Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
A pneumatic operating device (1) for regulating a valve, comprising: a cylinder (2) having an end wall (5); a piston (12) slidably mounted in said cylinder, said piston having a bore (24) therein; an operating element (10) rotatably mounted in a side surface (2b) of said cylinder so that an axis of said operating element extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to and intersecting a central longitudinal axis of said cylinder, said operating element extending across said cylinder along said perpendicular direction, said operating element forming a seal with said side surface of said cylinder and having first teeth (10a) thereon; a rack part (11) connected to said piston, said rack part having second teeth (11a) thereon engaged with said first teeth, a portion of said rack part extending axially into said cylinder, said portion of said rack part being laterally offset from said central longitudinal axis of said cylinder, said bore in said piston extending into said portion of said rack part a sufficient distance that said bore extends past said operating element axis when said piston is adjacent said end wall of said cylinder; and a spring (26) disposed in said bore for biasing said piston toward said operating element, said spring being compressed when said piston is displaced from said end wall of said cylinder a maximum distance so that said piston is always positively urged toward said operating element by said spring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
A pneumatic operating device (1) for regulating a valve, comprising: a cylinder (2) having an end wall (5); a piston (12) slidably mounted in said cylinder, said piston having a bore (24) therein; an operating element (10) rotatably mounted in a side surface (2b) of said cylinder so that an axis of said operating element extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to and intersecting a central longitudinal axis of said cylinder, said operating element extending across said cylinder along said perpendicular direction, said operating element forming a seal with said side surface of said cylinder and having first teeth (10a) thereon; a rack part (11) connected to said piston, said rack part having second teeth (11a) thereon engaged with said first teeth, a portion of said rack part extending axially into said cylinder, said portion of said rack part being laterally offset from said central longitudinal axis of said cylinder, said bore in said piston extending into said portion of said rack part a sufficient distance that said bore extends past said operating element axis when said piston is adjacent said end wall of said cylinder; and a spring (26) disposed in said bore for biasing said piston toward said operating element, said spring being compressed when said piston is displaced from said end wall of said cylinder a maximum distance so that said piston is always positively urged toward said operating element by said spring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The operating device claimed in claim 1, wherein a substantial part of a peripheral surface of said rack part (11) abutting an inner wall of the cylinder (2) is coated with polytetrafluorethylene (11b).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The operating device claimed in claim 1 further comprising means (15-19) for moving said piston toward said end wall of said cylinder and away from said operating element against said biasing force of said spring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
155 words
The operating device claimed in claim 1 further comprising a second piston and second rack part connected thereto, a second portion of said second rack part extending axially into said cylinder and being laterally offset from said central longitudinal axis of said cylinder, said second piston and said second rack part portion having a second bore therein which extends a sufficient distance into said second rack part so that said second bore extends past said operating element axis when said second piston is adjacent an opposite end wall of said cylinder, and a second spring disposed in said second bore for biasing said second piston toward said operating element when said second piston is adjacent said opposite end wall, said second spring being compressed when said second piston is displaced from said opposite end wall a maximum distance so that said second piston is always positively urged toward said operating element by said second spring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The operating device claimed in claim 1 wherein said operating element is rotatably mounted in opposite side surfaces (2b) of said cylinder, said opposite side surfaces of said cylinder being flat and being connected together by curved side surfaces (2a), said operating element being sealably mounted in said opposite side surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The operating device claimed in claim 4 further comprising an O-ring, said O-ring being disposed in a peripheral groove (12a) of said piston.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
86 words
The operating device claimed in claim 1 wherein said piston is movable between first and second limit positions, said first limit position being reached when said piston contacts said end wall of said cylinder, said second limit position being reached when said rack part portion contacts an opposite end wall of said cylinder, said second teeth on said rack part engaging said first teeth on said operating element causing said operating element to rotate as said piston is moved between said first and second limit positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
The operating device claimed in claim 1 further comprising a second bore located in said piston and said portion of said rack part, said second bore being adjacent said first bore and being laterally offset from said central longitudinal axis of said cylinder, said first and second bores having a length which is substantially the same, and a second spring disposed in said second bore, said second spring being compressed when said piston is displaced from said end wall of said cylinder a maximum distance so that said piston is always positively urged toward said operating element by said first and second springs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The operating device claimed in claim 1 wherein said end wall of said cylinder has a recess (29) for receiving an end of said spring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The operating device claimed in claim 1 wherein said piston and said rack part have a second bore therein extending along said central longitudinal axis of said cylinder, said second bore being shorter than said first bore in said piston and said portion of said rack part, and further comprising a second spring disposed in said second bore.