US3887160A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid operated actuator for movable members
Assignee: Sperry Rand Australia Ltd
•
Filing: 1972-08-15
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Granted: 1975-06-03
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Expires: 1992-08-15
Abstract
Abstract A fluid operated actuator for controlling the movement of a member such as a valve and being connectable into a fluid circuit including pressure operated means for indicating extreme operative positions of the aforementioned member. The actuator including a piston-cylinder assembly, the piston of which is connectable to the aforementioned member, and pressure relief means operative to prevent the pressure acting on the piston reaching a predetermined level which is below that necessary to operate the indicating means. Cut-out means is provided within the piston-cylinder assembly to render the relief means inoperative when the piston reaches or approaches positions corresponding to the aforementioned extreme operative positions of the associated member, so that the pressure acting on the piston is able to rise sufficiently to operate the indicating means.
Inventors
- 👤 John Cusveller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:36
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K37/00; F16K37/0066; F16K31/00; F16K31/12; F16K31/122; F16K31/124
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
262 words
An actuator system including: a fluid operated actuator connectable to a member and being operable to cause movement of said mEmber; said actuator including a cylinder and a force transmitting element which is movable axially within said cylinder under the influence of fluid pressure and is operatively connected to said member to be actuated; said force transmitting element dividing the interior of said cylinder transversely into two chambers; said cylinder having means operatively connected to both of said chambers whereby pressurized fluid may be introduced to or removed from either of said chambers through said means according to the desired direction of movement of the force transmitting element; a source of pressurized fluid; control means operable to connect said fluid source to a fluid circuit of said actuator to cause operation of the actuator; relief means connected into said fluid circuit and being operable to prevent the fluid pressure acting on said actuator from reaching a predetermined level; cut-off means operable to render the relief means inoperative when said actuator adopts a particular operative position but when in said operative position still permitting pressurized fluid to be introduced or exhausted from either cylinder chamber through said means connected to both of said chambers to enable continued operation of said actuator and movement of said force transmitting element and member; and indicator means connected to said fluid circuit so as to be operated when the pressure acting on said actuator reaches said predetermined pressure, and thereby indicates the operative position of said actuator and consequently the position of the said member connected thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
262 words
An actuator system including: a fluid operated actuator connectable to a member and being operable to cause movement of said mEmber; said actuator including a cylinder and a force transmitting element which is movable axially within said cylinder under the influence of fluid pressure and is operatively connected to said member to be actuated; said force transmitting element dividing the interior of said cylinder transversely into two chambers; said cylinder having means operatively connected to both of said chambers whereby pressurized fluid may be introduced to or removed from either of said chambers through said means according to the desired direction of movement of the force transmitting element; a source of pressurized fluid; control means operable to connect said fluid source to a fluid circuit of said actuator to cause operation of the actuator; relief means connected into said fluid circuit and being operable to prevent the fluid pressure acting on said actuator from reaching a predetermined level; cut-off means operable to render the relief means inoperative when said actuator adopts a particular operative position but when in said operative position still permitting pressurized fluid to be introduced or exhausted from either cylinder chamber through said means connected to both of said chambers to enable continued operation of said actuator and movement of said force transmitting element and member; and indicator means connected to said fluid circuit so as to be operated when the pressure acting on said actuator reaches said predetermined pressure, and thereby indicates the operative position of said actuator and consequently the position of the said member connected thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
262 words
An actuator system including: a fluid operated actuator connectable to a member and being operable to cause movement of said mEmber; said actuator including a cylinder and a force transmitting element which is movable axially within said cylinder under the influence of fluid pressure and is operatively connected to said member to be actuated; said force transmitting element dividing the interior of said cylinder transversely into two chambers; said cylinder having means operatively connected to both of said chambers whereby pressurized fluid may be introduced to or removed from either of said chambers through said means according to the desired direction of movement of the force transmitting element; a source of pressurized fluid; control means operable to connect said fluid source to a fluid circuit of said actuator to cause operation of the actuator; relief means connected into said fluid circuit and being operable to prevent the fluid pressure acting on said actuator from reaching a predetermined level; cut-off means operable to render the relief means inoperative when said actuator adopts a particular operative position but when in said operative position still permitting pressurized fluid to be introduced or exhausted from either cylinder chamber through said means connected to both of said chambers to enable continued operation of said actuator and movement of said force transmitting element and member; and indicator means connected to said fluid circuit so as to be operated when the pressure acting on said actuator reaches said predetermined pressure, and thereby indicates the operative position of said actuator and consequently the position of the said member connected thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
262 words
