Valve actuator assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10054166-B2
Application number	US-201715436571-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2017
Priority date	Feb 19, 2016
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

A valve actuator assembly that include an actuator and an actuator mounting assembly. The actuator mounting assembly may be secured to a valve shaft without the actuator present, and the actuator may be secured to the actuator mounting assembly later. This can make it easier to mount the actuator mounting assembly, especially in cramped spaces. In some cases, the actuator may be wired where it is convenient, and then moved to the actuator mounting assembly and secured to the mounted actuator mounting assembly, sometimes with a simple snap attachment. In some cases, a button, lever or other mechanism may release the actuator from the actuator mounting assembly for easy removal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An actuator mounting assembly for mounting an actuator to drive a rotating shaft of an HVAC component, the actuator mounting assembly comprising:
a shaft coupler assembly configured to be releasably secured to the rotating shaft of the HVAC component so that, when releasably secured, the rotating shaft of the HVAC component rotates with the shaft coupler assembly;
a drive shaft operatively coupled to the shaft coupler assembly so that the shaft coupler assembly rotates with the drive shaft;
an anti-rotation bracket rotatably coupled relative to the shaft coupler assembly and the drive shaft so that the shaft coupler assembly and the drive shaft can rotate relative to the anti-rotation bracket, the anti-rotation bracket is configured to releasably secure the actuator to the anti-rotation bracket such that, when the actuator is releasably secured to the anti-rotation bracket, a drive member of the actuator engages and provides a rotation force to the drive shaft;
the anti-rotation bracket including one or more securement features that are used to prevent the anti-rotation bracket and thus the actuator from rotating with the rotating shaft of the HVAC component; and
wherein the anti-rotation bracket is configured to releasably secure the actuator in at least two orientations including a first orientation with a first side of the actuator facing toward the shaft coupler assembly such that when the actuator is activated the drive member of the actuator engages and provides a rotation force to the drive shaft in a clockwise direction, and a second orientation with a second opposing side of the actuator facing toward the shaft coupler assembly such that when the actuator is activated, the drive member of the actuator engages and provides a rotation force to the drive shaft in a counter-clockwise direction.

2. The actuator mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises an actuator release lever configured to releasably engage the anti-rotation bracket.

3. The actuator mounting assembly of claim 2 , wherein the anti-rotation bracket comprises a front arm configured to extend into a slot on a side wall of the actuator.

4. The actuator mounting assembly of claim 3 , wherein the front arm of the anti-rotation bracket further comprises a latching feature.

5. The actuator mounting assembly of claim 4 , wherein the actuator release lever is configured to capture the latching feature of the front arm of the anti-rotation bracket when in a capture position.

6. The actuator mounting assembly of claim 5 , wherein the actuator release lever is configured to release the latching feature of the front arm of the anti-rotation bracket when in a release position.

7. The actuator mounting assembly of claim 6 , wherein the actuator release lever is configured to toggle about a pin between the capture position and the release position.

8. The actuator mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the anti-rotation bracket is releasably secured between a lip of the drive shaft and an upper surface of a clip secured to the drive shaft.

9. The actuator mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the anti-rotation bracket comprises a pair of side arms configured to receive the actuator and engage opposing side walls of the actuator.

10. A valve actuator assembly for actuating a shaft of a valve, comprising:
an actuator having a first side, an opposing second side and a side wall extending between the first side and the second side, the actuator having a drive member with a first part that is accessible from the first side of the actuator and a second part that is accessible from the second side of the actuator;
an actuator mounting assembly comprising:
a drive shaft operably coupleable to the shaft of the valve, the drive shaft is configured to engage and provide a rotation force to the first part of the drive member of the actuator when the first side of the actuator is facing toward the drive shaft and is configured to engage and provide a rotation force to the second part of the drive member of the actuator when the second side of the actuator is facing toward the drive shaft;
an anti-rotation bracket rotatably coupled relative to drive shaft so that the drive shaft can rotate with respect to the anti-rotation bracket, the anti-rotation bracket includes one or more securement features, that when used in conjunction with a securement prevents the anti-rotation bracket and thus the actuator from rotating with the shaft of the valve;
the anti-rotation bracket is configured to releasably secure the actuator in at least two orientations including a first orientation with the first side of the actuator facing toward the drive shaft with the first part of the drive member engaging and capable of providing a rotation force to the drive shaft, and a second orientation with the second side of the actuator facing toward the drive shaft with the second part of the drive member engaging and capable of providing a rotation force to the drive shaft;
wherein in the first orientation, the actuator drives the drive shaft in a clockwise direction when the actuator is activated and in the second orientation the actuator drives the drive shaft in a counter-clockwise direction when the actuator is activated.

11. The valve actuator assembly of claim 10 , wherein the anti-rotation bracket is configured to releasably secure the actuator without the use of any tools.

12. The valve actuator assembly of claim 10 , wherein the anti-rotation bracket is configured to releasably secure the actuator with the use of one or more tools.

13. The valve actuator assembly of claim 10 , wherein the anti-rotation bracket is configured to releasably secure the actuator via a hand operated releasable latch.

14. The valve actuator assembly of claim 13 , wherein hand operated releasable latch includes a pivoting actuator release lever that pivots between a capture position and a release position.

15. The valve actuator assembly of claim 10 , wherein the anti-rotation bracket engages the side wall of the actuator to prevent the actuator from rotating relative to the anti-rotation bracket.

16. A method for installing an actuator to a rotatable shaft, the method comprising:
mounting an actuator mounting assembly over a rotatable shaft, the actuator mounting assembly comprising a shaft adaptor for securing the actuator mounting assembly to the rotatable shaft, a drive shaft operably coupled to the shaft adaptor, and an anti-rotation bracket for releasably receiving an actuator and for preventing the actuator from rotating with the rotatable shaft;
securing the anti-rotation bracket to a substrate that does not rotate with the rotatable shaft;
releasably coupling the actuator to the actuator mounting assembly in one of a first orientation with a first side of the actuator facing toward the drive shaft and a second orientation with a second opposing side of the actuator facing toward the drive shaft; and
wherein in the first orientation and when the actuator is activated, the actuator drives the drive shaft and thus the rotatable shaft in a clockwise direction, and wherein in the second orientation and when the actuator is activated, the actuator drives the drive shaft and thus the rotatable shaft in a counter-clockwise direction.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
removing the actuator from the actuator mounting assembly;
flipping the actuator over and releasably coupling the actuator to the actuator mounting assembly such that the actuator can drive the drive shaft and thus the rotatable shaft in an opposing d

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc
• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Bakken Tom M
• Decker Matthew

Classifications

• F16K31/055

  for rotating valves · CPC title

• F16K31/041

  for rotating valves (F16K31/055 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16D1/10

  Quick-acting couplings in which the parts are connected by simply bringing them together axially · CPC title

• F16D1/087

  due to other loading elements in the hub or shaft · CPC title

• F16D1/02 Primary

  for connecting two abutting shafts or the like · CPC title