A variable speed valve actuator

Abstract

The application discloses a valve driving device with switchable speed and particularly relates to the technical field of valves, comprising a transmission mechanism, a speed reduction mechanism and a speed change mechanism. Through the arrangement of the limiting assembly, when the gear position is switched, on one hand, the ball can be moved from the low area of the guide part to the high area, the tooth-shaped plug of the limiting rod can be inserted into the corresponding limiting slot for limiting, gear collision and gear damage caused by forcibly rotating the hand wheel when the gear position switching is not completely separated can be avoided, on the other hand, when the ball is moved from the high area of the guide part to the low area, if the hand wheel is forcibly rotated, the slope of the limiting slot can be matched with the slope of the tooth-shaped plug, the limiting rod is forced to move away from the transmission shaft, the idler gear is further driven to engage with the corresponding gear set, the gear can be prevented from being in the state of incomplete engagement for a long time in the power transmission process, and tooth impact and abrasion can be further reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of valve technology, and more specifically, to a valve drive device with switchable speed. Background Technology

[0002] Valves are pipeline accessories used to open and close pipelines, control flow direction, and regulate and control the parameters (temperature, pressure, and flow rate) of the transported medium. Based on their function, they can be classified as shut-off valves, check valves, regulating valves, etc.

[0003] Valve actuators are industrial devices used to operate and control valves and are connected to them. They are designed to improve the convenience, efficiency and automation of valve operation. They transmit torque or thrust through power sources such as electricity, pneumatics, and hydraulics to meet the requirements of precise stroke control and are widely used in fields such as oil and gas pipelines, sewage treatment systems and industrial equipment.

[0004] Existing valve switching devices rely heavily on the operator's experience and feel when switching gears. However, if the high-speed or low-speed gear is not completely disengaged from the current gear during the switching process (i.e., incomplete disengagement), forcibly turning the handwheel will cause a violent collision between the two sets of gears due to the incomplete disconnection of power, resulting in damage to the gear surface and even the entire transmission system. In addition, the "partial engagement" or "partial meshing" state of the gears, when transmitting power, will cause stress concentration due to insufficient gear contact area, which can also easily lead to gear grinding and wear problems.

[0005] This invention provides a valve drive device with switchable speed, which aims to solve the problem that when gears are not completely disengaged or fully engaged during gear switching, the forceful rotation of the handwheel can cause violent collisions between gears or stress concentration, resulting in gear breakage and wear. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a valve drive device with switchable speed to solve the problems mentioned in the background art, such as incomplete disengagement or incomplete meshing of gears during gear switching, which leads to violent collisions or stress concentration between gears when the handwheel is forcibly turned, causing gear grinding and wear.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a valve drive device with switchable speed, comprising a transmission mechanism, a reduction mechanism, and a speed change mechanism, wherein the speed change mechanism comprises a gearbox body, a transmission shaft, a high-speed gear set, a low-speed gear set, a first idler gear, a second idler gear, and a handwheel, and further comprises:

[0008] A limiting component is disposed within the transmission mechanism to selectively restrict the rotation of the transmission shaft when the transmission shaft moves axially to switch gears, and to force the gear set and idler gear to fully mesh when the gear set and idler gear are not fully engaged, in conjunction with the rotation operation of the handwheel.

[0009] Preferably, the limiting component includes a support member, which is sleeved on the outside of the transmission shaft. A rotating plate is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the transmission shaft, and the rotating plate is rotatably connected to the support member.

[0010] Preferably, the gearbox body has multiple equidistant limiting grooves on its inner circumference, each limiting groove has a limiting block slidably connected inside, and each limiting block is fixedly connected to the support member.

[0011] Preferably, each of the limiting blocks has an internal telescopic groove, and each telescopic groove has an internal limiting rod.

[0012] Preferably, a support plate is slidably connected inside each of the telescopic grooves, and the support plate is fixedly connected to the corresponding limiting rod. An elastic element is sleeved on the outer wall of each limiting rod, one end of which is connected to the support plate and the other end is connected to the inner wall of the telescopic groove.

[0013] Preferably, the outer wall of the drive shaft is provided with a plurality of equidistant limiting slots, the limiting slots corresponding to the positions of the limiting rods, the end of the limiting rod near the drive shaft being provided with a toothed plug, and the limiting slots being configured as toothed grooves that cooperate with the toothed plugs.

[0014] Preferably, each of the limiting grooves is provided with a guide portion on the side away from the drive shaft, and the guide portion is a raised structure with a high center and low sides.

[0015] Preferably, each of the limiting rods has a ball hinged to the end away from the drive shaft, and the ball abuts against the guide portion.

[0016] Preferably, each guide portion has a slot on both sides of its low region, the slot being used to engage with the ball bearing when the gear shift is completed.

