Valve isolation system
First Claim
1. A system for controlling and monitoring the operation of a valve, the system comprising:
- a valve actuator;
a switch that, upon being actuated, provides a control signal to the valve actuator designed to cause the valve to change from a first valve state to a second valve state;
a first sensor positioned downstream of the valve;
a first output indicator; and
a sensor failure detecting device coupled at least indirectly to the switch, the first sensor and the first output indicator, wherein, when not detecting a sensor failure, the sensor failure detecting device allows the first output indicator to indicate that the valve has changed from the first valve state to the second valve state in response to the switch being actuated when the sensor indicates that the valve has so changed; and
wherein, upon detecting a sensor failure, the sensor failure detecting device prevents the output indicator from indicating that the valve has changed from the first valve state to the second valve state in response to the switch being actuated.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for controlling and monitoring operation of a valve are disclosed. The system includes an actuator and a switch that, upon being actuated, provides a control signal to the actuator designed to cause the valve to change from a first state to a second state. The system further includes a sensor positioned downstream of the valve, an indicator, and a detection device coupled at least indirectly to the switch, the sensor and the indicator. When not detecting a sensor failure, the detection device allows the indicator to indicate that the valve has changed its state in response to the switch being actuated when the sensor indicates that the valve has so changed. Upon detecting a sensor failure, the detection device prevents the indicator from indicating that the valve has changed its state in response to the switch being actuated.
5 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for controlling and monitoring the operation of a valve, the system comprising:
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a valve actuator;
a switch that, upon being actuated, provides a control signal to the valve actuator designed to cause the valve to change from a first valve state to a second valve state;
a first sensor positioned downstream of the valve;
a first output indicator; and
a sensor failure detecting device coupled at least indirectly to the switch, the first sensor and the first output indicator, wherein, when not detecting a sensor failure, the sensor failure detecting device allows the first output indicator to indicate that the valve has changed from the first valve state to the second valve state in response to the switch being actuated when the sensor indicates that the valve has so changed; and
wherein, upon detecting a sensor failure, the sensor failure detecting device prevents the output indicator from indicating that the valve has changed from the first valve state to the second valve state in response to the switch being actuated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system comprising:
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a flow-governing device;
an actuator for controlling a status of the flow-governing device;
first and second sensors that operate to sense the status of the flow-governing device;
means for receiving commands to change the status of the flow-governing device, for providing a control signal to the actuator in response to the received commands, for receiving signals from the sensors, for detecting when a sensor malfunction has occurred, and for providing at least one output indication indicative of the sensor malfunction when the sensor malfunction has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method of monitoring whether a valve has been shut off in response to a command, the method comprising:
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causing at least one switching element of an electric circuit to change a state in response to the command;
energizing a coil in response to the changing of the state of the at least one switching element, wherein the energizing of the coil only occurs if a sensor component is in a first position indicating that the valve has not been shut off;
energizing an indicator light in response to the energizing of the coil, wherein the energizing of the indicator light only occurs if the sensor component switches, subsequent to the energizing of the coil, from the first position to a second position indicating that the valve has been shut off.
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Specification