Inventors:
Richard F. Malinski - Schaumburg IL
John Sikorcin - St. Charles IL
Assignee:
Vapor Corporation - Chicago IL
International Classification:
F16H 132
Abstract:
A valve actuator with manual override includes an input shaft for receiving input torque. The input shaft drives an epicyclic gear train sun gear and in turn is motor driven through a non-reversible gear set. The sun gear is in driving engagement with first, second and third planetary gears that in turn engage a first ring gear. Secured to each of the first, second and third planetary gears are fourth, fifth and sixth planetary gears. A second epicyclic ring gear engages the fourth, fifth and sixth planetary gears and is secured to an output shaft that in turn is secured to a valve shaft. The first ring gear engages a worm gear that may be manually actuated to operate the driven valve. The worm gear is slideably mounted on a shaft and biased by springs such that when the output shaft reaches a limit of rotation, or excessive load torque is applied, axial movement is transferred to the worm gear. Limit switches can be located about the shaft and are actuated by the worm gear due to a predetermined amount of axial movement.
