초록 ▼

Actuator stem guide apparatus for use with fluid valve actuators are described. An example actuator stem guide apparatus includes a base having an opening to allow an actuator stem of the fluid valve actuator to tilt or lean within the base to enable a lever of the fluid valve actuator to rotate and

Actuator stem guide apparatus for use with fluid valve actuators are described. An example actuator stem guide apparatus includes a base having an opening to allow an actuator stem of the fluid valve actuator to tilt or lean within the base to enable a lever of the fluid valve actuator to rotate and a guide receiving area adjacent the opening of the base. A guide is coupled to the guide receiving area and the guide has a bearing surface to slidably engage the actuator stem to limit lateral movement of a diaphragm assembly relative to a longitudinal axis of the opening to prevent the diaphragm assembly from engaging an inner surface of an actuator housing as the actuator stem moves between a first position and a second position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An actuator stem guide apparatus for use with a fluid valve actuator comprising: a base to be positioned inside a casing of the fluid valve actuator and to extend at least partially within a first opening defined by a biasing element positioned inside the casing, the base having a second opening

1. An actuator stem guide apparatus for use with a fluid valve actuator comprising: a base to be positioned inside a casing of the fluid valve actuator and to extend at least partially within a first opening defined by a biasing element positioned inside the casing, the base having a second opening to allow an actuator stem of the fluid valve actuator to tilt or lean within the base to enable a lever of the fluid valve actuator to rotate, an end of the base defining a guide receiving area adjacent the second opening of the base; anda first guide removably coupled to the guide receiving area of the base via a fastener that is received by the first guide and the guide receiving area, the guide being suspended adjacent the guide receiving area when the guide is coupled to the guide receiving area, the first guide having a first bearing surface defining a first profile to slidably engage the actuator stem to limit lateral movement of the diaphragm assembly relative to a longitudinal axis of the second opening to prevent the diaphragm assembly from engaging an inner surface of an actuator housing as the actuator stem moves between a first position and a second position, the first guide to be decoupled from the guide receiving area, and a second guide having a second bearing surface defining a second profile different than the first profile that is removably coupled to the guide receiving area when the first guide is decoupled from the guide receiving area. 2. A stem guide apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the second opening has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the bearing surface. 3. A stem guide apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first guide comprises a cap having a body and a flange, wherein at least a portion of the body of the cap is received within the second opening of the base such that the body of the cap engages an inner surface of the base and the flange of the cap is to engage an upper surface of the base when the first guide is coupled to the base. 4. A stem guide apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the guide receiving area includes at least one aperture having an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second opening, and wherein the at least one aperture is adjacent the upper surface of the base. 5. A stem guide apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the body of the cap includes at least one aperture that aligns with the at least one aperture of the base to receive the fastener to couple the first guide and the base. 6. A stem guide apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the upper surface of the base includes at least one aperture having an axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second opening. 7. A stem guide apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the flange includes at least one aperture that aligns with the at least one aperture of the base to receive the fastener to couple the first guide and the base. 8. An actuator stem guide apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first guide is integrally formed with the cap. 9. A stem guide apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the base is composed of a first material and the first guide is composed of a second material different than the first material. 10. A stem guide apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the first material comprises a metal and the second material comprises a plastic. 11. A stem guide apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the base includes a seating surface or flange. 12. A stem guide apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first bearing surface of the first guide has a curved cross-sectional shape. 13. An actuator stem guide apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first guide is dimensioned to provide a gap between the bearing surface and an outer surface of the actuator stem to enable the actuator stem to tilt or lean within the base during operation. 14. An actuator stem guide apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first guide has an outer diameter that is uniform with an outer diameter of the base, the first guide and the base defining a cylindrical body when the first guide is coupled to the base. 15. An actuator stem guide apparatus of claim 14, wherein the cylindrical body has a substantially uniform diameter along a length of the cylindrical body. 16. A fluid valve actuator comprising: a diaphragm disposed within an actuator housing to define a pressure chamber and a spring chamber;an actuator stem coupled to the diaphragm via a diaphragm plate at a first end of the actuator stem and coupled to a lever at a second end of the actuator stem;an actuator stem guide having a base and a first guide removably coupled to an end of the base, the first guide and the base being positioned inside the actuator housing, the base having a cylindrical body, the end of the base being disengaged from the actuator stem and a surface of the actuator housing, the first guide having a first bearing surface that defines a first profile and is to slidably receive the actuator stem, the first bearing surface to provide a lateral force to the actuator stem to limit a lateral movement of the diaphragm and the diaphragm plate relative to a longitudinal axis of the actuator housing to prevent the diaphragm plate and diaphragm from engaging an inner surface of the actuator housing during operation, the first guide to enable the actuator stem to tilt or lean within the base during operation; anda second guide having a second bearing surface that defines a second profile different than the first profile of the first guide, the second guide to removably couple to the end of the base when the first guide is decoupled from the end of the base. 17. A fluid valve actuator as defined in claim 16, wherein the base of the actuator stem guide is composed of metal and the first guide is composed of plastic. 18. A fluid valve actuator as defined in claim 16, wherein the end of the base comprises an annular groove to receive the first guide. 19. A fluid valve actuator as defined in claim 18, wherein the first guide comprises an elastomeric ring disposed in the annular groove. 20. A fluid valve actuator as defined in claim 16, wherein the end of the base comprises a protruding threaded portion adjacent an upper surface of the base. 21. A fluid valve actuator as defined in claim 20, wherein the protruding threaded portion of the base receives a threaded portion of the first guide to removably couple the first guide and the base. 22. A fluid valve actuator as defined in claim 20, wherein the first guide comprises a ring composed of a ceramic material. 23. A fluid valve actuator of claim 16, further comprising a biasing element disposed within the spring chamber, the biasing element surrounding at least a first portion of the base of the actuator stem guide and engaging at least a second portion of the base. 24. An actuator stem guide apparatus for use with a fluid valve actuator comprising: first means for guiding an actuator stem to limit lateral movement of a diaphragm assembly relative to a longitudinal axis of an actuator housing to prevent the diaphragm assembly from engaging an inner surface of the actuator housing during operation, the first means for guiding defining a first profile;means for receiving the first means for guiding within the actuator housing, the means for receiving including an end disengaged from the actuator stem and a surface of the actuator housing, the first means for guiding to enable the actuator stem to tilt or lean in the means for receiving to enable a lever to rotate, the means for receiving and the first means for guiding to be positioned inside the actuator housing; andmeans for coupling to removably couple the means for guiding to the end of the means for receiving, the first means for guiding to be decoupled from the means for receiving to enable second means for guiding defining a second profile different than the first profile to be removably coupled to the means for receiving. 25. An actuator stem guide apparatus of claim 24, further comprising means for reducing friction between the first means for guiding and the actuator stem as the actuator stem moves through a stroke length. 26. An actuator stem guide apparatus of claim 24, wherein the means for receiving and the first means for guiding are to extend at least partially in an opening defined by means for biasing positioned inside the actuator housing. 27. An actuator stem guide apparatus of claim 24, wherein the means for coupling comprises means for threadably coupling the first means for guiding and the means for receiving. 28. An actuator stem guide apparatus of claim 24, wherein the means for coupling comprises means for fastening to be received by the means for guiding and the first means for receiving.