[0017] Preferably, the speed change mechanism is used to switch between different speed and torque gears and transmit the input power to the deceleration mechanism. The deceleration mechanism is used to reduce the input speed, increase the output torque, and transmit the input power to the transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism is used to transmit power to the valve stem to realize the opening and closing of the valve.

[0018] The technical effects and advantages of this invention are as follows:

[0019] This invention, through the setting of the limiting component, allows the ball bearing to move from the low area to the high area of ​​the guide section during gear switching. This enables the toothed plug of the limiting rod to be inserted into the corresponding limiting slot for limiting, preventing the drive shaft from rotating during gear switching. This avoids gear collision and damage caused by forcibly turning the handwheel when the gear shift is incomplete. On the other hand, when the ball bearing moves from the high area to the low area of ​​the guide section, if the handwheel is forcibly turned, the inclined surface of the limiting slot can cooperate with the inclined surface of the toothed plug, forcing the limiting rod to move away from the drive shaft. This further drives the idler gear to mesh with the corresponding gear set, preventing the gears from being in a state of incomplete meshing for a long time during power transmission, and further reducing gear breakage and wear. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the speed change mechanism of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the speed change mechanism of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the overall structure of the speed change mechanism of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 5 For the present invention Figure 4 Enlarged view of the structure of part A.

[0025] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the limiting groove of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the limiting component structure of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 8 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the limiting component of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the limiting rod portion of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the transmission shaft structure of the present invention.

[0030] The attached figures are labeled as follows: 1. Transmission mechanism; 2. Reduction mechanism; 3. Speed ​​change mechanism; 31. Gearbox body; 32. Drive shaft; 33. High-speed gear set; 34. Low-speed gear set; 35. First idler gear; 36. Second idler gear; 37. Handwheel; 4. Limiting assembly; 41. Support member; 42. Rotating plate; 43. Limiting groove; 44. Limiting block; 45. Telescopic groove; 46. Limiting rod; 47. Support plate; 48. Elastic member; 49. Limiting slot; 410. Guide part; 411. Ball bearing; 412. Slot. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0032] refer to Figures 1 to 10 An embodiment of the present invention provides a valve drive device with switchable speed, comprising a transmission mechanism 1, a reduction mechanism 2, and a speed change mechanism 3.

[0033] refer to Figures 1 to 4 The transmission mechanism 3 includes a gearbox body 31. Inside the gearbox body 31, there is a drive shaft 32, a high-speed gear set 33, a low-speed gear set 34, and a limiting component 4. A first idler wheel 35 and a second idler wheel 36 are fixedly connected to the drive shaft 32. A handwheel 37 is fixedly connected to one end of the drive shaft 32 located outside the gearbox body 31.

[0034] In low gear, the first idler gear 35 engages with the low gear gear set 34, and the second idler gear 36 disengages from the high gear gear set 33. In high gear, the first idler gear 35 disengages from the low gear gear set 34, and the second idler gear 36 engages with the high gear gear set 33.

[0035] The speed change mechanism 3 is used to switch between different speed and torque gears and transmit the input power to the reduction mechanism 2. The reduction mechanism 2 is used to reduce the input speed and increase the output torque and transmit the input power to the transmission mechanism 1. The transmission mechanism 1 is used to transmit the power to the valve stem to realize the opening and closing of the valve. The transmission mechanism 1, the reduction mechanism 2 and the speed change mechanism 3 are all existing technologies and will not be described in detail here.

[0036] refer to Figures 2 to 10The limiting component 4 includes a support member 41 sleeved on the outside of the drive shaft 32. A rotating plate 42 rotatably connected to the support member 41 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the drive shaft 32. Multiple limiting grooves 43 are equidistantly opened on the inner circumference of the gearbox body 31. A limiting block 44 fixedly connected to the support member 41 is slidably connected inside each limiting groove 43. A telescopic groove 45 is opened inside each limiting groove 45. A limiting rod 46 is provided inside each telescopic groove 45. A support plate 47 fixedly connected to the corresponding limiting rod 46 is slidably connected inside each telescopic groove 45. An elastic member 48 is sleeved on the outer wall of each limiting rod 46. One end of each elastic member 48 is connected to the side of the corresponding support plate 47 away from the drive shaft 32, and the other end is connected to the inner wall of the corresponding telescopic groove 45.

[0037] refer to Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 9 The outer circumference of the drive shaft 32 is provided with several limiting slots 49 at equal intervals. The limiting slots 49 correspond to the positions of several limiting rods 46. The end of the several limiting rods 46 near the drive shaft 32 is set as a plug with a beveled tooth shape. The limiting slots 49 are all set as tooth grooves that can cooperate with the toothed plug.

