Motorized Fluid Flow Control Valve

Abstract

A fluid flow control valve includes a valve body and a motorized unit. The valve body is supported in a fluid system between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and is moved between an opened condition for enabling a flow of fluid to flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet and a closed condition for blocking the fluid to flow to the fluid outlet. The motorized unit includes an electric motor and an actuator which is operatively linked to the electric motor and is coupled with the valve body, wherein when the electric motor is activated, the actuator is driven to rotate to actuate the valve body between the opened condition and the closed condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling a flow of fluid from a fluid inlet of a fluid system to a fluid outlet thereof, comprising the steps of:
 (a) supporting a valve body in said fluid system between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, wherein said valve body is moved between an opened condition and a closed condition;   (b) coupling an actuator with said valve body; and   (c) driving said actuator to rotate by an electric motor to actuate said valve body between said opened condition and said closed condition.   
     
     
         2 . The method, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the step (c) further comprises a step of adjustably controlling a rotational speed of said actuator via a gear unit which is operatively linked between an output end of said electric motor and said actuator. 
     
     
         3 . The method, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the step (b) further comprises the steps of:
 (b.1) rotatably supporting a valve controlling arm of said valve body at a tubular controlling housing thereof at a position that a free end of said valve controlling arm is extended out of said controlling housing; and   (b.2) coupling said free end of said valve controlling arm with said actuator, such that when said actuator is driven to rotate, said valve controlling arm is rotated within said controlling housing.   
     
     
         4 . The method, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the step (b.2) further comprises the steps of:
 (b.2.1) forming an engaging slot at said free end of said valve controlling arm; and   (b.2.2) integrally protruding an engaging latch from said free end of said valve controlling arm to engage with said engaging slot so as to drive said valve controlling arm to rotate.   
     
     
         5 . The method, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the step (b.2) further comprises the steps of:
 (b.2.3) forming an alignment hole formed within said engaging slot; and   (b.2.4) integrally protruding an alignment member from said engaging latch to engage with said alignment slot to ensure an engagement between said engaging latch and said engaging slot.   
     
     
         6 . The method, as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a step of extending a tubular retention housing between said electric motor and said controlling housing at a position that said free end of said valve controlling arm is engaged with said actuator within said retention housing. 
     
     
         7 . The method, as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising a step of extending a tubular retention housing between said electric motor and said controlling housing at a position that said free end of said valve controlling arm is engaged with said actuator within said retention housing. 
     
     
         8 . The method, as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising a step of extending a tubular retention housing between said electric motor and said controlling housing at a position that said free end of said valve controlling arm is engaged with said actuator within said retention housing. 
     
     
         9 . The method, as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a step of extending a tubular retention housing between said electric motor and said controlling housing at a position that said free end of said valve controlling arm is engaged with said actuator within said retention housing. 
     
     
         10 . The method, as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising a step of extending a tubular retention housing between said electric motor and said controlling housing at a position that said free end of said valve controlling arm is engaged with said actuator within said retention housing. 
     
     
         11 . The method, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a step of controlling an activation of said electric motor and an angular movement of said actuator via a control module in order to control a volume of said fluid to pass from said fluid inlet to said fluid outlet. 
     
     
         12 . The method, as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a step of controlling an activation of said electric motor and an angular movement of said actuator via a control module in order to control a volume of said fluid to pass from said fluid inlet to said fluid outlet. 
     
     
         13 . The method, as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising a step of controlling an activation of said electric motor and an angular movement of said actuator via a control module in order to control a volume of said fluid to pass from said fluid inlet to said fluid outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The method, as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising a step of controlling an activation of said electric motor and an angular movement of said actuator via a control module in order to control a volume of said fluid to pass from said fluid inlet to said fluid outlet. 
     
     
         15 . The method, as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a step of controlling an activation of said electric motor and an angular movement of said actuator via a control module in order to control a volume of said fluid to pass from said fluid inlet to said fluid outlet. 
     
     
         16 . The method, as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising a step of controlling an activation of said electric motor and an angular movement of said actuator via a control module in order to control a volume of said fluid to pass from said fluid inlet to said fluid outlet. 
     
     
         17 . The method, as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising a step of controlling an activation of said electric motor and an angular movement of said actuator via a control module in order to control a volume of said fluid to pass from said fluid inlet to said fluid outlet. 
     
     
         18 . The method, as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising a step of controlling an activation of said electric motor and an angular movement of said actuator via a control module in order to control a volume of said fluid to pass from said fluid inlet to said fluid outlet. 
     
     
         19 . The method, as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising a step of controlling an activation of said electric motor and an angular movement of said actuator via a control module in order to control a volume of said fluid to pass from said fluid inlet to said fluid outlet. 
     
     
         20 . The method, as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a step of controlling an activation of said electric motor and an angular movement of said actuator via a control module in order to control a volume of said fluid to pass from said fluid inlet to said fluid outlet.