Smith Flow Control’s TorkDrive can prevent manual valves from being damaged due to excessive torque application during valve operation. It can be customised to suit most manufacturers’ handwheel-operated valves where valves require a torque monitoring of over 80Nm.
The device is set to a predetermined maximum torque, and if the operating torque increases above the pre-set limit during the operation of the valve, the TorkDrive will slip, indicating an irregular valve condition. Following over-torque, the TorkDrive unit will automatically reset to the pre-determined torque. The customisable TorkDrive can reduce the risk associated with unavoidable plant or process shutdown and unnecessary repair costs through valve over-torque. It can be specified as a simple, standalone unit mounted either on the valve input handwheel or directly to the valve input shaft; or it can be used in conjunction with SFC’s EasiDrive portable valve actuator, a non-impacting, air driven power tool designed to simplify valve operations.
Features of the TorkDrive include unique clutch plates that are controlled by a series of calibrated compression springs. Each unit is factory set before installation and the unit can be adjusted to suit the host equipment’s torque requirements using a calibrated setting scale within the body of the device.