An actuator system including: a fluid operated actuator connectable to a member and being operable to cause movement of said mEmber; said actuator including a cylinder and a force transmitting element which is movable axially within said cylinder under the influence of fluid pressure and is operatively connected to said member to be actuated; said force transmitting element dividing the interior of said cylinder transversely into two chambers; said cylinder having means operatively connected to both of said chambers whereby pressurized fluid may be introduced to or removed from either of said chambers through said means according to the desired direction of movement of the force transmitting element; a source of pressurized fluid; control means operable to connect said fluid source to a fluid circuit of said actuator to cause operation of the actuator; relief means connected into said fluid circuit and being operable to prevent the fluid pressure acting on said actuator from reaching a predetermined level; cut-off means operable to render the relief means inoperative when said actuator adopts a particular operative position but when in said operative position still permitting pressurized fluid to be introduced or exhausted from either cylinder chamber through said means connected to both of said chambers to enable continued operation of said actuator and movement of said force transmitting element and member; and indicator means connected to said fluid circuit so as to be operated when the pressure acting on said actuator reaches said predetermined pressure, and thereby indicates the operative position of said actuator and consequently the position of the said member connected thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An actuator system according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes a directional control valve which is selectively operable to cause said actuator to move said member in either of two opposite directions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
An actuator system according to claim 1, wherein said indicator means includes a signal device and a pressure sensitive switch operatively connected to both said signal device and said fluid circuit, whereby said switch is actuated to energize said signal device when the fluid pressure acting on said actuator approaches said predetermined level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An actuator system according to claim 1, wherein said member is the valve element of a slide gate valve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An actuator system according to claim 1, wherein said member is the valve element of a semi-rotary butterfly valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
An actuator system according to claim 1, wherein said actuator includes a cylinder and a piston assembly which is movable axially within said cylinder under the influence of fluid pressure and is connectable to said member to be actuated, said pressure relief means being operable to prevent the pressure acting on said piston assembly reaching said predetermined level, said piston assembly divides the interior of said cylinder transversely into two chambers, and said pressure relief means communicates with at least one of said chambers when said cut-off means is inoperative.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
An actuator system according to claim 6, wherein said cylinder includes inlet means for both said chambers whereby pressurized fluid may be introduced to either of said chambers according to the desired direction of movement of the piston assembly; and said pressure relief means is operable to relieve pressure from whichever of said chambers is subjected to said pressurized fluid, so long as said cut-off means remains inoperative.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
An actuator system according to claim 7, wherein said cut-off means includes at least part of said piston assembly which, in said particular operative position, is located to close communication between one of said chambers and said relief means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
80 words
An actuator according to claim 8, wherein said piston assembly has a first said particular operative position in which said part thereof closes communication between one of said chambers and said pressure relief means, and is positioned adjacent the end of the cylinder remote from that chamber; and a second said particular operative position in which said part tHereof closes communication between the other said chamber, and is positioned adjacent the end of said cylinder opposite said firstmentioned end thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
93 words
An actuator system according to claim 9, wherein means is provided to reduce the effective end surface area of the piston assembly to which pressurized fluid is applied to cause movement of the piston assembly in one direction, said means being arranged to cause said area reduction when said piston assembly is at or adjacent a said particular operative position; and the opposite effective end surface area of the piston assembly to which pressurized fluid is applied for initially moving the piston assembly in the opposite direction, is greater than said reduced area.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
87 words
An actuator system according to claim 7, wherein a single port defines both the inlet means and the outlet means for each said chamber, said ports communicating with their respective chambers through a pressure operated control valve arranged to open both said ports to their respective chambers in response to pressurized fluid being fed into either one of said ports, whereby the port receiving said pressurized fluid functions as inlet means for its respective chamber and the other said port functions as outlet means for its chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
An actuator according to claim 11, wherein said control valve is biased to normally close communication between both said ports and their respective chambers, and safety valve means is connected to both said chambers to prevent the pressure therein exceeding a predetermined upper limit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
128 words
An actuator system according to claim 6, wherein said piston assembly includes a secondary piston which is formed by or attached to an end portion of a piston rod which forms at least part of said connecting means, and a primary piston which is slidably mounted on said secondary piston for limited axial movement relative thereto; said piston rod projecting through an end wall of said cylinder and being movable axially relative to the cylinder with said secondary piston; said pressure relief means includes a passage formed through said secondary piston to provide communication between said chambers; and said cut-off means includes at least part of said primary piston which is arranged to open or close said communication according to its axial position relative to said secondary piston.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
