Patent attributes
A torque reducer assembly including a ball screw assembly and a plunger gear assembly with a low torque allowing a single user to operate a hand wheel to open or close a valve under very high pressure without need of gear reduction and a balance stem. A gear shaft, ball screw, valve stem and gate are fixed from rotation with respect to each other but move axially together in response to rotation of a ball screw nut in the ball screw assembly. The plunger gear assembly rotates with the ball screw nut. In the engaged position, a plunger prevents rotation of the ball screw nut in the valve open direction but permits rotation of the ball screw nut in the valve close direction. In the disengaged position, the plunger permits rotation of the ball screw nut in the valve open direction and the valve close direction.