[0038] refer to Figure 5 Each limiting groove 43 has a guide portion 410 on the side away from the drive shaft 32. The guide portion 410 is a raised structure with a high center and low sides. The connection between the high center area and the low side areas of the guide portion 410 is set as an inclined surface. Each limiting rod 46 has a ball 411 hinged to the other end away from the drive shaft 32. Each ball 411 can abut against the guide portion 410 in the corresponding limiting groove 43 under the thrust of the corresponding elastic element 48. Each guide portion 410 has a slot 412 on both sides of the low area that can cooperate with the ball 411.

[0039] In low speed gear, the limit block 44 is located at the top limit position of the limit groove 43. In high speed gear, the limit block 44 is located at the bottom limit position of the limit groove 43. When the limit block 44 is located at the top or bottom limit position of the limit groove 43, the ball 411 is aligned with the corresponding slot 412 and is engaged in the corresponding slot 412 under the thrust of the elastic element 48, and the toothed plugs of the multiple limit rods 46 are pulled out from the corresponding limit slots 49.

[0040] In actual use, when it is necessary to switch between high and low speeds, for example, to switch the transmission mechanism 3 from low speed to high speed, press down the handwheel 37, so that the drive shaft 32 drives the first idler wheel 35 and the second idler wheel 36 to move downward in the gearbox body 31. During the downward movement of the drive shaft 32 in the gearbox body 31, it will drive multiple limit blocks 44 to move downward in the corresponding limit grooves 43 through the rotating plate 42 and the support member 41. During the downward movement of the multiple limit blocks 44 in the corresponding limit grooves 43, it will drive the corresponding limit rods 46 to move downward synchronously, so that the balls 411 on the multiple limit rods 46 will disengage from the slots 412 on the upper part of the corresponding guide part 410 and abut against the guide part 410 under the pushing action of the corresponding elastic member 48. At this time, the drive shaft 32 continues to move downward, so that the balls 411 gradually move along the low area of ​​the upper part of the guide part 410 to the high area of ​​the middle part of the guide part 410, and finally move to the low area of ​​the lower part of the guide part 410.

[0041] As the ball bearing 411 moves from the lower upper region to the higher middle region of the guide section 410, it pushes the limiting rod 46 towards the drive shaft 32, causing the support plate 47 to compress the elastic element 48. This allows the toothed plug at the other end of the limiting rod 46 to insert into the corresponding limiting slot 49. When there is an angular deviation during the insertion of the toothed plug into the corresponding limiting slot 49, the toothed plug and the limiting slot 49 have mutually engaging inclined surfaces. These engaging inclined surfaces guide the toothed plug during its insertion into the limiting slot 49. The drive shaft 32 is forced to rotate slightly, so that the toothed plugs of the multiple limit rods 46 can be fully inserted into the corresponding limit slots 49 for limiting, preventing the drive shaft 32 from rotating during gear shifting. This avoids gear collision and gear damage caused by forcibly turning the handwheel 37 when the gear shift is not completely disengaged. At this time, the drive shaft 32 continues to move downward in the high area of ​​the guide part 410, which will cause the first idler wheel 35 to gradually disengage from the low speed gear set 34, so that the second idler wheel 36 can gradually engage with the high speed gear set 33.

[0042] As the ball bearing 411 moves from the high region in the middle to the low region in the lower part of the guide section 410, the elastic element 48 pushes back the support plate 47 to drive the limit rod 46 to move away from the drive shaft 32, so that the toothed plug on the limit rod 46 is gradually pulled out from the corresponding limit slot 49. When the drive shaft 32 drives the limit block 44 to the bottom limit position of the limit groove 43, the first idler wheel 35 completely disengages from the low speed gear set 34, and the second idler wheel 36 completely engages with the high speed gear set 33, completing the gear shift.

[0043] At this time, the ball bearing 411 is positioned in the lower slot 412 of the guide part 410 and enters the slot 412 under the thrust of the elastic element 48 for limiting, and the toothed plugs of the multiple limiting rods 46 are completely pulled out from the corresponding limiting slots 49. At this time, the transmission shaft 32 can rotate normally for transmission and will not affect the opening and closing of the valve.

