Valve actuating system

Claim 2

A valve actuating system including first and second valves actuated by fluidly cross-connected hydraulic valve actuators supplied with a pressurized fluid; first and second springs biasing the first and second valves, respectively, toward a closed position; and, means for selectively introducing pressurized fluid into the valve actuators comprising: a variable displacement pump selectively communicating with the valve actuators through a trip valve, the trip valve hydraulically positioned through a first valve means; the first valve means having first and second positions for respectively pressurizing and venting the trip valve; a manual pump selectively communicating with the valve actuators through a selector valve; and, a hydraulic circuit communicating the variable displacement pump and the manual pump with the value actuators, the hydraulic circuit including a second valve means; the second valve means Having first and second positions for venting and pressurizing a portion of the hydraulic circuit during variable displacement pump operation and manual pump operation, respectively; the first and second valves being closed when the first and second valve means are in their vented positions.

Claim 3

A valve actuating system for selectively operating a pair of valves, including: A. a first valve having an open and closed position and including a first spring biasing the first valve toward its closed position; B. a second valve having an open and closed position and including a second spring biasing the second valve toward its closed position; C. a first hydraulic actuator for controlling the first valve, the first actuator including: i. a first port for admitting pressurized fluid to the first actuator to move the first valve toward its open position, and ii. a second port for admitting pressurized fluid to the first actuator to move the first valve toward its closed position; D. a second hydraulic actuator for controlling the second valve, the second actuator including: i. a first port for admitting pressurized fluid to the second actuator to move the second valve toward its open position, and ii. a second port for admitting pressurized fluid to the second actuator to move the second valve toward its closed position; E. a first conduit in communication with the first port of the first actuator and the second port of the second actuator; F. a second conduit in communication with the first port of the second actuator and the second port of the first actuator; and G. means for selectively introducing pressurized fluid into the first and second conduits including: a. a reversible variable displacement pump; b. a manually operable pump; c. a first solenoid valve means having a first position when energized and a second position when de-energized; d. a second solenoid valve means having a first position when energized and a second position when de-energized; and, e. a hydraulic circuit interconnecting the reversible variable displacement pump, the manually operable pump, and the first and second solenoid valve means wherein: i. the reversible variable displacement pump selectively introduces pressurized fluid into the conduits when the first and second valve means occupy their first positions, ii. the manually operable pump selectively introduces pressurized fluid into the conduits when the first and second valve means occupy their second positions, and, iii. the springs close the valves when the first valve means occupies its second position and the second valve means occupies its first position.

Claim 4

A valve actuating system for selectively operating a pair of valves, including: A. a first valve having an open and closed position and including a first spring biasing the first valve toward its closed position; B. a second valve having an open and closed position and including a second spring biasing the second valve toward its closed position; C. a first hydraulic actuator for controlling the first valve, the first actuator including: i. a first port for admitting pressurized fluid to the first actuator to move the first valve toward its open position, and ii. a second port for admitting pressurized fluid to the first actuator to move the first valve toward its closed position; D. a second hydraulic actuator for controlling the second valve, the second actuator including: i. a first port for admitting pressurized fluid to the second actuator to move the second valve toward its open position, and ii. a second port for admitting pressurized fluid to the second actuator to move the second valve toward its closed position; E. a first conduit in communication with the first port of the first actuator and the second port of the second actuator; F. a second conduit in communication with the first port of the second actuator and the second port of the first actuator; and G. means for selectively introducing pressurized fluid into the first and second conduits including: a. a reversible variable displacement pump; b. a manually operable pump; c. a first solenoid valve means having a first position when energized and a second position when de-energized; d. a second solenoid valve means having a first position when energized and a second position when de-energized; and, e. a hydraulic circuit interconnecting the reversible variable displacement pump, the manually operable pump, and the first and second solenoid valve means wherein: i. the reversible variable displacement pump selectively introduces pressurized fluid into the conduits when the first and second valve means occupy their first positions, ii. the manually operable pump selectively introduces pressurized fluid into the conduits when the first and second valve means occupy their second positions, and, iii. the springs close the valves when the first valve means occupies its second position and the second valve means occupies its first position.

Claim 5

A valve actuating system for operating first and second spring biased valves through first and second fluidly cross-connected hydraulic valve actuators supplied from a hydraulic system, the hydraulic system comprising: a first conduit connected at one end to the hydraulic system and connected at the other end to said first and second hydraulic valve actuators; a second conduit connected at one end to the hydraulic system and connected at the other end to said first and second valve actuators; an automatic hydraulic circuit including a variable displacement, reversible pump, a first valve means and selectively positionable trip valve connected to said first and second conduits; and; a manual hydraulic circuit including a manual pump, a second valve means and selectively positionable selector valve connected to said first and second conduits; said variable displacement reversible pump and said manual pump selectively communicating with said first and second conduits depending upon the position of said first and second valve means.

Claim 6

A valve actuating system for operating first and second spring biased valves through first and second fluidly cross-connected hydraulic valve actuators supplied from a hydraulic system, the hydraulic system comprising: a first conduit connected at one end to the hydraulic system and connected at the other end to said first and second hydraulic valve actuators; a second conduit connected at one end to the hydraulic system and connected at the other end to said first and second valve actuators; an automatic hydraulic circuit including a variable displacement, reversible pump, a first valve means and selectively positionable trip valve connected to said first and second conduits; and; a manual hydraulic circuit including a manual pump, a second valve means and selectively positionable selector valve connected to said first and second conduits; said variable displacement reversible pump and said manual pump selectively communicating with said first and second conduits depending upon the position of said first and second valve means.

Claim 7

The hydraulic system recited in claim 3 wherein the variable displacement reversible pump communicates with said first and second conduits when said first valve means occupies a first position and said second valve meanS is vented.

Claim 8

The hydraulic system recited in claim 3 wherein the manual pump communicates with said first and second conduits when said first valve means is vented and said second valve means occupies a second position.