A self-operated regulator can be configured to control a stream of working fluid, such as of a processing plant. The self-operated regulator can include a control valve and a control actuator configured to receive supply energy for the provision of an operating force exclusively from the stream of working fluid and/or from the working fluid for operating the control valve. A magnetic field source can be coupled to the control valve such that the magnetic field source follows the movement of the control valve to determine the movement using, for example, a magnetic sensor. The position of the control valve can be detected based on the determined movement.

A method of setting an actuator capable of accurately detecting a position of a piston using a plurality of sensor units is provided. The method includes a detection value acquisition step of moving a piston in a direction of an axis inside a cylinder and acquiring a detection value from each of a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit for each position of the piston, and a controlling sensor unit-setting step of setting a controlling sensor unit that is used for control of a two-way piston from among the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit on the basis of the detection values obtained for the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit.

In a valve actuating system having an actuating drive which has a drive housing and an output unit which is movably mounted in the drive housing for generating a stroke of a spindle of a valve for opening or closing a through-flow opening of the valve, wherein the output unit has a force pickup portion to which the spindle is coupleable or coupled and a fastening portion arranged opposite the force pickup portion, wherein the actuating drive furthermore possesses a holder, which is separate from the output unit, has a holder longitudinal-axis and has a fastening device by way of which it is fastened to the fastening portion of the output unit and a support device for supporting at least one position information element on the holder, and wherein the valve actuating system has a plurality of mutually different types of position information elements supported on the holder by way of the support device.

A fluid pressure cylinder is equipped with a piston rod connected coaxially with a piston and which slides linearly in the interior of a body. A cutout recess having a predetermined length along an axial direction of the piston rod is formed on a side surface of the piston rod. A planar bearing is provided, which projects toward the cutout recess from an inner surface of the body, and includes a distal end surface that abuts on the same plane with a bottom surface of the cutout recess.

When a fluid is supplied to a first pressure-boosting chamber and/or a second pressure-boosting chamber of a pressure booster, either a first electromagnetic valve unit supplies a fluid discharged from a first pressurizing chamber to a second pressurizing chamber, or a second electromagnetic valve unit supplies a fluid discharged from a third pressurizing chamber to a fourth pressurizing chamber.

In order to provide an improved method and device to facilitate the teach-in of gripper positions, it is suggested that the positions be automatically detected. The procedure shall include: starting a teach-in process, detecting the position and the direction of movement of the actuating element on its path with a sensor, performing gripping movements from one position to another and stopping the gripper in each of the positions, storing the position of the actuating element when the gripper stops and storing the direction of movement from which this position was approached as the associated direction of movement, stopping the teach-in process when as many different positions with the associated movement directions have been stored as there are gripper positions, assigning of the gripper positions to the three positions from the stored positions and the stored, associated movement directions.

A downhole valve assembly comprises a sleeve concentric with a housing and movable relative to a port through the housing to control flow of fluid through the port. A sensor assembly provides indicates the relative positions of the sleeve and housing, and comprises first and second sensors on e.g. the housing which detect markers on e.g. the sleeve. The sensor outputs are produced by processing (e.g. combining, integrating, summing, subtracting or otherwise processing) the signal components of each of the first and second sensors to correct for misalignment of the sleeve with the housing. The sensor output provides position information for more than one plane, and the output signal therefore allows for correction of errors in the position information arising from misalignment of the sleeve with the housing.

A system for determining the operability of a valve in active service which provides a user with real time information pertaining to the Safety Margin, the valve torque or thrust, and the percentage of valve MAST that is required for operation. The system employs a combination of an actuator package comprised of a primary actuator, a tandem force module, and a controller operatively connected to the output shaft of the primary actuator, the controller including a processor for calculating the above-described values and providing an output which can be visually, audibly, or electronically observed.

In a rod hole (19) of a holding rod (18) held in a guide hole (17) of a piston (10), a limit switch (20) is fixed and a detection rod (21) is inserted. A first engagement ball (30) and a second engagement ball (40) are configured to be in contact with a first cam surface (32) and a second cam surface (42), respectively, which are provided at an outer periphery of the detection rod (21). The first engagement ball (30) and the second engagement ball (40) are configured to be in contact with a first pushing portion (35) and a second pushing portion (45), respectively, which are provided inside the guide hole (17). The position of the piston (10) is detected by electrically or electronically detecting the movement of the detection rod (21) by the limit switch (20).

A detection device is for detecting a position of a piston in a cylinder barrel and/or for detecting a strain on the cylinder barrel. The cylinder barrel includes a strain gauge. The detection device includes a reading interface configured to read a strain gauge signal from the strain gauge and an evaluation unit configured to evaluate the position of the piston and/or the strain on the cylinder barrel using the strain gauge signal.