VALVE TESTING
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Apparatus for testing a safety valve having a valve stem biased relative to a valve body, said apparatus comprising:
- a transducer having an aperture therethrough, for mounting concentrically about said valve stem and adapted to apply a force to said valve stem to oppose said biasing force,a sensor for measuring the force applied, anda sensor for detecting displacement of the valve stem.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for testing a safety valve by applying a force to the valve stem and detecting the resultant motion of the valve. The actuator used is generally a hollow cylinder of piezoelectric material or other solid state actuator, which is adapted to locate concentrically about the valve stem. The concentric placement and lack of moving parts creates reliability and even force distribution while maintaining a small overall size.
18 Citations
23 Claims
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1. Apparatus for testing a safety valve having a valve stem biased relative to a valve body, said apparatus comprising:
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a transducer having an aperture therethrough, for mounting concentrically about said valve stem and adapted to apply a force to said valve stem to oppose said biasing force, a sensor for measuring the force applied, and a sensor for detecting displacement of the valve stem. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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8-10. -10. (canceled)
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15. A valve having a valve stem biased in a biasing direction relative to a valve body, said valve further including,
a transducer mounted about said valve stem and arranged to exert a force on said stem relative to said body, such that actuation of said transducer results in displacement of the stem in a direction opposite to the biasing direction; -
a sensor for measuring the force applied by said transducer; and a sensor for detecting displacement of the valve stem. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. (canceled)
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20. A method for testing a safety valve having a valve stem biased relative to the valve body, said method comprising:
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mounting a transducer having an aperture therethrough concentrically about the valve stem; arranging for the transducer to act on the valve stem; and operating the transducer to exert a force on said stem relative to said body to oppose said biasing. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification