Importance

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Abstract

A gas motor actuator is provided for opening or closing an actuated valve, such as a pipeline valve, using power gas, which is a gas under pressure. The gas motor actuator includes a gas turbine motor, a high-volume shuttle valve coupled to the gas turbine motor, and a pair of control-limit valve assemblies for delivering power gas to the shuttle valve. One control-limit valve assembly is for opening the actuated valve, and the other is for closing the actuated valve. The gas motor actuator can receive a signal to open or close the actuated valve, which allows pilot gas to open a control valve portion of one of the control-limit valve assemblies, allowing power gas to pass through the control portion to the shuttle valve. The power gas passes through the high-volume shuttle valve, through the gas turbine motor, and back to the shuttle valve for discharge as an exhaust. The power gas rotates a shaft in the gas turbine motor, which, through gears, opens or closes the actuated valve. When the actuated valve becomes fully opened or fully closed, a limit portion of the control-limit valve assembly closes a poppet valve in the control valve portion, which blocks the flow of power gas through the control valve portion so that the flow of power gas to the gas turbine motor is stopped. Efficiency is high, gas consumption is low, and back pressure is low on the gas turbine motor with the high-volume shuttle due to larger ports and additional ports having novel configuration for greater flow area.

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First Claim