"ACTUATOR WITH ROTATING CONTROL PANEL"

This invention refers to an improvement developed in an actuator, which has a rotating control panel, allowing its adequate positioning for reading and operation independent of the actuator position. In complex installations, such as plants, refineries, petroleum exploration platforms and other similar facilities, control devices carry out an important function. However, due to the distribution of the piping, it is not always possible to position the actuator in an appropriate way to operate it, being tilted to the right, to the left or even upside down. It is known that devices such as dampers, valves and others, in relation of the drive form, can be of two types: manual or automatic.

The automatic devices have actuators, normally with electric motors which drives a moving shaft. The actuators, themselves, can be activated locally or remotely from control centers. On the other hand, more modern actuators are programmable and have a display, usually LCD, which allows the reading of many different data regarding the device it controls.

However, in any situation, the actuator being mounted on piping in an unforeseen position, its control panel is badly placed, creating difficulties to read or operate it. Such situation is not wanted because it can lead the operator to make a mistake, it has a potential risk of bad operation, which can lead to losses for the installation or even leading to an accident.

An attempt to resolve this problem, found in the prior art concept, is to dismantle the control panel, removing the display and rebuilding it in the inverted position. However, because the rectangular display shape it can only be rebuilt upside down and it does not have an intermediate position, which is needed when the actuator is positioned in a tilted position to one of the sides or is inclined.

Another inconvenience of this previous solution is that it requires the operator to have specific skills and knowledge in order to dismantle and reposition the actuator display. However, the indicators of the function buttons and open/shut control remain inverted.

Therefore, it is the objective of this invention to improve the

actuator to give it the capacity to resolve effectively the referred inconveniences in the prior art concept. This is achieved by an actuator that has a rotating control panel, allowing its adequate positioning for reading and control, independent of the position of the device. The control panel is circular and has an external salient portion, being assembled on the actuator using a ring, allowing the panel to be rotated after releasing the ring fastening screws on the actuator casing. The power and communication cables between the panel and the actuator access through the center of the rear of the panel, in a way as not to interfere with its rotation. The actuator improvement with the rotating control panel, proposed by this invention, gives the following advantages over the prior art concept:

- The positioning of the control panel is not limited to the conventional positions 0° (normal) and 180° (upside down). - It allows the fine adjustment of the control panel, which can be in any inclination from 0° to 360°.

- There is no need for any type of dismantling of the control panel, which is necessary just loosen a few screws.

- It does not require a specific technical knowledge to adjust the control panel. - The control panel adjustment is immediate, not spending time.

- It can be repositioned, even in classified areas, without needing to remove the power supply of the equipment.

The improved actuator with the rotating control panel, the object of this invention, can be better understood with the following detailed description, which is based on the drawings in the annex, listed below, which illustrates the preferred physical construction, however, the invention must not be limited to this: Figure 1 - actuator view in normal position and with the panel in a situation adequate for reading and operation; Figure 2 - actuator view tilted to the side and the control panel rotated 90° to facilitate reading and operation;

Figure 3 - actuator view upside down and the control panel rotated 180° to facilitate reading and operation;

Figure 4 - actuator view inclined and with the control panel turned about 45°;

Figure 5 - actuator view positioned far from the control panel;

Figure 6 - actuator partial cross section view, detailing the assembly of the control panel. Figure 1 illustrates the improved actuator, which consists of a body (1 and 2), with a wheel for emergency manual control (3) and a power box (4). On the actuator face (1) is positioned the control panel (5) which is circular and independent, having an external salient portion, which is pressed down by a ring (6). The control panel (5) has a rectangular display (51), a function selecting button (52): remote, local or off and a control button (53): open and close.

Figure 2 illustrates the actuator, with the wheel (3) positioned to the side and the control panel (5) rotated 90° in a way to maintain the display (51) in a position to facilitate reading and operation. Figure 3 illustrates the actuator, with the wheel (3) positioned to the side and the control panel (5) rotated 180° in a way to maintain the display (51) in a position to facilitate reading and operation.

Figure 4 illustrates the actuator, with the wheel (3) positioned to the side and the control panel (5) rotated 45° in a way to maintain the display (51) in a position to facilitate reading and operation.

Figure 5 shows a possibility of actuator assembly, where the control panel (5) is positioned remotely. In this case, the control panel (5) can be linked physically with the actuator (1) by the conductor or using wireless technology. Figure 6 details a preferred way to assemble the control panel (5) which has an external circular rim (54) which is kept pressed down with a ring (6) which is fastened on the actuator (1) by screws (7). The actuator face (1) has a cut (11), where the rear of the control panel is fitted (5) and this also has an "O-ring" seal (8) between these components.