Actuation and Valve Mechanism

Abstract

The invention provides a cable drive device ( 10 ) including a linear drive member ( 12 ), and a cable drum ( 14 ) attached to a support bracket ( 30, 32 ) adapted to be affixed to a surface. The cable drum ( 14 ) has an axle ( 26 ) supported by the support bracket ( 30, 32 ) to allow rotation of the cable drum ( 14 ). The cable drum ( 14 ) has a cable ( 42 ) affixed at either end of said linear drive member ( 12 ) and tautly wrapped around the cable drum ( 14 ). The cable drum ( 14 ) is located between the ends of the linear drive member ( 12 ) to, in use, allow the linear drive member ( 12 ) to be guided through the bracket ( 30, 32 ) to move the linear drive member ( 12 ) longitudinally when the axle ( 26 ) is rotated.

1 . A fluid control barrier adapted to be fitted to an end of a pipe through which fluid is contained, a frame member is mounted on said end of said pipe, a bi-foldable barrier member closes said end of said pipe, said bi-foldable barrier member having a pair of plates with a hinge along their straight edges to allow for opening and closing of said fluid control barrier, said hinge pinned to said frame member or said pipe and a pair of lifting means attached to each of said plates to allow said bi-foldable barrier member to be opened and closed. 
     
     
         2 . The fluid control barrier of  claim 1 , wherein said pair of lifting means include respective struts pivotally mounted at one end to a respective plate, and pivotally mounted at the other end to a movable member. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid control barrier of  claim 2 , wherein said movable member includes a screw attached to said frame member and a journal threadably attached thereto with said struts pivotally attached to said journal. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid control barrier of  claim 2 , wherein said struts comprise a cable drive device, said cable device including a linear drive member, a cable drum attached to a support bracket adapted to be affixed to a surface, said cable drum having an axle supported by said support bracket to allow rotation of said cable drum, said cable drum having a cable affixed at either end of said linear drive member and tautly wrapped around said cable drum, said cable drum located between said ends of said linear drive member to, in use, allow said linear drive member to be guided through said bracket to move said linear drive member longitudinally when said axle is rotated; and
 said movable member comprising a drive means to rotate said axle.   
     
     
         5 . The fluid control barrier of  claim 2 , wherein said movable member comprises a cable drive device, said cable device including a linear drive member, a cable drum attached to a support bracket adapted to be affixed to a surface, said cable drum having an axle supported by said support bracket to allow rotation of said cable drum, said cable drum having a cable affixed at either end of said linear drive member and tautly wrapped around said cable drum, said cable drum located between said ends of said linear drive member to, in use, allow said linear drive member to be guided through said bracket to move said linear drive member longitudinally when said axle is rotated, said support bracket being secured to said frame member and the other ends of said struts are pivotally mounted to one end of said linear drive member. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid control barrier of  claim 2 , wherein said movable member comprises a shaft fitted to said frame member and divided into a pair of opposing threads, a pair of threaded journals respectively mounted on each opposing thread which will move along said threads when said shaft is rotated, respective pivotable journals attached to each plate and each pivotable journal having a pair of struts pivotally coupled thereto with each strut coupled to a respective threaded journal to allow longitudinal movement of said threaded journals to open and close said plates. 
     
     
         7 . A fluid control barrier adapted to be fitted inside a pipe through which a fluid flows, a bi-foldable barrier member is provided to control fluid flow through said pipe, said bi-foldable barrier member having a pair of plates with a hinge along their straight edges to allow for opening and closing of said fluid control barrier, said hinge pinned to said pipe and a pair of lifting means attached to each of said plates to allow said bi-foldable barrier member to be opened and closed. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid control barrier of  claim 7 , wherein said pipe has an inner lip to provide sealing with said plates. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid control barrier of  claim 7 , wherein said pair of lifting means include respective struts pivotally mounted at one end to a respective plate, and pivotally mounted at the other end to a movable member. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid control barrier of  claim 9 , wherein said movable member comprises a cable drive device, said cable device including a linear drive member, a cable drum attached to a support bracket adapted to be affixed to a surface, said cable drum having an axle supported by said support bracket to allow rotation of said cable drum, said cable drum having a cable affixed at either end of said linear drive member and tautly wrapped around said cable drum, said cable drum located between said ends of said linear drive member to, in use, allow said linear drive member to be guided through said bracket to move said linear drive member longitudinally when said axle is rotated, said axle passing through said pipe and for coupling to a rotation member and the other ends of said struts are pivotally mounted to one end of said linear drive member. 
     
