CONFIGURABLE SWITCH EMULATOR MODULE

• US 20150039142A1
• Filed: 07/31/2014
• Published: 02/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Equipment and Manufacturing Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: General Equipment and Manufacturing Company, Inc.
• Inventors: LaFountain, Robert Lynn, Carpenter, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 9,882,326 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/282
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0033 using a permanent magnet, e.g. in combination with a reed relays
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/06 acting through a wall or enclosure, e.g. by bellows, by magnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2525 with magnetically controlled switches, e.g. by movement of a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/0073 actuated by relative movement between two magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/008 Change of magnetic field wherein the magnet and switch are fixed, e.g. by shielding or relative movements of armature for reed switches H01H36/002
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/02 actuated by movement of a float carrying a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8242 Electrical

Abstract

A target detection assembly includes a detection member adapted to generate a first input signal, and an emulator module is removably secured to the detection member. The emulator module includes an emulator housing assembly removably secured to the detection member and a selection portion is disposed on the emulator housing assembly. The selection portion is configured to be oriented in a first and second selection mode. In the first selection mode, a first emulation circuit disposed within the emulator housing assembly receives the first input signal, processes the first input signal, and outputs a first output signal that is different than the first input signal. In the second selection mode, a second emulation circuit disposed within the emulator housing assembly receives the first input signal, processes the first input signal, and outputs a second output signal that is different than the first input signal and the first output signal.

Claims

1. A target detection assembly comprising:

a detection member adapted to generate a first input signal;

an emulator module removably secured to the detection member and communicatively coupled to the detection member, the emulator module comprising;

an emulator housing assembly removably secured to the detection member; and

a selection portion disposed on the emulator housing assembly, the selection portion configured to be oriented in a first selection mode and a second selection mode,

wherein in the first selection mode, a first emulation circuit disposed within the emulator housing assembly receives the first input signal, processes the first input signal, and outputs a first output signal that is different than the first input signal, and

in the second selection mode, a second emulation circuit disposed within the emulator housing assembly receives the first input signal, processes the first input signal, and outputs a second output signal that is different than the first input signal and the first output signal.

2. The target detection assembly of claim 1, wherein the selection portion is configured to be oriented in a third selection mode, wherein in the third selection mode, a third emulation circuit disposed within the emulator housing assembly receives the first input signal, processes the first input signal, and outputs a third output signal that is different than the first input signal, the first output signal, and the second output signal, and wherein the indicator element is configured to display a third indicia if the selection portion is in the third selection mode.

3. The target detection assembly of claim 1, wherein the detection member includes a switch housing and a plurality of contact arms extending longitudinally from an end of the switch housing, wherein the emulator housing assembly includes a first plurality of slots that are adapted to receive the plurality of contact arms of the switch, and wherein the emulator housing assembly includes a second plurality of slots that are adapted to receive the plurality of contact arms of the switch.

4. The target detection assembly of claim 3, wherein the first selection mode is selected when each of the plurality of contact arms of the switch is received in a corresponding one of the first plurality of slots and the second selection mode is selected when each of the plurality of contact arms of the switch is received in a corresponding one of the second plurality of slots.

5. The target detection assembly of claim 4, wherein the emulator housing assembly includes a third plurality of slots that are adapted to receive the plurality of contact arms of the switch, and wherein the selection portion is configured to be oriented in a third selection mode in which each of the plurality of contact arms of the switch is received in a corresponding one of the third plurality of slots, and wherein in the third selection mode, a third emulation circuit disposed within the emulator housing assembly receives the first input signal, processes the first input signal, and outputs a third output signal that is different than the first input signal, the first output signal, and the second output signal.

6. The target detection assembly of claim 1, the emulator module further comprising an indicator element coupled to the emulator housing assembly and in communication with the first emulation circuit and the second emulation circuit, the indicator element configured to display a first indicia if the selection portion is in the first selection mode and a second indicia if the selection portion is in the second selection mode.

7. The target detection assembly of claim 1, wherein the selection portion is a switch coupled to the emulator housing assembly, wherein a first switch position corresponds to the first selection mode and a second switch position corresponds to the second selection mode.

