Valve control apparatus

• US 10,571,937 B1
• Filed: 02/06/2018
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colt Irrigation LLC
• Original Assignee: Colt Irrigation LLC
• Inventors: Hurst, James Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Jellett, Matthew W
• Application Number:
  US15/889,549
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/0716 with fluid passages through the valve member F16K11/0704, F16K11/0708, F16K11/0712 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/046 with electric means, e.g. electric switches, to control the motor or to control a clutch between the valve and the motor F16K31/041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/047 characterised by mechanical means between the motor and the valve, e.g. lost motion means reducing backlash, clutches, brakes or return means F16K31/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/523 comprising a sliding valve
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence

Abstract

Embodiments of a fluid flow regulating device and methods of using the same are described. Certain embodiments manages fluid flow between one or more input ports and output ports at least partly in response to a control signal received at an electric circuit which cause motor driven state transitions prior to an electro-mechanical circuit break.

Claims

1. A fluid regulator, comprising:

a shaft configured with at least;

a cam, and

a crank;

an electric motor capable of rotating the shaft;

an electric circuit comprising;

a capacitor having a first capacitor terminal and a second capacitor terminal, the first capacitor terminal capable of being coupled to a power source and the second capacitor terminal coupled to the electric motor;

a switching circuit comprising one or more switches including at least one relay, the switching-circuit having a least one switching circuit terminal coupled to the second capacitor terminal and at least one switching circuit terminal coupled to the electric motor;

a first housing, the first housing comprising;

a first port that enables a bi-directional fluid path to an output valve, and

a second port, wherein the second port is adapted to interface with a fluid source upstream from the output valve;

a spool contained within the first housing, the spool in operative communication with the shaft via the crank, wherein the spool is adapted to travel within the first housing;

an actuator configured to;

open the output valve at least partly in response to;

at least one switching circuit switch being opened in response to a current flow through the relay, which causes the electric motor to rotate the shaft towards a first shaft position and movement of the spool towards a first spool position which in turn causes,

the cam to interface with the electric circuit, which in turn causes the shaft to stop at the first shaft position and the spool to stop at the first spool position, which enables a first fluid flow from the output valve to the first port;

close the output valve at least partly in response to;

at least one switching circuit switch being closed in response to a loss of the current flow through the relay, which causes the capacitor to discharge into the electric motor to rotate the shaft to towards a second shaft position and initiate movement of the spool towards a second spool position, which in turn causes,

fluid pressure entering via the second port to assist movement of the spool towards a second spool position, which in turn causes,

the cam to interface with the electric circuit, which in turn causes the shaft to stop at the second shaft position and the spool to stop at the second spool position, which enables a second fluid flow from the first port to the output valve.

2. The fluid regulator as defined in claim 1, wherein the output valve comprises an externally piloted diaphragm type valve.

3. The fluid regulator as defined in claim 1, wherein the first housing comprises a third port, the third port configured to output from the first housing the first fluid flow from the output valve.

4. The fluid regulator as defined in claim 1, wherein the crank is connected to the spool via a linkage, the linkage configured to translate rotational motion of the crank into a linear spool motion.

5. The fluid regulator as defined in claim 1, wherein the first fluid flow comprises fluid exiting a diaphragm chamber of the output valve.

6. The fluid regulator as defined in claim 1, wherein the second fluid flow comprises control fluid from a source external to the actuator.

7. The fluid regulator as defined in claim 1, wherein the switching circuit comprises a normally closed relay and a single pole double throw switch, wherein the normally closed relay is configured to receive a control signal from a remote device and to open in response to receipt of the control signal from the remote device, and the single pole double throw switch has a first terminal coupled to a power source, a second terminal coupled to the electric motor, and a third terminal coupled to the normally closed relay.

8. The fluid regulator as defined in claim 1, wherein the switching circuit comprises a normally closed relay and a single pole double throw switch, wherein the normally closed relay is configured to receive a control signal from a remote device, wherein the control signal energies a circuit, and to open in response to receipt of the control signal from the remote device, and the single pole double throw switch has a first terminal coupled to a power source, a second terminal coupled to the electric motor, and a third terminal coupled to the normally closed relay.

