Valve Types
The sections below provide overviews of a variety valve types and the Portable Valve Actuators and acessories Valtorx recommend to drive them.
Gate Valves
Rising Stem Gate Valve
The portable valve actuator used to operate valves with rising stem needs to accommodate the valve stem passing through the centre of the wheel.
The ideal tool for this task is an accessory known as the Banjo Head. Available in two sizes, BJH01 and BJH02, the banjo head incorporates a bevel gear drive to change the angle of drive through 90°. The centre of the Banjo Head has a hole through which the valve rising stem can pass.
The gearing in the banjo head will also increase the torque from the actuator thereby making it ideal for valves which have become very stiff to turn.
This example configuration includes:
- PY68S – Gasoline Portable Valve Actuator
- BJH02 – Banjo Head
- SA004 – Wheel Drive Plate for flat valve wheels with 4 spokes
- BR003 – Torque Management Arm
When choosing the valve wheel drive plate, you need to know whether the valve wheel is flat or tapered and how many spokes the wheel has.
Gear Operated Gate Valve
Larger gate valves will have a gearbox fitted integrally to the valve. In this instance, the Banjo Head is not required and the portable actuator can connect directly onto the valve wheel.
Just choose the wheel drive plate which is most suitable for the valve wheel. Take into consideration whether the valve wheel is flat, or tapered (dished) and how many spokes are on the wheel. These factors will determine which is the most suitable wheel drive plate.
The example configuration includes:
- JA73S Portable Valve Actuator
- SA004 Self Aligning valve wheel drive plate
Globe Valve
Slide Valve, Gear Operated
Slide valves, sluice gates or penstocks are sometimes fitted with a reduction gearbox on the drive mechanism. The gearbox helps to reduce the amount of effort (torque) needed to turn the valve. But reducing the gearing in this way also means the number of rotations of the wheel can increase significantly. This means it can take a lot longer to fully operate the valve from open to closed.
Portable Valve Actuators from Valtorx can be designed to connect directly to the valve wheel or gearbox input drive shaft. The portable actuator has relatively low torque output but high speed, meaning valve turning operations can be sped up significantly. In this example, the MC89E actuator fits directly to the gearbox input shaft. The BS001 torque management system protects the operator from torque snags and counter-rotation.
This example configuration includes:
- VAS-MC89E Electric Portable Valve Actuator
- VAS-BS001 Torque Management System
- VAS-KTA3/4 converter
- 30mm Keywayed Drive Stem Adaptor
Slide Valve (Penstock) Direct Drive
Slide valves, sluice gates or penstocks are all terms used to describe similar type of flow control valve in the water industry. Smaller penstocks are often direct drive. This means the operating wheel turns the drive yoke, as the penstock opens and closes the drive stem rises or falls directly through the centre of valve wheel.
In these instances, the ideal tool for this task is an accessory known as the Banjo Head. The centre of the Banjo Head has a hole through which the valve rising stem can pass.
This example configuration includes:
- EVA6 110v mains electric portable valve actuator
- SA005 Wheel Drive plate to suit a flat valve wheel with 5 spokes
- BJH01 Banjo Head, for valves with rising stem
- BR003 with Torque Management Arm
Ball Valve
Gear Operated Ball Valves
Ball valves which need power assistance for turning are usually high pressure or large diameter and are fitted with a reduction worm-gearbox. The hand wheels are usually dished (tapered) to move the wheel rim away from the valve body. This is to prevent the valve operators hands snagging on the valve body.
Valve of this type are often found on offshore production platforms. In this environment, a pneumatic actuator is intrinsically safe. An electric actuator can also sometimes be used under a hotwork permit.
The wheel drive plate is a special design to accommodate the dished wheel. As with other portable valve actuator wheel drive plates, the number of wheel spokes is important to know when selecting the right device.
In this example the portable valve actuator kit comprises the following parts:
- MC89S Battery Powered Actuator
- FSB356 Wheel Driver
- KTA002 Interface
- BR001 Torque Management Arm
Butterfly Valve
Butterfly Valves
Butterfly valves above 4″ (DN100) can often be fitted with gearboxes to ease the effort (torque) needed to turn them. A portable valve actuator can speed up the task of turning these valves.
This example configuration includes the following:
- VAS-HL83-035 Pneumatic Portable Valve Actuator
- VAS-SA003 Self Centreing Wheel Drive Plate
- VAS-KPA003 interface
- VAS-BR001 Torque Management System
Underground Valve
Underground Valves
Valves located below ground can often be located in obscure locations which present additional challenges for opening and closing. Sometimes they are in public places e.g. below a roadway, or perhaps in remote rural or farmland locations. In these situations, managing counter-rotation torque might otherwise be a problem. Where an anchor point is not available for torque reaction systems, the VAS-BA002 Torque Management System can be used. This provides a rail for the operator to stand on, reducing the chances of torque reaction.
Valtorx offer a range of devices designed to make the task of operating valves below ground much easier.
This example configuration includes:
- VAS-JA73S Portable Valve Actuator
- VAS-BA002 Torque Management System
- VAS-KHA001 Interface
- VAS-EB001 Telescopic Drive Shaft
- VAS-DC030 Valve Drive Adaptor
If Valtorx can be of assistance in your Interlock needs then please fill in the form below or call us on +44 (0)3333 401777
Interlocks
Trapped Key Interlocks control safety-critical procedures using mechanical locking devices and keys. Interlocks from Valtorx have a wide range of applications and lock types to cover access doors, valves, power switches and more. Interlock systems ensure workers complete operations in a set sequence reducing the risk of accidental or unauthorised operation of equipment or processes.
