Actuating device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9810341-B2
Application number	US-201314783840-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2013
Priority date	Apr 9, 2013
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

An actuating device for displacing a control device, such as a valve, gate valve, or the like, particularly for use in oil or gas production systems. The actuating device includes at least one torque motor having an electric drive and a thread drive that is rotatable by the electric drive. The actuating device also includes a threaded spindle, a screw nut, a torque control/regulation device, and a position detection device. The threaded spindle is axially displaceable to displace a flow control device between an advanced position and a retracted position. The torque motor is connected to the screw nut in a rotationally-fixed manner and the position detection device is assigned to the threaded spindle to determine the axial position thereof.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An actuating device, comprising:
an electric drive comprising at least one torque motor;
a thread drive comprising a threaded spindle and a screw nut, wherein the at least one torque motor is connected to the screw nut in a rotationally-fixed manner and the threaded spindle is axially displaceable to displace a flow control device between an advanced position and a retracted position, and wherein a rotor of the at least one torque motor circumferentially surrounds a hollow shaft, the hollow shaft circumferentially surrounds the screw nut, and the hollow shaft connects the at least one torque motor to the screw nut in the rotationally-fixed manner;
a position detection device configured to monitor an axial position of the threaded spindle; and
a torque control/regulation device configured to control the at least one torque motor based at least in part on the axial position of the threaded spindle.

2. The actuating device of claim 1 , wherein the rotor of the at least one torque motor is fastened to an outside of the hollow shaft.

3. The actuating device of claim 2 , wherein at least two torque motors are fastened to the outside of the hollow shaft.

4. The actuating device of claim 2 , wherein the hollow shaft is rotatably supported on its two end sections and wherein the first end section is rotatably supported on its outside relative to a guide sleeve and the second end section is rotatably supported relative to a housing lid closing the first housing section.

5. The actuating device of claim 1 , comprising: at least two housing sections detachably connected to one another, wherein the electric drive is arranged in a first housing section and a spring assembly is arranged in a second housing section.

6. The actuating device of claim 5 , wherein the second housing section comprises a connection device configured to be flange-mounted a housing of the flow control device.

7. The actuating device of claim 5 , wherein an opening insert that is connected to a piston rod is displaceably supported in the second housing section, and wherein the spring assembly is operatively arranged between the opening insert and the second housing section.

8. The actuating device of claim 1 , wherein a spindle head is detachably fastened to an extension end of the threaded spindle, and wherein the spindle head is supported in a guide sleeve in an axially displaceable, but non-rotatable manner.

9. The actuating device of claim 8 , wherein the guide sleeve comprises at least one guide slot extending in the displacement direction of the threaded spindle, which is engaged by a guide element radially protruding outwards relative to the spindle head.

10. The actuating device of claim 8 , wherein the spindle head is connected at its side facing the flow control device to a piston rod.

11. The actuating device of claim 10 , wherein an opening insert that is connected to the piston rod is displaceably supported in the second housing section.

12. The actuating device of claim 11 , wherein the opening insert is configured as a piston that is movable in fluid-actuated fashion in the second housing section as a cylinder housing.

13. The actuating device of claim 12 , wherein a throttle check valve device is formed between a front side and a rear side of the piston.

14. The actuating device of claim 12 , wherein a fluid compensator is assigned to the cylinder housing.

15. The actuating device of claim 10 , wherein a sealing head is arranged on the piston rod.

16. The actuating device of claim 1 , wherein the position detection device is arranged at an end of the actuating device, with a sensor element of the position detection device configured to detect the axial position of the threaded spindle.

17. The actuating device of claim 1 , wherein the torque motor is a dual winding torque motor.

18. The actuating device of claim 1 , comprising the flow control device, wherein the flow control device comprises a gate valve.

19. A method of operating an actuating device, comprising:
operating at least one torque motor to drive rotation of a screw nut of a thread drive, thereby causing axial displacement of a threaded spindle of the thread drive and a flow control device coupled to the threaded spindle, wherein a rotor of the at least one torque motor circumferentially surrounds a hollow shaft, the hollow shaft circumferentially surrounds the screw nut, and the hollow shaft connects the at least one torque motor to the screw nut in a rotationally-fixed manner to enable the at least one torque motor to drive rotation of the screw nut;
monitoring an axial position of the threaded spindle using a position detection device; and
controlling the at least one torque motor to adjust a torque applied by the at least one torque motor based at least in part on the axial position using a torque control/regulation device.

Assignees

• Cameron Int Corp

Inventors

• Lenz Norbert
• Biester Klaus

Classifications

• F16H25/2015

  Means specially adapted for stopping actuators in the end position; Position sensing means · CPC title

• F16H2025/2068

  Means for returning linear actuator to zero position, e.g. upon occurrence of failure by using a spring · CPC title

• F16H2025/2075

  Coaxial drive motors · CPC title

• F16K31/047 Primary

  characterised by mechanical means between the motor and the valve, e.g. lost motion means reducing backlash, clutches, brakes or return means (F16K31/043 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16K31/048 Primary

  with torque limiters (F16K31/041 takes precedence) · CPC title