NEAR-FIELD WIRELESS POWERED SOLENOID VALVE

• US 20120305096A1
• Filed: 06/06/2011
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Automatic Switch Company (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Automatic Switch Company (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: HALLER, John J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,678,346 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/15.08
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/02 electric F16K31/004 takes precedence; magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0675 Electromagnet aspects, e.g. electric supply therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/064 Circuit arrangements for actuating electromagnets circuit arrangements for obtaining special operating characteristics H01F7/18; driving circuits for electromagnets making use of a switching regulator H01H47/325
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0441 Repairing, securing, replacing, or servicing pipe joint, valve, or tank

Abstract

A solenoid valve assembly including a process control valve plumbed within a hazardous environment; a solenoid coil mated to the valve and configured to operate the valve, the solenoid coil located within the hazardous environment; a valve coil configured to receive power and transfer that power to the solenoid coil, thereby operating the valve, the valve coil located within the hazardous environment; and a controller coil configured to transmit power to the valve coil, the controller coil located in the hazardous environment.

Claims

1. A method of,

plumbing a process control valve assembly within a hazardous environment, the assembly including a solenoid operated valve;

providing power to the control valve assembly;

removing the solenoid operated valve without disconnecting the power provided to the control valve assembly.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein plumbing the control valve assembly includes physically plumbing the control valve assembly to tubing inside of the hazardous environment.

3. The method of claim 1, further including wiring the control valve assembly to a controller outside of the hazardous environment;

4. The method of claim 3, wherein removing the solenoid operated valve includes removing the solenoid operated valve from the hazardous environment without disconnecting the wiring from the controller.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein removing the solenoid operated valve includes removing the valve from the hazardous environment without inhibiting power to the controller.

6. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

positioning a valve coil adjacent a barrier of the hazardous environment and inside of the hazardous environment; and

positioning a controller coil adjacent the barrier, outside of the hazardous environment, and opposite the barrier from the valve coil;

7. The method of claim 6, further including energizing the controller coil, thereby inducing current flow in the valve coil, thereby opening the valve.

8. The method of claim 6, further including energizing the controller coil, thereby inducing current flow in the valve coil, thereby closing the valve.

9. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

positioning a valve coil inside of the hazardous environment, the valve coil being wired to the solenoid coil; and

positioning a controller coil adjacent the valve coil and inside of the hazardous environment, the controller coil being wired to the controller;

10. The method of claim 9, further including energizing the controller coil, thereby inducing current flow in the valve coil, thereby operating the valve.

11. A process control valve assembly comprising:

a process control valve plumbed within a controlled environment;

a solenoid coil mated to the valve and configured to operate the valve, the solenoid coil located within the controlled environment;

a valve coil configured to receive power and transfer that power to the solenoid coil, thereby operating the valve, the solenoid coil located within the controlled environment; and

a controller coil configured to transmit power to the valve coil, the controller coil being wired to a controller located in a second environment outside of the controlled environment.

12. The valve assembly as set forth in claim 11, further including a barrier between the valve coil and the controller coil.

13. The valve assembly as set forth in claim 11, further including a barrier between the controller coil and the controller.

14. The valve assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein the process control valve is configured to be removable without disconnecting the controller coil from the controller.

15. The valve assembly as set forth in claim 11, further including a controller driver connected to the controller coil and configured to invert a direct current signal into an alternating current signal, for wireless transmission to the valve coil.

16. The valve assembly as set forth in claim 15, further including a valve driver connected to the valve coil and configured to rectify the alternating current signal received from the controller coil and thereby energize the solenoid coil to operate the valve.

17. The valve assembly as set forth in claim 16, wherein the valve driver is also configured to wirelessly transmit a data signal to the controller driver.

18. The valve assembly as set forth in claim 17, wherein the data signal includes a position of the valve.

19. The valve assembly as set forth in claim 17, wherein the data signal includes a temperature of the valve.

20. The valve assembly as set forth in claim 17, wherein the data signal includes a flow rate through the valve.