Actuating mechanism for actuating valves

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11236836-B2
Application number	US-202016741249-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 13, 2020
Priority date	Jan 14, 2019
Publication date	Feb 1, 2022
Grant date	Feb 1, 2022

Abstract

An actuating mechanism includes an actuating shaft, an actuated member, and an engaging and disengaging structure. The actuating shaft is configured to be rotatable. The actuated member can be actuated by the actuating shaft to rotate. The engaging and disengaging structure includes an actuating structure provided on the actuating shaft and an actuated structure provided on the actuated member. When the actuating structure engages with the actuated structure, the actuating structure can drive the actuated structure to rotate, such that the actuating shaft can drive the actuated member to rotate. Further, a set of actuating and actuated structures of the actuating mechanism can rotate and stop according to set angle requirements, such that a valve body can be actuated to connect and disconnect different fluid passages as required.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An actuating mechanism for actuating valves, comprising:
an actuating shaft configured to be rotatable;
an actuated member to be actuated by the actuating shaft to rotate, wherein the actuated member comprises a first valve body; and
an engaging and disengaging structure comprising an actuating structure provided on the actuating shaft and an actuated structure provided on the actuated member;
wherein the engaging and disengaging structure comprises a first engaging and disengaging structure including a first engageable and disengageable actuating structure on the actuating shaft and a first engageable and disengageable actuated structure on the first valve body;
wherein when the actuating structure engages with the actuated structure, the actuating structure can drive the actuated structure to rotate, such that the actuating shaft can drive the actuated member to rotate; and
wherein the first engageable and disengageable actuated structure on the first valve body comprises a plurality of first grooves provided on the first valve body.

2. The actuating mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first valve body is rotatable about a first axis (X);
the first engageable and disengageable actuating structure on the actuating shaft comprises a first transversal plate and a plurality of first rods, and the first transversal plate connects with the actuating shaft, and wherein the plurality of first rods is on the first transversal plate; and
during the rotation of the actuating shaft, at least one of the plurality of first rods can engage with at least one of the plurality of first grooves, such that the actuating shaft can drive the first valve body to rotate.

3. The actuating mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein:
the first transversal plate is extended over the actuating shaft along a radial direction thereof, and the plurality of the first rods extend downward from a bottom portion of the first transversal plate; and
the plurality of the first grooves are provided on a top portion of the first valve body.

4. The actuating mechanism according to claim 3 , wherein:
the plurality of first grooves are provided on the top portion of the first valve body along a periphery of the first valve body with intervals; and
the plurality of the first rods are provided on the bottom portion of the first transversal plate along the periphery of the actuating shaft with intervals.

5. The actuating mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein:
the actuated member includes a second valve body rotatable about a first axis (X);
the engaging and disengaging structure comprises a second engaging and disengaging structure including a second engageable and disengageable actuating structure on the actuating shaft and a second engageable and disengageable actuated structure on the second valve body;
the second engageable and disengageable actuating structure on the actuating shaft comprises a second transversal arm and a second rod, the second transversal arm connects with the actuating shaft, and the second rod is provided on the second transversal arm;
the second engageable and disengageable actuated structure on the second valve body comprises a second groove provided on a lower portion of the second valve body; and
during the rotation of the actuating shaft, the second rod can be engaged with the second groove, such that the actuating shaft can drive the second valve body to rotate.

6. The actuating mechanism according to claim 5 , wherein:
the second transversal arm is extended over the actuating shaft along a radial direction thereof, and the second rod extends upward from an upper surface of the second transversal arm; and
the second engageable and disengageable actuated structure further comprises a plate of the second valve body connecting with the lower portion of the second valve body and extending along a direction perpendicular to the first axis (X), and the second groove is provided on the plate of the second valve body.

7. The actuating mechanism according to claim 5 , wherein:
the actuated member further comprises a third valve body rotatable about a second axis (Y);
the engaging and disengaging structure further comprises a third engaging and disengaging structure including a third engageable and disengageable actuating structure on the actuating shaft and a third engageable and disengageable actuated structure on the third valve body;
the third engageable and disengageable actuating structure on the actuating shaft comprises a third transversal arm and a third rod, the third transversal arm connects with the actuating shaft, and the third rod is provided on a bottom of the third transversal arm;
the third engageable and disengageable actuated structure on the third valve body comprises a third groove provided on a lower portion of the third valve body; and
during the rotation of the actuating shaft, the third rod can be engaged with the third groove, such that the actuating shaft can drive the third valve body to rotate.

8. The actuating mechanism according to claim 7 , wherein:
the third transversal arm is extended over the actuating shaft along a radial direction thereof, and the third rod extends downward from a[[the]] bottom portion of the third transversal arm; and
the third engageable and disengageable actuated structure further comprises a plate of the third valve body connecting with the lower portion of the third valve body and extending along a direction perpendicular to the second axis (Y), and the third groove is provided on the plate of the third valve body.

9. The actuating mechanism according to claim 8 , wherein:
the actuated member further comprises a fourth valve body rotatable about a second axis (Y);
the engaging and disengaging structure further comprises a fourth engaging and disengaging structure including the third engageable and disengageable actuating structure on the actuating shaft and a fourth engageable and disengageable actuated structure on the fourth valve body;
the fourth engageable and disengageable actuated structure on the fourth valve body comprises a fourth groove provided on an upper portion of the fourth valve body; and
during the rotation of the actuating shaft, the third rod can be engaged with the fourth groove, such that the actuating shaft can drive the fourth valve body to rotate.

10. The actuating mechanism according to claim 9 , wherein:
the fourth engageable and disengageable actuated structure further comprises a plate of the fourth valve body connecting with the upper portion of the fourth valve body and extending along a direction perpendicular to the second axis (Y), and the fourth groove is provided on the plate of the fourth valve body.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Ma Yue
• Henker Michael
• Zheng Ziteng
• Feng Sheng

Classifications

• F16K31/44

  Mechanical actuating means · CPC title

• F16K31/52466

  comprising a multiple-way tap or cock · CPC title

• F01P7/165

  characterised by systems with two or more loops · CPC title

• F16K11/18 Primary

  with separate operating movements for separate closure members · CPC title

• F16K31/5284

  comprising a tap or cock · CPC title