VALVE STEM CONNECTOR WITH INTEGRATED STEM FORCE MEASUREMENT

• US 20150082902A1
• Filed: 09/26/2013
• Published: 03/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: McCormick, Nathan
• Granted Patent: US 9,874,485 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/841
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0041 for measuring valve parameters F16K37/0033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0083 by measuring valve parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 3/1412 the supports being parallelogram shaped
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/2243 the supports being parallelogram-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 17/005 using a sensor contacting the exterior surface, e.g. for measuring deformation
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0028 Force sensors associated with force applying means G01L5/0052, G01L5/0057, G01L5/0061 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0061 Force sensors associated with industrial machines or actuators for the specific machine or actuator involved see relevant class, e.g. F01, F04, F16, B66, E21
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/12 for measuring axial thrust in a rotary shaft, e.g. of propulsion plants

Abstract

A valve stem connector comprises a first half and a second half, each of which includes a top section adapted to receive a portion of an actuator and a bottom section adapted to receive a portion of a valve stem. A plurality of cut-away sections is disposed in each of the first and second halves, and a pair of shear web installation sites is disposed between the plurality of cut-away sections on each of the first and second halves. A force measurement device is disposed in each shear web installation site of the pair of shear web installation sites, the force measurement device for measuring the strain on the valve stem. Each shear web installation site has a shear strain measurable by the force measurement device, and the plurality of cut-away sections allows for a bending beam near each pocket to minimize deflection.

Claims

1. A valve stem connector comprising:

a first half and a second half secured to the first half, each of which includes a top section adapted to receive a portion of an actuator and a bottom section adapted to receive a portion of a valve stem;

a pair of cut-away sections disposed in each top section of the first and second halves, each pair of cut-away sections having a first cut-away section disposed left of center of the first and second halves and a second cut-away section disposed right of center of the first and second halves;

a third cut-away section disposed in each bottom section of the first and second halves;

a pair of shear web installation sites disposed on each of the first and second halves, each pair of shear web installation sites comprising a first site disposed between the first and third cut-away sections and a second site disposed between the second and third cut-away sections; and

a force measurement device disposed in each shear web installation site of the first and second halves,

wherein each shear web installation site has a shear strain measurable by the force measurement device and at least one of the first, second and third cut-away sections creates a bending beam near each shear web installation site to minimize deflection.

2. The valve stem connector of claim 1, wherein each of the top and bottom sections of the first and second halves includes a threaded portion, allowing connection between the actuator and the valve stem.

3. The valve stem connector of claim 1, wherein the force measurement device is a strain gage, and each strain gage is installed in each shear web installation site at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to a stem force direction to measure shear strain of the valve stem.

4. The valve stem connector of claim 1, further comprising a first pair of holes disposed on the top sections of the each of the first and second halves and a second pair of holes disposed on the bottom sections of each of the first and second halves, each hole adapted to receive a fastener for securing the first half to the second half.

5. The valve stem connector of claim 4, wherein each bending beam and each shear web installation site is disposed outside of the holes, allowing the first and second halves to be secured together without changing stress on the shear web installation sites.

6. The valve stem connector of claim 1, wherein the fastener includes a bolt, a screw, a nail, a pin or other fastener capable of securing the first half to the second half.

7. The valve stem connector of claim 1, wherein each shear web installation site is a pocket having a length and an even strain distribution across the length.

8. The valve stem connector of claim 1, the first and second halves further comprising side edges, and wherein each of the first and second cut-away sections is a slit disposed in the side edges of each of the first and second halves.

9. The valve stem connector of claim 1, wherein the third cut-away section is a slit disposed in the bottom section 128 of each of the first and second halves near a center of the first and second halves.

10. The valve stem connector of claim 1, wherein the third cut-away section further includes a first end disposed left of center of the first and second halves and a second end disposed right of center of the first and second halves, and the first cut-away section is disposed above the first end of the third cut-away section, and the second cut-away section is disposed above the second end of the third cut-away section.

11. The valve stem connector of claim 1, wherein the first and second cut-away sections are located at opposite ends of the third cut-away section.

12. A fluid control device comprising:

an actuator;

a valve assembly having a valve stem; and

a valve stem connector removeably disposed between the actuator and the valve stem and connecting the actuator to the valve assembly, the valve stem connector comprising;

a body comprising a first half and a second half secured to the first half, each of which includes a top section receiving a portion of the actuator and a bottom section receiving a portion of the valve stem,

a plurality of cut-away sections disposed in the first and second halves,

a pair of pockets disposed between the plurality of cut-away sections, and

a strain gage disposed in each pocket of the first and second halves of the body,

wherein the plurality of cut-away sections allows for a bending beam near each pocket to minimize deflection and each pocket creates a shear web installation site having a shear strain measurable by the strain gage.

13. The device of claim 12, the body further comprising a plurality of holes, each hole adapted to receive a fastener for securing the first half to the second half.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of holes includes a first pair of holes disposed on the top sections of each of the first and second halves.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of holes further includes a second pair of holes disposed on the bottom sections of each of the first and second halves.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of cut-away sections comprises a pair of cut-away sections disposed on each top section of the first and second halves, each pair of cut-away sections having a first cut-away section disposed left of center of the body and a second cut-away section disposed right of center of the body and adjacent to the first cut-away section.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the plurality of cut-away sections further includes a third cut-away section disposed on each bottom section of the first and second halves, each third cut-away section disposed below the center of the body.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein each pair of pockets comprises a first pocket disposed between the first and third cut-away sections and a second pocket disposed between the second and third cut-away sections.

19. The device of claim 12, wherein each top and bottom section of the first and second halves includes a threaded portion, allowing connection between the actuator and the valve stem.

20. The device of claim 12, wherein each strain gage is disposed in each pocket at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to a stem force direction to measure shear strain of the valve stem.

21. The device of claim 12, wherein each bending beam and each pocket is disposed outside each hole, allowing the first and second halves to be secured together without changing stress on the pockets.

22. The device of claim 12, wherein the fastener includes a bolt, a screw, a nail, a pin or other fastener capable of securing the first half to the second half.

23. The device of claim 12, wherein each pocket has a length and an even strain distribution across the length.

24. The device of claim 12, the first and second halves further comprising side edges, and wherein each of the first and second cut-away sections is a slit disposed in the side edges of each of the first and second halves.

25. The device of claim 12, wherein the third cut-away section is a slit disposed on the bottom section 128 of each of the first and second halves near a center of the first and second halves.

26. The device of claim 12, wherein the third cut-away section further includes a first end disposed left of center of the first and second halves and a second end disposed right of center of the first and second halves, and the first cut-away section is disposed above the first end of the third cut-away section, and the second cut-away section is disposed above the second end of the third cut-away section.

27. The device of claim 12, wherein the first and second cut-away sections are located at opposite ends of the third cut-away section.

28. A fluid control device comprising:

an actuator;

a valve assembly having a valve stem; and

means for connecting the actuator to the valve stem and measuring shear strain of the valve stem, the means for connecting the actuator to the valve stem removeably disposed between the actuator and the valve assembly.