Patent · US Expired

Valve actuator differential worm planetary gear drive

US4994001A · kind A · utility

27Cited by
4References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 7, 1989
Grant dateFeb 19, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 7, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T74/19953
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A valve actuator differential worm planetary gear drive provides forward or reverse motion to a valve stem, from an input from either a motor-driven worm or a handwheel drive worm, by using a plurality of planet gears to send motion to the sun gear. If the preference is to have the motor drive the valve primarily, the manual worm stays locked and the motor worm acts as a planetary arm. When it is desired to move the valve by hand, the motor gear is fixed and rotation of the handwheel worm gear transmits the power through the ring gear and the planet gears to the drive sleeve.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.