87 words
An actuator system according to claim 13, wherein; said primary piston includes an inner sleeve section slidable on said secondary piston, and an outer sleeve section which is slidable on said inner sleeve section; stop means is provided on said secondary piston to limit axial movement of said inner sleeve section relative to the secondary piston; and said outer sleeve section is located between opposed annular shoulders of said inner sleeve section and is engageable therewith to limit its axial movement relative to said inner sleeve section.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
81 words
An actuator system according to claim 14, wherein an abutment is provided within said cylinder for engagement by said outer sleeve section to limit axial movement of said outer sleeve section relative to the cylinder in one direction; and said inner sleeve section and secondary piston are able to move further in said one direction after said outer sleeve section and said abutment engage, whereby said outer sleeve section is located relative to said secondary piston to close said relief passage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
93 words
An actuator system according to claim 15, wherein said relief passage is closed when said outer sleeve section engages both the said abutment and the said annular shoulder located remote from said abutment; and in that position of the piston assembly the effective end area thereof which is engageable by pressurized fluid to move the said secondary piston further in said one direction, is smaller than the effective opposite end area of the piston assembly which is engageable by pressurized fluid to move said assembly in the direction opposite to said one direction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
An actuator system accoRding to claim 16, wherein two said passages are formed through said secondary piston, and said primary piston part is movable axially relative to the secondary piston between two positions in each of which said part closes a respective said passage.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
An actuator system according to claim 17, wherein said outer sleeve section engages a respective said abutment in each of said two positions, and a reduction in the said effective end area of the piston assembly occurs in each of said positions, the said end area reduced being opposite for each of said positions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
94 words
An actuator system according to claim 6, wherein said piston assembly has a first said particular operative position in which a first part of said piston assembly closes communication between one of said chambers and said pressure relief means, and is positioned adjacent the end of the cylinder remote from that chamber; and a second said particular operative position in which a second part of said piston assembly closes communication between the other said chamber and said pressure relief means, and is positioned adjacent the end of said cylinder opposite said firstmentioned end thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
115 words
An actuator system according to claim 6, wherein; said piston assembly includes two cylindrical end portions, an intermediate portion joining said end portions, and a rack formed on said intermediate portion and drivably engageable with a pinion projecting through an aperture in a side wall of said cylinder, said rack and pinion forming at least part of said connecting means; said relief means includes a main relief passage providing a communication between said chambers; and said cut-out means includes at least one of said end portions of the piston assembly which is arranged to open or close said communication between said chambers according to the axial position of the piston assembly relative to said cylinder.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
An actuator system according to claim 20, wherein said main relief passage is defined by a conduit located externally of said cylinder and which communicates with each said chamber through a respective passage extending axially of the cylinder and arranged to be closed by the adjacent end surface of the piston assembly.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
64 words
An actuator system according to claim 21, wherein each said axial passage is formed in a stop element which projects axially into said cylinder from a respective end wall thereof, the end surface of each stop element which is located within said cylinder serving as an abutment for the adjacent end of said piston assembly and having the respective said axial passage opening therethrough.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
An actuator system according to claim 22, wherein each said stop element is adjustably mounted in the respective cylinder end wall to enable variation of the axial position of the said end surface thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
An actuator system according to claim 20, wherein said relief means include relief valve means connected to said main relief passage and operable to open and close communication between said chambers through said main passage, according to the fluid pressure existing in said chambers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
76 words
An actuator system according to claim 24, wherein said relief valve means includes a valve housing having a compartment therein, said main passage communicating direct with said compartment and with one of said cylinder chambers, and compartment inlet and outlet passages each of which communicates with the other said cylinder chamber and is controlled by a respective one-way valve, the two said one-way valves being arranged to respectively allow fluid into and out of said compartment.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
139 words
An actuator system according to claim 20, wherein said of the opposite end walls of said cylinder is defined by a valve block which includes: a combined fluid supply and exhaust port, a pressure operable one-way valve which is normally biased into a closed position and controls fluid flow through said port, and an axially slidable spool element which is pressure operable to open said one-way valve; and rEspective drain passage means connects the said port of each said valve block to a rear side of the said spool element of the other said valve block, whereby pressurized fluid supplied to one said chamber through the adjacent said valve block is operative to cause the said spool element of the other said valve block to open its respective said one-way valve and thereby allow said other chamber to exhaust.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |