US 12,281,718 B2
Valve-actuator interface to simplify valve repair and maintenance
Thomas McMahon, Croton-on-Hudson, NY (US)
Filed by Thomas McMahon, Croton-on-Hudson, NY (US)
Filed on Aug. 21, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/811,053.
Application 18/811,053 is a division of application No. 18/214,194, filed on Jun. 26, 2023, granted, now 12,078,260.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/430,529, filed on Dec. 6, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2025/0035229 A1, Jan. 30, 2025
Int. Cl. F16K 27/12 (2006.01); F16K 31/04 (2006.01); F16K 41/02 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 31/043 (2013.01) [F16K 27/12 (2013.01); F16K 41/02 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An adapter for coupling to a valve and to a valve actuator, the valve comprising a valve mechanical interface, the valve actuator comprising an actuator mechanical interface corresponding to the valve mechanical interface, the adapter comprising:
a housing;
a first mechanical interface on a first side of the housing configured to mechanically couple to the valve mechanical interface;
a second mechanical interface on a second side of the housing configured to couple to the actuator mechanical interface and to accept an actuating force developed by the valve actuator and presented at the actuator mechanical interface;
a transmission element at least partially disposed within the housing, the transmission element configured to transmit the actuating force at the second mechanical interface to a stem of the valve at the first mechanical interface; and
a secondary connector configured to releasably bias together the adapter and the valve, the secondary connector comprising an elastic snap-fit connector pivotably coupled to the housing, the elastic snap-fit connector comprising an arm and a concave bend extending from the arm, the concave bend configured to elastically engage with the valve to provide a snap-fit connection that biases the valve and the adapter towards each other;
wherein the second mechanical interface matably corresponds to the first mechanical interface.