DISPLACEMENT MEASUREMENT DEVICE

• US 20070290677A1
• Filed: 05/14/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parker Intangibles LLC (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
• Inventors: Stevens, Clyde, Christianson, Rollin
• Granted Patent: US 7,969,146 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/207.2
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0033 using a permanent magnet, e.g. in combination with a reed relays
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0041 for measuring valve parameters F16K37/0033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2007/185 with armature position measurement
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/1844 Monitoring or fail-safe circuits for relays H01H47/002

Abstract

An displacement measurement device and associated method where displacement measurements of a movable member are obtained by an electromagnetic field sensor that need not move relative to the magnet or other electromagnetic field source. The electromagnetic field sensor senses disruptions in the electromagnetic field caused by movement of the movable member to provide an output indicative of the position of the actuator.

Claims

1. A valve comprising:

a body;

an armature movable in the body; and

a position sensor for determining the position of the armature relative to the body, the position sensor including a source for providing a magnetic field and a member for sensing the magnetic field, the armature changing a value sensed by the member, the value being indicative of the position of the armature relative to the body.

2. A valve according to claim 1, wherein the source includes an electro-magnet.

3. A valve as set forth in claim 1, wherein the member is a Hall-effect sensor.

4. A valve as set forth in claim 1, wherein the body includes a flow passage, and a valve member connected to the armature for varying the flow through the flow passage in response to movement of the armature.

14. A device, valve or method according to claim 1, in combination with a processor for processing the output of the field sensor to provide position information.

15. A device, valve or method according to claim 1, in combination with a system controller for using the position information supplied by the sensor.

5. A device for measuring displacement of a movable member, comprising a source for providing a magnetic field, a member movable in the magnetic field, and an electromagnetic field sensor for sensing disruptions in the magnetic field at a location in the magnetic field to provide an output indicative of the position of the movable member.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the source includes an electro-magnet.

7. A device according to claim 5, wherein the member is an armature movable by the magnetic field generated by the electro-magnet.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the armature has at least a portion thereof made of a ferromagnetic material.

9. A device according to claim 7, wherein electro-magnet has a coil, and the electromagnetic field sensor is located radially inwardly of the coil.

10. A device according to claim 7, wherein electro-magnet has a coil, and the electromagnetic field sensor is located radially outwardly of the coil.

11. A device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the sensor is a Hall-effect sensor.

12. A valve as set forth in claim 5, wherein the body includes a flow passage, and a valve member connected to the armature for varying the flow through the flow passage in response to movement of the armature.

13. A method of measuring the displacement of a movable member, comprising sensing at a location in the an electromagnetic field the disruption in the field caused by movement of the movable member in the field to provide an output indicative of the position of the actuator.