Manual valve operator with override clutch apparatus

1. A manual valve operator with override clutch apparatus for selectively actuating a valve, said apparatus comprising:

an operator housing defining an enclosure;

an input shaft rotatably supported by said housing;

a worm wheel having a first and a second side, said second side of said worm wheel defining a clutch drive, said worm wheel being disposed within said housing and intermeshing with said input shaft such that when said input shaft is driven, said input shaft drives said worm wheel and said clutch drive about a rotational axis;

a sleeve having an outer surface defining an annular groove, said sleeve having a driven end and an output end, said driven end of said sleeve cooperating with said clutch drive of said worm wheel for selective engagement of said clutch drive and said driven end of said sleeve;

a clutch actuating handle rotatably supported by said housing, said clutch actuating handle including:

a portion of cylindrical configuration, said portion being supported for rotation within a bore defined by said operator housing, said bore having an axis which is disposed normal to and intersects said rotational axis;

said clutch actuating handle having a first and a second end, said second end of said clutch actuating handle defining an offset clutch driver which slidably cooperates with said annular groove of said sleeve, the arrangement being such that when said handle is rotated relative to said housing, said offset clutch driver rides within said annular groove for urging said sleeve axially along said rotational axis so that in a first axial disposition of said sleeve, said clutch drive of said worm wheel and said driven end of said sleeve are engaged relative to each other so that said sleeve is rotated by said worm wheel about said rotational axis and so that when said sleeve is disposed in a second axial disposition thereof, said driven end of said sleeve is disengaged relative to said clutch drive of said worm wheel;

a driven shaft having a first and a second end, said second end of said driven shaft being connected to the valve, said driven shaft extending coaxially through said sleeve, said driven shaft being keyed to said sleeve such that relative rotation between said sleeve and said driven shaft is inhibited while axial movement of said sleeve relative to said driven shaft is permitted, the arrangement being structured such that when said sleeve is in said first axial disposition thereof, said worm wheel drivably rotates said sleeve so that said rotating sleeve rotatably drives said driven shaft for actuating the valve and when said sleeve is in said second axial disposition thereof, said driven end of said sleeve is disengaged from said clutch drive of said worm wheel so that rotation of said sleeve and said driven shaft keyed thereto by said input shaft is inhibited;

said input shaft defining a worm gear;

said worm wheel defining gear teeth which intermesh with said worm gear of said input shaft so that when said input shaft is driven, said worm wheel is driven about said rotational axis;

said clutch drive including:

a plurality of clutch teeth such that when said worm wheel is rotated by said input shaft, said plurality of clutch teeth rotate about said rotational axis;

said sleeve being selectively rotated by said clutch drive about said rotational axis;

said outer surface of said sleeve being of cylindrical configuration;

said annular groove being coaxial relative to said rotational axis;

said driven end of said sleeve defining a further plurality of clutch teeth, said further plurality of clutch teeth of said sleeve being driven by said plurality of clutch teeth of said worm wheel when said sleeve is disposed in said first axial disposition thereof;

said clutch actuating handle being of cylindrical configuration;

said first end of said clutch actuating handle defining a knurled surface for facilitating rotation of said clutch actuating handle by an operator thereof;

said offset clutch driver including:

a roller extending from said second end of said clutch actuating handle;

said offset clutch driver extending from said cylindrical portion, said offset clutch driver being of cylindrical configuration and having a further axis which is disposed parallel to and spaced relative to said axis of said bore such that when said portion is rotated within said bore about said axis of said bore, said offset clutch driver rides within said annular groove of said sleeve so that regardless of a rotational disposition of said sleeve, said offset clutch driver rides within said annular groove so that said sleeve is urged by said offset clutch driver axially along said rotational axis such that said sleeve is moved by said offset clutch driver between said first and second axial dispositions of said sleeve;

said roller being bearingly mounted relative to said portion of said clutch actuating handle so that said roller rotates about said further axis;

a further clutch actuating handle disposed diametrically opposite to said clutch actuating handle relative to said sleeve;

said further clutch actuating handle including:

a further portion of cylindrical configuration, said further portion being supported for rotation within a further bore defined by said operator housing, said further bore having the same axis as said bore, such axis being disposed normal to said rotational axis;

a further offset clutch driver extending from said further cylindrical portion, said further offset clutch driver being of cylindrical configuration and having a second axis which is disposed parallel to and spaced relative to said axis of said bores such that when said portions are rotated within their respective bores about said axis of said bores, said offset clutch drivers ride within said annular groove of said sleeve so that regardless of a rotational disposition of said sleeve, said offset clutch drivers ride diametrically opposite to each other within said annular groove so that said sleeve is urged by said offset clutch drivers axially along said rotational axis such that said sleeve is moved by said offset clutch drivers between said first and second axial dispositions of said sleeve;

said driven shaft rotating about said rotational axis;

said driven shaft defining a longitudinal key which extends radially therefrom, said longitudinal key extending between said first and second ends of said driven shaft, said longitudinal key cooperating with a corresponding longitudinal slot defined by said sleeve so that when said sleeve is in said first axial disposition thereof so that said sleeve is rotating about said rotational axis, said cooperating longitudinal key and slot cause rotation of said driven shaft coaxially within said sleeve about said rotational axis, said cooperating longitudinal key and slot also permitting axial movement of said sleeve along said driven shaft to said second axial disposition of said sleeve so that transmission of any back pressure exerted upon the valve is not transmitted back to said input shaft;

an indicator arm having a proximal and a distal end, said proximal end of said indicator arm being secured to said second side of said worm wheel; and

a window defined by said operator housing such that said distal end of said indicator arm is visible through said window for indicating a rotational disposition of said worm wheel relative to said operator housing.