Automatic Switch Company

Gary Kramer

Drew P LaMarca

Peter A Holborow

A position indicator for a rotary valve actuator has a stator of one color mountable on a housing for the actuator and a rotor of a contrasting color which is connected to the actuator output shaft for rotation with it. The rotor has inner and outer coaxial cylindrical walls with windows in the outer wall. The stator has a hollow cylindrical wall in the space between the rotor walls. When the windows of the rotor and stator are in registration the inner wall of the rotor is visible and the stator is hidden to indicate one position of the actuator output shaft. When the windows of the rotor and stator are out of registration the inner wall of the rotor is hidden by the stator wall which is visible through the rotor window to indicate another position of the actuator output shaft. A circuit actuator and sensor may be mounted on the rotor and stator for generating electrical signals indicative of the actuator output shaft position in addition to the visual indication.

Apparatus for determining the position of a rotary valve

A four-way slide valve including an elongated valve body having an inlet port, an outlet port, and two working ports. A slide assembly within the body is movable longitudinally to alternatively interconnect the outlet port with one or the other of the working ports. The slide assembly carries two longitudinally spaced-apart first and second pistons which define first and second chambers between the pistons and their respective ends of the valve body. Passageways within the slide assembly provide communication between the first chamber and the outlet port, and a control device, such as a pilot valve within the valve body, selectively provides communication between the second chamber and either the inlet port or the outlet port, so as to cause the slide member to move to one of its extreme positions or the other. The first piston is smaller than the second piston, the first chamber is in constant communication with the outlet port, and the region between the pistons is in constant communication with the inlet port. The movable armature of a solenoid actuator acts directly upon the pilot valve within the slide valve body, the movement of the armature in one direction causing movement of the slide assembly in the opposite direction. A slide member forming part of the slide assembly, slides upon a flow plate which contains the outlet and working ports, the face of the slide member opposite the flow plate being in communication with the outlet port.

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Morris, NJ, United States of America

Gary Kramer