Method and apparatus for monitoring and determining the functional status of an electromagnetic valve
First Claim
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1. A method of determining the functional status of an electromagnetic valve having a solenoid and plunger comprising the steps of:
- determining the electromechanical switching time, tems, of a valve based on characteristics of an electrical characteristic responsive to the solenoid;
comparing the valve electromechanical switching time to a predetermined value; and
generating a valve status signal dependant on the results of the comparison.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the functional status of an electromagnetic valve having a solenoid and plunger including determining the electromechanical switching time of a valve based on characteristics of an electrical characteristic responsive to the solenoid; comparing the valve electromechanical switching time to a predetermined value; and generating a valve status signal dependant on the results of the comparison.
51 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method of determining the functional status of an electromagnetic valve having a solenoid and plunger comprising the steps of:
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determining the electromechanical switching time, tems, of a valve based on characteristics of an electrical characteristic responsive to the solenoid; comparing the valve electromechanical switching time to a predetermined value; and generating a valve status signal dependant on the results of the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of monitoring the functional status of an electromechanical valve having a solenoid coil and plunger comprising the steps of:
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energizing the solenoid coil to initiate movement of the solenoid plunger from a first position to a second position; acquiring a signal relating to an electrical characteristic responsive to the solenoid; starting a first and second timer; performing an algorithm on the signal to determine when the plunger reaches the second position; determining an electromechanical switching time based on the plunger movement; comparing the switching time to predetermined tolerance values; and indicating a functional status of the valve. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for determining the functional status of an electromagnetic valve having a solenoid coil and plunger comprising:
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a sensing a circuit for sensing a current supplied to the solenoid valve; a electromechanical switching time detector operably connected to the sensing circuit, the detector determining the electromechanical switching time, tems, of a valve based on characteristics of a current supplied to the solenoid; a comparator for comparing the valve switching time to a predetermined value; and an indication device for indicating the valve status dependant on the results of the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of determining the electro mechanical switching time of a solenoid valve having a plunger comprising the steps of:
evaluating a signal responsive to the current supplied to the solenoid including subjecting the signal to an algorithm which evaluates changes in the signal and determines when the plunger has completed movement from a first position to a second position. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
Specification