Actuator
A valve actuator assembly having an actuator housing coupled to a bonnet and a housing lid. A hydraulic cylinder is positioned within the actuator housing and directly coupled to the bonnet. A piston is positioned within the hydraulic cylinder and coupled to a spring lifter assembly and a spring is positioned within the actuator housing and having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to a lower surface of the housing lid, and the second end being coupled to the spring lifter assembly. An operating stem is coupled to the piston and positioned in a channel extending through the bonnet to a valve body assembly.
1. A system comprising:
an actuator housing coupled to a bonnet and a housing lid;
a cylinder within the actuator housing and coupled to the bonnet;
a port to fluidly couple the cylinder to a hydraulic fluid source;
a piston within the cylinder and coupled to a shelf;
a spring within the actuator housing and having first and second spring ends, the first spring end coupled to a surface of the housing lid and the second spring end coupled to the shelf;
an operating stem coupled to the piston, positioned in a channel, extending through the bonnet;
a gate valve including a gate, the gate being coupled to the operating stem.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the actuator housing has first and second actuator halves;
the second actuator half is between the bonnet and the first actuator half;
the piston has a maximum range of motion (MROM) and is configured to move from a first MROM end to an opposing second MROM end;
at the first MROM end the piston is closest to the housing lid and at the second MROM end the piston is closest to the bonnet;
at the second MROM end the piston is included in the second actuator half.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured so no hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid source directly contacts the spring when the system is operating.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein:
the operating stem includes a long axis that extends along a length of the operating stem; and
a plane, which is orthogonal to the long axis, intersects both the bonnet and the cylinder.
5. The system of claim 4 comprising a pressure compensator that is external to the actuator housing.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the cylinder directly contacts the bonnet.
7. The system of claim 5 comprising a linkage system linking the piston to the spring, wherein the linkage system includes the shelf.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein:
the linkage system includes a link member;
the link member couples the shelf to the piston.
9. The system of claim 5 wherein:
the port includes an aperture that interfaces a space within the cylinder; and
the aperture is between the piston and the bonnet.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein:
the housing lid includes a recessed portion;
at least a portion of the spring is included within the recessed portion.
11. The system of claim 4 comprising a pressure compensator that is inside the actuator housing.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein the pressure compensator includes a free-floating piston.
13. A valve actuator system comprising:
an actuator housing coupled to a bonnet and a housing lid;
a cylinder within the actuator housing and coupled to the bonnet;
a port to fluidly couple the cylinder to a hydraulic fluid source;
a piston within the cylinder and coupled to a linkage;
a spring within the actuator housing and having first and second spring ends, the first spring end coupled to a surface of the housing lid and the second spring end coupled to the linkage;
an operating stem coupled to the piston, positioned in a channel, extending through the bonnet; and
a gate valve including a gate, the gate being coupled to the operating stem.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the system is configured so no hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid source directly contacts the spring when the system is operating.
15. The system of claim 14 comprising a pressure compensator that is positioned external to the actuator housing.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein:
the actuator housing has first and second actuator halves;
the second actuator half is between the bonnet and the first actuator half;
the piston has a maximum range of motion (MROM) and is configured to move from a first MROM end to an opposing second MROM end;
at the first MROM end the piston is closest to the housing lid and at the second MROM end the piston is closest to the bonnet;
at the second MROM end the piston is included in the second actuator half.
17. The system of claim 15 wherein:
the operating stem includes a long axis that extends along a length of the operating stem; and
a plane, which is orthogonal to the long axis, intersects both the bonnet and the cylinder.
18. The system of claim 17 wherein the cylinder directly contacts the bonnet.
19. A valve actuator system comprising:
an actuator housing coupled to a bonnet and a housing lid;
a cylinder in the actuator housing and coupled to the bonnet;
a port to fluidly couple the cylinder to a hydraulic fluid source;
a piston in the cylinder and coupled to a means for compressing a spring;
the spring, wherein the spring is in the actuator housing and has first and second spring ends, the first spring end coupled to a surface of the housing lid and the second spring end coupled to the means for compressing a spring;
an operating stem coupled to the piston, positioned in a channel, extending through the bonnet; and
a gate valve including a gate, the gate being operatively coupled to the operating stem.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the system is configured so no hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid source directly contacts the spring when the system is operating.