9. A fluid regulator, comprising:

a shaft configured with at least;

a cam, and

a crank;

an electric motor configured with an electric circuit, the electric motor capable of rotating the shaft;

a first housing, the first housing comprising at least a first port configured to enable a bi-directional fluid path to an output valve;

a spool contained within the first housing, the spool in operative communication with the shaft via the crank, wherein the spool is capable of travel within the first housing;

an actuator configured to;

open the output valve at least partly in response to;

receipt of a control signal at a first state, wherein the control signal is provided from a remote device, which causes the motor to rotate the shaft towards a first shaft position and movement of the spool towards a first spool position which in turn causes,

the cam to interface with the electric circuit, which in turn causes the shaft to stop at the first shaft position and the spool to stop at the first spool position, which enables a first fluid flow from the output valve to the first port;

close the output valve at least partly in response to;

receipt of the control signal at a second state, wherein the control signal is provided from the remote device, which causes the electric motor to rotate the shaft towards a second shaft position and movement of the spool towards a second spool position, which in turn causes,

the cam to interface with the electric circuit, which in turn causes the shaft to stop at the second shaft position and the spool to stop at the second spool position, which enables a second fluid flow from the first port to the output valve;

wherein the electric circuit comprises a capacitor, a normally closed relay, and a single pole double throw switch, wherein the normally closed relay is configured to receive the control signal from the remote device and the single pole double throw switch has a first terminal coupled to a power source, a second terminal coupled to the electric motor, and a third terminal coupled to the normally closed relay.

10. The fluid regulator as defined in claim 9, wherein the output valve comprises an externally piloted diaphragm type valve.

11. The fluid regulator as defined in claim 9, wherein the electric circuit includes a capacitor.

12. The fluid regulator as defined in claim 9, wherein the electric circuit includes a capacitor wherein the capacitor discharge energizes the electric motor to rotate the shaft towards the second shaft position.

13. The fluid regulator as defined in claim 9, wherein the first housing is further configured to include a second port, the second port capable of being in fluid communication with a fluid source upstream from the output valve.

14. The fluid regulator as defined in claim 9, wherein the first housing is further configured to include a second port, the second port capable of being in fluid communication with a fluid source upstream from the output valve wherein the fluid pressure from the upstream source facilitates movement of the spool towards the second spool position.

15. The fluid regulator as defined in claim 9, wherein the fluid comprises a gas.

16. The fluid regulator as defined in claim 9, wherein the first housing is further configured to include a second port, the second port configured to output from the first housing the first fluid flow from the output valve.

17. The fluid regulator as defined in claim 9, wherein the crank is connected to the spool via a linkage, the linkage configured to translate rotational motion of the crank into a linear spool motion.

18. The fluid regulator as defined in claim 9, wherein the second fluid flow comprises control fluid from a source external to the actuator.

19. The fluid regulator as defined in claim 9, wherein the spool is configured with O-rings to prevent fluid leakage between internal fluid communication channels formed by the spool and the first housing.

20. The fluid regulator as defined in claim 9, wherein the electric motor is configured with one or more gears to reduce electric motor overshoot.

21. A fluid regulator, comprising:

a shaft configured with at least;

a cam, and

a crank;

an electric motor configured with an electric circuit, the electric motor capable of rotating the shaft;

a first housing, the first housing comprising at least;

a first port configured to enable a bi-directional fluid path to a first set of output valves, and

a second port configured to enable a bi-directional fluid path to a second set of output valves;

a spool contained within the first housing, the spool in operative communication with the shaft via the crank, wherein the spool is capable of travel within the first housing;

an actuator configured to;

open the first set of output valves and close the second set of output valves at least partly in response to;

receipt of a control signal at a first state, wherein the control signal is provided from a remote device, which causes the motor to rotate the shaft towards a first shaft position and movement of the spool towards a first spool position which in turn causes,

the cam to interface with the electric circuit, which in turn causes the shaft to stop at the first shaft position and the spool to stop at the first spool position, which enables;

a first fluid flow from the second port to the second set of output valves, and

a second fluid flow from the first set of output valves to the first port;

close the first set of output valves and open the second set of output valves at least partly in response to;

receipt of the control signal at a second state, wherein the control signal is provided from the remote device, which causes the electric motor to rotate the shaft towards a second shaft position and movement of the spool towards a second spool position, which in turn causes,

the cam to interface with the electric circuit, which in turn causes the shaft to stop at the second shaft position and the spool to stop at the second spool position, which enables;

a third fluid flow from the first port to the first set of output valves, and

a fourth fluid flow from the second set of output valves to the second port.