8. The target detection assembly of claim 1, wherein the detection member is a magnetically-actuated proximity switch.

9. A control valve assembly comprising:

a control valve having a valve housing that defines a valve interior;

a displaceable closure element disposed at least partially within the valve interior, the closure element secured to a displaceable valve stem;

a target secured to the valve stem;

a target detection assembly secured to the valve housing, the target detection assembly comprising;

a detection member adapted to generate a first input signal when the target is within a predetermined distance of the detection member or is outside of the predetermined distance of the detection member;

an emulator module removably secured to the detection member and communicatively coupled to the detection member, the emulator module comprising;

an emulator housing assembly removably secured to the detection member; and

a selection portion disposed on the emulator housing assembly, the selection portion configured to be oriented in a first selection mode and a second selection mode,

wherein in the first selection mode, a first emulation circuit disposed within the emulator housing assembly receives the first input signal, processes the first input signal, and outputs a first output signal that is different than the first input signal, and

in the second selection mode, a second emulation circuit disposed within the emulator housing assembly receives the first input signal, processes the first input signal, and outputs a second output signal that is different than the first input signal and the first output signal.

10. The target detection assembly of claim 9, wherein the selection portion is configured to be oriented in a third selection mode, wherein in the third selection mode, a third emulation circuit disposed within the emulator housing assembly receives the first input signal, processes the first input signal, and outputs a third output signal that is different than the first input signal, the first output signal, and the second output signal, and wherein the indicator element is configured to display a third indicia if the selection portion is in the third selection mode.

11. The target detection assembly of claim 9, wherein the detection member includes a switch housing and a plurality of contact arms extending longitudinally from an end of the switch housing, wherein the emulator housing assembly includes a first plurality of slots that are adapted to receive the plurality of contact arms of the switch, and wherein the emulator housing assembly includes a second plurality of slots that are adapted to receive the plurality of contact arms of the switch.

12. The target detection assembly of claim 11, wherein the first selection mode is selected when each of the plurality of contact arms of the switch is received in a corresponding one of the first plurality of slots and the second selection mode is selected when each of the plurality of contact arms of the switch is received in a corresponding one of the second plurality of slots.

13. The target detection assembly of claim 12, wherein the emulator housing assembly includes a third plurality of slots that are adapted to receive the plurality of contact arms of the switch, and wherein the selection portion is configured to be oriented in a third selection mode in which each of the plurality of contact arms of the switch is received in a corresponding one of the third plurality of slots, and wherein in the third selection mode, a third emulation circuit disposed within the emulator housing assembly receives the first input signal, processes the first input signal, and outputs a third output signal that is different than the first input signal, the first output signal, and the second output signal.

14. The target detection assembly of claim 9, the emulator module further comprising an indicator element coupled to the emulator housing assembly and in communication with the first emulation circuit and the second emulation circuit, the indicator element configured to display a first indicia if the selection portion is in the first selection mode and a second indicia if the selection portion is in the second selection mode.

15. The target detection assembly of claim 9, wherein the selection portion is a switch coupled to the emulator housing assembly, wherein a first switch position corresponds to the first selection mode and a second switch position corresponds to the second selection mode.

16. The target detection assembly of claim 9, wherein the detection member is a magnetically-actuated proximity switch.

17. A method of configuring an output of a target detection assembly adapted to detect when a target is within a predetermined range of the target detection assembly, the method comprising:

securing a detection member to an emulator housing assembly of an emulator module;

selecting a first selection mode in which the detection member is communicatively coupled to a first emulation circuit disposed within the emulator housing assembly, the first emulation circuit being adapted to receive the first input signal, process the first input signal, and output a first output signal that is different than the first input signal;

selecting a second selection mode in which the detection member is communicatively coupled to a second emulation circuit disposed within the emulator housing assembly, the second emulation circuit being adapted to receive the first input signal, process the first input signal, and output a second output signal that is different than the first input signal and the first output signal.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

selecting a third selection mode in which the detection member is communicatively coupled to a third emulation circuit disposed within the emulator housing assembly, the third emulation circuit being adapted to receive the first input signal, process the first input signal, and output a third output signal that is different than the first input signal, the first output signal, and the second output signal.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein selecting a first selection mode includes inserting a plurality of contact arms of the detection member 12 in a first plurality of slots formed in the emulator housing assembly, and wherein selecting a first selection mode includes inserting a plurality of contact arms of the detection member 12 in a first plurality of slots formed in the emulator housing assembly.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

displaying a first indicia on an indicator element coupled to the emulator housing assembly when the first selection mode is selected; and

displaying second indicia on the indicator element coupled to the emulator housing assembly when the second selection mode is selected.