     
         11 . A fluid control barrier adapted to be fitted to an end of a pipe or inside said pipe through which fluid is contained or inside a pipe through which fluid flows, a bi-foldable barrier member controls movement of said fluid, said bi-foldable barrier member having a pair of plates with a hinge along their straight edges to allow for opening and closing of said fluid control barrier, at least one pair of struts pivotally mounted to said plates at one end and pivotally attached to a fixed position shaft or cross member at the other end thereof, said struts mounted to said plates along or near to the centroidal axes of said plates to minimize the force required to open or close said bi-foldable barrier member. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid control barrier of  claim 11 , wherein an actuation member is attached to said hinge to provide a push and pull movement of said hinge to allow said bi-foldable barrier member to be opened and closed. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid control barrier of  claim 1 , wherein said plates are semi-circular. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid control barrier of  claim 1 , wherein, in use, a symmetrical flow profile is generated perpendicular to said hinge. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid control barrier of  claim 14 , further including a flow meter located immediately upstream of said bi-foldable barrier member. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid control barrier of  claim 15 , wherein said flow meter uses ultrasonic transit time flow measurement techniques. 
     
     
         17 . A cable drive device including a linear drive member, a cable drum attached to a support bracket adapted to be affixed to a surface, said cable drum having an axle supported by said support bracket to allow rotation of said cable drum, said cable drum having a cable affixed at either end of said linear drive member and tautly wrapped around said cable drum, said cable drum located between said ends of said linear drive member to, in use, allow said linear drive member to be guided through said bracket to move said linear drive member longitudinally when said axle is rotated. 
     
     
         18 . The cable drive device of  claim 6 , wherein one of said ends of said linear drive member is pivotally attached to an opening member. 
     
     
         19 . A cable drive device including an arcuate segment drive member, a cable drum having an axle to allow rotation of said cable drum, said cable drum having a cable affixed at either end of an arcuate section of said arcuate segment drive member and tautly wrapped around said cable drum, said cable drum located between said ends of said arcuate section of said arcuate segment drive member to, in use, allow said arcuate segment drive member to be moved when said axle is rotated. 
     
     
         20 . The cable drive device of  claim 19 , wherein said cable is located in a groove in said arcuate section and a part of said cable drum extends into said groove. 
     
     
         21 . The cable drive device of  claim 19 , wherein a support bracket supports said axle. 
     
     
         22 . The cable drive device of  claim 17 , wherein said cable drum is provided with a hole through which said cable passes. 
     
     
         23 . The cable drive device of  claim 17 , further including a second linear drive member located diametrically opposed to said linear drive member, said cable drum having a second cable affixed at either end of said further linear drive member and tautly wrapped around said cable drum, said cable drum located between said ends of said second linear drive member to, in use, allow said second linear drive member to be guided through a second bracket to move said linear drive member and said second linear drive member longitudinally in opposing directions when said axle is rotated. 
     
     
         24 . A control gate adapted to be installed across a flow channel for liquids, said control gate having a barrier member that is pivotally mounted at or adjacent a base of said flow channel and at least one drive means to raise and lower said barrier member, said at least one drive means comprising a cable drive device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one of said ends of said linear drive member is pivotally attached to said barrier member. 
     
     
         25 . The control gate of  claim 24 , wherein a pair of side members are provided on opposing sides of said barrier member and said side members are flexible or rigid. 
     
     
         26 . The control gate of  claim 24 , wherein a plurality of said at least one drive means is provided. 
     
     
         27 . The control gate of  claim 24 , further including a frame member adapted to be secured to said flow channel to which each support bracket is attached. 
     
     
         28 . A fluid control barrier adapted to be fitted to an end of a pipe through which fluid is contained, said fluid control barrier having a frame member mounted on said end of said pipe, a barrier member is pivotally mounted on a first edge to said frame member to allow for opening and closing of said fluid control barrier and at least one cable drive device as claimed in  claim 17  is fixed to said frame member and said barrier member to allow said barrier member to be opened and closed. 
     
     
         29 . The fluid control barrier of  claim 28 , wherein a plurality of said at least one cable drive devices is provided.