Importance

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Abstract

A valve actuating mechanism is disclosed and includes deactivating override means responsive to valve malfunction, such as sticking or binding of the valve. A drive motor is operatively connected through a drive train to a rotatable clutch housing. The clutch housing carries a clutch in the form of an open-ended ring spring. The clutch ring drives an output sleeve which is splined to an output shaft of the valve. The output shaft is rotatably fixed to a rotatable member which is effective to engage the clutch ring to disengage the ring from the clutch housing and effectively deactivate the drive train. The spline connection between the output sleeve and the output shaft comprises frangible means capable of being broken in the event the valve becomes stuck, whereby the output shaft, through the rotatable member, deactivates the drive train. The rotatable member also operates an indicating means whereby failure of the valve also is effective to preclude operation of the indicating means.

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First Claim