986-11-18 1987-05-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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