Rotary motion valve and actuator

Claim 1

A rotary motion valve comprising: valve casing means for directing fluid flow, valve member means mounted for rotary valving motion within said valve casing means and for controlling fluid flow therethrough, first actuator means defining a central longitudinal axis and at least one vane extending radially outwardly of said axis, second actuator means encircling said first actuator means and defining at least one reaction member extending radially inwardly toward said axis and a generally right circular cylindrical encircling surface concentric with said axis, one of said first second actuator means being operatively connected with said valve member for transmitting rotation thereto and the other of said first and second actuator means being fixed relative to said valve casing means, pressure containing means for exerting between said at least one vane and said at least one reaction member forces rotating said one actuator means relative to said other actuator means, said pressure containing means including at least one pair of force exerting bellows means for acting along respective arcuate lines in opposition one to the other, each of said bellows means being defined by a series of joined envelopes, each of said envelopes having walls of flexible sheet material having substantial dimensional stability in the plane of the sheet, said walls common to respective envelopes being joined together about the periphery of said envelopes for containing actuating fluid therewithin while accommodating separation of said walls upon expansion of said bellows means, adjoining walls of adjacent envelopes being joined together in minor areas centered about centers spaced from the centers of the peripheries of said adjacent envelopes, said envelopes communicating through said minor areas for distribution of actuating fluid through said bellows means, and said envelopes imparting to said bellows means an inherent tendency to form when expanded a segment of a solid of revolution, each of said bellows being loosely inserted between the corresponding said one vane and said one reaction member for freely assuming whatever position of engagement therewith and with said encircling surface as is appropriate to any stresses of operation, and fluid pressure means for distributing an actuating fluid under pressure to first one and then the other of said bellows means.