Apparatus for valve communication and control

• US 20070034264A1
• Filed: 08/12/2005
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stonel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stonel Corporation
• Inventors: Kunz, Dominic, Kunz, Robert, Jenson, Robert, Stommes, Wallace, Kunz, Ross
• Application Number:
  US11/202,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20070034264A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/554
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/042 with electric means, e.g. for controlling the motor or a clutch between the valve and the motor
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0041 for measuring valve parameters F16K37/0033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8242 Electrical

Abstract

A device for controlling a valve rotary actuator and communicating information regarding the valve rotary actuator, including a non-contact sensor which monitors, through a continuous range of rotation, the rotational position of a rotating unit connected to the valve rotary actuator, a main housing including a pneumatic valve body integrally formed with the main housing, the pneumatic valve body accommodating a valve spool, a sensor housing which supports the non-contact sensor and is connected to the main housing, and a manifold including a pathway in fluid communication with the pneumatic valve body.

Claims

1. A device for controlling a valve rotary actuator and communicating information regarding the valve rotary actuator, comprising:

a non-contact sensor which monitors, through a continuous range of rotation, the rotational position of a rotating unit connected to the valve rotary actuator;

a main housing including a pneumatic valve body integrally formed with the main housing, the pneumatic valve body accommodating a valve spool;

a sensor housing which supports the non-contact sensor and is connected to the main housing; and

a manifold including at least one pathway in fluid communication with the pneumatic valve body.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the range of rotation is approximately 0 to 90 degrees.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-contact sensor is a magnetic resistance sensor.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one pathway of fluid communication between the manifold and the rotary valve actuator.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least one pathway comprises external tubing.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least one pathway is internally formed within the manifold.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the manifold is detachable from the valve rotary actuator.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising an electronic control module supported by the main housing.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the sensor and electronic control module consume electrical power of no more than 0.5 ma, and the electrical power is received via a branch of a circuit wired in parallel with another branch that carries a signal indicating whether a valve controlled by the valve rotary actuator is open.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the sensor and electronic control module consume electrical power of no more than 0.5 ma, and the electrical power is received via a branch of a circuit wired in parallel with another branch that carries a signal indicating whether a valve controlled by the valve rotary actuator is closed.

11. The device of claim 8 further comprising a self-contained power source.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the electronic control module transmits a signal when the rotating unit rotates by an amount defined by a parameter stored in the electronic control module.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the amount defined by the parameter is different than the amount of actual rotation of the rotating unit.

14. The device of claim 1 further comprising a linking explosion proof module electrically connected between the electronic control module and an operating system external to the electronic control module.

15. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one modular pneumatic pilot valve in fluid communication with the pneumatic valve body.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the at least one pilot valve is operable with both 24 volts DC and 120 volts AC.

17. The device of claim 15 further comprising a voltage sensor which monitors voltage supplied to the at least one modular pneumatic pilot valve.

18. The device of claim 15 further comprising a current sensor which monitors electric current supplied to the at least one modular pneumatic pilot valve.

19. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one pressure sensor.

20. The device of claim 1 further comprising a transmitter that transmits diagnostic information and monitoring information via wireless link.

21. The device of claim 1 wherein transmission of diagnostic and control information is done via wireless link.

22. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is configured to control an amount of rotation of the valve rotary actuator.

23. A device for controlling a valve rotary actuator and communicating information regarding the valve rotary actuator, comprising:

means for monitoring, through a continuous range of rotation, the rotational position of a valve rotary actuator;

a main housing including a pneumatic valve body integrally formed with the main housing, the pneumatic valve body accommodating a valve spool;

means for supporting the means for monitoring the rotational position of a valve rotary actuator; and

a manifold including a plurality of pathways in fluid communication with the pneumatic valve body.