DIAPHRAGM ACTUATOR

1 . A valve actuator with a top actuator housing connected to a lower actuator housing, for moving a valve gate, wherein the valve actuator moves the valve gate between an opened and a closed valve position within a valve body, and wherein the valve actuator comprises:

a. a pressure chamber and an inlet port formed in the top actuator housing;

b. a top shaft with a top shaft flange, wherein the top shaft extends through the top actuator housing;

c. a diaphragm retainer plate supporting the top shaft within the top actuator housing;

d. a diaphragm that applies pressure against the diaphragm retainer plate, and wherein the diaphragm further comprising a pressure side that engages the diaphragm retainer plate, and an atmospheric side opposite the pressure side, the diaphragm having a diaphragm ridge at least partially surrounding the top shaft;

e. a diaphragm retainer nut with a diaphragm retainer nut circular groove and at least partially surrounding the top shaft;

f. a keeper ring disposed around and supported by the top shaft flange;

g. a retainer ring disposed between the keeper ring and diaphragm retainer nut; and

wherein the diaphragm retainer nut groove is adapted to receive the diaphragm ridge.

2 . The valve actuator of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm retainer nut is positioned substantially on the pressure side of the diaphragm and possesses a threaded interface at least partially surrounding the top shaft; the threaded interface being positioned on the atmospheric side of the diaphragm and threading into a diaphragm retainer plate nut to secure the diaphragm between the diaphragm retainer nut and the diaphragm retainer plate.

3 . The valve actuator of claim 2 , wherein upon threading the threaded interface of the diaphragm retainer nut into the diaphragm retainer plate nut, the diaphragm ridge is positioned within the diaphragm retainer nut circular groove.

4 . The valve actuator of claim 3 , wherein the diaphragm retainer nut has an inner diameter at least partially surrounding the top shaft and further comprises a sealing component spaced between the inner diameter of the diaphragm retainer nut and the top shaft.

5 . The valve actuator of claim 4 , wherein the sealing component comprises at least one o-ring.

6 . The valve actuator of claim 1 , wherein the pressure chamber is a pneumatic pressure chamber.

7 . The valve actuator of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm ridge is made of stainless steel and molded to the diaphragm.

8 . A diaphragm actuator with a top actuator housing connected to a lower actuator housing for moving a valve gate, and wherein the diaphragm actuator comprises:

a. a pressure chamber and an inlet port formed in the top actuator housing;

b. a top shaft with a top shaft flange, wherein the top shaft extends through the top actuator housing;

c. a diaphragm retainer plate supporting the top shaft within the top diaphragm housing;

d. a diaphragm that applies pressure against the diaphragm retainer plate, and wherein the diaphragm further comprising a pressure side that engages the diaphragm retainer plate, and an atmospheric side opposite the pressure side;

e. a retainer housing attached to the diaphragm;

f. a lip seal disposed within the retainer housing and at least partially surrounding the top shaft; and

g. a seal and rod wiper combination within the retainer housing and at least partially surrounding the top shaft.

9 . The diaphragm actuator of claim 8 , wherein the diaphragm is laminated with nylon on the atmospheric side.

10 . The diaphragm actuator of claim 9 , wherein the diaphragm is molded to the retainer housing.

11 . The diaphragm actuator of claim 8 , wherein the top shaft diameter can be varied depending on loading and stress conditions on the top shaft.

12 . The diaphragm actuator of claim 8 , wherein the retainer housing is adapted to have variable inner diameters to match out diameters of the top shaft.

13 . The diaphragm actuator of claim 12 , wherein the retainer housing is a two part retainer housing comprising an outer retainer housing and an inner retainer housing, the inner retainer housing being adjacent to the top shaft.

14 . The diaphragm actuator of claim 13 , further comprising a seal between the outer retainer housing and the inner retainer housing.

15 . The diaphragm actuator of claim 13 , wherein the inner retainer housing is capable of being replaced with another inner retainer housing greater or lesser in width.

16 . The diaphragm actuator of claim 8 , further comprising at one least sealing groove disposed in the retainer housing for supporting at least one seal.

17 . The diaphragm actuator of claim 8 , further comprising at least one sealing groove disposed within the top shaft for supporting at least one seal.

18 . The diaphragm actuator of claim 8 , further comprising a third sealing groove with a third seal between the retainer housing and the diaphragm retainer plate.

19 . The diaphragm actuator of claim 8 , wherein the retainer housing is made of stainless steel.

20 . The diaphragm actuator of claim 8 , wherein the pressure chamber is a pneumatic pressure chamber.