Field of technology: Industrial Machinery and Processes
Patent granted on: Tue, 02 Oct 2018
A limit switch for a rising-stem type valve which has a spring-loaded actuator arm with a bracket on one end which wraps around the valve stem. A follower or roller on the end of the bracket opposite the actuator arm rides on the rising stem of the valve, held in contact with the stem by the spring. When the stem has risen to a preselected position, usually the position in which the valve is fully open, the follower or roller engages a circumferential groove formed around the stem. This causes the spring to bias the actuator arm to move a tab at the opposite end of the actuator arm, and the tab operates a limit switch.