Patent classifications
G05D7/005
FLUID METER AND FLUID MEASURING MODULE FOR A FLUID MEASURING DEVICE AND ASSEMBLY
A fluid meter has a housing comprising a flow channel for fluid to be measured and at least one elongate module-receiving opening forming a passage from an outer surface of the housing to the flow channel. At least one fluid-measuring module, prefabricated separately, from the housing with a base section formed as a waveguide for surface acoustic waves, and at least one signal transformer to excite surface acoustic waves in the waveguide and/or receive surface acoustic waves from the waveguide is provided. When inserted into the module-receiving opening, the base section of the fluid-measuring module forms part of the flow channel inner wall and contacts fluid flowing through it. Surface acoustic waves emitted by the signal transformer can be coupled out of the waveguide and can propagate through the fluid in the flow channel as bulk acoustic waves and/or bulk acoustic waves can be coupled into the waveguide and received by the signal transformer.
Fluid-actuated flow control valves
An apparatus is described for controlling a flow of a fluid therethrough while the apparatus is connected to a source of control fluid. The apparatus includes an input, a valve seat, a diaphragm, an output, and a diaphragm control space. The diaphragm control space is partially defined by the diaphragm, and includes a control fluid inlet and a control fluid outlet. The apparatus is operative to independently control a flow of control fluid into the diaphragm control space through the control fluid inlet and a flow of control fluid out of the diaphragm control space through the control fluid outlet. A deflection of the diaphragm in relation to the valve seat is responsive to a pressure of the control fluid in the diaphragm control space. The deflection of the diaphragm in relation to the valve seat is operative to control a fluidic flow resistance between the input and the output.
VALVE ASSEMBLY, BRAKE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A VALVE ASSEMBLY
A valve assembly, for controlling a fluidic connection between a brake master cylinder and a pedal simulator of a brake system of a motor vehicle, includes a first control valve and a second control valve, the second control vale being positioned between the first control valve and a pedal simulator and including first and second flow controllers to control flow volumes of hydraulic fluid that differ between first and second flow directions.
Self-powered irrigation systems, generator systems and methods of controlling irrigation
Some embodiments provide irrigation generator systems that include a main conduit comprising an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit; a flow control system positioned within the main conduit; a generator conduit comprising a generator inlet conduit and a generator outlet conduit, wherein the generator inlet conduit is fluidly coupled with the main conduit upstream of the flow control system, the generator outlet conduit is fluidly coupled with the main conduit downstream of the flow control system; and a generator comprising a rotor assembly cooperated with generator conduit to be physically activated by a flow of fluid through the generator conduit causing rotation of the rotor assembly and generates electrical power. The flow control system transitions between a closed state to the open state in response to a water pressure exceeding a pressure threshold.
Pressure regulating shut-off valve
A pressure regulating shut-off valve has a valve member regulating flow of fluid between an inlet and an outlet. The valve includes a pneumatic actuator having a piston having first and second faces that define first and second volumes within a cylinder. The second face has a greater surface area than the first face. The first and second volumes are fluidly connected to the inlet, and an electrically actuated valve controls the flow of fluid along a fluid path to the second volume. The electrically actuated valve closes the fluid path, when power is supplied to the electrically actuated valve, and opens the fluid path, when power is removed from the electrically actuated valve, which causes the pneumatic actuator to act on the valve member to hold the valve member in a fixed position.
Pneumatic elevator with pressure regulator
A pressure regulator includes a fluid transfer chamber defining one or more apertures. A flow control element is disposed within the fluid transfer chamber and is movable with respect to the fluid transfer chamber. An actuator is secured to the flow control element and is operable to move the flow control element with respect to the fluid transfer chamber to control fluid flow through the apertures in the fluid transfer chamber.
CONSTRUCTING VALVE POSITIONERS FOR HAZARDOUS AREAS
A controller for a valve assembly that is configured to meet requirements for use in hazardous areas. These configurations may regulate flow of instrument air to a pneumatic actuator to operate a valve. The controller may comprise enclosures, including a first enclosure and a second enclosure, each having a peripheral wall forming an interior space, and circuitry comprising a barrier circuit disposed in the interior space of one of the enclosures that power limits digital signals that exits that enclosure. In one example, the peripheral wall of enclosures are configured to allow instrument air into the interior space of the first enclosure but to prevent instrument air from the interior space of the second enclosure.
Method to detect uncommanded spool valve positioning and stop fluid flow to hydraulic actuators
A system and method for detecting uncommanded positioning of at least one valve spool in a plurality of valve spools and for stopping fluid flow to a plurality of hydraulic actuators fluidly connected to the plurality of valve spools is disclosed. The method may comprise receiving a signal fluid pressure detected in a signal passageway, identifying whether at least one activation command is currently enabled, and stopping the flow of fluid to the plurality of hydraulic actuators if no activation command is enabled for any of the plurality of valve spools, and the signal fluid pressure when detected (1) upstream of the plurality of valve spools is greater than a first threshold or (2) downstream of the plurality of valve spools is less than a second threshold.
Universal logic circuit for electro-hydraulic actuator
Universal control circuitry for an electro-hydraulic valve actuator system includes logic gate circuitry to control one or more of a closing solenoid valve, an opening solenoid valve, an emergency shutdown solenoid valve, and a hydraulic fluid pump motor to route hydraulic fluid through a hydraulic circuit to actuate a valve via a hydraulic actuator according to received commands. The universal control circuitry is configured to control operation for multiple different configurations of a hydraulic valve actuator system including double-acting configurations, single-acting spring-to-open configurations, and single-acting spring-to-close configurations, each with or without an emergency shutdown arrangement (which may be configured to trip based on an external shutdown input alone or in combination with a local system power failure), a hydraulic accumulator, and maintained or momentary input commands.
Fluid metering valve
A servovalve system comprising a pilot stage valve in communication with an hydraulic stage valve, the hydraulic stage valve comprising a valve member movably mounted in a valve chamber to selectively meter fluid flow in a flow path from an upstream inlet port to a downstream outlet port and at least two variable-sized orifices disposed in the flow path between the inlet and outlet ports, an upstream pressure sensor, a downstream pressure sensor, a fluid temperature sensor, a position sensor sensing a linear position of the valve member, a controller that receives input from the upstream pressure sensor, the downstream pressure sensor, the fluid temperature sensor and the position sensor; and the controller configured to provide a control signal to the pilot stage valve as a function of the input from the upstream pressure sensor, the downstream pressure sensor, the fluid temperature sensor and the position sensor.