Actuator enclosure assembly

Abstract

An actuator is usable in an airside system, waterside system, building management system, or HVAC system. The actuator includes a housing. The housing includes an enclosure having an interior surface with a channel. The channel includes a ledge portion. The channel extends through the enclosure. The actuator includes a yoke having a notch located on an external surface of the yoke. The actuator includes a locking mechanism including a ring having a tab. The tab is defined by a width of the channel and a width of the notch. Following assembly, the yoke is positioned in the enclosure such that the notch rests upon the ledge portion. Additionally, the locking mechanism is positioned on an opposite side of the enclosure with the tab positioned in the channel adjacent to the notch. As a result, the locking mechanism inhibits movement of the yoke relative to the enclosure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An actuator, comprising:
 a housing comprising an enclosure having an interior surface including a channel with a ledge portion extending through the enclosure;   a yoke having a notch located on an external surface, the yoke positioned in the enclosure with the notch resting on the ledge portion of the enclosure;   a locking mechanism including a ring having a tab with a width defined by a width of the channel and a width of the notch, the locking mechanism positioned on an opposite side of the enclosure with the tab positioned in the channel adjacent to the notch and thereby inhibiting reverse rotation of the yoke.   
     
     
         2 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a rotary actuator. 
     
     
         3 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a linear actuator. 
     
     
         4 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the enclosure includes a plurality of channels extending therethrough, each of the plurality of channels including corresponding ledge portions;   the yoke has a plurality of notches on the external surface;   the ring of the locking mechanism has a plurality of tabs; and   each of the plurality of notches rests upon one of the ledge portions, and each of the plurality of tabs is located in a respective channel of the plurality of channels and adjacent to a respective notch of the plurality of notches.   
     
     
         5 . The actuator of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of channels are radially arranged about the enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the channel at the ledge portion is equal to, at least, the width of the width of the tab and the width of the notch. 
     
     
         7 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the channel has a narrow portion and a wide portion, wherein the ledge portion is located within the wide portion of the channel. 
     
     
         8 . The actuator of  claim 7 , wherein the yoke is inserted in the enclosure with the notch at the narrow portion and pushed to the wide portion, and wherein the yoke is rotated when the notch is located at the wide portion to rest upon the ledge portion. 
     
     
         9 . The actuator of  claim 8 , wherein the locking mechanism is inserted with the tab at the wide portion where the tab is located adjacent to the notch. 
     
     
         10 . An actuator, comprising:
 a housing comprising an enclosure having an interior surface including a plurality of channels with corresponding ledge portions, the plurality of channels extending through the enclosure;   a yoke having a plurality of notches located on an external surface, the yoke positioned in the enclosure with the notches resting on respective ledge portions of the enclosure;   a locking mechanism including a ring having a plurality of tabs with a width defined by a width of the channel and a width of the notch, the locking mechanism positioned on an opposite side of the enclosure with the tabs positioned in respective channels adjacent to respective notches and thereby inhibiting reverse rotation of the yoke.   
     
     
         11 . The actuator of  claim 10 , wherein the actuator is a rotary actuator. 
     
     
         12 . The actuator of  claim 10 , wherein the actuator is a linear actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The actuator of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of channels are radially arranged about the enclosure. 
     
     
         14 . The actuator of  claim 10 , wherein the width of the channels at the ledge portion is equal to, at least, the width of the width of the tabs and the width of the notches. 
     
     
         15 . The actuator of  claim 10 , wherein the channels have a narrow portion and a wide portion, wherein the ledge portion is located within the wide portion of the channel. 
     
     
         16 . The actuator of  claim 15 , wherein the yoke is inserted in the enclosure with the notches at the narrow portion and pushed to the wide portion, and wherein the yoke is rotated when the notches are located at the wide portion to rest upon the ledge. 
     
     
         17 . The actuator of  claim 16 , wherein the locking mechanism is inserted with the tabs at the wide portion where the tabs located adjacent to the notch. 
     
     
         18 . A method of assembling an actuator, the method comprising:
 inserting a yoke into a first opening of an enclosure for an actuator, wherein the enclosure includes an interior surface having a channel with a ledge portion extending through the enclosure, and wherein the yoke has a notch on an external surface facing the channel when the yoke is inserted into the first opening;   rotating the yoke such that the notch rests on the ledge portion of the enclosure; and   inserting a locking mechanism into a second opening of the enclosure, wherein the locking mechanism includes a tab having a width corresponding to a width of the channel and a width of the notch, and wherein the tab is positioned in the channel adjacent to the notch thereby inhibiting movement of the yoke with respect to the enclosure.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the channel has a narrow portion and a wide portion with the ledge portion being located within the wide portion of the channel, and wherein inserting the yoke into the first opening comprises:
 inserting the yoke into the first opening of the enclosure for the actuator adjacent to the narrow portion; and   pushing the yoke into the enclosure such that the notch moves from the narrow portion to the wide portion, and wherein the yoke is rotated when the notch is located within the wide portion.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the locking mechanism is inserted with the tab at the wide portion where the tab is located adjacent to the notch.