F16K37/0025

Pressure relief valve and method of relief valve opening detection

Systems and methods described herein provide for pressure relief valve detection and monitoring. A valve assembly includes a striker and an indicator assembly separated by a diaphragm. The diaphragm may be elastically or permanently deformable. The striker may be connected to a relieve valve disk that releases in response to high fluid pressure at the valve. Movement of the striker may be detected by contact with the diaphragm or by sensors near the diaphragm, which may trigger the indicator assembly to provide an external indication of a valve opening.

VALVE POSITIONER AND DIAGNOSTIC METHOD
20220333714 · 2022-10-20 · ·

Fault diagnostics utilize an embedded tracking digital twin of a valve assembly physical part in a microprocessor system of the valve positioner. The digital twin has simulation model parameters including a fault-related simulation model parameter. The digital twin receives a control signal representing a real control of the at least part of the valve assembly, and generates simulated measurements relating to the simulated control result. The digital twin compare the simulated measurements with real measurements that relate to the real control result, to track an error between the results of simulated operation and the real operation of the valve assembly to adjust the fault-related simulation model parameter in a sense that the error is decreased. The fault-related simulation model parameter relates to a specific physical fault in the physical part of the valve assembly, and it is detectable and identifiable based on the simulation model parameter adjusted value.

Spool valve device and spool valve

A spool valve device includes: a housing with channels; a spool moving to change channel connection statuses; an electric actuator including an electric motor and linear-motion conversion mechanism, the motor rotating an output shaft by torque corresponding to a drive current supplied to the motor, the mechanism converting rotational output shaft movement into straight movement and applying thrust corresponding to the torque to the spool to change position; a biasing member applying biasing force to the spool against the actuator thrust; an angle detector detecting an motor output shaft angular position; a driving portion driving the motor by controlling drive current flow supplied to the motor based on a position command input and the angular position detected by the angle detector; and an abnormality determining portion calculating the spool position based on the detected angular position and determine presence or absence of operation spool abnormality.

PNEUMATICALLY-OPERATED EMERGENCY ISOLATION VALVE SWITCHOVER KIT
20230121412 · 2023-04-20 · ·

An emergency shutdown (ESD) system for a process control system includes an air supply coupled to a solenoid valve used to control a pneumatically-operated emergency isolation valve (ZV) via a switchover kit, a smart valve positioner coupled to the solenoid valve via the switchover kit, and an ESD controller. The ESD controller is configured to: control the supply of air from the air supply by the solenoid valve to open and close the ZV, and control the smart valve positioner so as to perform a partial stroke test on the ZV. The switchover kit includes a manifold having a plurality of valves coupling the air supply, the solenoid valve, and the smart valve positioner such that: based on a first setting of the plurality of valves, a first air flow path through the manifold connects the air supply directly to the solenoid valve, and based on a second setting of the plurality of valves, a second air flow path through the manifold connects the air supply to the solenoid valve through the smart valve positioner.

Gas safety shutoff
11662098 · 2023-05-30 · ·

A system for igniting a grill can include a solenoid valve, a flame rectification sensor, an igniter, and a control circuit connected to the solenoid valve and the flame rectification sensor. The solenoid valve controls flow of gas to the grill's burner and includes a switch that closes when a handle connected to the switch opens the solenoid valve. The control circuit sends current to the solenoid valve when the switch is closed to hold the solenoid valve open. After the switch closes, the igniter is ignited. After ignition, the control circuit monitors the presence of a flame with a flame rectification sensor. If no flame is detected after a certain amount of time, the control circuit stops sending current to the solenoid valve to close the solenoid valve.

Appliance based tariff
11662748 · 2023-05-30 · ·

An electronic sensing and allocation system is provided for a distributed water infrastructure containing a plurality of differing appliances. The system may receive, from at least one sensor upstream of the plurality of differing appliances, a plurality of signals indicative of water usage within the distributed water infrastructure. The system may output a first indication of a first volume of water together with an indicator attributing the first volume of water to a first rate schedule, and output a second indication of a second volume of water together with an indicator attributing the second volume of water to a second rate schedule. The system may enable billing of the first and second volumes of water to a consumer at differing rates based on differing uses.

Compensating for orientation of a valve positioner on a valve assembly

A valve positioner for use on a process control valve or “valve assembly.” The process control valve may include a pneumatic actuator and a valve having a closure member coupled with the pneumatic actuator and moveable relative to a seat. The valve positioner may couple to the pneumatic actuator to provide a pneumatic signal to set a position of the closure member relative to the seat. An accelerometer may couple with the valve positioner. The accelerometer may generate data in response to orientation of the valve positioner. In one implementation, the configurations can use this data to ensure proper visualization of data on a display. The data also permits the device to properly manage operating modes, like tight shut-off or fully-opened mode, that may prevail due to orientation issues that cause defects in a measured position for a closure member that regulates flow of material through the valve assembly.

HIGH PRESSURE, WEAR RESISTANT VALVE FOR STOP FLOW AND/OR THROTTLING CONTROL
20220333707 · 2022-10-20 ·

A valve includes a valve seat body received by a sleeve with an interference fit between the valve seat body and the sleeve. An upper end of the sleeve extends beyond an upper end of the valve seat body. A valve assembly including the valve is also provided.

VALVE STATE GRASPING METHOD AND VALVE STATE GRASPING SYSTEM
20230194016 · 2023-06-22 ·

The present invention is to provide a valve state grasping system that can be easily retrofitted to any of various existing or operating valves (rotary valves) and actuators, and in particular, even facilities to which commercial power is not supplied, and allows detailed and accurate state grasping and diagnosis or failure prediction for the valve or actuator. The valve state grasping system is configured to perform, based on angular velocity data of a valve stem which opens and closes the valve, state monitoring, diagnosis, and life prediction of this valve. To the valve stem, a monitoring unit having at least a semiconductor-type gyro sensor is attachably and detachably fixed. The angular velocity data includes angular velocity data acquired from this monitoring unit in accordance with a rotational motion of a valve body from being fully open or fully closed to fully closed or fully open.

VALVE ASSEMBLY
20170356568 · 2017-12-14 ·

A valve assembly with at least two valve modules is described, wherein the valve modules are arranged one beside the other in a line-up direction. The valve assembly also comprises an indicating device for displaying a state of the valve modules and/or of the valve assembly and/or of a component connected to the valve assembly. In the line-up direction the indicating device continuously extends over all valve modules.