[0044] It should be noted that during high-gear shifting, when the ball bearing 411 is in the high region of the guide section 410, the first idler wheel 35 is not completely disengaged from the low-speed gear set 34. When the ball bearing 411 moves from the high region to the low region of the guide section 410, the first idler wheel 35 is completely disengaged from the low-speed gear set 34, and part of the toothed plug of the limit rod 46 is pulled out from the limit slot 49, making it impossible to continue to completely limit the transmission shaft 32. At this time, the operator can turn the handwheel 37. If the handwheel 37 is forcibly turned at this time, the transmission shaft 32 will drive several limit switches. When slot 49 rotates, the inclined surface of the limiting slot 49 can engage with the inclined surface of the toothed plug, forcing the limiting rod 46 to move away from the drive shaft 32. During the movement of the limiting rod 46, the ball 411 will move on the inclined surface of the low area of ​​the guide part 410, forcing the limiting rod 46 to drive the limiting block 44, support member 41, rotating plate 42 and drive shaft 32 to move downward synchronously, which can further drive the second idler wheel 36 to mesh with the high-speed gear set 33, preventing the gear from being in a state of incomplete meshing for a long time during power transmission, and further reducing tooth breakage and wear;

[0045] During gear shifting, as the ball 411 moves from the high region to the low region in the middle of the guide section 410, the elastic element 48 pushes the ball 411 to move on the inclined surface of the low region. At this time, the elastic force of the elastic element 48 can assist the drive shaft 32 during gear shifting.

[0046] In summary, by setting the limiting component 4, during gear switching, on the one hand, the ball 411 can move from the low area to the high area of ​​the guide 410, which can push the toothed plug of the limiting rod 46 to insert into the corresponding limiting slot 49 for limiting, preventing the transmission shaft 32 from rotating during gear switching. This avoids gear collision and gear damage caused by forcibly turning the handwheel 37 when the gear switching is incomplete. On the other hand, when the ball 411 moves from the high area to the low area of ​​the guide 410, if the handwheel 37 is forcibly turned, the inclined surface of the limiting slot 49 can cooperate with the inclined surface of the toothed plug, forcing the limiting rod 46 to move away from the transmission shaft 32, further driving the idler gear to mesh with the corresponding gear set, preventing the gear from being in a state of incomplete meshing for a long time during power transmission, and further reducing gear grinding and wear.

[0047] In conclusion, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A valve drive device with switchable speed, comprising a transmission mechanism (1), a reduction mechanism (2), and a speed change mechanism (3), wherein the speed change mechanism (3) comprises a gearbox body (31), a transmission shaft (32), a high-speed gear set (33), a low-speed gear set (34), a first idler gear (35), a second idler gear (36), and a handwheel (37), characterized in that, Also includes: Limiting component (4), the limiting component (4) is disposed in the transmission mechanism (3) and is used to selectively limit the rotation of the transmission shaft (32) when the transmission shaft (32) moves axially to switch gears, and when the gear set and idler wheel are not fully engaged, the handwheel (37) is rotated to force the gear set and idler wheel to fully engage. The limiting component (4) includes a support member (41), which is sleeved on the outside of the transmission shaft (32). A rotating plate (42) is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the transmission shaft (32), and the rotating plate (42) is rotatably connected to the support member (41). The gearbox body (31) has multiple limiting grooves (43) equidistantly spaced on its inner circumference. Each limiting groove (43) has a limiting block (44) slidably connected inside, and each limiting block (44) is fixedly connected to the support member (41). Each limiting block (44) has a telescopic groove (45) inside, and each telescopic groove (45) has a limiting rod (46) inside. The interior of the telescopic groove (45) is slidably connected to a support plate (47). The support plate (47) is fixedly connected to the corresponding limiting rod (46). The outer wall of each limiting rod (46) is fitted with an elastic element (48). One end of the elastic element (48) is connected to the support plate (47), and the other end is connected to the inner wall of the telescopic groove (45). The outer wall of the transmission shaft (32) is provided with several limiting slots (49) at equal intervals. The limiting slots (49) correspond to the positions of the limiting rods (46). The end of the limiting rod (46) near the transmission shaft (32) is provided with a toothed plug. The limiting slots (49) are configured as toothed grooves that cooperate with the toothed plug.

2. The switchable speed valve actuation apparatus of claim 1, wherein, Each of the limiting grooves (43) is provided with a guide portion (410) on the side away from the drive shaft (32), and the guide portion (410) is a raised structure with a high center and low sides.

3. A switchable speed valve actuation apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that, Each of the limiting rods (46) has a ball (411) hinged at one end away from the drive shaft (32), and the ball (411) abuts against the guide (410).

4. A switchable speed valve actuation arrangement according to claim 3, characterised in that, Each guide portion (410) has a slot (412) on both sides of the low area, the slot (412) being used to engage with the ball (411) when the gear shift is completed.

5. A switchable speed valve actuation arrangement according to claim 4, characterised in that, The speed change mechanism (3) is used to switch different speed and torque gears and transmit the input power to the deceleration mechanism (2). The deceleration mechanism (2) is used to reduce the input speed and increase the output torque and transmit the input power to the transmission mechanism (1). The transmission mechanism (1) is used to transmit the power to the valve stem to realize the opening and closing of the valve.

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