Dual valve actuator assembly

Claim 2

A valve actuator assembly comprising a casing having a valve seat formed therein; an electromagnetic operator disposed in said casing having first and second spaced pole faces; an armature having a central portion engaging said first pole face, a first end aligned with said second pole face and a second end extending beyond said electromagnetic operator; and a spring member having a first end mounted on a shoulder in said casing, a second end carrying a valve member in alignment with said valve seat and a portion intermediate said first and second ends engaging said second end of said armature such that movement of said armature imparts movement to said spring member, said spring member being tensioned to bias said valve member toward said valve seat and to bias said central portion of said armature against said first pole face, said valve member engaging said valve seat and said first end of said armature being spaced from said second pole face by the tension of said spring member when said electromagnetic operator is deenergized and said valve member being moved away from said valve seat and said first end of said armature being pulled in to contact said second pole face against the tension of said spring member when Said electromagnetic operator is energized.

Claim 3

The valve actuator assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said intermediate portion of said spring member has a slot therein and said second end of said armature has a tongue extending through said slot in said spring member, the width of said tongue being less than the width of said slot such that said tongue can move in said slot without movement of said spring member.

Claim 4

The valve actuator assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said spring member includes a keeper spring pinned to said armature to bias said armature against said first pole face.

Claim 5

The valve actuator assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said casing has a second valve seat formed therein and further comprising a second valve member cooperating with said second valve seat and spring means biasing an end of said second valve member against said second end of said spring member and said second valve member toward said second valve seat whereby movement of said spring member controls both the first and second valve members.

Claim 6

The valve actuator assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said spring member includes a keeper spring pinned to said armature to bias said armature against said first pole face.

Claim 7

The valve actuator assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein said intermediate portion of said spring member has a slot therein and said second end of said armature has a tongue extending through said slot in said spring member, the width of said tongue being less than the width of said slot such that said tongue can move in said slot without movement of said spring member.

Claim 8

The valve actuator assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said keeper spring has an aperture therein and said armature has a projection extending through said aperture to pin said keeper spring to said armature.

Claim 9

In a control device including a casing having an inlet, an outlet, a main differential pressure operated valve controlling flow between the inlet and the outlet and having a diaphragm defining an inlet chamber and an operating pressure chamber on opposite sides of the diaphragm, a bleed line communicating with the inlet chamber, a bleed passage communicating with the outlet, a valve chamber and a passage communicating with the valve chamber and the operating pressure chamber, a dual valve actuator assembly comprising first valve means including a first valve seat and a first valve member controlling flow between the bleed line and the valve chamber; second valve means including a second valve seat and a second valve member controlling flow between the bleed passage and the valve chamber; an electromagnetic operator disposed in the casing having first and second spaced pole faces; an armature having a first end aligned with said first pole face, a second end extending beyond said electromagnetic operator and a central portion between said first and second ends engaging said second pole face, said armature being pivotal about said second pole face; and a spring member having a first end mounted on a shoulder in the casing, a second end engaging said first and second valve members and an intermediate portion engaging said second end of said armature such that movement of said armature is imparted to said spring member, said spring member being tensioned to bias said first valve member away from said first valve seat and said second valve member toward said second valve seat and said spring member including a keeper spring engaging said armature to bias said central portion of said armature against said second pole face, said dual valve actuator assembly having an open state with said electromagnetic operator energized wherein said first end of said armature is pulled into contact said first pole face to pivot said armature about said second pole face to impart movement to said spring member to close said first valve means and open said second valve means and having a closed state with said electromagnetic operator deenergized wHerein said first end of said armature is spaced from said first pole face by the tension of said spring member and said spring member opens said first valve means and closes said second valve means.

Claim 10

In a control device including a casing having an inlet, an outlet, a main differential pressure operated valve controlling flow between the inlet and the outlet and having a diaphragm defining an inlet chamber and an operating pressure chamber on opposite sides of the diaphragm, a bleed line communicating with the inlet chamber, a bleed passage communicating with the outlet, a valve chamber and a passage communicating with the valve chamber and the operating pressure chamber, a dual valve actuator assembly comprising first valve means including a first valve seat and a first valve member controlling flow between the bleed line and the valve chamber; second valve means including a second valve seat and a second valve member controlling flow between the bleed passage and the valve chamber; an electromagnetic operator disposed in the casing having first and second spaced pole faces; an armature having a first end aligned with said first pole face, a second end extending beyond said electromagnetic operator and a central portion between said first and second ends engaging said second pole face, said armature being pivotal about said second pole face; and a spring member having a first end mounted on a shoulder in the casing, a second end engaging said first and second valve members and an intermediate portion engaging said second end of said armature such that movement of said armature is imparted to said spring member, said spring member being tensioned to bias said first valve member away from said first valve seat and said second valve member toward said second valve seat and said spring member including a keeper spring engaging said armature to bias said central portion of said armature against said second pole face, said dual valve actuator assembly having an open state with said electromagnetic operator energized wherein said first end of said armature is pulled into contact said first pole face to pivot said armature about said second pole face to impart movement to said spring member to close said first valve means and open said second valve means and having a closed state with said electromagnetic operator deenergized wHerein said first end of said armature is spaced from said first pole face by the tension of said spring member and said spring member opens said first valve means and closes said second valve means.

Claim 11

The dual valve actuator assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein said first valve means includes spring means biasing said first valve member toward said first valve seat and against said second end of said spring member, and said second valve member is carried by said spring member.

Claim 12

The dual valve actuator assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said spring member includes a pair of spaced arms extending between said first and second ends of said spring member and said keeper spring extends from said first end of spring member between said arms and has a free end pinned to said armature.

Claim 13

The valve actuator assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein said intermediate portion of said spring member has a slot therein and said second end of said armature has a tongue extending through said slot in said spring member, the width of said tongue being less than the width of said slot such that said tongue can move in said slot without movement of said spring member.