Shutoff valve assembly and sensing subsystem for detecting state of same
First Claim
1. A shutoff valve assembly for a fluid supply system comprising:
- a shutoff valve including a valve housing having a fluid conduit formed therein, and a valve member movable within the valve housing between an open position and a closed position to selectively shutoff fluid flow through the fluid conduit;
an electrical valve actuator;
a stabilizer for the electrical valve actuator, the stabilizer including a fitting coupled to the valve housing and forming an inlet to the fluid conduit, and a strongarm extending between the fitting and the electrical valve actuator;
a sensor target assembly including a sensor target located outside of the valve housing, and a rotator;
the rotator extending through the valve housing and coupling the sensor target to the valve member, such that the sensor target rotates in response to the moving of the valve member; and
a proximity sensor located outside of the valve housing and structured to produce a valve closing signal based on the rotation of the sensor target in response to the moving of the valve member.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shutoff valve assembly for a fluid supply system includes a shutoff valve, with a valve member movable therein to shutoff fluid flow through a fluid conduit. The shutoff valve assembly includes a sensor target assembly with a sensor target located outside of the valve housing, and a rotator structured to transmit a rotation of the valve member within the valve housing to the sensor target. A proximity sensor is located outside of the valve housing and structured to produce a valve closing signal based on rotation of the sensor target that is indicative of initiating closing the shutoff valve. The design is adapted for relatively high temperature and high vibration environments.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A shutoff valve assembly for a fluid supply system comprising:
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a shutoff valve including a valve housing having a fluid conduit formed therein, and a valve member movable within the valve housing between an open position and a closed position to selectively shutoff fluid flow through the fluid conduit; an electrical valve actuator; a stabilizer for the electrical valve actuator, the stabilizer including a fitting coupled to the valve housing and forming an inlet to the fluid conduit, and a strongarm extending between the fitting and the electrical valve actuator; a sensor target assembly including a sensor target located outside of the valve housing, and a rotator; the rotator extending through the valve housing and coupling the sensor target to the valve member, such that the sensor target rotates in response to the moving of the valve member; and a proximity sensor located outside of the valve housing and structured to produce a valve closing signal based on the rotation of the sensor target in response to the moving of the valve member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A sensing subsystem for monitoring a shutoff valve in a fluid supply system comprising:
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a proximity sensor; a support arm having a first end structured for receiving the proximity sensor and suspending the proximity sensor outside a valve housing of the shutoff valve, and a second end structured for mounting the support arm to the valve housing; a sensor target including a base having an aperture formed therein that defines a center axis, for receiving a rotator that extends through the valve housing to transmit a rotation of a valve member in the shutoff valve to the sensor target; the sensor target further including a head coupled to the base; and the head including a target surface defining an arc that extends circumferentially around the center axis, and wherein the target surface is arcuate and is sloped toward the center axis. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of monitoring a shutoff valve in a fluid supply system comprising:
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rotating a sensor target located outside of a valve housing of the shutoff valve in response to moving a valve member in the shutoff valve between an open position and a closed position, wherein the rotating of the sensor target further includes rotating a sensor target mounted upon a reset hex coupled with a pivot pin supporting the valve member in the valve housing; sensing the rotation of the sensor target by way of a proximity sensor suspended by a support arm at a location outside of the valve housing of the shutoff valve; and outputting a valve closing signal from the proximity sensor based on the sensing of the rotation of the sensor target. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification