IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,789,370
Granted Patent B2
US 7,789,370 · App. 11/587,307 · Granted Sep 7, 2010

Actuator system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,789,370
App. No.
11/587,307
Granted
Sep 7, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

An actuator system including a shaft, elements arranged to power the shaft and at least one actuated member actuated by the elements arranged to power the shaft. The elements arranged to power the shaft include a plurality of transverse flux motors.

Claims (30)

1. An oil and gas installation, comprising:

an actuator system comprising a shaft and means to power the shaft, the means to power the shaft comprising a plurality of transverse flux motors, and a plurality of springs, wherein the springs are alternatingly interleavingly arranged with respect to the motors and are operative to return the system to a preset position upon a power failure; and

an actuated member actuated by the means to power the shaft.

2. The installation according to claim 1 , wherein the actuated member comprises a valve.

3. The installation according to claim 1 , wherein the system comprises three successively arranged motors.

4. The installation according to claim 1 , wherein the springs comprise spiral springs.

5. The installation according to claim 1 , wherein the springs comprise linear springs.

6. The installation according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a rotary-to-linear converter operative to convert rotary motion of the shaft to linear output.

7. The installation according to claim 6 , further comprising:

a planetary gearing arranged between the motors and the rotary-to-linear converter.

8. The oil and gas recovery installation according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a control unit operative to control operation of the actuator system.

9. The installation according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a compartment housing the motors and the springs.

10. The installation according to claim 9 , wherein the compartment is oil filled.

11. The installation according to claim 9 , further comprising:

at least one remotely operated vehicle interface; and

at least one remotely operated vehicle connector.

12. The installation according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one remotely operated vehicle interface and the at least one remotely operated vehicle connector are arranged on the compartment.

13. The installation according to claim 9 , the compartment comprises a pressure compensator.

14. The installation according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an interface operatively connected to the shaft and the actuated member.

15. The installation according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a position sensor operative to determine a position of the shaft.

16. The installation according to claim 15 , wherein when the actuator is in a preset position the valve is closed.

17. The oil and gas recovery installation according to claim 15 , wherein when the actuator is in a preset position the valve is open.

18. A method for actuating an actuated member in an oil and gas installation, the method comprising:

operating a plurality of transverse flux motors and a plurality of return springs, wherein the springs are alternatingly interleavingly arranged with respect to the motors to power a shaft in order to drive the actuated member and are operative to return the system to a preset position upon a power failure.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the actuated member comprises a valve.