Automatic and manual actuator

Claim 1

For use in controlling, both automatically and manually, a valve stopper movable between first and second positions to control fluid flow through the valve the improvement comprising (a) a power source, (b) a drive coupling the power source to the stopper to move the stopper between said positions, (c) an input for transmitting movement between a manual actuator and the stopper to move the stopper between said positions, and (d) the driver including decoupling means operable in response to said transmission of movement as defined in (c) above to interrupt the coupling of said source to the stopper, (e) said drive including a first gear driven by the power source, a third gear driving said stopper, and said decoupling means comprises a second gear meshing with the first and third gears and movable out of drive transmitting relation with at least one of the first and third gears in response to manual actuation of the drive, (f) and including guide means on a housing for said gears to guide said second gear toward and away from said third gear, the second gear having axially spaced hub structures engaging said guide means to be guided thereby, whereby the second gear directly meshes with the first and third gears, (g) said first and second gears remaining in mesh during movement of the second gear toward and away from said third gear, all of said gears remaining in substantially the same plane.