The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 24, 1999
Filed:
Mar. 24, 1998
Benno Lebkuchner, Warwick, RI (US);
Sparco Inc., Warwick, RI (US);
Abstract
A valve actuating device is provided for opening and closing a valve of the type having a valve housing, a valve member sealingly engageable with a valve seat formed in the valve housing, and a valve stem attached to the valve member for moving the valve member between a closed position and an open position. The valve actuating device includes a housing threadably attached to the valve housing of the valve, and a motor, mounted on the housing, for driving a shaft having a pinion gear upon activating the motor. The device further includes a rack having a body with an end portion thereof engageable with the valve stem of the valve, and a rack segment, disposed between the rack and the pinion gear, for moving the rack between a first position in which the end portion of the rack engages the valve stem for maintaining the valve stem in its closed position, to a second position in which the rack is moved by the rack segment upon activation of the motor via the pinion gear of the motor for opening the valve. The rack segment enables the motor to decelerate at a predetermined rate of speed without coming to an abrupt stop. A pair of springs is provided for biasing the rack to its first position.